To do nothing rash appears the order of the day among Arab states, though crises abound, Dina Ezzat reports

While Cairo issues its ultimatum for inter-Palestinian reconciliation, Ismail Haniyeh speaks to Saleh Al-Naami in Gaza about the role of Hamas in the upcoming elections

On a groundbreaking African Safari, Israeli foreign minister visits key Nile Basin nations and energy-rich West African countries at just the wrong moment for Arabs, writes Gamal Nkrumah

Egypt is still trying to broker reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas and promote negotiations between Abbas and Netanyahu, Dina Ezzat reports

But where, asks Reem Leila, when the cold is caused by swine flu

Gamal Mubarak's recent visit to Nubia draws attention to an oft neglected area of Egypt, reports Gamal Essam El-Din

After meeting with the People's Assembly speaker experts at the Ministry of Justice have agreed to halt their strike, temporarily at least, reports Mona El-Nahhas

Amira Howeidy on how TV hosts have become brand names

Construction work on Cairo's third metro line has left one district decidedly pockmarked, reports Reem Leila

Following the global financial meltdown of a year ago, experts are now breathing a sigh of relief for having been spared the worst. What was a doomsday scenario has turned into optimism on the assumption that things will not get any worse. Egypt's Minister of Trade and Industry Rachid Mohamed Rachid speaks to Niveen Wahish about the road the country needs to take to get its growth rate back up to job-generating levels

Amr Kamal Hamouda explores the complexities with which the issue of selling gas to Israel is laden

With conflict intensifying between the Yemeni government and the Al-Houthi rebels, it seems that both sides are digging in their heels for a war of attrition, writes Nasser Arrabyee in Sanaa

While the world thought Obama would champion justice, Israel has proven that his words are meaningless, writes Khaled Amayreh in occupied Jerusalem

Iraq's relations with Syria plunged to a new low this week, as Baghdad pressed for a UN tribunal to probe what it said were Damascus-based masterminds behind the recent Baghdad explosions, writes Salah Hemeid

Tired of drawn-out haggling over cabinet positions, the prime minister-designate put the ball in the opposition's court this week, reports Lucy Fielder from Beirut

News of the humanitarian crisis and inter-tribal violence in Sudan contains dire warnings for the country's future, writes Asmaa El-Husseini

Widespread vote rigging, a beleaguered incumbent president and a mounting death toll because of NATO atrocities and the Taliban resurgence hamstring Afghanistan, writes Gamal Nkrumah

Left out of the options under consideration in "Obama's war" is the only one with any chance of success, argues Ramzy Baroud

Gamal Nkrumah washes away authentic Nubian dishes with herbal drinks that taste of the epic saga of Nubia's rich cultural heritage

The North African rivals continue to dampen Egypt's hopes of reaching the 2010 World Cup, Ahmed Morsy reports

Sophie Sarwat (1938-2009)