Sudanese Presidential Adviser Mustafa Othman Ismail speaks to Al-Ahram Weekly about the spectre of secession. The following interview was conducted by Asmaa El-Husseini and El-Azab El-Tayeb

The US is still playing fast and loose with its commitments on Israeli-Palestinian peace, reports Khaled Amayreh in Ramallah

Lebanese politicians are again optimistic that a cabinet will be formed, but they seem in no hurry, reports Lucy Fielder in Beirut

Omayma Abdel-Latif looks at the regional rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia and its implications

Saleh Al-Naami details the harsh conditions that Gaza residents will endure this winter

If there's one thing the Israelis are good at it's waging war on women and children, writes Stuart Littlewood

A senior Yemeni cleric this week called for an end to the Al-Houthi rebellion in the north of the country by force, reports Nasser Arrabyee

Given the sectarian nature of Iraqi politics, is it possible that the new bloc formed at the weekend to run in January's elections is secular, asks Salah Hemeid

The government's attempts to resolve the country's Kurdish problem have stalled, reports Gareth Jenkins