Another Gordian knot
Afghan representatives meeting in Germany are under increasing pressure to come up with an agreement, reports Abdel-Azim Hammad from Bonn

A war without rules
Three US envoys arrived in Israel and the occupied territories this week seeking a cease-fire. But it is an "open war" for Hamas. Graham Usher reports from Gaza

Opinion

INTIFADA IN FOCUS

Egypt

Region

Economy focus for cabinet change
A limited cabinet reshuffle is intended to upgrade and streamline efforts to reactivate the nation's stagnant economy

Web cats
The brief arrest of a web designer last week raises questions about Internet freedoms in Egypt. Amira Howeidy reports on a pressing concern for the local web community

Israel's morning class
Under what possible moral compass is blowing up schoolchildren justified? Khaled Amayreh reports from Hebron

Dodging responsibility for past killings
The two men at the helm of the Israeli government in October 2000 take the witness stand over their role in the deaths of Arab Israeli citizens at the start of the Intifada 14 months ago. Jonathan Cook reports

War

The siege of Kandahar
If the fall of Kunduz is anything to go by, the siege of Kandahar could be a bloody exchange, writes Absar Alam from Islamabad

Shifting into second gear
The US cannot afford to rest on its laurels in the north. Galal Nassar ponders the ensuing cat-and-mouse chase in the south

Nowhere to run
"Arab Afghans" have their backs against the wall: their governments do not want them back, and the new rulers in Kabul have vowed to show them no mercy, reports Khaled Dawoud

Now, Iraq?
Afghanistan is starting to look like the beachhead of an extensive military campaign, reports Anayat Durrani from Washington

McCarthyism returns
Under the guise of patriotism, civil liberties in the US are being eroded to the dismay of ethnic and religious minorities and anti-war activists, writes Gamal Nkrumah

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Economy

Interview

Tightening the belt
The value of the Egyptian pound is under pressure again. Niveen Wahish reviews the measures intended to prevent it from sinking

Time to consolidate -- in style
Often provocative and a self-professed 'teaser,' Naguib Sawiris spoke to Aziza Sami about the prospects for his family business and the controversies surrounding it

Living

Features

One boy and his goat
For children across the country, Ramadan now means two things: lanterns and the endearing little Nubian boy, Bakar. Rania Khallaf talks to the creator of the cartoon series that has enchanted everyone

Mobile wasteland
Can the voices of a few residents rise above the power of mobile-mania? Rana Allam follows the battle of one community against the building of a mobile phone base station

Sports

No way Jose
Questionable decisions by Ahli coach Manuel Jose gave Zamalek three points and a share of the league soccer lead. Alaa Shahine reports on frustration and jubilation

Travel