Opinion

WAR COVERAGE

INTIFADA IN FOCUS

A different consensus
The cease-fire is over. The battle is joined. Graham Usher reports from Jerusalem

Rainy day blues
Will the downpour that brought havoc to Egypt's streets prompt the government to deliver the drains at last? Gihan Shahine wonders

Egypt

End of an era
A stormy confrontation between the government and the traders of Port Said was averted with government concessions, but will the Port Said market ever boom again? Gihan Shahine examines the prospects

Five-star steam
Amira Howeidy reports from a highly-charged conference where participants declared the US the nation's number one enemy, called for retaliation, issued warnings and applauded suicide attacks

Region

They came in the night
Some 700 Palestinian refugees were rendered homeless during a night raid this week. Khaled Amayreh visits the damage

Early spring in Damascus
Syria is successfully leading Arab opposition to military action against Iraq. Meanwhile, the country's reform programme continues with mixed success, reports Michael Jansen from Damascus

Libya still livid
Arab diplomats remain unsure how Muammar Gaddafi will respond to efforts to soothe a row ahead of the coming Arab League summit. And what the summit may achieve is still an open question. Dina Ezzat reports

International

Return to lawlessness
The security situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating as banditry, car-jacking and cases of kidnapping soar. Absar Alam writes from Islamabad

What's next?
Is there an end in sight to the US's merciless pounding of Afghanistan? asks Anayat Durrani

And what about the Geneva Conventions?
The Bush administration's refusal to treat Afghan prisoners as POWs or accord them basic rights is a dismissal of international law, writes Faiza Rady

Targeting Tehran
Israel is waging a diplomatic offensive to persuade the US administration that Iran should be next on the "war against terror" hit list. Galal Nassar assesses the implications

Economy

Subsidies intact despite price hikes
Higher exchange rates are pushing prices up, but the government is holding on to its subsidy commitments. Mona El-Fiqi reports

Features

Living

Walking the tight-rope
The tiger ate the man's leg; but who is the real culprit wonders Dena Rashed as she pulls back the curtain on working conditions at Egypt's national circus

Sports

Travel

On his shoulders, a load of expectations
Egypt's soccer coach goes to Mali carrying the hopes of a nation. Nashwa Abdel-Tawab caught up with the man with a heavy burden

How remote can you be?
Kharga oasis is being developed as a tourist destination, but there is a long way to go before it can earn a place on the tourist map, says Nevine El-Aref