So what was said? Gamal Essam El-Din provides a roundup of the NDP's annual conference

Salva Kiir's controversial remark regarding the possibility of secession just shows that the southern Sudanese will not opt for unity at any cost, surmises Gamal Nkrumah

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

Mubarak's speeches before the annual NDP conference answered some persistent questions, albeit indirectly, writes Dina Ezzat

Gamal Mubarak dominated the meetings of the annual conference of the ruling NDP, fuelling new speculation about his growing role in Egyptian politics, Gamal Essam El-Din reports

Working papers on democracy and education were central to the debates at the NDP conference. But what did they say, asks Mohamed El-Sayaed

Opposition groups staged their own rally as the NDP's sixth annual conference was in full swing, reports Mona El-Nahhas

Arab capitals are considering their alternatives should the US hit a wall on the settlements freeze, Dina Ezzat reports

Egypt's new ambassador is expected in Baghdad, reports Doaa El-Bey

The number of swine flu cases is on the rise. As winter approaches, how is Egypt prepared, asks Reem Leila

In the Marwa El-Sherbini murder trial the killer as well as the German judicial system are hit hard. Doaa El-Bey follows the hearings

In the wake of last week's fatal train collision the usual promises have been made, reports Reem Leila

Developing countries last week reasserted their eagerness to speedily conclude the Doha Development Agenda, so long as their interests are protected, Niveen Wahish reports

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The latest twist in Afghanistan's election saga only compounds the West's failure, writes Graham Usher in New York

A convergence of interests between Sudanese victims of conflict and humanitarian relief agencies brings into sharp focus the plight of millions in Africa's largest country. Oxfam's Olivia Kalis enlightens Gamal Nkrumah

The threat of swine flu is no easy challenge for working mothers in cases where early childcare programmes are unavailable. Gihan Shahine looks for alternatives

England's Jenny Duncalf beat Egypt's Omnia Abdel-Qawi to claim the Women's International Soho Square Squash Championship in Sharm El-Sheikh, Inas Mazhar reports

Egypt claimed the 23rd Speedball World Championship title for the 23rd time, reports Ahmed Morsy