President Bush sent a shocking message to his counterparts in the Arab world by supporting Sharon's disengagement plan and dropping the Palestinian right of return, writes Amira Howeidy

America is facing its most decisive moment in Iraq -- without an exit. Graham Usher reports from Baghdad

Though a possible Israeli withdrawal from Gaza was thought to be the beginning, Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon is seeking "written assurance" from the US that it be the end of Palestinian demands, reports Khaled Amayreh from the West Bank

After a week of heavy fighting between US-led coalition forces and Iraqi insurgents, a fragile ceasefire still holds. Ramsey Al-Rikabi reports from Baghdad

Thousands of Iraqis from the besieged town of Falluja have entered Baghdad in the last week. Graham Usher spoke to one of them

An MP set a new precedent last week by deciding to resign from parliament due to his despair at the stagnation of political life. Gamal Essam El-Din reports

Egyptians, Muslims and Christians alike, flocked to view Mel Gibson's blockbuster The Passion of the Christ. Gihan Shahine finds out why

Although far from balanced, the new budget does at least lighten the economic load on the Egyptian lower class. Sherine Abdel-Razek reports

Sudanese peace talks flounder over the legal status of the capital Khartoum, writes Gamal Nkrumah

Abdul-Aziz Bouteflika is Algeria's president for five more years. Amira Howeidy assesses the impact of the country's elections

What explains the off-handed reaction of Arab governments to the Iraqi turmoil thus far? Dina Ezzat looks for an answer

A decade after the end of apartheid in South Africa, there is still a long way to go to iron out the country's glaring inequalities, writes Gamal Nkrumah

Though critical of some aspects of "world music", Sonali Pahwa found the Al-Mawrid Al-Thaqafi/Townhouse Gallery evening of Indian and Moroccan music worthwhile

The winner of the satellite programme "Star Academy" was greeted at the airport last week by a mob of adoring fans. Yasmine Fathi looks into the frenzy surrounding the show