A House Divided (Germany Decides 2005)
A still-divided Germany heads to the polls. Whoever wins will have a lot of work to do

Looking for Germany's Mr. Fix-It (Germany Decides / The Kirchhof Model)
Merkel has pledged to boost economic growth. Could a flat tax help her do it?


The Cleanup Begins (Hurricane Katrina)
Efforts to recover the victims of Hurricane Katrina are under way. And so is the blame game

Storm Damage (Hurricane Katrina)
A weathered President plots his comeback plan


The Coffee Widows (Business / Africa)
How survivors of Rwanda's genocide are building a new life — by establishing hit gourmet coffee cooperatives


Baby Step for Democracy (Notebook / Egypt)
Egypt's presidential election may point the way for future advances

Orange Turns Bitter (Notebook / Ukraine)
Former allies in Ukraine's people's revolution fall out over allegations of corruption from all sides

A Female Turning Point (Notebook / Letters)

Having Your Cake (Food Chain)
A roundup of the most delicious dessert spots in Austria's capital

The Cider Rules! (Local Fare)
Hereford's Cider Museum Festival will get your tastebuds fizzing

Tuscan Treasures (On Show)
Italy's first truffle museum explores a prized — and odoriferous — local delicacy

My Big Fat Greek Island (The Cost-Of-Living-It-Up Index)
What do you get for the people who have everything?

A Fine Vintage (Style Watch)
Get a London boutique to do the legwork and track down that retro gem

Art On Your Sleeve (Tech Watch)
Check out Bluetooth for an answer to ski-slope lost cellphone misery


A Family Affair
Vikram Seth draws inspiration from his own relatives

Growing Up Gracefully
Zadie Smith's On Beauty is as well written as it is moving