After several months of planning and consultations with our partners, the Egypt Development Marketplace (DM) was launched.

Eight months ago, I wrote my first article in Egypt’s al-Shorouk newspaper, which discussed the spread of atheism, or at least the weakness of faith. I entitled the article “The benefits of atheism,” because I realized that the spread of this phenomenon may carry unperceived benefits, such as modernizing and altering religious rhetoric in order to confront new challenges, instead of burying our heads in the sand.

Colon cancer in Egypt is more deadly and destructive than elsewhere, yet less understood.
A new study adds to a small body of research, through which a picture is emerging: colorectal cancer, commonly known as colon cancer, strikes younger people in Egypt far more frequently than it does in Europe or the US, making it much more lethal and socially destructive.

Air of uncertainty is engulfing most matters related to Egypt. Since the Egyptian revolt started over two years ago, the country remains hostage to a barefaced power struggle with many destructive implications that have polarized society in unprecedented ways, perhaps in all of Egypt’s modern history.

In these days of political unrest and constant change in the Arab world, there are many instances of violence and a pervading lack of trust among people. More than ever, people wonder what mechanisms need to be in place to heal and repair relationships between people and public institutions.

It has been a year since WaterHackathon Cairo took place, bringing together Egyptian technologists with water specialists to brainstorm innovative ICT solutions for Egypt’s biggest water challenges.

“And even this lamp is ‘Haram’!” Egyptian actress Yasmin Abdelaziz ironically said in a movie where she portrays a woman going through a phase of extremism. Of course, the filmmakers exaggerated the extent of extremism, thus her character believed everything was “Haram” (prohibited in Islam), the television included.

It has been more than two years since Egyptians went to Tahrir Square – and almost a year since they elected their first post-Mubarak president. The revolution, yet, that they called for is unfulfilled, and many wonder about the utility or usefulness of this revolution. In a phrase – was it worth it?

Times of transition can be defining moments for social welfare systems. This is when these systems that are designed (or should be) to help the poorest and most vulnerable citizens come under scrutiny, a real stress test as to whether they can respond to those in need.

EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle told MEPs in Stasbourg that the return of misappropriated and frozen assets of senior figures from the former Tunisian, Egyptian and Libyan regimes, is of great political importance.

Have the features of the society around us changed? Have we found out that a person we thought we knew turned out to be different than what we thought he/ she is?

These may be tough times for the Egyptian economy, but healthy long-term fundamentals and sound monetary policy bode well for the future.

Despite being badly shaken by the 2011 revolution and its aftermath, Egypt’s tourism sector achieved a significant recovery in 2012.