Taking social development by the reins
A national conference attended by representatives of 80 non-governmental organisations highlighted the need for more effort on the part of civil society to advance childhood and motherhood issues, writes Dahlia Hammouda

Flying free at last
Feminist groups are celebrating a landmark ruling by the Supreme Constitutional Court giving women the right to travel abroad without their husbands' consent. Reem Leila explains what has changed, and why

It's wait-and-see in Cairo
While Cairo is monitoring regional events closely, it does not seem poised to make any moves yet. Dina Ezzat reports

Living under the cloud
Suffering from an irritable cough and sore eyes? So are millions of others. As Sherine Nasr explains, the cause is most likely the infamous black smog that has recently returned, with all its negative environmental consequences, to the capital

NAME SEARCH: Judges ensured free and fair balloting inside the polling stations. Outside, various incidents of government interference and harassment were reported, mostly by the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. But the one complaint shared by all candidates has been the poor state of voter registers, compounded this time around by the merging of a large number of polling stations. Throughout the country there were voters complaining that they could not find their names, and hence were unable to exercise their right to vote. photo: Abdel-Wawab El-Seheiti

A new page for the Brotherhood?
The Muslim Brotherhood has significantly improved its parliamentary representation during the latest elections. Omayma Abdel-Latif wonders if the outlawed group's support at the ballot box will lead to a less hostile relationship with the government

Urgent matters
Judges did more this election than supervise the polling. Khaled Dawoud surveys the campaign battles fought before the courts

Economy Minister Ghali faced a tough contest in Shubra; Chief of the Presidential Staff, Zakria Azmi won uncontested in Zaitoun; Prime Minister Ebeid, among millions others, just cast his vote photos: Salah Ibrahim, Mohamed Atia, Nour Sobeih and Magdi Abdel-Sayed

Carrots and sticks
The Doqqi-Agouza constituency is a world of extremes and contradictions. It is also the scene of an intense election battle between the ruling NDP and the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. Omayma Abdel-Latif observes Cairo's hottest election battle

What the doctor ordered
Minister of Economy Youssef Boutros Ghali may be top-dog in the big city, but a quiet doctor may hold onto his seat as a man of the people in the district of Al-Ma'had Al-Fani, writes Shaden Shehab

Speaker signs
His face adorns the streets of the working class neighbourhood he is running in. Mona El-Nahhas reports on the veteran House Speaker's bid for reelection

In the heart of the city
In Zamalek, the elections are evidenced by glossy signs bearing the smiling faces of candidates, while in downtown Cairo the streets buzz with talk of candidates and parties. Nadia Abou El-Magd follows the election trail in two central Cairo constituencies'

The politician versus the businessman
A no-holds-barred battle for the professionals' seat in the Azbakiya and Al-Dhaher constituency has captured the attention of the nation. Gamal Essam El-Din witnesses the candidates' manoeuvres

Turning the tables
Disgruntled residents of Cairo's poorer districts get their chance to vote out unfulfilled promises and make a few demands of their own, reports Amira Ibrahim

Big families left, right and centre
The surface tranquillity of the Qalyubiya constituency of Kafr Shukr belies the fierce election campaign that has been taking place there, reports Rehab Saad

Finding an MP -- when you need him
In Imbaba, formerly a stronghold of Al-Gama'a Al-Islamiya, Dena Rashed found a preference for a local man capable of providing better services to the impoverished community

The silent 50 per cent
Every constituency has two seats, one at least of which, is reserved for workers and/or peasants; or are they? Fatemah Farag investigates the limits of '60s-style "affirmative action"

Tribal labour
Families, money, football and violence -- Al-Ahram Weekly finds the stuff of prime-time drama in parliamentary elections in Helwan

Man of the people
Hada'iq Al-Qubba constituents seemed sure of who they want for the "workers'" seat. They were much less certain about their "professional" representative, reports Soha Abdelaty