CAIRO — The coronavirus pandemic has triggered many questions in Egypt: Does the state hide the real numbers of those infected? When will the crisis in Egypt end? When will it end in the world? Fo2sh Times, a website and Facebook page, may answer these questions and more, as the country's first on-request reporting platform that relies on nontraditional and unbiased fact-checking, analysis and explanation that depends on reliable sources.

Fo2sh Times introduces itself through its official Facebook page in this way: “We know that the Egyptian newspapers and talk shows are boring and not neutral. We know that you are unable to read international newspapers or to watch international talk shows and see what they say about us. Here, we will offer you all this. We will read, translate and summarize the most powerful articles in international newspapers and the most powerful topics presented by international channels.”

Ahmed Fouad (no relation to Al-Monitor's correspondent) founded Fo2sh Times in 2013. The company’s name comes from “Fo2sh,” an oft-used nickname for Fouad in Egypt. The 2 represents a glottal stop in pronunciation.

Fouad told Al-Monitor that translation was the starting point in 2013; however, the site’s scope of activities has expanded to include analysis and explanation for many issues, most notably the recent spread of the coronavirus. It also provides some fact-checking services.