CAIRO: The 50-member committee tasked with amending the 2012 constitution is nearing its December 3, 2013 deadline for completing its work. Despite this, the committee still finds itself deeply divided regarding a number of issues such as the status of article 219, whether or not to implement military trials for civilians, what should be done regarding the country’s electoral system, and debate about whether or not to reserve half of parliamentary seats for “workers and farmers.”

Five students were detained on Tuesday evening after chanting against interim Minister of Defence Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi. They have been charged by the prosecution for belonging to an illegal organisation and for disturbing peace and security, according to lawyers.

US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has discussed political and security concerns in Egypt via phone with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.

Interim President Adly Mansour called for all organisations and institutions in Egypt to “follow the example of the armed forces” to “ease the suffering of the masses.”

CAIRO: Journalist Yehia Qallash, spokesperson of the National Committee for Defending Freedom of Speech, criticized on Wednesday the constitutional articles that permit the imprisonment of journalists for publishing stories related to discrimination and private life and urged the 50-member committee to amend in a way that safeguards media freedom.

Hassan Eisa, head of Ain Shams University, announced Wednesday that a protocol is expected to be signed Thursday between the Ministry of Interior and the Supreme Council of Universities (SCU) to tighten campus security nationwide.

Prime Minister Hazem al-Beblawy has said that the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam could be a source of prosperity for both Egypt, Ethiopia and the Nile Basin countries. He emphasized that Ethiopia has no problem with water availability but only seeks to generate electricity through the dam.

The administrative team for Bassem Youssef's show Al-Bernameg contacted the Ministry of Interior to request additional security forces to secure the premises where the weekly shooting of the show is scheduled to take place.

Journalist Mahmoud Nafady, head of the parliamentary reporters division, filed lawsuit at the State Council against decision of the 50-member committee, tasked with amending the constitution, that ordered secret voting by the committee members on the constitution’s articles and banned public discussions over the articles.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has published new information regarding the Egyptians thought to be lost in the Libyan desert. The ministry believes that at least 72 Egyptians entered Libya illegally in two separate groups.

The state and the Prime Minister have made it a "priority" to fix Egypt's security situation, which means "controlling the Muslim Brotherhood and limiting their capacities," a source in PM Hazem El-Beblawi's cabinet told Ahram Online

Egypt’s general prosecutor, Hisham Barakat, referred the man who attacked Khaled Dawoud, the official spokesman of the Dostour Party, to criminal court on Tuesday.

The Board of State Commissioners at the Administrative Court issued a report Monday recommending the cancelation of Minister of Interior Mohamed Ibrahim’s decision to allow Ahmed and Al-Shaimaa Mohamed Morsi dual Egyptian and American nationalities, state-owned Al-Ahram reported.

A meeting of Egypt's Council of Ministers on Wednesday ended without any mention of a cabinet reshuffle, despite a tempest of recent speculation that a ministerial shakeup was around the corner.

Cairo's Al-Azhar University students have said that they will continue their sit-ins inside the university for many reasons, including the total negligence of the university's president and the use of violence against them.

Egypt's Prime Minister Hazem El-Beblawi said he does not expect the country to become a military state, amid fears the army might gain more power following Mohamed Morsi’s ouster.

An Egyptian prosecutor banned journalists on Monday from reporting on a legal complaint filed by former presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq where he accused the elections of being forged, a judicial source said.

The liberal political party formed by Mohamed ElBaradei has suffered another mass resignation.

Security forces launched an operation in the governorate of Sohag on Monday morning in response to a shooting that killed a policeman and injured another on Sunday night, reported state owned Al-Ahram.

The April 6 movement has chosen Amr Aly as its new head, succeeding founder and long-time leader Ahmed Maher.

A majority of the committee tasked with amending the suspended 2012 constitution has voted to revise article 47, which guarantees the free exercise of religion for all citizens, committee media spokesperson Mohamed Salmawy said on Monday.