Egyptian women witnessed a slight improvement in political rights through 2015, although their socio-economic circumstances have declined and acts of violence against women have continued, according to a report by the Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday at talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry that they had agreed to make efforts on resuming direct flights between Russia and Egypt in the shortest possible period of time.

The Egyptian team in charge of investigating the murder of an Italian researcher in Cairo will head to Rome in the upcoming days to foster mutual coordination on the case, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said in an interview published on Wednesday.

The prosecutor-general’s office received a report from lawyer Amr Abdel Salam demanding an arrest order be issued for former justice minister Ahmed Al-Zind as well as a travel ban.

Egypt's Central Bank will offer on Wednesday to sell $1.5 billion in an exceptional auction to banks to "cover the outstanding foreign currency debts that resulted from importing operations," the bank stated on its website on Tuesday.

Within the next two weeks, Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia will sign agreements concerning Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam. Based on technical studies to be carried out, the anticipated agreements come in response to Cairo's fears over the controversial dam. Egypt’s irrigation minister, Hossam Moghazi, has warned of potentially detrimental impact on Egypt's water supply.

Price of gold in Egypt fell by 0.3 EGP ($0.033) per gram Tuesday in the wake of the Central Bank of Egypt’s (CBE) recent decision to devaluate the pound from 7.83 to 8.95 against the U.S. dollar, Rafik Abbasy, said chairman of the gold division at the Federation of Chambers of Commerce.

The recent decision to exempt Justice Minister Ahmed al-Zend from office sparked debate on whether the move was constitutional or if it bypassed parliament's functions stipulated in the constitution.

Prime Minister Sherif Ismail has appointed Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Magdy al-Agaty has acting justice minister until a new minister is sworn-in to replace Ahmed al-Zend, who was dismissed on Sunday.

Egypt's Central Bank (CBE) sold $198.1 million to local banks in a $200 million exceptional auction earlier Monday at a "more flexible exchange rate" of EGP 8.85 per dollar against 7.73 in previous auctions, the bank stated on its website.

Ahmed al-Zend has was sacked from his post as justice minister late on Sunday, to be replaced by his assistant Reda Shawkat, after Zend made remarks on television deemed offensive to Islam’s Prophet Mohamed.

State-owned banks National Bank of Egypt and Banque Misr will offer Egyptian pound investment certificates with a 15 percent yield in return for foreign currency, the head of National Bank of Egypt told Reuters on Monday.

An elderly Alexandrian woman died Monday after part of an atrium wall collapsed due to strong winds while the 85-year old was inside, Youm7 reported.

The National Council for Women (NCW) has announced a new training program to raise women's skills in the field of social entrepreneurship and small-sized enterprises.

Egypt's three largest state-owned banks will offer Euro-denominated certificates to Egyptian expats starting at a minimum of €100 and its multiples, state news agency MENA reported on Sunday, citing the national bank of Egypt (NBE).

"Your exellency: you are not working," television presenter Azza al-Henawy said, looking into the camera but addressing the Egyptian president. "Not one single issue has been solved since you took over."

Some 1,592 tourists of different nationalities are scheduled to arrive at Sharm al Sheikh Airport Sunday aboard 11 international flights, head of South Sinai Task Force Essam Khedr told Youm7.

Italy's top prosecutor Giuseppe Pignatone is set to arrive in Cairo Monday to follow up on investigations related to slain Italian student Guilio Regeni, said Egypt's ambassador to Italy.

Minister of Justice Ahmed Al-Zind has faced severe backlash following his statement on Friday, when he said: “I will imprison anyone who does wrong, even Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) himself.”

Egypt dismissed as inaccurate reports that it is seeking a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a Central Bank official told Ahram Online on Wednesday.

A prominent opponent of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Egypt's fragmented pro-democracy opposition parties had "failed" the country and he vowed to forge a new movement able to provide a genuine alternative to the current government.