The situation in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula remains tense. For now, the army seems to have slowed down its advance on alleged terrorist hangouts, pending negotiations with army chiefs. But the political overtones of the security dilemma are becoming harder to decipher.

Demands raised this week by Islamists in the Constituent Assembly, which is drafting the new Egyptian constitution, for placing the Church's funds under state financial control were categorically rejected by church leaders and Copts at large. Anba Pakhomious, Acting Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church, condemned the action of Salafist groups. "The mere submission of such a proposal is totally unacceptable, and if it is approved, this proposal has only one meaning, that Copts are clearly persecuted." He added that the church will not accept the monitoring of its money or donations by any entity, and should not pay taxes to the state because all its activities fall within the provision of the needs of orphans and needy Copts, and therefore the state cannot claim taxes because they are not investment projects.

Bamako, Mali (CNN) -- Islamist rebels in Mali have taken over a town in the middle of the country, a rebel leader and a resident said Saturday.

President Mohamed Morsy arrived in Tehran on Thursday, the first Egyptian leader to visit Iran since its Islamic revolution in 1979.

Constituent Assembly and Freedom and Justice Party member Farid Ismail said on Wednesday that the assembly drafted more than 100 articles on freedoms in the new constitution.

Controversial anchor and head of Fareen TV channel, Tawfiq Okasha, has declared he possesses documents that show that the Muslim Brotherhood directed thugs since the 25 January Revolution, and that the group is responsible for the opening of prisons during the 18-day January 2011 uprising.

Prosecutors are set to begin investigations on Thursday into the complaint filed by former MP Mohamed al-Omda against Tahani al-Gebali, vice president of the Supreme Constitutional Court.

Prosecutors went to the villa of Sabry "Nakhnoukh" Helmy, the so-called “most dangerous thug in Egypt,” for the second time on Wednesday in search of a large safe within.

A Muslim kidnapping a Coptic girl ...he force-marries her, and now she is married to a Muslim, and by Sharia law, ...the Egyptian security forces don't do anything.

Egypt's Islamist president is using former jihadists to mediate with radical Islamists in Sinai

Nile University students staged protests on Tuesday inside the Zewail City of Science and Technology, the former location of the university that has been relocated to the Smart Village.

Egyptian authorities have dropped charges against Australian journalist Austin Mackell, who has been barred from leaving Egypt since February, Australia’s foreign minister announced Tuesday.

President of the Cairo Court of Appeals Yousry Abdel Karim has denied news saying his predecessor, Abdel Moez Ibrahim, had been referred to a criminal court.

The Port Said Criminal Court on Monday adjourned the Port Said football violence trial to 3 September. Defense lawyers had asked that the testimonies of some witnesses be repeated, and also requested to review the court’s inspection of the Port Said Stadium and to review the prosecution’s case.

The names of the presidential assistants and advisers who will aid Egypt's first freely-elected head of state in the post-Mubarak era were finally revealed on Monday. With four assistants and 17 consultants – and more to come – Yasser Ali, spokesman for President Mohamed Morsi, said that the presidential team represented "different colours of the political spectrum," although team members' precise mandates remain unclear.

The US is resuming negotiations with the Egyptian government regarding an economic aid package to help Egypt overcome the aftermath of the 25 January revolution.

Court officials on Monday denied rumors that Judge Abdel Moez Ibrahim , the former head of the Cairo Court of Appeals who is accused of allowing employees from civil society organizations to leave the country while still under investgation for receiving illegal funds, hasbeen ordered to appear before the criminal court.

The shack-dwellers of Ramlet Bulaq have been hit by a wave of night-raids and arbitrary, violent arrests, say residents and lawyers. Dozens have been arrested, beaten and intimidated, causing many more to flee into hiding.

Egypt on Monday launched search and rescue operations with the help of Libyan coastal authorities after dozens of people were feared drowned when their boat capsized, officials said.

President Mohamed Morsy will fly to China on Monday for a three-day visit, where he will meet directly with President Hu Jintao to sign agreements to stimulate trade and investment.

Egyptian Prime Minister Hisham Qandil has said that the country would not be harmed by accepting a contentious $4.8 billion loan that Egypt is set to receive from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).