ALEXANDRIA: Alexandria’s Misdemeanor Court sentenced 14 girls affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood to 11 years and one month in prison Wednesday on charges of hindering traffic, and being members of a banned group that aims to destabilize the country.

Egyptian-German writer Hamed Abdel-Samad, suspected to have been kidnapped in Cairo Sunday, has returned to his hotel on his own volition, a security official told state news agency MENA Wednesday.

Former judge Mahmoud El-Khodeiry was arrested in Alexandria late Monday, reported the Middle East News Agency (MENA), on accusations of supervising torture, according to one of the defendant's lawyers.

Some Gulf countries have recently tried to persuade the government to go back to negotiations with the IMF on a $2 billion loan, but the Finance Ministry rejected the matter, saying that the Egyptian economy does not currently need a loan, after the gap in the budget had been bridged through Arab aid, say government sources.

CAIRO: Minister of Foreign Affairs Nabil Fahmy will meet with Ahmed al-Jarba, the head of the National Coalition for Syrian Opposition Forces, on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Hazem al-Beblawy said that the referendum on the constitution is proceeding in accordance with the transitional period plan, which would allow the referendum to be held in mid-January 2014.

Azazy Ali Azazy, the National Salvation Front spokesperson and the leading member of Popular Current, said that both the front and the current call for voting “yes” to the constitution amendments, in the upcoming referendum.

CAIRO: The Freedom Committee of the Egyptian Bar Association is opposing a new protest law issued by interim President Adly Mansour, and is threatening “massive demonstrations,” if it is not withdrawn within 48 hours, said committee spokesman Assad Heikal on Monday.

Interior Ministry has officially begun enforcing the controversial protest law, issued on Sunday. Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim held a meeting with his deputies to consider ways of implementing the law.

CAIRO: Chairperson of the Egyptian Civil Protection Authority (CPA) Maj Gen. Mamdouh Abdul Kader denied that an explosion occurred next to Ithadeya Presidential Palace that killed two policemen, as one news agency published earlier.

CAIRO: The Karama (Dignity) Party will join the Tamarod movement, the Popular Current and Arab Nasserist party in an alliance to run for the upcoming parliamentary elections, said Karama party leader Mohamed Sami on Monday.

Egyptian Prime Minister Hazem El-Beblawi has hit back at media critics who have labelled his administration the "trembling hands" government and called for stronger action against the Muslim Brotherhood.

The 50-Member Committee tasked with finalising Egypt's new constitution is in the final days of its work. The committee is expected to put the new constitution to a final vote among its members at the end of this week, or early next week.

Public Prosecutor Hesham Barakat has banned media to circulate news about all cases interrogated by state security prosecution.

CAIRO: Tarek al-Tohami, a member in the higher commission of the Wafd Party, said on Saturday that article 12 in the constitution regarding selecting the prime minister by the president after discussion with the majority party in parliament, ensures that the upcoming ruling system is mixed between presidential and parliamentary.

CAIRO: The expulsion of the Turkish ambassador and the boycott of the relations with Ankara will affect the Turkish economy more than Egypt, said the spokesperson of Tagammu Party Nabil Zaki, on Sunday.

Egyptian and Saudi naval units have started the joint training called ‘Morgan 14’, which will last for few days around the Red Sea naval base.

A student supporter of deposed president Mohamed Morsi has been shot dead during clashes with security forces at Al-Azhar University.

Mostafa Hegazy, political and strategic consultant to interim President Adly Mansour, said on Thursday that "there is no justification for terrorist acts" after 11 soldiers were killed and more than 30 injured in North Sinai early Wednesday.

BENI SUEF, Egypt: Students of Beni Suef University organized a demonstration inside the students’ dorm in solidarity with their colleagues of Al-Azhar University on Wednesday evening.

CAIRO: The 57357 Cancer Hospital organized the fourth annual marathon on Nov. 16, in the Smart Village. Many people of different ages and nationalities participated in the charity event, celebrating the recovery of many children who were previously diagnosed with cancer. The marathon started early morning; and included running, biking and many different activities.