Pope Francis named his first batch of cardinals on Sunday, choosing 19 men from Asia, Africa, Latin America and elsewhere, including the developing nations of Haiti and Burkina Faso, in line with his belief that the church must pay more attention to the poor.

CAIRO: A number of students affiliated to the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) besieged the building of the Supreme Council of Universities, demanding the cancellation of an article related to combating terrorism that the council recently passed.

Egyptian Minister of interior Mohamed Ibrahim admitted that the decision not to transfer ousted president Mohamed Morsi from his detention at Burg Al Arab prison to the court at Police academy in Cairo caused confusion and controversy.

An Egyptian court sentenced 63 Muslim Brotherhood supporters to three years in jail each on Thursday on charges including rioting, thuggery and weapons possession, a judicial source said.

CAIRO: The Salafist Nour Party says it will stick to its plans regardless of the repeated Muslim Brotherhood attacks on their conferences in support of the constitution, according to Shabaan Abdel Alim, member of Nour Party’s presidential council.

CAIRO: Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh’s lawsuit in the Administrative Court against interim President Adly Mansour on the right of citizens to vote outside of their governorates may be turned down, said head of the Independent Current Ahmed Fadaly on Wednesday.

A Cairo criminal court has adjourned to 1 February the trial of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi and 14 other co-defendants, all charged with inciting murder, due to Morsi's inability to reach the courthouse, Al-Ahram's Arabic news website reported.

CAIRO: Security is on high alert across all governorates in anticipation of pro-Muslim Brotherhood protests on Wednesday that would coincide with ousted President Mohamed Morsi’s trial.

Security forces in Alexandria dispersed clashes between supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and the residents of the neighborhood of Miami.

CAIRO: Head of Strong Egypt Party Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh filed a law suit at the Administrative Court against interim President Adly Mansour’s decree.

Brotherhood students of Ain Shams University on Monday blocked the road in front of the university for a few minutes before opening it back up to traffic.

CAIRO: Muslim Brotherhood supporters sparked protests across Cairo on Monday evening, setting fire to police vehicles in Giza and Maadi and clashing with security forces.

CAIRO: Dar al-Iftaa, an Islamic research and educational institute, said jihad in Islam has a humanitarian objective, to eliminate injustice and protect the right of people to choose their faith.

CAIRO: A delegation of international lawyers is to attend the second trial session of ousted president Mohamed Morsi on Wednesday, according to the Freedom and Justice Party’s website.

PARIS: The Egyptian consulate in Paris summoned French police on Monday to disperse a sit-in of Egyptian citizens in support of the Muslim Brotherhood, after protestors refused to leave the building until their demand was met to release ousted President Mohamed Morsi.

CAIRO: Adel Moawad, a member of the defense team in the Ithadeya events, told Youm7 on Monday that 20 defense lawyers will attend the trial, scheduled for Jan. 8.

Prosecution rejected request submitted by the legal defense of toppled President Mohamed Morsy demanding his visit at Borg al-Arab Prison, official sources said on Saturday.

South Giza prosecution postponed investigations on Saturday over members of the Muslim Brotherhood to 16 January until security situations become stable and all evidences on their involvement in burning the governorate’s office and 12 police stations are collected.

Twenty-four Muslim Brotherhood members were referred to the general prosecution Saturday on charges of forming a terrorist group, disturbing public security, and attacking the home of Mahmoud Badr, co-founder of the Rebel (Tamarod) campaign that spearheaded protests against former president Mohamed Morsi.

FAYOUM, Egypt: Security forces in Fayoum City dispersed a march in support of the Muslim Brotherhood on Sunday.

Pope Francis announced on Sunday that he will visit Holy Land sites in Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Territories in May, his first trip to the area as pontiff.