Pope Francis on Monday created a new finance ministry to oversee the Holy See's economic affairs in a move the Vatican said was aimed at helping the poor and increasing transparency, following a wave of scandals.

Egypt's deposed President Mohamed Mursi on Saturday rejected the right of a court to try him and other Muslim Brotherhood leaders on charges related to a mass jail break in 2011, security and judicial sources said.

Founder of the Popular Current and candidate in the upcoming presidential elections Hamdeen Sabbahi denied reports published by media outlets on Saturday which claim he held secret meetings with leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Moderate Islamist politician Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh, whose Strong Egypt Party has been critical of both the Muslim Brotherhood and the interim government, has condemned what he says is the army's continued interference in Egypt's political scene.

Governor of South Sinai Kahlid Fouda has removed the Saint Catherine city head from his position for negligence in dealing with eight hikers lost in the area, reported Aswat Masriya.

Egypt: A Facebook fan page belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood claimed responsibility for burning a police car in Ismailia while it was stopped in front of a workshop.

Presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabbahi said he will contact different political parties, including the Salafist Nour Party, in a Thursday statement to Youm7.

Egypt’s Minister of Education Mahmoud Aboul-Nasr said that members of the Muslim Brotherhood aim to undermine the efforts exerted by the ministry to develop the educational process.

Lawyer Ahmed Qenawy, delegated by the Lawyers Syndicate to defend former President Mohamed Morsi against charges of espionage, said Thursday that he would do his job regardless of his support for the uprising of June 30 which led to the ouster of Morsi.

The security authority is prepared to confront attacks from Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, security expert Brigadier Khaled Okasha told Youm7 Thursday.

Head of the International Union of Muslim Scholars Yusuf al-Qaradawi will deliver the Friday sermon this week from Omar Ibn El Khattab mosque in Doha, al-Qaradawi Official Website announced Thursday.

The head of the Egyptian council of churches, a grouping that brings together the Coptic Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican, Evangelical and Greek Orthodox denominations, has said that the group will not back a particular candidate in the coming presidential elections.

The Evangelical Church revealed the distribution of publications in a number of orthodox churches that prevent the entry of evangelical pastors from praying, especially in the funerals prayers.

Hassan Nafaa, a professor of political science at Cairo University, blamed the Muslim Brotherhood on Tuesday for rejecting his initiative, “Rescuing the state,” after the group’s latest statement didn’t refer to the initiative.

Five NGOs expressed their regret for not receiving “adequate answers” to key questions raised in a meeting, held on Monday, with the fact-finding committee tasked with investigating incidents of violence since 30 June.

The Episcopal Church in Egypt has joined the growing number of groups who have condemned Christian attacks on Muslims in the Central African Republic (CAR).

The Islamist militant group Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis has told tourists to leave Egypt and threatened to attack anyone who stays in the country after a deadline of February 20.

Asharq al-Awsat London-based newspaper said that many signs indicate that the pro-legitimacy alliance, formed after toppling President Mohamed Morsy in July, is about to collapse as many imprisoned Muslim Brotherhood leaders are urging for a dialogue with the current Egyptian government.

Ahmed Mohamed Morsi, son of the ousted President Mohamed Morsi, said Monday on his Facebook page that the Muslim Brotherhood admitted committing mistakes, adding that many Islamist figures made statements acknowledging this.

The pro-Mohamed Morsi National Alliance to Support Legitimacy issued a statement on Monday announcing that they will rally on Tuesday to commemorate the Abu Zaabal incident.

The security forces arrested 43 Muslim Brotherhood members in Fayoum over charges of storming and burning police stations, police vehicles and the governorate's managing headquarters.