Tchaikovsky's famed Nutcracker ballet... One of the standard repertoire elements, performed by the Cairo Opera Ballet Company, the ballet returns to the Cairo Opera's stage starting 25 December. With most performances taking place in the evening, the troupe will give one matinee performance on 29 December.

Nabil Abdel-Fattah, an expert in political ‎Islamist movements and editor-in-chief of the annual Religion in ‎Egypt report published by Ahram Center for Political and Strategic ‎Studies (Photo: Al-Ahram)

After a long wait, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis – a group active in northern Sinai – has moved from the stage of sympathizing with ISIS to being a part of the international organization. It has sworn allegiance to ISIS and changed its name to Wilayat Sinai. This is but one reflection of the growing radicalization among Egyptians, particularly Islamist youth.The formal announcement of the pledge of allegiance was delayed – after Ansar Beit al-Maqdis’ preacher prayed for ISIS during this year’s Eid al-Fitr prayers – because the group held a consultation between all jihadi factions in Sinai. While some of them objected to the pledge, given that they had already sworn allegiance to Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, in the end they agreed to support ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, according to sources close to the group.

Egypt's armed forces killed 14 "terrorists" in raids in Sinai from Thursday to Saturday, the army spokesman said on Sunday.

Egypt’s security situation is improving after over 10,000 people were detained since January, assistant to the Minister of Interior, Abdel Fattah Uthman, was quoted as saying in state-owned news agency MENA.

The Cairo Criminal Court Saturday postponed the trial of activist Alaa Abd El Fattah and 24 other defendants being tried on charges of involvement in clashes outside the Shura Council in 2013 until Dec. 27 to listen to defense testimony, Youm7 reported Saturday.

Hamas is committed to the Egyptian brokered ceasefire agreement, Deputy Head of the Political Bureau of the Hamas movement Mousa Abu Marzouk said Sunday.

Israel launched two air strikes on Gaza late Friday night, in response to rocket fire from Gaza earlier in the day. No Palestinian organisation claimed responsibility for the rocket attacks.

They were accused of taking part in acts of violence in Assiut last year during which five churches, several police stations and a number of shops were set on fire. There were no reported casualties.

Palestinian factions held a meeting in Gaza on Thursday to announce a new political initiative that seeks to revitalise a unity government.

Nader Bakkar, responsible for the Nour Party media affairs, criticized the government on Thursday for what he accused of hastily issuing the electoral constituencies law.

The South Cairo Criminal Court directed Thursday an acquittal verdict for 30 defendants on charges of possessing bladed weapons during the clashes of the June 30 Revolution, Youm7 reported.

Egypt’s Pope Tawadros II expressed faith Wednesday that any project undertaken by Ethiopia wouldn’t harm anyone, in a clear nod to Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam, a source of recent anxiety to Egypt.

An Egyptian administrative court yesterday overturned a decision by a special committee to seize the assets of the Muslim Brotherhood's leaders, Reuters reported.

Mohamed Soltan, the imprisoned son of prominent Muslim Brotherhood leader Salah Soltan, was admitted to the intensive care unit of the Qasr El-Aini Hospital on Tuesday night.

Al-Azhar University has decided to expel 71 students for their involvement in protests on campus, and suspended investigation with five others not proven to have participated in such acts.

Some 312 defendants including the Muslim Brotherhood’s Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie were referred Monday to the military prosecution for torching Ismailia’s court complex, in a retroactive application of an October decree on military trials, Youm7 reported.

A bloody Taliban raid on an army-run school in northwest Pakistan has ended, police said Tuesday, with all six attackers dead.

Military spokesperson Mohamed Samir said in a statement on Tuesday that army troops killed 17 extremists in North Sinai in an exchange of fire, including three while trying to escape from a checkpoint and 14 during raids on their hideouts.

The Cairo Criminal Court resumed Monday the trial of former president Mohamed Morsi and 35 co-defendants facing charges for leaking documents related to Egypt’s national security.