An Al-Azhar convoy of doctor and preachers left to North Sinai Wednesday with 10 tons of food and 800 blankets to be present in areas where extremist ideologies spread, the institution announced.

The terrorist group now calling itself the Islamic State in Egypt, formerly known as Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, posted photos on Monday showing confrontations between its elements and armed forces in North Sinai.

The Islamic State armed group which holds swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria issued a video online on Tuesday purporting to show two Japanese hostages and demanding $200 million from the Japanese government to save their lives.

A court in Egypt has given scores of the Muslim Brotherhood proponents prison terms over several charges as part of the ongoing crackdown on supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi.

The Salafi Nour Party announced Tuesday they would not participate in any demonstrations during the fourth anniversary of the January 25 Revolution, Youm7 reported.

An online video released Tuesday purported to show the Islamic State group threatening to kill two Japanese hostages unless they receive a $200 million ransom in the next 72 hours.

Pope Francis left the Philippines on Monday, ending a week-long trip to Asia that culminated with a rain-soaked Mass for about seven million people in the capital of Asia's most populous Catholic nation, the largest-ever crowd for a papal event.

Al-Azhar, the highest seat of Sunni Islamic learning, does not accept comments by British Prime Minister David Cameron about the right to say offensive things about religion in a free society, the institution’s deputy leader has said.

Seventy-five alleged Muslim Brotherhood members were sentenced to lengthy prison terms in the Delta city of Mansoura Monday morning on charges of inciting violence, Youm7 reported.

Three "terrorists" were killed in security raids conducted by Egypt's armed forces in the Sinai Peninsula from Wednesday to Sunday, the army spokesman said.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Monday said the fight against "terrorism" needs a new Muslim religious discourse in addition to security and military measures.

“Nour Party is a party with a religious background. But it is a political party today; it is participating with us,” President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi told Sky News Arabia Sunday, a day after a court set Feb. 21 to pronounce a ruling on the party’s dissolution because it is “based on a religious background.”

Former President Mohamed Morsi called on Egyptians in a Sunday court session to unite in the approaching anniversary of the January 25 Revolution to “topple the coup;” his espionage trial was adjourned to Jan. 21, Youm7 reported.

Younis Makhyoun, Nour Party Chairman, said the party was surprised it was excluded from the political parties' meeting, following a meeting with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, last week, although all political parties participated.

Italy says it has expelled nine suspected jihadis since late December and is vowing more expulsions in a heightened terrorism crackdown.

A suspect in the attack on security personnel guarding a church in the Upper Egypt governorate of Minya was killed in a police shootout, a top security official said.

The Egyptian General Union of Copts for the Home slammed Friday the latest European Parliament (EP) report in which the Egyptian human rights record was criticized.

An army officer was killed on Thursday while trying to dismantle an improvised explosive device (IED) on al-Arish-Rafah International Road in North Sinai, police sources said.

A police officer was injured early Thursday in a blast outside a police station in Alexandria.

Assiut Criminal Court has sentenced Assem Abdel Maged, Jamaa al-Islamiyah leader, to 15 years in rigorous prison and five Muslim Brotherhood members to five years for each over charges of killing protesters during 30 June incidents in the province.

Pope Francis said Thursday there are limits to freedom of expression, especially when it insults or ridicules someone’s faith.