French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius accused Russia Tuesday of displaying bravado on the Syria crisis that had yet to be backed up with action against the Islamic State group.

University students loyal to former president Mohamed Morsi called for fresh protests against the incumbent government Monday, in line with the start of the new academic year.

With no regular American presence in the war theater, the U.S. has struggled to answer basic intelligence questions about the situation in Syria and Iraq, including the Islamic State group’s fighting strength. And the U.S.-led bombing campaign has failed to dislodge the group from its self-declared caliphate across both countries.

Pope Tawadros II, the most senior figure in Egypt’s Coptic tradition, led Sunday mass at Medhane Alem Cathedral in Addis Ababa with his Ethiopian counterpart Patriarch Mathias on Sunday, reported MENA news agency.

Russia appeared to seize the initiative in international efforts to end the conflict in Syria on Sunday as Washington scrambled to devise a new strategy for the war-ravaged country and France sent warplanes to bomb Islamic State targets.

Speaking to Ahram Online from one of Alexandria’s oldest and most famous tearooms, Alaa Khaled, who is an authority on the history and dynamics of Egypt’s most prominent port city, said that the Alexandrians who will vote in the upcoming parliamentary elections are very different from those who voted in the 2010 and 2011 elections.

Thirty-seven Egyptian pilgrims were killed in Thursday's deadly stampede during the hajj ritual near Mecca in Saudi Arabia, Minister of Endowments Mokhtar Gomaa said on Saturday.

Pope Francis met with victims of child sexual abuse Sunday on the final day of his U.S. visit and promised to hold accountable those responsible for the scandal in the church, delivering a powerful warning to American bishops accused of covering up for pedophile priests instead of reporting them to police.

Nine individuals identified by the Ministry of Interior as armed Muslim Brotherhood members were killed by Egyptian security forces Friday.

Egypt’s Dar al-Iftaa will present its experience in promoting dialogue of civilizations and countering extremism, at the Global Youth Summit Against Violent Extremism Monday, Adviser of Grand Mufti Ibrahim Negm stated.

When world leaders convene for the U.N. General Assembly this week, it will be a year since the U.S. president declared the formation of an international coalition to “degrade and ultimately destroy” the Islamic State group.

The Islamic State jihadist group claimed responsibility for a mosque bombing targeting Shias in Yemen's capital on Thursday that killed at least 25 people.

Three weapons caches, including 30 tons of explosives, were seized in the cities of Giza and Arish, said a statement by the Armed Forces.

A total of 27 people allegedly affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood were arrested in Alexandria Security Thursday over trying to establish “irregular” open areas to perform Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice,) reported Youm7.

The Awqaf (Religious Endowment) Ministry announced Tuesday it has allocated 4,000 open air public areas nationwide to perform Eid al-Adha prayer scheduled for Thursday morning, Al-Ahram reported.

Pope Francis on Thursday urged the US Congress to help those fleeing war and poverty, and work to combat climate change, in a historic address to lawmakers that touched on many hot-button issues in US and global politics.

After months of imprisonment and uncertainty, two Al Jazeera journalists held in Egypt appear to have secured their freedom.

The head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Pope Tawadros II, will visit Ethiopia on 27 September on the occasion of the Feast of the Holy Cross, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported on Monday.

Lawyer Mostafa Nagy will submit a request to pardon Australian Journalist Peter Greste, who was deported to his home country in February after he was sentenced to prison in the case locally known as “Mariott Cell Case,” he told The Cairo Post Wednesday.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei denounced Israel on Wednesday for what he called its “insult” to Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque in connection with Israeli actions at one of Islam’s holiest places.

A number of security personnel from the various forces, including Shi’ite militias and Kurdish Peshmerga, have joined the throngs of refugees heading towards Europe. Meanwhile, a number of former ISIS/DAASH militants are speaking out about their disillusionment with the movement.