Summoned by one of Egypt’s most authoritative Muslim scholars, the country’s rival political groups held extraordinary talks Thursday

Egypt's central bank has approved a request by Qatar National Bank (QNB) to acquire a majority stake in National Societe Generale Bank - Egypt (NSGB).

Right in the middle of the biggest crisis of his presidency, Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi has come to Germany. Morsi had been hoping Berlin would forgive hundreds of millions of euros in debt. He ended up getting something far less tangible: advice on how to run his country.

Egypt's Suez Canal Authority (SCA) on Thursday announced it would raise toll fees for all vessels passing through the strategic waterway between 2 and 5 per cent starting on 1 May 2013, in an effort to boost government revenues currently suffering from an ailing economy.

A military source said that the power of the Armed Forces to arrest civilians, outlined in a law approved by President Mohamed Morsy on Wednesday, is temporary, lasting until the results of the parliamentary elections are announced.

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi on Wednesday reiterated that his 2010 comments about Jews had been "taken out of context," stressing that, "as a Muslim, I respect all the divine religions [Judaism, Christianity and Islam]."

Ismailia Governor Gamal Imbabi has reduced the night-time curfew imposed on the canal city from nine to three hours.

A judge has released a former MP after summoning him as part of an ongoing investigation over the alleged defamation of the judiciary.

After shunning earlier invitations by President Mohamed Morsi to hold talks aimed at resolving Egypt's current political crisis, Mohamed ElBaradei, one of the leaders of the National Salvation Front (NSF) opposition umbrella group, has called for a meeting with Morsi and various political players.

The Supreme Constitutional Court board of commissioners will review a lawsuit over the nullification of the Shura Council elections law on 10 February.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Omar Salem will choose articles of Egypt's newly-ratified constitution to be subject to possible amendment by a committee appointed by Egypt's presidency.

A cruise ferry The King of the Nile heading to Aswan from Luxor carrying 120 mostly Egyptian passengers sank in the Nile Tuesday evening, in the Aakab area, 5 kilometers from Aswan after it hit some rocks resulting in a crack in its body.

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi cancelled his trip to France scheduled for Thursday and will shorten his visit to Germany planned for Wednesday, according to Al-Ahram's Arabic website.

Prime Minister Hesham Qandil will retain his post until parliamentary elections are completed, a senior government source told Al-Masry Al-Youm, noting that Qandil’s meeting with President Mohamed Morsy on Monday did not address this question.

Border troops in Port Said have seized a lorry carrying around 6 tons of marijuana, known as ‘bango’ in Egyptian slang.

Prosecutor General Talaat Abdallah has ordered police and deputized members of the Armed Forces to arrest all suspected members of the Black Bloc.

Egypt's National Salvation Front (NSF), a coalition of opposition parties and groups, rejected on Monday an invitation by President Mohamed Morsi to hold talks aimed at resolving the current political crisis.

The prosecution has detained 83 individuals on charges related to ongoing clashes across the country. Forty-four have been released, while another 56 are to be interrogated within hours, said a judicial source.

Thousands of people turned out on the streets of Port Said on Monday to attend the funerals of the latest victims of violence in the Egyptian city where President Mohamed Morsy has declared a state of emergency, state television images showed.

The National Council for Human Rights has decided to form eight different fact-finding committees to investigate recent clashes in the governorates of Port Said, Ismailia, Suez, Cairo, Alexandria, Beheira, Sharqiya and Gharbiya.

Several thousand protesters are marching to the Sidi Gaber district in Alexandria, Egypt's second largest city, blocking one side of the corniche road, to commemorate the second anniversary of the "Friday of Anger", January 28 2011.