Diocese of Paris and the north of France held on Saturday a meeting for its priests. Spokesman for the Coptic Orthodox Church said that the meeting was attended by Abba Mark, General Bishop of the Diocese.

13 Syriac Christians were killed in terrorist attack on New Year's Eve at residential neighborhoods inhabited by Syriacs and Assyrians in the Syrian city of Qamishli. The attack targeted several restaurants at New Year's Eve.

Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi attended Saturday the celebration of National Youth Day at the Cairo Opera House, where he promised great financial and educational opportunities for Egypt's youth.

Turkey intends to invite Egypt to the to the 13th Summit of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul next April, Turkey’s foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday.

A Cairo court sentenced Saturday three individuals deemed responsible for the July collision of a ferryboat and a heavy-cargo ship in the Nile River, leading to the death of 40 people.

Egypt Prime Minister Sherif Ismail will preside over the council of governors meeting for the first time Saturday after the recent governors reshuffle in December that witnessed 11 new faces, Youm7 reported.

The Cairo Court of Cassation rejected on Saturday the appeal made by former president Honsi Mubarak and his two sons against their three-year imprisonment in what is popularly known as the “presidential palaces” case.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of Saint Mark See, sent a pastoral message to his sons all over the world.

Hilmi Namnam, Minister of Culture, congratulated Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of Saint Mark See, and the Coptic people on Christmas.

Major General Khaled Abdel Aal, Cairo security chief, said that police are taking extra security measures to secure churches and the Copts at Christmas celebrations.

8 Copts died today in car crash on the Western agricultural road of Beni Suef. The 8 Copts are workers in St. Mary Monastery of the Syrian who took vacation to celebrate Christmas with their families in Beni Suef.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, One God, Amen. Happy New Year and Merry Christmas. I congratulate you for the glorious birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Celebrating Christmas as celebrated by the whole world on December 25th is extended through the beginning of the calendar year and then celebrated by us according to the Eastern Coptic calendar on January 7th. Christmas is a renewal of our joy and happiness. In the story of Christmas, we see many events and figures but I would like to point out two events.

Ministry of Religious Endowments issued a statement to explain the reason of the visit of Dr. Mohamed Mokhtar Gomaa, Minister of Religious Endowments, to Pope Tawadros II.

Sheikh Islam Nawawi, Deputy Undersecretary of the Ministry of Religious Endowments, congratulated the Copts on Christmas.

After Esam Talima, member of the Muslim Brotherhood group and Office Director of Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi, congratulated the Copts on Christmas feasts, the Salafists denounced such act considering it against Islam.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of Saint Mark See, delegated Abba Raphael to attend the forty days memorial service of the late Abba Abraham, Bishop of Jerusalem.

Mkanoti Coptic family renewed its demands to restore its lands, which is seized by Muslim family Ameria village in Alexandria.

Anba Abraham Isaac, patriarch of Catholics in Egypt, headed a congregation today to visit Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark See, in order to congratulate him on Christmas.

Guard of St. Mina Church in Beni Mazar made up a story about a finding a bag full of Molotov Cocktails next to the church hoping he will get a promotion. Police found out he made up the story and arrested the man pending investigation.

Father Pernapa Fawzy, Priest of St. George Church in Nazlet Hanna village, said that the reconstruction work started at the church after receiving the building license. It’s worth mentioning that the church that serves 2000 Coptic Christians was refused to be given a license of reconstruction after demolishing the old building.

3 new monks were ordained today at the monastery of St. Paul in the Red Sea governorate. The celebration was headed by Abba Daniel, Bishop of the monastery. The monks are called Gebrael, Poktor and Angelos of St. Paul.