Ambassador Lamia Mukhaimar Egypt's Consul in Los Angeles held a celebration for Pope Tawadros II who is currently visiting America.

Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of Saint Mark See, signed on Monday a historic agreement between the Claremont University and Saints Athanasius and Cyril Theological Coptic Orthodox school.

Egyptian writer Sabri Albaga denounced the weak participation in the voting process by the Egyptians abroad. He said that it’s weird to find this with the participation of 32 candidates of the Egyptians abroad on the electoral lists.

A poll conducted by the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights said that the largest segment of the voters, the youth, decided to boycott the elections for the lack of confidence in the candidates, especially as most of them are members of the dissolved National Party.

Eyewitnesses reported supporters of the candidates of al-Nour party in Qena harassed a number of Coptic voters in front of poll stations in Qena.

Dr. Yasser Al Borhamy, vice president of the Salafist call in Alexandria, said al-Nour Party worries that the Liberal Egyptians party, founded and financed by Coptic businessman Naguib Sawiros, is going to harvest several votes in the elections.

The second day of parliamentary elections in Qena witnessed more violation for the law by al-Nour ultra conservative party.

Egyptian Consul in New York, Ambassador Ahmed Farouk, said that the Egyptians participated actively in the elections with a great sense of responsibility.

Priest of the Coptic church in Delga denied rumors about targeting the Copts by elements of the Islamic State in Minya.

Security forces in Minya arrested a gang in Minya that kidnapped a Coptic merchant and filmed him nude with a woman in order to blackmail him.

Egyptian newspapers highlighted contradictory situation of the ultra conservative al-Nour Party between attacking the Copts and calling them infidels from one hand, and asking for their support in the parliamentary elections on the other hand.

Ahmed A. member of al-Nour party was arrested in Aswan for paying electoral bribes in front of electoral polls.

Abba Ghobrial, Bishop of Beni Suef, encouraged the people to participate in the parliamentary elections held on Sunday and Monday.

Elderly and people with special needs participated actively in first stage of the parliamentary elections in Egypt.

Father Paul Halim, spokesman for the Coptic Orthodox Church, said that former acting Patriarch, Bishop Pachomius, casted his vote today in Behira governorate in spite of his serious illness.

Naguib Sawiris, Coptic businessman and founder of the Free Egyptians Party, filed a complaint today to the Attorney General against the Salafi Nour Party, and its spokesperson Nader Bakkar.

Religious institutions in Egypt issued several statements to encourage voting in the parliamentary elections, after other fanatic institutions claimed elections are haram in general.

President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi has called on the Egyptians to flock to polling stations and vote in large numbers in the 2015 parliamentary elections that will kick off in Egypt Sunday.

Several streets and schools in the Cairo were renamed after victims of policemen and military personnel who were killed in bombings and deadly attacks during Egypt’s political turmoil, Youm7 reported.