Egypt army says Sinai patrols kill 60 militants in month
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s army said on Wednesday that it had killed 60 militants in the lawless Sinai Peninsula in the month since the military overthrew Islamist President Mohamed Mursi.
Yemen says foils Qaeda plot to seize city, oil and gas terminals
SANAA (Reuters) – Yemen has foiled a plot by al Qaeda to seize two major oil and gas export terminals and a provincial capital in the east of the country, the government said on Wednesday, as Western embassies remained in lock-down in Sanaa and a spy p…
Ghana court says to rule on election challenge by August 29
ACCRA (Reuters) – Ghana’s Supreme Court said on Wednesday it will rule by August 29 on an opposition challenge to the result of December’s presidential election that was won by incumbent John Mahama.
Egypt PM says decision to break up sit-in is final
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s interim prime minister said on Wednesday the government had not retreated from its decision to break up two Cairo sit-ins by supporters of deposed President Mohamed Mursi and its patience had nearly expired.
Before-and-after pictures show devastation in Syria’s Aleppo
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The sharp outlines of houses are reduced to a blur of rubble in “before-and-after” satellite images of Aleppo published on Wednesday that show how civilians have borne the brunt of Syria’s civil war.
Exclusive: Saudi offers Russia deal to scale back Assad support – sources
AMMAN/DOHA (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia has offered Russia economic incentives including a major arms deal and a pledge not to challenge Russian gas sales if Moscow scales back support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Middle East sources and Western d…
Kenya expects first overseas flights to Nairobi airport on Thursday
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya Airways said on Wednesday its first overseas flights to land at the Kenyan capital’s fire-damaged airport would arrive as scheduled early on Thursday.
EU ‘very concerned’ about failure of mediation attempts in Egypt
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union said on Wednesday it was very concerned about the reported failure of diplomatic efforts to end Egypt’s political crisis and urged all sides to reach a peaceful solution.
Bulgarian president vetoes government plans to spend more
SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev vetoed a budget revision on Wednesday, saying the Socialist-led government had not shown enough transparency in its use of public money in the European Union’s poorest state.
Merkel plans to stand down in 2016 if re-elected: magazine
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s Angela Merkel plans to step down as chancellor in 2016, a year before the end of a third term, if she is re-elected in a September 22 election, according to an unsourced article in Stern magazine on Wednesday.