Sri Lanka to hold polls in ex-war zone for first time in 25 years
COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lanka will hold provincial elections in the former northern war zone in September for the first time in 25 years, officials said on Friday, a move demanded by the United Nations since the end of three decades of conflict in 2009…
African Union suspends Egypt
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – The African Union suspended Egypt from all its activities on Friday after the Egyptian military overthrew the elected president, Mohamed Mursi, a senior AU official said.
Lebanese protesters rally in support of fugitive sheikh
SIDON, Lebanon (Reuters) – More than 300 Lebanese rallied in the coastal city of Sidon in support of a fugitive Sunni Islamist cleric on Friday, a day after an audio recording believed to be his voice urged followers to demonstrate.
Afghan Taliban vow attacks over Ramadan after being hacked
KABUL (Reuters) – The Afghan Taliban promised on Friday to continue attacks over Ramadan, rejecting as a fake an insurgent email promising a halt in violence over the coming Muslim holy month and saying it was the work of government intelligence.
Suez Canal, Egypt ports operating normally
CAIRO/LONDON (Reuters) – Egypt’s ports and its strategic Suez Canal were operating normally on Friday with no disruption to cargo traffic, two shipping sources and a canal official said.
South Sudan accuses Sudan of attacks in disputed borderland
JUBA (Reuters) – South Sudan accused Sudan’s army on Friday of launching two separate attacks with planes and land troops on areas near their disputed border, in a new sign of friction between the former civil war foes.
Hungary’s Orban accuses Europe of ‘Soviet-style’ meddling
BUDAPEST (Reuters) – Hungary accused the European Parliament on Friday of resorting to Soviet-style methods that challenged the country’s sovereignty by passing a resolution deploring recent changes to the constitution.
Egypt’s army announces state of emergency in South Sinai, Suez
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s army announced a state of emergency in the provinces of South Sinai and Suez on Friday after Islamist gunmen attacked an airport in the Sinai town of El Arish, state newspaper Al-Ahram reported.
Vatican prelate accused of smuggling cash denied house arrest
ROME (Reuters) – A Vatican prelate detained on suspicion of trying to smuggle tens of millions of euros into Italy will remain in jail after an Italian judge on Friday rejected his request to be released into house arrest, judicial sources said.
Syrian crop risks threaten to worsen food shortages: U.N.
ROME (Reuters) – Four million Syrians, a fifth of the population, are unable to produce or buy enough food, and farmers are short of the seed and fertilizers they need to plant their next crop, the United Nations said on Friday.
