Ethiopian Muslims stage Eid protests, some are arrested
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – Muslims in Ethiopia protested in the capital Addis Ababa during Eid al-Fitr prayers on Thursday, as part of a two-year-old campaign against what they say is government interference in their religious affairs.
Kenya’s main airport battles to reopen after devastating blaze
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya pledged to reopen its main airport to all international flights on Thursday night in a bid to reassure travellers that east Africa’s transport hub could recover quickly from a fire that left the arrivals terminal a smouldering…
Pakistan PM: imperative to restore ceasefire on India border
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Thursday it was imperative for both India and his nation to restore a ceasefire on the disputed Kashmir border following this week’s flare-up in tension between the nuclear-armed neigh…
Israel gives preliminary approval for 800 new settler homes
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel has given preliminary approval for the construction of more than 800 new homes in Jewish settlements on occupied West Bank land where Palestinians seek statehood, an Israeli official said on Thursday.
Czech parties closing on deal to hold early election
PRAGUE (Reuters) – Czech political parties neared agreement on Thursday on holding an early election to end a stand-off with the president that has crippled policymaking for nearly two months with the economy struggling to recover from recession.
French government’s next tax grab may strain fragile recovery
PARIS (Reuters) – A growing chorus of French businesses and consumers is warning that government plans to wring 6 billion euros more in tax out of the economy next year risk stifling a fragile recovery and could damage future growth.
Kenya to resume international flights from midnight Thursday
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya said it would reopen its main airport at midnight on Thursday after a fire on Wednesday forced the suspension of international and cargo flights, choking a vital gateway to east Africa.
Italy’s Senate approves law to ease overcrowded prisons
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s parliament on Thursday approved measures to ease some of the worst prison overcrowding in Europe by cutting pre-trial detentions and using alternative punishments for minor offences.
Politics to fore as Egyptian rivals celebrate Eid
CAIRO (Reuters) – Bitterly divided Egyptians prayed in public and children played as they celebrated the Eid al-Fitr holiday on Thursday.
Assad shown unharmed after Syria rebels report attack
AMMAN (Reuters) – Syrian rebels said on Thursday they targeted President Bashar al-Assad’s motorcade heading to a Damascus mosque to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, but state television showed him unharmed and the government denied he had been …
