U.N., EU pledge aid for ‘forgotten crisis’ in Central African Republic
KAGA-BANDORO, Central African Republic (Reuters) – UN and EU aid chiefs promised help on Friday to victims of a “forgotten crisis” in Central African Republic, where armed groups are preying on civilians four months after a rebel takeover plunged the c…
Red Cross calls for ‘humanitarian pause’ in Syria’s Homs
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The Red Cross appealed on Friday for a halt in the fierce fighting between President Bashar al-Assad’s forces and rebels in the Syrian city of Homs, to bring in life-saving supplies to trapped residents.
Zimbabwe PM party tries to stop early police vote in election
HARARE (Reuters) – Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party sought on Friday to prevent an early vote taking place by police officers who will be on duty during the actual election later this month, saying the number voting was vastly in…
Snowden case shows leakers need protection: U.N. rights chief
GENEVA (Reuters) – U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay gave guarded support for fugitive former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden on Friday, saying his case showed the need to protect people who uncovered abuses.
UK police investigate suspected nail bombing at mosque
LONDON (Reuters) – British police said on Friday they were investigating a suspected nail bomb attack on a mosque in central England and were treating the incident as a suspected terrorist act.
Italy to revoke expulsion of Kazakh oligarch’s wife
ROME (Reuters) – Italy said on Friday it would revoke a deportation order against the wife and daughter of Kazakh oligarch and dissident Mukhtar Ablyazov, criticizing serious failings in a procedure it maintained was conducted without its knowledge.
Egypt turns back flights from Syria after tighter visa rules: U.N.
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt has turned back several flights carrying hundreds of Syrians after tightening visa rules following the toppling of President Mohamed Mursi, the U.N. refugee agency said on Friday.
Nine Senegalese freed by Casamance rebels: media
DAKAR (Reuters) – Nine Senegalese working for a demining organization were freed on Friday in Guinea-Bissau after being held captive by separatist rebels in Senegal’s restive southern region of Casamance, the state news agency reported.
Egypt’s divide turns brother against brother
CAIRO (Reuters) – Islam Ibrahim has no idea if his older brother Nasim was one of the Republican Guardsmen shooting at him when he and hundreds of other Egyptians were wounded and more than 50 killed.
Egyptian army helicopter briefly enters Gaza airspace
GAZA (Reuters) – An Egyptian military helicopter briefly crossed into Israeli-controlled airspace over the Gaza Strip on Friday, in a possible sign of increased security jitters a week after Egypt’s army toppled President Mohamed Mursi.
