Popes John Paul II, John XXIII to be made saints: Vatican
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – The late Pope John Paul II will be made a saint, the Vatican said on Friday, announcing that Pope Francis had approved a second miracle attributed to the Polish pontiff, who led the Roman Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005.
Egypt’s army says no South Sinai, Suez state of emergency
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptian troops were “on alert” in the Sinai Peninsula, a military spokesman said on Friday, but he denied a report by the state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper that a state of emergency had been declared in Suez and South Sinai provinces.
Suicide bomber in uniform kills 12 Afghan police
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (Reuters) – A suicide bomber wearing an Afghan police uniform detonated an explosive-laden vest in a police dining room on Friday in the country’s volatile south, killing 12 police in an apparent insider attack, local officials sa…
Egypt liberals call ‘urgent’ anti-Islamist rallies
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s liberal coalition issued an “urgent call” for supporters to take to the streets on Friday in response to demonstrations by Islamist supporters of deposed President Mohamed Mursi.
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.
