France 24

AFGHANISTAN: Petraeus steps down as US commander in Afghanistan July 18, 2011 General David Petraeus (pictured), the top US commander in Afghanistan, steps down Monday to take up his new post as Director of the CIA. His successor John Allen, a general who made his name in the Iraq conflict, will be inducted Monday.

France 24

EGYPT: Egypt to swear in new cabinet after protests July 18, 2011 Egypt will swear in a new cabinet Monday following a major reshuffle replacing over half its members. Protesters who camped out in Cairo’s Tahrir Square since July 8 continue to push for a quicker trial of former President Hosni Mubarak.

France 24

SOMALIA: UN makes first aid airlift to drought-stricken Somalia July 17, 2011 The United Nations said Sunday it had delivered its first supplies of food and medicine to Somalia after hardline Islamist rebels lifted an aid ban. The entire Horn of Africa is suffering from the effects of one of the worst droughts in decades.

France 24

LIBYA: Gaddafi vows to remain in Libya as rebels advance July 17, 2011 Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has vowed not to go into exile despite a new offensive by rebels on the key refinery town of Brega.  In a defiant loudspeaker address to supporters, Gaddafi said he would never leave the land of his ancestors.

France 24

EGYPT: PM picks two deputies ahead of cabinet reshuffle July 17, 2011 Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf has chosen the leader of one of Egypt’s older political parties and an economist to be his deputies ahead of a planned cabinet reshuffle due to be announced Monday, state news agency MENA reported Saturday.