Egypt Declares State of Emergency in Northern Sinai Peninsula after Blast Kills 30

Islamists supporting deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi drove explosives-laded vehicle into an army checkpoint near the principal northern Sinai town of Al-Arish on Friday killing 30 including senior military personnel. In a second attack on Friday, an army officer was shot dead and two soldiers wounded at another check point. The Egyptian government responded with the imposition of a three-month state-of-emergency and the closing of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.