Panic after two rockets strike rally
Two rockets struck the Russian embassy in Damascus on Tuesday, sparking panic after a few hundred people gathered for a rally in Syria, reported AFP. Around 300 people had gathered for a demonstration to thank Russia for its recent intervention in Syria when the rockets crashed into the embassy in Damascus' Mazraa neighbourhood. It was not immediately clear if anyone was wounded or killed in the incident. Russia began launching airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Syria on September 30.
13-year-old boy among victims of stabbings
In three separate incidents on Monday, two Palestinian youths, aged 13 and 15, stabbed and critically injured a 13-year-old Israeli boy in northern Jerusalem, a 16-year-old Palestinian girl stabbed and wounded a paramilitary border policeman in central Jerusalem and the Israeli police shot and killed a Palestinian man who attacked one of their border officers with a knife in the city. The three incidents were the latest in the spiral of violence that has engulfed the city, spurred by tensions between the two countries. Four Israelis and 26 Palestinians, including eight children, have died in 12 days of violence and bloodshed, stirred partially by Muslim anger over increasing Jewish visits to the al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem.
Egyptian court orders release of Mubarak’s sons
The two sons of Egypt’s ousted dictator Hosni Mubarak will be released from jail after a court on Monday ruled that they have completed their three-year sentences for corruption. Gamal and his brother Alaa had appealed to the court that their sentences had expired due to the time they had already spent in detention, while awaiting their trial. The court ordered their release after taking into account the time they served since their arrest in 2011. Mubarak and his sons were charged of acquiring almost 126 million Egyptian pounds from the Presidential Palace budget and using them for construction and development of family-owned assets.
EU to suspend Belarus sanctions despite vote concerns
The European Union on Monday agreed to suspend sanctions against the regime of Belarus President Alexander Kukashenko, who won a fifth term in office with 83.5% of votes. Even though the EU said that the election fell short of democratic standards, France and Germany welcomed a lack of political repression in the country. The United States, however, voiced its disappointment over the re-election, saying the ballot fell "significantly short" of the country's commitment to free and fair polls.
US air drops ammunition to Syria rebels
The United States military on Monday carried out an air drop of small arms ammunition for rebels in northern Syria, two weeks after Russia decided to intervene in the war by taking the side of President Bashar Al-Assad. A US military official said on Monday the air drop of supplies to the opposition fighters was part of a revamped strategy announced last week to help rebels in Syria battling Islamic State militants. The US had last week decided to shelve their programme of training and equipping "moderate" rebels opposed to the Assad regime, who would also join the fight against Islamic State.
Pilot skeleton and Malaysia flag found on Philippines island
Details from the reported discovery of plane wreckage on a remote island in the Philippines have stirred suspicions it could be linked to Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. Birdwatchers on the coastline of Sugbay Island reportedly stumbled upon aircraft debris said to contain human skeletal remains and the Malaysian flag, the colours of which are used on the livery of Malaysia Airlines. There were no indications from the satellite tracking pings that the aircraft might have diverted towards the southern Philippines after the final sign-off by the co-pilot en route north from Kuala Lumpur.
We welcome your comments at
letters@scroll.in.
Two rockets struck the Russian embassy in Damascus on Tuesday, sparking panic after a few hundred people gathered for a rally in Syria, reported AFP. Around 300 people had gathered for a demonstration to thank Russia for its recent intervention in Syria when the rockets crashed into the embassy in Damascus' Mazraa neighbourhood. It was not immediately clear if anyone was wounded or killed in the incident. Russia began launching airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Syria on September 30.
13-year-old boy among victims of stabbings
In three separate incidents on Monday, two Palestinian youths, aged 13 and 15, stabbed and critically injured a 13-year-old Israeli boy in northern Jerusalem, a 16-year-old Palestinian girl stabbed and wounded a paramilitary border policeman in central Jerusalem and the Israeli police shot and killed a Palestinian man who attacked one of their border officers with a knife in the city. The three incidents were the latest in the spiral of violence that has engulfed the city, spurred by tensions between the two countries. Four Israelis and 26 Palestinians, including eight children, have died in 12 days of violence and bloodshed, stirred partially by Muslim anger over increasing Jewish visits to the al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem.
Egyptian court orders release of Mubarak’s sons
The two sons of Egypt’s ousted dictator Hosni Mubarak will be released from jail after a court on Monday ruled that they have completed their three-year sentences for corruption. Gamal and his brother Alaa had appealed to the court that their sentences had expired due to the time they had already spent in detention, while awaiting their trial. The court ordered their release after taking into account the time they served since their arrest in 2011. Mubarak and his sons were charged of acquiring almost 126 million Egyptian pounds from the Presidential Palace budget and using them for construction and development of family-owned assets.
EU to suspend Belarus sanctions despite vote concerns
The European Union on Monday agreed to suspend sanctions against the regime of Belarus President Alexander Kukashenko, who won a fifth term in office with 83.5% of votes. Even though the EU said that the election fell short of democratic standards, France and Germany welcomed a lack of political repression in the country. The United States, however, voiced its disappointment over the re-election, saying the ballot fell "significantly short" of the country's commitment to free and fair polls.
US air drops ammunition to Syria rebels
The United States military on Monday carried out an air drop of small arms ammunition for rebels in northern Syria, two weeks after Russia decided to intervene in the war by taking the side of President Bashar Al-Assad. A US military official said on Monday the air drop of supplies to the opposition fighters was part of a revamped strategy announced last week to help rebels in Syria battling Islamic State militants. The US had last week decided to shelve their programme of training and equipping "moderate" rebels opposed to the Assad regime, who would also join the fight against Islamic State.
Pilot skeleton and Malaysia flag found on Philippines island
Details from the reported discovery of plane wreckage on a remote island in the Philippines have stirred suspicions it could be linked to Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. Birdwatchers on the coastline of Sugbay Island reportedly stumbled upon aircraft debris said to contain human skeletal remains and the Malaysian flag, the colours of which are used on the livery of Malaysia Airlines. There were no indications from the satellite tracking pings that the aircraft might have diverted towards the southern Philippines after the final sign-off by the co-pilot en route north from Kuala Lumpur.
