Muslim Brotherhood supporters convicted for attack on police station
An Egyptian court on Monday upheld the death sentences of 183 supporters of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood for an attack on a police station near Cairo last July that left 11 officers dead. The attack took place after Egyptian military forces cracked down on supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi, who himself is facing an espionage trial for allegedly leaking "classified documents" to Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera. While a 140 of the 188 defendants in the case are in custody, the remaining have been sentenced in absentia. Human rights group Amnesty International has said that the death sentences have come after "grossly unfair" trials that highlight Egypt's disregard for national and international law.
Ebola virus mutating, say scientists
Scientists at a French research institute said on Monday that the Ebola virus, which has so far killed almost 9,000 people in the West African region, has mutated and could now be more contagious. According to the Institut Pasteur, scientists have been analysing hundreds of blood samples from Guinean Ebola patients in order to determine if the new mutation poses a higher risk of transmission. Dr. Anavaj Sakuntabhai stated that the institute had encountered several "asymptomatic cases", which could make the virus "less deadly", but "more contagious". Researchers are also concerned, that, given enough time, the virus could also morph into an airborne disease.
Security stepped up in Bangkok following blasts
Security in Bangkok was raised on Monday after two small bombs exploded at a luxury mall in the city on Sunday evening. Two people were injured in the blasts. Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha stated that he had ordered the stepping up of security in order to protect the "well-being of the people". Prayuth said that the blasts showed that the country still needed martial law.
Ukrainian rebels to recruit 100,000 fighters
Alexander Zakharchenko, leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, said on Monday that rebel forces were planning a general mobilisation to recruit over 100,000 men to fight Ukrainian forces. The announcement comes in the wake of reports that US President Barack Obama was considering sending military assistance to Ukraine, whose government has accused Russia of backing the separatist rebels. Interfax, a Russian news agency, quoted Zakharchenko as saying that "ten thousand" men would be drawn up in ten days, even though it was not made clear how the mobilisation would be enforced.
UN-appointed head of Gaza inquiry to quit
William Schabas, appointed by the United Nations to head an inquiry into atrocities committed by Israeli forces in Gaza last summer, announced on Monday that he would quit his position following Israeli allegations of bias that were made due to consultancy work Schabas had undertaken for the Palestine Liberation Organisation. Schabas said that he had decided to quit since he did want the allegations to overshadow the preparation of the report and its findings, due in March. He said that he had been made a "huge target for malicious attacks".
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An Egyptian court on Monday upheld the death sentences of 183 supporters of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood for an attack on a police station near Cairo last July that left 11 officers dead. The attack took place after Egyptian military forces cracked down on supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi, who himself is facing an espionage trial for allegedly leaking "classified documents" to Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera. While a 140 of the 188 defendants in the case are in custody, the remaining have been sentenced in absentia. Human rights group Amnesty International has said that the death sentences have come after "grossly unfair" trials that highlight Egypt's disregard for national and international law.
Ebola virus mutating, say scientists
Scientists at a French research institute said on Monday that the Ebola virus, which has so far killed almost 9,000 people in the West African region, has mutated and could now be more contagious. According to the Institut Pasteur, scientists have been analysing hundreds of blood samples from Guinean Ebola patients in order to determine if the new mutation poses a higher risk of transmission. Dr. Anavaj Sakuntabhai stated that the institute had encountered several "asymptomatic cases", which could make the virus "less deadly", but "more contagious". Researchers are also concerned, that, given enough time, the virus could also morph into an airborne disease.
Security stepped up in Bangkok following blasts
Security in Bangkok was raised on Monday after two small bombs exploded at a luxury mall in the city on Sunday evening. Two people were injured in the blasts. Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha stated that he had ordered the stepping up of security in order to protect the "well-being of the people". Prayuth said that the blasts showed that the country still needed martial law.
Ukrainian rebels to recruit 100,000 fighters
Alexander Zakharchenko, leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, said on Monday that rebel forces were planning a general mobilisation to recruit over 100,000 men to fight Ukrainian forces. The announcement comes in the wake of reports that US President Barack Obama was considering sending military assistance to Ukraine, whose government has accused Russia of backing the separatist rebels. Interfax, a Russian news agency, quoted Zakharchenko as saying that "ten thousand" men would be drawn up in ten days, even though it was not made clear how the mobilisation would be enforced.
UN-appointed head of Gaza inquiry to quit
William Schabas, appointed by the United Nations to head an inquiry into atrocities committed by Israeli forces in Gaza last summer, announced on Monday that he would quit his position following Israeli allegations of bias that were made due to consultancy work Schabas had undertaken for the Palestine Liberation Organisation. Schabas said that he had decided to quit since he did want the allegations to overshadow the preparation of the report and its findings, due in March. He said that he had been made a "huge target for malicious attacks".