News in Brief

More Saudi measures urged to combat MERS
Afp, Riyadh

An international health mission said yesterday more measures are needed to combat the spread of MERS in Saudi Arabia, the country worst hit by the coronavirus. The mission headed to the desert kingdom after a surge of cases in the past weeks, including 50 reported this month alone as well as infections acquired in health facilities. A total of 899 people have been infected in the kingdom, of whom 382 have died, since the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was identified globally in 2012.

France deploys aircraft carrier for ISIS fight
Afp, Aboard The Charles De Gaulle

A French aircraft carrier launched operations in the Gulf yesterday as Paris stepped up its participation in the US-led military campaign against the Islamic State group. Seven weeks after extremist attacks killed 17 people in Paris, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian vowed France would face the jihadist threat head-on.

Egypt jails activist-blogger for five years
Bbc Online

An Egyptian court has jailed prominent blogger and pro-democracy activist Alaa Abdel Fattah for five years at his retrial for violating a protest law. He was previously given a 15-year jail term in the case over his alleged role in a protest in 2013. Alaa Abdel Fattah gained fame during the 2011 uprising as a campaigner against military trials for civilians.

N Korea bans foreigners from marathon
Bbc Online

North Korean authorities have banned foreigners from participating in the annual Pyongyang marathon because of concerns over the spread of the Ebola virus, travel agencies say. In October, the country began enforcing strict travel restrictions on incoming tourists including a 21-day quarantine. The marathon, one of the year's most popular events for tourists, takes place on 12 April.

Jerusalem mayor overpowers attacker
Bbc Online

The mayor of Jerusalem had wrestled to the ground a Palestinian suspected of stabbing an ultra-Orthodox Jewish man in a scene caught by a security camera. Nir Barkat says he ordered his car to stop when he spotted the attack near City Hall in the city centre on Sunday. Footage shows the mayor striding towards the suspect before bringing him down as one of his guards points.

Turkish forces evacuate Syria tomb
Cnn Online

About 40 Turkish soldiers watching over the Tomb of Suleyman Shah in northern Syria have been evacuated amid the continuing security crisis, Turkish officials said. "The ongoing conflict and state of chaos in Syria posed serious risks to safety and security of the tomb, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement. One soldier was killed in an accident, a Turkish government official said. No other details were released.

Egypt postpones trial of Brotherhood head
Afp, Cairo

An Egyptian military court has postponed to March 9 the trial of the Muslim Brotherhood leader and 198 other Islamists over deadly clashes after president Mohamed Morsi's ouster, an army official said yesterday. Mohamed Badie, 71, facing his first military trial, and the other defendants are accused of participating in clashes that killed 31 people in the canal city of Suez between August 14 and 16, 2013.