WADA says hacked by Russian cyber espionage group

Here is a round-up of global news developments:

• The World Anti-Doping Agency says its database has been hacked by Russian cyber espionage group known as Fancy Bears. The group released, on its website, confidential medical information about four American athletes including Simone Biles and Serena Williams, showing they had taken the restricted drugs. WADA denies the allegations.
• Israel’s military says it hit the Syrian army positions in the Golan Heights. There are no immediate reports of casualties or material damage. Israel’s military says the raids come in response to earlier shelling of parts of the Golan Heights occupied by the regime.
• Former Israeli president Shimon Peres has been hospitalized after suffering a major stroke with lots of bleeding. In a statement, his office said the 93-year-old was rushed to a hospital in Tel Aviv with acute chest pains and an abnormal heartbeat which put him in induced coma.
• The United Nations Special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura says there has been a significant drop in violence since a new ceasefire came into effect. De Mistura’s comments come after Russia said terrorist groups violated the ceasefire 23 times. Six people have been killed and 10 others wounded since Monday.
• In the latest series of hate crimes in the UK, a 34-year-old pregnant woman has lost her baby after being kicked in the torso in the town of Milton Keynes. Another assault occurred in the city of Leeds where a polish man was hospitalized after being attacked by up to 20 teenagers.
• Former US intelligence contractor, Edward Snowden has requested a presidential pardon, arguing that his disclosure of mass surveillance was not only morally right but also benefited people around the world. Snowden rejected breaking federal law by stealing secret documents about eavesdropping while employed in the National Security Agency.
• The Democratic leaders of the US Senate say the chamber is likely to override President Barack Obama’s promised veto of a bill that allows families of the nine-eleven victims to sue the Saudi government. It would be the first override of an Obama veto since he took office in January 2009.
• Thailand has recorded about 200 cases of Zika since January which makes it one of the most affected countries in Southeast Asia. The health ministry has been criticized for not disclosing information on Zika. Officials said they feared that the revelation could hurt the tourism industry.

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