Egypt court freezes assets of rights activists, NGOs

Here is a round-up of global news developments:

• Russia’s Foreign Ministry says US airstrikes against Syrian military personnel threaten the implementation of the current ceasefire in the country. In a strongly worded statement, Moscow said Saturday’s deadly air raids by the US were on the boundary between criminal negligence and direct, secret cooperation with Daesh terrorists.
   
• Damascus has accused foreign-backed militants of blocking the UN aid trucks bound for the city of Aleppo. The Syrian government says it has done all that is necessary to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid. No aid has entered the flashpoint city since a US-Russia brokered truce deal was implemented on Monday.
   
• A court in Egypt has approved a freeze on the assets of 5 prominent human rights activists and three non-government organizations. All are accused of illegally receiving funds from foreign countries and using them to harm national security. If convicted, the activists could face up to 25 years in prison.
   
• A stabbing attack inside a shopping mall in the US state of Minnesota has left at least 8 people injured. Police said the condition of 7 of the injured were not life-threatening. The assailant was shot dead by police forces. There were also separate reports of gunshots during the attack.
   
• Slovakia’s prime minister says his country along with Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic will veto any deal that would limit their citizens’ right to work in the UK following Brexit. Robert Fico said Bratislava and its allies would be uncompromising in negotiations.
   
• Israeli forces have shot a Palestinian man south of the city of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. Israeli sources say the victim was targeted after trying to stab an Israeli soldier. Israeli forces killed four Palestinians in the last two days amid escalating tensions in the occupied territories.
   
• The International Organization for Migration has warned that 2016 is set to record the highest ever number of refugee deaths. The IOM says the official figure is expected to pass the 5,000 mark this year. However, the organization notes that the real figure is expected to be twice as much.
   
• In Kashmir, clashes between Indian soldiers and gunmen have left At least 21 people dead. The clashes started after the fighters attacked an Indian army headquarters in the town of Uri. The incident is said to be the most serious such attack over the past two years.

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