4 more executed on drugs charges

Saudi Arabia: The government announced yesterday that it had executed another four people found guilty of trying to smuggle large quantities of pills and hashish into the kingdom.

That brings to 45 the number of people executed this year in Saudi Arabia. Thirty of those were executed over the past four weeks alone.

The Interior Ministry said that three of the men executed were Syrian and the fourth was Iranian.

State court rules against Uber

Germany: A court has issued an injunction barring ride-sharing service Uber from operating — the latest episode in the company’s fight with taxi drivers.

Frankfurt state court spokesman Arne Hasse said yesterday that the decision Uber requires a specific permit to operate applies nationwide.

The injunction applies pending a full hearing of a suit brought against Uber by Taxi Deutschland.

Hamas boosted after Gaza crisis

Israel: An opinion poll revealed yesterday that Hamas’s popularity in the occupied territories had risen dramatically following Israel’s aggression in Gaza.

The Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research poll indicated that 61 per cent of Palestinians would choose Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh for president if elections were held today.

The poll found that 86 per cent would support renewal of rocket fire on Israel if its blockade on Gaza is not lifted.

Impeachment claims rejected

Philippines: The House of Representatives justice committee rejected three impeachment complaints against President Benigno Aquino III yesterday.

The committee, dominated by Aquino allies, voted 54-4 against the complaints.

The complaints were filed by left-wing activists and sponsored by the house’s left-wing bloc.

They accused Mr Aquino of culpable violation of the constitution, betrayal of public trust and corruption.

Jailbreak trio kill guard to escape

China: Three prisoners including a death row inmate killed a guard, donned police uniforms and escaped in a rare jailbreak in north-eastern China early yesterday, prompting a manhunt that later recaptured two of the men.

Armed police searched for the other fugitive following the breakout from Yanshou county jail outside the city of Harbin.

The three had killed the guard at approximately 6am and had donned police jackets and shirts as they left the prison.

Politician flees attempt on life

Tunisia: Secular parliamentarian Mohammed Ali Nasri narrowly escaped assassination by six masked gunmen who surrounded his home late at night in a city near the Algerian border, the Interior Ministry said yesterday.

Ministry spokesman Mohammed Ali Aroui said the attackers came down to the city of Kasserine from Mount Salloum, part of a chain of mountains along the Algerian border.

Oil firm pays £670m for Gulf spill claims

United States: Oil giant Halliburton said yesterday that it has agreed to pay $1.1 billion (£670 million) to settle a substantial portion of plaintiff claims arising from the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

The settlement, which is subject to court approval, will be paid into a trust until appeals are resolved over the next two years.

Halliburton was BP’s cement contractor on the drilling rig that exploded in the Gulf in April 2010, killing 11 workers.

MPs consider Holocaust law

Greece: MPs have begun debating draft legislation to outlaw Holocaust denial and expand prosecution powers against the incitement of racial violence.

The move follows scores of violent attacks against immigrants.

Draft legislation will be voted on later this week to allow the prosecution of racial abuse without requiring victims to take action. Convictions would carry a penalty of up to three years in prison.