EGYPT
Prosecutor orders arrests of five activists
After Egypt’s Islamist president vowed action against opponents, the nation’s top prosecutor on Monday issued arrest warrants against five prominent activists over clashes between the Muslim Brotherhood and protesters. Rights activists and the opposition warned the warrants could mark the opening of an intimidation campaign against their ranks by President Mohammed Morsi and the Brotherhood, through the prosecutor. They accused the prosecutor — handpicked by Morsi late last year — saying he has ignored Morsi supporters’ violence against protesters and moved quickly against opposition figures.
HAITI
Official slain in drive-by shooting
An aide to Haiti’s prime minister was slain over the weekend in a drive-by shooting by two masked men on a motorcycle, the government said Monday. The office of Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe said in a statement that Georges Henry Honorat, 55, was killed Saturday evening at his house in the Delmas district in Port-au-Prince. Detectives opened an investigation and collected bullet casings but have not publicly mentioned a motive.
BRAZIL
Supermarkets pledge to reject Amazon meat
A group representing Brazil’s supermarkets said Monday its members are pledging to avoid selling meat from cattle raised in the Amazon rain forest. The Brazilian Association of Supermarkets signed an agreement with the Federal Public Prosecutor’s office to reject meat from areas of the Amazon where illegal activities such as logging or the invasion of public lands take place. Authorities are fighting to curb deforestation that has turned huge swaths of the forest into pastureland and soy plantations.
ISRAEL
Kosher cigarettes on Passover list
Observant Jews in Israel craving a smoke during the week-long Passover holiday that began at sundown Monday can now enjoy a rabbi-approved puff. It’s the first time cigarettes have joined the long list of goods stringently checked to ensure they comply with Passover rules on what items are allowed for the holiday. The stamp of approval came from the Beit Yosef private rabbinic group, which certifies foods as compliant with Jewish dietary restrictions. Last month, Beit Yosef approved three local cigarette brands for smoking during Passover. The chief rabbinate in Israel, however, disapproved of the measure, saying cigarettes are life-threatening and should not be approved by rabbis.
BELGIUM
Stamps offer lick with a kick
The Belgian post office released 538,000 stamps on Monday for Easter that have pictures of chocolate on the front with the essence of cacao oil in the glue on the back for taste and in the ink for smell. Belgian stamp collector Marie-Claire Verstichel said while the taste was a bit disappointing, “they smell good.” Easter is the season for chocolate in Belgium with Easter eggs and bunnies all over supermarkets and specialty stores.
ITALY
Decision on American’s case postponed
Italy’s highest court delayed a decision on whether American student Amanda Knox will face a new trial in the murder of her British roommate. The court heard six hours of arguments Monday and spent several hours deliberating that and a handful of other cases before announcing it would issue a decision at 10 a.m. today on whether the 2011 acquittals of Knox and her Italian ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito will stand. Italian prosecutors have asked the high court to throw out the acquittals of Knox and Sollecito in the murder of 21-year-old British student Meredith Kercher and order a new trial.
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