News in brief

Amnesty researcher abducted, beaten
in Russia
AP, Moscow
Rights group Amnesty International says its researcher in Russia’s North Caucasus has been abducted and beaten while reporting on protests in the region. Amnesty International said in a statement on Monday that Oleg Kozlovsky was abducted earlier this month by unknown men who said they were from Ingushetia’s anti-extremist unit and threatened to kill him unless he agreed to cooperate.

Jordan to open border post with Syria
AFP, Amman
The main border crossing between Jordan and war-torn Syria is to reopen on Monday for the first time in three years, Jordanian authorities said. The Jaber crossing, known as Nassib on the Syrian side, was a key route for Middle East trade before Amman closed it after the post was overrun by rebels and sealed in April 2015.

Delhi braces for pollution with emergency plan
AFP, New Delhi
Delhi’s biggest coal power plant was set to shut down Monday as a new emergency plan to improve air quality in one of the world’s most polluted cities came into force, Indian officials said. Under the new strategy, restrictions on construction sites and traffic will be imposed depending on the air quality in the megacity of some 20 million people.

Kuwait says it rejects “campaign against Saudi Arabia”
Reuters, Dubai
Kuwait said on Monday it rejected “the campaign against Saudi Arabia” over the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, al-Qabas newspaper reported, quoting the Gulf state’s deputy prime minister. Anas al-Saleh said Kuwait regretted the “unfair campaign” and supported Saudi Arabia “in facing all those who wish to harm its sovereignty”.

Ecuador to partly restore internet access for Assange
AFP, London:
The Ecuadorian government will partially restore communications for Julian Assange at the country’s embassy in London, Wikileaks said. The Wikileaks founder, who has been holed up at the embassy since 2012, was stopped from using the internet or a mobile phone to communicate with the outside world in March.