In focus

A Cairo court handed down death sentences to television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 co-defendants in a major narcotics case. State-linked media reported the group was convicted of forming an organised criminal gang that procured materials for synthetic drugs and trafficked them; unlicensed firearms and ammunition were also discovered. The court sought the Grand Mufti's religious opinion before delivering the capital verdict, a step required by Egyptian law in such cases. Khalifa and others also received five-year prison terms in a separate kidnapping and assault case, and authorities reportedly seized more than 750 kg of narcotics and raw materials.