GLOBAL: Academic freedom information universal

In Syria, a nuclear physicist who was shot in the head has become the latest victim of a series of targeted killings in the city of Homs scientists. Iranian Amid Kokabee, PhD student at the University of Texas detained in Even prison in Tehran on charges of espionage, went on trial last week. And in China, the authorities have canceled classes outstanding Uighur professor at Beijing Minorities University professors and 20 Uyghur’s have been fired from a university education in the north-west to Xinxiang lack fluency in Mandarin.

SYRIA: nuclear scientist killed in Homs

Onus Abdel Kari Khalid, a professor of nuclear physics-based Homs in Syria, was killed in front of house. His death is the latest in a series of assassinations directed scientists to the city, the BBC reported on 28 September.

The academic was shot in the head in front of house in the city of Homs, which has become a central point of the repression of the regime.

The state news agency, Sana, declared the death of the nuclear scientist to be linked to a terrorist group, while another report said he was killed in a revenge attack.

But activists blame the regime for his death and accuse the government of President Basher al-Assad of trying to spread chaos and fear among the population, in an attempt to quell the protests.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in the UK, the government aims to "provoke sectarian discord" in Homs killing the scientists.

The announcement of the death of the scientist coincided with reports of clashes between security forces loyal to the regime and deserters in the strategic town of Rasta, north of Homs.

His death also occurred during a period of political tension as the international community, led by France, Germany and Portugal, UK, has demanded sanctions against the Syrian government, while the repression continues.

According to the UN, more than 2,700 people have been killed across Syria since protests began six months ago.

Iran: Trial student at the University of Texas rescheduled

The trial of Amid Kokabee, a doctoral student at the University of Texas who has been detained in Iran since February, began on October 4. He denied accusations of having relations with a hostile country and receiving illegitimate funds, reported The Statesman. If convicted, Kokabee (29) could be sentenced to 10 years in prison.