International groups representing doctors and patients have launched a fresh challenge to the patent on Gilead Sciences’ hepatitis C drug Sofosbuvir at the European Patent Office in order to increase access to the treatment.

Humanitarian charities, an Israeli prime minister and a European Union commissioner were among 1,000 targets on a surveillance list drawn up by British and American intelligence agencies, it has been reported.

EGYPT was trying to persuade Hamas yesterday to accept a truce that would halt rocket attacks on Israel in an effort to put an end to Gaza violence and salvage Middle East peace talks.