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The Ebola outbreak in West Africa was first reported in March 2014, and has rapidly become the deadliest occurrence of the disease since its discovery in 1976. In fact, the current epidemic sweeping across the region has now killed more than all other known Ebola outbreaks combined. Up to 8 October, 4,033 people had been reported as having died from the disease in five countries; Liberia,

Pro-Russian protesters have held rallies outside the seized government building in Donetsk Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned European leaders that Ukraine's delays in paying for Russian gas have created a "critical situation". Pipelines transiting Ukraine deliver Russian gas to several EU countries and there are fears that the current tensions could trigger gas shortages. Armed pro-Russian separatists are holed up in official buildings in Donetsk and Luhansk, in eastern Ukraine. Meanwhile, a European human rights body has stripped Russia of voting rights.

Police in Norway have released photos in a bid to identify a young man found in a snowdrift near Oslo in December, apparently suffering from amnesia. Police say they do not know where the man comes from but that he speaks good English with an East European accent.

Pro-Russian citizens have rallied in front of the Donetsk regional administration building Senior officials from the EU, Russia, the US and Ukraine are to meet next week to discuss the worsening situation in Ukraine. It will be the first four-way meeting since the crisis erupted.

Health care workers are among those most at risk of catching Ebola The World Health Organization (WHO) says it is taking "very seriously" the current outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa. Out of 122 cases recorded in Guinea so far, at least 80 patients have died, with a further four deaths in Liberia. What is Ebola? Ebola is a viral illness whose initial symptoms can include a sudden fever, intense weakness, muscle pain and a sore throat,

There is no known cure or vaccine for Ebola The number of people believed to have been killed by the Ebola virus in Guinea has passed 100, the UN World Health Organization says. It was "one of the most challenging Ebola outbreaks we have ever dealt with" and could take another four months to contain, the WHO said.

Guinea appealed for calm in the Ebola-hit south of the country on Saturday after international aid workers, battling to contain an outbreak of the deadly virus, were attacked by a mob. Doctors without Borders, which goes by its French initials MSF, was forced to suspend treatment in Macenta in southeastern Guinea on Friday after crowds attacked one of its centres.

Although Guinea's mineral wealth makes it potentially one of Africa's richest countries, its people are among the poorest in West Africa. Ruled by strong-arm leaders since independence, Guinea has been seen as a bulwark against instability in neighbouring Liberia, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast. However it has also been implicated in the conflicts that have ravaged the region. After independence in 1958 Guinea severed ties with France and turned to the Soviet Union. The first president, Ahmed Sekou Toure, pursued a revolutionary socialist agenda and crushed political opposition. Tens of thousands of people disappeared, or were tortured and executed, during his 26-year regime. At a glance *. Politics: Military junta took control in December 2008 at the of death of President Lansana Conte, who seized power in a coup 24 years earlier. A provisional government supervised the transition to civilian rule at the end of 2010 *. Economy: Guinea is a leading bauxite exporter, but mo...

Although Guinea's mineral wealth makes it potentially one of Africa's richest countries, its people are among the poorest in West Africa. Ruled by strong-arm leaders since independence, Guinea has been seen as a bulwark against instability in neighbouring Liberia, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast. However it has also been implicated in the conflicts that have ravaged the region. After independence in 1958 Guinea severed ties with France and turned to the Soviet Union. The first president, Ahmed Sekou Toure, pursued a revolutionary socialist agenda and crushed political opposition. Tens of thousands of people disappeared, or were tortured and executed, during his 26-year regime. At a glance *.Politics: Military junta took control in December 2008 at the of death of President Lansana Conte, who seized power in a coup 24 years earlier. A provisional government supervised the transition to civilian rule at the end of 2010 *.Economy: Guinea is a leading bauxite exporter, but most o...

The people of Guinea are voting in their first parliamentary election since a coup in 2008. The run-up has been marred by violence, ethnic and religious tension, electoral disputes and intense distrust between the main parties. The opposition has accused President Alpha Conde's party of trying to rig the elections. The vote will replace a transitional parliament that has run the nation since military rule ended in 2010. Calm urged Poll dates have been repeatedly scheduled and then postponed, largely due to opposition allegations that the government was trying to rig the vote. The polls were originally meant to take place within six months of Alpha Conde taking office in 2010. After a series of negotiations failed to end the impasse, the UN stepped in and helped set a date. Voting started at 08:00 GMT, with 1,700 candidates vying for 114 seats. Mr Conde said on Friday: "These elections will allow us to emerge from a chaotic five-year transition." Souleymane Doumb...