News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Muslim Brotherhood rejects government role

Egypt’s interim Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi, an economist and former finance minister, is today to begin forming a new cabinet, after his appointment yesterday. The Muslim Brotherhood, which supports the deposed Islamist president Mohammed Morsi, says it will not join any government unless Morsi is released from detention and reinstated. The main liberal alliance has softened its earlier rejection of a time table put forward by interim President Adli Mansour for constitutional reform, and parliamentary and presidential elections, saying it is ready to consult with Mansour. Meanwhile a prosecutor has ordered the arrest of Muslim brotherhood leader Mohamed Badie on charges of inciting violence at a pro-Morsi demonstration on Monday which left over 50 people dead.

Syrian army closes in on Homs

Syrian government forces are continuing intense bombardment of rebel positions in the central town of Homs. Opposition activists say civilians are dying because of a severe shortage of medical supplies. Members of the Lebanese militant group Hisbollah are fighting alongside Syrian government troops and have recaptured much of Homs. Meanwhile the United States has rejected Russian claims it has evidence rebel forces have used chemical weapons.

Criminal inquiry in Canada train disaster

A criminal investigation has been opened in Canada into the derailment of an oil train that killed at least 15 people and left dozens missing in a town in Quebec. Officials have said there is evidence the train may have been tampered with before the crash last Saturday. Keith Stewart from Greenpeace Canada says government experts had warned repeatedly that oil trains are unsafe: “The government safety experts have told them over and over again when they derail they puncture very easily, they spill, and if it’s a flammable product this can have catastrophic results.”

China’s economy slows

China has reported an unexpected drop in both imports and exports. Exports fell 3.1% in June compared to a year earlier. Analysts say a government crackdown on misreporting data by Chinese companies may explain the fall, as well as the slowdown in the global economy.

Boston suspect in court

The surviving suspect in the Boston marathon bombings, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, appears in court today for the first time since the attacks in April. He has been charged with using a weapon of mass destruction and could face the death penalty. Three people were killed and more than 260 wounded in the bombings.

New Czech government sworn in

Czech President Milos Zeman has sworn in a new government led by his economy adviser Jiri Rusnok. It replaces that of Petr Necas who was forced to resign over a spy and bribery scandal. There are doubts over whether the new government can survive a parliamentary confidence vote to be held within 30 days.

The weather

Sunny and hot in in the east. Partly sunny in the west and south with rain and thunder storms moving in this afternoon. Top temperatures 21 to 32 degrees.

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