News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Egypt’s Morsi placed under detention

The Egyptian judiciary has ordered the detention of the deposed president Mohamed Morsi over alleged contacts with the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The allegations relate to the killing of soldiers during Morsi’s escape from prison during the popular uprising in 2011 that toppled his predecessor, president Hosni Mubarak. The Muslim Brotherhood has denounced the allegations as politically motivated. The announcement comes ahead of mass rival rallies today called by Morsi’s supporters and the army, which says it’s seeking a mandate to confront violence.

Protests in Tunisia after assassination

Tunisia's largest unions have called a general strike in protest at the killing yesterday of the opposition leader, Mohammed Brahmi, who was shot dead outside his home in Tunis. Brahmi was leader of the leftist Movement of the People party. The governing Islamist party Ennahda has rejected allegations from protesters that it was responsible for the killing. New demonstrations have been called today. Arab affairs correspondent Patrick Smith: “There are grave risks. The trade unionists have been pretty outspoken. They’re calling for Ennahda to leave the government immediately.” Brahmi is the second opposition leader assassinated in Tunisia this year.

Spain mourns crash victims

Police in Spain are to question the driver of a train that derailed outside Santiago de Compostela on Wednesday evening, killing at least 80 people, and injuring over 90. Official sources have said the crash may have been caused by excessive speed, though an investigation continues. The driver remains under police guard in hospital. Spain has begun three days of official mourning for the crash victims.

Japan seeks summit with China

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has called for a summit with China’s leaders as soon as possible and without preconditions. There have been heightened tensions between China and Japan over territorial disputes around islands in the East China Sea. Meanwhile Japan’s defence department is considering a major change in military policy which is currently limited to self-defence under the pacifist constitution.

Halliburton pleads guilty over Gulf spill

The US Department of Justice says the energy company Halliburton has agreed to plead guilty to destroying evidence in connection with the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. Halliburton will pay the statutory maximum fine of 200,000 dollars.

Pope greeted by mass crowds

Hundreds of thousands of people have joined Pope Francis for the welcoming ceremony for World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Earlier the Pope visited one of Rio’s most violent slums.

The Weather

Sunny over the whole country, with occasional thunderstorms and top temperatures 27 to 36 degrees

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