News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Four convicted in Roma murders

A court in Hungary has found four men guilty of carrying out a series of attacks in which six Roma were killed. The men are accused of committing the violence in 2008 and 2009. Three of the men were sentenced to life in prison without parole. The fourth will serve 13 years because he agreed to cooperate with police. Around 7 percent of Hungary’s population belong to the Roma minority.

US and British nationals told to leave Yemen

The United States has told its citizens in Yemen to leave the country immediately because of possible attacks by Al-Kaida militants. Britain is also pulling all of its dip0lmatic staff out of the country. The US earlier closed 19 diplomatic missions in the Middle East and North Africa based on intelligence which indicated Al-Kaida was planning a major operation before the end of the month. Jay Carney is the White House spokesman: “The threat emanates from and maybe focuses on occurring in the Arabian Peninsula. It could potentially be beyond that or elsewhere.” In a related story, security officials in Yemen say four people have been killed in a US drone attack in the east of the country.

Army to offer a compromise to Muslim Brotherhood

Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood is rejecting calls by the European Union and the United States to accept that Mohammed Morsi will not return as president. Morsi was removed by the military last month and replaced by an interim government. The army and the interim government will reportedly soon offer the Muslim Brotherhood some concessions: to unfreeze its assets, to free jailed members of the group, and to give three ministerial appointments to Brotherhood members.

Syrian rebels capture air base

Syrian rebel say they have captured a military airfield near the border with Turkey. It marks a victory for the rebels after a recent series of defeats by troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad.

Court reduces ex-tycoon’s jail sentence

Russian’s Supreme Court has agreed to reduce by two months the 11-year prison term for former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky. The ruling means he will be freed one year from now. Khodorkovsky was arrested in 2003 on tax evasion and fraud charges. He denies the allegations, which he says were politically motivated because of his opposition to President Vladimir Putin.

Fort Hood trial to begin

In the United States, the trial of US Army Major Nidal Hassan begins today at Fort Hood, Texas. He is charged with killing 13 people and wounding 32 others during a shooting spree at Fort Hood four years ago. If convicted, he could be given the death penalty.

Washington Post sold to Internet billionaire

One of America’s most prestigious newspapers, the Washington Post, has been sold to Internet pioneer Jeff Bezos for 250 million dollars. Donald Graham’s family has owned the paper since 1933. He says the decision to sell the Post came about quickly: “Jeff then reached out to me less than a month ago. We met twice and at the end of it he said he thought he wanted to go ahead, he did, and we quickly reached a deal.”

The weather

The afternoon will remain sunny and very warm with a chance of thunderstorms later, especially in the west. Today’s high temperatures are ranging from 30 to 39 degrees.

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