Foreign news in brief

Trial of 43 foreign activists adjourned

AN EGYPTIAN court yesterday adjourned the trial of dozens of democracy activists including 16 Americans to April, raising hopes among their supporters that the case could be dropped to spare further damage to Egypt’s ties with Washington.

Forty-three foreign and Egyptian non-profit workers – including the son of the US transport secretary – are accused of political crimes.

Spanish duke quizzed over funds

the Spanish king’s son-in-law appeared in court yesterday to answer questions about suspected fraudulent deals.

Inaki Urdangarin, the Duke of Palma, is being investigated by a judge about whether he used his privileged position to secure deals for a charity he ran, then fraudulently diverted some of the money for personal benefit. The judge will decide whether the prosecution has adequate evidence to file charges.

Petrol bombs hurled at Roma hostel

Czech police are investigating an arson attack on a hostel with Roma occupants that damaged the building but caused no injuries.

Several Molotov cocktails were hurled at the hostel early yesterday in the western town of As.

Human rights groups say the Czech Republic discriminates against the nation’s 250,000 Romas, also known as Gypsies.

Girl aged 11 dies following a fight

An 11-YEAR-OLD girl has died following an after-school fight at an elementary school in Long Beach, California.

Police said the girl died in hospital hours after the fight with a girl the same age. No weapons were used and neither girl was knocked down.

Siberia rattled by powerful quake

A POWERFUL earthquake shook south-western Siberia yesterday, the second to hit the area in two months. There were no reports of injuries, emergency officials said.

The 6.8 magnitude quake hit about 60 miles east of Kyzyl, capital of Tuva.