Briefly

SYRIA

Al-Assad sentenced to death in absentia

A criminal court in the Syrian capital Damascus on Tuesday sentenced former president Bashar al-Assad and several other former officials to death. The Fourth Criminal Court in the city unanimously convicted al-Assad, who remains abroad and was tried in absentia, on charges of murder and incitement to murder and sentenced him to death, according to reports on the court proceedings. The court also sentenced former senior security official Atef Najib to death over killings and abuses linked to the Syrian conflict, the reports said, adding that a total of nine former officials received death sentences.

HUNGARY

Andras Baka elected as new president

Hungary's parliament on Tuesday elected Andras Baka, a former head of the Supreme Court, as the country's next president. Baka was elected to the largely ceremonial role with the votes of the governing center-right Tisza party. Members of the opposition Fidesz party did not take part in the election. Parliament elected Baka with 140 votes in favor and six votes against.

THAILAND

PM suspends firearm purchase licenses

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Tuesday suspended the issuance of permits to buy firearms and said existing licenses would be reviewed, days after a 14-year-old gunman killed nine people. Anutin directed the deputy prime minister overseeing legal affairs to expedite a new gun control law with stronger controls and harsher penalties. Police were ordered to stop renewing permits that enable people to buy firearms. Registered firearms must be kept at home and cannot be carried in public, Anutin said.

XINHUA-AGENCIES