WORLD BRIEFS

Rescuers found more bodies in the concrete debris of a collapsed garment factory building Thursday, and authorities say it may take another five days to clear the rubble. In addition to the 433 confirmed dead, police report that 149 people are still missing in what has become the worst disaster for Bangladesh’s $20 billion-a-year garment industry. Rescue workers believe more bodies are buried on the building’s ground level, and were using cranes and cutting machines to clear tons of rubble.

SAUDI ARABIA

Seven new cases of SARS-like virus reported

Saudi Arabia’s Health Ministry said Thursday that five people have died and two patients were in critical condition with confirmed cases of a new respiratory virus related to SARS. The ministry said in a statement that it had informed the World Health Organization of the seven new cases of novel coronavirus. Health experts still aren’t sure how humans are being infected. The new coronavirus can cause acute pneumonia and kidney failure. Since September 2012, WHO has been informed of 24 confirmed cases. Sixteen of the patients died.

GAZA STRIP

Hamas arrests six hard-line Islamists

The Gaza Strip’s Hamas government announced Thursday the arrest of six militant extremists suspected of stealing weapons and plotting attacks. The arrests follow a series of rocket attacks on Israel by an extremist Islamic militant group that has threatened to unravel a November cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. Hamas’ Interior Ministry said four men were charged with stealing rockets belonging to Palestinian militants and the other two had tried to attack targets in Gaza. The ministry statement described the men as “extremists calling themselves Salafis,” a reference to Muslims following a hard-line version of Islamic law.

VENEZUELA

Opposition wants probe of violence in congress

Venezuela’s opposition Thursday asked prosecutors to investigate a brawl on the floor of congress that injured several of its lawmakers and forced at least one of them to undergo surgery. Congressman Julio Borges, who suffered head injuries when ruling party member Michelle Reyes repeatedly struck him in the face, met with federal prosecutors to demand the probe into who was responsible for Tuesday’s clash in the National Assembly. The extent of the violence is becoming clearer as opposition politician reveal the contents of videos recorded during the session.

EGYPT

Activist to be tried for insulting president

Prominent Egyptian activist Ahmed Douma was arrested and immediately referred to trial for allegedly insulting the country’s president in a TV interview, a prosecutor said Thursday. Douma is to stand trial Sunday — less than a week after being arrested. He is the first prominent opposition activist to be tried on charges of insulting Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. There have been myriad complaints levied against journalists and TV personalities, including well-known satirist Bassem Youssef, for insulting Morsi. Rights groups say such charges restrict freedom of expression.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Government proposes firing-squad executions

Following a number of high-profile killings related to sorcery, Papua New Guinea’s government is pushing for the South Pacific nation’s first execution and says firing squads would be a humane and inexpensive method. The nation’s laws allow for the death penalty, and about 10 condemned inmates are currently in prison there, but the country was a colony of its near neighbor Australia when the last prisoner was executed — by hanging — in 1954. The prime minister’s office did not explain what the hurdles were to executing prisoners that the new legislation would overcome.

ENGLAND

Soap opera star denies child sex charges

A longtime star of British soap opera “Coronation Street” has vowed to fight charges he raped a 15-year-old girl in 1967. William Roache said in a statement Thursday he is “deeply horrified” by the charges and “strenuously” denies them. The 81-year-old actor has played Ken Barlow on the popular show since it was first broadcast in 1960. He is charged with raping the girl between April and July of 1967. He is scheduled to appear at Preston Magistrates’ Court on May 14.