Germany passes law on tougher pilot screening after Germanwings crash
BERLIN (Reuters) – A year after the Germanwings plane crash, Germany’s lower house of parliament has passed a package of measures to tighten up reporting of pilot medical assessments and requiring tougher alcohol and drugs checks on pilots.
Putin says Turkey is unsafe for Russian holiday-makers
MOSCOW (Reuters) – There is effectively a civil war in the south of Turkey whose leadership is cooperating with radical groups instead of fighting them, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday, sending a warning to Russian holiday-makers.
South African judge dismisses bid to block release of anti-apartheid hero’s killer
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – A South African judge on Thursday dismissed a request by the justice minister to block the release from prison of the killer of anti-apartheid campaigner Chris Hani, the latest twist in a saga that has revived memories of the c…
Israeli troops spark fire during raid on Palestinian business
EL BIREH, West Bank (Reuters) – Israeli troops sparked a fire that gutted about 10 Palestinian shops on Thursday after they tried to blow open safes in a raid on a money-changing office suspected of handling funds for militants.
Vote defeat for South Korea’s Park raises ‘lame duck’ prospect
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea’s ruling conservatives have suffered a surprise defeat in a parliamentary election in a stinging blow to President Park Geun-hye that will raise doubts about her ability to pursue her agenda to boost a sluggish economy.
Grim ratings greet France’s Hollande before prime-time TV grilling
PARIS (Reuters) – A poll showing two thirds of left-leaning voters believe he should not seek a second term next year greeted Socialist President Francois Hollande on Thursday, as he prepared for a TV interview billed as crucial to his re-election chan…
China lambasts U.S. rights policies after State Department report
BEIJING (Reuters) – U.S. rights policies have gone from bad to worse, China said on Thursday, in its annual rebuttal of a State Department report on human rights around the world that criticized China’s “severe” crackdown on lawyers.
Swiss asylum requests fall again as Balkan states halt transit
ZURICH (Reuters) – The number of people seeking asylum in Switzerland fell for a fourth month in March, mirroring declines in neighboring Germany as Europe seeks to discourage people from making the journey from countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq and …
Swedish prosecutors argue for upholding Assange arrest warrant
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Swedish prosecutors still believe an arrest warrant for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should be upheld, they said on Thursday in reply to the Stockholm District Court that will decide whether to lift the warrant.
Israel mulls employing Jordanians at Dead Sea hotels
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel is examining the possibility of hiring Jordanian workers to work at Dead Sea hotels due to a shortage of Israelis.
