Palestinian envoy in Prague likely killed by booby-trapped book: paper
PRAGUE (Reuters) – The Palestinian ambassador to Prague who died in a blast in January was most likely killed by a decades-old charge of Semtex plastic explosive concealed in a book, a newspaper reported on Tuesday citing a police investigator.
Beleaguered Thai PM pleads for justice, fair treatment
BANGKOK (Reuters) – With legal cases against her mounting, embattled Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra pleaded on Tuesday for fair and proper treatment from the national anti-corruption commission and Thailand’s Constitutional Court.
NATO head warns Russia of ‘grave consequences’ over Ukraine
PARIS (Reuters) – NATO’s secretary-general warned Russia on Tuesday that if it were to encroach into eastern Ukraine there would be “grave consequences” for its relationship with the alliance.
Valls seeks reform boost with French confidence vote
PARIS (Reuters) – New Prime Minister Manuel Valls will test France’s political commitment to reform on Tuesday in a confidence vote that should allow the Socialist government to press ahead with a competitiveness drive.
Turkey’s Erdogan sees more powerful presidency after August vote
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey’s first directly elected president will be a more powerful figure than the current largely ceremonial role, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan was quoted on Tuesday as saying, boosting expectations he may run for the post in Augu…
Pakistan military will ‘preserve dignity’ despite ex-chief’s trial
(This April 7 story was refiled to correct Musharraf’s status to show he is not under house arrest in the final paragraph)
Philippine court upholds contraceptive law as constitutional
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a family planning law but ruled out provisions to punish health workers who do not inform people about contraceptive options.
UK ‘honeymoon murder’ suspect arrives in South Africa
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – British businessman Shrien Dewani, who is accused of arranging for his bride to be murdered during their 2010 honeymoon in Cape Town, arrived in South Africa on Tuesday to face trial after losing a three-year battle against extrad…
Austrian far-right politician quits EU campaign under fire
VIENNA (Reuters) – A far-right Austrian politician under fire for racist comments and likening the European Union to the Third Reich quit on Tuesday as a top Freedom Party candidate for next month’s EU parliament elections, saying he had lost the party…
EU court rules against requirement to keep data of telecom users
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union’s highest court ruled on Tuesday that an EU directive requiring telecoms companies to store the communications data of EU citizens for up to two years was invalid.