NETHERLANDS: New Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof today banned phones and other mobile devices from the weekly meetings of his cabinet in a bid to minimise the risk of digital eavesdropping by spies.

Mr Schoof, a former head of the national intelligence agency, said: “Electronic devices, a telephone, iPad, are all little microphones and countries are interested in decision-making also in the Netherlands and you want to prevent that.”

CANADA: The union representing workers at Canadian National Railway Company has taken down picket lines and said its workers will begin returning to work on Friday.

But the Teamsters said the work stoppage at Canada’s other major freight railroad, Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd, remains ongoing, pending an order from the Canada Industrial Relations Board.

NEPAL: At least 14 people were killed, 16 others injured and several more believed to be missing after a bus carrying dozens of Indian pilgrims drove off a key highway in Nepal today, officials said.

The bus veered off Prithvi Highway and rolled toward a fast-flowing river. Its roof was ripped open before stopping on the rocky bank just shy of the Marsyangdi’s rushing, murky water.

NORWAY: Oslo said today that it wants to relax restrictions on abortion for the first time in nearly half a century to make it legal for women to terminate pregnancies up to week 18 of gestation.

Norway’s laws currently allow legal abortions up to 12 weeks, but many pregnant women ask for an abortion after the 12th week and are granted it in hospitals and clinics.