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.