Indonesia

Tiger kills cocoa farmer

A Sumatran tiger has killed a cocoa farmer in Indonesia, villagers claimed on Wednesday, in the latest apparent attack by the rare wild cat as its habitat is rapidly cleared for plantations. The body of Karman Lubis, 32, was found decapitated about 1 km from a cocoa plantation on Sumatra island on Tuesday.

The Netherlands

Terror threat level raised

The Dutch government raised its terror threat level on Wednesday from "limited" to "substantial", saying Dutch citizens are traveling to Syria to fight in the civil war and could return battle-hardened, traumatized and further radicalized. "The chance of an attack in the Netherlands or against Dutch interests abroad has risen," the country's National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism said.

Poland

Plane skids, airport closed

Experts were working to free a Boeing 737 from a muddy field after it skidded off the runway in Katowice, southern Poland, an airport spokesman said on Wednesday. The plane from the Czech airline Travel Service skidded late on Tuesday and went some 20 meters off the Pyrzowice airport runway.

Egypt

Court to hear appeal on vote

Egypt's Administrative Court said on Wednesday it had received an appeal from a state judicial body against a decision to cancel President Mohammed Morsi's announcement of a parliamentary election starting on April 22.

Pakistan

Musharraf pledges return

Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf pledged to return home this month from self-imposed exile to run in parliamentary elections. Musharraf set his return date as March 24.

AFP-AP-Reuters

(China Daily 03/14/2013 page12)