Today's other stories in brief...
Minister's niece jailed for murder
VERSAILLES – A French court found the niece of a British minister guilty of murder yesterday and sentenced her to 15 years in jail for the alcohol-fuelled slaying of a young Frenchman she had befriended in a bar.
Jessica Davies (30) told the court that she had knifed Olivier Mugnier (24), but said her recollection had vanished “into a black hole”.
Davies is a former model. Her uncle is Quentin Davies, a British defence minister. – (Reuters)
Drug trafficker caught in Mexico
TIJUANA – Mexican security forces yesterday captured a top drug trafficker behind much of a surge in violence in the northern border city of Tijuana in a fresh victory in the countrys drug war, government and police sources said.
Teodoro Garcia Simental, known as El Teo or Tres Letras for the three letters in his nickname, was caught in the beach town of La Paz in southern Baja California, a police officer who participated in the operation told agencies. – (Reuters)
Turkey seeks apology from Israel
ANKARA – Turkey has demanded an apology from Israel over what it called the discourteous treatment of its ambassador, further souring ties between the regional powers. Relations reached a low last year over strong criticism by Turkish prime minister Tayyip Erdogan of Israels war in the Gaza Strip.
Turkeys foreign ministry said Israels deputy foreign minister°, Danny Ayalon, had attempted to slight diplomat Oguz Celikkol at a meeting to protest against a Turkish TV drama. – (Reuters)