News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

Le Pen’s immunity lifted

The European Parliament has voted to lift French far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s immunity from prosecution. The move means that Le Pen, who is running for president, could face legal action in France for re-posting graphic Islamic State photos of executions and torture on her Twitter feed. The distribution of such image is illegal in France.

Macron unveils election platform

Meanwhile, centrist French candidate Emmanuel Macron has unveiled his platform in Paris ahead of next month’s presidential election in France. Macron’s chances are seen as improving because of corruption allegations against his conservative rival Francois Fillon. The latest opinion poll show Macron would easily Le Pen in a two-way race by 63 percent to 37 percent.

Calls for Sessions to quit Justice Department

The top-ranking Democrat in the US House of Represntatives, Nancy Pelosi, is calling for the resignation of Attorney-General Jeff Sessions. Before last November’s presidential election, Sessions, then a US senator, met on two occasions with the Russian ambassador in Washington. During his confirmation hearings before the Senate, Sessions denied that he had had any contact with Russian officials. “I’m not aware of any of those activities. I did not have any communications with the Russians.” Greg Miller is a journalist with the Washington Post which broke the story: “It’s just hard to imagine that he would have forgotten that encounter. Headlines every day about how Russia is undermining the election, how the election is under cyber-attack by Russia, and here is this senator at the time, future attorney-general, holding a private meeting in his senate office with the Russian ambassador.”

Northern Ireland votes for new assembly

Turning now to Britain, where 1.2 million people are casting ballots today to elect a new government in Northern Ireland. The election was prompted following the collapse of a coalition between the pro-republican Sinn Fein movement and the Democratic Unionist Party. If the election fails to produce a viable new coalition, analysts say there is a good chance the province could be directly ruled from London, a situation which has happened on previous occasions. The election is also being overshadowed by the Brexit. 56 percent of Northern Ireland voters cast ballots last summer to remain inside the European Union.

UK: Lords vote in support of EU citizens

Also in the UK, the House of Lords has handed the government a setback on its plans to leave the European Union. By a vote of 358 to 256, the Lords voted to approve a statement that EU citizens should be be allowed to stay in Britain even after the country leaves the EU.

Sweden to re-instate military draft

Media in Sweden are reporting that the government plans to bring back military conscription for both men and women next year. The report comes amid difficulties filling the ranks of a volunteer army and of growing tensions in Europe following the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014. Sweden went to an all-volunteer military in 2010.

The weather

The afternoon will be sunny, especially in the south. There will also be strong winds out of the west. Highs today are ranging from 7 to 15 degrees.

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