Israel to remove metal detectors at holy site +++ Kushner denies Russia collusion

25. August 2017, 02:00

Israel to remove metal detectors at holy site

The Israeli government has decided to remove controversial metal detectors from a sensitive holy site in Jerusalem: the Temple Mount or Haram al-Sharif. The security measure sparked angry protests by Palestinians. The scanners were installed nearly two weeks ago after two Israeli police officers were shot dead whilst guarding the compound.

Polish president to veto two judicial bills

Poland's president has signed into law one of three contested government bills that critics say are unconstitutional and will affect the independence of the judicial system. After days of protests, President Andrzej Duda signed the legislation which gives the justice minister the power to hire and fire the heads of the country's lower courts. But he says he will veto the other two bills which would have enabled the government to determine the make-up of the Supreme Court.

Kushner denies Russia collusion

President Donald Trump's son-in-law and close advisor Jared Kushner has denied colluding with Russia in last year's presidential campaign. Yesterday he answered questions before a Senate panel, acknowledging four meetings with Russians during and after Trump's White House bid but insisting that he had "nothing to hide." In a statement after the session at the White House, he defended his conduct: "let me be very clear. I did not collude with Russia. Nor do I know of anyone else in the campaign who did so. I had no improper contacts. I have not relied on Russian funds for my businesses. And I have been fully transparent in providing all requested information."

Pilz to contest election with own list

To Austrian news and the longtime member of the Green party Peter Pilz has announced he will contest the October 15th election with his own list. Pilz had been a prominent figure in the Greens but decided to leave after failing to be selected as one of its top candidates at a party congress last month.

Drought forces Vatican to turn off fountains

The Vatican says it's turning off its fountains because of a prolonged drought. The summer heat has followed two years of lower-than-average rainfall in Rome. Vatican spokesman Greg Burke: "you can't waste and sometimes you have to be willing to make a sacrifice. We have very beautiful gardens in the Vatican - they may not be as green this year, but we'll survive."

The weather

Changeable, windy and cool with some showers especially in the west in the region between Vorarlberg and Upper Austria and later in the south. Highs ranging between 13 in the West and 25 in southern Burgenland.

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