News | 13 july 2017

Macron, Trump meet in Paris +++ Great Repeal Bill reaches British parliament +++ Lula to appeal corruption conviction

Macron, Trump meet in Paris +++ Great Repeal Bill reaches British parliament +++ Lula to appeal corruption conviction +++ Nemtsov killer given twenty years +++ EU Commission challenges Hungary +++ Early general election in Austria +++ The weather

13. August 2017, 02:00

News | 13 july 2017

Joanna King

Macron, Trump meet in Paris

United States president Donald Trump has arrived in France where he holds talks with president Emmanuel Macron ahead of Bastille Day celebrations tomorrow. Their discussions are expected to focus mainly on counter-terrorism, Syria and Iraq. The invitation for a US leader to attend this year’s Bastille Day military parade had long been planned, as 2017 marks the 100th anniversary of the entry of the United States into the First World War. Before hosting Trump, President Macron attended a joint French-German cabinet meeting in Paris with chancellor Angela Merkel. Macron has promised to reform the French economy but has also urged Germany to support greater public and private investment in Europe.

Great Repeal Bill reaches British parliament

The British government is introducing the Great Repeal Bill to parliament in the first significant step to replace European Union law with British legislation, as part of its withdrawal from the EU. The bill transposing 45 years of EU law is meant to provide continuity when Britain finally leaves the union. The opposition Labour party has warned that it will vote against the bill unless prime minister Theresa May makes concessions on issues including parliamentary scrutiny and workers’ rights.

Lula to appeal corruption conviction

In Brazil, lawyers for former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva say he will appeal his conviction for corruption and a nine and half year prison sentence. Lula remains free pending the appeal and has said he may run for president again. His supporters have denounced the sentence as political persecution. Senator Hector Sousa: “Lula’s conviction is a crime. Every day they come up with something against him. Lula is the most persecuted man in Brazilian history.” The case is the first of five charges against Lula, and part of Brazil’s largest ever corruption investigation.

Nemtsov killer given twenty years

A Russian military court has sentenced the leader of a Chechen gang to 20 years in prison for the murder of leading opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, in 2015. Zaur Dadaev is a former member of an elite military unit under the command of Chechen ruler Ramzan Kadyrov. His four accomplices received lesser sentences. Nemtsov’s family have said they fear whoever ordered the killing will never be held accountable.

EU Commission challenges Hungary

The European Commission has begun disciplinary proceedings against Hungary over its controversial law on NGOs. The Commission says the law which obliges NGOs receiving funding from abroad to register with the government, is not consistent with EU law on freedom of association.

Early general election in Austria

Austria’s early election passes parliament Austria's parliament has approved a motion for an early general election on October the 15th. This is its last session before the summer recess.