ucrdem
ucrdem's JournalLady Brexit meets Monsieur Europe: May, Macron to have talks
Source: Washington Post
By Associated Press June 13 at 7:17 AM
PARIS — British Prime Minister Theresa May is meeting France’s president on her first foreign trip since a catastrophic election that weakened her leadership as Britain heads into tough talks on leaving the European Union.
The two are on opposite fronts of the Brexit negotiations — French President Emmanuel Macron wants the remaining EU nations to stand tough and unite even more closely as Britain departs.
But May and Macron want to deepen counterterrorism cooperation after a string of attacks hit both of their countries, and they are notably talking Tuesday about ways to incite tech companies to better police online extremism. Macron’s office said the leaders will discuss ways to boost anti-terrorism efforts both bilaterally and on a European level.
After the Islamic State group recruited hundreds of French fighters largely through online propaganda, France has legislation ordering French providers to block certain content, but recognizes that any such effort much reach well beyond its borders. Tech-savvy Macron has lobbied for tougher European rules, but details of his plans remain unclear.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/lady-brexit-meets-monsieur-europe-may-macron-to-have-talks/2017/06/13/4c880c5e-500a-11e7-b74e-0d2785d3083d_story.html
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Trevi levy: Rome imposes fines for frolicking at famous fountains
Source: The Guardian
Monday 12 June 2017 20.12 EDT
The eternal city is engaged in a constant battle to prevent tourists from damaging its ancient monuments.
Rome is cracking down on anyone hoping to recreate Anita Ekberg’s dip in the Trevi fountain in the film La Dolce Vita, imposing fines for bad behaviour in and around the city’s watery wonders.
(snip)
Mayor Virginia Raggi on Monday said people caught picnicking or camping out on the fountains’ pedestals, putting their feet in the water or going for a swim would be fined up to €240.
“We need to protect our city, and good behaviour is important,” Raggi, a member of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, said in a video posted on Facebook. The decree imposing the fines, which start from a minimum of €40, is valid for the summer season until 31 October.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/13/trevi-levy-rome-imposes-fines-for-frolicking-at-famous-fountains
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I think this is not going to end well . . .
Gaddafi's son said to be freed in Libya, whereabouts unclear
Source: Reuters
Sun Jun 11, 2017 | 3:24am EDT
Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of deposed Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, has left the town of Zintan where he had been held since 2011 after being freed by an armed group, according to one of his lawyers and a statement from the brigade.
The lawyer and the brigade said he had been released under an amnesty law passed by a parliament based in eastern Libya. The lawyer, Khaled al-Zaidi, said Saif al-Islam was headed to another Libyan city but he could not say where for security reasons.
Previous reports that Saif al-Islam had been released from Zintan turned out to be false. A Tripoli court sentenced Saif al-Islam to death in 2015 for war crimes, including killing protesters during the revolution.
Zintan, which grew powerful through its role in the 2011 uprising and has been at odds with authorities in Tripoli, had refused to hand him over.
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-security-saif-idUSKBN192092
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Saif al-Islam Gaddafi (pictured in 2011) was sentenced to death by a court in Tripoli in 2015
Kasowitz claims Trump never asked for loyalty.
If that was simply Comey's perception again, but not what Trump actually said, that's going to be a problem for him.
Comey emphatically stated that no one including Trump asked him to stop investigating.
He also said he was aware of massive cyber-intrusion into the DNC and DCCC by the summer of 2015. But Hillary's email was obviously more important.
So basically a) he's mad about getting fired and b) let's talk about that Tarmac moment, baby!
Macron camp crushes competition as overseas French voters cast first legislative votes
Source: France24
2017-06-06
Over the weekend, French nationals living abroad cast their ballots in critical legislative elections, going to the polls a week earlier than their compatriots back home. First-round results from the 11 foreign districts races showed landslide support for Emmanuel Macrons La Rpublique en marche (LREM).
With some LREM candidates scoring more than 50 percent of votes cast -- some even upwards of 60 percent -- and well-known incumbents floundering well behind newcomer challengers, the fledgling LREMs impressive results reaffirm the massive support Macron received among French voters based abroad in Frances presidential elections just weeks ago. Then, Macron scored 40 percent among these same voters in the presidential first round on April 23 and 93 percent in his final run-off duel against Marine Le Pen on May 7.
Nationally, pollsters say Macron is on pace to win an absolute majority in the parliamentary elections this month. Voters on French soil will go to the ballot box for the first round on Sunday.
Low voter turnout over the weekend only 19.1 percent means no LREM candidate won a lawmakers seat outright in the lower-house National Assembly in the first round of these legislative election. Overseas voters will be called to the polls again on June 18 to decide the 11 contests. The first round vote for French nationals abroad was moved up by a week in order to give the finalists more time to campaign before the June 18 final vote in foreign districts that often span several countries. But Macrons massive first-round support abroad leaves little suspense as to the ultimate result.
Read more: http://www.france24.com/en/20170606-france-legislative-election-2017-macron-camp-crushes-competition-voters-abroad
French President Emmanuel Macron takes a stroll in Traormina, Italy at the G7 summit
Two days from UK election, May's record on security in focus after attack
Source: Reuters
Tue Jun 6, 2017 | 3:30am EDT
(snip)
Police disclosed late on Monday that 27-year-old Khuram Butt, a British citizen born in Pakistan, was known to police and domestic spy agency MI5 but with resources scarce had not been deemed enough of a threat to warrant close monitoring.
Butt had appeared in a documentary called "The Jihadis Next Door", broadcast last year by Britain's Channel 4, as part of a group of men who unfurled an Islamic State flag in a park.
(snip)
As interior minister from 2010 to 2016, May oversaw a drop of 20,000 in the number of police officers in England and Wales, which her main opponent, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, said should never have happened and warranted her resignation.
May hit back that Corbyn himself was weak on the issue of terrorism. He has been criticized for voting against counter-terrorism legislation and expressing reservations about police responding to attacks with "shoot-to-kill" tactics.
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-security-idUSKBN18X0JQ
London attack spawns political controversy as May and Corbyn trade barbs ahead of vote
Source: Washington Post
(snip)
“Things need to change,” May said in a speech outside the prime minister’s residence at 10 Downing Street. She blamed the attack on the “evil ideology of Islamist extremism,” called for a thorough review of the nation’s counterterrorism policies and suggested she will take a much tougher line if she wins Thursday’s vote.
The speech was criticized by the opposition Labour Party as a thinly veiled jab at their far-left leader, Jeremy Corbyn, whom May has often accused of coddling anti-Western militants. May, Corbyn’s backers said, had politicized the attack.
But by evening, Corbyn had hit back with his own political response to the killing, accusing May and her Conservative allies of weakening security services through years of austerity.
“You cannot protect the public on the cheap,” Corbyn said in a speech in the northern English city of Carlisle that ended a brief pause in formal campaigning. “The police and security services must get the resources they need, not 20,000 police cuts.”
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/follow-up-on-london-bridge-attack/2017/06/04/5216bbb2-48c5-11e7-8de1-cec59a9bf4b1_story.html
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Looks like the campaigns have been un-suspended.
London attack: Macron and Turnbull lead world condemnation
Source: BBC
French President Emmanuel Macron has led the global condemnation of Saturday's terror attack in London which left seven people dead.
Four French citizens were among the dozens of people injured in the attack.
Mr Macron spoke by phone with UK Prime Minister Theresa May, and said France was "more than ever at Britain's side".
Meanwhile, Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull said his "prayers and resolute solidarity" were with the British. Two Australians were affected, he said. One was in hospital, while the authorities were working to determine the status of the second person, Mr Turnbull told a news conference.
Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-40148548
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Meanwhile official US condolences go out over Twitter from the guy who bashed Hillary 24/7 for using a private email server.
General election: May falters during challenge over record on public services
Source: The Guardian
Friday 2 June 2017 18.48 EDT
Theresa May came under sustained pressure over the Conservative party’s record on public sector pay, mental health services and social care in a combative election edition of BBC1’s Question Time broadcast less than a week before polling day.
The prime minister faced a string of awkward questions from members of the public, including a challenge from a nurse, Victoria Davey, who left May faltering after confronting her over the 1% pay increase received by NHS staff.
(snip)
One woman from the audience became emotional as she described emerging from a fitness-for-work test in tears after being asked about her suicide attempts. “I’m not going to make any excuses for the experience you’ve had,” said the prime minister.
Under pressure after refusing to turn up for a TV debate earlier in the week, May was animated at first and rejected an accusation that she had performed a U-turn by calling a snap general election. “No it’s not, sir … I had the balls to call an election,” she said.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jun/02/general-election-may-falters-during-challenge-over-record-on-public-services
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"I had the balls to call an election,” she said.
Good thing she's not a biology teacher.
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