Tag Archives: European Union

BRITAIN: 100,000 March Against Brexit [VIDEO]

Reuters reports: Around 100,000 supporters of the European Union marched through central London on Saturday to demand that the British government hold a final public vote on the terms of Brexit, organizers said. Protesters packed the main arteries of the capital, waving British, Irish and European flags and colorful banners to call for a “People’s Vote” on the eventual deal …

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Czech Government Backs Same-Sex Marriage Bill

Gay Star News reports: Czech Republic just introduced a draft law to legalize same-sex marriage today (22 June). According to iDNES, Lucie Zachariáš, the lawyer representing the campaign for marriage equality in Czech Republic said on the government’s decision: “We are happy that the government has consistently spoken about the proposal to change the Civil Code and promote marriage for …

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EU Announces Tariffs On US Goods To Begin Friday

Reuters reports: The European Union will begin charging import duties of 25 percent on a range of U.S. products on Friday, in response to U.S tariffs imposed on EU steel and aluminum early this month, the European Commission said on Wednesday. The move confirms a tit-for-tat dispute that could escalate into a full trade war, particularly if U.S. President Donald …

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Top EU Court Rules Married Gays Have Residency Rights In Nations That Don’t Recognize Same-Sex Marriages

The BBC reports: The European Union’s top court has ruled in favour of a Romanian gay man’s right to have his US husband live with him in Romania. The country, which does not recognise same-sex marriage, had argued that the American was not entitled to the EU residency rights awarded to spouses. But the European Court of Justice said the …

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SPAIN: Socialist Leader Pedro Sanchez Becomes PM After Ousting Of Mariano Rajoy In No Confidence Vote

The vote was very close. The Guardian reports: Mariano Rajoy, once viewed as the great survivor of Spanish politics, has been ousted as prime minister in a vote of no confidence after several former members of his party were convicted of corruption in a case that proved a scandal too far. He will be replaced by Pedro Sánchez, the leader …

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Mexico Hits Back At Trump With Tariffs On US Goods

The Associated Press reports: The Trump administration announced Thursday it will impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Europe, Mexico and Canada after failing to win concessions from the American allies. Europe and Mexico pledged to retaliate quickly, exacerbating trans-Atlantic and North American trade tensions. The European Commission’s president, Jean-Claude Juncker, said Trump’s decision amounted to trade protectionism and …

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Trump To Hit Mexico, Canada, And EU With Steel And Aluminum Tariffs, Retaliation Expected To Be Swift

CNBC reports: The United States is likely to impose steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada, Mexico and the EU Thursday, according to a source familiar with the decision. The source, who preferred to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the situation, said the tariff decision is coming this morning and is “99.9” percent done. The U.S. expects the EU …

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BRITAIN: Whistleblower Testifies That Pro-Brexit Groups Had “Common Plan” To Evade UK Election Laws

The Guardian reports: There was a “common plan” to use the network of companies orbiting Cambridge Analytica to get around election spending and co-ordination laws, Christopher Wylie, the Cambridge Analytica whistleblower, has told a parliamentary committee. “For me, this is about the integrity of the democratic process, which is more important than anything else,” Wylie said, before emphasising his words: …

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Trump Threatens Tax On European Union Cars

The Hill reports: President Trump threatened a new tax on cars imported from the European Union on Saturday, in response to threats of retaliation against new U.S. tariffs. The European Union said Friday it was weighing potential tariffs against a wide range of U.S. goods, in response to Trump’s announcement that the U.S. would impose tariffs of 25 percent on …

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European Union High Court Hears Same-Sex Marriage Case That Could Expand Rights To All Member Nations

The New York Times reports: The European Union’s highest court began examining a case on Tuesday over a Romanian man’s attempts to get legal residency for his American husband, a closely watched hearing that will have major implications for the legal recognition of same-sex relationships across Europe. The case, legal experts say, could determine whether same-sex partners are afforded some …

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SPAIN: Madrid Arrests Eight Top Catalan Officials For Sedition, Issues Warrants For President And Others

The BBC reports: Eight sacked Catalan ministers have been remanded in custody by a Spanish high court judge over the region’s push for independence. Prosecutors had asked the judge to detain eight of the nine former government members who turned up for questioning in Madrid. They are accused of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds. The state prosecutor has …

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Spain Charges Catalonia Leaders With Rebellion

The New York Times reports: The Spanish attorney general said on Monday that Carles Puigdemont, the former Catalan leader, and other top regional officials would be prosecuted for rebellion after illegally declaring independence from Spain. The attorney general, José Manuel Maza, stopped short of ordering the immediate arrest of Mr. Puigdemont and other separatist leaders in Catalonia, instead ordering them …

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Spain Sacks Catalonia Government, Assumes Control

The Guardian reports: Madrid has taken direct control of Catalonia for the first time in nearly four decades, firing the regional government and dismissing the head of the local police force, after the Catalan parliament made a unilateral declaration of independence. Carles Puigdemont and his cabinet were formally removed from their posts, and their powers and responsibilities taken over by …

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BREAKING: Catalonia Declares Independence

The New York Times reports: In a major escalation of Spain’s territorial conflict, Catalan lawmakers declared independence on Friday, setting up a showdown with the central government in coming days. Undeterred by the government’s threat to seize control of Catalonia, separatists in the region’s Parliament passed a resolution to “create a Catalan republic as an independent state.” In protest, lawmakers …

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SPAIN: Secessionists Call For “Mass Civil Disobedience” After Weekend Of Rallies, EU Backs Madrid [VIDEO]

CBS News reports: A pro-independence party in the Spanish region of Catalonia is calling for “mass civil disobedience.” They are upset about the Spanish government’s unprecedented decision and attempt to take over Catalonia’s government. The political crisis has escalated to the point that Spain’s central government is, in essence, saying “we’ll take over now” as they seek to impose direct …

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Spain To Remove Catalonia President And Impose Direct Rule, Secessionists To Rally Tonight In Barcelona

The New York Times reports: In a first for Spain, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced on Saturday that he would remove the separatist government of the independence-minded region of Catalonia and initiate a process of direct rule from Madrid. The announcement, made after an emergency cabinet meeting, was an unexpectedly forceful attempt to stop a yearslong drive for secession in …

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Spain Moves To Dissolve Catalonia’s Parliament

Reuters reports: The Spanish government has secured opposition support for dissolving Catalonia’s parliament and holding new elections there in January in its bid to defuse the regional government’s push for independence. The Socialists, the main opposition, said on Friday they would back special measures to impose central rule on the region to thwart the secessionist-minded Catalan government and end a …

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GERMANY: President Signs Marriage Bill, Weddings To Start October 1st Unless Bavaria State Challenges

Bloomberg reports: Germany’s president has signed legislation legalizing gay marriage, his office said Friday, paving the way for the bill to take effect this fall. Lawmakers approved the bill on June 30 in parliament’s last session before Germany’s September election. The move became possible after Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose conservative party had long been reluctant to budge on the issue, …

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Brexit Negotiations Begin In Brussels [VIDEO]

The Guardian reports: Brexit talks have begun in Brussels. The lead negotiators, David Davis and Michel Barnier, representing the UK and the European commission respectively, posed for the cameras before several hours of initial discussions. Amid concerns that political uncertainty in Britain could delay meaningful negotiations, the two leaders stressed their opening day on Monday would mainly deal with the …

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POLAND: Thousands March In Warsaw Pride [VIDEO]

Deutsche Welle reports: The 17th annual ‘Equality Parade’ took place as Poland’s conservative government continues to oppose civil unions for same-sex couples. Organizers put the number at 50,000, while the police said 13,000 attended the parade, with 40 foreign embassies, including those of France and the US, expressing their support. The parade was intended to “draw attention to the rights …

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