News in Brief -(03-01-2018)
Wednesday, 3 January 2018
German MP comes under fire for anti-Muslim tweet
BERLIN, Jan 02: A far-right German politician has been condemned for an anti-Arab and anti-Muslim Tweet, which briefly saw her suspended from the platform. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) MP Beatrix von Storch said Cologne police were appeasing "barbaric, gang-raping, Muslim hordes" when they tweeted out a New Year Day message in Arabic. — Al Jazeera
Western Europe to experience more stormy weather
BRUSSELS, Jan 02: The New Year period is proving particularly stormy across parts of Western Europe. Storm Carmen hit western France on New Year's Day with winds of 130 kilometres per hour (km/h). At least one person died, and more than 65,000 homes were temporarily left without electricity. Carmen deepened just to the south of the UK, meaning that the strong winds were reserved for the coasts of Brittany, Normandy and the Bay of Biscay. — Al Jazeera
Bulgaria President vetoes graft bill
SOFIA, Jan 02: Bulgaria's president on Tuesday vetoed legislation demanded by Brussels aimed at tackling rampant corruption, saying it fails to protect whistleblowers.
Bulgaria, which took over the European Union's rotating presidency on January 1, is the poorest country in the bloc and according to watchdog Transparency International also the most corrupt. — AFP
Top Hollywood women launch anti-harassment initiative
WASHINGTON, Jan 02: More than 300 top women in Hollywood -- from Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence to Emma Thompson and Cate Blanchett -- unveiled an initiative Monday to tackle pervasive sexual harassment in workplaces, calling special attention to their "sisters" in less than glamorous blue-collar jobs. — AFP
Convicted drug smuggler now singer
SYDNEY, Jan 02: Convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby has created something of a stir in Australia by releasing a music track on social media. The track, called Palm Trees, features Corby on vocals singing: "I'm in Queensland and it is sunny. I have the palm trees behind me." Corby's Instagram post said it had been "so much fun" to make - but it's fair to say it's meant she is yet again dividing Australian public opinion. — BBC
Egypt executes four Islamic militants
CAIRO, Jan 02: Egypt on Tuesday executed four Islamic militants following their conviction by a military tribunal of killing three military academy students in a 2015 bomb attack that wounded six others. The attack took place outside a stadium in the Nile Delta city of Kafr el-Sheikh. — AP