CommonSpace brings you the news so you don’t have to go looking for it
TODAY’S INSTALMENT (Tuesday 8 February) of the CommonSpace daily news roundup includes: French election campaigns underway against backdrop of political corruption allegations, Scottish Parliament set to officially oppose Brexit bill, and Donaeld the Unready.
News: French election campaigns underway against backdrop of political corruption allegations
French elections another site of global ideological polarisation
The French election campaign is underway against the backdrop of corruption allegations against some of the country’s leading political figures. Former president Nicolas Sarkozy is to face trial over alleged illegal campaign financing, a judge has announced today. Francois Fillon, the major centre right candidate in the election, is also facing accusations he misused public funds to employ family members. Against this backdrop figures of the radical left and right, but especially Marine Le Pen of the far right Front National, are expected to perform well. Le Penn could well face centrist challenger Emannuel Macron in the second round of the presidential election.
Politics: Scottish Parliament set to officially oppose Brexit bill
Scotland politicians expected to oppose giving UK Prime Minister power to trigger Article 50
The Scottish Parliament is expected to vote down the UK Government’s Brexit bill later on today. The UK Supreme Court has already ruled that Holyrood has no say over the legislation, which will give Prime Minister Theresa May the power to trigger Article 50 and leave the EU, but Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has decided to hold the symbolic vote.
Sport: Concerns raised over background checks for children’s sports coaches
Almost one in three children’s sports projects could have coaches working without full background checks
Concerns have been raised about children’s sports coaches after the BBC discovered that as many as one in three sports governing authorities may have unchecked coaches. The news comes after revelations of child abuse committed by some football coaches in recent decades.
Culture: Scots friends searching for site of Wallace Mythology
Little is known of the life of Wallace
Two Scots friends have embarked on a three year project to locate and preserve a tree to which William Wallace, the Scots historical figure who was a leader in the Wars of Independence, was allegedly chained before he was taken to England for execution. Cha Halliday, from Greenock and Sean Donnelly of Inverkip are determined to find the site, despite historians being unable to determine to truth behind the legend.
Weather: The coming cold snap
It’s snowing outside the CommonSpace window
But it’s that crap kind of snow in Glasgow, the slushy kind that will never lie on the ground. It’ll be rainy and cold across most of the country. We can expect a much harsher cold snap towards the end of the month.
And another thing: Donaeld the Unready
Canute. What a loser. Can’t even hold back the sea. It’s just water. We’re going to be so tough on the sea. Canute was too soft. Sad.
— Donaeld The Unready (@donaeldunready) February 4, 2017
The best Donald Trump parody account ever
An account satirising US President Donald Trump as the leader of the ancient English kingdom of Mercia is required reading.
Picture courtesy of Blandine Le Cain, Adam Tinworth, motiqua, Innovation_School, Paul Simpson, Bart Heird
Check out what people are saying about how important CommonSpace is. Pledge your support today.