A lawmaker from German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) stepped down on Monday after over a government deal to procure face masks. Nikolas Löbel announced that he would resign from his parliamentary mandate with immediate effect and would not run for the Bundestag again. "In order to avoid further damage to my party, I am resigning my Bundestag mandate with immediate effect," Löbel said. He had previously announced the immediate termination of his membership in the center-right party's parliamentary group and issued an apology. Löbel confirmed on Friday that he was involved in businesses that dealt with face masks. Following the announcement, a second senior conservative lawmaker announced he would leave the conservatives parliamentary group. Georg Nüsslein , who is facing a probe over the scandal, said although he is leaving the group, he plans to hold on to his seat. Senior conservative lawmaker Georg Nüsslein, who is under investigation … [Read more...] about German lawmaker resigns over face mask scandal
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COVID-19: Union leader says ‘jury’s out’ on whether schools in England will have to close again
A union leader has told Sky News "the jury's out" on whether schools in England will have to close again. Asked if she was confident that pupils would not have to go back to remote learning at some point in the future, Dr Mary Bousted replied: "No, I'm afraid I'm not." Live COVID updates from the UK and around the world Schools reopen across England - here are the new safety measures Pupils in England are returning to the classroom as the third COVID-19 lockdown begins to be eased . Schools remained open during lockdown for vulnerable children and the children of key workers, but the majority of pupils had to contend with remote learning. Advertisement All children are able to head back into school, but secondary schools can stagger the return of students over the week to allow for mass testing. Dr Bousted, the joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said members feared the government "hasn't … [Read more...] about COVID-19: Union leader says ‘jury’s out’ on whether schools in England will have to close again
Couples are punished with 20 lashes of the cane for having sex outside marriage in Indonesian region governed under Sharia law
Four couples have been caned with up to 20 lashes for having sex outside of marriage in Indonesia . The men and women were publicly flogged in the ultra-conservative Aceh province governed by Sharia law on Monday. Crowds gathered to watch the brutal punishment being handed out despite the coronavirus pandemic, with many taking pictures and videos on their phones. A woman kneels on the floor as she faces a public caning punishment in Banda Aceh for having sex outside of marriage Four couples received the brutal punishment, receiving between 10 and 20 lashes each, in the ultra-conservative Aceh province A barefoot Acehnese woman is escorted by Sharia police to her punishment, which was held inside because of the Covid-19 pandemic A women kneeling on the floor closes her eyes as the caning is administered by a hooded enforcer carrying out the public flogging A defendant holds her head in her hands as she approaches the … [Read more...] about Couples are punished with 20 lashes of the cane for having sex outside marriage in Indonesian region governed under Sharia law