Gay couple ‘can marry’ – court

France: A gay French-Moroccan couple can marry, France’s highest court ruled yesterday.

Dominique and Mohammed — who have asked for their last names not to be published — had been planning their wedding since France legalised same-sex marriages in 2013, but an interstate agreement that marriages between French people and Moroccans would be subject to the laws of their respective countries.

Gay marriage remains illegal in Morocco, but the Court of Cassation said since the foreign partner has French residence the wedding was legal.

15 disciplined after spying for Lama

China: The Communist Party Disciplinary Commission of Tibet said yesterday it has disciplined 15 party members who had joined Tibetan separatist organisations and fed intelligence to the Dalai Lama.

The religious leader has run an administration in exile from Indian soil since his CIA-backed bid for power was quashed in the 1950s.

His followers have been linked to terrorist attacks on Chinese soil, although he denies having authorised such acts.

Annexation of GDR slammed

Russia: The Duma may debate a Bill condemning West Germany’s 1990 annexation of East Germany.

A resolution sponsored yesterday by Communist MP Nikolai Ivanov says there was no popular vote to support the “reunification” of Germany, which saw the German Democratic Republic taken over by the Federal Republic.

It was passed to a parliamentary committee for discussion.

Security guards stage pay strike

Germany: Security guards at Dusseldorf and Cologne airports will stage a 24-hour warning strike today.

The Verdi trade union said talks with employers over pay rises for the staff — it is seeking increases of between €1.50 and €2.50 (£1.10-1.90) for the private security workers — have not been fruitful.

New negotiations are due to begin on February 5.