Strasbourg attack, Brexit referendum, and Paris protests: European stories to know about today

Strasbourg attack, Brexit referendum, and Paris protests: European stories to know about today
By Euronews
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Here is our round-up of key stories from around Europe today.

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Here are the top stories from around Europe you need to know about today:

1. Inquiry into Strasbourg attack deepens

A close relation of Cherif Chekatt, the suspect in last week's deadly attack in Strasbourg, was transferred to the Paris Prosecutor's Office to appear in front of a judge.

A source close to the inquiry told Euronews that he is suspected of having "played a role in the supply of the firearm" used during the attack.

A fifth person died from his wounds over the weekend as a result of Tuesday evening's shooting in Strasbourg.

Ten people are still injured.

2. May: Second Brexit referendum would cause 'irreparable damage'

British Prime Minister Theresa May is to tell MPs on Monday that a second referendum on the UK's EU membership would cause "irreparable damage" and "break faith with the British people".

Calls for a second referendum have been growing as the British leader struggles to gather support for the Withdrawal Agreement she struck in November with EU leaders.

May, who was hoping to gain concessions from Brussels over the Irish backstop arrangement in order to appease her lawmakers was rebuffed by EU leaders last week.

3. European migration protests

Protesters took to the streets of Brussels on Sunday to rally against a United Nations pact on migration, which is set to be approved later this week.

The Global Compact on Migration was adopted on Monday by 164 UN members and aims to improve the treatment of migrants worldwide.

Meanwhile, in Rome, several thousand protesters, dressed in French-style yellow vests, marched for migrant rights and to protest government anti-migrant policies.

4. Russian-Ukrainian tensions rise

Russia is deploying ten fighter jets to Crimea, Interfax reported on Monday.

It comes after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Ukraine of preparing "a provocation" near the peninsula before the end of the year.

Tensions between the two countries ratcheted up over the weekend as Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of avoiding negotiations to release Ukrainian sailors captured last month.

Last month, Russian Navy ships fired upon and captured three Ukrainian Navy vessels attempting to pass from the Black Sea into the Sea of Azov, through the Kerch Straight.

"When, during the act of aggression in the Kerch Strait, I called him (Putin) to communicate, he refused," said Poroshenko at a press conference in Kiev on Sunday.

5. Paris protests

Paris was getting back to what it does so well on Sunday after another Saturday of protests by the Gilets Jaunes, or yellow vests.

Tourists returned and the wooden boards were coming off the windows of the shops. Although the number of demonstrators was down the businesses had taken no chances after the violence of recent weeks.

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There were still scuffles with police in the capital and other cities and authorities estimate the protesters numbered around 66,000. That is half the amount of the previous week but still substantial.

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