Free Republic

A new Franco-German assembly met in Paris on Monday in their first biannual summit as French and German parliaments deepen relations. The move aims to cement the special bond and influence the two countries traditionally have in the European Union. A total of 100 members of parliament, 50 from Germany’s Bundestag and 50 from France’s lower house of parliament (Assemblée Nationale), took part in the joint parliamentary summit. […] “Germany and France have a special responsibility for Europe,” the Bundestag president (Wolfgang Schäuble) said, adding that the new assembly “will neither impair nor abolish the sovereignty of either nation.” […]...

'Star-Spangled Banner' returns to Vermont radio station By ANNE WALLACE ALLENAssociated Press Published on: 04/16/04 MONTPELIER, Vt. — Listeners who want to hear "The Star Spangled Banner" by dawn's early light have persuaded a Vermont radio station to resume daily broadcasts of the national anthem.Angry listeners bombarded radio host Peter Ferrand with complaints after he stopped playing the anthem each day at 6 a.m. on WRSA-AM in St. Albans in northwestern Vermont. Snip... and summary of remaining article... Ferrand, who started at the station in February, goes on to claim he didn't know it was supposed to be played...callers tell...