Free Republic

Cocaine traces have been found at the European Parliament in an inquiry by one of Germany's main broadcasters. The Sat-1 channel sent reporters to take 46 swabs from toilets and other public areas of the Brussels buildings. Nearly all tested positive for cocaine. A European Parliament spokeswoman said cocaine abuse was not a problem among staff working at the buildings.

The upper house of the Japanese parliament has unanimously endorsed a resolution which sends signals that Tokyo may have expanded territorial claims against Moscow on the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Russia. The document has the same text as the resolution that the lower house of parliament passed on Feb. 22, ITAR-TASS news agency reported. It urges Japan and Russia to continue putting efforts into a buildup of partnership that meets their mutual interests adding that bilateral relations should be raised to a quality new level, but says at the same time the problem of the northern territories remains...