Photo: DPAGerman media reported Wednesday that former German leader Helmut Kohl's widow sought to stop Chancellor Angela Merkel from speaking at a ceremony in Strasbourg where Kohl will lie in state. Maike Kohl-Richter, the former chancellor's second wife, wanted only foreign dignitaries to speak during the ceremony, according to the weekly magazine Spiegel. Alongside Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and former US president Bill Clinton will address a ceremony in Strasbourg, the EU announced Wednesday. The European Council, which represents member states, confirmed in a statement that speakers would include Merkel, Macron and Clinton. European Council chief Donald Tusk, European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker and European Parliament President Antonio Tajani will also make speeches.

Source: The Local June 21, 2017 13:30 UTC