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Nicola Sturgeon holds a press conference. Jane Barlow / AP  

 

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon resigns  

 

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is stepping down after more than eight years in the post. She confirms this at a press conference after the news was leaked to the British media.  

 

- It is the right time for me to leave, says Sturgeon and adds that she will continue in politics.  

 

Sturgeon has recently suffered several political setbacks. Among other things, there was a recent decision from the Supreme Court of Great Britain that stopped the plans for a new referendum on Scottish independence. 

 

- My decision is based on a longer evaluation. I've been struggling with this for weeks.  

 

The 52-year-old is the longest serving head of Scottish government.  

 

Frankfurt Airport. Archive image. Michael Probst / AP 

 

Lufthansa's IT failure  

Frankfurt Airport diverts all planes after crash  

 

The extensive data failure means that all flights to Frankfurt airport, which is one of Europe's largest, are rerouted or cancelled. This is stated by a spokesperson for the German Aviation Authority for AP.  

 

The plane will instead land at the airports in Nuremberg, Munich and Düsseldorf.  

 

The data failure was due to a crash during a repair work on a railway near the airport. During the work, several fiber optic cables were damaged.  

 

 

Margot Wallström (S). Stina Stjernkvist/SvD/TT  

 

Sweden's NATO application  

Wallström: The whole process with Turkey is badly managed  

 

It has gone too fast and there have been too many visits, statements and meetings - the NATO process has become too much on Turkey's terms. This is what the former Social Democratic Foreign Minister Margot Wallström thinks in an interview with DN. 

 

- The entire NATO process has been badly managed when it comes to Turkey.  

She herself was one of those who held the talks when S abandoned the military non-alignment almost a year ago. When asked if she regrets her changed stance, she says no. But she says she felt "embarrassed and uncomfortable" about what happened after the decision was made.  

 

At the same time, she admits that there was no time for a longer debate.

Illustration image. Fiona Alihosi / AP  

 

The flight to Europe  

At least 73 refugees are believed to have drowned outside Libya  

 

At least 73 people trying to get from Libya to Europe are believed to have drowned in the Mediterranean Sea, several news agencies report.  

 

The UN agency IOM states that 80 passengers were on board the boat that capsized off the coast of Libya. Only seven of them have been found alive.