Month: May 2019

Smaller European parties saw a surge of support in continent-wide elections for the European Parliament in what politicians and analysts agree will likely be seen as the most consequential since 1979, when European Union voters first began casting ballots for the bloc’s legislature. Early results Sunday suggested the 751-seat parliament will be more fragmented than ever before. Smaller parties, both euroskeptic and pro-EU ones, fared well at the expense of their more established and bigger center-right and center-left rivals. Pro-EU Liberals and Greens will hold the balance of power in the new parliament, which will sit for five years. Philippe …

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The Circus Maximus Experience, opened in Rome this week and offers visitors the chance to relive the ancient splendors of chariot racing in the Imperial period of Rome through augmented and virtual reality. The innovative project implements interactive display technologies never before used in such a large outdoor area. “Now you find yourself in front of the Arch of Titus, which was possibly built in the place of a more ancient arch and dedicated in the year 81 After Christ by the Roman Senate and people to Emperor Flavius”. This is just an example of what modern-day visitors will be …

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The prospect of a “no deal” Brexit was fast becoming the central battle of the race to succeed Prime Minister Theresa May on Sunday, as environment minister Michael Gove became the latest candidate to declare. May said on Friday she was quitting over her failure to deliver Brexit, potentially opening the way for a new leader who could seek a more divisive split with the European Union and lead to confrontation with the bloc or a possible parliamentary election. Setting out their pitch to the Conservative Party’s largely pro-Brexit membership who will decide the outcome of the contest, four of …

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Thousands of prisoners in Turkey ended their hunger strikes Sunday that had been mounted to force Turkey to end jailed militant leader Abdullah Ocalan’s isolation at Imrali Island prison. Earlier Sunday, Ocalan’s lawyers read a statement from their client calling for an end to the strikes. “I expect the action to come to an end…” Ocalan said in a statement read by one of his lawyers at a press conference in Istanbul. An estimated two to three thousand detainees throughout Turkey’s prison system had participated in the strikes. Twice this month, Turkey allowed the 70-year-old imprisoned leader of the outlawed …

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Thousands of prisoners in Turkish jails have ended a 200-day-long hunger strike after jailed Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan was allowed to see his lawyer for the first time in eight years. “Comrades who have committed themselves to hunger strikes and death fasts, I expect you to end your protest,” Ocalan said in an appeal to his supporters Sunday. He has been allowed to see his attorney twice in the past week A number of Kurdish lawmakers had joined the 3,000 prisoners and others in refusing solid food unless Ocalan was allowed to consult with his lawyer on Imrali Island …

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Israel’s president said Sunday he is shocked by a German official’s comment that he wouldn’t advise Jews to wear skullcaps in parts of the country, which is drawing mixed reactions at home. Felix Klein, the government’s anti-Semitism commissioner, was quoted Saturday as saying: “I cannot recommend to Jews that they wear the skullcap at all times everywhere in Germany.” He didn’t elaborate on what places and times might be risky. “The statement of the German government’s anti-Semitism commissioner that it would be preferable for Jews not wear a kippa in Germany out of fear for their safety, shocked me deeply,” …

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Germany’s anti-Semitism commissioner has advised Jews that it may be dangerous in certain parts of the country to wear the kippahs, also known as skullcaps, traditionally worn by Jewish men. He did not specify which areas of the country he was referring to. “I cannot advise Jews to wear the kippah everywhere all the time in Germany,” Felix Klein told the Funke press group in an interview published Saturday. Klein’s warning comes amid a rising number of anti-Semitic attacks in Germany. The commissioner said “the lifting of inhibitions and the uncouthness which is on the rise in society” has contributed …

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Irish voters have overwhelmingly endorsed a plan to liberalize the country’s constitution to make it easier for couples to divorce. Election officials said Sunday a constitutional requirement that couples be separated for four years before being allowed to divorce will be removed. It will fall to Ireland’s Parliament to come up with new legislation to govern divorce. Officials say more than 82% of voters endorsed the change, which follows liberalization of abortion laws approved in a referendum last year. Culture Minister Josepha Madigan told RTE News voters had shown compassion by “humanizing the system.” Voter turnout on the referendum vote …

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Pivotal elections for the European Union parliament reach their climax Sunday as the last 21 nations go to the polls and results are announced in a vote that boils down to a continentwide battle between euroskeptic populists and proponents of closer EU unity. Right-wing nationalists who want to slash immigration into Europe and return power to national governments are expected to make gains, though mainstream parties are expected to hold onto power in the 751-seat legislature that sits in both Brussels and Strasbourg. Salvini vs Macron Leading the challenge to the established order is Italy’s hard-line interior minister, Matteo Salvini, …

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