A man set himself on fire in a central Prague square on Friday as Czechs marked the 50th anniversary of a student’s self-immolation in protest against the Soviet invasion that crushed the Prague spring
Continue reading...Category Archives: Europe
France in shock at gang-rape trial of police from famous BRI unit
Court hears how Canadian woman was allegedly raped by terrorism officers at 36 Quai des Orfèves
Emily Spanton grew up with police officers – her father had been a high-ranking officer in the Toronto force – so when two French officers she met while drinking in a Paris bar invited her to see their famous headquarters, she agreed.
Spanton was, she says, drunk and shaky on her feet. “I knew I wasn’t in a state to find my hotel. And I thought that going to a police station would sober me up as there would be plenty of lights and people,” the Canadian said.
Continue reading...‘Aren’t you going insane?’: readers’ questions from beyond Brexitland
Jon Henley answers Brexit queries from confused readers around the world
Having asked those of you living outside the UK if you were confused by the latest news from Brexitland, I got so many responses (thank you all) that I have grouped and paraphrased the most common ones so as to be able answer, at least approximately, as many as possible.
And I’ve mostly stuck to factual questions on the Brexit process. “Will Brexit finally teach Britain it no longer rules the world?” from (among others) Steve Norman in Canada, Ferdy in Dublin and Thijs in the Netherlands, warrants a book-length response, but not now.
Continue reading...Sweden gets new government more than four months after election
Social Democrat leader Stefan Löfven given a second term in office at the head of a new centre-left minority administration
Sweden’s parliament has voted to give the Social Democrat leader, Stefan Löfven, a second term in office at the head of a new centre-left minority government, ending more than four months of deadlock following an inconclusive election.
The caretaker prime minister will take office on Monday, governing in a coalition with the Green party and with the parliamentary backing of the Centre and Liberal parties, formerly members of the four-party centre-right opposition Alliance.
Continue reading...Anti-Assad activist killed in Germany in suspected axe attack
Mohamed Joune’s killing may be related to his Syrian political activities, say friends
A Syrian activist has died after a brutal attack in Hamburg, raising questions over whether he was targeted for political reasons.
Mohamed Joune, 48, collapsed on the street on Tuesday night after stumbling out of a building. He was bleeding from a severe head wound but still conscious when paramedics rushed him to hospital. He later died from his injuries.
Continue reading...Satanic tourism fears dismissed over statue of devil in Segovia
Judge dismisses complaint from local group and councillor says installation can go ahead in Spanish city
The Prince of Darkness is set to add a small corner of the Spanish city of Segovia to his temporal portfolio after a judge rejected complaints that a proposed statue of the devil was an affront to religious sensibilities that could make the city a focus of satanic worship.
The local council commissioned the statue to celebrate the legend that its Roman aqueduct was built by the devil in a single night – and to get tourists into less-visited neighbourhoods.
Continue reading...May claims it is impossible for government to rule out no-deal Brexit in reply to Corbyn – as it happened
Labour leader says he won’t meet with PM until she takes no-deal Brexit off table, after May narrowly wins no-confidence vote in parliament
- May will stick to Brexit ‘principles’ in cross-party talks, says No 10
- Philip Hammond tells business no-deal Brexit will be stopped
- Jeremy Corbyn’s Brexit speech and Q&A - Summary and analysis
- Lunchtime summary
- Theresa May’s letter to Corbyn - Summary and analysis
We’re going to close down this live blog now, so thanks for reading and for all the comments. Here’s a summary of the latest events:
Related: Corbyn could face string of resignations if he backs 'people's vote'
The public is “aghast” at the “Brexit pantomime” in Westminster, Sinn Féin’s deputy leader, Michelle O’Neill, has told the Northern Ireland secretary, Karen Bradley, in what the former termed a “frank discussion”.
With each passing day, our business community, our farmers, our community and voluntary sector are growing more concerned at where this shambles will ultimately end up. And it is they who will pay the price of a no-deal crash Brexit.
Unfortunately, that is where we are likely to end up if Karen Bradley’s government pursues a solution by attempting to placate and appease the DUP and the hard Brexiteers.
It is crucial, now more than ever, that the Dublin Government and the EU27 stand firm on the position that there can be no agreement without a backstop that prevents a hard border in Ireland and protects our peace and political process.
Continue reading...US to begin nuclear treaty pullout next month after Russia missile talks fail
- Officials reject Russian offer to inspect new missile
- US says it will suspend observance of INF treaty on 2 February
The US has rejected Moscow’s offer to inspect a new Russian missile suspected of violating a key cold-war era nuclear-weapons treaty, and warned that it would suspend observance of the agreement on 2 February, giving six-month notice of a complete withdrawal.
Related: Top North Korean officials reportedly set for Washington visit
Continue reading...Greek PM wins confidence vote after Macedonia name crisis
Alexis Tsipras secures majority as opposition claims deal with Skopje is ‘nationally damaging’
The Greek prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, has won a confidence vote in parliament, clearing a major hurdle for Greece’s approval of an accord to end a dispute over Macedonia’s name and averting the prospect of a snap election.
Tsipras called the confidence motion after his rightwing coalition partner Panos Kammenos quit the government on Sunday in protest at the name deal signed between Athens and Skopje last year.
Continue reading...‘We kept the trauma to ourselves’: Christophe Honoré on the idols lost to Aids
The French writer-director talks about his highly personal new show, a ‘dance of the dead’ that pays tribute to artistic heroes including Jacques Demy
Director Christophe Honoré still looks pained at the memory of the protests against gay marriage that rocked France seven years ago. The adoption of same-sex marriage in the country, a flagship policy that President François Hollande had campaigned on, was supposed to have been a smooth process. It became law in 2013, but only after a protracted backlash that saw hundreds of thousands take to the streets – more overall than the recent gilets jaunes (yellow vests) movement.
“I realised there was still a cloud of suspicion hanging over gay citizens,” says Honoré, best known internationally for comedies and musical films including 2007’s Love Songs. “I felt hurt, but also responsible, because in my work I’d never thought that gay visibility might still be important. I felt like I’d failed, like I’d deserted the fight the generation before me had led.”
Continue reading...Norway’s favourite painting to go on display in London
Winter Night in the Mountains part of first Harald Sohlberg show outside Norway
Edvard Munch’s The Scream is a classic symbol of dread that has been hailed as the ultimate icon of contemporary politics – but a very different Norwegian painting is the country’s favourite.
Continue reading...Putin says US wants to ‘assert dominance’ in Balkans as Macedonia changes name
Russian president claims alleged increase of western influence is ‘destablising’
Vladimir Putin has weighed into the row over Macedonia’s name-change, accusing the US and its allies of destabilising the Balkans by “asserting their dominant role” in the region.
The Russian president criticised what he described as deliberate efforts to increase western influence in a part of the world Moscow has long regarded as falling within its own orbit.
Continue reading...Brexit vote: Jeremy Corbyn tables no-confidence motion after May defeat – Politics live
Prime minister’s Brexit deal is lost by 432 votes to 202
- Theresa May loses Brexit deal vote by majority of 230
- How did your MP vote?
- How does a no-confidence motion work, and what’s next for May?
- Evening summary
Earlier tonight, thousands of people in favour of a second referendum marched on Parliament Square, where they watching the thumping defeat of Theresa May’s deal broadcast on large screens.
Related: People's vote supporters revel in defeat of May's Brexit deal
The former Maryland congressman John Delaney has become the first 2020 presidential candidate to weigh in on Theresa May’s resounding Brexit defeat in parliament on Tuesday.
In a statement to the Guardian, Delaney, a former businessman and centrist Democrat mounting a dark horse bid for the White House in 2020, said: “The truth is Brexit was never honestly sold to voters, which is why the UK finds itself in such a difficult position right now.
Related: John Delaney becomes first 2020 candidate to weigh in on Brexit
Continue reading...‘Hatred is becoming more visible’: shocked Gdańsk mourns slain mayor
Residents take part in vigils after stabbing of Paweł Adamowicz on stage at charity concert
The music has been switched off at the Red Light pub in the heart of the picturesque old town of Gdańsk. A single candle adorned with a black ribbon rests on the bar. The city is in mourning.
The people of Gdańsk are coming to terms with the death of their mayor, Paweł Adamowicz, who was stabbed on stage at a charity concert in front of thousands of people on Sunday. A public appeal led to crowds of people queueing for hours to donate blood to save their mayor, but he was pronounced dead on Monday afternoon.
Continue reading...McDonald’s loses Big Mac trademark after legal battle with Irish chain
Supermac strips US food giant of trademark across Europe after landmark EU ruling
Pat McDonagh earned the nickname Supermac as an Irish teenager after a barnstorming performance in a Gaelic football match in the late 1960s.
The centre half-back guided his school, Carmelite college of Moate, County Westmeath, to victory over St Gerald’s, a more fancied team.
Continue reading...Thousands across Poland pay tribute to stabbed Gdańsk mayor – video
Thousands of people have gathered in cities across Poland after the fatal stabbing of the Gdańsk mayor, Paweł Adamowicz. In Gdańsk they were addressed by the European council president, Donald Tusk, a Gdańsk native, friend and longtime ally of Adamowicz
Continue reading...Here, here: the Swedish online love army who take on the trolls
#Jagärhär (#Iamhere) aims to battle abuse in online threads and jumps to defend those on receiving end
When a young woman with rainbow hair and a reputation for hostility towards sexual predators won a Swedish lawyer of the year award late last year, the online reaction came in two waves.
The first was unpleasant, a torrent of bile from people who objected to Linnéa Claeson’s looks, her feminist politics, her gender, her youth and her instagram account @assholesonline.
Continue reading...Operation underway in Spain to rescue toddler from deep well – video
More than 100 firefighters, police officers and rescuers are trying to reach a two-year-old boy who fell down a deep borehole in Málaga province on Sunday afternoon. Yulen was out on a walk with his family when he fell down the hole, which is 110 metres deep and 25cm wide
Continue reading...Do you think the Irish citizens’ assembly on abortion was a good idea?
If you live in Ireland, tell us about the assembly and its findings – did it help resolve a complex issue, might it help with Brexit?
In 2018, Ireland voted in a referendum to legalise abortion. Irish politics had been debating this divisive and emotive issue for decades, however the Irish citizens’ assembly, which deliberated on the matter prior to the referendum, was cited as a successful process in helping people understand the complex issues.
The citizens’ assembly was established in 2016 by parliament and its purpose was to deliberate on a number of issues, including the eighth amendment that outlawed abortion. The 99 citizen members of the assembly were selected to be electorally representative and included those in favour of the change, those against and those undecideds. Over the course of five weekends, between the end of 2016 and early 2017, the assembly listened to people on all sides of the abortion debate, including experts and those sharing their personal experiences.
Continue reading...Brexit: Tory whip Gareth Johnson resigns because he can’t support May’s deal – Politics live
PM speech comes after letter from Tusk and Juncker says EU will consider technological alternatives to backstop
- Theresa May refuses to rule out Brexit article 50 extension
- EU rejects Irish backstop time limit but backs technological solution
- May’s Brexit speech and Q&A - Summary
- Brexit - Summary of overnight and early morning developments
In an article for the Guardian, Emily Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary, says that historical precedent dictates that, if Theresa May loses the Brexit vote tomorrow, she should call a general election.
Here is an extract.
In this week in 1910, the British electorate went to the polls. They did so because Herbert Asquith’s Liberal government had been unable to get Lloyd George’s famous People’s Budget through the House of Lords. Liberal posters defined the election as a choice between the peers and the people. They finally got their way after a second election that December.
So twice that year, and a number of other times, governments who could not get their flagship legislation through parliament, or who otherwise found their authority in the House of Commons exhausted, have been obliged to go to the country to seek a new mandate.
Conservative MPs have been told that Theresa May will address the party’s backbench 1922 committee at 7pm, after her statement to the Commons. And Jeremy Corbyn will be addressing the parliamentary Labour party meeting tonight too.
Continue reading...