The lower house of Swiss parliament on Wednesday followed in the footsteps of the Senate, or upper house, in approving a measure that would ban the use of, public wearing or display of Nazi and racist symbols that could foment extremist hate or violence. The proposal — years in the making — goes beyond a simple ban on Nazi memorabilia, …
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German police bust human smuggling scheme that got visas to hundreds, mostly Chinese nationals
German authorities conducted a large-scale raid against an international human smuggling gang early Wednesday, police said in a statement. More than 1,000 police officers searched dozens of homes, stores and offices across western and southern Germany and arrested 10 suspects, including two lawyers. The suspects are accused of having illegally taken advantage of special German immigration rules reserved only for …
Read More »The Ukraine war is lost, but Hollywood and DC don’t know it
On April 10, stars in Hollywoodjoinedpoliticians in D.C. indemandingthat Congress take up a war aid bill authorizing $60 billion in new assistance for Ukraine. But they’re all wrong. The war is lost. In fact, 90% of people in Europe believe that to be true. If that comes as a surprise, it shouldn’t. In late February, the Times of London publishedthe …
Read More »Croatia votes in a bitter showdown of a parliamentary election between president and prime minister
Croatia is voting Wednesday in a parliamentary election after a campaign that centered on a bitter rivalry between the president and prime minister of the country. The ballot pits the ruling conservative Croatian Democratic Union, or HDZ, led by Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, against an alliance of centrist and left-wing parties informally led by populist President Zoran Milanovic and his …
Read More »EU leaders mull tougher sanctions against Iran at a summit as Zelenskyy pleads for more support
BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders debated ways to ramp up sanctions against Iran at a summit on Wednesday as concern grows that Tehran’s unprecedented attack on Israel could fuel a wider war in the Middle East. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reminded the gathering that his country still badly needs support to combat Russia’s invasion. French President Emmanuel Macron urged …
Read More »Greece names a convicted politician from Albania’s ethnic Greek minority as candidate in EU election
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s governing conservative party added a convicted politician from Albania’s ethnic Greek minority to its list of candidates for the upcoming European Parliament election, adding to the already existing tension between the two countries. Fredi Beleris was elected mayor of the town of Himare in southern Albania last year but was arrested on vote-buying charges and …
Read More »European far-right conference resumes after judge rules its shutdown unconstitutional
An international conference of far-right politicians and supporters resumed in Brussels on Wednesday after the organizers launched a legal challenge against the authorities in the Belgian capital who feared the event could pose a threat to public order. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was due to speak at the National Conservative conference, a gathering of strident nationalists and fundamentalist Christians, …
Read More »Belgian police shut down a far right conference as it rallies ahead of Europe's June elections
BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgian police shut down a gathering of far-right politicians and supporters on Tuesday, citing concerns about public order, while attendees protested curbs on free speech and vowed to find another venue for Day 2. The annual National Conservative conference, held this year in Brussels, comes ahead of Europe-wide elections. As campaigning for the June 6-9 event heats …
Read More »Iconic spire atop 17th-century Old Stock Exchange in Denmark collapses in fire
A fire raged through one of Copenhagen’s oldest buildings on Tuesday, causing the collapse of the iconic spire from the 17th-century Old Stock Exchange as passersby rushed to help emergency services save priceless paintings and other valuables. Danish Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt said it was “touching” to see how many people lent their hand “to save art treasures and iconic …
Read More »Greece proposes 2 marine parks as part of $830M environmental protection program
Greece aims to create two large marine parks as part of an $830 million program to protect biodiversity and marine ecosystems, with the plans to be formally announced at an international oceans conference starting in Athens Tuesday. But the plan has irked Greece’s neighbor and regional rival, Turkey, while environmental organizations say the initiative doesn’t go far enough, noting that …
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