Tag Archives: Europe

Finland’s national broadcaster reports: Finnish MPs defeated a bill to strike down same-sex marriage on February 17. Opposition to the proposal was strong, as 120 parliamentarians voted against it, with 48 in support. Two members of parliament voted absent and 29 MPs did not cast a vote. A Finnish movement called Aito avioliitto (True Marriage) that seeks to uphold marriage …

You’ll like this. Ad Week applauds: While much of Europe seems understandably concerned about Donald Trump’s “America First” stance, the Dutch are happy to find a middle ground: “The Netherlands Second.” In the clip below from satirical news show Zondag met Lubach (Sunday with Lubach, hosted by Arjen Lubach), The Netherlands rolls out the yuge red carpet for Trump with …

Buzzfeed reports: Breitbart News is set to expand its presence in Italy, BuzzFeed News has learned. The alt-right platform, which has one full-time journalist in Rome, is planning to add reporters to its bureau in the Italian capital. The decision to boost operations in Rome comes following plans to open bureaus in Germany and France, a sign that Breitbart is …

The Guardian reports: France’s far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen called on voters across Europe to “wake up” and follow the example of US and British voters. Speaking at an unprecedented meeting in Germany of Europe’s right wing populist parties, she said Brexit would unleash an unstoppable wave of “all the dominos of Europe”. And after Brexit, she added, before …

The Associated Press reports: Dozens of people have participated in a gay pride event in highly conservative Montenegro where authorities are promising to boost gay rights as part of efforts to join the European Union. Hundreds of policemen deployed Saturday in downtown Podgorica, the capital, to prevent possible attacks from extremists. Participants in the pride march carried banners reading “born …

The BBC reports: Far-right candidate Norbert Hofer has lost Austria’s presidential election. On Facebook, he described himself as “infinitely sad” and congratulated Alexander Van der Bellen, former head of the Greens, on his victory. The elections had been seen as a sign of how well populist candidates might do in upcoming elections in the EU, though the post is ceremonial. …

Metro reports: It’s the ‘insult’ of choice for many a schoolyard bully but being called gay should be not considered offensive, Italy’s high court has ruled. Judges said the term ‘homosexual’ no longer has an ‘intrinsically offensive meaning as, perhaps, might have been considered in the not-so-distant past’, ANSA reports from the Cassation Court in Rome. The judgement was made …

The Guardian reports: Russia has said it is formally withdrawing its signature from the founding statute of the international criminal court, a day after the court published a report classifying the Russian annexation of Crimea as an occupation. The Russian foreign ministry made the announcement on Wednesday on the orders of president Vladimir Putin, saying the tribunal had failed to …

Democracy & Freedom Watch reports: President Giorgi Margvelashvili made it clear Tuesday evening that he does not support the proposed referendum about amending the Constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The reason, Margvelashvili said at a briefing, is that there is already a proper definition of marriage in the Constitution. With two hundred …

Two days ago I reported that anti-gay groups affiliated with the Eastern Orthodox Church won a court ruling in Romania that will allow a national referendum on a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. Today the Liberty Counsel takes credit. Via press release: In a major victory for natural marriage and the right of Romanian citizens to determine their own destiny, …

From the Associated Press: Forces loyal to Turkey’s president quashed a coup attempt in a night of explosions, air battles and gunfire that left dozens dead Saturday. Authorities arrested thousands of people as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed those responsible “will pay a heavy price for their treason.” The chaos capped a period of political turmoil in Turkey — a …

The Daily Beast reports: Turkish president Tayyip Erdoğan is reportedly seeking asylum in Europe, as a military coup continues in Turkey, U.S. military sources tell NBC News. Erdoğan’s presidential jet was allegedly denied landing rights at Istanbul’s airport, before heading out of the country. He was then denied asylum in Germany, according to NBC, before heading to London. The Daily …

CNBC reports: Gunfire was heard and jets were seen flying in the Turkish capital of Ankara on Friday. The apparent incidents immediately piqued interest across the world, as Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said a group within Turkey’s military had attempted to overthrow the government and security forces had been called in to “do what is necessary.” “Some people illegally undertook …

The Washington Post reports: A truck rammed into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in the French Riviera city of Nice on Thursday night, killing at least 84 people in an apparent terrorist attack in which the driver also opened fire on revelers before being shot dead by police. The truck struck the crowd after a fireworks display for the French …

Via the BBC: The government has rejected an online petition, signed by more than 4.1 million people, calling for a second EU referendum to be held. An email to those who signed the petition said the prime minister and government had “been clear that this was a once-in-a-generation vote”. It said the decision “must be respected”, and “we must now …

The Daily Beast recaps: Last week, British satirist John Oliver spent a considerable portion of his late-night HBO program, Last Week Tonight, addressing the upcoming EU referendum, and urging his viewers that it would be “absolutely crazy” for Britain to leave the European Union, warning of “wide-ranging implications both for the U.K. and the world’s economy.” Well, it turns out …

From the New York Times: Britain has voted to leave the European Union, a historic decision sure to reshape the nation’s place in the world, rattle the Continent and rock political establishments throughout the West. With 309 of 382 of the country’s cities and towns reporting early on Friday, the Leave campaign held a 52 percent to 48 percent lead. …

From TIME Magazine: Polling stations all over the U.K. closed at 10 p.m. local time (5 p.m. EST) and ballot boxes were moved to counting centres to find out if the country will remain part of the European Union. High turnouts were reported in some areas, although voters were delayed as floods closed roads and railway lines in the southeast …

MarketWatch reports: It’s raining cats and dogs in parts of the U.K., and that could be good news for Brexit backers. Torrential downpours and thunderstorms began hitting the south east of England late Wednesday, causing the U.K.’s Met Office to put out flood warnings just as Thursday’s referendum got underway to decide whether the U.K. should stay in the European …

Last week’s assassination of Labour MP Jo Cox by a pro-Brexit extremist appears to have had little effect on the polling for tomorrow’s national referendum. Via USA Today: Campaigning over the United Kingdom’s future in the European Union entered a final, frenzied day Wednesday, as polls showed support for staying or splitting in a virtual dead heat. “We are not …