Choose your location
DPA
Iran's Rowhani says new leader Pezeshkian could reopen nuclear talks
Former Iranian president Hassan Rowhani has described the election of reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian as an opportunity to revive negotiations with the West on the country's nuclear programme. Pezeshkian won Iran's presidential election after beating his ultra-conservative rival Saeed Jalili in a run-off vote on Saturday. Iran's electoral authority said that Pezeshkian, a former health minister, received 53.7% of the votes cast to Jalili's 44.3%. The Shargh newspaper quoted Rowhani, who was president from 2013 to 2021 and widely seen as a centrist, as calling Pezeshkian's victory a "popular referendum in favour of productive dealings with the global community." Like many politicians from...
Midday turnout in French election at just over 26% of eligible voters
In the decisive second round of parliamentary elections in France, just over one in four eligible voters had cast their ballots by midday. Voter turnout was 26.63% at noon (1000 GMT), according to the Interior Ministry in Paris. In the first round of voting a week ago, the overall turnout was 66.71%; at noon it had stood at 25.9%. In the last regular parliamentary election in 2022, the turnout at midday was 18.99% in the second round. The last polling stations close at 8 pm on Sunday.
Orbán's far-right alliance reaches European Parliament group status
A new far-right alliance in the European Parliament, launched just a week ago by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has enough parties to achieve group status. The Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV), Belgium's Vlaams Belang and the Danish People's Party announced their intention to join the alliance over the weekend. Their declaration means seven countries are now represented in the alliance called Patriots for Europe, an important condition to form a parliamentary group in the EU legislature. As well as representing a quarter of EU countries, a political group must have 23 EU legislators, according to European Parliament rules. It is not permitted to belong to more than one group. Orbán's Fidesz party, Austria's far-right Freedom Party and the Czech ANO party were the first members the Patriots for Europe alliance when it was first announced. The group's manifesto has the usual far-right focus on retaining national sovereignty vis-à-vis the European Union, fighting illegal migration and pushing back EU measures to reduce climate change.
Orbán's far-right alliance reaches European Parliament group status
A new far-right alliance in the European Parliament, launched just a week ago by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has enough parties to achieve group status. The Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV), Belgium's Vlaams Belang and the Danish People's Party announced their intention to join the alliance over the weekend. Their declaration means seven countries are now represented in the alliance called Patriots for Europe, an important condition to form a parliamentary group in the EU legislature. As well as representing a quarter of EU countries, a political group must have 23 EU legislators, according to European Parliament rules. It is not permitted...
Pope Francis says world's democracies 'not in good health'
Pope Francis on Sunday expressed concern about the state of the world's democracies at an event in the northern Italian city of Trieste. "Let's be honest: in today's world, democracy is not in good health," said the head of the Catholic Church, while stressing the importance of participation in democratic processes, including voting. "Indifference is a cancer for democracy," he added. Francis was speaking at the end of the Social Week of Italian Catholics, week-long series of events focused on social issues. In front of a crowd of around 1,200 participants, he said: "Everyone must feel part of a community project. No one should feel useless." The pope did not elaborate on which countries he was referring to. The 87-year-old pontiff, who is in poor health, has not been on a long trip abroad for almost a year. In recent weeks, however, he has visited various northern Italian cities, including Venice, Verona and now Trieste. In addition, Francis - who is also the head of state of the Vatican - attended the summit of the Group of Seven (G7) major democratic industrialized nations in southern Italy in mid-June.
France votes in second round as Le Pen's National Rally seeks power
France returned to the polls on Sunday in the second round of parliamentary elections, with all eyes on whether Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party can win an unprecedented absolute majority in the National Assembly. Polling stations for the run-off elections opened across mainland France at 8 am (0600 GMT), after voting began on Saturday in the country's overseas territories. Results are expected in the evening. An outright victory for the anti-immigration National Rally, which won the first round of elections a week ago with 33% of the vote, would mark a turning point in France's history and have major implications...
Petition for Germany-Spain Euro match replay over referee mistakes
More than 300,000 people have joined an online petition calling for a rematch of Germany's Euro 2024 quarter-final against Spain because of alleged referee mistakes including the Marc Cucurella handball incident. The initiator of the petition on the change.org website, Erik V, explained his move with several wrong calls from English referee Anthony Taylor during Friday's match Spain won 2-1 in extra time. The main incident was when a goal-bound shot from Jamal Musiala hit Cucurella's hand in extra time with the score at 1-1. Taylor did not award a penalty and the video assistant referee did also not interfere. The incident led to a big debate but UEFA had said before the tournament that such incidents as Cucurella's, where the arm is not in an unnatural position, would not lead to a penalty. The petition was signed by some 315,000 people by Sunday morning but is effectively merely symbolic. Spain play France in the semi-finals on Tuesday.
Six injured in first Pamplona bull run of the year
Six people were hurt on the first day of this year's bull running race in Pamplona, Spain, medics said on Sunday. One person suffered head trauma, the other five mainly bruises, a spokesman for the local health service told public broadcaster RTVE. Several of the injured were hospitalized. Each day between until July 14, hundreds of people will chase six massive bulls, some weighing over 600 kilograms, and several oxen through Pamplona's narrow alleyways into an arena. The bulls are corralled into to Pamplona's bullring where they are then killed by matadors during bullfights. Dozens of runners, most of them young men, are injured every year as the race along the 875-metre-long course. There have been 16 fatalities since 1924, the last in 2009. Animal rights activists call the bull runs "medieval cruelty." Despite this, the festival continues to attract thousands of visitors from all over the world.
France votes in second round of high-stakes parliamentary election
France returned to the polls on Sunday in the second round of parliamentary elections, with all eyes on whether Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party can win an unprecedented absolute majority in the National Assembly. Polling stations for the run-off elections opened across mainland France at 8 am (0600 GMT), after voting began on Saturday in the country's overseas territories. Results are expected in the evening. An outright victory for the anti-immigration National Rally, which won the first round of elections a week ago, would mark a turning point in France's history and have major implications for European politics. The latest opinion...
Erdogan praises Turkish team after Euro exit, Montella lauds fans
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has praised the national team as "our champions" after a narrow 2-1 defeat against the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals. Erdogan visited the team post-match late Saturday in the dressing room in Berlin's Olympic Stadium. He had flown in for the match together with his wife, Emine. "I congratulate all of you. You are our champions regardless of today's result," Turkish media quoted Erdogan as telling the players. Erdogan said the team has potential and "we will continue this work in the future." The president shook hands with all players, including defender Merih Demiral, who missed the match...
Polls open in France's run-off as Le Pen's far right seeks power
France returned to the polls on Sunday in the second round of parliamentary elections in which far-right nationalists appear poised to dominate. The polling stations for the run-off elections opened at 8 am (0600 GMT). Results are expected in the evening. The central question is whether Marine Le Pen's National Rally party and its allies will reach an absolute majority of 289 seats in the 577-seat National Assembly, the country's lower house. In the first round last weekend, the National Rally was the strongest force, ahead of a new left-wing alliance and President Emmanuel Macron's centrist camp. The latest opinion polls forecast National Rally and its allies securing 175 to 215 seats, well short of an absolute majority.
Coach Montella praises Turkey fans but avoids wolf salute matter
Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella praised the Turkish fans for creating a home atmosphere during the 2-1 defeat to the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals on Saturday, but avoided making comments about the controversial wolf salute. Some 200,000 people with Turkish roots live in Berlin and Turkish fans were the majority at the Olympic stadium. "The atmosphere is always like home. They supported us until the end, but this pride, this passion towards the team has been seen from day one, not only during matches," he told a news conference. "What makes me really proud is seeing that even after the defeat the...
German military rep slams size of defence spending in draft budget
The proposed increase in defence spending earmarked in Germany's 2025 draft budget is nowhere near enough to "do justice" to the current security situation nor to "Germany's responsibility to the world," the head of the German Armed Forces Association has said. André Wüstner, the chairman of the organization which represents the interests of some 200,000 active soldiers, reservists and former army members, told dpa: "The German government may want to get through this legislative period with this budget, but the Bundeswehr as an essential part of our security architecture - and therefore all of us - are paying the price." Under the...
Palestinian reports: 13 killed in air attack in Gaza Strip
Thirteen people died and dozens of others have been injured, most of them women and children, in an aerial attack on the Nuseirat refugee camp in the centre of the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported on Saturday. The agency cited local sources, who attributed the attack to Israeli forces. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have not as yet commented, and the report could not be independently verified. The building struck in the attack is reported to be a former school, which has been used as a shelter for families who have fled their homes elsewhere in the Gaza Strip...
Turkey fans do wolf salute, President Erdogan in Berlin stadium
Several groups of Turkish fans gave the controversial wolf salute during the national anthem ahead of their Euro 2024 quarter-final match against the Netherlands on Saturday, a dpa reporter on site said. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was in attendance with his wife and the Turkish federation chairman. He also greeted fans, according to footage from Turkish state news agency Anadolu. Turkey are out of Euro 2024 after the Dutch side came from behind to complete a 2-1 win. Turks are angry after defender Merih Demiral was banned for two games by tournament organizer UEFA for giving the wolf salute after his second...
Netherlands come from behind to defeat Turkey and reach Euros semis
The Netherlands came from behind to defeat Turkey 2-1 in Berlin on Saturday and reach the Euro 2024 semi-finals. This is the first time in 20 years that the Netherlands reach a semi-final of an European Championships and they will now face Euro 2020 runners-up England. Turkey took a deserved lead in the 35th minute thanks to Samet Akaydin's header. But the Oranje reorganized themselves in the second half to complete their comeback within six minutes. Stefan De Vrij equalized in the 70th before Mert Müldür's scored an own goal in the 76th. Turkey's late pressure led nowhere and Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen made a stunning save in stoppage time to secure the win. It was basically a home game for Turkey as some 200,000 people with Turkish roots live in Berlin and their fans in the stadium were loud. But that was not enough to disturb the Dutch. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was in attendance, while, during the national anthem, several groups of Turkish fans gave the controversial wolf salute, which is attributed, among other things, to a far-right extremist movement.
Lucky England beat Swiss on penalties to reach another semi-final
England reached a semi-final for the third time in four major tournaments under Gareth Southgate after a penalty shoot-out win over Switzerland at Euro 2024 on Saturday. Manuel Akanji saw the crucial effort saved by Jordan Pickford after some delaying tactics by the goalkeeper as the English belied their bad penalty record to prevail 5-3 on spot-kicks following a 1-1 draw. England had previously won only two penalty shoot-outs out of nine at major events. "We knew it was going to be tight. Whatever it takes and no matter what, we win - that is all that matters to us," substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold,...
Xhaka played in Swiss penalty defeat despite thigh muscle tear
Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka played in the Euro 2024 quarter-final defeat by England despite tearing a thigh muscle before the game. Xhaka revealed after the 5-3 penalty loss following a 1-1 draw that he had been diagnosed on Monday following an MRI scan. He could not train all week and returned to the training pitch only on Friday. "I felt fit enough. I had no pain the day before the match," he told reporters. "I felt that the team needed me and I wanted to help." The 31-year-old, who only lost one match all season with Bayer Leverkusen in the last campaign, added:...
Turkey fans do wolf salute, President Erdogan in Berlin stadium
Several groups of Turkish fans gave the controversial wolf salute during the national anthem ahead of their Euro 2024 quarter-final match against the Netherlands on Saturday, a dpa reporter on site said. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was in attendance with his wife and the Turkish federation chairman. He also greeted fans, according to footage from Turkish state news agency Anadolu. Turks are angry after defender Merih Demiral was banned for two games by tournament organizer UEFA for giving the wolf salute after his second goal in the 2-1 last-16 win over Austria. UEFA has effectively deemed the gesture to have a far-right...
Lucky England beat Swiss on penalties to reach another semi-final
England reached a semi-final for the third time in four major tournaments under Gareth Southgate after a penalty shoot-out win over Switzerland at Euro 2024 on Saturday. Manuel Akanji saw the crucial effort saved by Jordan Pickford after some delaying tactics by the goalkeeper as the English belied their bad penalty record to prevail 5-3 on spot-kicks following a 1-1 draw. Breel Embolo had given the Swiss the lead on 75 minutes but Bukayo Saka hit back in style for England five minutes later with two of only three shots on goal in normal time. The Swiss had the better chances in extra time, with the first three last-eight clashes in Germany now having needed 30 minutes more. England will face Turkey or the Netherlands in the semi-final in Dortmund on Wednesday.
DPA
+
Posts
+
Views
The German Press Agency (dpa) is one of the world’s leading independent news agencies. As a joint venture of the German media, we have successfully reported on national and international events since 1949. We are convinced that an enlightened democratic society needs verified information in order to make good, fact-based decisions. This requires an independent news agency and independent journalists. DPA is committed to the facts, but not to any political party, government, religion, culture, company, or other group. This is guaranteed by the DPA statute.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.