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Sarajevo-born author Tijan Sila wins Ingeborg Bachmann Prize
Tijan Sila, a Sarajevo-born author now living in Germany, has won the prestigious Ingeborg Bachmann Prize, worth €25,000 ($26, 800). Sila beat 13 competitors to win the prestigious literary competition in the Austrian city of Klagenfurt on Sunday. Sila impressed the jury for the German-language literature prize with his text the title of which translates as "The Day My Mother Went Crazy," in which he writes about intergenerational trauma, family conflicts, and madness. Juror Philipp Tingler spoke about a unique linguistic "mixture of pointedness, tragicomedy and melancholy." "I still can't quite believe it, but I'm euphoric nonetheless," Sila said after the award ceremony on...
Turnout at 25.9% by midday in French parliamentary election
In the first round of the parliamentary election in France, one in four eligible voters had cast their vote by midday, the Interior Ministry in Paris reported on Sunday. Voter turnout was at 25.9% at 12 pm (1000 GMT). This was 7.47 percentage points higher than at the same time during the previous parliamentary election two years ago. Around 49.3 million registered voters can cast their ballots. The last polling stations are expected to close at 8 pm. Projections of the outcome of the first round are expected shortly thereafter. Several prominent politicians already cast their votes in the morning, including former presidents...
Blow for Dutch star Depay at Euros - club side Atlético release him
Netherlands striker Memphis Depay has been released by club side Atlético Madrid, just two days before his side's Euro 2024 last-16 clash with Romania. Spaniard Mario Hermoso and Brazilian Gabriel Paulista are also leaving the club on free transfers, Atléti said in a statement. Depay, 30, only moved there from Barcelona in January 2023. He has been constantly criticized as club and national level for not fulfilling his promise. However, Depay could replace Robin van Persie as the Oranje's record all-time goalscorer at this tournament. He is four goals short of the record of 50 and is set to start in Ronald Koeman's team against Romania on Tuesday. "I can handle criticism well. I'm used to it," Depay told a news conference at the Dutch team's headquarters in Wolfsburg on Sunday. "The coach's trust is important to me. I feel it and want to repay him."
Italy expects 6.5 million holidaymakers from Germany
Italy is expecting around 6.5 million holidaymakers from Germany this summer - more than from any other country, according to a survey published by the tourism association Assoturismo Confesercenti at the weekend. According to the survey, most German citizens will be travelling to the sea again this year or to the large Italian lakes such as Lake Garda. The German-speaking region of South Tyrol and its mountains continue to enjoy great popularity. Italian tourism experts expect a total of 34.1 million overnight stays by German holidaymakers in the three summer months - around a third of all overnight stays. Compared to the same period last year, this would correspond to an increase of 3.5%. According to figures from the national central bank, German citizens spend an average of around €123 ($132) per day in Italy. Three quarters travel by car. The United States, with 2.5 million tourists, France with 2.3 million, Switzerland and the Netherlands, with 1.6 million each, are the next in the rankings of vistors. At €210, US tourists spend the most per day in Italy.
Centre of Istanbul cordoned off after governor bans Pride parade
The governor of Istanbul has banned this year's Pride parade in Istanbul and has had the city centre cordoned off. The event will not be authorized, the governor's office announced on Sunday without giving a reason. "Illegal groups" had called for an unauthorized protest march, it simply said. The area around the central Taksim Square had been closed to vehicle traffic, and pedestrian traffic was being controlled. The police had already erected barriers in the centre the previous evening. Activists had called for the demonstration in favour of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people. The government has been trying to prevent the annual Pride parade for years. Last year, numerous people were detained. Homosexual relationships are not illegal in Turkey. However, representatives of the government and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan have repeatedly expressed open hostility towards LGBTQ people.
Hungary's Orbán announces new far-right European party alliance
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced in Vienna on Sunday an alliance with populist parties from Austria and the Czech Republic at the EU level, dubbed Patriots for Europe, to form a new far-right group in the European Parliament. The Patriots for Europe grouping draws in Orbán's Fidesz party, the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) and the Czech Republic's Action of Dissatisfied Citizens, commonly known as ANO (Yes), should soon gain more members and become the "largest group of right-wing forces in Europe," the Fidesz leader said. "Then the sky is the limit," said Orbán, whose country takes over the rotating EU...
Beaten Denmark coach eyes World Cup: 'I have a contract'
Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand believes he has done enough to stay in the job despite the Euro 2024 last-16 defeat to Germany on Saturday. Two video assistant referee decisions went against the Danes in the 2-0 loss and they worried the hosts for long spells, having also drawn with England in the group stage. Hjulmand, who masterminded their run to the semi-finals at the last Euros, is looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup. "We've had two European Championships that were very good. I still have a contract," the 52-year-old told reporters. "We'll analyse everything, talk about it and then we'll see how we can improve the team." His deal runs for two more years and includes the big showpiece in the US, Canada and Mexico. "We have to see how we can keep our fans on side," added Hjulmand. "I would like to thank all our supporters again, both those in the stadium and the others in Germany and Denmark. I have received so many messages from people who have supported us. Around 90% of the people support us." Critics point to the group-stage exit at the 2022 World Cup and Denmark's continuing problem of not scoring enough goals.
Video: Man on Dortmund stadium roof was masked and carrying rucksack
A man who climbed under the roof of the Dortmund stadium during Germany's European Championship round of 16 match on Saturday was masked and carrying a large rucksack, according to video footage. The video, published by the website of English newspaper the Daily Mail, shows the man being arrested by police at gunpoint after the match against Denmark. Officers announced that the man was a 21-year-old from the German city of Osnabrück, around 120 kilometres north of Dortmund. Police said there had been no danger to spectators but did not reveal how he entered the stadium, what was in the rucksack, why he...
World Food Programme: UN clearing piled-up aid at pier off Gaza
The United Nations is transferring thousands of tons of humanitarian supplies from a US-constructed pier off the coast of the Gaza Strip after the temporary port was suspended due to poor weather, an aid official said on Sunday. Workers started on Friday transporting the piled-up aid, mostly food, to warehouses, the World Food Programme (WFP) spokeswoman Abeer Etefa told dpa. The aid will be distributed later. The transfer operation is ongoing and its completion depends on "easiness of movement" inside the coastal enclave, Etefa added, saying she has no idea about the fate of the pier. The harbour was dismantled several times because...
German far-right AfD continues party conference amid protests
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has continued its national party conference in the western city of Essen amid protests that turned violent at times. On the second day of the meeting, the subject for debate was the party's foreign policy orientation, for example with regard to the Russian war against Ukraine. A resolution, which is also supported by party co-leader Alice Weidel, states that Germany must emancipate itself more strongly from US foreign policy. It calls for an end to arms deliveries to Ukraine. The agenda also includes a motion to create the post of secretary general in the AfD executive committee....
Magical Musiala looks forward as Danes moan about Germany's VAR luck
Denmark and pundits across Europe - including Germans - were unhappy with two video assistant referee (VAR) decisions which went in Germany's favour in their Euro 2024 last-16 win. But despite the furore, Denmark and the same pundits generally acknowledged Germany deserved to win, in no small part thanks to the mercurial talent of Jamal Musiala. His coolly-taken goal to make it 2-0 on 68 minutes made the preceding rows over a disallowed Denmark opener and Kai Havertz's penalty for 1-0 largely redundant. The long pass from centre back Nico Schlotterbeck, who hopes to keep his place when Jonathan Tah returns from suspension,...
Hungary's Orbán announces new far-right European party alliance
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced in Vienna on Sunday an alliance with populist parties from Austria and the Czech Republic at the EU level, dubbed Patriots for Europe, to form a new far-right group in the European Parliament. The Patriots for Europe grouping draws in Orbán's Fidesz party, the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) and the Czech Republic's Action of Dissatisfied Citizens, commonly known as ANO (Yes), should soon gain more members and become the "largest group of right-wing forces in Europe," the Fidesz leader said. Hungary is due to take over the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union on Monday. Elections to the European Parliament were held at the beginning of June. Until 2021, Fidesz was in the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) when Orbán withdrew from this political bloc. Since then, his party has not been part of any official political groups.
Israeli army continues offensive against Hamas positions in Gaza
The Israeli armed forces continued their offensive in Shejaiya, a neighbourhood in the east of the city of Gaza, on Sunday. Over the past few days, the troops have eliminated several fighters from the Palestinian Islamist Hamas militia, found weapons and carried out targeted attacks on booby-trapped fighting positions, the Israeli army announced on Sunday morning. Palestinians in Shejaiya are trapped by the fighting, Qatari-based Al Jazeera news network reported on its website, citing eyewitnesses. Threatened by artillery fire and airstrikes for days, they have been unable to find food, the report said. Some people were injured, but rescue services were unable to...
One dead and five injured in shooting at wedding in France
A shooting at a wedding celebration in France resulted in one fatality and five injuries in the early hours of Sunday, broadcaster France Info reported, citing investigators. One young man was killed and five other victims were injured, some of them critically. A pregnant woman was slightly injured and suffered from shock, the local newspaper Le Républicain Lorrain reported. When the emergency services arrived, the shooters had already fled. Around 100 people were celebrating in a banquet hall in the town of Thionville in the region of Lorraine near the German and Luxembourg borders when three masked attackers opened fire with two assault rifles and a shotgun, the France Info report said. The shooters arrived in an off-road vehicle at around 1 am on Sunday (2300 GMT Saturday) and initially shot at three people outside the ballroom, where members of the Turkish community were celebrating a wedding, it said. They then reportedly fired at two people at the entrance and fled in their vehicle. On Sunday morning, forensic experts from the criminal police were still securing evidence at the crime scene, according to media reports. The motive for the attack was initially unclear.
Video: Man on Dortmund stadium roof was masked and carrying rucksack
A man who climbed under the roof of the Dortmund stadium during Germany's European Championship round of 16 match on Saturday was masked and carrying a large rucksack, according to video footage. The video, published by the website of English newspaper Daily Mail, shows the man being arrested by police after the match against Denmark. Officers announced that the man was a 21-year-old from nearby Osnabrück. Police said there had been no danger to spectators. A helicopter was used to illuminate the stadium roof as part of the bid to seize him once the majority of fans had left following Germany's 2-0 win. The incident raises further questions about security at Euro 2024, where fans have already entered the pitch on several occasions without permission. On Sunday, tournament organizer UEFA said it had no comment and referred dpa to the police statements.
Fire north of Athens put out, but risk of new blaze remains high
Using 15 firefighting helicopters and aircraft as well as hundreds of firefighters and volunteers, the Greek fire brigade said on Sunday it was able to extinguish a large fire in a densely wooded area some 20 kilometres north of Athens. The fire broke out on Saturday. Strong winds drove huge grey-brown clouds of smoke over the Greek capital. In many places there was a stench of burnt wood and ash was falling. The fire brigade also announced on Sunday that dozens of other fires had broken out in almost all regions of central Greece and on several islands, the worst of which was on the holiday island of Serifos, where six villages had to be temporarily evacuated. The mayor of Serifos said on Greek radio ERT on Sunday that the fire had been brought under control during the night. The civil defence department warned again on Sunday that the risk of other fires breaking out remains high after a long period with little rain and several weeks with temperatures of over 35 degrees Celsius. In addition, strong winds raged over the weekend, with gusts reaching Force 8 according to the meteorological office. According to reports from ERT, tourist resorts were not located near the fire areas.
Israeli Air Force says it launched airstrikes on Hezbollah position
The Israeli Air Force says it has once again attacked a position of the pro-Iranian Shiite Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah's military infrastructure was attacked during the night, Israel's army announced on Sunday morning. It was not stated whether there were any deaths or injuries. The information could not initially be independently verified. Since the beginning of the Gaza war in October, Israel has been engaged in daily exchanges of fire with Hezbollah in the border area with Lebanon. The militia has declared that Israel must completely end the war in Gaza against its ally, the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement, before it stops firing on Israel. The intensity of the fighting has recently increased significantly. There are fears that a possible open war between Israel and Lebanon could escalate into a regional conflict.
First round of potential game-changer French election under way
The first round of voting in elections to France's National Assembly was under way on Sunday, with President Emmanuel Macron seeking to secure a clear majority in the lower house for the centrist forces led by his Renaissance party. Polling booths opened at 8 am (0600 GMT), with 49.3 million people eligible to vote. Voter turnout was at 25.9% at 12 pm (1000 GMT). This was 7.47 percentage points higher than at the same time during the previous parliamentary election two years ago. Voting in a number of overseas territories had already started on Saturday due to the time difference. A number of leading...
UN to host Doha talks on Afghanistan with Taliban participation
A two-day UN conference begins on Sunday in Doha which aims to bolster international engagement with the Taliban and includes a Taliban delegation for the first time since their return to power. The UN announced that representatives from about 30 countries and international organizations have been invited to the third round of such talks to meet with the Afghan de facto authorities to discuss Afghanistan. The chief spokesman for the Taliban, Zabihullah Mujahid, who is leading the delegation, stated in Kabul before their departure that their priorities include discussing economic issues, international sanctions affecting Afghanistan and their governance achievements. However, Mujahid emphasized that...
Major railway line in Germany reopens after lightning strike
A crucial railway route between Hanover in northern Germany and the city of Minden in the western state of North Rhine Westphalia, which was closed for hours due to a lightning strike, has been reopened, a railway spokesman told dpa on Sunday morning. During the closure, trains were diverted via Bremen, causing significant disruptions, German rail operator Deutsche Bahn's website reported. Nationwide, there were no further major disruptions due to the thunderstorms that swept across Germany in the early hours of Sunday. The storm system, consisting of multiple thunderstorm cells, moved across several German regions before weakening as it reached the north and east of the country by mid-morning. The risk of thunderstorms persisted in some regions throughout Sunday. However, the heavy thunderstorms were not quite as severe as forecast, according to the German Weather Service (DWD). There were "only very isolated heavy squalls and gale-force gusts," a spokesman said.
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