EUROPE DIPLOMATIC

Taiwan-Okinawa ancient migrant route

Taiwan museums and their Japanese colleagues launched a third experiment of human migration route from Taiwan to Okinawa, which they presume existed about 30,000 years ago. (Image above: illustration). The sea voyage in a dugout canoe is one of multiple research projects signed in 2017 between Taiwan’s National Museum of Prehistory and Japan’s National Museum of Nature…

EU “extremely concerned” about Iran decision

The European Union is “extremely concerned” about Iran’s announcement on stepping out of nuclear deal (JCPOA), and starting to enrich uranium above internationally-approved levels. The bloc calls on Islamic Republic to “stop and reverse” any action that goes against the nuclear deal, the European Commission spokesperson said on July 8. #Tehran warns Europe of 'unexpected'…

Migrants land in Lampedusa

A vessel run by Italian NGO Alex Mediterranea has ignored an order to stay out of Lampedusa port, navigating to dock on the island after transporting 41 migrants from Libyan coast. Second rescue ship docks in #Lampedusa with 41 migrants despite Italian ban#Italy pic.twitter.com/KLdI8FehVu — Ruptly (@Ruptly) July 7, 2019 The migrants transported from Libyan coast seeking…

Selfie hazard: two dead in Spain

Two young men died in a selfie accident after falling 12 meters from the seaside promenade in Orihuela, in Alicante province. The accident took place around 7:30pm on July 3. Two British men, aged 21 and 22, have died while taking a selfie in the Spanish coastal town of Orihuela. The young men were posing for…

Alan Kurdi vessel ignores Italy refusal

The ‘Alan Kurdi‘ vessel run by NGO migrant rescue picked up 65 migrants off Libya coast. The German NGO Sea-Eye said they would also ignore the refusal of Italy to land, and navigated to Lampedusa, where they wish to drop anchor and land passengers. It is the second boat this week, which ignores the orders of…

Mediterranea captain disobeys Italy orders

The Italian NGO Mediterranea‘s Alex migrant rescue vessel carrying 54 people picked up in Libya waters on July 4 has been stopped off Lampedusa according to a landing ban issued by Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, ANSA news agency sources said on July 5. “The vessel of the NGO, which by this time would have arrived in Malta…

NATO-Russia “fundamentally different”

The NATO-Russia Council, which brings together all 29 NATO Allies and Russia, met in Brussels on Friday July 5 to discuss Ukraine, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), and transparency and risk reduction. This was the second meeting of the NATO-Russia Council this year. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who chaired the meeting, said: “Our…

Juncker receives von der Leyen with “open arms”

“Delighted to welcome von der Leyen with open arms to the European Commission today. A true European, we are on the same page when it comes to speaking up for interests” wrote incumbent president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker in his Twitter micro blog. Delighted to welcome @vonderleyen with open arms to the @EU_Commission today….

Tusk confronted with MEPs criticism

The EU Council president Donald Tusk has been confronted with a wave of MEPs criticism over top jobs nominations procedures, replacing previously agreed leading candidate logic of appointment. In Plenary debate on July 4, opening the IX legislature exchange of views, assessing the results of the European Council crisis summit held from June 30 to July 2…

Grenoble: Muslim women impose burkini swim wear

With the summer weather, the debate surrounding the ban on burkini in public swimming pools has has reemerged. Muslim women defied a local municipality ban and wore the Islamic full-body swimsuit, violating hygiene rules of exploiting swimming pool in city of Grenoble. Women who wore the swimsuit, which covers the entire body except for the face, hands…