News from across Europe

[AlbertC]

Why Europe’s new populists tell so many lies – and do it so shamelessly

Catherine Fieschi

From Matteo Salvini to Boris Johnson, populist politicians brazenly distort the truth. Don’t think they do it to be believed

Mon 30 Sep 2019 15.43 BSTLast modified on Tue 1 Oct 2019 16.00 BST

Why Europe’s new populists tell so many lies – and do it so shamelessly | Catherine Fieschi

Populists routinely lie. Don’t think they do it to be believed, says author Catherine Fieschi

www.theguardian.com

 

[AlbertC]

Austrian elections offer latest sign far right’s rise is faltering in Europe

Freedom party’s vote collapses to 16%, as others stall in Italy, Spain, France and elsewhere

Jon Henley Europe correspondent

Mon 30 Sep 2019 08.50 EDT

Austrian elections offer latest sign far right's rise is faltering in Europe

Freedom party’s vote collapses to 16%, as others stall in Italy, Spain, France and elsewhere

www.theguardian.com

 

[AlbertC]

Ireland: no country for the young, creative or homeless

Una Mullally

The capital’s skyline is filled with cranes. They can’t disguise sky-high rents, a cultural brain-drain and growing inequality

Ireland is no country if you’re young, creative or homeless | Una Mullally

Dublin’s skyline is filled with cranes. They can’t disguise sky-high rents, a cultural brain-drain and growing inequality, says Irish Times columnist Una Mullally

www.theguardian.com

 

[AlbertC]

Dutch government ditches Holland to rebrand as the Netherlands

As part of new strategy, the Netherlands will be official name at Eurovision in May

The Dutch government has decided to stop describing itself as Holland and will instead use only its real name – the Netherlands – as part of an attempted update of its global image.

The national rebranding, which has been signed up to by business leaders, the tourist board and central government, will be rolled out later this year.

Dutch government ditches Holland to rebrand as the Netherlands

As part of new strategy, the Netherlands will be official name at Eurovision in May

www.theguardian.com

 

[Towered]

The whole Holland thing always annoyed me - that's only a small part of the Netherlands, so why did so many people call the country Holland? It would be like calling Canada Manitoba!

In other country "rebranding" news, I love that the Czech Republic officially wants to be referred to as Czechia from now on.

 

[AlbertC]

The whole Holland thing always annoyed me - that's only a small part of the Netherlands, so why did so many people call the country Holland? It would be like calling Canada Manitoba!

In other country "rebranding" news, I love that the Czech Republic officially wants to be referred to as Czechia from now on.

From my understanding, the the usage of Holland to refer to the Netherlands began with the English historically for several centuries. As during those ages, encounters between the English and Dutch were often with the major cities along the Netherlands' coast, which are also the provinces of North and South Holland.

And from the prevalence of English as spoken language in the world, other nations in the world have formed their own phonetic variation of the name "Holland".

Interesting to see how around half, call them Holland instead of the Netherlands:

Do You Know How to Say Netherlands in Different Languages?

Looking for ways to say Netherlands in other languages? Check out our list for saying Netherlands in different languages. Be ready to meet a foreign friend!

www.indifferentlanguages.com

 

[Northern Light]

There many other linguistic quirks around country names.

It strikes me that countries should really be 'called' whatever they call themselves, with spelling being phonetic to the language into which the name is being inserted if they don't share alphabets.

But........

Deutschland which is what the Germans call their country.........and somehow we all got Germany out of it.

But I also fail to understand changing Italia to Italy (just as easy to say either in English); or Espana to Spain.

China is another one; the domestic name, as I understand it bares no resemblance to the English word China. Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó

Strange naming conventions have been used through the years.

 

[AlbertC]

There many other linguistic quirks around country names.

It strikes me that countries should really be 'called' whatever they call themselves, with spelling being phonetic to the language into which the name is being inserted if they don't share alphabets.

But........

Deutschland which is what the Germans call their country.........and somehow we all got Germany out of it.

But I also fail to understand changing Italia to Italy (just as easy to say either in English); or Espana to Spain.

China is another one; the domestic name, as I understand it bares no resemblance to the English word China. Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó

Strange naming conventions have been used through the years.

One of the more amusing naming corruptions I've always found is how a group of German settlers that spread throughout North America, were called the Pennsylvania Dutch.

 

[AlbertC]

European Vineyards, Cheesemakers React to Blow From U.S. Tariffs

By Charles Penty

October 5, 2019, 7:08 AM EDT Updated on October 5, 2019, 9:04 AM EDT

• Levies threaten to hit export drive for Spain’s Rioja wines
• Italian minister says EU may consider retaliatory steps

www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-05/european-vineyards-cheesemakers-react-to-blow-from-u-s-tariffs

 

[AlbertC]

With Gazprom’s Nord Stream 2, Putin Is Getting Ready to Put the Screws on Europe

The new pipeline won’t deliver energy security. It will make the EU more dependent on a capricious Russia.

BY MIKHAIL KORCHEMKIN | OCTOBER 7, 2019, 6:24 PM

With Gazprom’s Nord Stream 2, Putin Is Getting Ready to Put the Screws on Europe

The new pipeline won’t deliver energy security. It will make the EU more dependent on a capricious Russia.

foreignpolicy.com

 

[AlbertC]

Germany: mass shooting attempt that killed two was antisemitic attack, minister says

• Authorities say indications suggest ‘rightwing extremist motive’
• Reports say gunman was 27-year-old German citizen

Philip Oltermann in Berlin
Wed 9 Oct 2019 19.56 BST

Germany: mass shooting attempt that killed two was antisemitic attack, minister says

Authorities say indications suggest ‘possible rightwing extremist motive’ as media report gunman was 27-year-old German citizen

www.theguardian.com

 

[AlbertC]

Germany
Halle attack: homemade guns jammed, preventing higher death toll

Footage streamed by gunman showed him becoming frustrated at malfunctioning weapons

Philip Oltermann in Halle and Lois Beckett in New York

Published on Thu 10 Oct 2019 10.24 BST

www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/10/halle-attack-homemade-guns-jammed-repeatedly-video-shows

 

[AlbertC]

Locals join Jewish community for vigil in German city of Halle

By Ben Knight (Halle)

Hundreds of people have gathered at a synagogue in Halle, Germany, to hold a vigil for the two people killed during a suspected far-right, anti-Semitic attack. Germany's president and interior minister are both expected.

Locals join Jewish community for vigil in German city of Halle | DW | 10.10.2019

Hundreds of people gathered at a synagogue in Halle, Germany, to hold a vigil for two people killed in the shootings. The German justice minister described the incident as a "far-right terror attack."

m.dw.com

 

[AlbertC]

'A serious urban mistake': why Paris went sour on the new Gare du Nord

As developers aim to turn France’s busiest train station into a gargantuan airport-style mall, Parisians fear for the local neighbourhood – and the station’s soul

Angelique Chrisafis in Paris
Thu 10 Oct 2019 06.00 BST
Last modified on Thu 10 Oct 2019 08.33 BST

'A serious urban mistake': why Paris went sour on the new Gare du Nord

As developers aim to turn France’s busiest train station into a gargantuan airport-style mall, Parisians fear for the local neighbourhood – and the station’s soul

www.theguardian.com

 

[Richard White]

'A serious urban mistake': why Paris went sour on the new Gare du Nord

As developers aim to turn France’s busiest train station into a gargantuan airport-style mall, Parisians fear for the local neighbourhood – and the station’s soul

Angelique Chrisafis in Paris
Thu 10 Oct 2019 06.00 BST
Last modified on Thu 10 Oct 2019 08.33 BST

'A serious urban mistake': why Paris went sour on the new Gare du Nord

As developers aim to turn France’s busiest train station into a gargantuan airport-style mall, Parisians fear for the local neighbourhood – and the station’s soul

www.theguardian.com

Victoria Station in London is the same way. You have a multitude of shops and when you walk through the station towards the coach terminal there is a virtual shopping mall.