5 d. ago ‘It’s a crucial vote’: Turkish Cypriots face choice between peace and partition

Election in Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus will determine whether peace talks to reunify island can be revivedVoters in Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus have been casting ballots in a presidential poll seen as pivotal to determining whether peace talks on the divided Mediterranean island can be revived.In an election watched closely by the international community, the 218,000-strong Turkish Cypriot electorate has a choice: to either support the nationalist incumbent, Ersin Tatar, who advocates a two-state solution to the complex Cyprus problem, and further integration with Turkey, or the leftwing veteran, Tufan Erhürman, who backs a return to UN-brokered peace talks. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere review – solid biopic both embraces and avoids cliche

New York film festival: Jeremy Allen White is a convincingly tortured rock star in this smartly narrow and specific look at a particular chapter of music historyThe genre of the musical biopic is one that, as Timothée Chalamet acknowledged while accepting a Sag award for playing Bob Dylan earlier this year, “could be perhaps tired”. The beats of the genre – the initial obstacles, the double-edged sword of success, the actors’ pursuit of industry awards for spirited impersonation – are by now so familiar that you’re almost expected to enter with more than a bit of skepticism, even when the artist at hand is one as widely beloved as Bruce Springsteen.Like A Complete Unknown, in which Chalamet portrayed Dylan from 1961 until his pivot to electric in 1965, Deliver Me from Nowhere, Springsteen’s authorized biopic starring Jeremy Allen White, tries to thread a difficult needle between offering the standard treats and subverting expectations, between narrativizing genius and resisting hagi...

Sport

3 w. ago Moldova’s president Maia Sandu hails voters’ refusal to be ‘bought’ by Moscow

Ruling party holds on to its majority in Sunday’s poll, which it says is ‘strong mandate for EU accession’Europe live – latest updatesMoldova’s pro-western president, Maia Sandu, has hailed voters’ refusal to be “bought” by Moscow after her ruling party held on to its parliamentary majority in Sunday’s pivotal election, bolstering the tiny country’s aspiration of joining the EU and distancing itself from Russia’s influence.“We did not allow ourselves to be bought, intimidated or frightened,” she said on Monday. “We mobilised and defended our country through honest, democratic choice. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Moldova’s election result bolsters move towards EU and away from Moscow

Pro-European ruling party win comes after ‘massive pressure from Russia and its proxies’Europe live – latest updatesMoldova’s pro-European ruling party held on to its parliamentary majority after Sunday’s pivotal election, strengthening the country of 2.4 million’s attempt to move towards the EU and away from Moscow.With more than 99.9% of ballots counted, president Maia Sandu’s pro-western Action and Solidarity party (PAS) had 50.03% of the vote, putting it on track to win 55 of the 101 seats in parliament. That compared with 24.26% for a Moscow-leaning alliance of Soviet-nostalgic parties led by the former president Igor Dodon, according to results published on the election commission’s website. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Moldova’s president hails voters’ refusal refusal to be ‘bought’ by Moscow

Ruling party holds on to its majority in Sunday’s poll which it says is ‘strong mandate for EU accession’Europe live – latest updatesMoldova’s pro-European ruling party held on to its parliamentary majority after Sunday’s pivotal election, strengthening the country of 2.4 million’s attempt to move towards the EU and away from Moscow.With more than 99.9% of ballots counted, president Maia Sandu’s pro-western Action and Solidarity party (PAS) had 50.03% of the vote, putting it on track to win 55 of the 101 seats in parliament. That compared with 24.26% for a Moscow-leaning alliance of Soviet-nostalgic parties led by the former president Igor Dodon, according to results published on the election commission’s website. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Moldova’s election result boosts move towards EU and away from Moscow

Pro-European ruling party win comes after ‘massive pressure from Russia and its proxies’Europe live – latest updatesMoldova’s pro-European ruling party held on to its parliamentary majority after Sunday’s pivotal election, strengthening the country of 2.4 million’s attempt to move towards the EU and away from Moscow.With more than 99.9% of ballots counted, president Maia Sandu’s pro-western Action and Solidarity party (PAS) had 50.03% of the vote, putting it on track to win 55 of the 101 seats in parliament. That compared with 24.26% for a Moscow-leaning alliance of Soviet-nostalgic parties headed by the former president Igor Dodon, according to results published on the election commission’s website. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Moldovans vote in pivotal election that could steer it closer to EU or Russia

Day marked by attempts of disruption including cyberattacks on election systems and fake bomb threatsMoldovans voted in a pivotal parliamentary election on Sunday that will decide whether the country of 2.4 million stays on its path towards EU membership or drifts back into Moscow’s orbit, amid widespread reports of Russian meddling.The president, Maia Sandu, and her pro-western Action and Solidarity party (PAS) faced a stiff challenge in the election from an alliance of Soviet-nostalgic, Moscow-friendly parties led in part by the former president, Igor Dodon, whom Sandu defeated in 2020. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Moldova heads to polls in pivotal vote that could steer it closer to EU or Russia

President tells voters ‘our dear home is in danger’, as her pro-west party tries to hold on to parliamentary majority Moldovans have begun voting in a pivotal parliamentary election that will decide whether the country of 2.4 million stays on its path towards EU membership or drifts back into Moscow’s orbit, amid widespread reports of Russian meddling.The president, Maia Sandu, and her pro-western Action and Solidarity party (PAS), face a stiff challenge in Sunday’s election from an alliance of Soviet-nostalgic, pro-Russian parties led in part by the former president Igor Dodon, whom Sandu defeated in 2020. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Scottish Labour in third place behind Reform for Holyrood election after "horrific" poll on first day of conference

The poll finds Anas Sarwar's party is toiling ahead of the pivotal election in May.

Politics

3 w. ago Moldova heads to the polls in tense vote that could steer country closer to EU or Russia

President Maia Sandu says parliamentary vote is Moldova’s ‘most consequential election’ and warns against falling deeper into Moscow’s orbitMoldovans began voting on Sunday in parliamentary elections that could see the country neighbouring Ukraine swerve from its pro-European path towards Moscow, with the government and the EU accusing Russia of “deeply interfering”.Moldova, an EU candidate country, has long been divided over closer ties with Brussels or maintaining Soviet-era relations with Moscow. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Moldovan diaspora critical in elections as country battles Russian vote

Watchdogs say Russia offering overseas voters cash for evidence of voter fraud in possible ploy to declare election riggedThe Moldovan diaspora will hold a critical role in Sunday’s high-stakes parliamentary elections as the country battles against an unprecedented Russian vote-buying operation to try to unseat the incumbent pro-European party, said the former deputy prime minister.Civilian foreign interference watchdogs say Russia is flooding the overseas voter communities with cash, including one advertising campaign offering people €500 to be election observers in the EU with the lure of “bonuses of up to €30,000” for evidence of voter fraud. Continue reading...

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