Europe – Page 185 – Prologue Journal

U.K. Liberal Democrats Make Big Election Gains

New York Times The small centrist party campaigned on improving health and social care. Its leader, Ed Davey, wooed voters with publicity stunts and personal appeals. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/05/world/europe/uk-liberal-democrats-ed-davey-election.html

Britain’s New Prime Minister Has Just Hours to Prepare

New York Times A new U.S. president usually has a two-month window to prepare to move into the White House. Freshly elected British prime ministers move into Downing Street much more swiftly. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/05/world/europe/downing-street-new-prime-minister.html

Mount Etna Erupts, Spewing Lava and Clouds of Ash 15,000 Feet Into the Air

New York Times Clouds of ash went nearly 15,000 feet into the air, and the airport in Catania, Sicily, was forced to shut down because the runway was unusable. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/05/world/europe/mount-etna-volcano-eruption.html

Rishi Sunak Defends Record in Last Speech as Prime Minister

New York Times In brief remarks in Downing Street, he apologized to Britain for his failings and accepted responsibility for his party’s stinging election defeat. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/05/world/europe/sunak-speech-prime-minister-election.html

Labour Loses Votes in Muslim Areas Over Its Gaza Policy

New York Times Many British Muslims and other voters have demanded that party leaders more vocally condemn the rising death toll and deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/05/world/europe/uk-labour-party-israel-gaza-war-starmer.html

Hungary’s Viktor Orban Travels to Russia for Meeting With Vladimir Putin

New York Times Days after a trip to Ukraine, the Hungarian leader arrived in Moscow for a visit that has dismayed E.U. officials, who have made clear that he is not there on behalf of the bloc. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/05/world/europe/orban-putin-meeting-russia-hungary.html

UK Election Turnout Set to Be Lowest in Over 20 Years

New York Times Voter participation was estimated at 60 percent — below that in every recent election except 2001, another widely anticipated landslide. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/05/world/europe/uk-election-turnout.html

Trump Advisers Call for U.S. Nuclear Weapons Testing if He Is Elected

New York Times A former national security adviser says Washington “must test new nuclear weapons for reliability and safety in the real world,” while critics say the move could incite a global arms race that heightens the risk of war. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/05/science/nuclear-testing-trump.html

Antikythera Mechanism’s Purpose Is Studied Using Cosmic Research Tool

New York Times Scientists used techniques from the field of gravitational wave astronomy to argue that the Antikythera mechanism contained a lunar calendar. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/05/science/antikythera-mechanism-gravitational-waves-lunar.html

Taking a D.I.Y. Version of the Orient Express

New York Times The luxury version of this classic train journey costs almost $50,000, but for $1,000 or less, you can book the rail trip from Paris to Istanbul yourself. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/05/travel/budget-orient-express-train.html