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DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Armenian PM seeks to bolster authority in early parliamentary election Armenians are voting in an early parliamentary election on Sunday after acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashiniandissolved parliament in October to shore up his authority.

Pashinian, a former journalist, is hoping the My Step Alliance, which includes his Civil Contract Party, will achieve a parliamentary majority ahead of the former ruling Republican Party. Polls show that the alliance is on course to easily win a majority.

The star of the countryʼs protest movement on Sunday praised the vote as "really free, transparent and democratic," reported state media. "Our main goal was to achieve democracy, which we succeeded in," Pashinyan told reporters, according to the Armenpress state news agency.

Brazilʼs Odebrecht cuts deal with Peru to name bribed officials eruvian authorities have reached a deal with Brazilian construction giant Odebrechtʼs Peruvian unit that will allow the scandal-tainted firm to operate in Peru in exchange for fines and divulging information about officials it bribed, local media and Reuters reported on Saturday.

Odebrecht has been at the center of a major graft scandal after it admitted to US, Brazilian and Swiss prosecutors in 2016 to paying nearly $800 million (around €700 million) in bribes to politicians in a dozen Latin American countries, including Peru. Peruvian anti-graft prosecutors are currently investigating former presidents Alejandro Toledo (2001-2006), Alan García (1985-1990, 2006-2011), Ollanta Humala (2011-2016) andPedro Pablo Kuczynski(2016-2018), in addition to the former presidential candidate and opposition leaderKeiko Fujimori, who is in prison.

279/2018 • 10 DECEMBER, 2018

More than 1,200 in custody after ʼYellow Vestʼ riots France:

Paris and other French cities are cleaning up after some 125,000 people took to the streets in sometimes violent protests. Unrest sparked by proposed fuel tax hikes has morphed into a general antigovernment revolt.

As coal mines shutter, Polish miners seek a way to adjust Poland has pledged to keep burning coal, flying in the face of climate change science. Activists say the country needs to phase out coal for the climate and the economy, while protecting minersʼ livelihoods.

In a large kitchen with soup ladles hanging from hooks on the yellowtiled walls, caterer Joanna Wegrzynowicz stuffs cuts of beef with pickle, mustard and bacon, rolls them up and ties them with string. Theyʼre on todayʼs menu at her canteen on the edge of the southern Polish town of Zabrze, in the heart of the countryʼs coal-mining area, Silesia. Sheʼll serve the beef roulade with Silesian dumplings and red cabbage. But there

wonʼt be many customers to enjoy the regional specialty. Business has been slow since the Makoszowy coalmine across the road shuttered in December 2016. "There was lot of business from the mine, because the miners used to have their lunch here," said Wegrzynowicz. "Really [it was] the social life of the mining community.

But when the mine closed, that disappeared." Itʼs just one of many local businesses hit by the closure of the state-owned mine that employed around 3,000 workers. A number of shops have closed too, and the local health center might soon have to call it a day as miners have taken jobs further afield.

Lyon celebrates with light art With its "Fête de Lumières" festival, the French city is internationally regarded as a trendsetter in light art. Four million spectators a year donʼt want to miss this four-day spectacle in December 6 to 9. Legend has it that in 1852 the end of a serious plague epidemic in Lyon was celebrated with a feast in honour of the Virgin Mary. Storms and floods prevented the celebrations planned for 8 September. These were made up on 8 December — illuminated by candlelight in all windows of the city. Since then every year is cele-

brated with lanterns and candles. As early as 1989, Lyon became the first European city to offer a big stage with a festival of light art. From the 6th to the 9th of December, the city will again offer numerous events. International artists show their installations on the theme of light, and the most important buildings in Lyon are illuminated in bright colours. The spectacular largescale projections with coloured light and images have also influenced other cities and events, such as the Luminale in Frankfurt.

Belgian PM reshuffles cabinet after right-wing party quits over UN migration pact Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel has vowed to continue his administration as a minority government after the largest party in his coalition quit over his intentionto sign the United Nationsʼ controversial migration pact. The leader of the Flemish-speaking N-VA party, Bart De Wever, announced his partyʼs withdrawal late on Saturday after Michel, a French-speaking liberal, said: "I stand by my word, I will leave for Marrakesh." World leaders are to meet in the Moroccan city next week to sign the UN migration pact, which has elicited a strong backlash from rightwing partiesin many countries. Conservative governments in Australia, Austria, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic have withdrawn their support for the deal, which sets out non-binding measures for regulating global migration. Michel fended off N-VA pressure last week when a majority in the Belgian parliament voted in favor of maintaining Belgiumʼs support for the agreement.

White House chief of staff John Kelly to quit Trump administration US President Donald Trump on Saturday confirmed his chief of staff, John Kelly, is to leave his post at the end of the year. "John Kelly will be leaving — I donʼt know if I can say ʼretiring,ʼ" he said, before adding: "I appreciate his service very much." Nick Ayers, Vice President Mike Penceʼs chief of staff, is Trumpʼs top choice to replace Kelly, and the two have held discussions for months about the job, a White House official said.

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279/2018 • 10 December, 2018

Nissan seeks to block disgraced chairman from Rio apartment The Nissan Motor Company said on Sunday it was looking to block its formerchairman Carlos Ghosnfrom entering a company-owned apartment in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro.

The Japanese automaker said it fears the fired executive — who is being detained in Tokyo — may remove or destroy evidence. "Nissan […] is working to prevent the destruction of any potential evidence that could occur by allowing access to residences in question," a Nissan spokesman said in a statement to the Reuters news agency. A lower court had granted Ghosn access to the property in Rioʼs Copacabana neighborhood. Nissan is now petitioning a superior court.

Brazilian-born Ghosn has been held without charge in the Japanese capital since his November 19 arreston suspicion of violating financial regulations.

His maximum detention period of 23 days ends on Monday, when prosecutors must charge him, release him, or arrest him over additional allegations.

Jack Grealishʼs goal against Birmingham City was his second of the season Aston Villa boss Dean Smith claims his side were well short of their best after watching them come from behind to beat Birmingham City in one of the great Second City derby games.

After trailing to Lukas Jutkiewiczʼs volley, Smithʼs side turned it round with two goals in two minutes before the break from Jonathan Kodjia and Jack Grealish, followed by a Tammy Abraham penalty just after the restart.

Hotel prices rise in Berlin for New Yearʼs Eve

Can Poland end its toxic relationship with coal?

Whoever wants to celebrate the turn of the year in the German capital has to pay an average of 68 percent more than usual for an overnight stay in a hotel room. This is the most expensive in Germany.

Polandʼs love affair with coal goes way back. For decades coal was the favorite for energy: mined locally, and cheap. In those days, the environment was pretty low on the agenda. But things are slowly changing. When the Iron Curtain fell in 1989, coal made up almost 100 percent of Polandʼs energy mix.

Last year, the country turned to other sources for 20 percent of its power, and its wind power operators boast that Poland has more installed turbines than Denmark. The official plan is to reduce the share of coal in Polandʼs energy mix to 50 percent by 2050. For a country that has long relied on coal as the backbone of its economy, that entails a dranatic transformation. Yet, with coal reserves in existing mines running low and most power plants due to retire well before mid-century, environmentalists argue the target is actually a renewed vow of commitment to a relationship already turned sour.

According to a study by the comparison portal Check24, a hotel room in Berlin costs an average of 175 euros on New Yearʼs Eve, which is 68 percent more than the average. Prices in other European cities are also rising at the turn of the year. In 19 of the 21 cities surveyed, hotel rooms cost more than the usual December average. The price increase amounts to 34 percent. Prague is in the lead with an average price of 292 euros for a hotel

room. This is more than twice as much as the average price level in December (141 euros) and 107 percent more than the average. On New Yearʼs Eve, visitors spend the cheapest nights in the Main metropolis Frankfurt (95 euros per night) and in the Polish capital Warsaw (101 euros per night). Prices in Stockholm and Stuttgart, on the other hand, remain constant in comparison to the December average.

Why St. Nicholas puts candy in boots and stole our hearts We explores why the saint means so much to both secular and religious people all over the world.

Each year, something peculiar happens on the eve of December 5: Children across Germany each leave a single boot outside their doorsteps, which is then magically filled overnight with chocolate and sweets.

Other cultures in Europe and beyond have also taken to celebrating similar traditions either on the same date or stretched out throughout the holiday season. The tradition of hanging

stockings up on Christmas Eve is one of the parallels that might come to mind. December 6 is the day that celebrates St. Nicholas — Santa Clausʼs predecessor, if you like. Long, flowing beards and red overcoats are but two commonalities they share. But unlike the American invention of Santa Claus, which can at least partly be traced back to clever marketing by Coca-Cola from the early 1930s, St. Nicholas carries the weight of almost two millennia on his shoulders — in addition to various gifts and pick-meups.

Visit Budapest’s most charming Basilica Advent Fair The Advent Fair by St Stephen’s Basilica is one of the most atmospheric in Budapest.

Centrepieced by a towering Christmas tree and a free ice-rink for kids, stalls offer delicious dishes and all things jolly, while special light shows projected onto the façade of the Basilica make every night special. See below for tips on what to eat, drink and buy – and find out what film star Antonio Banderas was up to here last year!

Right in the city centre, this Christmas fair has been improving year upon year, offering an enchanted experience for all ages. The main attraction is a recent one, illuminated visuals projected onto the façade of the historic Basilica.

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Ceasefire on Israel-Gaza border largely holds as UN warns sides are on ʼbrink of warʼ A ceasefire announced by Hamas largely held along the Israel-Gaza border on Sunday, a day after the most intense exchange of fire between Israel and the Palestinian group since the 2014 Gaza war. Israeli warplanes carried out dozens of airstrikes in the densely populated Gaza Strip on Saturday on what it said were Hamas military, training and supply targets, while Hamas and Islamic Jihad fired nearly 200 rockets and mortars at Israel. Read more: Israel and Gazaʼs militant groups agree to ceasefire The Israeli airstrikes wounded more than 20 people and killed two teenage boys, Palestinian health officials said, while a Hamas rocket injured four Israelis.

Hamas, which has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007, and Islamic Jihad announced the Egyptian and UNbrokered ceasefire late Saturday.

The Israeli military said its response would depend on the situation on the ground. After the ceasefire announcement, four mortars were fired into Israel early Sunday.

In response, Israeli planes destroy at least one launch site. Israel also carried out three airstrikes later in the day on what it said were Hamas squads launching incendiary balloons and kites across the border.