DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Germany: Arrest over the murder of 9-year-old Peggy One of Germanyʼs most elusive and long-running murder cases came a step closer to a resolution on Tuesday following multiple reports that a man had been arrested over the death of the young girl known publicly in Germany only as Peggy. Peggy was nine years old when she vanished from her home in Lichtenberg, Bavaria in May 2001. Although she was presumed dead, her bodywas not found until fifteen years later. "The 41-year-old Manuel S. will be brought before the magistrate on Tuesday," reported public broadcaster MDR. The suspect is believed to be the same 41-year-old who admitted to transporting the girlʼs body in September. He told the authorities that he had agreed to take the corpse from another man, and admitted to transporting the body to the woods 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) from Lichtenberg where it was eventually found by a man gathering wild mushrooms in 2016.
Iran confirms test of ballistic missiles Iran on Tuesday confirmed it had conducted a missile test earlier in December, following criticism from Western powers, including Security Council members the US, France and Britain. "We confirm the recent test of our ballistic missiles," air force commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Amir Ali Hajizadeh said, according to the Fars news agency. Hajizadeh said that Iran carries out around 40 to 50 missile tests each year. Read more: Iranʼs military power: What you need to know The UN Security Council met last week over the test that the US, Britain and France said defied UN restrictions on Tehranʼs military program. In May, US President President Donald Trump decided to withdraw from an international agreement on Iranʼs nuclear program andreimposed sanctions on Tehran.
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Deadly shooting in French city of Strasbourg At least three people have been killed in a shooting in the eastern French city of Strasbourg
Parts of the city are still on lockdown and a major security operation is underway around the cityʼs famed Christmas market.
EUʼs top court rules European Central Bank bond buying legal The ECBʼs purchase of government bonds was an attempt to save countries such as Greece, Spain and Portugal from default. It was particularly controversial in Germany, where multiple lawsuits challenged its legality. The European Unionʼs top court on Tuesday ruled that the European Central Bank (ECB) decision to buy up the sovereign debt of its own member states in 2015 was valid and within its mandate. This followed several legal challenges to the measure in Ger-
many. The ECBʼs policy was an attempt to prop up struggling economies following the sovereign debt difficulties in Greece and several other eurozone members in the aftermath of the 2008ʼs Great Recession. The ECB had hoped that by buying government bonds, as part of its wider "quantitative easing" program, it would lower the interest rates faced by heavily-indebted members that were struggling to borrow more money at competitive rates on the markets.
How the European Film Awards could boost their image Europe can probably only blame itself. Why do the European Film Awards, to be awarded this Saturday, December 15 in Seville, Spain, remain in the shadow of the Oscars? The American awards naturally have a longer tradition as they have been awarded since 1929. The European Film Awards, on the other hand, have only existed since 1988. Still, that means they have been around for 31 years. Word should have long gotten out that the Europeans also have "Os-
cars" of their own. European cinema is more diverse But thatʼs not the case. Global media focuses on the Oscars long in advance of the ceremony, but not on the European Film Awards. Why is that? Certainly not due to the quality of the films. On the contrary, one could even claim that European cinema as a whole is much more diverse, colorful and artistically appealing than the English-speaking continent of North America — even if it is less commercially productive.
Argentina court sentences ex-Ford executives on torture, kidnapping charges Two former executives for automaker Ford were handed lengthy jail sentences by an Argentine court on Tuesday. The move marks the first time that high-level corporate leaders have headed to prison over crimes committed duringArgentinaʼs "Dirty War." After a year on trial, Hector Sibilla, the former head of security at Fordʼs Buenos Aires factory, was sentenced to 12 years in prison. His codefendant, manufacturing manager Pedro Muller was given 10 years. The court declared that both men "were necessary participants in the illegal deprivation of liberty, aggravated by the use of violence and threats," against labor leaders and union advocates. Sibilla was also found to have been present during at least one torture session.
Brazil: Gunman opens fire inside cathedral, kills 4 A gunman has killed four people after opening fire following a midday Mass in a Catholic cathedral in the Brazilian city of Campinas. The attacker later died at the scene after turning the gun on himself. Worshipers at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Campinas, located some 60 miles (100 kilometers) north of Sao Paulo, were praying when the incident occurred. The gunman, who police identified as 49year-old Euler Fernando Gandolfo, entered the church and sat among them. After some time, Gandolfo drew his gun and began shooting the people around him. Most of the worshipers were elderly people.
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282/2018 • 13 December, 2018
Climate change reduces male fertility, could help drive extinction Researchers are honing in on a little-studied but significant consequence of climate change: male infertility. Could this potential cause of extinction and biodiversity loss also threaten the human species? Men have long understood the dangers of exposing their reproductive glands to excessive heat. More than a decade ago, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey publicly admitted that all that time near hot stoves ultimately caused him fertility loss and a low sperm count. "My balls were burning," he said, with typical bluntness. From sitting too long with a laptop, to boiling saunas and hot cellphones in tight jean pockets, burning issues around the midriff have become a pressing fertility enemy for modern men. Recent research is implicating rising heat due to climate change as an extinction threat for certain species — so what about our own?
Wada to open new bullying probe after Ed Moses criticised response The 24-man German squad was announced on Friday ahead of a friendly against the 2018 World Cup hosts and a Nations League fixture against rivals the Netherlands. Notably absent from the group is Jerome Boateng, while a surging Marco Reus is back in the picture. Boateng has won 76 caps for Germany and was a key player in the 2014 World Cup triumph.
Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou released on bail in Canada A judge in Vancouver has granted bail to top Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, despite concerns she poses a flight risk. ChineseCanadian relations have taken a downward turn after Canada arrested the senior executive. A Canadian judge has released Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou on bail following days of uncertainty in the courtroom. In a 55page affidavit, Meng made clear to the court that she does not intend to flee the country and will stand trial, if need be, in the United States, whereshe is wanted for breaking sanctions against Iran. "Given her unique profile as the face of a Chinese corporate national champion, if she were to flee or breach her order in any way in these very
unique circumstances, it does not overstate to say she would embarrass China itself," David Martin, Mengʼs lawyer, told the court on Monday. Meng said she feared her health may deteriorate if she remained in prison pending appeals against the US extradition request. US President Donald Trump has suggested he may intervene in the Justice Departmentʼs case against Meng if he thought it would be beneficial to negotiations foran American-Chinese trade deal.
Waste food and emissions: Landfill or the plate? Millions of people in South Africa donʼt know where their next meal will come from. Meanwhile, much food ends up in the garbage, and ultimately causes climate-harmful emissions. Project goal: Finding ways to reduce greenhouse emissions from food waste and improve food security for the malnourished. Problem description: In South Africa, food ends up in landfill, even as many people go hungry. Discarded food in the country generates 10 million tons of methane and CO2 a year — the equivalent of more than 30 percent of the countryʼs annual cli-
mate-harmful emissions of 210 kilograms per capita. Project volume: € 342,724 Project partners: International Climate Initiative (IKI), WWF South Africa, Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) - South Africa, Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) Project description: Landfill and discarded food make a major contribution to climate change, emitting methane, a gas 30 times more harmful to the climate than CO2. In South Africa, the climate emissions from landfill in South Africa amount to around half of the emissions caused by road traffic in the country.
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.
Hotel Azúr Prémium H-8600 Siófok, Erkel Ferenc u. 2/c. Telephone: 06 86 501 450 premium@hotelazur.hu http://www.hotelazur.hu/hu/premium
Published by: Mega Media Kft. 1075 Budapest, Madách I. út 13-14. +36 1 398 0344 www.hotelujsag.hu
German GDP drops for first time since 2015 Germanyʼs gross domestic product (GDP) shrank 0.2 percent in the third quarter of 2018. It is the first time the German economy has seen a contraction in more than three years. The Federal Statistics Office in Wiesbaden announced the contraction on Wednesday. The drop was slightly bigger than the expectation of economists polled by Reuters, who had predicted a 0.1 percent drop. In the second quarter the GDP of Europeʼs biggest economy had grown 0.5 percent. "This is the first drop compared to the previous quarter to occur since the first trimester of 2015," said the Federal Statistics office. Just last week, Germanyʼs Council of Economic Experts lowered the growth forecast for 2018to 1.6 percent instead of the 2.3 percent predicted last March. However, economists believe these results are just a blip and they are not worried about the overall health of Germanyʼs economy.
Greek archaeologists locate lost ancient city of Tenea The ruins of a housing settlement and dozens of rare coins have confirmed the location of the ancient city of Tenea, Greeceʼs culture ministry announced on Tuesday. Excavations at a site in the southern Greek region of Peloponnese turned up "proof of the existence of the ancient city," the ministry said in a statement. The city of Tenea is believed to have been founded by Trojans who were taken prisoner during the Trojan War in the 12th or 13th century BCE. Until now, the city had only been mentioned in ancient texts and it was unknown whether it existed. Main excavations in the area started in 2013, the most recent excavations unearthed seven graves dating to the Roman era and Hellenistic period, as well as the remnants of a housing settlement. "It is significant that the remnants of the city, the paved roads, the architectural structure, came to light," lead archaeologist Eleni Korka told Reuters news agency. The dig revealed marble and stone floors of buildings as well as carefully constructed walls. Some 200 rare coins dating from the 4th century BCE were also unearthed as well, indicating that Tenea was very wealthy, Korka said.