117/2018 • 26 MAY, 2018 WEEKEND ISSUE
DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Growing calls for elections in Thailand After four years in power, the military junta that initially promised a general election in 2015 but postponed it several times, is keeping Thais guessing as to when or whether theyʼll be able to elect a new government. Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit wants to change Thai politics for good. The 39-year-old tycoon recently ended his business career and started a new one in politics. "For many years, Thai politics has been conducted on the basis of ʼrule of the few.ʼ Itʼs in each of our interests to make it the ʼrule of the people,ʼ" the co-founder of the Future Forward Party told .
Sweden and North Korea end talks ahead of possible Trump-Kim summit The Swedish and North Korean foreign ministers have wrapped up three days of talks on the security situation on the Korean peninsula. Have they cleared the way for a historic meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un? Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom and her North Korean counterpart Ri Yong Ho discussed the "opportunities and challenges for continued diplomatic efforts to reach a peaceful solution to the conflict," Swedenʼs Foreign Ministry said Saturday. The ministry did not comment on whether thethree days of talksin Stockholm hadlaid any groundwork for a possible meetingbetween US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. "The main focus for the talks was the security situation on the Korean Peninsula," Wallstrom told reporters, adding that UN sanctions, nuclear weapons, and humanitarian concerns in North Korea were also on the agenda. Ri did not address the media during his visit.
How new EU data protection regulations affect the art world The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will take effect across Europe on May 25
The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will take effect across Europe on May 25. But giving users greater control of personal data might have undue consequences for artists and cultural organizations.
Brexit causes record number of Britons to be granted German citizenship Britons are rushing to become German citizens before their country leaves the European Union. More than 10 times as many Britons became German citizens in 2017 than in 2015. A record number of Britons became German citizens for the second year running, the German Federal Statistical Office reported on Wednesday. The consecutive record has been linked to Britainʼs upcoming departure from the European Union. "A link with the upcoming Brexit is obvious,” Germanyʼs statistics office Destatis said. About 7,500 Britons were granted German citizenship in
2017 —more than double the record set in the previous year. The 2017 figure eclipses the 2015 number, when 622 pre-referendum Britons gained German citizenship. A total of 112,200 foreigners were granted German citizenship in 2017, the most since 2013 and a 1.7-percent increase on the previous year. The largest contingent of foreign naturalizations came from Turkey (14,984), followed by Britain, Poland (6,613), Italy (4,256) and Romania (4,238). The new citizens from Britain are on average almost 53 years old, significantly older than other naturalized persons (34.8 years).
Rafael Nadal mounts comeback to defeat Alexander Zverev in Italian Open A rain delay derailed Alexander Zverevʼs title charge in the Italian Open, as Rafael Nadal roared back to take the title for the eighth time with a 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 win. Both men have enjoyed strong clay court seasons. After struggling in the first set Zverev, who won this title last year andclaimed the Madrid Open earlier this month,put on a scintillating display in the second to put the Spanish "King of Clay" in real trouble. The German, 21, was a break up in the third set when the heavens opened, leading to a 50 minute de-
lay. With the benefit of his vast experience, Nadal used the time to regroup and broke back immediately before wrapping up his 78th ATP title and his 56th on clay. “You’re the greatest clay court player of all time and I think everybody saw that today,” Zverev told Nadal after the match. The Spaniard responded by saying he had a special affinity with the event in Rome. “My first victory here in 2005 was one of the most beautiful victories of my career,” he told the crowd. “To have this trophy again with me after so many years is really very special.”
Dresden World War II bomb disposal partially explodes An aerial World War II bomb partially exploded during an attempt to defuse it in the eastern city of Dresden. Bomb disposals are routine in Germany and rarely involve accidents. Demolition experts in the eastern city of Dresden successfully defused a WWII bomb on Thursday after initial efforts triggered a small explosion and a subsequent blaze. An inconclusive defusing operation Wednesday set ablaze shock absorbent materials and left the 250kilogram device obscured by rubble. To extinguish the blaze, experts used a special robot, supervised by helicopters and drones.
United States may recognize Israeli sovereignty over Golan Heights The US could soon recognize the Golan Heights as Israeli territory, Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz said in interviews. The move would follow the US recognizing Jerusalem as capital and exiting the Iran nuclear deal. Yisrael Katz told the Reuters news agency that the endorsement of Israelʼs 51-year occupation of the Golan Heights is "topping the agenda" in current talks with the US and that Washington could make a decision within a few months.
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