DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Germany ʼgreatly concernedʼ about Crimea crisis The German government has expressed concern about the military escalation in the Sea of Asov, after Russia seized three Ukrainian navy shipsoff the coast of the Crimean peninsula. "The developments around the Sea of Asov are extremely worrying," Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Monday morning during a visit to Spain. "It is not acceptable that there is a blockade by Russia there. All one can do is call for de-escalation from both sides and I hope that this call, which will surely not only come from Germany, will be followed. We must end this war happening in our neighborhood." "We have observed the events in Ukraine and Russia with great concern," German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said at a regular press conference. "We are in contact with both sides." Seibert also reaffirmed Germanyʼs support to Ukraineʼs "sovereignty and territorial integrity, which includes shipping rights in the Kerch Strait. Free access to the Sea of Asov must be guaranteed."
Worldʼs first geneedited babies born, scientist claims A Chinese scientist on Monday said he has created the worldʼs firstgenetically-edited babiesin a controversial medical procedure that threatens to shake the foundation of bioethics. He Jiankui, a professor at the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUST) in Shenzhen, said the twins — identified as "Lulu" and "Nana" — had their embryosʼ DNA changed using a method known asCRISPR. The genes were edited to prevent the embryos from being able to contractHIV, He said, noting that the twinsʼ father had the virus. "Their parents donʼt want adesigner baby. Just a child who wonʼt suffer from a disease which medicine can prevent," He said in a video published on YouTube. "I understand my work will be controversial, but I believe families need this technology and Iʼm willing to take the criticism for them."
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Staunch EU critic Yanis Varoufakis to run in European election — in Germany Announcing the run, Varoufakis said it was time for a European Spring
The ex-Greek finance minister, who opposed deep austerity imposed by Brussels and Berlin, is to stand in the European elections next year.
France and Germany dream up ambitious EU reforms French President Emmanuel Macon and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have ambitious plans for the future of the European Union. But are the two countries headed in the same direction? When French President Emmanuel Macronspoke in Germanyʼs parliamenton Sunday, he said the European Union had come to a crossroads, and that greater European sovereignty was needed. German Chancellor Angela Merkel concurred. "That is exactly how I perceive it," she said, adding that now was the time to deliver results. Indeed, concrete steps are planned for the upcoming EU summit in mid-December. But upon closer inspection, it is clear
that Berlin and Parishave rather different ideasofwhat the future of the bloc should look like, and that some of these ideas are still rather nebulous. In a number of speeches, Macron has suggested establishing a sizable eurozone budget, equivalent to several percent of the blocʼs overall economic output. The idea is that this money could help balance out differences between national economies and prevent future financial crises. A joint proposal published by the French and German finance minsters regarding the eurozone budget has shied away from giving exact figures, but it can be safely assumed that the budget, if it is agreed, will not be as large as envisioned by Macron.
Glitz - and gossip - at the German Press Ball Itʼs a celebrated social event: A cavalcade of over 2,000 guests, among them famous politicians, journalists and celebrities, mingled at the anual German Press Ball held at the storied Hotel Adlon by Berlinʼs Brandenburg Gate on Friday evening. Beyond the networking, the ball also provides an opportunity to gossip. Former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder was among the guests along with his fifth wife, Korean business consultant So-yeon
Schröder-Kim. He was returning to the event after a break of 20 years. The last time Schröder attended he was accompanied by fourth wife, Doris Schröder-Köpf, who turned up this year with new partner, the SPD Minister of the Interior of Lower Saxony, Boris Pistorius. There have been tensions between these most recent Schröder spouses. The two couples didnʼt request to be seated together.
Migrant surge forces US to shut CaliforniaMexico border crossing temporarily All border traffic was halted for several hours at the busy crossing between the US city of San Diego and the Mexican city of Tijuana on Sunday after migrants from Central Americaattempted to make their way over the border fence, the US Customs and Border Protection (CPB) agency said. Hundreds of migrants, mostly men, made a dash for the border fence and tried to climb over, officials said. Border security officers used tear gas to disperse the migrants. Local authorities said they arrested 39 people involved in the incident. In response, Mexico said it would bolster security at its border. By late Sunday, US authorities reopened the crossing in both directions, the CPBʼs San Diego branch said in a tweet.
German rightwing AfD party fears radicalization of youth wing The right-wingAlternative for Germany (AfD)party is so worried about its youth organization becoming radicalized that there are calls to disband it entirely, according to German media reports on Monday. The Junge Alternative(Young Alternative or JA) has become increasingly close to the radical Identitarian movement (IB) over the past several years, and several JA state chapters are being surveilled by intelligence services over concerns about extremism.
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