DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Trump-linked far-right groups in US spent millions on European lobbying Right-wing Christian groups in the United States spent at least $50 million (€56 million) on supporting farright activists and campaigns in Europe in recent years, according to an investigative report. Publicly available financial filings showed 15 conservative non-profit organizations spent some $51 million in Europe from 2008 to 2017, the report by UKbased openDemocracy found. The filings did not detail what the money was spent on, but openDemocracy said the groups used it to: lobby European Union officialschallenge antihate speech laws in European courtssupport anti-LGBT+ and antiabortion campaigns in eastern and southern Europe. Read more: Far-right ʼstoking fearsʼ in Estoniaʼs parliamentary election Alyn Smith, a member of the European Parliament for the center-left Scottish National Party (SNP), said the report showed "just how vulnerable our politics are to well funded, organised malign influences."
WTO rules against US and Boeing in mammoth trade row with EU US aerospace giantBoeing has received unfair tax breaksin the US state of Washington, an appellate panel in the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled on Thursday. The tax break of some $100 million (€89 million) annually harmed the sales of Boeingʼs European rival Airbus, according to the WTO officials. The decision, which is not subject to appeal, opens the way for the EU to claim billions in damages. The damages are estimated based on the negative impact of the subsidies and not the subsidy itself. EU trade officials described the ruling as a "final victory" in the 15-year-long dispute.
73/2019 • 29 MARCH, 2019
Venezuelaʼs Juan Guaido barred from public office for 15 years Guaido said there was a good reason to ignore the order
Venezuelaʼs auditor general has stripped the countryʼs opposition leader and self-declared president Juan Guaido of holding public posts.
VW reports €12 billion profit and plans 22 million electric cars in 10 years Germanyʼs Volkswagen announced a €12.15 billion profit for 2018, beating analystsʼ forecasts. The automaker also said that electric cars would play a major role in the future, as it continues to deal with ʼDieselgateʼ. Volkswagen announced on Tuesday it had made a net profit of €12.15 billion ($13.7 billion) in 2018, beating analystsʼ forecasts. The profit comes despite huge charges linked to its "Diesel-
gate" emissions-cheating scandal, and a difficult road ahead due to tough new pollution tests. The operating results of the main brand Volkswagen was €3.2 billion as opposed to last years €3.3 billion. All together VW sold 10.8 million vehicles around the world from its 12 brands, bringing in €235.8 billion, with revenues posting slower growth than profits. "We performed very well in spite of strong headwinds," chief executive Herbert Diess said in a statement.
Man leaves €10,000 Picasso jug on German train German police are trying to help a man find a ceramic jug made by Pablo Picasso, after he accidentally left it on a train earlier this month. The elderly man was traveling from Kassel to Dusseldorf on February 15 when he switched trains at the city of Hamm and forgot to bring his precious cargo with him. Read more: How German was Picasso? The 26centimeter-tall (10-inch-tall) ceramic piece dates to 1953 and was an original crafted by Picasso at his Madoura workshop in Vallauris in the south of France, police said. It is part of Picas-
soʼs "Owl series" and is estimated to be worth at least €10,000 ($8,800). Police said the man reported the disappearance immediately after exiting the train but the bag with the jug inside it was already gone. Read more: Picasso and windows The shopping bag was made of solid cardboard with blue lettering that read "Neumeister — Alte Kunst — Moderne." Munster Federal Police, which is investigating the case, asked witnesses who might have seen the man "forgetting" the bag to report the sighting to them.
UN Security Council binding resolution makes terror financing a serious crime The United Nations Security Council on Thursday unanimously passed a French resolution makingterrorism financinga serious crime. The binding resolution, drafted under chapter 7 of the UN Charter, can be backed with sanctions for countries that do not comply. Although the topic of terror financing has been addressed in a number of resolutions since theSeptember 11, 2001attacks on the United States, Thursdayʼs measure is the first comprehensive terror financing resolution the body has ever passed. The resolution demands that individual countries "ensure that theirdomestic laws and regulations establish [terror financing as] serious criminal offenses."Vladimir Voronkov, the UNʼscounterterrorismchief, said the resolution "comes at a critical time" as it is clear to all that terrorists are funded through both illegal and legal channels.
US reveals secret deal to sell nuclear tech to Saudi Arabia The Donald Trump administration has granted permission to unspecified US companies to sell nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia and provide technical assistance,US Energy Secretary Rick Perry told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday. The companies have asked the administration to keep the approvals secret. The oil-rich kingdom is set to buildat least two nuclear power plants, with several countries, including the US, South Korea, and Russia, all vying for the project.
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73/2019 • 29 March, 2019
German train-delay scarf sells for thousands at auction A scarf knitted by a German woman to represent how long she was delayed on trains run by German rail company Deutsche Bahn sold for €7,550 ($8,660) on eBay on Monday. There were 134 bids from 45 bidders for the 1.5-meter (5 foot) scarf, which was knitted over the course of 2018 and features stripes in different colors, to represent different-length delays. Read more: Deutsche Bahn flaws prompt calls for basic railway reform Journalist Sara Weber, the scarf makerʼs daughter, said her mother was a commuter in the Munich area and had knitted two rows per day: Gray for under five minutes, pink for 5-30 minutes, and red for delays of more than 30 minutes or when both of her trains were running late. Weber posted a photo of the scarf on Twitter and the response was so enthusiastic that she and her mother decided to auction it and give the proceeds to the charity Bahnhofsmission, which assists people in need at railway stations across Germany. On Monday, Weber tweeted that the scarf had been sold for €7,550. "My mum is very happy — and so am I. We never would have expected that would happen," Weber wrote.
Virus-hit Alexander Zverev knocked out of Indian Wells A virus going around the Indian Wells tournament in California has claimed its latest victim, with Alexander Zverev well below his best as crashed out of the tournament in the third round. Zverev fell to compatriot JanLennard Struff 6-3, 6-1, who will now face Canadian 13th seed Milos Raonic.
US warns Germany over use of ʼuntrusted vendorsʼ in 5G network
US sanctions Venezuela state oil firm PDVSA
The US has sent the German Economy Ministry a letter warning of the risks posed by using "untrusted vendors" in its 5G network. The letter comes amid tensions between Chinese telecom giant Huawei and the US.
The US said on Monday that it would impose sanctions on Venezuelaʼs state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), as it ramps up pressure on the countryʼs president, Nicolas Maduro. The move followsWashingtonʼs public backing of National Assembly leader Juan Guaido, who declared himself interim president last week. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the sanctions were meant to prevent Maduro from diverting more resources from the crisis-hit country, until control in Caracas could be transferred toGuaidoʼs interim governmentora new democratically elected government. Mnuchin specified that PDVSAʼs US-based subsidiary Citgo could continue operations, so long as its earnings are deposited into a blocked account in the US. Maduro accused the US of attempting to steal Citgo, saying the state oil firm will seek legal action against the US. Washington was "holding accountable those responsible for Venezuelaʼs tragic decline," Mnuchin told reporters.
The United States on Monday warned Germany that sensitive communications could be compromised if "untrusted vendors" were used within its 5G telecom infrastructure, according to a Wall Street Journal report. US Ambassador Richard A. Grenell wrote to German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier on Friday, saying the participation of Huawei or other Chinese equipment vendors in the 5G project would mean the "US wonʼt be able to maintain the same level of cooperation with German security agencies," WSJ reported. Read more: Germanyʼs
5G: The bidders — and whatʼs involved "To the extent there are untrusted vendors in the networks of an ally, that could raise future questions about the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive communications within that country, as well as between that country and its allies," a US embassy spokesman said. "This could in the future jeopardize nimble cooperation and some sharing of information. We are engaging intensively with our allies on how to secure our telecommunications networks to ensure continued interoperability," he added.
The USʼ ʼfive-yearʼ moon plan is dangerous I canʼt wait to see humans bunnyhop across the lunar surface again (this time in HD quality). But Trumpʼs moon plans arenʼt part of a healthy "space race." To understand the Trump administrationʼs dangerously flawed moon logic, start with the date April 24, 2017. Thatʼs when the US president made a shockingly candid remark during avideo call to the International Space Station. US astronaut Jack Fischer had just finished describing some of the "delicious coffee" heʼd had in space
when Trump smiled and changed the subject. "Tell me," the president said, "Mars. What do you see a timing for actually sending humans to Mars? Is there a schedule? And when would you see that happening?" US astronaut Peggy Whitson answered. "Well, I think as your bill directed, it will be approximately in the 2030s," she said. "As I mentioned, we are actually building hardware to test the new heavy launch vehicle, and this vehicle will take us further than weʼve ever been away from this planet. Unfortunately, spaceflight takes a lot of time and money."
No Red Bull Air Race for Budapest in 2019 Budapest Mayor István Tarlós has not authorised the organisation of the Red Bull Air Race in Budapest this summer – according to a statement just issued by the Mayor’s Office. Held annually in several major cities with notable landmarks for skyline backdrops, the Red Bull Air Race is Formula 1 in the air, presenting incredible stunt-flying spectacles performed by the world’s best pilots. Every year except one since 2003, Budapest has hosted the race, but now it seems that for 2019, the Red Bull Air Race will skip the Hungarian capital.
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US and Turkish presidents discuss safe zone in northern Syria Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, took to the telephone to discuss the situation in northern Syria on Monday. "The president expressed the desire to work together to address Turkeyʼs security concerns in northeast Syria while stressing the importance to the United States that Turkey does not mistreat the Kurds and other Syrian Democratic Forces with whom we have fought to defeat ISIS," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement, referring to the "Islamic State" (IS) extremist group. The Turkish presidency said the two men discussed the creation of a safe zone in northern Syria cleared of militia groups. It did not provide any other details. Thedisagreement between the NATO alliesis the latest consequence of Trumpʼs December 19 decision to withdraw US military personnel from Syria. This could leave the Kurdish militia under threat should Turkey start a new offensive. Over the weekend, Trump had taken to Twitter to threaten he would"devastate" the Turkish economyif Ankara sent its forces to attack the Kurds in northern Syria.