4/2019 • 5 JANUARY, 2019 WEEKEND ISSUE
DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
EUʼs Jean-Claude Juncker offers to fast-track post-Brexit talks if UK accepts divorce deal Risks of a ʼno-dealʼ Brexit
The UK Parliament is set to vote on a Brexit divorce deal in January. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has said both sides could start talks on post-Brexit ties a day after the dealʼs approval.
Explosion outside AfD office in eastern Germany Police authorities said "an unknown substance was detonated" on Thursday at around 7:20 p.m. local time (620 UTC) in front of the building that houses the offices of the rightwing Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the Saxon city of Döbeln. Doors and windows of the building housing the AfD office were damaged, as well as two neighboring buildings. Parked cars were reportedly also damaged. No injuries were reported. The police did not give information with regard to possible suspects for the attack. Saxonyʼs State Office of Criminal Investigation was investigating suspicions that the crime was politically motivated.
Police refute claims of far-right patrols after migrant attacks A German far-right group claims to have carried out street patrols in the Bavarian town of Amberg where four asylum-seekers allegedly attacked a dozen passers-by over the weekend. The Nuremberg branch of the farright National Democratic Party (NPD) posted pictures on its Facebook page of people wearing red vests with the words "Weʼre creating safe zones" on them, walking through the streets of Amberg. The townʼs mayor, Michael Cerny, called for calm, however, saying the patrols did not constitute any form of vigilantism.
The European Union should immediately enter into talks on its future relations with the United Kingdom in the event that British lawmakers pass a draft deal on the UKʼs exit from the bloc, the head of the EUʼs executive has said. "If lawmakers in the House of Commons approve the withdrawal agreement in mid-January, we should begin work the very next day on the future relations between the UK and the EU," European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told Germanyʼs Welt am Sonntagnewspaper. Following more than a year and a half of difficult negotiations, the UK Parliament is set to vote on the withdrawal agreement sometime after January 14. Prime Minister Theresa May delayed the vote in early December amid widespread opposition to the agreement from both pro- and anti-EU lawmakers. But Juncker has said he believed the UK would leave the bloc despitecalls from some UK lawmakers for a referendum over any final exit deal. "That is what the people of the United Kingdom have decided," he said, referring to the June 2016 referendum, in which 52 percent of voters approved of Britain leaving the EU. Juncker also rejected claims the EU has been trying to keep the UK in the bloc. "That is not our intention," he said. "All we want is clarity about our future relations. And we respect the result of the referendum." The European Union should immediately enter into talks on its future relations with the
United Kingdom in the event that British lawmakers pass a draft deal on the UKʼs exit from the bloc, the head of the EUʼs executive has said. "If lawmakers in the House of Commons approve the withdrawal agreement in mid-January, we should begin work the very next day on the future relations between the UK and the EU," European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told Germanyʼs Welt am Son‐ ntagnewspaper. Following more than a year and a half of difficult negotiations, the UK Parliament is set to vote on the withdrawal agreement sometime after January 14. Prime Minister Theresa May delayed the vote in early December amid widespread opposition to the agreement from both pro- and anti-EU lawmakers. But Juncker has said he believed the UK would leave the bloc despitecalls from some UK lawmakers for a referendum over any final exit deal. "That is what the people of the United Kingdom have decided," he said, referring to the June 2016 referendum, in which 52 percent of voters approved of Britain leaving the EU. Juncker also rejected claims the EU has been trying to keep the UK in the bloc. "That is not our intention," he said. "All we want is clarity about our future relations. And we respect the result of the referendum." "That is what the people of the United Kingdom have decided," he said, referring to the June 2016 referendum, in which 52 percent of voters approved of Britain leaving the EU.
UK airports order anti-drone equipment
Indonesia halts exchange program to Taiwan amid reports of forced labor
Two of Britainʼs busiest airports, Heathrow and Gatwick, are buying military-grade drone protection systems, the UK media reported on Friday. The decision was reportedly made aftera drone scare grounded about 1,000 flightsand caused a shut down at Gatwick in December. Around 140,000 people had their travel plans disrupted. The police detained a man and a woman over the incident, but thetwo were subsequently cleared of suspicionand released on December 23. No new suspects have been arrested since. Following the disruption, the officials at Gatwick called in the military to deploy anti-drone systems and ensure air safety.
Indonesiaʼs Foreign Ministry announced Friday it will temporarily halt an exchange program to Taiwan following reports that hundreds of students had been forced to work in factories. Officials did not reveal the specific factors of their decision, saying only that Indonesian students taking part in the current work-study program had "faced problems." "We have asked for an explanation...and for authorities to take steps needed to protect the interests and safety of these students," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Armanatha Nasir said in a statement.
4/2019 • 5 January, 2019 Weekend issue
ʼPutinʼs chefʼ reports spark grisly death threats against Russian journalists Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin is said to have close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. So close, in fact, that he is known as "Putinʼs chef" because he has catered state dinners, a presidential birthday party, and owns companies that provide meals for schools and the Russian military. In recent times, he has featured prominently in the Russian media, including in the independent investigative newspaper Novaya Gazeta, which reported that Prigozhin was seen attending talks between Russian and Libyan military leadership on November 9. Novaya Gazeta has extensively reported on Prigozhin, whose activities are suspected to extend far outside the culinary arts. He reportedly runs a troll factory in Saint Petersburg, which churns out disinformation and propaganda designed to discredit the West. Prigozhin, who has beensanctioned by the United States, has also allegedly taken action against Russian dissidents and individuals who are disliked by the regime.
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. 2
Britainʼs Queen: Christmas message ʼneeded more than everʼ Britainʼs monarch has made a Christmas Day speech almost every year since 1952
Polls open for general election in coup-plagued Fiji Polls opened on Wednesday in Fiji as the Pacific Island nation held its second general election since a military coup toppled the government in 2006. Half a million people are expected to cast their votes as two leaders of separate military coups vie for the premiership in the popular tourist destination. The incumbent, Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, has remained in power since his bloodless takeover 12 years ago. Heallowed a general election in 2014 andwon reelectionin a landslide victory. The 64-year-old leader of the FijiFirst Party has promised stability in a country that has seen four coups take place over the space of two decades. He was initially branded a dictator by regional powers such as Australia and New Zealand, but has earned greater international acceptance since the 2014 election.
Queen Elizabeth II appeared to lament the current era of divisive politics, including Brexit, calling on people to "respect" one another. Britainʼs Queen Elizabeth on Tuesday stressed the importance of treating those with opposing views with "respect and as a fellow human being," in an apparent reference to the bitter political fallout over the countryʼs withdrawal from the European Union. The UK monarch told viewers of her annual Christmas message
Swedish parliament rejects proposed government The Swedish parliament, as expected, rejected center-right Moderates party leader Ulf Kristersson as new prime minister in a vote on Wednesday. There is now no end in sight to thepolitical deadlock that has gripped the countrysince elections in September. Kristerssonʼs bid for the premiership had looked doomed to fail after two other parties in the center-right Alliance bloc said they would oppose any government that relied on support from the shunned anti-immigration Sweden Democrats who hold the balance of power in parliament. When the votes were counted, 195 members of the 349seat parliament voted against electing him as prime minister while 154 voted in his favor. Kristersson was put
on television that courtesy is vital to overcome the "most deeply-held differences." The comments were made asBritish politicians remain at loggerheads over Prime Minister Theresa Mayʼs Brexit deal, which is in danger of falling apart at the finish line, and could see the country crash out of the EU. forth on Monday by parliament speaker Andreas Norlen, who wanted to break the parliamentary gridlock. The general election on September 9 resulted in a stalematebetween the countryʼs two main political alliances. Neither has a majority in the 349-seat parliament. Kristersson said he would attempt to form a minority government of his conservatives and the smaller Christian Democrats, and would not negotiate with thefar-right Sweden Democrats.
Germany to fund late entry into battery cell production To say that Asian countries dominate the production of electric car battery cells is an understatement. According to a 2014 European Commission re-
port, Asian companies have achieved an insurmountable 88 percent share of global Lithium-ion manufacturing capacity — with more than 50 percent belonging to China alone. Over the past four years, South Korea, Japan and China have ramped up their battery-cell production capacities to cope with the exponential demand for electric vehicles (EVs), while most manufacturers in Europe hesitated due to tight margins and the huge investment required. That is until Tuesday when Germanyʼs economic affairs minister Peter Altmaier announced the government would set aside €1 billion ($1.2 billion) to support the production of next-generation solidstate batteries in Europe. Speaking at a two-day electromobility conference in Berlin, Altmaier said it was important the German state offer its full support to the venture "as was the case with the development of Airbus and Ariane [space program]."
4/2019 • 5 January, 2019 Weekend issue
Dark, intense shades meet casual feminine style: WINTER SALE on Högl Collection A/W 2018/2019 WINTER SALE! UP TO 50% ON THE COLLECTION AUTUMN/WINTER IN OUR BUDAPEST STORES!! /Högl Store Andrassy Andrássy út 12 (only 100 meters from your Hotel Moments to Opera) , Högl Store Allee Center Október 23. utca 8, Högl Aréna Mall Kerepesi út 9 /
The Högl autumn/winter 2018/19 collection confidently showcases the new on-trend colours dark plum, violet, rust brown and different shades of grey. The new season’s styles are impressively strong, but still feminine. They come in a range of new colours and materials, in slim, elegant styles with block heels and profiled soles – guaranteed to turn heads. Nightwalker Mysterious and as dark as the night, the styles in this part of the collection won’t fail to impress. The focus is on new interpretations of classics: boots and ankle boots with stylish details such as laces, eyelets and buckles. The colour palette
ranges from black to dark grey to the new addition of dark plum. Swarovski® crystal detailing emphasises the feminine look and adds a hint of opulence. Winter styles are enhanced by a Gore-Tex® membrane, and are available in both casual suede and metallic leather. Sense Maker Delicate greys bring a ray of light in the winter darkness, complemented by clean, simple lines. The urban focus of the collection uses a palette of flattering dark grey, stone, nude and mauve tones. Trendy block heels and new queenie heels feature strongly. From sneakers to heels (in round, V-neck and high-fronted cuts) to
bootees and over-knee boots, the high-quality leather and soft neutral colours of these new designs complement next season’s relaxed, feminine look perfectly. Experiencer The third theme of the collection is expressed in earthy tones, from espresso to rust brown and camel. Sneakers, bootees and heels in burnt colours and retrochic style invite to experiment with all sorts of different combinations. The multi-tone effect of the new materials used for ankle boots – such as crushed Naplak – adds a surprising twist to their look. Singer Adrien Szek‐ eres is now 3rd year brand ambassador of Högl Shoes in Hungary!
Europe’s Nr. 4. most impressive Advent fair awaits its visitors at the Basilica The Advent Fair opens its gates again this year from November 23rd at the St. Stephens’s Basilica eighth time in a row. This event is considered to be the fourth most beautiful Christmas fairs on the old continent according to Europeans. Besides the unique 3D light paint projected on the facade of the Basilica, the spectacular and adventurous seasonal meeting point offers a free skating ring, special hand crafted items, local food and drink specialties until January 1st. The creators of the event are proud of the Advent Feast at the Basilica being listed amongst the top 5 in Europe. The carefully prepared venue and programs are to grant the visitors the cozy ambience they love to return to year by year at this magical social scenery. The joyful crowd of the skating ring, the luxurious lights and the Christmas aromas create the holiday atmosphere where the excitement of getting in the Christmas mood can settle in. Several special programs for children and adults, like arts and crafts, flash mobs, dance and music performances and other surprises will await the visitors. The Fair is an exceptional opportunity for those seeking to donate, help those in need. On the public poll of the European Best Destination the Advent Fair at the Basilica was again listed amongst the top 20 nominees of best destinations as the only Hungarian event and might even win a trophy this year.
A new exhibition celebrates 100 years of Budapest’s Gellért Hotel A recreated Baroque-style guest room, photos of the building taken during World War II and Communist-era posters reflect the history of Budapest’s most legendary hotel, the Gellért. A new exhibition at the Museum of Commerce & Catering celebrates the centenary of this institution which opened on 24 September 1918. Attached to the hotel is Budapest’s Art Nouveau Gellért Baths, whose outdoor wave pool, also illustrated at the museum, was the first of its kind in the world.
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4/2019 • 5 January, 2019 Weekend issue
8 species on the brink in 2019 We have to take action soon
German food industry to cut sugar, salt and fat content The German Food and Agriculture Ministry has struck a deal with the food industry to make processed foods healthier. The German food industry has agreed to voluntarily reduce the amount of sugar, salt and fat in processed foods by 2025, Food and Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner said on Wednesday. "The food industry has for the first time committed to and will let itself be subject to checks on the steps it is
taking to reduce sugar, salt and fat in processed food," she told Bild newspaper. "That has never happened before." Speaking in Berlin, Klöckner defended the programʼs focus on voluntary commitments from the food industry. "Everyone must deliver and everyone will deliver," the Christian Democrat said after the German Cabinet signed off on the plan. Klöckner said it would not only lead to healthier food, but to "positive competition" among the industry.
Due to poaching and habitat destruction, the long-term survival of these endangered animals looks increasingly grim if we donʼt take action soon. This white rhino subspecies made headlines last year following the death of Sudan, the last known male of his kind, making the species functionally extinct. Some scientists are cautiously optimistic that it could be brought back with the help of IVF technology, while others say time has simply run out for the subspecies, meaning it wonʼt be long before it disappears. The South
China tiger is the most critically endangered of all tiger subspecies. No individual has been sighted in the wild since 1970, while the global captive population is likely to number less than 80. Some researchers have already declared the subspecies functionally extinct, but organizations such as Save Chinaʼs Tigers (SCT) are persisting with their conservation efforts.
Hungary’s Recirquel to stage
Diplomático - Rum you never experienced before!
Budapest premiere of hit Edinburgh show “My Land” The show runs at Müpa Budapest every day from 16 to 19 October and on 21 October. From tonight, Budapest audiences can expect gravity-defying acts performed in their purest form, through physical feats of the body. Presented on the stage of the prestigious Müpa Palace of Arts are stunts by globally renowned company Recirquel, whose new balletlike production “My Land” was toprated by critics at the 2018 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. We talk to Recirquel founder and choreographer Bence Vági, who has taken acrobatics to new heights. Performers in skin-tight unitards rise up from a dirt-covered set to share personal stories, their bodies contorted and biceps straining. What unfolds in front of the viewers appear as illusionary images combining light, shadow and reflection – nature’s elements. Tradition, freedom and love all form part of My Land, a real physical feat enacted by a team of Ukrainian artists to traditional Tatar and Moldavian music. 4
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4/2019 • 5 January, 2019 Weekend issue
Hotel tips for winter in Europe From ice-frosted and windy to extravagant and rustic
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 "Oscars" 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.
Donʼt be afraid of freezing temperatures. We have put together 10 hotel tips for a cool break from everyday life. Bedded on ice, in the small village of Jukkasjärvi, some 200 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, the Icehotel welcomes guests. For 25 years, the building material has come from the nearbyTorne River. Every year artists redesign the suites. In April everything melts away. It couldnʼt be more sustainable. For Time Magazine, the Icehotel is one of the most beautiful places in the world in
Sting to return to Budapest for summer 2019
negotiators at the United Nations climate conference taking place in Poland (COP24) make health central to climate action. Their predictions are also borne out in scientific research, which says warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels would expose a further 350 million people to heat stress by 2050. But Tarek Ezzine, a third-year medical student from Tunisia and member of the International Federation of Medical Studentsʼ Associations (IFMSA). says the impact of global warming on the human body is not getting the attention it needs.
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Renovated Museum of Fine Arts to Open on 31 October AFTER MORE THAN THREE YEARS OF RENOVATION, THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS BUDAPEST WILL OPEN ON 31 OCTOBER. NOW OPEN TO PUBLIC
2018. The town of Rovaniemi has a famous resident, Santa Claus. The town has many hotels to accommodate his visitors. One of the most beautiful is the Arctic Treehouse Hotel. The living cubes are made of local wood and placed on stilts. It is as snug as a mountain hut. The open fire crackles, the view wanders into the snow-covered forest. This makes winter fun.
Is climate change killing us? A man clutches his chest, coughing violently. Beside him, a woman clasps a hand to her forehead and collapses. Both reach out to a nearby doctor, begging for medical attention. But the doctor shrugs helplessly and states the diagnosis: climate change, and itʼs critical. Fortunately, the patients arenʼt actually sick. Theyʼre medical students putting on a performance to show that global warming is already making millions of people ill, whether as a result of smog, a rise in tropical diseases or drought-related malnutrition. And the figure, they say, will keep rising unless
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Sting is head over heels for Budapest. After a successful free show with Shaggy a month ago on Heroes’ Square, the former Police frontman has just announced another Budapest concert for next summer. On 2 July, the Grammywinning singer brings his My Songs tour to the Papp László Aréna, where he will be taking the stage with his own band. From “Englishman In New York” to “Every Breath You Take”, the set should include Sting’s biggest hits. Tickets are on sale now.
Thanks to the largest-scale and most comprehensive reconstruction project in the museum’s history, the museum building has been renewed, and, returning to the collection’s first concept, the museum’s permanent exhibitions will also be rearranged. Besides the new permanent exhibitions, the revamped museum will welcome visitors with a chamber exhibition titled Leonardo & the Budapest Horse and Rider. The museum reconstruction, implemented within the framework of the Liget Budapest Project, included the restoration of the Romanesque Hall, which sustained severe damage in World War II and since then had been only partially renovated and used as a storage area, along with the modernisation of the building’s obsolete heating system, the installation of air conditioning in some of the exhibition halls, the renewal of a large part of the roof structure, as well as the addition of new exhibition spaces, visitor areas and modern storage facilities.
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4/2019 • 5 January, 2019 Weekend issue
What will 2019 bring for Angelique Kerber?
Angelique Kerber was recently asked about why the enthusiasm among the German public for her and Alexander Zverev doesnʼt seem to be what it was for Steffi Graf and Boris Becker in the 1980s. "Becker and Graf, I think that was a different time," Kerber replied. "I think we are reaching peopleʼs hearts," she added with a smile. While Kerber may find such comparisons inappropriate, the Wimbledon champion may have more in common with Graf than many think. Everything she does, she masters with complete professionalism; be it on the tennis court, dealing with reportersʼ questions, or facing the cameras at celebrity events. With the help of her manager, Aljoscha Thron, Kerber projects a very carefully controlled public image.
Stuart Bingham says snooker in catch-22 over betting
London Broncos have long-term ambition to win Super League title Promoted London Broncos must have the ambition to win Super League in the future, says head coach Danny Ward. The Broncos will be back in the top flight in 2019 afterbeating Toronto Wolfpack 4-2 in the Million Pound Gameon Sunday. "We need to make it work, have a five-year plan of where we want to be," Ward told BBC Radio London. "Next year is going to be tough but we want a long-term vision to make London the best club in the country." He added: "We donʼt just want to compete in Super League, but win it. We are not there just to survive." Ward, who took charge following the departure of Andrew Henderson at the end of last season, described their victory over the Wolfpack in Canada as "one of the proudest moments" of his career. "What a performance, what a day and what an achievement - I am still on a massive high," he said on their return to England. "To lead the club into the Million Pound Game and win promotion is one of my biggest ever achievements."
Jürgen Kloppʼs unbeaten run ended by compatriot Leroy Sané It was a fellow German who struck the decisive blow, with Leroy Sané continuing to impress
Jürgen Kloppʼs Liverpool fell to their first league defeat of the season in a pulsating Premier League title clash. Among the dozens of threads woven into Thursday nightʼs tense and thrilling spectacle, it was the dual strands of pressure and pressing that proved to be the most critical to Manchester Cityʼs 2-1 win. "It was big pressure on the game. Very intense and we were unlucky in our finishing moments," lamented Klopp after the game. From the off, this tussle between the best two teams in the Premier League was played at the most frantic of paces. Two minutes in, Liverpool keeper Allison uncharacteristically shanked the sort of backpass heʼd
usually stroke out to a teammate into the stand. He wasnʼt the only one. As Manchester City players swarmed around their visitors, Kloppʼs charges looked nervy,the German coachʼs signature tacticwas being used against him. "How many times do you see this many unforced errors," Klopp asked after the game. "It was because every time they had the ball, three men were jumping on them." City pressed more on Thursday than they have for most of this season, and certainly more effectively than they have in their recent run of poor form.
Champions League: Robben, Lewandowski double up as Bayern qualify Snooker "would not be sport" without betting sponsorship, says exworld champion Stuart Bingham but the level of promotion is a "nightmare". Of the 20 ranking events, 11 are sponsored by betting companies, while other invitational events are also financed by them. Bingham, 42, who serveda threemonth banfor betting breaches last season, won the English Open last month. The situation is a "catch-22", he told BBC Sport. "It is in our faces, it is everywhere," he added. 6
Two goals each from Arjen Robben and Robert Lewandowski and a late Franck Ribery strike secured Bayern a much-needed win. Their 5-1 victory over Benfica ensures the German side are in the knockout stages once again. In the midst of a most unusual time, Niko Kovac was able to take comfort in the familiar on Tuesday, as Bayern brushed aside their Portuguese opponents without needing to break a significant sweat. Over the last decade, there have been few more reassuring and pleasing sights for Bayern fans
than Arjen Robben cutting inside on to his left foot. They saw it twice in the opening half hour with predictable results – something in short supply in Bavaria of late. The veteran Dutch winger got a touch fortunate for the first, bundling his way through before curling it high over the excellent Odisseas Vlachodimos, before repeating the trick 17 minutes later, this time with a front-post finish. The third also felt like the good old days of September, as Robert Lewandowski rose highest to nod a Joshua Kimmich corner in off the post.