52/2018 • 03, MARCH 2018 WEEKEND ISSUE
DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Theresa May calls for unprecedented UK-EU economic partnership The EU has blamed British officials in recent weeks for a lack of progress in talks
The British prime minister has tried to breathe new life into negotiations over Britainʼs departure from the European Union.
Carla Del Ponte honored with Hessian Peace Prize
New French immigration bill provokes backlash
Ex-war crimes prosecutor Carla Del Ponte received a €25,000 prize in the German state of Hesse for her "uncompromising fight for peace." In her speech, the Swiss-born Del Ponte called for urgent reform of the UN. Officials in the German state of Hesse honored anti-war crimes crusader Carla Del Ponte on Friday by presenting her with the Albert Osswald Foundationʼs Peace Prize. The 71year-old Del Ponte led an "uncompromising fight for peace" during her career as international prosecutor, the jury said.
France is working on a new immigration law designed to streamline the asylum process. But aid workers fear the legislation could turn the country into a proper "expulsion machine," reports Lisa Louis from Paris. Franceʼs cabinet this week okayed a draft immigration law that will go through parliament in the coming months. Migrants would in the future have less time to apply for asylum and appeal against rejections. The government would have the right to hold them in detention centers pending deportation for more than twice as long.
Britain and the European Union should agree to an unprecedented economic relationship after Britain leaves the EU, British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Friday in a highly anticipated speech on Brexit. The speech comes amid growingEU frustration at what it has claimed are unrealistic British demandsin divorce talks ahead of March 2019, when the UK plans to leave the bloc. The future economic partnership with the EU should be deeper than any free trade deals that currently exist. She rejected existing trade deals Norway and Canada have with the EU: "We need to strike a new balance. But we will not accept the rights of Canada and the obligations of Norway."Brussels and London should agree to a Brexit that does not threaten peace in Northern Ireland by leading to the reappearance of a hard border between Ireland, an EU member state, and Northern Ireland: "We have been clear all along that we donʼt want to go back to a hard border."Solving the border problem by keeping Northern Ireland in the EUʼs customs union would however be unacceptable. To do so would break up the UKʼs internal market and "damage the integrity of our precious Union [the UK]."British and EU regulations "will remain substantially similar in the future" and Britain would seek to stay in some EU regulatory agencies. But the British Parliament would have the right to vote on regulations different
from the EUʼs. This and customs checks based on new technologies would help ensure "as frictionless" trade as possible.Any final Brexit treaty with the EU would have to meet five tests: "implementing the decision of the British people; reaching an enduring solution; protecting our security and prosperity; delivering an outcome that is consistent with the kind of country we want to be; and bringing our country together, strengthening the precious union of all our people." Little progress: The speech comes at a time when Brexit negotiations appear to be making little progress. On Thursday, EU Council President Donald Tusk challenged Britain to present ideas about how to prevent a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland after May rejected an EU proposal to the problem. Tusk had previously saidBritainʼs position was "based on pure illusion" after media outlets reported Britain wanted to pick and choose which EU rules to align with after Brexit. Mayʼs reaction to EU Brexit treaty: The EUʼs chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, presented a first draft Brexit treaty on Wednesday that would define the future legal relationship between Britain and the EU after 2019. May called the draft "unacceptable" in part due to a provision that would have Northern Ireland stay in a customs union with the EU if London and Brussels failed to find another solution to the Irish border problem.
Bundestag slams far-right AfD
Myanmar bulldozed scores of Rohingya villages
Parliamentarians minced no words about the right-wing populistsʼ increasingly radical statements about Germanyʼs dark past. The discussion was sparked by AfD calls to ban the Stumbling Stones remembrance initiative. In a special discussion in Germanyʼs parliament, the Bundestag, MPs underscored the countryʼs commitment to remembering the Holocaust and the other crimes of Germanyʼs Nazi past. The session was called by the Greens after increasing agitation from within the far-right populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party to end Germanyʼs culture of remembrances.
Human Rights Watch says the Myanmar authoritiesʼ actions were aimed at covering up evidence of atrocities against Rohingya Muslims. HRW calls on the government to allow UN fact-finding team in to Rakhine state. New satellite images of Myanmarʼs Rakhine state show that the Myanmar authorities have been bulldozing Rohingya Muslim villages that were burned down during the "ethnic cleansing campaign" against the minority, human rights group, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Friday.
52/2018 • 03, March 2018 Weekend issue US Nuclear Posture Review: A bigger bang for the buck?
The United States has put countering China and Russia, dubbed "revisionist powers," at the center of a new national defense strategy. DW takes a look at what that entails. At the height of the Cold War, the United States and the then-Soviet Union possessed around 70,000 nuclear warheads between them — enough to destroy or poison every square centimeter of inhabited land on Earth several times over. Americas US Nuclear Posture Review: A bigger bang for the buck? The United States has put countering China and Russia, dubbed "revisionist powers," at the center of a new national defense strategy. DW takes a look at what that entails. At the height of the Cold War, the United States and the then-Soviet Union possessed around 70,000 nuclear warheads between them — enough to destroy or poison every square centimeter of inhabited land on Earth several times over. Somewhat ironically, the concept of "mutually assured destruction" (MAD), whereby the full-scale use of nuclear weapons by two or more opposing sides would cause the complete annihilation of both the attacker and the defender, was and is a guarantor of peace. A record 28 French restaurants get Michelin three-star ratings
Twenty-eight French restaurants have been honored with the gastronomic sectorʼs most coveted rating. Thatʼs a record number of threestar ratings for any single country in the Michelin Red Guide. A comeback by La Maison des Bois mastermind Marc Veyrat (pictured) and the emergence of Christophe Bacquieʼs Hotel du Castellet as another culinary force in southern France have given the country a record for most restaurants to hold a vaunted foodie guideʼs coveted three-star maximum. Set for official release on Friday, Michelin France has become the most prestigious of the publicationʼs 31 national editions and the domestic culinary bible. Michelin has faced criticism that its stars reward pomp and presentation rather than the food itself and for the guideʼs putting restaurateurs under unbearable scrutiny. The guide has made many a chefʼs name; others say it has nearly broken their wills. Veyrat — a 67-yearold who quit cooking after a skiing accident nine years ago and faced hardship again when La Maison burned down in 2015 — told The Associated Press that he does not mind the stress. 2
Deadly ʼBeast from the Eastʼ winter blizzard batters Europe The death toll from freezing temperatures across Europe has risen to at least 48
Extreme weather warnings have been issued across Europe as the full force of gales and blizzard conditions from Siberia loom. Extreme weather warnings were issued in parts of Europe as more blizzards hit on Thursday. Since last Friday, when the freezing weather began, 21 people have died in Poland, six in the Czech Republic, five in Lithuania, four each in France and Slovakia, two each in Italy, Serbia and Romania and one each in Slovenia and the Netherlands. Even countries used to dealing with extreme weather such as Denmark and Sweden have recorded the worst conditions of the winter. Record snowfall of 182 cm (72 inches) hit the northern Croatian town of Delnice. A
Finding ancient cities and improving weather forecasts with LiDAR Researchers discovered an old Mayan city with the help of lightwave technology. Christoph Kiemle from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) explains how the method works and how it could be used in self-driving cars. LiDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging. Itʼs similar to radar, or radiowave detection and ranging, but it works with optical radiation rather than radio waves. It works with light, basically. You can use lasers to send out this light to discover properties of the atmosphere or the Earth surface. We typically send a laser beam down to Earth from an airborne platform. That beam travels through the at-
jump in temperatures over the Arctichas weakened the jet stream that usually carries warm air in from the Atlantic. As a result, a strong blast of cold air from Siberia has brought the snow and blizzards in from the east. Called the "Beast from the East" in the UK, the "Siberian Bear" in Holland, "Snow Cannon" in Sweden and "Moscow-Paris" in France, it has brought freezing temperatures and snow from Romaniaʼs Black Sea ports to Spainʼs Catalonia and Franceʼs Corsica and Biarritz. Italyʼs Naples has seen the most snow since 1956. mosphere and can measure particle matter, aerosol in the atmosphere for example. It can detect clouds, it could travel down to the surface when there are no clouds, and it gives us profiles of atmospheric properties. We can detect and derive a lot of information from these measurements that help advance science.
Maldives declares state of emergency, former president arrested The president of the Maldives has ordered his predecessor arrested and called a state of emergency. Soldiers charged into the Supreme Court and arrested two judges after they ordered imprisoned politicians released. Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen called a state of emergency on Monday and ordered soldiers to arrest
Indonesia debates bill criminalizing gay sex and any sex outside of marriage Indonesiaʼs parliament speaker has called for reforms to the criminal code that would outlaw any sex outside of marriage, including gay sex. Critics say the bill would also weaken checks and balances on democracy. Indonesian lawmakers began debating controversial changes to the countryʼs criminal code on Tuesday, which critics warn would violate human rights and undermine the countryʼs democracy. Indonesiaʼs parliament speaker Bambang Soesatyo opened proceedings by urging lawmakers to consider the legislation that would curb "homosexual excesses." Writing in the Indonesian daily Koran Sindo, Soesatyo also said Tuesday that gay lifestyles in the country had spawned "horrifying" excesses, such as murder, HIV/AIDS and pedophilia. "If these people actively promote their lifestyles, it will be very worrying," he said. "We urge the state to take firm action." While homosexuality is not illegal in the worldʼs largest Muslim majority country, it has long been viewed as a bugbear to both Indonesiaʼs Islamic and secular political parties.
his 80-year-old predecessor, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, his estranged half brother, who supported the main political opposition. Yameen is in an escalating legal battle with the South Asian island nationʼs Supreme Court after judges ordered the release of all imprisoned opposition leaders in a surprise ruling last week. He ordered Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and another of the Supreme Courtʼs four judges arrested early Tuesday. Yameen called a 15-day state of emergency, deepening a political crisis.The emergency decree grants wide powers for the security forces and police to make arrests, search and seize property and restricts freedom of assembly, officials said.Soldiers forced their way into the Supreme Court building and arrested two of the tribunalʼs four justices.Police used pepper spray to disperse hundreds of protesters who had gathered outside the court.Former President Gayoom was charged with bribery and attempting to overthrow the government, according to his lawyer.
52/2018 • 03, March 2018 Weekend issue
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Argentina navy loses contact with submarine with 44 crew on board No one has heard from an Argentinian submarine for at least two days. While authorities initially insisted it wasnʼt missing, Argentinaʼs navy has stepped up its search efforts. Argentinaʼs navy lost contact with one of its submarines and its 44 crew members, it announced on Friday. Although the German-built ARA San Juan has been out of contact for two days, the navy initially did not consider it lost. "Itʼs not that itʼs lost, because to be lost, you have to look for it and not find it," the navy told a local broadcaster. However, after an initial search operation in the submarineʼs last known position, around 430 kilometers (267miles) off the southeastern Valdez peninsula, bore no results, Argentina said it was stepping up its search efforts and calling on allies for help. "We have not been able to find, or have visual or radar communication with the submarine," navy spokesman Enrique Balbi told reporters at a news conference. "I donʼt want to dramatize the issue. Weʼre lacking communication and donʼt know what happened." The incident has formally been upgraded to a "search and rescue" operation, Balbi added.
Bonjour cinéphiles! Budapest’s Francophone Film Days return Bringing magnifique motion pictures to the Magyar metropolis for the 8th time in 2018, the annual Francophone Film Days return this week to present modern French movies in several Budapest cinemas between February 28th and March 7th. Organized by the Budapest French Institute (which also hosts some screenings), this celebration is beloved by local Francophiles of all nationalities, as many movies are shown with English and Hungarian subtitles. Below we suggest some highlights among the picturesque presentations brightening screens citywide during the upcoming days.
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52/2018 • 03, March 2018 Weekend issue
Franceʼs first panda cub, Yuan Meng, makes public debut Little Yuan Meng is the first panda cub to be born in a French zoo
Global warming: 2017 was secondwarmest, last three years are record hot Data from leading international weather agencies shows the recordbreaking trend toward a warmer planet is continuing. The findings uphold scientistsʼ understanding of human-caused climate change. The World Meteorological Organization has released ameta-analysis confirming that 2017 was the second-hottest year on record. The year2016 remains the warmest since records began, the United Nations agency said, with an average Earth surface temperature at 1.2 degrees
Celsius (2.2 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. Measuredglobal average temperatures in 2015and 2017 came in at 1.1 degrees Celsius warmer. The analysis consolidated millions of meteorological and marine observations from five international datasets: NASA, the NOAA, the Met Office, the Copernicus Climate Change Service, and the Japan Meteorological Agency. Data from these sources confirmed that the last three years — 2015, 2016 and 2017 — were the warmest ever recorded.
A playful baby panda has been the star attraction this weekend at Beauval Zoo, south of Paris. Five-month-old Yuan Meng — whose name means "making a dream come true" — has proved a huge hit at Beauval Zoo. The baby appeared along with his mother in a new enclosure. In keeping with his name, Yuan Mengʼs appearance meant some zoo visitors had their wishes fulfilled. "We got up at 3 in the morning," said Delphine, who had traveled from the Paris region. "My son absolutely wanted to see the cub. We felt we took part in a historic moment. It was very moving." Yuan Meng wasone of
twins when he was born in August, but his sibling died soon after birth. "It is very important," said another visitor, Patricia. "We absolutely wanted to be here, to discover this ball of fur. Itʼs a little ball of happiness, of peace." China has sent pandas to only about a dozen countries, using the animal as a mark of good relations. A female and male arrived in Beauval in 2012 after top-level negotiations between Paris and Beijing. Yuan Meng was born five years later through artificial insemination.
Extreme weather a factor in 2015 mass death of saiga antelopes
Trump ʼhealthyʼ with perfect cognitive score, says doctor
"Unusually" warm weather contributed to the sudden death of 200,000 saiga antelopes in 2015 — an event that had baffled scientists — according to a new study. It could happen again, putting the species at risk. Unusually high temperatures helped contribute to the dramatic sudden death of more than 200,000 "critically endangered" saiga antelopes in Central Asiaʼs remote steppe grassland in 2015, according to a new study. Over the course of three weeks in May 2015, a bacterial disease caused blood poisoning and wiped out more than 80 percent of the saiga population in Kazakhstanʼs Betpak-Dala region. In some herds, not a single animal survived. Researchers already believed the disease was caused by the pathogen Pasteurella multocida, but they were baffled by the die-off because the bacteria had likely been living harmlessly in the saigasʼ tonsils up to that point. This led researchers to wonder why the bacteria suddenly became deadly on such a vast scale among the nomadic animals with the distinctive pendulous nose. 4
The White House doctor says Donald Trump is in excellent health following his first physical as president. The exam took place days after a controversial book raised questions about Trumpʼs mental fitness for office. White House physician Ronny Jackson said Tuesday that Donald Trump had a very strong chance of remaining physically fit and healthy for the full term of his presidency. "In summary, the presidentʼs overall health is excellent," Jackson told reporters at a briefing in Washington.
Following UK, German politicians urge for measures to fight loneliness
German lawmakers have said more needs to be done to help those who suffer from loneliness and to remove the taboos around the issue. They also praised the UKʼs recent decision to appoint a "Minister for Loneliness."
Politicians in Germany are taking a harder look at loneliness and how it affects the countryʼs large — and growing — elderly population. For someone over the age of 60, loneliness "increases mortality as much as heavy smoking," Karl Lauterbach, a health expert and Social Democrat (SPD), told the German daily Bild newspaper on Friday."There has to be someone who is responsible for the topic of loneliness, preferably in the Health Ministry, who can coordinate the fight against loneliness," Lauterbach added. A discussion about loneliness in Germany was prompted by the United Kingdomʼs recent moveto name a "Minister for Loneliness." Marcus Weinberg, a politician with German Chancellor Angela Merkelʼs Christian Democrats (CDU), said people should be able to talk the issue freely without fearing that they would be seen as weak, reported Bild.
52/2018 • 03, March 2018 Weekend issue
The short, complicated life of a fig wasp Fruit Lover:
When Mother Nature conceived of the fig, she seems to have asked herself: ʼWhy go for the easy option?ʼ The plant relies on an extremely complex — and somewhat macabre — pollination process to bear fruit. When Mother Nature conceived of the fig, she seems to have asked herself: ʼWhy go for the easy option?ʼ The plant relies on an extremely complex — and somewhat macabre — pollination process to bear fruit. The life of a fig wasp is fixed to a strictly defined track. Its final destination is the center of a fruit. Letʼs start at the exact moment a female fig wasp climbs into a fig. She doesnʼt have to burrow; nature has left a small hole
for her. But short spines on her head ease her passage through the unripe fruit. Still, space is scant. On the way, the insect, which is just 2 to 3 millimeters in size, will lose her wings, and large segments of her antennae and legs. Thereby, her fate is sealed: the wasp will never re-emerge. She doesnʼt need to. Sheʼs carrying the pollen from the fig in which she was born in order to pollinate the fig in which she will die.
Russian accused of running spam network extradited to US Suspected Russian hacker Pyotr Levashov pleaded not guilty before a US judge after being extradited from Spain. Prosecutors claim he ran a massive computer network that sent out spam and installed malicious software. Spanish authorities have extradited to the US a Russian man suspected of carrying out cybercrimes using bulk spam emails and malicious software, US officials announced Friday. Pyotr Levashov, a 37-year-old from St. Petersburg, pleaded not guilty to the charges of wire and email fraud, hacking, identity theft and conspiracy after appearing before a federal judge in the US state of Connecticut. He re-
mains in detention. Levashov was arrested in Aprilwhile vacationing with his family in Barcelona. In October, Spainʼs National Court granted the US extradition request, rejecting a counter-extradition request from Russia. US prosecutors say Levashov ran the sprawling Kelihos botnet — a network involving up to 100,000 infected computers that sent spam emails, harvested usersʼ logins and installed malicious software that intercepted bank account passwords. According to the indictment, the network generated and distributed more than 2,500 spam emails a day and allegedly victimized thousands of people in the US.
German university hospital defends auto firmsʼ nitrogen dioxide test ethics No experiments on animals or humans can take place in Germany without a go from an authorized ethics committee. Dr. Thomas Kraus from Aachen University Hospital says this was the case in the most recent NO2 scandal. The European Research Group on Environment and Health in the Transport Sector (EUGT) "did not impinge in any way on the nitrogen dioxide (NO2) research it commissioned Aachen University Hospital to do," Professor Thomas Kraus from the hospital told the German press agency DPA on Monday. The EUGT is a now defunct organization that was funded by German carmakers Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW plus partsmaker Bosch, thus raising questions of possible conflicts of interest. In 2013, 25 healthy volunteers were exposed to NO2 pollution for three hours, Kraus said.
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Culture
Budapest’s Széchenyi Baths extend opening hours When the weather is so moody, it is so nice to plunge into a hot pool filled with mineral-rich thermal waters and soak away in the soothing atmosphere. While the outdoor pools at Budapest’s splendid Széchenyi Baths are always open until 10pm, from March 1st, the indoor thermal area will also stay open until the same time, welcoming those who would rather enjoy the sight of snow from inside, savouring spa delights after dark. Housed in a stunning NeoBaroque building, the Széchenyi is probably the most popular spa in Budapest, and certainly the largest of its kind in Europe. While the open-air plunging area is most popular, the Széchenyi altogether holds 11 pools within, each filled with mineral-rich healing waters, as well as steam cabins, saunas and showers. From March 1st, bathers can enjoy these convivial facilities until as late as 10pm, while the outdoor area stays open until the same time as usual. Three pools inside are only available to guests with a medical referral, but this still leaves enough room for tranquil relaxation for everyone.
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52/2018 • 03, March 2018 Weekend issue
Usain Bolt to play charity football match amid pro contract hint
After his retirement from the track, Usain Bolt is making strides towards a new career. The Jamaican sprint great will captain a star-studded side in charity football match and has hinted at a professional contract. Never one to shy away from the spotlight, Usain Bolt is set to make a return to the sporting world in a charity football match which has previously attracted such luminaries as Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane, Brazilian legend Ronaldinho, actor Will Ferrell and pop star Robbie Williams. The eight-time Olympic gold medallist announced on Twitter on Tuesday that he will be joining the Soccer Aid World XI - a motley crew put together to help raise funds for the United Nations Childrenʼs Fund, Unicef. Since retiring from athletics heʼs also flirted with playing cricket and been pictured at the US Grand Prix.
Neymar injury an opportunity for Julian Draxler at PSG
From rising star to Germany regular, Julian Draxlerʼs career has long been trending upward, but heʼs struggled for playing time since joining Paris Saint-Germain. Will Neymarʼs injury offer him a pre-World Cup boost? Six months ago, things were looking pretty good for Julian Draxler. After securing the move away from Wolfsburg that heʼd long been angling for, heʼd become a regular in Paris SaintGermainʼs version of the Galacticos, captained Germany to a Confederations Cup win and had the inside track toward a starting spot in Germanyʼs World Cup defense in Russia. 6
Athletics doping: IOC confident over Russia doping reform plans
Roger Federer, Serena Williams claim 2018 Laureus sports awards
International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach believes Russia will resolve its doping issues and field athletes at next yearʼs Rio Games. Russia was provisionally suspendedfrom world athletics after an independent World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) report alleged "state-sponsored doping". Bach met with his Russian Olympic Committee counterpart Alexander Zhukov to discuss the report. He said he was "confident" in the measures put forward by the ROC. Council members of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on Friday voted 22-1 in favour of Russia being banned. As it stands, Russian athletes may not enter international competitions, including the World Athletic Series and Rio Olympics, which begin on 5 August next year. Russia will also not be entitled to host the 2016 World Race Walking Cup in Cheboksary and the 2016 World Junior Championships in Kazan. "We are confident that the initiatives being proposed by the ROC, with the responsible international organisations - Wada and the IAAF - will ensure compliance as soon as possible in order to provide participation of the clean Russian athletes at the Olympic Games," said IOC president Bach.
The Mercedes F1 team also claimed a prize
Tennis dominated the 2018 Laureus World Sports Awards. Roger Federer won sportsman of the year and comeback of the year, while Serena Williams was named sportswoman of the year. Roger Federer was named the Laureus Sportsman of the Year for the fifth time at the Monaco award ceremony on Tuesday. The Swiss veteran was also honored as enjoying the comeback of the year, having become the oldest world number 1 in tennisʼ history, reclaiming the top spot in the menʼs game 14 years after he first occupied it. "This means the world to me, thank you so, so much," Federer said in his acceptance speech, also praising the Lau-
reus Sport for Good Foundation for helping to inspire his own philanthropic work. Serena Williams, meanwhile, was named Sportswoman of the Year, having claimed her 23rd Grand Slam singles title and surpassed German ace Steffi Graf just in time to give birth to her first child, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr, later in 2017. Williams has not been able to return to the court quite as quickly as she had hoped since giving birth.
Russia back in Olympic competition after IOC lifts suspension Just three days after the 2018 Winter Olympics ended, the IOC has confirmed that Russia has been welcomed back into the Olympic fold. This came after remaining tests from the Olympic Athletes from Russia tested negative. Despite two failed doping tests from its athletes
at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, the Russian Olympic Committee has had itʼs suspension lifted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Wednesday, after no further Russians tested positive for banned substances.