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16/2019 • 19 JANUARY, 2019 WEEKEND ISSUE

DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Trans-Atlantic rebuke for Trump downgrade of EU ambassador One expert has said lawmakersʼ responses show the trans-Atlantic network still operates

There was no about-face in the US government after DW broke news that the EU ambassadorʼs status had been downgraded. But one expert has said lawmakersʼ responses show the trans-Atlantic network still operates — a bit.

Germany, China promise closer trade ties China and Germany vowed closed financial cooperation on Friday, affirming initiatives to open their respective markets further to each otherʼs banks and insurers. Berlin stopped short of choosing a side inthe US-China trade war,however. The agreements were signed by delegations led by German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz and Vice Premier Liu He, Beijingʼs chief economist. Liu said he welcomed "more qualified German banks to participate in the opening and innovation of Chinaʼs financial market."

Former Macron bodyguard in French custody French PresidentEmanuel Macronʼs former bodyguardand security adviser Alexandre Benalla was taken into custody by officials on Thursday for hismisuse of diplomatic passports.

The Paris Prosecutorʼs Office said that Benalla had used diplomatic passports to facilitate his consultancy work in Africa. Additionally, prosecutors are investigating possible forgeries and the unlawful acquisition of administrative documents.

The Trump administrationʼs recent downgrading ofthe EU ambassadorʼs statuswithout prior notice, first reported by Deutsche Welle, has led toparliamentary actionon both sides of the Atlantic. In a strongly worded letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, 27 congressional Democrats denounced the diplomatic downgrade. "Disturbingly, this step, which appears to have taken place late last year, occurred without congressional consultation or apparent notification to the European Union," the lawmakers wrote in a letter published this week.

Led by the new chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Representative Eliot Engel, the group slammed the unannounced demotion. "Both the substance of this decision and the undiplomatic way in which it was carried out needlessly denigrate trans-Atlantic relations."

In the four-page letter, US lawmakers demand answers by January 30 to four specific questions about the downgrade, among them why the decision was made, why Congress was not informed, and how it was reviewed and approved within the Trump administration.

"We ought to support and strengthen our allies, not turn them into foes," the letter concludes. "Insulting them

for no apparent reason does not typically encourage them to take a warmer view of the United States."

The missive echoes the sentiment expressed in a letter by members of the European Parliament.

Addressed to members of the US Congress and published one day after the downgrade became public, the letter by the European Parliamentʼs 58-member Delegation for Relations With the United States slammed the White Houseʼs "increasingly harmful approach" to trans-Atlantic relations and urged Congress to help "strengthen and not undermine each other." The MEPs criticized the demotion of the EUʼs ambassador to the United States, David OʼSullivan, saying neither the ambassador nor the blocʼs foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, had been "formally notified of this change" in advance.

"This is no way to treat partners," they wrote. The groupʼs vice chairperson, Dutch Liberal Marietje Schaake, told DW: "I hope that members of the new Congress will take the time to reflect on the impact of the Trump administrationʼs confrontations with Europe, the changing role of the United States in the world, and that they will feel empowered to do something about it."

Australia arrests suspect for murder of Israeli girl

Cambodia demands Amazon end Angkor Wat toilet seat covers

A suspect has been arrested over the death of an Israeli woman, Australian police said on Friday, as mourners prepared to hold a vigil for the murdered Aiia Maasarwe in Melbourne.

Police said the suspect was male and 20 years old, but did not release any details. The body of the 21-year-old Maasarwe was found by passers-by near La Trobe University early on Wednesday. According to investigators, Maasarwe had attended a comedy show on the previous evening and then took a tram towards the campus.

Cambodiaʼs ambassador in the US wrote to the head of Amazon saying the embassy had learned with "shock and dismay" that images of the Angkor Temples had been used on "ignominious products, among them toilet seat cover, bath area rug, contour mat, toilet seat lid, shower curtains, kitchen carpet" being sold on the site. Moreover, Ambassador Chum Sounry decried the "outrageous way to use the Flag of the Kingdom of Cambodia as design of bathroom mat set."

16/2019 • 19 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.

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Four Audi managers charged in the US over emissions scandal Dieselgate:

Four German managers at carmaker Audi were the latest to be charged in the United States as part of a diesel emissions cheating scandal. The company has already paid an €800 million fine as part of a case in Germany.

A US grand jury in Detroit has indicted four Audi engineering managers from Germany on counts of conspiracy, wire fraud and violations of the Clean Air Act. The indictment accuses the four men of taking part in a nearly decade-long conspiracy to deceive the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by cheating on emissions tests for 3-liter diesel engines. Audi tests showed emissions were up to 22 times higher than the allowed US limit, the indictment added. Read more: Why veering Ger-

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

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.

mans away from cars is tough The indictment said the employees realized there was not enough room in the vehicles to meet VW design standards for a large trunk and high-end sound system while still holding a big tank for fluid to treat diesel emissions, which led the four to design software to cheat on the emissions tests so they could get by with a smaller tank.

None of the men are in custody, and they are believed to be in Germany, a US Justice Department spokesman said. 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]."

16/2019 • 19 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!

Chinese Spring Celebrations to take place in Budapest On 25-27 January, the Millenáris Park cultural centre is hosting an early spring celebration, dedicated to China and promoting its diplomatic relations with Hungary. Featuring a dragon dance, a Beijing opera piece and authentic street food, this free weekend event allows visitors to delve deeper into Chinese culture and cuisine. Organised by the HungarianChinese Association for Arts and Culture, the festival brings a slice of the Far East to Budapest, including an exhibition of calligraphy, tea tasting and a presentation of traditional Chinese medicine. The agenda of this three-day event also features a kung fu show, a display of traditional Chinese apparels and tourism-related offers. In addition, guests can sample authentic Asian dishes, provided by wholesale hub Chinatown Budapest that also hosts the popular Street Food Night Market every summer. The event as a whole ties in with Chinese New Year, this year celebrated on 5 February.

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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16/2019 • 19 January, 2019 Weekend issue

What you can see in space in 2019 India aims for the moon, too

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.

This year, space fans will be treated to two lunar mission, the Apollo 11 anniversary, some lunar and solar eclipses, and brand-new spacecrafts heading for the ISS. 2019 will be the year of the moon. It started with Chinas Changʼe 4 mission that landed on January 3 on the far side of the moon. No spacecraft had ever touched down on the famous "dark side," which isnʼt actually dark but which is always out of sight from Earth. The Changʼe 4 lander and its rover will study the landing site, measure the composition of the rocks and transmit pictures to ground control. An instrument built by physicists at the Christian Albrechts University in Kiel

will look for traces of water in the lunar soil. In April, India will continue this yearʼs "Moon Festival." Thatʼs when Chandrayaan-2, the countryʼs second lunar mission, is set to launch. It consists of an orbiter, a lander and a rover.

The flight team wants the lander to touch down on the near side of the moon at high southern latitudes, close to the south pole region. India will gather experience in deep space activities, and the scientists want to study the composition of the moon.

One night in February brings a dozen choirs together in Budapest

Chinese New Year Street Food Festival 2019 at Millenáris Park

Midwinter can be bleak but never dull in Budapest. On 9 February, popular events series The Night of Choirs brings together a dozen groups to sing in several rooms of the MagNet Community House on showcase boulevard Andrássy út. Performances start at 6pm. Next month, 200 singers perform 35 shows after sundown for the winter edition of the popularNight of Choirsfestival. Hosted at theMagNet community hubfor cultural attractions, the event features performances in diverse genres from folk to jazz. Concerts start early evening and community singing will bring the day to a close at 10pm.

Tickets at 1,600 forints are available on the event’s website. Set between the Bajza utca and Kodály körönd stations on the M1 Millennium Underground, MagNet House is a centre for diverse community activities. The building is also home to MagNet Bank, a financial institution focused on ethical commerce.

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#ToxicTwitter: Do we need a new culture of debate?

n 25-27 January, the Millenáris Park cultural centre is hosting an early spring celebration, dedicated to China and promoting its diplomatic relations with Hungary. Organised by the HungarianChinese Association for Arts and Culture, the festival brings a slice of the Far East to Budapest, including an exhibition of calligraphy, tea tasting and a presentation of traditional Chinese medicine. The culinary selection includes the authentic dishes of six Chinese restaurants. Featuring a dragon dance, a Beijing opera piece and authentic street food, this free weekend event allows visitors to delve deeper into Chinese culture and cuisine.

Hate speech, abuse, belittlement: DW contributor Courtney Tenz looks at how #ToxicTwitter is shifting our culture of debate — and wonders why, if we canʼt say something nice, we are saying anything at all.

The first time I deleted Twitter was in January 2016 — and no, it wasnʼt because Iʼd made a New Yearʼs resolution to spend less time online. As a freelance journalist who has often written on womenʼs issues, I had read a short article in the local newspaper noting thatwomen had been attacked at the Cologne train station on New Yearʼs Eve. I translated the German headline into English for my followers and included #cologne; the tweet got less than a dozen likes before it slid down my timeline. Three days later, the harassment started. Men, most of whom had set their location in the UK, many of whom had anonymous profiles, had followed the hashtag and begun tweeting xenophobic, misogynistic comments at me. Instead of having to endure their rhetorical threats, I deleted the tweet. When they didnʼt stop, I deactivated my account.

16/2019 • 19 January, 2019 Weekend issue

Few more days to go!

78th Vienna Philharmonic Ball Visit Vienna at Ball season! Only 2,5 hours with train/bus/car from Budapest!

Date: Thu, 24. January 22:00 Location: Vienna, Austria Musikverein, Golden Hall . Please find out more information under: https://www.wienerphilharmoniker.at/ball Ticket sales begin on January 14, 2019, at the Vienna Philharmonic Ticket Office, Kärntner Ring 12, 1010 Vienna, Mon. - Fri., 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM. Before this date, tickets can only be purchased in conjunction with a table reservation. Some tickets will also be available online beginning on Jan-

uary 14, 2019. Program : Johann Strauss Jr. Ouvertüre zur Operette "Der Zigeunerbaron (The Gypsy Baron)" , Richard Strauss Wiener Philharmoniker Fanfare, o.op. 109 , Gottfried Freiberg Ausseer Fanfare. CONDUCTOR Zubin Mehta ORCHESTRAWiener Philharmoniker

Grassroots set to drive 2019 climate action as climate change deniers take center stage As negative superlatives and doomsday predictions have become the uncomfortable norm of our daily environmental digest, weʼve grown increasingly used to hearing about the havoc and devastation caused by heat waves, storms, fires and flooding. But even all that groundwork hadnʼt prepared the world for theUNʼs Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2018 global warming report. Its October release was a bombshell moment. Read

more: Opinion: 1.5 degrees — do we

want climate catastrophe or not? "Limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius would require ʼrapid and far-reachingʼ transitions in land, energy, industry, buildings, transport and cities," the report read. In other words, if weʼre to hit that target, global net human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) will have to fall by some 45 percent of 2010 levels by 2030, and reach "net zero" 20 years after that.

In Delhi, nature is pitted against development In their spare time, Latika Thukral and Vasundhra Aggarwal like to stroll along the undulating footpath that takes them through the lush green thicket of their local park. It sounds like a rather unremarkable pastime, but just a few years ago this was a disused stone quarry, stripped bare of flora, and surrounded on all sides by urban sprawl. In 2010, at least 35,000 people and over 70 companieshelped transformthe 380-acre (154-hectare) plot into what is a rare urban green space in Gurgaon, one ofDelhiʼsmajor satellite cities. They removed trash and planted trees and the municipality helped by creating footpaths across the grounds. Now the former wasteland provides habitat for at least 180 bird species and animals like deer, civet cats and jackals. The ecosystem also absorbs and filters over 320 million liters (84.54 million gallons) of water every year.

Brand new place on the Buda side!

Spatula Cafe · Crêperie · Breakfast & Brunch Restaurant

Address: 1111 Budapest Bartok Béla út 8 (only 100 metres from Hotel Gellért) Brand new place - just opened end of November! With amazing coffee, breakfast, soups, sandwiches, tortillas, pancake, cookies, etc. even lunch menu! Lactose and gluten free options!

Come and see us for a coffee or more before or after your Gellért Bath visit! :)

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Culture

Renovated Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest to Open on 31 October AFTER MORE THAN THREE YEARS OF RENOVATION, THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS BUDAPEST WILL OPEN ON 31 OCT NOW OPEN TO PUBLIC 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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16/2019 • 19 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."

Kerber makes swift work of Birrell Australian Open:

Angelique Kerber celebrated her birthday in style by crushing Kimberly Birrell 6-1 6-0 in the Australian Open third round. With Birrell out, Melbourne needs a new home favorite and Stefanos Tsitsipas fits the bill.

Germanyʼs in-form Angelique Kerberwas in a rush to make the Australian Open fourth round, dismantling Kimberly Birrell in just 58 minutes, leaving her time for a little celebration on her 31st birthday.

Any fears that Australian Birrell born in Germany - would whip up the home crowd into a frenzy

were quickly allayed by Kerberʼs superior ground game. She hit 17 winners to Birrellʼs 10 but the second seed really profited from her opponentʼs wayward play. The Australian wildcard made 30 unforced errors, quite a feat in only 13 games. Kerber next faces unseeded American Danielle Collins.

Bundesliga: Bayern Munich with early chance to turn up heat on Dortmund 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.

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The Bundesliga returns from its winter break on Friday night, with the champions looking to heap pressure on the contenders.

The season-opener between Bayern Munich and Hoffenheim bore all the hallmarks of the side that had won six straight titles: periods of utter dominance, a critical decision going their way, a goal from Robert Lewandowski and an important strike in the dying stages. But that 3-1 win also saw Kingsley Coman limp off early, Bayernʼs defense creak under Hoffenheimʼs pressure

and the pace of Julian Nagelsmannʼs side unsettle the Bavarians. After Niko Kovacwon his first seven games, these looked to be minor flaws rather than serious cracks in the foundations. But a dreadful spell between late September and early December sees Bayern six points behind Borussia Dortmund entering the Rückrunde (second half of the season) with those cracks still only papered over while the foundations are relaid. But Kovac saw enough towards the end of last year to encourage him.