40/2018 • 2018. FEBRUÁR 17. WEEKEND ISSUE
DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Modiʼs diplomatic tour de force meets Iranʼs Rouhani Incredibly, Modi has been able to maintain good ties with all Middle Eastern rivals
Indian PM Narendra Modi recently concluded a tour of the Middle East and is now hosting Iranian President Rouhani in New Delhi.
Eritrean migrants shot in massive Calais brawl At least five people have been shot after a fight involving more than 100 Eritreans and Afghans erupted in Calais. The French interior minister blamed traffickers for "fueling daily violence and brawls." A massive, two-hour brawl involving more than 100 Eritrean and Afghan nationals in Calais on Thursday left five migrants in critical condition after being shot. Twenty-two people were injured. They had been standing in line waiting for food handouts.
Russia marks Stalingrad defeat of Nazis 75 years ago, the surrender of Nazi Germanyʼs Sixth Army marked the end of the Battle of Stalingrad. It was a major turning point in the war, which remains important for many Russians even today. During World War II, Nazi Germanyʼs Wehrmacht intended to conquer the industrial city of Stalingrad — named after then Soviet leader Joseph Stalin — before advancing onward to capture its intended goal: The Caucasus oil fields. Given the cityʼs name, both Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin afforded great symbolic meaning to the Battle of Stalingrad that transcended its strategic importance.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhaniarrived in India on Thursday for a threeday visit where he will seek to move ahead on multi-billion dollar energy and infrastructure deals with India, including the first phase of thekeystone Chabahar Port project. According an official Iranian press release, Rouhaniʼs first stop is Hyderabad, where he will meet with Muslim scholars and visit cultural and religious centers. On Saturday, he will arrive in New Delhi for an "official welcoming ceremony," which alongside talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will include meetings of businesspeople from the private sector of both countries. Reuters news agency reported the Iran is hoping to secure billions of dollars in Indian investment on petrochemical plants, railways, industrial development – along with building the Chabahar Port, located in southern Iran. There are concerns in Iran that the US will seek to resume international sanctions and scrap the 2016 nuclear deal, which puts pressure on investors and infrastructure developers who donʼt want their assets in Iranian interests jeopardized. India is also one of Iranʼs primary consumers of oil. During the EU-US led oil and financial embargo from 2012-16, Indian oil imports from Iran were reduced significantly, but not cut off completely. According to the New Delhi-based Institute for Defense Studies and Analysis (IDSA), Indian imports of Iranian crude oil dropped to five percent in 2014-15 from 13 percent between 2009-10. According to
Indiaʼs Economic Times, during 2016-17, after sanctions were lifted, India imported a record high halfmillion barrels of oil per day from Iran. Modi also visited Tehran in 2016 and agreed to invest $500 million (400 million euros) in Indiaʼs development of Iranʼs Chabahar Port. Rouhani and Modi are expected to sign an agreement after their meeting, which will begin the first phase of Indian-run port operations. Prime Minister Modiʼs meeting with Rouhani on Saturday is the latest in a month-long diplomatic tour de force. Just last week Modi visited Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Muscat and Ramallah. In January, Israelʼs Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited India for six days of pomp and pageantry. Modiʼs latest diplomatic engagements show how he can take advantage of Indiaʼs neutral stance in a fractured Middle Eastern geopolitical climate to ensure Indian business can get the best outcome from their investments. In a recent article published in the Indian newsweekly Open, South Asia analyst Michael Kugelman wrote that Modiʼs diplomacy goes beyond his penchant for pomp. "When he engages in international diplomacy, he means business. He gets things done, and makes deals - deals that help address key national interests in a big way," wrote Kugelman. At his stop in the United Arab Emirates, Modi secured a 10 percent stake in an Abu Dhabi offshore oil field. In Oman, Modi signed a defense pact allowing the Indian navy access to Duqm port for military use.
Terror attacks Af-Pak relations hit a new low
Eldest son of exCuban leader Fidel Castro, dies aged 68
Ties have been strained between Afghanistan and Pakistan in recent months, with spiraling mutual distrust and antipathy proving a hindrance toward repairing a relationship critical for long-lasting peace in the region. "Down with Pakistan," "Down with the Taliban," "Down with Daesh." These chants filled the air outside the Pakistani embassy in Kabul on Thursday when dozens of Afghans protested against Islamabad, blaming it for the latest wave of violent attacks rocking the already war-ravaged nation.
The son of the leader of the Cuban revolution was widely known as "Fidelito" ("Little Fidel"). He had reportedly been suffering for months from depression before his apparent suicide. The eldest son of late Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart, killed himself on Thursday aged 68, Cuban media have reported. "Castro Diaz-Balart, who had been attended by a group of doctors for several months due to a state of profound depression, committed suicide this morning," Cuba debate website said.
40/2018 • 2018. február 17. Weekend issue
US Nuclear Posture Review: A bigger bang for the buck?
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. "We need the pressure and adrenaline because we are creatives," he said late Monday. 2
Brexit holds ʼmore hope than fearʼ Boris Johnson:
UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has said he wants to reach out to Remain voters who still have concerns about Brexit. Johnson said a second Brexit vote would result in another year of "wrangling and turmoil."
Indonesia debates bill criminalizing gay sex and any sex outside of marriage 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 , 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. Gay marriage is not permitted. The countryʼs LGBT community has also faced an increasing amount of prosecutionin the past two years, with multiple reports of police raids on gay-friendly establishments. Scores of gay people have also been detained on suspicion of prostitution and pornographic acts.
40/2018 • 2018. február 17. Weekend issue
Maximal femininity and chicness in a young sexy brand called NANA’S NANA’S was found in 2015 February, by the young designer and fashion blogger Nati Drencheva (23). The main idea of NANA’S is to be an affordable, chic and unique designer brand, which represents value behind it. "Wearability is a must for us. We create pieces which can be easily wore by day or at night" - says the young designer lady.
Nati was originally born in Kazanlak, Bulgaria, but living in Budapest. Nati started her career as a fashion blogger ate age of 18. Her website, WWW.NANASFASHION.COM now has more than140.000 monthly visitors. After 2 years of blogging she decided to turn her creativity into something she always wanted to do as a child and founded her womenswear designer fashion brand – NANA’S. “My little brother used to call me NANA when he was little, this is where the name comes from" - tell Nati.
She graduated as a fashion manager in 2016 at Mod’Art, worked as a
stylist (2012-14) and a fashion editor (2014), but had no experience at the designing process. “I learned every
single step by creating the brand from zero and I think this is the best way to learn.” Due to the big audience of
the blog, the brand quickly became popular on the Hungarian market. “First we had a mini collection including not more then 15 types of clothes, and a mini store, now the palette has grown and besides our flagship store in the city center of Budapest, we have resellers in Hungary and abroad as well. “ The
brand also represents values such as
creating a community and movement, called “Lotusbynanas” which is made to help underprivileged and sick children through many platforms. “Being successful is one thing.
What’s more important is to be able to change things in your environment in a good way. Charity has always been a close thing to me. I would like to open people’s eyes with the power we have through our costumers and my readers that fashion industry is not only about superficial things.” Webshop and
more information: nanas.com
http://shop-
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.
35th Hungarian Press Photo Exhibition at Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Center The previous year’s best Hungarian press photos were chosen for the thirty-fifth time - a celebration of photo reporters and photography across the country. Capa Center exhibits camera-captured fates, relationships and humanity for two months.
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40/2018 • 2018. február 17. 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.
40/2018 • 2018. február 17. Weekend issue
Evolution to the rescue for white-coated critters caught out by climate change Easy target
Animals that grow a white coat in winter are at risk from predators as summers lengthen and snow cover retreats. But they could evolve faster than you might expect, according to a new study. Our planetʼs northerly climes undergo extreme seasonal change — from round-the-clock darkness to midnight sun, barren icescapes to verdant meadows and lush forest. Animals must take extreme measures to survive. Some head south once summerʼs abundance is past. Some hibernate. And some make it through the winter with a costume change. Swapping dull brown fur for a luxurious white winter coat means animals can stay camouflaged all year, helping them avoid predators or keep hidden as they stalk their prey. Butas the climate
changes, theyʼre being caught in inappropriate attire for the season. Longer summers and reduced snow cover mean bright white fur or feathers can stand out like a beacon against an unseasonably snow-free habitat. A team of scientists led by L. Scott Mills, professor of wildlife biology at the University of Montana, studied the impact of this mismatch on the snowshoe hare and found the animalʼs population numbers were already falling. "What was certain from our research is being white on a brown background kills," Mills told.
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. "None of them had any negative health effects," he went on, adding that the tests were meant to measure the impact of pollutants in the workplace.
Classic Hungarian Sunday Lunch Anker Klub
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.
Have classic family dinners at Anker Club every Sunday through February with chicken soup, fried meat with mashed potatoes, and a classic dessert.
Culture
Finnish Film Days 2018
Within the framework of the Finnish Film Days, a selection of prominent Finnish productions screen through five days – between February 7th and 11th – at Budapest’s alluring arthouse cinema, the Művész. The festival presents some of the major talents of the Nordic country’s film industry, and besides the scheduled screenings, workshops, music events and discussions on scriptwriting and on female roles in the contemporary film industry also feature in the festival. The opening film, Euthanizer, has won various prizes around the world, while Tom of Finland was the country’s official submission for the Academy Awards last year. All of the films screen with original Finnish audio and English and Hungarian subtitles, unless indicated otherwise. Within the framework of the Finnish Film Days, a selection of prominent Finnish productions screen through five days – between February 7th and 11th – at Budapest’s alluring arthouse cinema, the Művész. The festival presents some of the major talents of the Nordic country’s film industry, and besides the scheduled screenings, workshops, music events and discussions on scriptwriting and on female roles in the contemporary film industry also feature in the festival.
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40/2018 • 2018. február 17. Weekend issue
IOC concerned over possible design flaws of doping test bottles
The International Olympic Committee says it is concerned about potential flaws in doping sample bottles. The organization wants assurances that the bottles cannot be tampered with ahead of the Winter Olympics. After potential issues with the security of the bottles were aired, the IOC has asked the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to ensure that antidoping tests at the forthcoming Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang "can be conducted credibly and reliably," an International Olympic Committee (IOC) spokesperson said Tuesday.
Formula One to stop using grid girls amid #MeToo movement
Grid girls have long been a staple of Formula One but the sportʼs new owners have decided to end the practice, days after darts did the same with its walk-on girls. The concept has often been labeled as sexist. Formula One will no longer use walk-on grid girls before races this season, after deciding the practice is old-fashioned amid the current debate oversexual harassment. "Over the last year we have looked at a number of areas which we felt needed updating so as to be more in tune with our vision for this great sport," Sean Bratches, Managing Director of Commercial Operations at Formula One, said in a statement. 6
Athletics doping: IOC confident over Russia doping reform plans 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.
Lindsey Vonn completes Garmisch hattrick with 80th World Cup win Vonnʼs time was just good enough to claim victory by two thousandths of a second
With the winter Olympics just days away, US ski sensation Lindsey Vonn claimed the 80th World Cup win of her career on Saturday as she won the downhill at Garmisch-Partenkirchen for the third straight year. Vonn clocked a time of 1 min 12.84sec, just 0.02 secs faster than overall World Cup downhill leader Sofia Goggia, while Austriaʼs Cornelia Hütter finished third. "Itʼs a big number," said Vonn of her 80th victory. "I remember when I got my 50th win here, I never thought I would get close to Annemarie Moser-Proellʼs record [of 62 wins]. Now I am getting closer to Sten-
markʼs. Itʼs incredible. I am so thankful that I have gotten myself in a position to get these wins coming into the Olympics." The 33-year-old is now just six World Cup wins short of matching Ingemar Stenmarkʼs all-time alpine record and will race again in Sundayʼs downhill race, the final tune-up before the Olympics open in Pyeongchang on Thursday.
IOC rejects request to invite 15 cleared Russians to Pyeongchang The IOC has rejected a request to invite 15 Russians, who have had their doping bans overturned, to compete at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. The Kremlin has expressed regret at the decision. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Monday rejected a request to invite the 15 Russians to the Pyeongchang Winter Games just days after theCourt of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) had overturned their lifetime doping bans. A statement posted on the IOCʼs website said that the decision came after a special panel had "unanimously recommended that theIOCnot
extend an invitation to the Olympic Winter Games Pyeongchang 2018 to the 15 individuals." "The OAR IG (Olympic Athlete from Russia Implementation Group) confirmed that no additional invitations will be extended to these 15 individuals," it added. The 13 active and two retired athletes were among 28 Russians whose bans were overturned by the Swiss-based CAS on Thursday. The IOC bans on 11 other Russian athletes was upheld. The two retired athletes, who had their requests denied, would have worked as coaches for the "Olympic Athlete from Russia" team at the Pyongchang Games.