DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Berlin police chief forced out after years of scandal Since Klaus Kandt took the job in 2012, there have been accusations of negligence and cover-ups. Kandt maintains that there were only minor mishaps and that the Berlin police are role models around the world. Berlin Chief of Police Klaus Kandt and his deputy were forced to step down on Monday following months of hefty criticism. Kandt and his office have repeatedly come under fire for scandals ranging fromabuses at the police academyto mishandling the investigation into the 2016 attack on a Christmas market in the city. The 57-yearold chief had been in the post since 2012. According to a statement from Berlinʼs Interior Senator Andreas Geisel, Kandt lacked the requisite trust from the government to continue leading the Berlin police departmentʼs 22,000 personnel.
Rome sees first snowfall in years A rare snowfall has paralyzed Italyʼs capital, forcing authorities to shut schools and send in the army to help clear the streets. The Colosseum, the Roman Forum and other major tourist sites were closed to visitors. Residents of Rome awoke on Monday to find the city transformed into a winter wonderland after its heaviest snowfall in six years. The Italian capital usually experiences mild winters thanks to its Mediterranean climate. But an Arctic storm passing over much of Europe dumped enough snow to shut down schools and severely disrupt public transport. Italyʼs civil protection agency announced it had decided to dispatch the army to clear snow-clogged streets, adding that volunteers would be sent to help commuters stranded at train stations. One runway was open at Romeʼs main Fiumicino Airport, while its second hub at Ciampino was closed overnight due to the snow. Ryanair said it had canceled all flights to and from the airport.
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Eurozone economy still requires stimulus: ECBʼs Mario Draghi The bank is gradually reducing its bond purchase program but it may continue past September
European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi says the eurozone still needs significant monetary stimulus to help boost inflation.
German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer pays ʼflyingʼ visit to Mobile World Congress Deutsche Telekom has ʼflownʼ in a special guest to showcase its broadband capabilities at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The German telecom giant focused on its activities to advance 5G mobile networking. Deutsche Telekomʼs Head of Innovation Claudia Nemat was just wrapping up her description of the European Aviation Network, a project that allows passengers to use broadband thousands of meters up in the air, when she casually invited CEO Timotheus Höttges up on stage, claiming she had a surprise for him. Next thing,legendary German goalkeeper
Manuel Neuerappeared on the screen behind them. He was sitting in a plane, live-streaming the Deutsche Telekom press conference. "Howʼs it going?" Höttges asked breezily. Neuer grinned and pointed his smartphone out the window at the clouds. The gimmick concluded a press event that was dedicated to showcasing Deutsche Telekomʼs advances in 5G, its new voice assistant Magenta (meant, Nemat stressed, as an alternative, not as a replacement to counterparts like Alexa) and a pair of smart glasses that could one day display a checklist for doctors to consult before performing surgery.
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.
Bollywood superstar Sridevi Kapoor ʼdrowned in bathtubʼ Police in Dubai say Indian film star Sridevi Kapoor drowned in her hotel apartmentʼs bathtub after losing consciousness. Earlier reports had cited a cardiac arrest as the 54-year-oldʼs cause of death. Legendary Bollywood actress Sridevi Kapoor, whodied in Dubai at the weekend, drowned in the bath after passing out, local police said Monday. Two officials who wished to remain anonymous said she appeared to have been under the influence of alcohol. Authorities said they had carried out a post-mortem on the 54-year-old and referred the case to the public prosecutor. Initial media reports quoting her brother-in-law listed cardiac arrest as the cause of death. Sridevi, who is often known by just one name, was in Dubai to attend a family wedding. Her body was due to be flown to Mumbai later Monday ahead of a cremation on Tuesday.
Investigative journalist Jan Kuciak killed in Slovakia Slovak reporter Jan Kuciak and his partner have been shot dead in an attack "likely" tied to his reporting, officials say. Kuciak went to the police last year after receiving threats, but the case was reportedly ignored. Investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his girlfriend were shot to death in their home east of theSlovak capital, Bratislava, authorities said on Monday. "The evidence indicates that the murder was planned and did not result from a spontaneous confrontation," police president Tibor Gaspar said.
weather today BUDAPEST
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