DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
German newspaper editor accuses churches of left-wing bias Ulf Poschardt, head of one of Germanyʼs leading newspapers, has sparked a social media row over supposed left-wing bias in church sermons during Christmas. Churches have denied the claim. The editor-inchief of Die Welt, one of Germanyʼs leading right-wing newspapers, triggered a social media meltdown on Christmas by complaining about supposed left-wing bias in Germanyʼs Christmas midnight masses. Ulf Poschardt wondered aloud on Twitter on Christmas Eve: "Who would voluntarily go to a midnight mass if at the end of the sermon he thinks he spent the evening with the Jusos or the Green youth?" — referring to the youth organizations of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Green party, who both represent the left wing of their centrist parties.
Germany: Rhine cruise ship hits bridge pylon causing injuries The "Swiss Crystal" passenger cruiser hit a motorway bridge pylon near Duisburg, injuring around 25 people. Another ship helped the passengers to safety. The accident happened late Tuesday on theRhine River near the north-west German city of Duisburg. There were 129 people on board the ship when the vessel hit a supporting pillar of the A42 motorway. Four people were taken to hospital with serious injuries while 20 others were slightly hurt. A police spokesperson told the Germanyʼs Deutsche Presse Agen‐ tur that none of the injuries appeared fatal. Another nearby ship helped to take the injured off the "Swiss Crystal." A number of fire department boats were also involved. The A42 is expected to remain closed on Wednesday as structural engineers carry out safety checks.
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Italy prepares for 2018 elections with dissolution of parliament In a move aimed at preparing for 2018 elections, the president is expected to dissolve the legislatu
After several failed governments since the last elections, Italians are hoping for stability and economic growth.
How a hard Brexit could hurt Germany: Reckoning with the worst that may befall Despite the endless media coverage and fevered political rhetoric, no one yet knows for sure what is ultimately going to happen with Brexit. But should Germany really be scared of a messy outcome? Brexit means Brexit. At least thatʼs what UK Prime Minister Theresa May has told us several times.The problem with that is, 18 months on from the referendum, no-one seems to know what that crucial ʼBrexitʼ bit itself means. Hard, soft or medium-boiled? Rare or well done? Or, to borrow another impenetrable phrase of Mayʼs — a ʼred, white and blue Brexitʼ? With a year of difficult negotiations past and another
one ahead, every outcome is still on the table, including what is surely the nightmare scenario for all parties — that in March 2019, the UK leaves the EU, the customs union and the single market without a deal, or with one that significantly changes the status quo. Were that to happen, what would it mean for Germany? Europeʼs largest economy has been inextricably bound to the continentʼs second largest one for decades. A sundering is inconceivable. Yet out of a clear blue sky, it has emerged as a troubling reality that German business leaders, economists, trade unionist and industry representatives must face.
Germany must allow third gender in registry of births, court rules An intersex person has won a court case to allow them to enter a third gender into the registry of births. The case was appealed to the Federal Constitutional Court after failing at lower levels. Germanyʼs Federal Constitutional Court on Wednesday called for a third gender option in the registry of births. Intersex people, who are neither male nor female, should be able to register their sexual identity as such, the Karlsruhe court ruled. The court found that the general right to the protection of personality in Germanyʼs Basic Law meant the register had to be altered to al-
low a third gender. The court ruled seven to one that lawmakers must create new legislation by the end of 2018 to allow for a third sex, providing the examples of "intersex," "diverse" or another "positive designation of sex." Another possibility raised was to scrap gender entries altogether. "Assignment to a gender is of paramount importance for individual identity; it typically plays a key role both in the self-image of a person and in the way in which the person concerned is perceived by others. The gender identity of those persons who are neither male nor female is protected,"the court ruled.
Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels begin landmark prisoner swap The swap comes after a recommitment to a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, where over 10,000 people have been killed. A US decision to provide Ukraine with weapons has seen Russia warn the US is encouraging "new bloodshed." Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels began a landmark prisoner swap on Wednesday, following therecommitment to a ceasefirein the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine last week. It is the first prisoner since September 2016, and comes days before the New Year and Orthodox Christmas holidays. Russian-backed eastern rebels released some 70 prisoners to Kyiv, while the Ukrainian side handed over about 250 rebels to the other side. During Russian President Vladimir Putinʼs annual news conference of December 14, he had called on Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to complete a prisoner exchange in war-ravaged eastern Ukraine by New Year’s Eve.
India still missing hundreds of fishermen after Cyclone Orkhi India is still missing 661 fishermen, almost a month after Cyclone Ockhi battered its southern waters, according to Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Most originated from coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and Kerala states. Sitharaman, replying in parliament Wednesday after allegations that authorities gave insufficient storm warnings, said 821 other people had been rescued by Indiaʼs navy, coastguard, and merchant vessels.
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