96/2019 • 27 APRIL, 2019 WEEKEND ISSUE
DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Franceʼs Emmanuel Macron faces bumpy road to reform The French president has bowed to yellow vest protesters with tax cuts and administrative reform
Heʼs hoping for a new start — but his fight for the hearts and minds of the people is far from over, writes Barbara Wesel.
One in ten EU voters support farright populist parties When Europeans head to the polls next month to elect a new parliament, most will vote based on who they oppose rather than who they support, according to a new study. Extremist, populist parties stand to benefit. Around 10% of voters plan to use their vote in the European Parliament electionsto back far-right or right-wing populist parties, according to astudypublished by the Bertelsmann Foundation on Friday. Most other EU citizens will use their ballots to thwart parties they oppose rather than support a particular group.
Sri Lanka says militant leader killed in Easter bombings Security forces in Sri Lanka are looking for around 140 people believed to have links with the "Islamic State" (IS) militia over the Easter attacks, President Maithripala Sirisena said on Friday. In the days following the church and hotel blasts, the government saidlocal militants from the National Thowfeek Jamaath (NTJ) were behind the bombings, likely with help from abroad. Later, a video surfaced with the NTJ leader pledging his allegiance to IS. The attacks launched a nationwide manhunt for Hashim. On Friday, President Sirisena said the NTJ leader died in one of the six deadly blast while taking part in the attack on the luxury Shangri-la hotel in the capital, Colombo.
At long last Jupiter descended from the mountain and gave a press conference in the Elysee Palace. For the first time in his presidency, Emmanuel Macron faced up to journalistsʼ questions. He simply sat behind a desk and explained what road France now has to take after months of "yellow vest" protests. By doing so, he gave up his ludicrous idea of being untouchable and admitted that a head of state actually has to talk to the citizens. In what was calledthe "great debate," Macron started touring Franceat the beginning of the year in order to talk to thousands of French citizens, their representatives and mayors. In Thursdayʼs conference he conceded that heʼs learned a lot about his country — for example, that there is a comprehensive feeling of financial and social injustice. In order to combat this, heʼs now offering a bundle of measures: significant tax relief for middle-income groups; an increase in the minimum pension, as well as the reinstatement of inflationary adjustment for retirement incomes; improved recognition of the care services that women provide; and subsidies for single mothers. Those presents are exactly the ones that heads of government usually promise their citizens in the course of an election campaign. Macron is delivering them two years after taking office because he wants to win the
French people overand carry on with the proposed transformation of Franceʼs government and administration — and it has become evident he canʼt do this in the face of permanent protests and resistance from his citizens. In this instance, the president is appealing to the nationʼs moderate majority. Heʼs right in demanding thatthe violent thugs among the "yellow vest" protestersare a matter for the police to deal with. Macron also admitted to making mistakes, to coming across as too aloof and arrogant, and he promised to do better in the future. This public appearance was his personal walk of shame, performed in the hope that it will enable him to open a new chapter of his presidency. In France, complaints about detached elites are more vociferous and more justified than in other countries. This criticism focuses on the National School of Administration (ENA), a selective higher-education institute where Macron himself was educated, as well as numerous other French presidents and ministers. ENA, Macron said, must not necessarily be closed but must definitely be reformed. This is a direct concession to the yellow vests and their grievances. In addition, he promised an administrative reform that would reduce the number of civil servants in Paris and relocate many of them to rural areas.
Chinaʼs Belt and Road is ʼgreen and clean,ʼ says Xi
Rescuers race to reach missing miners in Luhansk
Chinese President Xi Jinping says the Belt and Road program must be "open, green and clean." Beijing wants to dispel fears that its infrastructure plans will leave countries saddled with debt and environmental damage. Chinaʼs Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) will have "zero tolerance for corruption" and bring "high-quality" growth to all countries involved, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday. He was speaking in Beijing at the start a summit on his grand plans to rebuild the old Silk Road and connect China with Asia, Africa and parts of Europe.
Rescue teams were working to reach miners inside Skhidcarbon mine on Friday, after an underground explosion damaged the site located near the Yurievka village in the socalledLuhansk Republic in eastern Ukraine. At least four bodies have been retrieved so far, according to pro-Russian separatists. The fate of other 13 miners remains uncertain. The blast took place at the depth of some 300 meters (984 feet) on Thursday, Russian news agency Interfax reported.
96/2019 • 27 April, 2019 Weekend issue
Germany speeds up asylum process German authorities took a little over six months on an average to process asylum requests in the third quarter of 2018, according to an Interior Ministry response to a parliamentary question by the Left party. The average processing time was 9.2 months in the first quarter and 7.3 months in the second quarter, newspapers of the Funke Medien‐ gruppe quoted. In 2017, the asylum seekers had to wait an average of 10.7 months for a decision. The time that the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) officials needed to process asylum requests in the third quarter is still way below the target of three months that Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed with state premiers in 2015. "Instead of the costly and mostly ineffective process of questioning the protection status that has already been granted, as is currently happening hundreds of thousands of times in the context of the revocation investigations, the BAMF staff should be deployed to examine the asylum applications and gain better qualifications," Left Party domestic policy expert Ulla Jelpke told Funke newspapers. This could effectively shorten the length of procedures "without compromising the quality of the procedures," she said.
Germanyʼs migrants: wooed and discriminated "We are Hamburg. Are you in?" Thatʼs the slogan Hamburg is using to advertise municipal jobs to migrants. From police officers to teachers, doctors, bookkeepers and prison workers — the city is hoping to hire more employees with an migrant background. And itʼs not just Hamburg making this push. All throughout Germany, the business and public sectors alike are focusing on the countryʼs newest residents. Rising education levels Thatʼs because the average education level of migrants in Germany is on the rise. In 2011, one-quarter of young migrants between the ages of 18 and 25 had completed their "Abitur," or high school certificate exam. By 2015, that figure had climbed to 33 percent. During that same period, the percentage of youth without a migrant background who completed high school rose from 32 to 39 percent. 2
Kim Jong Un says US acted ʼin bad faithʼ at Vietnam talks Putin said he was ready to brief the US on his talks with Kim Jong Un in Russia
Iraq braces for more unrest as Basra protests gather pace An estimated 200 protesters gathered on Monday morning at the main gate leading to three of Iraqʼs major oil fields in the southern oil-exporting city of Basra. Protests in Basra, Iraqʼs second-largest city, started last Tuesdaywhen security forces opened fire, killing one person and wounding five. They soon spread to other provinces. Read more: Iraq hangs 13 ʼISʼ prisoners as PM Haidar al-Abadi calls for ʼjust retributionʼ The oil hub of Basra and other parts of the Shiʼite south have long been neglected, first by Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein and then by Shiʼite-led governments. But an ongoing political crisis and the recent rhetoric of Grand Ayatollah alSistani, the top Shiʼite cleric in the country have also clearly aggravated the situation.
Before leaving Vladivostok, Kim accused the US of acting "in bad faith" at the failed Vietnam summit with Donald Trump. Peace on the Korean Peninsula "will entirely depend on the US future attitude," Kim Jong Un was quoted as saying by North Koreaʼs official news agency KCNA on Friday. The North Korean dictator wrapped up his visit to Russia on Friday aftermeeting President Vladimir Putina day before in Vladivostok. The remarks carried by KCNA were reportedly made during the "unreserved and friendly" talks between the two leaders, with the meeting focusing on the international effort to disarm North Korea of its nuclear
Germany: Auditors slam pricey naval ship repairs "Severe" mismanagement within the German navyand Defense Ministry led to massive cost overruns in restoration work on a naval training ship, according to a confidential report seen by Der Spiegel magazine. Repair estimates on the Gorch Fock were originally priced at under €10 million ($11.5 million), but skyrocketed to €135 million last year, the 39-page report from the National Audit Office found. The agency blamed military officers for inadequately examining the sailing shipʼs deficiencies, ignoring information vital for the repair work and failing to fully inform Defense
arsenal. Kim Jong UN accused the US of breaking a trust over the Februarymeeting with Donald Trump in Hanoi. "The situation on the Korean peninsula and the region is now at a standstill and has reached a critical point where it may return to its original state as the "US took a unilateral attitude in bad faith at the recent… summit talks," Kim said. The talks with Trump ended without any results. In March, Trump confusingly claimed he haddropped some North Korea sanctions because he "likes" Kim. Minister Ursula von der Leyen. Work on the shipʼs hull and renewal of its upper and middle deck began in 2015 without an economic feasibility study, and without considering the case for constructing a new ship, auditors said. A Defense Ministry spokesperson said the ministry would submit a formal reply to the Federal Audit Officeʼs accusations by April.
UK reveals fighter jet ʼTempestʼ for post-Brexit era Williamson said the "world-beating" jet can be used unmanned, as a drone, or with pilots. It is scheduled to be operational by 2035. The UK is to invest 2 billion pounds ($2.7 billion, €2.3 billion) to 2025 in the stealth
warplane, which will involve British companies BAE Systems and RollsRoyce as well as Anglo-Italian Leonardo and pan-European MBDA. Aiming to ensure UK leadership in defense Williamson said the program was designed to ensure Britainʼs continued leadership in fighter technology and control of airspace in future conflicts. Last year,France and Germany signed an agreementto develop Europeʼs next-generation fighter jet to replace the aging Rafale and Eurofighter jet by 2040, involving Europeʼs Airbus and Franceʼs Dassault Aviation. Following the 2016 Brexit referendum, Airbus moved to partner with Dassault at the expense of Britainʼs BAE Systems. There are concerns in Britain that its defense industry may be shut out from EU plans for next-generation fighter jets, although, officially, both projects have invited other companies to join.
96/2019 • 27 April, 2019 Weekend issue
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Post Malone, Franz Ferdinand, Son Lux and many more confirmed for Sziget 2019 After Ed Sheeran, the Foo Fighters and Twenty One Pilots, more major stars have been confirmed for the Sziget Festival 2019. Post Malone, Franz Ferdinand, Son Lux, Years&Years and other attractive acts have just been announced to appear at Budapest’s biggest summer extravaganza, taking place between 7-13 August.
Stars named for Balaton Sound 2019 Hungary’s biggest music festival outside Budapest, Balaton Sound, has just announced a second round of headliners for its 2019 event. Artists include Brit-nominated UK singer Jess Glynne, rap star G-Eazy and big-name trance DJ Armin van Buuren. The Chainsmokers return to Balaton Sound after last year’s successful set, Alex Pall and Drew Taggart having just released Sick Boy, an album of singles issued throughout 2018. A set by legendary Dutch DJ Tiësto will crown opening night, while London drum ‘n’ bass band Rudimental close the whole shebang. Balaton Sound, Zamárdi, 3-7 July
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96/2019 • 27 April, 2019 Weekend issue
8 record-breaking books for World Book Day How big is the worldʼs smallest book? And which novel has been read the most?
Explore the diversity of German beer Think German beer and you might think of lager and the "Purity Law," which was enacted 503 years ago on April 23, 1516. But thereʼs a lot more to German brew than barley, hops and water! The beers Andre Gifkens and Robyn Anderson of Berlin selected for their specialty store Lager Lager cover a wide range of styles, strengths and flavors. Not all of them conform to the Purity Law, which is why the word "beer" is missing from some labels. Some of
them are produced by big companies; others are craft beers brewed by entrepreneurs without corporate backing. All of them are delicious. We start on the tangy, low-alcohol, refreshing side. Weisse is a wheat beer dating from the 17th century and often drunk with fruit syrup. What gives the drink in its pure form a characteristic sourness is the addition of the bacteria lactobacillus. Friedrich the Great of Prussia learned how to brew it, and Napoleon allegedly dubbed it the "champagne of the North."
For UNESCOʼs World Book Day on April 23, we take a look at some quirky and impressive literary achievements. Nowadays, books are increasingly read on screens rather than paper. But for centuries, they have not only served as a means of communication, but have also been status symbols, works of art and collector items. To promote the written word, UNESCO initiated World Book Day in 1995. Its date, April 23, goes back to a Spanish tradition.
On the name day of Saint George, roses and books are given as presents in Catalonia. April 23 is also the day William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes, two of the most significant writers in the world,passed away. To celebrate World Book Day, click though the gallery above for some astonishing record-breaking books.
Find vegan beers, Baileys and brandy at new Budapest pub
Donʼt expose babies to
Szabad Bistro is a welcome venture for vegans in Budapest looking to eat and drink in a casual environment. Besides focusing on food free from meat and dairy products, here beer and even Baileys are prepared according to vegan guidelines. The newly opened Szabad Bistro breaks away from this trend by featuring a strong line of drinks that haven’t been in contact with animal products, such as gelatine, during the manufacturing process. You can ask for different types of craft beers, pálinka and Baileys made with almond milk. 4
Sweet talk and laughter — German sayings involving forests and trees
electronic screens, says WHO
Children under 12 months old should not be exposed to electronic screens at all, according to the World Health Organization. Parents were urged to ensure kids get enough exercise to encourage good habits later in life.
They also have a host of wonderful sayings and phrases revolving around forests and trees, with one that involves shouting into the woods.
Evergreens are part and parcel of German forests — and their language. Wald, the German term for forest, or Baum (tree), are words that crop up in many everyday German sayings and phrases. Some expressions are selfexplanatory, like not seeing the forest for the trees. Others, like "einen Ast lachen" (literally, laugh a branch), which means to be convulsed with laughter, and "Süssholz raspeln" (literally, grating licorice root), which means sweet-talking someone, may sound a bit odd to non-native ears. Click on the above picture gallery for more German phrases that utilize the terminology — and imagery — of the forest. And when youʼre done, check out more articles in theMeet The Germans seriesto find more about German culture, language and lifestyle.
96/2019 • 27 April, 2019 Weekend issue
Macklemore, 6lack and Michael Kiwanuka are the final acts confirmed for Sziget 2019 The Sziget Festival runs from 7 to 13 August
Hungary at a Glance (Published by Scolar Publishing Company) It is a unique feature of the Carpathian basin that its relatively small area hosts an unparalleled variety of ethnic groups, religions and civilizations. This cohabitation gave birth to a common culture, while a truly multi-layered nation was also formed. For centuries the descendants of the founding Hungarian tribes lived alongside ancient peoples who preceded them and the people migrating here from neighbouring nations. Hungarians, Slovaks, Romanians, Serbs and Germans shared a common land here, just like the members of the different faiths – Catholics, Calvinists, Lutherans and Jews – did. Our book is a special project, as it tries to convey the colourful nature of Hungary and its people. This unique “guidebook” covers everything from history to cultural heritage, from the achievements of the arts and sciences to the extraordinary music scene. Although these pages will give you only a glance, we do hope that this glimpse will inspire real love for this country in all our readers.
Budapestʼs historic Lotz Hall café reopened as Café Párisi International superstars Macklemore, 6lack and Michael Kiwanuka have just been announced as the final additions to Sziget’s incredible genre-spanning line-up for 2019, joining headliners Ed Sheeran, Florence + The Machine, Foo Fighters, The 1975, Post Malone, Twenty One Pilots, Martin Garrix and The National. Also appearing this August will be James Blake, Richard Ashcroft, Mura Masa, Years & Years, IDLES, Jungle, Johnny Marr, Tove Lo, IAMDDB, Son Lux, Masego – and, of course, many more. The biggest draw at Sziget 2019, Ed Sheeran is now sold out for the day he appears, but with new names such as American rap stars Macklemore and 6lack, as well as Michael Kiwanuka of Cold Little
Heart fame joining crowd favourites
the Foo Fighters, Florence and the Machine, Twenty One Pilots and Post Malone, the line-up remains impressive. The Sziget Festival has also announced its schedule for the six main stages. Cheaper one-, three-, five- and seven-day tickets and accommodation options for are now on sale, with prices set to rise from 9 May. For more details, head to szigetfestival.com.
Kaiser Ottó: Sights and Tastes of Hungary This fascinating „chef album” is a special journey in itself. It takes you through the beautiful regions of Hungary and offers the opportunity to explore the flavours of Hungarian cuisine. The landscape and food photos by photographer Ottó Kaiser are accompanied by recipes from interna-
tionally acclaimed master chef Ottó Laczkó – all this complete with a hint of history, culture, geography and even ethnography. Western Transdanubia, Middle Transdanubia, Lake Balaton, Southern Transdanubia, Budapest, Northern Hungary, Northern Great Plain, Southern Great Plain
After two years of undesired silence a new café has opened its gates in Budapest’s neo-renaissance styled jewellery box, the former Paris Deparment Store (Párisi Nagy Áruház). Situated in the heart of the city on Andrássy avenue, Café Párisi is the perfect location for those who wish to enjoy the luxury of early 20th century Budapest. The newly reopened location is already one of Budapest’s hidden gems: set in the Paris Department Store’s mezzanine level just below the iconic frescos created by renowned Hungarian painter Károly Lotz. Párisi Café has everything you could ask for from traditional Hungarian cakes like the Eszterházy or the Gerbaud slide to alternative milk-based cafés. Open everyday from 9:00 - 21:00
Weather
Sun
7 / 16
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9 / 18
Hungary Budapest: Debrecen: Eger: Hévíz:
6/16 5/17 4/16 5/24
Athens: Berlin: Bratislava: Bucharest: London: Madrid:
4/25 0/13 5/7 6/15 3/17 10/13
Kecskemét: Keszthely: Siófok:
5/17 4/16 6/25
Europe Moscow: Paris: Prague: Rome: Varsaw: Vienna:
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Culture
Illés Andrea: World Heritage Sites in Hungary Every country in the world has breathtaking landscapes and imposing monuments of which it can be genuinely proud. This is certainly true of Hungary, where the UNESCO World Heritage Committee has already inscribed several sites as part of the world heritage. In 1987, the Budapest panorama from the banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and the village of Hollókő were the first to be included on the World Heritage List, while the most recent additions, in 2002, were Andrássy Avenue and the Tokaj historic wine region. Between these two dates, five Hungarian sites were granted world heritage status: the caves of the Aggtelek karst, the Benedictine Archabbey of Pannonhalma, Hortobágy, the Early Christian necropolis of Pécs and the Fertő Lake area. This impressive, lavishly illustrated book introduces readers to the World Heritage sites of Hungary, along with sites that may be awarded UNESCO protection in the near future. Scolar Kiadó is the first publishing house to have compiled a complete overview of Hungarian World Heritage sites and of the nominated sites on UNESCO’s tentative list, sharing these treasures through the skills of renowned photographers.
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96/2019 • 27 April, 2019 Weekend issue
Two Germans win second gold medals at Nordic World Ski Championships
Germanyʼs Markus Eisenbichler on Sunday helped destroy the opposition to win gold in the large hill skijumping team event — his second world title at this yearʼs FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Seefeld, Austria. Eisenbichler and his compatriots Karl Geiger, Richard Freitag, and Stephan Leyhe led from start to finish on Innsbruckʼs Bergisel hill, winning 987.5 points overall, a massive 56.5 points — or 31 meters (101 feet) — ahead of hosts Austria, who took silver, and Japan (bronze). Eisenbichler won individual gold ahead of Geiger on Saturday on the Innsbruck hill and now joins compatriot Nordic combined skier Eric Frenzel and Norwegian cross-country skier Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo as a two-time Seefeld champion.
Mo Farah: UK Athletics speak to Olympic champion about Haile Gebrselassie row
Aleksandar Kolarovʼs free kick stunner secures Serbia win over Costa Rica A brilliant second half free kick from captain Aleksandar Kolarov led Serbia to a deserved win over Costa Rica. Serbia were wasteful in front of goal but did enough to secure three vital points in Group E. Another World Cup day, another sublime freekick. If Cristiano Ronaldo’s ice-cold effort tosnatch a point against arch-rivals Spain on day two was the current goal of the tournament front-runner, the Portuguese may have just met his match. Aleksandar Kolarov, take a bow. A combination of poor finishing and sublime goalkeeping had kept the scores level until Serbia’s no.11 produced his moment of magic. Kolarov’s powerful left foot is no secret, but few inside the stadium would have expected such a thunderous strike when the Roma defender stood over a free kick midway through the second half. His shot was unstoppable; a side-footed missile which screamed into the top corner of the Costa Rica net. Kaylor Navas, who kept his team in the game with several crucial saves either side of half time, was nowhere near it.
Simona Halep through to semis Miami Open 2019:
Simona Halep moved closer to reclaiming the world number one ranking after defeating Chinaʼs Wang Qiang 6-4 7-5 to reach the Miami Open semi-finals. Halep only needs to reach Saturdayʼs final to knock Japanʼs Naomi Osaka off the top womenʼs rankings. The 27-year-old from Romania was 5-1 down in the second set but fought back by winning six consecutive games. "My coach said I was rushing a bit so I managed to calm down," she said. "That was great advice. I started well and played some smart tennis but in the
second set, she started to raise her game." Halep converted seven of eight break points and hit 24 winners compared to 14 from Wang. She will play the winner of an allCzech contest between world number five Karolina Pliskova and Marketa Vondrousova in the next round. The other semi-final will be played between Anett Kontaveit of Estonia and Australiaʼs Ashleigh Barty.
Tour de Yorkshire: Mark Cavendish to compete in 2019 edition
UK Athletics have held talks with Mo Farah regarding his row with Haile Gebrselassie and have received an assurance from him that he has had no contact with controversial coach Jama Aden since November 2016. Gebrselassiehas saidhis falling out with Farah stems from when he would not allow Aden to enter his hotel. Aden was arrested as part of an anti-doping operation in Spain in June 2016. A spokesperson for Farah has said Gebrselassieʼs claim is not true. 6
Britainʼs Mark Cavendish will race in the 2019 Tour de Yorkshire, which begins in Doncaster on Thursday, as he continues his return from illness. Last month, Cavendish, 33, withdrew from Paris-Nice and then missed Milan-San Remo, two months after he had returned to cycling after being laid low by the Epstein Barr Virus. "Iʼm really excited," said Cavendish. "I really enjoyed the tough but beautiful parcours [route] last year as I rode the race for the first time." The Manx rider added: "I look forward to seeing whatʼs in store for us in the 2019 edi-
tion. "Over and above the racing though, it always blows my mind to see the incredible support of the fans. With some of my family in Yorkshire, it makes it so special and I canʼt wait to see them all again." He will be joined in Yorkshire by Dimension Data team-mates Nic Dlamini, Bernhard Eisel, Mark Renshaw, Tom-Jelte Slagter and Rasmus Tiller. Cavendish - who has won 30 Tour de France stages - made his Tour de Yorkshire debut in 2018. Four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome and Marcel Kittel will also compete this year.