DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Turkey denies torture claims by journalist Deniz Yücel Turkeyʼs Foreign Ministry has denied claims that the German-Turkish journalist was tortured in prison near Istanbul. It has also rejected a warning from Germany that Turkey should stick to the UN anti-torture convention. The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Sunday issued a statement rejecting claims that officers tortured GermanTurkish journalist Deniz Yücel while he was held in pretrial detention at Silivri prison near Istanbul. "Our country acts in compliance with its international obligations in its fight against torture, as it does in all areas," the ministry statement said. "Our country thoroughly investigates all allegations of torture and illtreatment and demonstrates, on every occasion, a transparent position on this issue."
Polls close in Lithuania presidental election Lithuanians voted on Sunday in a first-round ballot to elect one of nine candidates to the presidency. Polls predicted three candidates — former Finance Minister Ingrida Simonyte, economist Gitanas Nauseda and Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis — have a realistic chanceof replacing incumbent President Dalia Grybauskaite, who cannot stand for reelection after completing her two five-year terms. The centerright Simonyte was popular with educated urban voters, while Skvernelisʼ populist politics appealed to rural voters. Nauseda, on the other hand, seeked to appeal across the rich-poor divide in the former Soviet republic of 2.8 million people. If no candidate wins an absolute majority following Sundayʼs poll, the two best-placed candidates will go into a runoff on May 26.
108/2019 • 13 MAY, 2019
Merkel should serve full term, says heir Kramp-Karrenbauer The new party chief insists she is not trying to push Merkel out as chancellor before 2021
Germanyʼs CDU, the party once led by Chancellor Angela Merkel, is now led by longtime ally Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer.
Germanyʼs Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank end merger talks Germanyʼs two largest lenders have called off any further discussions about a merger. Berlin had promoted the idea of creating a banking "champion" capable of supporting Germanyʼs export-orientated economy. The German banking market’s two major lenders, Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank, announced on Thursday that they had ended merger talks. In a joint statement, both banks said that their management boards had come to the conclusion that a merger would "not provide sufficient added value." The government, which has a
15% stake in Commerzbank, had encouraged the discussions in the hope that a merger could create a national banking "champion" to provide financing for Germanyʼs exportorientated economy. The banksʼ joint statement cited perceived risks, restructuring costs and capital requirements as reasons to shelve the proposals. "After thorough analysis, we have concluded that this transaction would not have created sufficient benefits" to justify the risks and costs, Deutsche Bank chief executive Christian Sewing and Commerzbank chief Martin Zielke said.
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.
Iranʼs Revolutionary Guard: US has started ʼpsychological warʼ The commander of Iranʼs Revolutionary Guard, Major General Hossein Salami, said in a parliament session on Sunday that the United States has started a psychological war in the region, according to a parliamentary spokesman. "Commander Salami, with attention to the situation in the region, presented an analysis that the Americans have started a psychological war because the comings and goings of their military is a normal matter," said Behrouz Nemati in a summary of Salamiʼs comments, according to parliamentʼs ICANA news site. TheUS military has sent forces, including an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers, to the Middle East to counter what US officials have said are "clear indications" of threats from Iran to its forces there. The USS Abraham Lincoln is replacing another carrier rotated out of the Gulf last month.
Migrants force entry in Spainʼs Melilla exclave Around a hundred migrants on Sunday tried to climb the fence that separates Morocco from the Spanish exclave of Melilla. Spainʼs Interior Ministry said 52 of the migrants from sub-Saharan African countries managed to get across the 6-meter (19.6 ft) high structure. The migrants tried to storm the barbed wire fence at dawn, but Spanish and Moroccan security forces prevented "around half" from entering Melilla.
weather today BUDAPEST
8 / 20 °C Precipitation: 0 mm
108/2019 • 13 May, 2019
German train-delay scarf sells for thousands at auction
Germany and Austria stop issuing €500 bank notes
A scarf knitted by a German woman to represent how long she was delayed on trains run by German rail company Deutsche Bahn sold for €7,550 ($8,660) on eBay on Monday. There were 134 bids from 45 bidders for the 1.5-meter (5 foot) scarf, which was knitted over the course of 2018 and features stripes in different colors, to represent different-length delays. Read more: Deutsche Bahn flaws prompt calls for basic railway reform Journalist Sara Weber, the scarf makerʼs daughter, said her mother was a commuter in the Munich area and had knitted two rows per day: Gray for under five minutes, pink for 5-30 minutes, and red for delays of more than 30 minutes or when both of her trains were running late. Weber posted a photo of the scarf on Twitter and the response was so enthusiastic that she and her mother decided to auction it and give the proceeds to the charity Bahnhofsmission, which assists people in need at railway stations across Germany. On Monday, Weber tweeted that the scarf had been sold for €7,550. "My mum is very happy — and so am I. We never would have expected that would happen," Weber wrote.
The last of Europeʼs central banks have stopped issuing the largedenomination bank note. Germany and Austria were given longer than their European neighbors as the bill was used comparatively often.
Two Germans win second gold medals at Nordic World Ski Championships
The German Bundesbank and Austriaʼs National Bank stopped issuing the €500 ($557) bank note on Friday, three months after it had ceased to be handed outin the rest of the eurozone. The delay reflects a preference among consumers in both countries to continue to use banknotes for everyday purposes such as shopping, and for
savings. Existing €500 notes in circulation will continue to be legal currency. One of the worldʼs highestvalue banknotes, the €500 noteʼs withdrawal leaves Switzerlandʼs 1,000-franc bill (€878) and Bruneiʼs 10,000-dollar note (€6,628) at the top of the league of high-value paper currency.
Macklemore, 6lack and Michael Kiwanuka are the final acts confirmed for Sziget 2019 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.
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).
Budapestʼs historic Lotz Hall café reopened as Café Párisi 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.
H-1056 Budapest, Só u. 6. Telephone: +36 1 577 0700 Fax: +36 1 577 0710 bhzinfo@zeinahotels.com www.boutiquehotelbudapest.com
Published by: Mega Media Kft. 1075 Budapest, Madách I. út 13-14. +36 1 398 0344 www.hotelujsag.hu
US sanctions Venezuela state oil firm PDVSA The US said on Monday that it would impose sanctions on Venezuelaʼs state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), as it ramps up pressure on the countryʼs president, Nicolas Maduro. The move followsWashingtonʼs public backing of National Assembly leader Juan Guaido, who declared himself interim president last week. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the sanctions were meant to prevent Maduro from diverting more resources from the crisis-hit country, until control in Caracas could be transferred toGuaidoʼs interim governmentora new democratically elected government. Mnuchin specified that PDVSAʼs US-based subsidiary Citgo could continue operations, so long as its earnings are deposited into a blocked account in the US. Maduro accused the US of attempting to steal Citgo, saying the state oil firm will seek legal action against the US. Washington was "holding accountable those responsible for Venezuelaʼs tragic decline," Mnuchin told reporters.
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.