DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Nepal explosions kill three, at least eight injured Three people have been killed and at least eight injured after three bombs went off in Kathmandu, Nepal on Sunday. Police said they suspected an illegal communist organization was responsible for the explosions. The political group that was once a part of the ruling Communist party has been protesting against the arrests of its supporters, which increased the likelihood of the faction being culpable, according to authorities. Law enforcement officials said they found leaflets from the rebels at the scene of the second explosion, which killed one and injured another. The first blast in the northern part of the capital resulted in two deaths, injuring four and the second occurred in a house in downtown Kathmandu.
ʼIslamic Stateʼsʼ deadly trail in Raqqa The field of the unknown dead The deadly trail of the Islamic Caliphate has left behind several mass graves in Raqqa. So far only 750 out of 4,360 bodies have been identified. Thousands of dead men, women, children — IS soldiers as well as their victims — are unlikely ever to be identified. Digging in the dirt By 10 a.m., a team of 12-15 workers have already brought the first bodies up from the ground. On site the Rapid Response Unit led by Doctor Assad Mohammad examines the bodies for injuries, clothes, personal belongings or specific marks and gender in an attempt to identify them. A heavy lift Men from the team lift what they team believe to be the remains of an IS fighter of African origin. He was buried in a proper grave but the corpse was so big that it was impossible to close the tarpaulin body bag. Severe burns on the man’s bag suggest he was killed in an airstrike.
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Venezuela: Representatives of Maduro and Guaido to meet in Norway It will be their first face-to-face meeting
Norwayʼs Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the government and opposition delegates will hold talks in Oslo next week to carry forward the negotiation process.
Elmed interconnector aims to bring solar power from the Sahara to Europe The situation in North African countries such as Algeria is increasingly difficult to read — and even menacing looking at Libya. But Europe is hoping to energize ties with the region through a renewable energy link. tʼs beena long-held European dream to shore up its supply of renewable energy with solar power from sun-rich North Africa.Now, Italy and Tunisia have taken a first step toward making this dream come true, signing an intergovernmental agreement for the development and joint construction of a 600-megawatt (MW) electricity link. On April 30, the governments of Italy and Tunisia signed a deal to lay an un-
derwater power cablebetween Partanna, Sicily, and El Haouaria, Tunisia, aiming to integrate the EUʼs electricity grid with that of North Africa. Italian transmission company Terna and Tunisian gas and electricity group STEG have been developing the Elmed Mediterranean power interconnector since 2003. "This agreement was a necessary condition to obtain EU funding, and we are now awaiting developments. At the moment the project has an estimated cost of €600 million [$668 million], 50% of which should be financed by the EU while the rest will be shared between Terna and STEG," Terna, the Italian transmission system operator (TSO), told DW.
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.
Jews are at risk in Germany Josef Schuster, the head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper that the security situation for Jews in the country has worsened in the past few years. "On the whole I donʼt tend to dramatize, but the situation has by and large really deteriorated," Schuster said on Sunday. "It has been the case for a while now that Jews are at risk in some major cities if recognizable as Jews," he added. Schuster was weighing in on a debate triggered byBerlinʼs anti-Semitism commissionerʼs warningthat the Jewish community in Germany should avoid donning yarmulkes, the traditional Jewish head coverings for males, in some public spaces. "I cannot advise Jews to wear the kippah everywhere all the time in Germany," Felix Klein said in an interview carried by the Funke media group on Saturday, using another word for yarmulke. The German official said he had "changed his mind (on the subject) compared to previously."
Iraqi court sentences three French citizens to death An Iraqi court on Sunday sentenced three French citizens to death. The three were found guilty of joining the "Islamic State" group (IS), according to a court official. They had been captured in Syria by US-backed forces and were subsequently transferred to Iraq for trial. Kevin Gonot, Leonard Lopez and Salim Machou have 30 days in which to appeal. Gonot, who fought for IS before being arrested, has also been sentenced in absentia by a French court to nine years in prison, according to the French Terrorism Analysis Center (CAT).
weather today BUDAPEST
10 / 21 °C Precipitation: 0 mm
120/2019 • 27 May, 2019
German train-delay scarf sells for thousands at auction 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.
ʼOut of placeʼ Jerome Boateng faces new challenge
Germany and Austria stop issuing €500 bank notes 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. 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.
Amid all of the celebrations in Berlinʼs Olympiastadionafter Bayern Munich had secured their 12th domestic double on Saturday, Jerome Boateng was nowhere to be seen. While his teammates cheered with Bayern fans in the crowd, he headed off to the changing room. These were not the actions of a contented player.
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.