【一蓮托生】國際時事政治選舉集中理性討論區（二）

Dieselgate: VW reaches Canada settlement worth millions

http://www.dw.com/en/dieselgate-vw-reaches-canada-settlement-worth-millions/a-42134152

German automaker Volkswagen (VW) and a group of lawyers representing Canadian three-liter diesel engine owners and lessees announced a proposed settlement on Friday worth 290.5 Canadian dollars (€191 million, $233.1 million).

Under the settlement, VW Group Canada will make cash payments to owners and lessees of three-liter VW, Audi and Porsche diesel vehicles that carried software that deliberately cheated emissions tests.

Czech election: Milos Zeman leads in first round

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-42674309

With most results in, he had 39.3% with nearest rival Jiri Drahos on 26.2%.

However, the BBC's Rob Cameron in Prague says there are indications that the election will go to a second round later this month.

Mr Zeman, 73, is seeking a second five-year term but has stoked controversy with his outspoken views and pro-Russian stance.

Turnout in the first round, which took place over two days, was about 60%, election officials said.

Miloš Zeman leads first round of Czech Republic presidential elections

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/13/milos-zeman-leads-first-round-of-czech-republic-presidential-elections

The Czech president, Miloš Zeman, led the first round of the Czech Republic’s presidential election on Saturday by a wide margin but short of winning outright, partial results have showed.

Eight candidates are seeking to oust Zeman, whose inclination toward far-right groups and cosy relations with Russia and China have split public opinion.

With 30.6% of voting districts counted, Zeman led the race with 42.9% of votes, while Jiří Drahoš, a 68-year-old pro-western academic, won 24.7%.

難得有清泉

其實有無講過呢到底

Hawaii missile alert: False alarm sparks panic in US state

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42677604

An incoming missile alert plunged residents of Hawaii into panic on Saturday morning before it was declared a false alarm.

Mobile phone users received a message saying: "Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill."

State Governor David Ige apologised and said it was caused by an employee pressing the wrong button.

The US government announced there would be a full investigation.

An alert system is in place because of the potential proximity of Hawaii to North Korean missiles.

In December, the state tested its nuclear warning siren for the first time since the end of the Cold War.

連登討論帖: https://lihkg.com/thread/528453/page/1

Poland: Pro-choice activists protest proposed abortion restrictions

http://www.dw.com/en/poland-pro-choice-activists-protest-proposed-abortion-restrictions/a-42139575

Around 2,000 people gathered in front of the Polish parliament in Warsaw on Saturday, carrying signs with slogans that said "Shame!" and "Women will die without abortions."

"The women whose rights and freedoms are being violated today have been left to face this problem alone," said Anna Karaszewska from the Let's Save Women 2017 pressure group. "The politicians lied to us."

The rally followed Wednesday's decision in the lower house of parliament to work on a bill to ban abortions even in the case of irreversible damage to a fetus.

A recent poll found 11 percent of respondents in favor of further restrictions on abortions, while 46.5 percent preferred to see them eased, according to the Rzeczpospolita newspaper.

Czech election: Milos Zeman leads in first round

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-42674309

Miloš Zeman leads first round of Czech Republic presidential elections

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/13/milos-zeman-leads-first-round-of-czech-republic-presidential-elections

Zeman to face scientist Drahoš in Czech presidential run-off

[url]https://www.politico.eu/article/zeman-to-face-scientist-drahos-in-czech-presidential-run-off/
[/url]
PRAGUE — Incumbent Miloš Zeman easily beat eight other candidates in the first round of the Czech presidential election but faces a stiff test to win another five-year term against the runner-up, scientist Jiří Drahoš.

With nearly all the votes counted, Zeman was credited with 38.57 percent of the vote in the election, held Friday and Saturday, with Drahoš at 26.6 percent, well ahead of third-placed Pavel Fischer, a former ambassador to France, who garnered just over 10 percent. Turnout was nearly 62 percent.

As no candidate won an absolute majority, a run-off between Zeman and Drahoš will be held on January 26-27.

Chelsea Manning files to run as Democrat for US Senate in Maryland

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jan/13/chelsea-manning-democrat-us-senate-maryland

Chelsea Manning, the former US army private who was imprisoned for passing information to WikiLeaks, has filed to run for a seat in the US Senate.

That would range her against Ben Cardin, the senior senator from Maryland who has served since 2007. The senior Democrat on the Senate foreign affairs committee, Cardin has emerged as a key party voice on investigations into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

South Africa: EFF supporters attack H&M stores over 'racist jumper advert'

http://www.dw.com/en/south-africa-eff-supporters-attack-hm-stores-over-racist-jumper-advert/a-42136978

Shots were fired at the East Rand H&M store after a group of EFF protesters dressed in their red regalia forced their way into Sandton, Menlyn Park and East Rand H&M retailer stores. According to South Africa's daily news24, police engaged the protesters, who did not want to be caught on camera.

The Menlyn store was shut after it was completely trashed by the angry protesters. The company later on Saturday temporarily closed all of its stores in South Africa.

H&M caused an outcry after an advert featuring a young black model wearing a hoodie with the words "Coolest monkey in the jungle" went viral on social media. Many people accused the international chain store of racism.

UKIP suspends leader's girlfriend after Meghan Markle texts

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-42679187?

UKIP has suspended the girlfriend of party leader Henry Bolton after she apparently made racist remarks about Prince Harry's fiancee Meghan Markle.

The Mail on Sunday has published a series of messages sent by Jo Marney.

In them, the 25-year-old model said Ms Markle would "taint" the Royal Family, that she had a "tiny brain" and that black people were ugly.

Ms Marney apologised and said her messages had been taken out of context. Mr Bolton did not want to comment.

Tunisian government plans social reforms after week of unrest

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/14/tunisian-government-plans-social-reforms-after-week-of-unrest

Tunisia’s government plans to increase aid to the poor and improve healthcare following a week of unrest triggered by austerity measures.

The social affairs minister, Mohamed Trabelsi, announced on Saturday monthly aid to needy families would rise from 150 dinars (£45) to between 180 and 210 dinars.

He also said reforms that have been in the pipeline for several months would guarantee medical care for all Tunisians and also provide housing to disadvantaged families.

UN chief offers Colombia help with Venezuela migration crisis

http://www.dw.com/en/un-chief-offers-colombia-help-with-venezuela-migration-crisis/a-42139809

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has offered Colombia more resources to manage a migration crisis that has seen nearly half a million Venezuelans pour into the Andean country.

According to government estimates, Colombia has received more than 470,000 Venezuelans, many of them fleeing chronic shortages of food, medicine and other basic goods amid a major economic downturn.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said the regional crisis fueled by an authoritarian turn in Venezuela "has enormous repercussions" for the region.

Turkey plane: Panic as jet skids off runway at Trabzon

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-42680238

Panic broke out on a passenger jet when it skidded off the runway at a Turkish airport and plunged down the side of a cliff overlooking the sea.

The Pegasus Airlines Boeing 737-800 with 168 passengers and crew had flown from Ankara and landed at Trabzon on the Black Sea coast late on Saturday.

Everyone on board was evacuated safely, provincial governor Yucel Yavuz said. No injuries were reported.


https://twitter.com/AnalystTK

Merkel could join Macron in Davos for epic clash with Trump

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-davos-meeting-merkel/merkel-could-join-macron-in-davos-for-epic-clash-with-trump-idUSKBN1F30HB?il=0

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel is considering joining French President Emmanuel Macron at the World Economic Forum in Davos next week in what could turn into an epic clash of competing world views with U.S. President Donald Trump.

[Middle East] Qatari royal says he is 'being held against his will' in UAE

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-42682238

A Qatari royal says he is being held against his will in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali al-Thani - who played a role in negotiating with Saudi Arabia during the Qatar diplomatic crisis last year - made the claims in a YouTube video released on Sunday.

He claims he is being held by Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince, who will be "fully responsible" if anything happens to him.

A UAE official denied the accusations.

In the video statement, the Qatari sheikh, a relative of the current Qatari emir, is seated in an armchair, talking directly to camera.

"I'm currently in Abu Dhabi, being hosted by Sheikh Mohamed. But this is not a hosting status. Rather, it is a 'holding' one. They told me not to move," he says.

Qatari royal 'held against his will in the UAE'

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/01/qatari-royal-held-uae-180114134434265.html

Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Thani released on Sunday a video statement saying he was "a prisoner" in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, and that if anything happened to him, "Sheikh Mohammed" is responsible.

While he did not specify, Sheikh Abdullah appeared to be referring to Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed.

"I am currently in Abu Dhabi. I was a guest of Sheikh Mohammed. I am no longer a guest; I am a prisoner," he said in the video, which was widely circulated on social media.

"They told me not to leave. I am afraid that anything could happen to me, and the people of Qatar would be blamed. So I just wanted to inform you that if anything happens to me, the people of Qatar are innocent," added Sheikh Abdullah.

[US-Palestine] Trump to cut millions from UN agency for Palestinian refugees – officials

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/14/trump-cut-millions-united-nations-agency-palestinian-refugees

The Trump administration is preparing to withhold tens of millions of dollars from the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, cutting the year’s first contribution by more than half or perhaps entirely and making additional donations contingent on major changes to the organization, US officials said.

Donald Trump has not made a final decision but appears more likely to send only $60m of a planned $125m first installment to the UN Relief and Works Agency, said the officials, who were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter.

Haley wants a complete cutoff in US money until the Palestinians resume peace talks that have been frozen for years. But Tillerson, Mattis and others say ending all assistance would exacerbate instability in the Middle East, notably in Jordan, a host to hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees and a crucial US strategic partner.

Philippines raises Mayon volcano threat level to 'critical'

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/14/philippines-raises-mayon-volcano-threat-level-to-critical

The Philippines’ most active volcano has rumbled back to life with lava fragments rising to its crater in a gentle eruption that has prompted authorities to evacuate thousands of villagers.

Authorities raised the alert level at the Mayon volcano to “level 3” on Sunday after detecting lava flow and indications of activity that could lead to eruptions of magma.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned late on Sunday that a “hazardous eruption” of Mount Mayon was possible within weeks or even days. The 2,460-metre (8,070-ft) volcano is located in Albay province in the north-eastern Philippines.

Renato Solidum, from the institute, said three steam-explosions by the volcano since Saturday have spewed ash into nearby villages and may have breached solidified lava at the crater and caused lava to start to flow out.

唔記得po埋條片，不過唔識聽

https://twitter.com/ajmubasher/status/952533698993258497

Bundesbank Says China's Yuan to Be Included in Currency Reserves

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-15/bundesbank-to-include-yuan-in-currency-reserves-dombret-says

Germany’s central bank has decided to include the Chinese yuan in its own reserves, in a further boost to the international status of the currency.

Speaking at an event in Hong Kong on Monday, Bundesbank board member Andreas Dombret said the decision was taken last year following an investment of 500 million euros ($611 million) by the European Central Bank, of which the German authority is a part. He said he wouldn’t comment on the amount that would be allocated.

“The renminbi is used increasingly as part of central banks’ foreign-exchange reserves -- for example, the ECB included the RMB but also other European central banks did so,” Dombret said during a speech in Hong Kong Monday.

人民幣國際化又一勝利

仲有一大段路要走

Angela Merkel's conservatives rule out amendments to preliminary coalition deal

http://www.dw.com/en/angela-merkels-conservatives-rule-out-amendments-to-preliminary-coalition-deal/a-42143734

Senior figures in Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) called on Sunday for amendments to the party's preliminary coalition agreement with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative bloc.

SPD lawmakers said they hoped that the parties could still agree on a new social security scheme and firmer employee contracts in the would-be coalition's policy blueprint.

However, Germany's conservative bloc — made up of Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) and their Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU) — swiftly dismissed the calls, insisting that the SPD first vote on whether to move on to formal negotiations before demanding more concessions.

Schulz has promised to let the party have the final say on whether to re-enter a grand coalition. On Sunday, 600 delegates will be asked to give the green light to enter formal talks, while party members are expected to get a vote on a deal if and when it is finalized.

RAF fighters intercept two Russian bombers near UK airspace

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/15/raf-fighters-intercept-two-russian-bombers-near-uk-airspace

The RAF has been scrambled to intercept two long-range Russian bombers over the North Sea.

The Tupolev Tu-160s, known to Nato as Blackjacks, were monitored on Monday as they flew past Norway and Denmark and near the Netherlands.

Two Typhoon jets from RAF Lossiemouth picked them up about 30 miles (48km) from UK airspace and escorted them.

Son of Dutch prince to be granted royal title after legal battle

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/15/hugo-klynstra-son-of-dutch-prince-to-be-granted-royal-title-after-legal-battle

The Dutch royal family are expecting a new addition to their ranks imminently, but there will not be any glossy magazine spreads or appearances in front of the TV cameras.

A 21-year-old called Hugo is set to be formally granted the title of Royal Highness Prince Carlos Hugo Roderik Sybren de Bourbon de Parme after a three-year legal battle with his father, Prince Carlos, a cousin to King Willem-Alexander and nephew to the king’s mother, Queen Beatrix, who abdicated from the throne in 2013.

There is no doubt about the paternity of the young blue-blood, which was determined following a court order pursued by the young man’s mother in 1999.

The delay in Hugo’s presence at the royal court has arisen because of Carlos’s insistence that he had an agreement with the mother, Brigitte Klynstra, a childhood friend, that it was a no-strings-attached relationship and there would be no family entanglement following conception.