Thứ Tư, 25 tháng 4, 2018

Trump-Macron bromance cannot hide differences

Emmanuel Macron believes the Iran deal opposed by Donald Trump is the only option, and has a plan to bring the US leader on board.
Mr Macron and Mr Trump during the welcome ceremony
Image:Mr Macron and Mr Trump at the White House on Tuesday
By Mark Austin, US Correspondent
It has been a love-in, a bromance like no other in international diplomacy.
But no amount of hugging, kissing, wiping away dandruff or holding hands between Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron can conceal the sharp differences between them.
The most obvious involves Iran and the nuclear deal drawn up under the Obama administration and involving easing sanctions in return for limiting Tehran's nuclear programme.
President Trump believes it is a "terrible" deal, a "ridiculous, insane" agreement - the "worst deal in history".
The American leader believes it does nothing to restrain the threat of Iran, not only from ballistic missiles but also from terrorism and Iran's activities in places like Yemen and Syria.
U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and French President Emmanuel Macron walk down the colonnade at the White House following the official arrival ceremony for Macron on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, U.S., April 24, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Video:'I like him a lot': The blossoming bromance
Mr Macron on the other hand believes it is the only option. The alternative, he believes, is a rapid slide towards war. He wants to persuade Mr Trump to stay in the deal when it is up for consideration on 12 May.
And he has a plan.
He wants to persuade President Trump to renew the existing deal when the deadline comes, and to start a new negotiation with Iran on a fresh deal that Mr Trump finds acceptable.
In the press conference on Tuesday, the American President said there was a chance he would go along with that if it was "a new deal with solid foundations".
But the possible concession came with a warning that if Iran returned to its nuclear programme and threatened the United States "it would pay a price like few other countries".
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TSB digital platforms back but gremlins remain after IT disaster

Customers report continuing problems but say they are finally getting access to their accounts after the lender's bungled upgrade.
TSB has promised all compensation claims by customers will be considered
Image:TSB has promised all compensation claims by customers will be considered
By James Sillars, Business Reporter
TSB customers are reporting they are able to access their accounts after the lender took its digital banking platforms offline to fix a bungled system upgrade.
The bank's boss rushed to Twitter in the early hours of Wednesday to declare services were "up and running" again.
However, TSB later clarified that access to accounts was being strictly limited to prevent a surge of anxious customers from crashing the new systems' servers.
TSB's message to digital banking customers on Tuesday morning
Image:TSB's message to digital banking customers on Tuesday morning
They were taken down on Tuesday morning for urgent work as customers endured a fifth day of frustration.
It had been hoped the fix would take a few hours.
While TSB mobile app and online customers said, via Twitter, they could access their accounts, many messaged Paul Pester directly to complain about continuing access problems.
Gripes among those able to log in included sub-accounts and premier features going missing. Others said they were still unable to access the platforms.
One user said she had used an opportunity to log in to transfer all her money to another lender.
TSB is facing the prospect of a massive bill from regulatory fines and compensation over the incident, which began on Friday when it had warned its 1.9 million digital customers they would be unable to access their money because of a platform upgrade from old servers linked to its previous owner, Lloyds.
That work was scheduled to be completed on Sunday evening but left customers without access to their money.
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Rapper Meek Mill seen courtside at NBA game hours after release from jail

The star celebrates his release by greeting players and watching the Philadelphia 76ers match next to Hollywood actor Kevin Hart.
Mill and Hart celebrate with a drink courtside at the game
Image:Mill and Hart celebrate with a drink courtside at the game
US rapper Meek Mill has made his first public appearance after being freed from prison at a basketball game in Philadelphia.
The star, whose real name is Robert Rihmeek Williams, spent five months in jail after being sentenced to serve two to four years in November for probation violations.
His supporters have been running a campaign to get him out while he appeals against gun and drug convictions dating back 10 years.
On Tuesday, the state Supreme Court directed the Philadelphia judge who jailed him to immediately issue an order releasing him on unsecured bail.
"I feel great," he said before entering the Wells Fargo Centre, where he rang the ceremonial bell before the start of Game 5 of the Philadelphia 76ers-Miami Heat play-off series.
Meek Mill was at the NBA game in Philadelphia soon after leaving prison
Image:Meek Mill was at the NBA game in Philadelphia soon after leaving prison
"It would just mean a lot for him to be back in Philly, in the city of Philadelphia with the fans, especially with a game like that tonight," 76ers player Ben Simmons said.
"Welcome home Meek Mill," the game announcer told the rapper, who sat courtside next to actor Kevin Hart, Sixers co-owner Michael Rubin, Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and Democratic Pennsylvania governor Tom Wolf.
Before the game, Mill greeted the home team's players in their changing room.
A team of lawyers had campaigned to get Mill freed, levelling fierce criticism at the judge as a stream of high-powered figures and celebrities visited him in jail hours before the Supreme Court ruling.
Mill issued a statement saying the past months had been "a nightmare", and thanked his many supporters and visitors, who included Mr Rubin and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
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Thứ Ba, 24 tháng 4, 2018

Korea summit: Childhood favourite on menu for Kim Jong Un

North Korea leader will be served a nod to his Swiss schooldays at an historic summit with South Korea's Moon Jae-in.
Some of the food to be prepared for the summit between North Korea's Kim Jong Un and South Korea's Moon Jae-in
Image:Swiss rosti has been specially chosen for the North Korea leader
By Siobhan Robbins, Southeast Asia Correspondent
North Korea's Kim Jong Un will be served a childhood favourite at a formal dinner following Friday's inter-Korean summit, it has been revealed.
A Swiss rosti has been specially chosen as a nod to the dictator's time at school in Switzerland.
Former teachers and friends have said that is where the leader was educated, although North Korea has never officially confirmed it.
Kim Jong Un speaks during the Third Plenary Meeting of the Seventh Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
Image:Kim Jong Un is said to have been educated in Switzerland
Not to be forgotten, South Korea's President Moon Jae-in will also get a special dish - baked John Dory fish - in tribute to his days living in the port city of Busan.
The Blue House, the official residence of Mr Moon, added that traditional cold-style noodles are going to be served from a top North Korean restaurant.
Some of the food to be prepared for the summit between North Korea's Kim Jong Un and South Korea's Moon Jae-in
Image:Pictures released also show a Hanwoo beef dish
The head chef of Pyongyang eatery Okryugwan, which is famous for the noodles in meat broth, will travel to the summit in the truce village of Panmunjom to prepare the dish on Friday.
"President Moon had requested Pyongyang-style cold noodles from Okryugwan be included on the menu and North Korea gladly accepted," said Kim Eui-kyeom, the Blue House spokesman.
Pictures released also show a Hanwoo beef dish and a Korean-themed mango mousse decorated with a map of the Korean peninsula for dessert.
Some of the food to be prepared for the summit between North Korea's Kim Jong Un and South Korea's Moon Jae-in
Image:The dessert will be decorated with a map of the Korean peninsula
Mr Kim and Mr Moon are also being spoilt with a choice of alcoholic drinks.
At dinner, Dugyeonju, a fragrant drink made from azalea petals and glutinous rice, will accompany the food.
If they prefer something stronger, then they can have the Munbaesul, a traditional beverage.
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