I GLOBAL NEWZ

Poland’s President Andrzej Duda attends the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland January 26, 2018. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse Poland’s president says there was no institutionalised participation by Poland or its people in the Holocaust, but acknowledges that individual Poles took “wicked” actions against Jewish neighbours. President Andrzej Duda said yesterday that he would never allow Poland and Poles in general to be “vilified” though “false accusations.” Duda seemed to be reacting to anger in Israel over a bill that would prohibit public statements assigning to “the Polish nation” responsibility for crimes committed by Nazi Germany during its World War II occupation of Poland. Violations would be punishable by fines or prison terms of up to three years. In Israel, the legislation has been interpreted as an attempt to undermine scholarly research and deny facts about the Holocaust. Polish and Israeli officials are discussing the bill’s wording,...

The German government plans to nationalise lorry motorway toll company Toll Collect temporarily until a new operator has been found, a transport ministry spokesman said on Monday. Toll Collect, the world’s first satellite-based truck toll system, is 45 percent-owned by German carmaker Daimler, 45 percent by Deutsche Telekom and 10 percent by Vinci unit Cofiroute. Confirming a pre-released report by business daily Handelsblatt, the transport ministry spokesman said that the federal government intends to take over the Toll Collect in September before starting the bidding process to renew the operating contract, which expires this year. “It is not intended that the government will hold the shares in the operating company permanently,” the spokesman said. Handelsblatt’s report said the reason for the planned nationalisation was unresolved legal disputes between the federal government, Toll Collect and its shareholders. There are currently two arbitration proceedings involving Toll ...

We can afford to do more for people who need it by doing less for people who don’t: Trudeau’s message (Photo Source: Reuters) Canada’s parliament began debate on Monday on new legislation to tighten workplace harassment rules, including those governing politicians, as allegations of sexual misconduct mounted against lawmakers on both sides of the political spectrum. The bill, introduced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government in November, gained a new prominence after a federal cabinet minister and two provincial party leaders stepped down last week after being accused of inappropriate behavior. While the proposed law will govern all federal workplaces, including private businesses, the environment among political staffers in Ottawa was in focus as the #MeToo social media movement gained momentum in Canada. “It clearly is a crisis in this workplace,” Employment Minister Patty Hajdu told reporters outside the House of Commons. “We talk a lot about getting wom...

Robert Lighthizer, United States Trade Representative, makes statements to the media following NAFTA round six renegotiations in Montreal, Quebec, Canada January 29, 2018. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi US Trade Rep Robert Lighthizer said Monday talks to rewrite the North American Free Trade Agreement are progressing very slowly. Lighthizer said the US views NAFTA as a “very important agreement” and said the sixth round of talks between Canada, the United States and Mexico, which concluded Monday, were a “step forward.” “Some real headway was made here,” Lighthizer said. “We’re committed to moving forward.’ President Donald Trump called NAFTA a job-killing “disaster” on the campaign trail and has threatened to withdraw from the 24-year-old pact if he can’t get what he wants. Lighthizer said there will be another round in Mexico in late February and said core issues are starting to be discussed. The negotiators had originally hoped to reach an agreement before Mexico’s July p...

Any 5G nationalisation plan would likely cost hundreds of billions of dollars, wireless carriers said (Representational Image) The top US communications regulator, wireless companies and some lawmakers oppose an idea by members of President Donald Trump’s national security team for the government to build a 5G wireless network to counter China spying on phone calls. The Trump administration has taken a harder line with China on policies initiated by predecessor President  Barack Obama  on issues ranging from Beijing’s role in restraining North Korea to Chinese efforts to acquire U.S. strategic industries. The option of a nationalized 5G network was being discussed by Trump’s national security team, an administration official said on Sunday. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Monday that discussions were at “the very earliest stages” to ensure a “secure network,” and “absolutely no decisions” have been made. The government has blocked a string of...

“We hope the Indian side can put this in perspective and we stand ready to strengthen cooperation with the Indian side,” said Hua Chunying. China on Monday said it is ready to hold talks with India to resolve their differences on the contentious USD 50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that passes through PoK. Asked about Indian Ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale’s interview to state-run Global Times in which he had said that differences on the CPEC should not be swept under the carpet, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China is willing to hold talks with India in this regard. “I noted the relevant report. Regarding the CPEC, China has repeatedly reiterated our position. As to the differences between China and India, China stands ready to communicate and hold talks with India to seek a proper solution so that these differences will not affect our general national interests. This best serves the interests of the two countries,” she said. ...