DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
UK confirms participation in EU elections in May Despite talks with the opposition Labour Party to try to find an allianceto get the Brexit withdrawal agreement through Parliament, British Prime Minister Theresa Mayʼs deputy David Lidington conceded on Tuesday there was not enough time left to get the deal through the assembly. "It is regrettably not going to be possible to finish that process" before May 23, Lidington said in a statement, promising to make the delay "as short as possible." May deeply regretted the move, her spokesman said. This means that the UK will have to take partin European Parliament elections, which will take place from May 23 to 26. "Ideally, weʼd like to be in a situation where those MEPs never actually have to take their seat in the European Parliament - certainly, to get this done and dusted by the summer recess in the British parliament," he added. This would probably be in late July.
South Africaʼs white far-right outcasts are finding friends on Facebook "We see ourselves as African. This is the continent of our birth after which the Afrikaners named themselves. We can only survive on the southern tip of Africa sustainably," says Kallie Kriel, the CEO of AfriForum, a right-wing Afrikaner lobby group. Not long after he made this comment in an interview with DW, AfriForum ended up in court. It was there to defend the use of the old South African flag – the groupʼs members sometimes display the orange, white and blue flag that dates back to the time when South Africa was under brutal apartheid rule. The Nelson Mandela Foundation wants to see the old flag banned for good on the grounds that its display is a form of hate speech. AfriForum says that any attempts to ban the flag will impinge on freedom of expression.
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US Secretary of State Pompeo cancels meeting with Merkel at short notice He was scheduled to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Heiko Maas
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo abruptly called off a visit to Berlin, citing "pressing issues." US Secretary of State Mike Pompeocancelled a visit to Germany on Tuesday, just hours before he was due to arrive in Berlin for talks withGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel. "Unfortunately, we must reschedule the Berlin meetings due to pressing issues," a State Department official said in a statement posted by the US Embassy in Berlin. "We look forward to rescheduling this important set of meetings," the statement added. The United Statesʼ top diplomat was scheduled to meet with Merkel and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas later on Tuesday. The German government confirmed the cancellation, "by the American side" and Merkelʼs office referred all further questions to the US Embassy. However, they did not provide further details on the reason for the change of plans. Pompeo kicked off his European tour by attending an Arctic Council meeting in Finland. He had a private meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday. The US Secretary is also scheduled to travel to the UK on Wednesday for talks with British
Prime Minister Theresa May and Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt. The US Embassy in London said that the meeting "is still going ahead." Pompeo is also due to give a speech on the special relationship between the US and the UK. Pompeoʼs trip to Europe was originally scheduled to end in Greenland on Thursday. Russiaʼs foreign ministry announced that Pompeo will be returning for a meeting with Lavrov in the Russian city of Sochi next week, news agency AFP. During that trip, he may also meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, although the Kremlin didnʼt provide further details. Although the US and German governments did not provide details on the reason for calling off the Tuesday meeting, the announcement comes amidstrained ties between Washington and Berlin. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly complained that Germany is lagging behindin defense spending for NATO.The two countries are also at odds over the Nord Stream 2 project to build a gas pipeline between Germany and Russia.
Gigantic Druzhba oil pipeline paralyzed for weeks Germany has a serious problem with Russia, its largest energy supplier. For two weeks,the Druzhba (Russian for "friendship") pipeline has been blocked. It is the main route to supply Europeʼs leading economy with Russian oil. Even during Soviet times, the former East Germany was supplied by it as were other communist "brother countries." But as of April 25, todayʼs EU members Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic can no longer get oil from the Druzhba pipeline. Warsaw, Budapest and Prague have already had to tap into their emergency reserves. The problem is technical. According to information from Moscow, heavily polluted oil has entered the pipeline probably in the Samara region on the Volga. This oil contains chlorides, which are used to extract oil from largely exhausted sources. But afterwards the chlorides have to be removed, because they can cause severe corrosion damage in refineries.
Trump invites Hungaryʼs Viktor Orban to White House Trump and Orban will meet at the White House for the first time on May 13 for talks on security and trade. Both leaders have taken tough anti-immigration stances and been criticized for policies viewed as antiMuslim. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbanwill meet with US President Donald Trump next week, the White House announced on Tuesday. During the May 13 meeting, the two leaders "will discuss ways to deepen cooperation on a range of issues, including trade, energy, and cyber security," the White House said in a statement.
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104/2019 • 8 May, 2019
France cools Iran spat with new ambassador The French government has appointed an ambassador to Iran after the role was left vacant for months following a diplomatic dispute with the Islamic republic, according to a decree published in Franceʼs Official Gazette. The government named veteran diplomat Philippe Thiebaud (pictured), who once represented France at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, as its permanent representative in Iran. Franceʼs AFP news agency reported that Iran had tapped Bahram Ghasemi, spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, as its ambassador to France, another post left empty since the summer. Iranʼs choice is a controversial one. Ghasemi, who previously served as ambassador to Italy and Spain, had earlier this week credited Lebanese militant group Hezbollah with preventing terrorist groups from reaching Europe. Hezbollahʼs military wing is considered a terrorist group by the EU.
Germany extends ban on arms exports to Saudi Arabia Germany announced Wednesday it would extend a temporary ban on arms exports to Saudi Arabia until the end of the month. The ban, which Germany instituted followed the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and applies to countries involved in the Yemen war, has led to both domestic and international tension, with Chancellor Angela Merkelʼs government facing pressure from theGerman arms industryand some EU neighbors angered over the export freeze. The ban was originally set to last until March 9. "We decided this [extension] with a view to developments in Yemen," Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said following a meeting of Merkelʼs cabinet. "We believe that the Yemen war must end as soon as possible." "Not only will there not be any permits issued until the end of this month, but products with permits already granted will also not be delivered," Maas added. The minister said that the German government would evaluate the arms export situation with respect to developments in Yemen over the course of the month. Around 10,000 people are estimated to have been killed in the war in Yemen since 2015, when Saudi Arabia launched a military intervention in the country. 2
Merkelʼs pick to head European Commission Manfred Weber:
Former far-right Dutch politician converts to Islam A former Dutch far-right MP and right-hand man to anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders revealed he has converted to Islam. He was known for saying that Islam is "a lie" and the Quran is "poison." For years, as a lawmaker for Wildersʼ Freedom Party (PVV), Joram van Klaveren fought a relentless campaign in the Lower House against Islam in the Netherlands. Back then, according to the daily tabloid Algemeen Dagblad (AD), the "hardliner pleaded for banning the burqa and minarets, saying ʼwe donʼt want any Islam, or at least as little as possible in the Netherlands.ʼ" However, the 40-year-old Van Klaveren said he had changed his mind halfway through writing an anti-Islam book, which, on Tuesday, he told the respected NRC Handelsblad "became a refutation of objections non-Muslims have" against the religion.
Itʼs Munich versus Maastricht in the battle to be the EUʼs chief executive. Manfred Weber, an MEP from Bavariaʼs Christian Social Union, is debating his center-left rival from the Netherlands, Frans Timmermans. Is this Manfred Weberʼs moment? The member of Bavariaʼs Christian Social Union (CSU) is the lead candidate for the European Peopleʼs Party — the EUʼs blocwide centerright alliance — to be the next president of the European Commission. The EPP alliance had fared best in the last elections for the European Parliament, in 2014. To put it an-
Will Mindanao referendum bring peace to Philippinesʼ restive region? Meccah Samanodi, 24, cast her vote at Vilo elementary school, a short walk from Notre Dame University in Cotabato city, where she is a faculty member. "I voted in favor of Cotabato city becoming part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) because I believe in my heart having this new region will finally resolve the injustices inflicted upon the Bangsamoro people over a long period of time," Samanodi told DW. She
other way, Weber is German Chancellor Angela Merkelʼs current nomination to replace Jean-Claude Juncker as the European Unionʼs arguably most powerful politician. Weber is not a even household name in Germany, at least not yet — probably owing to his years working in the European Parliament rather than in domestic politics. voted "yes" in the January 21 referendum, but said she fully understood those who made a different choice. "Many people in my city worry we are risking our economic prosperity, security and progressive spirit. It will take time for everyone to feel good about the outcome. Nevertheless, we need to give peace a chance. Hopefully, the new Bangsamoro will live up to its potential."
Swedish royal heist jewelry found, reports say The trial of a young man accused of stealing royal jewelry from a Swedish cathedral was halted on Tuesday
when officials announced that the jewelry had been found in a rubbish bin in a Stockholm suburb. Thieves made off with an orb and two crownsworth approximately 65 million Swedish crowns ($7.1 million) from a hilltop cathedral west of Stockholm in July, before fleeing via a nearby lake system. Police said they had recovered what they believed to be King Karl IXʼs funeral regalia in an area around Stockholm and that they were working "intensely" to confirm the items were the royal jewelry. A 22-year-old Swedish man is standing trialaccused of stealing the objects from an alarmed display after the glass was smashed. The defendant, who was arrested Sept. 12, has not been publicly identified. A second man has been detained but not charged.
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ECʼs Juncker regrets EU silence on Brexit campaign ʼliesʼ The EU was wrong to stay silent ahead of the 2016 Brexit referendum, Jean-Claude Juncker said as he prepares to step down. Being vocal would have ʼdestroyedʼ campaignersʼ lies. He called for a high turnout in May. President of the European Commission since 2014, Jean-Claude Juncker thinks his biggest mistake as the EUʼs chief executive was to listen to then Prime Minister David Cameron’s request to stay silent while Brexit campaigners told "lies" ahead of Britain’s 2016 referendum. Juncker told an end-of-tenure Brussels news conference Tuesday that he and the EU institutions should have ignored the advice: "I was wrong to be silent at an important moment," Juncker said,
Chinese investments in EU in a downward spin Chinese investments in the European Union fell sharply for the second consecutive year in 2018, a report by the Berlin-based Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS) and US consulting firm Rhodium Group showed. Chinese companies completed FDI deals worth €17.3 billion ($19.6 billion) last year, down 40 percent from 2017 levels and way below the record €37.2 billion investment seen in 2016. The decline is part of a trend that has seen Chinese investments fall in most regions of the world over the past two years as Beijing continues to maintain a tight grip on outward investment by its residents amid slowing economic growth and atrade war with the United States.Chinese investors have also been forced to back away by "growing political and regulatory backlash against Chinese capital around the globe,"the authors of the report,Thilo Hanemann, Agatha Kratz and Mikko Huotari, wrote. "This shift in attitudes has been remarkably rapid in Europe," they said.
adding that his mistake had also been to "listen too carefully" to Cameron. "It was a mistake not to intervene and not to interfere because we would have been the only ones to destroy the lies that were circulated," added Juncker. The referendum produce a narrow 52% vote in favor of Brexit over 48% for Remain, although the latest date for the UK to leave has been put back to October as Westminister tries to gain support for its withdrawal agreement.
Germany welcomes Britainʼs Prince Charles and Camilla
Britainʼs Prince Charles and his wife Camilla arrived at Berlin Tegel Airport and were greeted by a Guard of Honour on Tuesday. They then went to the Federal Chancellery where they met Angela Merkel. The 70-year-old, who is next in line to the British throne, then met German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier, before going to the Berlin Airlift Memorial with the Mayor of Berlin, Mike Mueller. The Royals arrived in Germany a day after Charlesʼ younger son, Prince Harry, announced thathe
and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex have had their first child, a baby boy. Charles is expected to include comments on the UKʼs links to Europe in light of Brexit during a speech on Tuesday, suggesting Britainʼs relationship with Europe is "in transition" but bonds with Germany "must endure." The visit had been planned when the original date of the UKʼs departure from the bloc had been March 29. The couple are due to visit Leipzig on Wednesday and Munich on Thursday.
Italy launches €7 billion ʼcitizensʼ incomeʼ plan to combat poverty Italians on Wednesday started to apply for new government welfare subsidies designed to jump-start the countryʼs stagnant economy. The "citizensʼ income" programwas a key campaign promisefrom the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, whichentered into a governing coalitionwith the anti-immigrant League party last year. The program, essentially a new system of welfare and unemployment benefits, provides those eligible with €780 ($882) credited to monthly, prepaid debit cards to pay for groceries, pharmaceuticals, utility bills, rent and other essentials. In exchange, able-bodied participants enroll in a job-finding and job-training program.
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Aircraft makers are optimistic about Farnborough despite Brexit The Farnborough Airshow is a major trade venue for the aeronautical industry. As manufactures set up their displays their thoughts hover between anticipation of the next big order and fears of Brexit says Andreas Spaeth. The global aviation industry will come together on Monday at the Farnborough airfield southwest of London for its biennial industry fair — the second largest in the world after the Paris Air Show. The UK has traditionally been one of the worldʼs leading aviation countries and the Farnborough trade fairʼs roots date all the way back to 1920. It moved to its current location in 1948. Read more: Air India sale grounded after privatization flops However, this year is likely to be full of uncertainty as to the future role of the British aviation industry is called into question due to the UKʼs impending departure from the EU in 2019. Airlines and manufacturers have both recently denounced the prevailing uncertainties and demanded clear post-Brexit rules.Read more: Air India sale grounded after privatization flops However, this year is likely to be full of uncertainty as to the future role of the British aviation industry is called into question due to the UKʼs impending departure from the EU in 2019. Airlines and manufacturers have both recently denounced the prevailing uncertainties and demanded clear post-Brexit rules. ITB Berlin tourism partner Malaysia claims it has ʼno gaysʼ Malaysia faces a potential backlash from lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) rights groups after claiming that the Muslim-majority country doesnʼt have gays. On Tuesday, Tourism Minister Datuk Mohammaddin bin Ketapi was asked by reporters ahead of the opening of the ITB Berlin tourism fair whether the country was safe for gay and Jewish visitors. After initially sidestepping the question, the minister was asked again whether gays were welcome and he replied: "I donʼt think we have anything like that in our country." Denial could hurt bookings Despite efforts by Malaysian officials to downplay the incident, Ketapiʼs comments could derail attempts to entice more tourists to visit Malaysia. The remarks came after he spoke for several minutes about the countryʼs natural beauty and welcoming culture. The country has set itself a target of receiving 30 million visitors in 2019.
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ʼGrand Theft Europeʼ - reports tax fraudsters stealing millions from governments The so-called "VAT carousels" enable criminal gangs to steal millions from the state. This type of graft is hitting Germany particularly hard. A new report published on Tuesday revealed a €50 billion ($56 million) tax fraud scheme that has been gathering steam in Europe for years – and Germany is both the biggest victim and enabler of the EUʼs massive "VAT carousel" racket, according to the authors. Reporters from 30 countries working for the Germannonprofit investigative newsroom Correktivdiscovered the massive graft by following one fraudster up the ladder
Foreign investment in the United States of America down sharply Foreign direct investment (FDI) in the United States plunged by a staggering 32 percent in 2017 year on year, the US Bureau of Economic Analysis reported. Investment totaled $259.6 billion (€221.2 billion),with the figure representing the second year of declineafter a peak in 2015 when foreign investorsʼ expenditure in the US hit $439.5 billion. Last year, most foreign investments in the United States came from neighboring Canada which contributed $66.2 billion. European Union member states accounted for 40 percent of the 2017 FDI total. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the drop in foreign investment in the United States is part of a global trend. Not just a US problem OECD researchers noted that FDI levels were down 18 percent worldwide in 2017.
Hotel Palazzo Zichy H-1088 Budapest, Lőrinc pap tér 2. T.: +36 1 235 4000 reservation@hpz.hu www.hotel-palazzo-zichy.hu/
China: Multiple deaths in chemical plant blast Authorities in southwestern Sichuan province have opened an investigation into a blast at an industrial complex that left 19 people dead, state news agency Xinhua reported Friday. The explosion ripped through the Yibin Hengda Technology complex in the city of Yibin at 6:30 p.m. (1030 UTC) Thursday, sparking a fire that burned late into the night, Xinhua said. County officials said that 12 people wounded in the blast had been taken to hospital and were in a stable condition.Read more: China convicts dozens for last yearʼs giant explosions in Tianjin Reports in the Sichuan Dailysaid the force of the explosion reduced three buildings to their steel frames and shattered the windows of nearby properties. China, the worldʼs largest producer of chemicals, has sought to improve industrial safety standards following aseries of high-profile accidentsin recent years.
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of the continent-wide criminal gang. The scheme resolves around the trade of goods such as cars and mobile phones and even uses other high-cost items such as CO2 emissions certificates. Taking advantage of each European country having a different value added tax (VAT), the criminals move the goods from one EU member state to another, claiming back millions in tax reimbursements that they never paid or earned in the first place.
Porsche fined 535 million euros over diesel scandal
German prosecutors have levied a huge fine on carmaker Porsche for dereliction of duty in the emissionscheating scandal that has engulfed parent company Volkswagen. German carmaker and Volkswagen (VW) subsidiary Porsche was ordered to pay a €535 million ($598 million) fine on Tuesday for its part in the "Dieselgate" scandal. It is the latest in a host of fines against VW for the use of software to hide the true level of harmful emissions by diesel cars. Prosecutors in Stuttgart said the carmaker had "abstained from a legal challenge" against the decision. The Dieselgate scandal erupted in 2015 when VW admitted to manipulating 11 million cars globally to cheat emissions tests. Thousands of investors are suing the company over losses they suffered when news of the scandal broke. Hundreds of thousands of car owners are also demanding compensation in the US and other countries. In a statement, Porsche said the cost of the fine was included in a provision of around €1 billion booked by VW in the first quarter. Dieselgate has so far cost the car giant around €30 billion.
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Asthma: When breathing becomes difficult There are many causes for the disease
Collective push against climate change more powerful than youʼd think Peter Kalmus sits outside Californiaʼs Pasadena City Hall in his electric car. His sons, aged 10 and 12, are on steps of the grand building, waving signs with the slogans: "School strike for climate" and "Adults, act like it!" Kalmusʼ Tesla is just the kind of luxury youʼd expect a climate scientist at NASAʼs jet propulsion laboratory to have. But he doesnʼt exactly live a lavish lifestyle. Actually, he says, he usually cycles. He hasnʼt been on a plane since 2012, and he eats a vegetarian diet. As someone who works in climate science, Kalmus feels thereʼs no excuse not to reduce his carbon footprint. "This is an urgent crisis," he says. "Those of us who understand that should act like itʼs an urgent crisis."
Múzeum+ February at Museum of Fine Arts
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7 / 16
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Hungary Budapest: Debrecen: Eger: Hévíz:
6/16 5/17 4/16 5/16
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4/25 0/21 5/15 6/20 3/17 10/21
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Europe Moscow: Paris: Prague: Rome: Varsaw: Vienna:
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Culture
Right here, right now! Fatboy Slim comes to Budapest Akvárium Club BRIGHTON BEATMASTER FATBOY SLIM IS COMING TO BU-
For many of those affected, asthma is a lifelong burden. It leads to inflammations with attacks of coughing, breathlessness, dyspnea and whistling breathing.
DAPEST FOR HIS LOCAL CLUB DEBUT AT THE FOCAL AKVÁRIUM ON 25 MAY.
Asthmabegins with an inflammation in the lungs. The airways inside the lungs swell up, obstructing the airflow, which impedes gas exchange in the lungs. Especially exhaling becomes difficult for patients. Carbondioxide-enriched air in the lungs can no longer be properly discharged. The patients feel difficulty in breathing while the stimulus — the
Brighton beatmaster Fatboy Slim is coming to Budapest for his local club debut at the focal Akvárium on 25 May. The veteran of many a festival – Glasto, Exit, Coachella – has played Hungary before but never in the intimate surroundings of a sweaty club. The booking represents a major coup for the Akvárium, whose line-up for 2019 also includes John Digweed and Kruder & Dorfmeister. Tickets have not yet gone on sale for Fatboy Slim in the Main Hall of the Akvárium – but keep an eye on theclub’s websiteas they’re bound to sell out in no time. Slim, who successfully shifted from indie to electronica in the 1990s, reignited his career with the hit Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat, in 2013. The DJ star is currently playing a series of huge arenas in the UK, from London to Glasgow. Akvárium Klub District V. Erzsébet tér 12
desire to get fresh oxygen into the lungs — becomes stronger and stronger. However, when they inhale, they cannot ventilate the lungs properly because the stale air in the lungs has not been completely released yet. This leads to dyspnea, a vicious circle which the patients can only break out of through conscious and calm exhalation excercises.
Banksyʼs shredded ʼGirl with Balloonʼ now on display in Germany First created by Banksy as a stencil street art piece in 2002, the world renowned image of a young girl with her hand extended toward a heartshaped red balloon has most famously been a symbol of political protests — including during the building of the Israel-Palestine segregation barrier in 2005 and the Syrian civil war in 2014. But when the
street artist recently attempted to shred his work after it was sold for auction at Sothebyʼs — which he renamed "Love is in the Bin" — in order to draw attention to the folly of the big money global art world, he ironically only added to its renown, and no doubt its value. Read more: Banksy video says ʼBalloon Girlʼ shredding went wrong .
The February edition of monthly event series Múzeum+ is being held on the 14th at the Museum of Fine Arts. For each of these events, besides interactive workshops and concerts, an Englishlanguage guided tour also features. This time the theme is German Renaissance Art, starting at 7pm. For the complete schedule, check the museum website.
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Monte Carlo Masters: Fabio Fognini beats Dusan Lajovic in final
talyʼs Fabio Fognini won a Masters 1000 event for the first time with a straight-sets victory over Dusan Lajovic at the Monte Carlo Masters. Fognini, 31, beat Serbiaʼs Lajovic 6-3 6-4 in one hour and 38 minutes. World number 18 Fognini entered the Monte Carlo Masters on a five-match losing streak but beat Alexander Zverev, Borna Coric and 11-time winner Rafael Nadal en route to the final. "It was really tough, Dusan played an unbelievable week," Fognini said. Lajovic made the better start, breaking Fogniniʼs serve early on but the Italian fought back, breaking twice to take a 4-2 lead in the opening set.
The NFL star abandoned on Londonʼs streets at age of 10
"Apparently if you want to book it you have to say: ʼThe Efe Obada room please.ʼ Thatʼs really cool. "If someoneʼs in there, Iʼll just kick them out..." Efe Obada is joking about the meeting room we are about to enter at the NFLʼs UK headquarters in central London. This is the roomʼs first meeting and a recently cut opening ribbon now hangs loose around the doorframe. Oversized golden scissors lie on the table and from the wall behind, one huge picture dominates the space. It shows Obada, surrounded by a sea of his Carolina Panthers team-mates and grinning widely, just like everyone else. The photo was taken after the 26-year-old Britonʼsstunning NFL debut in September 2018. 6
Aleksandar Kolarovʼs free kick stunner secures Serbia win over Costa Rica A brilliant second half free kick from captain Aleksandar Kolarov led Serbia to a deserved win over Costa Rica. Serbia were wasteful in front of goal but did enough to secure three vital points in Group E. Another World Cup day, another sublime freekick. If Cristiano Ronaldo’s ice-cold effort tosnatch a point against archrivals Spain on day two was the current goal of the tournament front-runner, the Portuguese may have just met his match. Aleksandar Kolarov, take a bow. A combination of poor finishing and sublime goalkeeping had kept the scores level until Serbia’s no.11 produced his moment of magic. Kolarov’s powerful left foot is no secret, but few inside the stadium would have expected such a thunderous strike when the Roma defender stood over a free kick midway through the second half. His shot was unstoppable; a sidefooted missile which screamed into the top corner of the Costa Rica net. Kaylor Navas, who kept his team in the game with several crucial saves either side of half time, was nowhere near it.
Franck Ribery confirms he will leave Bayern Munich at end of season The former French international has made more than 400 appearances for the Bavarian giants
The 36-year-old forward has announced his decision after 12 years with the German record titleholders. Franck Ribery will leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season after 12 years with the Bundesliga side, the French winger announced on the clubʼs website. "When I came to Bayern, it was a dream come true. It wonʼt be easy to say goodbye, but we must never forget what weʼve achieved together," he said. Ribery won 21 major honors, including eight Bundesliga titles and
the Champions League, with Bayern after he joined the club from French side Olympique de Marseille in 2007. The 36-year-old admitted he was still unclear on his plans for next season but indicated he wanted to continue playing. "I donʼt have a proper plan yet for next season. I donʼt know what I will do and where I will be going to play football," he said.
Queenʼs Club: Andy Murray reserved wildcard for Fever-Tree Championships Former British number one Andy Murray has been offered a wildcard to play at Queenʼs Club next month and will decide "nearer the time" if he will take it. The three-time Grand Slam champion, 31, had hip surgery in January. Murray saidin March he was pain-freebut rated his chances of playing in the Wimbledon singles at "less than 50%" and has not played competitively since. The Fever-Tree Championships at Queenʼs in London will start on Monday, 17 June - two weeks before Wimbledon begins. Current British top two Kyle
Edmund and Cameron Norrie will feature at the tournament, as will last yearʼs beaten Wimbledon and US Open finalists Kevin Anderson and Juan Martin del Potro. Defending champion Marin Cilic, three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka, Australian Nick Kyrgios and former Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic are also named on the entry list. A wildcard is being held in reserve for fivetime winner Murray, who Queenʼs say will let tournament director Stephen Farrow know nearer the time of the event if he is fit enough to play.