DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
EU citizens in UK denied vote in European elections Hundreds — if not thousands — of non-British EU citizens were turned away from polling stations on Thursday after being told they were not registered to vote in the United Kingdom forthe election of the European Parliament. The main reason given by polling station workers was that the would-be voterʼs form had not been processed in time. However, in some cases, local authorities admitted they had made errors. "The Electoral Commission, local authorities and the Government in Westminster have failed despite multiple warnings over the last six weeks," said The 3 Million, a lobby group for the rights of EU citizens living in the UK.
Forward or backward? Decision time in the EU "The elections taking place on 26 May will decide the destiny of this continent," the leader of the Christian Democratic bloc in the European Parliament,Manfred Weber,declared at a plenary session last month. Weber heads the list of candidates for his political family, the European Peopleʼs Party (EPP), and he is not alone: Many politicians from all camps have been using the same terms to describe the upcoming European elections. Weber intends to run for president of the European Commission. He sees the vote as a straight fight between pro-Europeans and nationalists. "This Europe that weʼre living in today is a good Europe," he says. "We wonʼt let todayʼs nationalists destroy it for us." There havenever been as many right-wing populists and euroskeptics in EU member statesas there are for this election. Opinion polls are indicating that they could get more than 20% of the seats.
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Hungaryʼs ruling party threatens to leave proEU bloc ahead of vote Who are the far-right populists looking to disrupt the EU?
Hungaryʼs foreign minister has said that migration policy would determine whether the ruling Fidesz Party remains in the center-right European Peopleʼs Party (EPP) grouping after the European parliamentary elections. Hungaryʼs Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Thursday the ruling Fidesz party would see the EPPʼs future course before making a decision about staying or leaving the center-right grouping. "If the EPP moves towards migration, it is not a direction we can follow for sure," said Szijjarto. "We hope the EPP will move back to the place where it used to be when we joined … if the EPP makes an alliance with pro-migration parties, that is definitely a red line for us," Szijjarto, a Fidesz Party lawmaker, told Reuters news agency. The EPPsuspended Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orbanʼs Fidesz Partyin March over concerns that it violated EU principles on the rule of law. Earlier this month, Orban said he wanted the EPP bloc in the European Parliament to have closer ties with euroskeptic and nationalist parties. Szijjarto, too, urged the EPP to shift
toward the right. Far-right populist parties such as Marine Le Penʼs National Rally in France and Matteo Salviniʼs Northern League in Italy are expected to perform well in the European Parliament elections. Szijjarto did not rule out the possibility of linking up with Le Pen and Salvini. Chancellor Angela Merkelʼs decision to open Germanyʼs doors to migrants in 2015 split the EPP bloc between pro- and anti-immigration factions. The EPP currently has 217 lawmakers in the 750-strong EU legislature, and 12 of them are from Hungaryʼs ruling party. The future of the coalition will be at stake in the European parliamentary election, taking place until Sunday. Szijjarto has dubbed the May 26 European Parliament vote as the most significant the 28nation bloc has ever held, as it offered two distinct versions of its future.
President Steinmeier calls for decency on 70th anniversary of German constitution German President Frank-Walter Steinmeierissued a call for civility and repudiation of hatred and enmity on Thursday during an event to mark the 70th anniversary of Germanyʼs constitution, known as the Basic Law. "With all freedom and in the heat of conflict, something must be retained that can be summed up in two concepts: decency and reason," said Steinmeier, standing alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel and 200 citizens who received invitations to the event. "And that is also the reason that we are here, because we do not want hatred and enmity to penetrate our debates like a poison," the president said. He also called on political leaders to listen to the concerns of their constituents, warning that populism feeds off feelings of political impotence.
US arrests banker for Trump administration job bribe The head of a bank is accused of approving loans in exchange for a job in the White House. Although he failed to get one, he was placed on a "prestigious" committee tied to Trumpʼs campaign, prosecutors said. US authorities on Thursday arrested Federal Savings Bank CEO Stephen Calk for financial institution bribery. Federal prosecutors accused Calk of approving $16 million (€14 million) of risky loans for Paul Manafort,a disgraced manager of US President Donald Trumpʼs 2016 electoral campaign, in exchange for a top position in the administration.
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Montenegro opposition leaders jailed for proRussian coup plot A court in Montenegro on Thursday sentenced opposition politicians to five years in jail overan alleged attempted plot to overthrow the government. Despite a 19-month trial, details of the plan remain murky. The opposition has decried the prosecution and trial as a "witch hunt" aimed at preventing it from coming to power. What we know about the case Fourteen people stood accused of planning a violent coup with Russian help in 2016.The defendants included two pro-Russian opposition leaders, Andrija Mandic and Milan Knezevic.Two Russians, identified as secret service operatives, were convicted in absentia.Prosecutors said the plotters were trying to prevent Montenegro from joining the NATO military alliance.Moscow denied any involvement.The politicians are expected to appeal the ruling Russian help? Russia strongly opposed Montenegroʼs accession to NATO in 2017, fearing, among other things, a loss of strategic access to the Adriatic Sea. However, the opposition says there is no evidence that Moscow was behind any plot to overthrow the government and that the trial was politically motivated.
Vietnamʼs dog meat culture clashes with modern tastes Hoang has been eating dog meat since he was young. He canʼt imagine there will be a time that he wonʼt be eating it at least twice a month. However, Vietnamese officials announced in September that dog and cat meat should no longer be served in the inner districts of the capital city Hanoi because itʼs offensive to tourists and can spread diseases like rabies. Read more: Illegal dog meat trade raises moral questions Dog meat lovers and restaurant owners fear that the government will try to expand the ban and decide to officially forbid eating dog and cat meat entirely. "I donʼt see how they can ban it. The demand is just too high," Hoang said at a restaurant in Vietnamʼs largest metropolis, Ho Chi Minh City. In a small alley in Ho Chi Minh City, at least four restaurants serve dog meat, or Thịt chó. People gather around small tables to dine on the canine meat, complementing it with rice wine or beer. Hoang, who declined to give his full name, is sitting at a table with three good friends. 2
A desperate move by Iranian President Rouhani Iranian President Hassan Rouhaniʼs domestic policies failed early in his tenure
Iranʼs move to partially withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal not only jeopardizes the landmark international agreement, but also puts an end to the era of "moderation, diplomacy and hope" in Iran, says Jamshid Barzegar. Iranʼs decision to resume higher enrichment of uranium in 60 days if world powers fail to negotiate new terms for its 2015 nuclear deal will likely aggravate tensions with the United States and other global powers. In 2015, Iran and a group of world powers known as the P5+1, including the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany, struck a landmark deal to limit Tehranʼs nuclear program. Iranian President Hassan Rouhaniʼs
China says Interpol chief Meng Hongwei under investigation for bribery Interpol President Meng Hongwei, who had gone missing in late September, is under investigation for bribery and other crimes, the Chinese Security Ministry announced on Monday. Meng is accused of "accepting bribes and is suspected of violating the law," the ministry said in a statement. It also hinted at a political dimension by stating Meng was being probed because of his own "willfulness and for bringing trouble upon himself." Meng, a senior security official in China as well as the first Chinese head of Interpol, has beenmissing since September 25 while on a trip to his native country. On Sunday, Chinaʼs anti-graft body had said that "Public Security Ministry Vice Minister Meng Hongwei is currently
Pakistan top court hears blasphemy appeal amid Islamist threats On Monday, Pakistanʼs Supreme Court began the hearing of Asia Bibiʼsfinal appeal against her 2010 death penalty. The three-judge bench said it has reserved the verdict on the appeal, however the judges did not say when they will announce it. If the top court upholds her death sentence, the only recourse for the 53-year-old would be toappeal to the countryʼs president for clemency. In 2014, her death sentence was upheld by the Lahore High Court. Rights group Amnesty International dubbed the verdict a "grave injustice." Religious extremists in Pakistan, particularly the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) group, have warned the authorities against reversing the blasphemy verdict."If there is any attempt to hand her [Bibi] over to a foreign country, there will be terrible consequences," TLP said in a statement.
domestic policies failed early in his tenure. His foreign initiatives, meanwhile, were met by strong opposition from Iranʼs supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other hardline elements inside the country. Rouhani now either seems to not have a plan, or hopes to save the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), his sole achievement. under investigation by the National Supervisory Commission for suspected violations of law," without specifying its allegations. China has been cracking down on corruption under President Xi Jinping. Interpol later said Meng had resigned as president of the international police organization with immediate effect. It named South Korean national Kim Jong Yang, who was Senior Vice-President, as acting president.
Japan struggles to convince older people to stop driving With his head bowed and in a voice that was breaking with emotion, the husband of Mana Matsunaga and the father of their daughter, 3-year-old Riko, reignited the debate in Japan
about old people getting behind the wheel of vehicles on the nationʼs roads. Matsunaga (he has requested that his first name not be reported) was addressing a press conference on April 24, just days after his family had been run down and killed by a car driven by 87-year-old Kozo Iizuka in the Tokyo district of Ikebukuro. Security footage has shown Iizukaʼs car driving through red traffic signals and across pedestrian crossings before striking Mana Matsunagaʼs bicycle and two trucks and finally coming to a halt. Nine other people, including Iizuka, were injured and police have already stated that they believe human error was to blame for the tragedy. "I had believed I would watch my daughter grow up and become an adult, and that I would spend the rest of my days with my wife until the end of our natural life," Matsunaga said. "I am in despair. Our future was lost in the blink of an eye."
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India election: Narendra Modi faces big challenges after victory Prime Minister Narendra Modiʼs BJP has won Indiaʼs general election. While financial markets have reacted positively, many are worried about the rise of nationalism and the future of Indiaʼs democracy. On Thursday, results for Indiaʼs mammoth general elections showed Prime Minister Narendra Modiʼs Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as the clear winner, with a total of 297 seats. Modiʼs supporters referred to the sweeping victory as a "TsunaMo" — a combination of tsunami and Modi. A winning party or coalition in Indiaʼs lower house of Parliament, called the Lok Sabha, needs at least 272 out of a total of 542 seats to form the govern-
German export policies threaten European defense projects Franceʼs ambassador to Germany, Anne-Marie Descotes, warned on Monday that German arms export policies and licensing rules threatened future Franco-German defense projects. The remarks come as the two European nations are seeking to form closer defense cooperationand deepen ties between their parliaments. In anessay published by the German militaryʼs Federal Academy for Security Policy, she said Germany had a tendency to see arms exports as a domestic political issue, but that its policies still "have serious consequences for our bilateral cooperation in the defense sector and the strengthening of European sovereignty." An ʼuntenableʼ situation Germanyʼs unpredictable arms export policies and long waiting times for export licenses are a particular problem, Descotes said. This has an impact on major Franco-German projects to develop new tanks, combat jets and drones. "This situation is untenable," she wrote. "Realistic export possibilities on the basis of clear and predictable rules are an essential prerequisite for the survival of our European defense industry."
ment. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which is the ruling coalition under the BJP, has won more than 340 seats. The BJP also managed to make inroads in states that had previously been dominated by other political parties. In the states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh, the party surged ahead of the Indian National Congress (INC), which had recently won state-level elections in these areas.
Workplace feedback doesnʼt have to crush you
Uncomfortable for your boss and uncomfortable for you, workplace feedbackis often associated with the classic dread one experiences before a visit to the dentist. In the same way that staring numbly into the abyss of the dentistʼs ceiling while getting cavities filled is essential to the vitality of a pearly white smile, feedback is essential to the vitality of a successful career. As we know, what we need isnʼt always what we want. "It deals a
lot with who we are,” said researcherNikos Dimotakis. "People need to feel that they relate to others, that they have autonomy and that they are competent." People can feel these needs are being attacked when they receive negative feedback explains Dimotakis, who teaches management at the University of NebraskaLincoln. Heʼs found that negative feedback "makes us feel like we are unliked, like we are incompetent”.
Measles infected 34,000 in Europe in two months, says WHO The World Health Organization has said more than 34,000 people across Europe caught measles in the first two months of 2019. Just this week, Germany proposed a fine for parents who donʼt vaccinate their children. The World Health Organization on Tuesday said there had been a sharp rise in the number of measles cases across Europe in January and February of this this year, with more than 34,000 people catching the disease.
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Worldʼs largest underwater restaurant opens in Norway The "Under" restaurant is five meters (16 feet) under water at Spangereid on Norwayʼs southern tip. "Under" also means "wonder" in Norwegian. It opened on Wednesday for friends and family of the owners, with the first paying guests expected in April. It is Europeʼs first and the worldʼs largest underwater restaurant, with seating for 100 guests. One of the founders of the new enterprise which opened this month, Gaute Ubostad, said: "Weʼll attract tourists from all over the world. That is our goal." Built like a rock formation rising from the sea, "Under" measures 34 meters in length and is designed to blend into the marine environment over time. Its rough concrete shell will act as an artificial reef for limpets and kelp. Norwegian architects Snoehetta designed the building. They are also responsible for the National September 11 Memorial Museum in New York, and the Opera house in Oslo. The restaurant has a large window so diners can see the sea-life as they enjoy their meals. Fish passing by should include pollack and cod, and there are crabs, lobsters and dogfish to see amid the seaweed. Architect Kjetil Traedal Thorsen said: "The big window exposes the underwater not like an aquarium, it’s the real thing." Seals are not being encouraged near the restaurant as they tend to scare away the fish. Artificial lights will be used to guide the fish and their prey near the viewing window: "One of our main criteria is that our guests will get to experience something unique in the sea," Ubostad said. Fish will be on the menu, as will seabirds, and wild sheep that have grazed the archipelago nearby will also be prepared for the evening meals.
Malta in the eye of a financial tempest A recent European Commission report on Malta warned that the country had made "limited progress in addressing the 2018 Country Specific Recommendations (CSRs) concerning money laundering, corruption and financial supervision." A European Parliament report meanwhile described "systemized and serious deficiencies" in the rule of law in Malta, while a police investigation in Italy has alleged that theSicilian Mafiainfiltrated companies in the onlinegaming sector some based in Malta to launder money. Read more: Opinion: Golden visas and passport trade undermine EU As if that werenʼt bad enough for the Mediterranean investorsʼ paradise, the EUʼs parliament recently voted to adopt a "tax harmonization” scheme that would create one common corporate tax rate throughout the EU, a move that could halve Maltaʼs tax base. 4
US vows to check ʼaggressiveʼ China, Russia in Arctic The eight-member Arctic Council is meeting in Finland as thawing of polar ice has some countries scrambling over the earthʼs untapped resources. The US is set to strengthen its presence in the region. Top diplomats from the United States, Russia and other member nations of the Arctic Council met in Rovaniemi, Finland on Monday to discuss policies pertaining to the polar region. The summit comes as tensions grow over how to deal with global warming and jurisdiction of the Arcticʼs wealth of minerals. Speaking on Monday ahead of the talks in Finland, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US would strengthen its Arctic presence to keep in check what he called the "aggressive attitude" of China and Russia. Pompeo said: "The region has become an arena of global power and
Nissan files complaint against ex-boss Carlos Ghosn for ʼmisuse of fundsʼ Japanese automaker Nissan on Friday said it filed its own criminal complaint against its former chairman Carlos Ghosn for the "misuse of a significant amount of the companyʼs funds." Ghosn has beenarrested and charged by Japanese prosecutors with financial misconduct. On Friday, Tokyo prosecutors added a new indictment to the growing list of charges brought against the once-lauded executive. Until the recent charges against him,Ghosn served as a top executive for Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi. He was considered a key figure in establishing and then maintaining the alliance. Prosecutors filed two new charges against Ghosn: one for aggravated breach of trust for temporarily transferring personal investment losses to Nissan in 2008 and the other for understating compensation for three years through to 2018.Nissan called for "strict penalties" when filing its complaint, which was "based on the same violation" of aggravated breach of trust.
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 highprofile accidentsin recent years.
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competition." "Just because the Arctic is a place of wilderness does not mean it should become a place of lawlessness," Pompeo added. The issues under discussion at the Council meeting include: Concerns over the climate policies of US President Donald Trump.Chinaʼs "Polar Silk Road" plan, which it outlined last year.Russiaʼs reopened Cold War military bases and Northern Fleet modernization. US and Russian officials could also meet separately to discuss the political crisis in Venezuela which is Russiaʼs biggest South American ally.
Bosch pays 90million-euro fine over diesel scandal
The penalty may be significantly less than the ones handed out to Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche, but auto parts supplier Bosch has become the latest big-name casualty of the "Dieselgate" scandal. German auto parts supplier Bosch was on Thursday ordered by prosecutors to pay a fine of €90 million ($100 million) over its role supplying components in the "Dieselgate" emissions cheating scandal. Stuttgart investigators "levied a fine against Robert Bosch GmbH for negligently infringing its quality control obligations," they said in a statement, adding that the company had agreed not to contest the fine. Beginning in 2008, Bosch "delivered around 17 million motor control and mixture control devices to various domestic and foreign manufacturers, some of whose software contained illegal strategies," the prosecutors found. "Cars fitted with the devices emitted more nitrogen oxides than allowed under regulations."
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Snakebites kill at least 80,000 people per year and probably more The World Health Organization is looking to change that
As Germany phases out coal, villages still forced to make way for mining This end of thevillage of Immerathis peaceful, with birds chirping in the gables of empty houses. But off in the distance, the sound of excavators tearing down walls and smashing stones betray that calm. The open-pit lignite mine Garzweiler II is just a stoneʼs throw away from Immerath, and soon the village will be no more. Immerath was once a lively community with a sports club, church and several kindergartens. Today, the homes have been barricaded or bricked up. Down one abandoned street, a gutted car sits in the open garage of a family home covered in ivy. At the other end of the road, demolition work has already begun.
Sting to return to Budapest for summer 2019
Statesman and former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan once called snakebites "the biggest public health crisis youʼve never heard of." Millions of people across the world read about the horrors of theEbola virus in 2014,when the deadly disease rapidly spread from a small village in Guinea to the rest of West Africa, Europe and the United States, killing around 11,000 people. The three-year outbreak attracted widespread international news coverage generating pervasive fear throughout the
Western world. However, as international news anchors warned citizens of the risks of the Ebola virus, another far deadlier killer swept sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia and South Asia: poisonous snakes. Snakebite took the lives of up to 400,000 victims between 2014 and 2016, making it almost 40 times deadlier than the Ebola virus.
Bertolt Brecht: Poet, playwright — and womanizer The two-part, three-hour documentary drama Brecht, directed by Heinrich Breloer, portrays how Bertolt Brecht (portrayed by actor Tom Schilling) turned into the star of German theater during the Weimar Republic. As a student, he was nearly expelled from school for writing in 1915 an unpatriotic essay that argued that only empty-headed people would be willing to die for their country. He was then quickly celebrated as a wild, young poet-genius with his first fulllength play, Baal, written in 1918 and first staged five years later. An inter-
national classic: The Threepenny Opera His following play, Drums in the Night (written in 1919 and first produced in 1922), anchored his reputation as a playwright. "At 24, the writer Bert Brecht has changed Germanyʼs literary complexion overnight," wrote one influential Berlin critic at the time of the rising star. Brechtʼs lyrics set to music by Kurt Weill in The Threepenny Opera (1928) became the biggest hit in Berlin during the 1920s; the musical went on to become an international classic.
Sting is head over heels for Budapest. After a successful free show with Shaggy a month ago on Heroes’ Square, the former Police frontman has just announced another Budapest concert for next summer. On 2 July, the Grammy-winning singer brings his My Songs tour to the Papp László Aréna, where he will be taking the stage with his own band. From “Englishman In New York” to “Every Breath You Take”, the set should include Sting’s biggest hits. Tickets are on sale now.
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Culture
New tourist info point pops up in central Budapest nearVárosháza park The main tourist information office Budapest Info Point in the city centre has temporarily relocated to a new site at nearby Városháza Park. Housed in a neat kiosk of wood and glass, the new outlet will be serving tourists while the Sütő utca office is being renovated. This pop-up shop is conveniently located, a few steps from the terminus of airport bus 100E. Until the end of February, visitors to Hungary’s capital can pick up maps, browse Budapest guides and book city tours at a new tourist info site, set up near the Deák tér transport hub. Overseen by the Budapest Festival and Tourism Center, this temporary setting is stationed here while the main Budapest Info Pointon nearby Sütő utca is being revamped. The pop-up store serves as a sales outlet for the Budapest Card, offering free and discounted services for 24, 48 and 72 hours, as well as for four or five days. This new office also stocks copies of our free We Love Buda‐ pest pocket guides, seasonal booklets covering attractions aroundBudapest,Balaton andHungary in English and Hungarian.
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Luis Suarez: Barcelona forward could miss Copa del Rey final
Barcelona forward Luis Suarez is likely to miss the Copa del Rey final against Valencia after the club announced he will have a knee operation. The 32-year-old, who has scored 25 goals in 29 matches for the Spanish champions this season, will have keyhole surgery on a medial meniscus injury in his right knee. It could take up to six weeksfor the Uruguay international to recover. The Copa del Rey final takes place on 25 May. Suarez has previously had issues with his right knee, and hadstem cell treatment earlier this season.
Naomi Osaka loses to Belinda Bencic; Simona Halep through
World number one Naomi Osaka was beaten by Belinda Bencic as the Swiss fought back from a set down to reach the Madrid Open semi-finals. The Japanese led by a break in the final set and served for the match, but Bencic broke back to win 3-6 6-2 7-5. Bencic, ranked 18 in the world, saved eight of 12 break points as she secured her second victory over Osaka in 2019. The 22-year-old will play world number three Simona Halep next after Halepʼs quarter-final win over Ashleigh Barty. Halep, a twotime champion in Madrid, beat Australian ninth seed Barty 7-5 7-5. 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 arch-rivals 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 side-footed 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.
David Beckham banned from driving for using mobile phone The court heard Beckham was photographed driving in slowly moving traffic while holding a phone
David Beckham has been given a six-month driving ban for using his mobile phone while behind the wheel. The former England captain previously pleaded guilty to using the device while driving his Bentley in central London on 21 November last year. A court heard he was photographed by a member of the public holding a phone as he drove in "slowly moving" traffic. Beckham, 44, received six points on his licence to add to the six he already had for previous speeding matters. He was also fined £750, ordered to pay £100 in prosecution costs and a £75 sur-
charge fee within seven days. District Judge Catherine Moore said she acknowledged the slow pace of the traffic but told him there was "no excuse" under the law. Bromley Magistratesʼ Court heard Beckham was seen "operating a handheld device at knee level" while driving along Great Portland Street in the West End. Prosecutor Matthew Spratt said: "Instead of looking straight forward, paying attention to the road he appeared to be looking at his lap."
Champions League: Guardiola, Gündogan and Cityʼs critical loss of control Once again Pep Guardiola and Manchester City have come up short in the Champions League. Guardiolaʼs team lost the control he craves at a vital time, just as Ilkay Gündogan had feared. For all that their hopes of a domestic treble remain, the trophy that Manchester City and Pep Guardiola really want was blown out of reach on Wednesday in the kind of chaotic storm the Spaniard has spent a coach-
ing career trying to keep at bay. After VAR, the antihero that rewrote the final act ofthe most dramatic of nights, produced its final show-stealing cameo to overturn Raheem Sterling’s late strike, Ilkay Gündogan collapsed in his own penalty box. A pat of consolation from Dele Alli could not rouse the German midfielder, so Pep Guardiola took on the task, leading his midfield general off the battlefield.