DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Investigative journalism is a dangerous job in Ukraine
Vadym Komarov is not the type to stay silent. In the sleepy provincial capital city of Cherkasy, three hours south by car from Kyiv, there are few journalists who scrutinize local authorities and oligarchs. But Komarov does; he is probably the most determined of them all. For years he shone a light on misconduct in the construction and health sectors and corruption in local politics. On his Facebook page last weekend, the journalist announced that he would imminently post new controversial recordings. He said that the voices of two city councilors would be audible on the tape, extorting a disagreeable official by threatening to close down sporting facilities. But the social media post containing these recordings never materialized. Since May 4, things have gone quiet — no new revelations, and none of his typical acerbic comments on other news of the day. Thatʼs because Komarov is now lying a coma after almost being beaten to death by unknown assailants in the center of Cherkasy.
Frankfurt Airport resumes flights after drone sighting The operator of Frankfurt airport, Fraport, said air traffic had resumed after a drone sighting. Flights at Germanyʼs busiest hub had been grounded for around an hour on Thursday morning. Around 70 flights were cancelled due to the drone sighting, an airport spokesperson confirmed to news agency AFP. Frankfurt police have launched an investigation and are using a helicopter to determine the reason for the disturbance to the airport. Frankfurt Airport is Germanyʼs biggest airport and itʼs busiest passenger hub — serving over 64 million passengers in 2017.
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Pope Francis issues new law to force clergy to report sex abuse The law doesnʼt completely meet the demands of victimsʼ groups
The groundbreaking new law requires clergy to report suspected cases of sexual abuse to their superiors — and report cases where abuse had been covered up. Pope Francissigned off on a new law for the Catholic Church on Thursday to hold bishops accountable for sexual abuse or for covering it up. The changes to protect whistleblowers come after years of pressure and numerous child sex abuse scandals in the Catholic Church around the world. What is in the new church law:All priests, nuns and other clerics are required to "promptly" report cases of child or adult sex abuse to Catholic Church authorities.They are required to report as well if they suspect a clergy member has child pornography or that a superior covered up any sexual misconduct or sexual abuse.Dioceses around the world are required to have a system in place to confidentially receive the claims.The victims and their families are to be welcomed and treated with respect, as well as provided with medical support and psychological help.Complaints can be reported directly to the Vatican if needed.Clerics should follow local laws on whether they are required to report alleged sexual abuse to law enforcement. The head of the US bishops conference welcomed the law. Hous-
ton Cardinal Daniel DiNardo said US committees were already working on preparing measures to implement it. The edict is a "blessing that will empower the church everywhere to bring predators to justice no matter what rank they hold in the church," he wrote in a statement Thursday. ʼLearn from the bitter lessons of the pastʼ In the introduction to the new church law,Francis said that "concrete and effective actions" involving everyone in the Catholic Church are needed to combat sexual abuse in the future. "The crimes of sexual abuse offend Our Lord, cause physical, psychological and spiritual damage to the victims and harm the community of the faithful," he wrote. "Even if so much has already been accomplished, we must continue to learn from the bitter lessons of the past, looking with hope towards the future," Francis added. Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the head of the Vatican office for bishops, said that itʼs time for bishops and other higher-ups in the church to conform to certain strict rules, as is already expected of priests. "Itʼs not just a law, but a profound responsibility," he said.
EU leaders discuss future of Europe at Romania summit Leaders of 27 EU member states are meeting in the Romanian city of Sibiu to discuss the blocʼs future course after Britainʼs departure. The summit comes some two weeks before important European elections. European leaders stressed the continued solidarity of the European Union at a summit in Romania as the bloc faces a range of challenges threatening to divide it. The summit in Sibiu comes some two weeks before European parliamentary elections that have been overshadowed by concerns overBritainʼs fraught efforts to leave the blocand the resurgence of nationalist forces across the continent.
North Korea fires shortrange missiles as US envoy visits the South North Korea appeared to have fired two short-range missiles, South Koreaʼs military said on Thursday. The Southʼs Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the two missiles were fired from the northwest area of Kusong, in an easterly direction, before falling into the sea. The missile launches came afterNorth Korea carried out a military drill and fired multiple projectiles on Saturday. They also coincided with the arrival of Stephen Biegun, the US special envoy to North Korea, in Seoul for talks with South Korean authorities. South Koreaʼs presidential Blue House dubbed the missile launches "very worrisome" and a setback to peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula.
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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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Ride-hailing firm Uber steps on the gas as IPO looms Ride-hailing service Uber is going public on Friday, and itʼs been billed as one of the largest IPOs in the history of the New York Stock Exchange. But the companyʼs high losses have many questioning the move. About half a year ago, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi was as honest as it can get and more straightforward than the bosses of big companies tend to be. In the presence of hundreds of students at Stanford University, he railed against all those investors, who had exerted pressure on the firm, criticizing Uber for being in the red. "If they want a predictable profitable company — go buy a bank," he said, only to add that "we are not going to have predictable profitability." With
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."
his frank statement, Khosrowshahi hits the core of a debate thatʼs been gaining traction again as Uber goes public. Despite heavy losses and uncertain prospects, the ride-hailing firm is moving toward the biggest IPO in five years. The San Franciscobased company would be valued at over $90 billion (€80.4 billion), should investors be willing to shell out the maximum issue price of $50. With its IPO alone, Uber looks set to cash in over $10 billion.
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. Cases recorded across 42 countries resulted in 13 deaths. The number of cases was almost three times greater than for the first two months of 2018.
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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.
Hunguest Hotel Palota**** 3517 Lillafüred Erzsébet sétány 1. Phone: +36-46-331-411 Fax: +36-46-331-411 reserve@hotelpalota.hu www.hotelpalota.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.
Greeceʼs Tsipras to cut taxes and hike pensions
The left-wing prime minister said his government would reward the Greek people for their "sacrifices." The move comes as his Syriza party lags in the polls behind the main opposition party. GreeceʼsPrime Minister Alexis Tsipraspledged Tuesday to cut taxes and increase pensions after years of austerity in the debt-laden country. "The time has come for the sacrifices of the Greek people to be rewarded," he said. "The money is on the table." At a hastily organized press conference, the prime minister said his government would: Cut value-added tax on food from 24% to 13%.Decrease electricity and gas taxes from 13% to 6%.Reduce hotel accommodation tax from 13% to 11%.Give poorer retirees an average of half-a-monthʼs extra pension every year. Read more: Greece exits bailout: Is the Greek economy strong enough? ʼExample for Europeʼ The tax cuts were possible because of government savings and better-than-expected economic performance, Tsipras said.
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Gay, straight or bi — sexuality is hard to categorize Young women are more flexible
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 The sexual orientation of Millenials is flexible and goes beyond traditional categories such as homosexuality, heterosexuality or bisexuality — especially among women, a new study in the Journal of Sex Research shows. At the age of 20, many people still donʼt know exactly what they want to do with their lives. The same seems to apply to sexual orientation. This, at least, is a result ofa survey of almost 7,000 American students.They were interviewed three times about their sexual preferences between 1995 and 2009: as teenagers, in their early twenties and in their late twenties. Especially for young women, the early twenties are a sexually dynamic time. In contrast to young men, out of
whom 90 percent said that they were heterosexual, only two thirds of young women would place themselves in this category. Ten percent felt they were mostly heterosexual and 7.5 percent expressed a clear interest in both sexes. Among young men, the latter two categories together accounted for just under four percent. Only 1.5 percent of women and 2.4 percent of men identified themselves clearly and exclusively as homosexual.
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.