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290/2018 • 22 DECEMBER, 2018 WEEKEND ISSUE

DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH

US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis to step down US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis will step down at the end of February, he announced in a letter to US President Donald Trump. Trump tweeted the news on Thursday, saying Mattis was "retiring, with distinction, at the end of February." The retired Marine Corps four-star general was regarded as a stabilizing figure in Trumpʼs often-changing Cabinet. The Trump administration has had the highest senior-level staff turnover of the past five presidents, according to the Brookings Institution.

Pakistan: Imran Khan promises change amid rigging complaints In his"victory speech" on Thursday, Prime Minister-elect Imran Khan promised wide-ranging reforms to build a "new Pakistan."

He touched upon a number of pressing issues, including better governance, security affairs and ties with global powers and neighboring countries.

Khan spoke from the heart during the speech. He promised to end rampant corruption, nepotism, and pledged that economic benefits would trickle down to the masses under his government. In his"victory speech" on Thursday, Prime Minister-elect Imran Khan promised wideranging reforms to build a "new Pakistan."

He touched upon a number of pressing issues, including better governance, security affairs and ties with global powers and neighboring countries.

Khan spoke from the heart during the speech. He promised to end rampant corruption, nepotism, and pledged that economic benefits would trickle down to the masses under his government.

Pope tells predator priests to turn themselves in The pope has made child sexual abuse in the church the center of his annual speech

The pope has made child sexual abuse in the church the center of his annual speech to the Vatican bureaucracy. It comes as he will convene bishops to address a slew of child abuse scandals that have damaged the church.

Ceasefire on Israel-Gaza border largely holds as UN warns sides are on ʼbrink of warʼ A ceasefire announced by Hamas largely held along the Israel-Gaza border on Sunday, a day after the most intense exchange of fire between Israel and the Palestinian group since the 2014 Gaza war. Israeli warplanes carried out dozens of airstrikes in the densely populated Gaza Strip on Saturday on what it said were Hamas military, training and supply targets, while Hamas and Islamic Jihad fired nearly 200 rockets and mortars at Israel. Read more: Israel and Gazaʼs militant groups agree to ceasefire The Israeli airstrikes wounded more than 20 people and killed two teenage boys, Pales-

tinian health officials said, while a Hamas rocket injured four Israelis.

Hamas, which has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007, and Islamic Jihad announced the Egyptian and UNbrokered ceasefire late Saturday. The Israeli military said its response would depend on the situation on the ground.

After the ceasefire announcement, four mortars were fired into Israel early Sunday. In response, Israeli planes destroy at least one launch site.

Israel also carried out three airstrikes later in the day on what it said were Hamas squads launching incendiary balloons and kites across the border.

Lance Armstrong says Uber investment has ʼsavedʼ his family Lance Armstrong says an early investment in Uber has "saved" his family after paying out $111m (£86.8m) in legal fees and settlements.

The American, 47, was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles andbanned from cycling for lifein 2012 beforeadmitting to using performanceenhancing drugs. He says he gave $100,000 (£78,212) to a venture capital fund that invested in the ride-hailing app in 2010. "Itʼs saved our family," he told CNBC. In April, Armstrong agreed to pay $5m (£3.9m) to the US

government tosettle a long-running lawsuitthat could have cost him $100m (£78m) in damages. However, he said he felt he did not "get off scot free" as other settlements and legal fees meant he had to pay $111m in total. Armstrong, who has five children, did not say how much he had earned from his Uber investment but added it was "too good to be true". He said Uber, which was founded in 2009, was valued at $3.7m (£2.9m) when he invested. The company wasvalued at $72bn (£56bn) this yearand istargeting a valuation of $120bn (£94bn) in 2019.

Brief shutdown at London’s Gatwick Airport after another drone scare Flights at Londonʼs Gatwick Airport were briefly halted again Friday evening due to a suspected drone flying near the area. The precaution was taken for around an hour before flights resumed. "Airfield movements were suspended while we investigated this as safety remains our main priority. The military measures we have in place at the airport have provided us with reassurance necessary to re-open our airfield," the airport said.

UN Security Council approves Yemen ceasefire monitors for Hodeidah The UN envoy for Yemen had urged the rapid deployment of monitors as "an essential part of the confidence" for the implementation of theceasefire agreement signed by Yemenʼs government and Houthi rebelsin Stockholm earlier in the month. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is to "establish and deploy, for an initial period of 30 days from the adoption of this resolution, an advance team to begin monitoring and to support and facilitate the immediate implementation of the Stockholm agreement."

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290/2018 • 22 December, 2018 Weekend issue

Diplomático - Rum you never experienced before!

As horror year continues, what now for Mesut Özil?

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After the furore surrounding his decision to quit the national team, Mesut Özil sought solace at his club, Arsenal. But right now, he canʼt even get a game.

Mixed messages on Bayern Munichʼs Bundesliga title credentials "Weʼre not in a position to talk about the title at the moment. We simply arenʼt good enough." In a world of bland, non-commital statements from footballers, Arjen Robbenʼs words to German public broadcaster ARD rang out louder than most. The veteran has won seven Bundesliga titles in his nine full seasons with the Bavarian club and Bayern have won each of the last six. In several of those seasons, Bayern have overcome points deficits to emerge victorious, including last season where they trailed Borussia Dortmund by five points early on.

While the gap this year is bigger, seven points in November looks far from insurmountable and disregards the fact that Bayern were heavy title favorites coming into the current campaign. Robbenʼs teammate Sandro Wagner certainly has no such misgivings.

Though it was emphatically not the reason hestepped away from the Germany setup, the boost in freshness and fitness Mesut Özil would get from missing international breaks would surely be a happy sentence to close a sad chapter. So when Unai Emery benched Özil for the fixture against Bournemouth on November 25 that followed an international break, eyebrows were raised. Emery explained his decision by suggesting Özil wasnʼt suited to a "very demanding match

with physicality and intensity." It was a familiar charge from an unfamiliar source. The 30-year-old has fair claim to be the most polarizing footballer in the world. Is he the floating, unselfish and incisive menace whose best qualities are those most underappreciated?

Or the talented waster prone to hiding at key moments, shirking responsibility and allowing opponents to drift past him. The answer, as almost always in these matters, lies somewhere in the middle.

Alma Abonyi bag under every Christmas tree!

50% SALE on every left piece of the first leather collection, until on stock! Visit almaabonyi.com for more information!

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Foto: Forgeron Studio

Visit Budapest’s most charming Basilica Advent Fair The Advent Fair by St Stephen’s Basilica is one of the most atmospheric in Budapest.

Centrepieced by a towering Christmas tree and a free ice-rink for kids, stalls offer delicious dishes and all things jolly, while special light shows projected onto the façade of the Basilica make every night special. See below for tips on what to eat, drink and buy – and find out what film star Antonio Banderas was up to here last year! Right in the city centre, this Christmas fair has been improving year upon year, offering an enchanted experience for all ages. The main attraction is a recent one, illuminated visuals projected onto the façade of the historic Basilica. Look out for them in the evenings, screened every half-an-hour after sunset, from 4:30pm.

2D and 3D short stories both feature and 3D glasses are available from stalls around the market.

Hotel Azúr Prémium H-8600 Siófok, Erkel Ferenc u. 2/c.

Telephone: 06 86 501 450 premium@hotelazur.hu http://www.hotelazur.hu/hu/premium

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German food industry to cut sugar, salt and fat content The German Food and Agriculture Ministry has struck a deal with the food industry to make processed foods healthier.

The German food industry has agreed to voluntarily reduce the amount of sugar, salt and fat in processed foods by 2025, Food and Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner said on Wednesday.

"The food industry has for the first time committed to and will let itself be subject to checks on the steps it is taking to reduce sugar, salt and fat in processed food," she told Bild newspaper. "That has never happened before." Speaking in Berlin, Klöckner defended the programʼs focus on voluntary commitments from the food industry. "Everyone must deliver and everyone will deliver," the Christian Democrat said after the German Cabinet signed off on the plan. Klöckner said it would not only lead to healthier food, but to "positive competition" among the industry.

UK reveals fighter jet ʼTempestʼ for post-Brexit era Williamson said the "worldbeating" jet can be used unmanned, as a drone, or with pilots. It is scheduled to be operational by 2035. The UK is to invest 2 billion pounds ($2.7 billion, €2.3 billion) to 2025 in the stealth warplane, which will involve British companies BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce as well as Anglo-Italian Leonardo and pan-European MBDA. Aiming to ensure UK leadership in defense Williamson said the program was designed to ensure Britainʼs continued leadership in fighter technology and control of airspace in future conflicts. Last year,France and Germany signed an agreementto develop Europeʼs next-generation fighter jet to replace the aging Rafale and Eurofighter jet by 2040, involving Europeʼs Airbus and Franceʼs Dassault Aviation. Following the 2016 Brexit referendum, Airbus moved to partner with Dassault at the expense of Britainʼs BAE Systems. There are concerns in Britain that its defense industry may be shut out from EU plans for nextgeneration fighter jets, although, officially, both projects have invited other companies to join.