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DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH

German conservative Manfred Weber aims to lead EU Commission The 46-year-old leads the European Parliamentʼs center-right group, the European Peopleʼs Party (EPP), and would be in with a strong chance of winning the presidency if he can secure their endorsement at the upcoming party congress in November.

Road to the presidency Incumbent Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker is set to step down shortly after European Parliament elections in May 2019.The EPP, currently the most powerful group in the EU Parliament, is due to unveil its preferred candidate by as soon as November when it holds a party congress in Helsinki.As EPP head, Weber will likely be considered one of the favorites. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has also given Weber her backing, according to reports.The CSU lawmaker could, however, still likely face stern competition.

UK charges two Russians over Salisbury poisoning of Skripals British prosecutors announced on Wednesday they had collected sufficient evidence to charge two Russians with theattempted murder of former double agent Sergei Skripaland his daughter Yulia. Authorities issued a European arrest warrant for two men named as Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, both aged around 40. Photographs of the two men were also released as part of an appeal for any witnesses to come forward. However, Sue Hemming, director of Legal Services at the Crown Prosecution Service, said prosecutors would not be applying to Russia for extraditionsince "the Russian constitution does not permit extradition of its own nationals."

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Ankara aims to defuse tensions with European allies Ankara will likely use his visit as a chance to score points with Berlin

Danish murderer Peter Madsen challenges life sentence in submarine murder case Peter Madsen, the Danish submarine inventor who was found guilty of the torture, sexual assault, murder and dismemberment of Swedish reporter Kim Wall, appeared before an appeals court in Copenhagen on Wednesday to fight against his life sentence. The three-day session at the Eastern High Court will not deal with the April 25 guilty ruling. Madsen still denies murdering Wall but wants to move on, according to his lawyer, so he has accepted the verdict. In Denmark, a life sentence on average is about 16 years, but it can be extended if deemed necessary. Madsen, 47, who claims Wall died accidentally inside the su

Police clear protesters from Hambach Forest As Turkey seeks to mend ties with its allies in Europe, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas is making his first visit to the country.

Under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkeyʼs relations with Germany have, in recent years, gone from bad to worse. In March 2017, Erdogan personally attacked Chancellor Angela Merkel, accusing her of using "Nazi measures" after Berlin prevented Turkish ministers from holding campaign rallies in Germany. Later that year, German parliamentarians were refused access to troops stationed at the Incirlik airbase in southern Turkey, prompting the withdrawal of the Bundeswehr from the base. In addition, there have been numerous cases of German citizens being imprisoned in the country in recent years. But now, Turkey wants to leave this in the past and is seeking to repair relations with Germany and the European Union – a desire that has coincided with Ankaraʼs ongoing spat with the United States and the downfall of the Turkish economy. The visit of German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas

comes at a time when Turkey desperately needs reliable allies. But this will require political action from Erdogan. Maasʼ mission is to lay the groundwork ahead of Erdoganʼs state visit to Germany at the end of the month. "Itʼs in Germanyʼs strategic interest to have constructive relations with Turkey," Maas said Wednesday before departing for Turkey. Imprisoned Germans a priority Maasʼ first goal is to secure the release of seven German citizens, who have been jailed for political reasons since an attempted coup in 2016. Three of the detained have dual citizenship with Turkey. Roy Karadag, a Turkey expert and director of the Institute for Intercultural and International Studies at the University of Bremen, expects the prisoners will be released soon. "I believe the German prisoners, or to be precise the hostages, will be set free in return for economic, financial and political support," he said.

Several hundred German police officers moved intoHambach Forest in western Germany on Wednesday to expel dozens of protesters. The forest, located between the cities of Aachen and Cologne, hosts one of the countryʼs biggest open-pit coal mines. The RWE energy company, which owns the forest, hasintended to clear some 100 hectares(247 acres) of land in the Hambach Forest to mine for lignite — a brown, low-grade coal considered to be one of the most polluting fossil fuels — only to see its efforts repeatedly disrupted by environmental activists.

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204/2018 • 06 September, 2018

VW ʼhail cannonsʼ anger drought-hit Mexican farmers Mexican farming communities accused Volkswagen (VW) on Tuesday of "arbitrarily" provoking a drought in the central state of Puebla, where the German automobile manufacturer operates its largest car factory outside of Germany.

Read more: Climate change and farming: ʼUnpredictability is here to stayʼ Farmers in Cuautlancingo, the rural municipality where the plant is located, claimed that VWʼs use of "hail cannons" was causing a drought that had made them lose 2,000 hectares (5,000 acres) of crops.

In June, VW started using the shockwave generators — sonic devises that purport to disrupt the formation of hail in the atmosphere — to prevent its newly-built vehicles, which are parked in an outdoor lot, from being damaged by the falling ice pellets.

The practice purportedly disrupts the formation of hailstones.

Venezuela hit by magnitude 7.3 earthquake, buildings evacuated A powerful magnitude 7.3 earthquake hit the coast of Venezuela on Tuesday, forcing people to evacuate their homes and offices as far away as the capital, Caracas. The US Geological Survey reported that Tuesdayʼs quake had a depth of 76 miles (123 kilometers) and its epicenter was about 12 miles (20 kilometers) northwest of the Venezuelan city of Yaguaraparo.

The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned that the deep earthquake could lead to small tsunami waves along the countryʼs coastline.

It remains unclear just how much damage was caused by the earthquake.

A witness inCumana, one of the biggest cities near the quakeʼs epicenter, said several people were injured in a shopping center when an escalator collapsed, although there appeared to be no immediate signs of further damage in the vicinity. It is thought that the quake occurred deep enough below ground to have dampened most of the shaking.

Nevertheless, reports suggest that the rumbles were also felt as far away as the Colombian capital, Bogota, in the east and the nearby islands of Trinidad and Tobago and St. Lucia to the northwest.

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Can the US and Pakistan reset bilateral ties?

Mike Pompeo visits Islamabad:

Pakistanʼs newly elected PM Imran Khan faces the first real test as head of government as he holds talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Islamabad. Khanʼs maneuvering options are, however, limited.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and US military chief General Joseph Dunford arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday to hold talks with Pakistani authorities, including Prime Minister Imran Khan, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Pakistanʼs army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. The security situation in Afghanistan, particularly Pakistanʼs shaky cooperation with the US, was high on Pompeoʼs agenda. After Pompeoʼs meeting

Germanyʼs planned reunification memorial dogged by rising costs, citizen opposition The fall of theBerlin Wallin November 1989, and the resulting reunification of Germany, counts as one of the countryʼs most important and revered events. In 2007, Germanyʼs Parliament, the Bundestag, gave the green light to a project commemorating that historic moment. "Thepeaceful revolutionin fall 1989 and restoration of German unity" should be remembered, according to the parliamentary resolution. The courage of then-East German citizens is to be noted in particular, the resolution goes on, for making a free reunification possible

Bavarian SPD ʼstealsʼ CSU campaign slogan website The Christian Social Union (CSU) in Bavaria was scrambling to contain the damage on Wednesday after the partyʼs main slogan was set up online by the opposition Social Democrats (SPD). Bavarian Premier Markus Söder of the CSU is campaigning with the message "Söder machtʼs" or "Söder gets it done." The slogan is printed in bold capital letters on billboards showing Söder smiling in traditional dress. But the website with that same name — soeder-machts.de — isnʼt from the CSU at all. Söder and his campaign team apparently failed to secure the domain name — an oversight that didnʼt go unnoticed by the center-left SPD. They not only bought the website, they also beat the CSU to creating Söder machtʼs Facebook and Twitter accounts.

with his counterpart Qureshi, Pakistanʼs Foreign Office said in a statement that "discussions on bilateral, regional and international issues" took place in the meeting that lasted for about 40 minutes. "FM Qureshi underscores the need to reset bilateral ties on basis of mutual trust and respect," Foreign Office spokesperson Muhammad Faisal stated on Twitter, adding: "Safeguarding Pakistanʼs national interests will remain supreme priority." in the first place. Playing with political interests For many countries, such as the United States and France, national history isnʼt up for debate to the extent it is in Germany. The project to commemorate German unity has been bitterly contested for 10 years — everything from the planned location in central Berlin to the memorialʼs design. Even animal welfare activists have caused consternation. All the toing and froing has turned the issue of remembrance into a game of politics. Given the limits of public interest, progress on the memorial has suffered.

Trumpʼs excampaign manager Paul Manafort guilty of fraud Paul Manafort, a longtime political op-

erative who for months led Donald Trumpʼs winning 2016 presidential campaign, was found guilty of eight financial crimes on Tuesday, but a judge declared a mistrial on 10 other counts, on which the jury could not agree. The verdict, which almost certainly guarantees years in prison, is the first trial victory of an investigation into Trumpʼs associates, establishing the ability of special counsel Robert Muellerʼs team to persuade a jury. What Manafort was convicted of:All five counts of tax fraud he facedOne count of failing to disclose foreign bank accountsTwo of the nine counts of bank fraud Manafortʼs lawyer, Kevin M. Downing, told a press conference on Tuesday that he was disappointed and his client would be "evaluating his options."

Trump, who was on his way to a rally in Charleston, West Virginia, said he was "very sad" about the conviction and dismissed suggestions that the verdict was related to collusion with Russia on the part of his presidential campaign.

204/2018 • 06 September, 2018

Bob Woodwardʼs book describes a dysfunctional Trump White House Former Watergate reporter Bob Woodwardʼs new book on Trump reveals a dysfunctional White House. Aides criticize the presidentʼs behavior, and according to Defense Secretary Mattis, Trump is like a fifth or sixth grader.

According to a new book by famed Watergate reporter Bob Woodward, the White House under US President Donald Trump is mired in a perpetual "nervous breakdown" with staff constantly seeking to control a leader whose anger and paranoia can paralyze operations for days. In his book "Fear: Trump in the White House," Woodward claims that Trumpʼs chief of staff privately called the president an "idiot" and that aides sometimes plucked sensitive documents off Trumpʼs desk, hoping to keep him from taking rash actions. Details from the book were published by The Wash‐

German minister pushes for free trade deal ahead of Africa trip Germany’s development minister Gerd Müller is promoting a "customs-free trade deal in Africa" ahead of his seven-nation Africa visit. Experts say the real issues are being ignored.

When it comes to the economic relationship between Germany and Africa, the issue of customs exemption is no longer an important topic.

At least thatʼs what renowned development economist Robert Kappel from the University of Leipzig thinks. Instead, agricultural subsidies and trade barriers should be the main topic of discussion. However, Kappel blames Europe for pursuing neocolonialism in its monetary policy. Yet, Müller avoided these issues before his trip to Africa this week. According to Kappel, he has failed to recognize that a trade imbalance has only increased in recent years — despite a customs exemption. "The minister is not well informed, therefore itʼs right to criticize him," Kappel told

ington Post on Tuesday. The book is an

examination of Trumpʼs first 18 months in office. Understanding of ʼa fifth- or sixth-graderʼ In the book, Trumpʼs Chief of Staff John Kelly is quoted as having doubted Trumpʼs mental faculties, declaring during one meeting, "Weʼre in Crazytown." Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis is quoted as explaining to Trump why the US maintains troops on the Korean peninsula to monitor the Northʼs missile activities. "Weʼre doing this in order to prevent World War III," Mattis supposedly said.

Bayer in profit plunge after Monsanto takeover

Bayer announced Wednesday it had logged net profits of €799 million ($926 million) in the second quarter, marking a 34.7 percent drop from bottom-line profits in the same period a year earlier. The fall in earnings came despite a revenue increase from €8.7 billion to €9.5 billion, the companyʼs latest financial statement showed.

Lower net profit was booked after, but not because of Bayerʼs 63 billion buyout of Monsanto, the biggest ever foreign takeover by a German firm. The

acquisition aimed to create an agrichemical giant offering specialized seeds, compatible pesticides and data services for farmers. Talking about lower Q2 earnings, the company said its health division had suffered from a less favorable euo-dollar exchange rate, higher production costs and delivery bottlenecks. Also, it could no longer rely on any profits from its former subsidiary Covestro, with Bayer selling the remaing stake in the expert in polymer solutions in March of this year.

Zimbabweans hope for economic recovery ahead of court ruling on election outcome As the Constitutional Court of Zimbabweprepares to rule on the oppositionʼs legal challenge to President Emmerson Mnangagwaʼs election victory, Zimbabweans are hoping that whoever is given the mandate to govern will be able to turn the countryʼs ailing economy around. A decade after hyperinflation peaked in Zimbabwe at a rate of up to 500 billion percent, the economy still struggles to fund basic public services, while unemployment and emigration remains rife.

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204/2018 • 06 September, 2018

Gamers seek out trends and idols at gamescom A winged angel of death descends on the crowd from the escalator, swinging its fantasy scimitar. Nearby, a tank driver and a small girl in a feathery anime costume get their picture taken together, surrounded by a crowd in the hallway.

As trade shows go, gamescom is definitely on the more exciting end for visitors. Thatʼs because in the past 10 years, the fair has transformed into an event featuring not only the devoted costumed fans known as cosplayers, but also lots of surrounding activities like concerts, competitions and signing sessions.

Meeting the idols The luckiest visitors get to not only see their favorite gamer or livestreamer in person, they also get to play with them. When League of Legends player Frederick Hinteregger (screen name Noway4u) gets on stage to pick a team for a live game with him, arms shoot up by the dozens.

In no time at all, the extremely comfy-looking gaming chairs on stage fill up.

Hinteregger has found his place in eSports as a professional."I used to be happy to just get a mousepad, hardware, anything, really. But if you play national leagues, you can make up to €2,000 per month. If you play higher, it can be five digits."

Can Europe defeat a palm oil ʼmonsterʼ of its own making?

Alongside record heat waves, trade wars have also been grabbing global headlines recently, whether itʼs the United States versus Turkey, the US versus China — or the European Union versus Indonesia and Malaysia.

Rumblings of the latter followed the European Parliamentʼs January 2018 vote to ban the use of palm oil as a biofuel by 2020. Malaysia and Indonesia — both major producers — threatened retaliation, but backed down after the EU opted for a slower phase-out of palm oil as biofuel. Now, under the EUʼs updated Renewable Energy Directive (finalized in June), palm oil imports should peak around 2019, then begin to drop in 2023 before being phased out entirely by 2030. The EUʼs move came amidst growing recognition that the consumption of palm oil in Europecontributes to deforestation, destruction of wildlife habitat and — when industrial palm oil growers clear rainforests — greenhouse gas emissions.

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Wirecard to kick Commerzbank out of DAX A Bavarian startup specializing in online payments is set to nudge Germanyʼs second-largest bank out of the countryʼs DAX index. Analysts say itʼs the latest sign of fintech firms outshining traditional lenders.

Malaysiaʼs Mahathir dumps Chinese projects amid ʼnew colonialismʼ fear On Tuesday,Malaysiaʼs Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad ended his fiveday visit to Beijing by announcing that China-financed projects in Malaysia worth billions of dollars would be cancelled. Speaking to Malaysian reporters, Mahathir said that Chinese President Xi Jinping had "accepted" the reasoning behind putting the projects on ice. "Itʼs about pouring in too much money, which we cannot afford, cannot repay, and also because we donʼt need these projects for Malaysia at this moment," Mahathir said, adding a warning about bankruptcy and Malaysiaʼs ballooning national debt, which currently hovers around $250 million (€217 million), according to the Malaysian Ministry of Finance. The projects include a $20 billion railway, the 688 kilometer (430 mile)-long East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), which would have connected Malaysiaʼs east coast with southern Thailand and the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. Construction of two gas pipelines worth $2.3 billion is also being discontinued.

Hotel Moments Budapest H-1061 Budapest, Andrássy út 8.

T.: +36 1 611 7000 reservation@hotelmoments.hu www.hotelmomentsbudapest.hu

The operator of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, Deutsche Börse, plans to unveil the new composition of the blue chip DAX 30 index of leading German companies later on Wednesday as part of a regular review of listed firmsʼ market capitalization and trading volumes. The odds are that Commerzbank —Germanyʼs secondlargest lender and a founding member of the prestigious DAX clubthree decades ago — will have to concede its place to fintech company Wirecard.

Commerzbank has been an ailing bank

for years. It had to be bailed out by the taxpayer during the global financial crisis and has seen its share price plunge by a third since January to give it a market cap of just over €10 billion ($11.5 billion), the lowest of all DAX 30 players.Investors excited about Wirecard By contrast,fintech firm Wirecard has been the darling of investors for a long time. The startup is currently listed on the TexDAX and makes software for cashless and contactless payments. It has seen its share price soar by 110 percent this year.

Germany poised to set worldʼs largest trade surplus

Polandʼs pro-coal government goes green

Germany is expected to set a €264 billion ($299 billion) trade surplus this year, far more than its closest export rivals Japan and the Netherlands, according to research published Monday by Munichbased economic research institute Ifo. However, the latest surplus figures indicate a slight dip as a proportion of Germanyʼs total economic performance compared to 2017, falling from 7.9 percent to 7.8 percent. Ifoʼs report takes into account trade in goods, services and income from foreign assets.Trade in goodsis the runaway driving factor behind Germanyʼs surplus at over €200 billion, while income from assets is also expected to add up to around €63 billion. Germany is expected to run a€18 billion deficit in services, according to IFO. Trade in goodsis the runaway driving factor behind Germanyʼs surplus at over €200 billion, while income from assets is also expected to add up to around €63 billion. Germany is expected to run a€18 billion deficit in services, according to IFO.

Published by: Mega Media Kft. 1075 Budapest, Madách I. út 13-14. +36 1 398 0344 www.hotelujsag.hu

There are about 4,000 offshore wind turbines in EU waters, most in the North Sea, producing 72 percent of the continentʼs wind electricity. Turbines in the Irish Sea and the Baltic Sea contribute 16 and 12 percent respectively. But the balance could be about to shift to the Baltic after Polandʼs upper house of parliament recentlyapproved the removal of clean-power investment obstacles in a new renewable energy law. And others in the Baltic region are following suit. Warsaw goes green The Polish electricity transmission system operator PSE said as much as 8 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity could be installed in Poland, with 4 GW of that operational by 2026/27. Poland is aiming to meet its EU commitment of 15 percent of renewables by 2020. As offshore wind costs fall on economies of scale and the EU ratchets up the cost of the blocʼs carbon dioxide emissions permits to discourage the polluters, some of the bigger energy players are moving into the sector.

Polandʼs installed wind power capacity, including offshore, is about 6.4 GW. By comparison, Germany has about 56 GW.

204/2018 • 06 September, 2018

Eurovision clashes with Israel as host country The demands clash with the countryʼs current policies

Chemnitz concert: #WirSindMehr becomes a trending topic on Twitter Die Toten Hosen, Kraftklub, Trettmann: the list of bands who performed in Chemnitz Monday evening reads like a whoʼs who of German rock. The #WirSindMehr (We are more) concert was quickly organized by local band Kraftklub last week after several protest marches took over the East German city last week and demonstrations grew violent. Read more: Chemnitz rocks against the farright Their appeal to fans from around Germany to descend on the city as a sign of tolerance drew an audience of 65,000 to the streets of Chemnitz. "So many resilient people here on stage, backstage and out in the public," the band tweeted Tuesday with a birdʼs eye view of the impressive crowd.

Ahead of the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest, organizers have required a promise from the Israeli government to grant visas irrespective of political affiliation.

After organizers of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) toured Israel last week to scout for possible venues for the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest — designating Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Eilat as possibilities — the EBU director sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a list of demands ahead of the event, an Israeli news broadcaster reported Monday. Among the conditions required from Israel to host the event in 2019 is that the government promises it will grant entry visas for the event regardless of participantsʼ political opinions, religion or sexual orientation, and that they be

allowed to tour the country freely.

Last year, Israel passed a law enabling authorities to refuse access to activists supporting the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement, known as BDS. "Itʼs a disgrace, itʼs a humiliation," Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said in an interview with Army Radio Tuesday, according to newspaper Haaretz. "Where does the European Broadcasting Union get the chutzpah to come with such demands and insist that contrary to the laws of a democratic country, people be permitted to enter Israel even if they work day and night to hurt it?"

Leo Budapest Bar - the best panoramic view of the city!

Arundhati Roy: ʼWeʼre up against a fascist regime in Indiaʼ Last week, Indian police launched a nationwide crackdown, arresting a number of activists, including communist poet Varavara Rao, human rights lawyer Vernon Gonsalves, writer and lawyer Arun Ferreira, journalist and activist Gautam Navlakha, and trade unionist Sudha Bharadwaj.

The authorities are investigating violence betweenlow-caste Dalitsand upper-caste Hindu groups following a political meeting in the western city of Pune on December 31 last year.

The Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency said the five activists were detained in connection with that meet-

ing. "These persons have been arrested for their Maoist links," Shivaji Bodakhe, joint commissioner of Pune police, told AFP news agency. PTI also quoted security officials as saying that "two letters, purportedly exchanged by Maoist leaders indicated plans to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the president of the ruling BJP party Amit Shah and Home Minister Rajnath Singh, led to the police action." Local media reported that police also raided homes of other prominent anti-government activists on August 28. Five other people were detained in June.

Hotel Clark, at the Buda foot of Chain Bridge, houses two outlet.

Beefbar on the ground floor and, on the roof terrace, Leo Budapest named after the famous lions guarding the bridge. At the panoramic bar, you can admire the breathtaking vista of Buda Castle, the Danube, Chain Bridge and the rooftops of the riverfront while sipping on a refreshing drink. Leo offers a wide variety of wines and cocktails, and the kitchen is led by talented young chef András Sipos, also responsible for downstairs.

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Culture

What’s happening in Budapest – September 2018 Festivals, cool concerts, cultural events and amazing parties – Budapest is always buzzing. Every month, we bring together all of the important happenings taking place in and around Hungary’s capital, so you can plan ahead. In September, the Budapest Wine Festival, the National Gallop and cool concerts are all among the many exciting events you shouldn’t miss. Whether you would like to shake it to the coolest beats, immerse yourself in culture or give in to guilty pleasures, we present a bunch of suggestions for the upcoming weeks. Get out there and enjoy everything that Budapest has to offer! Budapest Urban Games A38 concerts Ricky Martin Budapest Wine Festival Food Truck Show Budapest 33rd Wizz Air Budapest Half Marathon National Gallop Sweet Days Chocolate and Sweets Oktoberfest Dub FX In September, scores of cool concerts will be rocking the A38 Ship, a repurposed Ukrainian cargo vessel that is today one of the hottest hangouts in Budapest. Parties aboard are plenty, but here is our pick of the bunch: on September 24th ‘the occult Nick Cave’, King Dude, brings his new album to Budapest, performing with the Icelandic dark-wave trio, Kælan Mikla. On September 28th, another album launch will be presented, by Berlin-based downtempo-nu-jazz collective, Jazzanova, and on 30th, one of the most unique characters in contemporary European r’n’b-pop, Dena, brings a gentle mix of modern glitter and DIYBalkan aesthetics aboard.

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204/2018 • 06 September, 2018

Ryder Cup: Sergio Garcia and Tiger Woods among wildcard picks

European captain Thomas Bjorn has opted for experience by selecting four previous winners, including Sergio Garcia, as his wildcard picks. Bjorn follows the lead of US captain Jim Furyk, who called on Tiger Woods.

Garcia is joined by Ian Poulter, Paul Casey and Henrik Stenson, who have all been involved in multiple winning teams, as the captainʼs wildcard picks. While Poulter has found form after missing the2016 defeat by the United States at Hazeltine, Garcia has struggled in 2018, missing the cut at each of the last five majors. "All four bring loads of experience, points and know how to win and lose and they will bring plenty of heart," said Bjorn.

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.

Rafael Nadal survives US Open epic He will now face Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina for a place in the final

Rafael Nadal overcame Dominic Thiem to reach the semifinal of the US Open in one of the most dramatic battles in the tournamentʼs history.

Finally, at three minutes past two on Wednesday morning, it was over.

After four hours and 48 grueling minutes in the humid heat of the New York night, defending champion Rafael Nadal was through to the semifinal of the US Open. Four hours and 24 minutes earlier on Arthur Ashe court, the Spaniard had lost the opening set 0-6 to Austrian ninth seed Dominic Thiem – only the third time in Nadalʼs Grand Slam career that he had lost a set to love. On

those occasions, in the second round of the US Open in 2004 against Andy Roddick and in the 2006 Wimbledon final against Roger Federer, he went on to lose. This time, he triumphed 0-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-5) in the longest match of this yearʼs tournament. "It was an incredible battle in such tough conditions," said Nadal, 32, who admitted he had suffered. "I had a really bad start and I had to tell myself: ʼWake up!ʼ I just had to try and stay in the match."

Bundesliga rules out playing game abroad

Bayern Munich vs. Borussia Dortmund in Shanghai? Schalke vs. Bayer Leverkusen in New York? Not any time soon, according to the German Football League (DFL), which operates the Bundesliga. "We will never play a competitive game outside Germany," said DFL chief executive Christian Seifert on Tuesday at the Football Summit in Frankfurt, an annual conference organized by broadsheet Zeit. Spainʼs La Liga announced in August thatone match per year from the countryʼs top flight will be played in the United States as part of a 15-year joint venture with global sports marketing company Relevent, the organizers of the International Champions Cup. But Germany will seemingly not be following suit.

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Luka Modric, Mo Salah join Cristiano Ronaldo on FIFA Best shortlist Cristiano Ronaldo, Mohamed Salah and Luka Modric have been named on the shortlist for the FIFA player of the year award.

Luka Modric (pictured above, right) made the shortlist for the FIFA Best award, which was announced on Monday, for helping Real Madrid to a third-straight Champions League title in May and then captaining Croatia to theWorld Cup final.Modric won the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament and was named the UEFA Menʼs Player of the Year a few weekʼs later. Mohamed Salah(above, left), who like Modric

has made the shortlist for the first time, got there based on the 32 goals he scored in the Premier League for Liverpool last season (44 in all competitions).

Although Liverpoolreached the final against Madrid,he was was forced off early after injuring his shoulder following a challenge from Sergio Ramos. The holder, Cristiano Ronaldo (above, middle), who has won the award five times since 2008, was the top scorer in the Champions League, leading Real Madrid to a third-straight European title, their fourth in five years – before leaving for Juventus in the summer.