DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Zimbabwe voters go to the polls in close presidential election Zimbabweans flocked to the polls in large numbers on Monday, in the first elections since Robert Mugabe was removed from the presidency, a post he had occupied for nearly 40 years. The winner will not be determined for several days, as the results of the presidential, parliamentary and local elections are due by August 4. A candidate must reach the 50 percent vote threshold to win, otherwise the contest will move to a runoff on September 8. Zimbabweʼs electoral commission chair Priscilla Chigumba said there was an estimated voter turnout of 75 percent. The figure would be larger than the last election of 2013. "It is our view that the high voter turnout is indicative of a sound voter education and publicity conducted on a receptive electorate," Chigumba told reporters in Harare. President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who had replaced Mugabe and is the presumed front-runner in the race, urged citizens to have patience, as the nation waits anxiously for the preliminary results five days from now.
Viral video of Paris woman assaulted after confronting sexual harassment triggers investigation French prosecutors are investigating after a video went viral, showing a young woman being assaulted for confronting an alleged sexual harasser, local media reported on Monday. Security camera footage shows 22-year-old student Marie Laguerre walking outside a Paris cafe in broad daylight. In a Facebook post she said a man made lewd comments towards her — "not the first time it had happened to me that day."
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Grace Mugabeʼs diplomatic immunity was unconstitutional South African court rules
The former first lady of Zimbabwe was allowed to flee after allegedly beating a young woman with a cable. Lawyers have called for Mugabe to now be extradited. A South African court on Monday ruled that Zimbabweʼs former first lady, Grace Mugabe, should not have been granted diplomatic immunity when sheallegedly beat a young model with an electrical cable. Police halted Mugabe from fleeing South Africa in August 2017 after model Gabriella Engels accused Mugabe of attacking her in a luxury Johannesburg hotel as punishment for spending time with Mugabeʼs two sons. But she was later allowed to flee after South Africanofficials granted her diplomatic immunity.Her husband, Robert Mugabe, was president of Zimbabwe at the time. Judge Bashier Vally said the Foreign Ministryʼs decision was "inconsistent with the constitution" and struck it down. Engels said Mugabe burst into her room in a luxury hotel and started whipping her with a cable. At the time Engels shared photos showing gashes to her head and
bruising on her thighs. Mugabe denied the allegations, saying she was acting in self defense against an "intoxicated and unhinged" Engels. Lawyers seek extradition The legal agency that represented Engels, Afriforum, said the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) should now seek Mugabeʼs extradition from Zimbabwe to South Africa. Lawyer Willie Spies said if the NPA failed to take action, Afriforum would start proceedings against Mugabe. NPA spokeswoman Phindi Mjnonondwana said police were still responsible for the case. South Africaʼs main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), supported the latest ruling. "This is a great day for justice, the rule of law and shows that nobody is above the law," said party chairman James Selfe in a statement. "The South African government chose to put the politics of expediency above the rule of law."
Germanyʼs Social Democrats still struggling after Andrea Nahlesʼ first 100 days Andrea Nahles is spending her 100th day as the head of Germanyʼs Social Democratic Party (SPD) on the campaign stump in Bavaria ahead of regional elections there this October. Itʼs hardly a glamorous gig: a meeting with a mayor in the town of Dietfurt (population 6,100) and then an appointment with regional SPD candidates at a brewery. But itʼs the sort of legwork Nahles will need to stop the rot in the SPD. While never much of a force in traditionally conservative Bavaria, Social Democrats have slipped as low as 12 percent in polls and risk being overtaken by the Greens on the left and the Alternative for Germany (AfD) Party on the far right.
Munich Airport chaos cost €1 million, airport director says The bill for the consequences of the Munich Airport security breach could total more than €1 million ($1.2 million), the airport chief said on Monday. Passengers suffered from two days of flight cancellations and long delays at the weekend as a result of asecurity scare that forced the evacuation of Terminal 2. About 330 flights were cancelled and more than 32,000 passengers were left stranded from Saturday morning until Sunday afternoon after a woman entered the secure area of the airport without going through security.
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175/2018 • 02 August, 2018
UN votes to blame Israel for excessive force against Palestinians in Gaza The UN General Assembly has voted to condemn Israeli violence against Palestinian protesters in Gaza. A US attempt to blame Hamas failed to pass. The UN General Assembly on Wednesday adopted by a sweeping majority a resolution condemning Israel for killing Palestinians in Gaza and rejected a US attempt to pin the blame on Hamas. The resolution put forward by Algeria, Turkey and the Palestinians secured 120 votes in the 193-member assembly, with 8 votes against and 45 abstentions. The resolution came in response to a similar resolution beingvetoed by the United Statesin the 15-member UN Security Council earlier this month. The resolution deplores Israelʼs use of "excessive, disproportionate and indiscriminate force" against Palestinians, particularly in Gaza. Australia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Togo and the Solomon Islands joined the United States and Israel in voting against the resolution. Germany abstained.
Italy threatens to scupper EUCanada free trade deal
The new government in Rome is walking in the footsteps of Donald Trumpʼs trade protectionism, as it has threatened to torpedo the CETA trade agreement because it doesnʼt protect Italyʼs farmers and their products. Italyʼs new agriculture minister Gian Marco Centinaio said on Thursday that the government wouldnʼt ratify theComprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with Canada— the EUʼs first major free trade deal since 2011. In an interview with Italyʼs daily La Stampa, Centinaio said CETA didnʼt ensure sufficient protection for the countryʼs speciality foods. "We will not ratify the free trade treaty with Canada because it protects only a small part of our PDO [Protected Designation of Origin] and PGI [Protected Geographical Indication] products," Centinaio told the newspaper. "Doubts over this agreement are shared by many of my European colleagues," he added. The treaty did enter in force on a provisional basis in September 2017, doing away with tariffs on a large number of goods and widening access to Canadian beef in Europe and EU cheese and wine in Canada. 2
German far-right extremists have been keeping ʼlists of enemiesʼ The lists were found during raids, arrests and investigations into prominent far-right attacks
Tens of thousands of people were on the radar of right-wing extremist groups in Germany, a parliamentary question revealed. Right-wing extremist groups in Germany have gathered more than 25,000 peopleʼs contact details in so-called "enemy lists," German media outlet RedaktionsNetzw‐ erk Deutschland (RND) reported on Monday. The information was disclosed by the German government in response to an inquiry on the matter made by the Left party in the Bundestag. Among the information that right-wing extremists have held were names, phone numbers and ad-
Boy on cruise ship racks up €12,000 roaming bill A German family received an unwelcome surprise after returning home from a family cruise to Norway. The son had used just under a half a gigabyte worth of data while at sea, and was billed more than €12,000 as a result. A German family is seeking legal counsel after they arrived back home from a family holiday, only to find a phone bill totaling more than €12,000 (around $14,000). The family had taken a short cruise from the northernGerman city of Kielto the Norwegian capital of Oslo. It was during that trip that the 12-year-old son decided to unwind and watch some videos on his phone. The catch: He was connected to the cruise shipʼs ownphone network, which connects to the internet via satellite. While anyone can join the network, it is generally only in-
Germanyʼs corporate battle of the sexes Why are women so hugely underrepresented in senior positions in German business? Are they being prevented from getting ahead in Europeʼs powerhouse? Or do they have themselves to blame? It is a scene that seems unremarkable at first. A woman walks into a meeting at a multinational company in Germany. She is asked by one of the men at the table to pour the coffee. The problem is she is not the caterer. She is one of the executives about to take part in the meeting with clients. This anecdote is told by consultant Philine Erfurt Sandhu who wasbrought in by the company to try to improve gender balance. Sandhu says the above incident is not a one-off. She hears such stories "regularly." t is an example of what Sandhu calls the "Thomas Syndrome." The idea that the typical senior manager in Germany is a 53year-old white male called "Thomas" who would rather recruit a clone of himself than a woman.
dresses of people they deemed "enemies." High-profile cases German authorities found the lists as part of investigations into prominent cases involving right-wing extremist groups. One of those cases was the National Socialist Underground (NSU),which recently saw the conviction of its surviving member Beate Zschäpe, for her part in the groupʼs terrorist activities that included bombings, robberies, and murders. tended to be used by the shipʼs crew to communicate with other vessels. In fact, German mobile phone networks can demand as much as €30 per megabyte of data downloaded through a satellite connection.The EUʼs abolition of roaming chargesdoes not apply at sea.
Indonesia combines Islam with environmental activism The Indonesian government and Greenpeace have partnered with Islamic organizations to promote plastic waste reduction. Can including religion make environmental campaigns more effective? Indonesiaʼs top Muslim clerical body, the Indonesian
Ulema Council (MUI), together with Greenpeace and the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry and Environment are cooperating on an awareness campaign during Ramadan to solve the problem of plastic waste in Indonesia. Together, they have a mission to promote the use of reusable bags to cut plastic bag use in Indonesia. The Indonesian government and clerics from the countryʼs largest Muslim organizations, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah are seeking to influence the consumer behavior of the groupsʼ combined 100 million followers. NU and Muhamadiyah, together with the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry and Environment, announced the Plastic Waste Reduction Movement in Jakarta on June 6. According to Rosa Vivien Ratnawati, the waste management director at the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the amount of plastic garbage in Indonesia is continuing to increase significantly.
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Germany moves on Amazon, Ebay over sales taxes The German cabinet has approved a draft law which would oblige online marketplaces such as eBay and Amazon to collect sales taxes for transactions involving foreign sellers. The German government has approved plans to toughen the rules on the amount of tax online retail platforms such as Amazon and eBay are obliged to pay in Germany. Following a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said the law would "end the illegal practice of some traders on electronic marketplaces that evade sales tax and thereby give unfair competitive advantages." The draft law, which will still need to be approved by the German Bundesrat — the legislative body — and the Bundestag, the na-
Germany greenlights controversial migrant transfer centers Speeding up asylum proceedings and bringing them all under one roof — simply put, thatʼs the idea behindGermanyʼs migrant transfer centers, also known as "Anker" centers. The name derives from the German words for arrival, decision and repatriation. Up to 1,500 refugees and migrants can be housed in each center. Arrivals, asylum applications and the decisions on those applications — everything is to take place at the centers,including deportations. In each of the seven locations in Bavaria, which officially began operations as "Anker centers" on August 1, every agency involved in the asylum process will be present on site, the state interior minister for Bavaria, Joachim Herrmann, recently told reporters. The pilot phase for the centers will last around six months, after which initial evaluations are planned. Only after these evaluations are complete will the German federal government have to create a legal basis for the centers — and it would be dependent on the countryʼs 16 states to do so.
tional parliament, will oblige online marketplaces to record any transaction that may be taxable in Germany, making them liable for it in the process. Read more: Chinese retail titan JD.com muscles in on German market For example, if the seller of goods on Amazon, eBay or other online platforms are not registered for tax purposes in Germany, the law would oblige those retailers to collect those taxes from sellers, for example through sales taxes such as GST (Goods and Services Tax) or VAT (Value-Added Tax).
No immediate federal help for droughthit German farmers, agriculture minister says
The unrelenting dry spell and heat wave currently bringing 30-degreeCelsius-plus temperatures(86 degrees Fahrenheit) to Germany has had severe consequences for farmers in the countryʼs north. After previously predicting 41 million tonnes of grain, the German Farmers Association (DBV) now estimates a harvest of only 36 million tonnes. "Many farmers now need quick support. The numbers from our point of view allow for a fundamental decision on drought-related assis-
tance," Joachim Rückwied, the head of the DBV, said in a statement. But farmers cannot expect any immediate help from the federal government. Speaking one day after the DBV requested €1 billion ($1.17 billion) to compensate farmers whose crops have been most severely affected, agricultural minister Julia Klöckner acknowledged on Wednesday that some farmers had good reason to fear for their livelihoods and "the corn is literally drying out on its stalks."
German population with immigrant background reaches new peak in 2017 The number of people with foreign roots living in Germanyreached a new peak last year, according to the results of a "micro-census" that was published on Wednesday. According to Destatis, Germanyʼs Federal Office for Statistics, around 19.3 million people living in Germany have immigrant backgrounds. The figure increased 4.4 percent compared to the figures from the 2016 "micro-census."
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The potential for female entrepreneurs is far from exhausted Bärbel Grünberger always knew that she would become an entrepreneur. "I grew up in business. Taking on responsibility has always been part of my life," she says. And yet her career path was not very straightforward. As a young woman she dreamed of a career as a ballerina, became a prop master. Later she trained to become a real estate agent. Ten years ago and with very short notice, she took over her fatherʼs business which supplied teak furniture to wholesalers. Read more: Women entrepreneurs paying their dues "The wholesale business has a very masculine structure. It wasnʼt easy to assert myself," says the Bavarian and laughs when she thinks of her early years as a business women. Now at 37 no one can pull the wool over her eyes anymore. Adventures in e-commerce A few months ago Grünberger ventured into a new entrepreneurial world — e-commerce, or online trading. Since then, she has been working on search term analysis, the ideal product presentation online and her presence on Instagram. She offers decorative iron and glass products under the brand name Varia Living online via platforms such as Amazon. It is her second entrepreneurial foothold next to her wholesale business, and it is here in the digital sector that she sees real potential for growth.
Trump to propose 25 percent tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods
US President Donald Trump is now considering a 25 percent tariff on up to $200 billion (€171 billion) worth of Chinese imports, according to media reports in the US. Sources close to the internal US deliberations told both Bloomberg and the Washington Post that the Trump administration is consideringwhat would be a significant escalation of the current tariff regime against China, which currently stands at 25 percent on $34 billion worth of primarily industrial goods, in place since early July. In June, Trump directed the US Trade Representative to prepare fresh tariffs on an additional $200 billion worth of Chinese imports, with a rate of 10 percent touted. This wave of tariffs would include a wide range of products, from dog food to furniture, bicycles to beauty products. 4
Berlin sets aside €2.4 billion for national internet boost The German government has approved the creation of a billion euro digital infrastructure fund to help boost internet connectivity throughout the country. Better late than never, critics say. The German Cabinet on Wednesday approved a bill to create a special ʼDigital Infrastructureʼ fund with an initial €2.4 billion ($2.8 billion), financed by the auction of new 5G mobile licenses and an unexpected bump in tax receipts in May. "The draft bill lays the groundwork for making effective digital infrastructure in schools, living rooms and businesses a reality," the finance ministry said in a statement. Read more: Germany
Deutsche Bank moves some operations to Frankfurt as Brexit risks bite Deutsche Bank has moved a chunk of its euro-clearing activities from London to Frankfurt, according to a report in the Financial Times newspaper. The London-based LCH previously dominated the market forthe lucrative business of clearing eurodenominated interest rate derivatives, but the news that Germanyʼs largest lender has now moved around half of its operations in that field to Frankfurt is the latest sign of the pressureUK financial services operations will come under from EU-based rivals in the wake of Brexit. Deutsche Bank is one of the five largest clearers of interest derivatives and their tilt toward Frankfurt is a boost to the financial services market in Germany, which is in line to take significant business from London, depending on how the Brexit cards ultimately fall. The London Stock Exchange Group, the owner of LCH, has warned that up to 100,000 jobs could be lost if the City of London — the business and financial district — lost its status as the euro-clearing hub.
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South Africaʼs ANC to try to change constitution to allow seizing land The ruling party in South Africa, African National Congress (ANC), will submit a proposal to amend the countryʼs constitution to helppush through its land reform, the countryʼs president, Cyril Ramaphosa, told the nation on Tuesday. The controversial reform would allow the government to take land from white farmers without paying for it. "It has become patently clear that our people want the constitution to be more explicit about expropriation of land without compensation," Ramaphosa said in a televised address. Read more:South Africaʼs land reform - a never-ending story "The ANC will, through the parliamentary process, finalize a proposed amendment to the constitution that outlines more clearly the conditions under which expropriation of land without compensation can be effected," he added.
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aims for faster internet, digital progress with new digital affairs minister The plan is to use the fund to further broadband expansion and help states and municipalities improve the digital infrastructure in schools. Before becoming law MPs will need to refer to Germanyʼs constitution, which at present stipulates central funds cannot be disbursed to schools, as education is run by the countryʼs 16 states.
The German farmers who moan until the cows come home
First and foremost, I have great respect for the work of farmers in this country. They do not know what a vacation is, their daily routine is set by the weather, the ripeness of the grain or the cow that decides to calve on a Sunday morning at five oʼclock. But I also respect those who make cars on assembly lines in Wolfsburg, Zuffenhausen and everywhere in between. Not to mention the countless small, often unknown, companies, which day in, day out make all sorts of products that you and I rely on. This is the way that an economy really works — with resourceful entrepreneurs not afraid to take risks, who find creative solutions in bad times. Unperturbed by bureaucracy they say: Weʼll handle it! Read more:Climate change already affecting German farmers And in most cases German farmers are just such types and are handling it! But they also have four natural enemies: spring, summer, fall and winter. And theyʼre already getting a lot of money from taxpayers for their daily battles against these enemies — heat, bad weather, snow, frost or endless rain.
175/2018 • 02 August, 2018
Viagra in pregnancy study stopped after 11 babies die Some pregnant women who took the drug saw their babies develop lung conditions
Dutch researchers thought the erectile dysfunction drug could help underdeveloped fetuses, but it appears to have led to fatal consequences. Dutch doctors and researchers announced Monday that a study involving Viagra and pregnant women had been halted with immediate effect after 11 infants died due to lung conditions possibly linked to the drug. The study, carried out at the Amsterdam Universityʼs Academic Medical Center (AMC) in conjunction with 11 Dutch hospitals, involved administering the drug sildenafil, more commonly known by its brand name Viagra, to pregnant mothers whose babies were severely undeveloped in the womb. Read
more: Why researching drugs in
pregnancy is an urgent womenʼs health issue Viagra increases blood flow, and previous studies had showed the drug to improve the functioning of the placenta, the AMC said in a statement. Doctors wanted to see whether the drug could "stimulate the growth of the unborn child" who faced a negative prognosis. "The first results of the current study showed that there may be adverse effects for the baby after birth," the centerʼs statement continued.
Hunting the leopard at the Locarno Film Festival As they do with Cannes, Berlin and Venice, filmmakers and film fans worldwide flock to Locarno every year. In the evenings on the impressive Piazza Grande, the lovely little city in the Italian speaking region of southern Switzerland boasts spectacular open-air screenings with 8,000 spectators watching one of the worldʼs biggest movie screens. This year 17 films are scheduled at that central square. Nine are world premieres and thus in contention for the prestigious audience prize. Fifteen movies and documentaries from various countries compete for the Golden Leopard, the festivalʼs top prize, whose jury is chaired by Jia Zhangke, director of the film Still Life.
Brussels Jazz Orchestra at Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music
German music life personified: Witiko Adler on his 90th birthday For September 20, conductor Daniel Barenboim and violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter have been booked in a benefit concert in the Berlin Philharmonie. The occasion is the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Konzertdirektion Adler. Turning 90 on July 30, the concert agencyʼs director, Witiko Adler, is probably the worldʼs oldest active concert agent. Released as a prisoner of war after World War II in September 1945, Adler joined the family business two years later and became its director after the death of his father, Hans Adler, in 1948. In the postwar years, Witiko Adler made a strong contribu-
tion to rebuilding music life in Germany. One of his first priorities was to attract foreign artists to the country, including Jewish artists. Many refused. Others, such as the violinist Yehudi Menuhin, were eager to perform in the service of reconciling wartime enemies. Witiko Adler was strongly impressed by the character of that artist, so active on behalf of humanitarian causes. "For him, only one thing mattered: ʼWhat is the right thing to do? What is necessary?ʼ And: ʼOne must help.ʼ He was utterly simple and sincere in his personal dealings," said Adler in an interview with DW.
The 1960s was a decade of struggle for civil rights. Martin Luther King, the symbol of this era, was assassinated 50 years ago in 1968. This tragedy inspired Frank Vaganée and Tutu Puoane, who as a South African lived through the injustices of the apartheid system herself, to put together a special jazz programme themed on human rights.
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Culture
Top German court clears way for free Wi-Fi VISITORS TO GERMANY ARE OFTEN STRUCK BY THE LACK OF FREE WI-FI — NOW THE COUNTRY HAS CLEARED ONE OF THE LAST HURDLES. THE SUPREME COURT HAS UPHELD A RULE SHIELDING COMPANIES OFFERING HOT SPOTS FROM COPYRIGHT PROSECUTION.
Germanyʼs highest criminal court on Thursday upheld a law protecting companies and individuals whoprovide free Wi-Fi hot spots from prosecutionif an unknown user downloads copyrighted content. Although the regulation has beenin place since 2017, many businesses have been wary to open free Wi-Fi hot spots for fear that even if they wouldnʼt get in trouble under German law, they might still be prosecuted for copyright infringement under European law. The case at hand actually revolved around a somewhat older incident — a man who was charged for illegally uploading a copyrighted game in 2013 was challenging the fine he was asked to pay. The IT worker had made several servers running the encrypted communication software Tor available, and one user had downloaded the game Dead Island, published by the German video game firm Deep Silver, a subsidiary of Koch Media.
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Andre Schürrle hoping to find form in Fulham
While Mario Götze scored the only goal of the game in Borussia Dortmundʼs win over Manchester City in Chicago, Andre Schürrle was negotiating a move away from the club. After being told he was free to leave the club, Schürrle left BVBʼs US Tour before it had really even started to join Fulham on a two-year loan deal. Schürrle returns to London, where he used to play in the blue of Chelsea. The hope is that change will do him good, because it has been quite some time since anyone got the best out of him. Thomas Tuchel appeared to have the answer back in 2010 at Mainz, and for a while so did others as Schürrle bounced around Europe. But by the time the pair reunited at Borussia Dortmund, Schürrle was not the player who sent an incredible cross to Mario Götze in the final minutes of a World Cup final.
Is eSports about to be recognized as a sport in Germany? Politicians in Germany are mulling recognizing eSports as a sport. Their decision would have wide-ranging repercussions in the gaming industry in the country and further legitimize the digital sport phenomenon. eSportsʼ continued growth has pushed competitive gaming ever-more into the public eye. This has sparked a debate about gaming’s role within German society, and whether eSports should be officially classified as a sport. And it is looking increasingly like it will. Chancellor Angela Merkelʼs grand coalition of her Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and the Social Democrats (SPD) agreed to recognize eSports as a sport as part of the coalition agreement they reached earlier this year. However, the legislation necessary to do so has not yet been passed. "eSports were long considered a niche topic, generally only discussed by experts. It has now reached a tipping point where it has become a meaningful topic to all of society and cannot be ignored," Konstantin von Notz, deputy chair of the opposition Green Party in the lower house Bundestag said.
Mesut Özil’s resignation is a huge on-field blow for Germany The nature of the playmaker’s resignation makes a comeback extremely unlikely
With no ready-made replacement in the squad, Germany and coach Joachim Löw have a big problem on their hands. Reducing a footballer’s career down to raw data rarely does a player justice. Numbers can’t describe, for instance, a jaw-dropping half-turn into a pocket of space that didn’t exist moments earlier. Nobody did that quite like Mesut Özil in a Germany shirt. The playmaker’s numbers do bear a mention, however. In 92 appearances for the national side, Germany’s No.10 was directly involved in 63 goals – 23 strikes and 40 assists. He was crowned national team player of the year five times. To top
it all, he played an integral role as Germany liftedthe 2014 World Cupin Brazil. The numbers don’t lie: Özil has been a phenomenal performer for Germany. Despite leaving the door ever-so-slightly ajar, the nature ofÖzil’s resignationmakes a comeback highly unlikely. Jogi Löw, still licking his wounds after Germanyʼs disastrous title defense, needs to come up with a solution to a tricky question: How do you replace a player like Mesut Özil?
Davy Klaassen could be the final piece of Werder Bremenʼs European puzzle
Five years ago, Werder Bremenʼs attacking line included Kevin de Bruyne. The Belgian was the star but wasnʼt the finished product he is now, and in a somewhat jumbled together team Bremen only managed to finish the season three points clear of relegation. A lot has changed at the Bundesliga club since then. Three different head coaches have come and gone, as have many players, but now Werder Bremen find themselves in search of the answer to the question every midtable side asks: How do we get better from here? 6
Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge slams DFB president for populism, his use of Twitter Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has renewed his criticism of the DFB. However, the Bayern chairman stopped short of calling on its president, Reinhard Grindel, to resign. He also had words of criticism for Mesut Özil. Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge used an interview published in the SportBild weekly on Wednesday
to accuse Reinhard Grindel, president of the German football association (DFB) of populism. "Fundamentally I have a good relationship with Mr. Grindel. But he has a tendency towards populism in an effort to win public applause," he said. "This may have to do with the fact that he doesnʼt have a background in football but comes from the world of politics.