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DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Germany: Huge cocaine stash found in coffee shipment Some 200 kilograms (441 pounds) of cocaine packed in 210 parcels have been found hidden between sacks of imported coffee in the northern German city of Hamburg, customs authorities said on Monday. The quantity of the drug, which is usually bulked out with various additives to around three times its volume before sale, would have fetched more than €30 million ($34.2 million) on the black market, customs spokesman Stephan Meyns said. The coffee had been shipped from Brazil. The company it was intended for had discovered the cocaine last Thursday and alerted customs, Meyns said. Cocaine hidden in cargo shipments from Latin America areregularly intercepted in Germany.Last year, the customs in Hamburg alone confiscated some 4.5 tonnes of the drug.

Iran sanctions: US grants oil exemptions for several countries AsUS sanctions against Irancame back into effect on Monday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo revealed that several countries secured oil import exemptions, including:India,China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Turkey, Greece, and Italy. Iran has saidit will defy the reimposition of sanctions,which target the countryʼs oil exports and financial transactions.

The US decided to reimpose the sanctions after US President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal earlier this year. Pompeo told reporters that the eight countries secured temporary waivers to continue importing oil from Iran.The exemptions were granted with the understanding that the countries will seek to reduce their imports to zero.Waivers were also issued to allow European firms to continue conversion work on two of Iranʼs nuclear facilities.

252/2018 • 6 NOVEMBER, 2018

Chancellor Angela Merkel: German center is split The government must hold

Angela Merkelʼs immediate task is to organize the contest over who will be her successor as leader of the CDU. Whoever it turns out to be could well pull the party away from the political center — wherever that is.

Angela Merkel appeared before the press in Berlin on Monday to deliver an interim report on how the leadership meeting at her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) headquarters has gone so far. The meeting was ostensibly a preparation for the upcoming leadership contest, the first her party has faced in 18 years, but the chancellor hinted that at least part of the committee discussion had been devoted to the future direction of her party. Pointing to the motto hanging behind her, which proclaimed her partyʼs place in "the center," Merkel admitted that Germanyʼs middle classes were currently somewhat split, which makes things difficult for a party like hers.

"Both sanguine and concerned citizens are part of this center," the chancellor said, citing a recent study by the Roman Herzog institute whose insights could have an influence on the party, which is due to elect its next leader at a party conference in December. Some 12 members have already put their names forward to succeed her as leader of the CDU, though only three are thought to have a realistic chance: the partyʼs General Secretary Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Health Minister Jens Spahn, and-

former parliamentary group leader Friedrich Merz. Though as Merkel clarified, not all 12 applicants will necessarily become candidates, so the herd will likely thin out in the coming weeks. The press conference was a purely internal party affair. Indeed, Merkel only appeared because Kramp-Karrenbauer, as one of the candidates, has withdrawn from many of her duties as general secretary to preserve neutrality. But still Merkel was at pains to stress her commitment both to preserving her governmentʼs stability in the coming weeks, and remaining in office until the end of the legislative period. The question is legitimate: should the CDU choose a significantly more conservative leader, it will place even more strain on her coalition with the Social Democratic Party (SPD), which is itself stuck in an existential crisis over its political identity. "There is a common conviction that we should continue governing on the basis of the coalition contract," Merkel said. "Thatʼs an important message, which will lessen concerns." She added that she had been in contact with French President Emmanuel Macron, and said that a democratic search for a party leader was normal in Europe.

German lawmakers push for Syrian refugee deportations The rape of a young womanin the southwestern city of Freiburghas reignited the debate over deporting criminal asylum-seekers. At least seven Syrian men and one German man are suspected of raping an 18year-old student in mid-October. In response, a number of conservative politicians have demanded the government be able to deport Syrian refugees accused of severe crimes back to their native country. If the situation in war-torn Syria"continues to improve, even if only in parts of the country, deporting a limited circle of persons should no longer be barred across the board," Mathias Middelberg, a parliamentarian and domestic policy spokesperson for Chancellor Angela Merkelʼs conservative Christian Democrats (CDU), told Die Welt newspaper.

Interior Minister Seehofer forces exspy chief Maassen into retirement German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said on Monday that he was temporarily relievingformer domestic spy chief Hans-Georg Maassenof his duties after Maassen made "unacceptable remarks" in a farewell speech to representatives of international intelligence agencies. Seehofer, who has previously supported Maassen, said that a "cooperation based on mutual trust" was no longer possible in view of the remarks.

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252/2018 • 6 November, 2018

European Court of Justice rules Polish arrest warrants can be halted The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled against extraditing suspects to Poland on Wednesday if there are "serious and fact-based grounds" to believe the suspect would not receive a fair trial. The ruling concernsa Polish man in Irelandwho claims recent justice reforms in Poland harmed his chances of being treated fairly.

The man is suspected of drug trade. In recent years, Polandʼs ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party has been working to place courts under a tighter control of the executive branch. Among other steps, the parliament now has power to choose members of the National Council of the Judiciary whose job is to oversee judicial impartiality.

More recently, the lawmakers changed retirement age for the Supreme Court judges, which critics believe was aimed at ousting the most experienced judges and stacking the body with government supporters. The Supreme Court and its chief Malgorzata Gersdorf are opposing the move.

Hungaryʼs university ban on gender studies heats up culture war Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjen hinted at it during an interview in August: Hungarian universities would no longer offer gender studies as a discipline. According to Semjen, nobody wanted to employ "genderologists," so there was no need to train them. He also called the idea of gender as a social construct "absurd."

The subject has now officially been abolished. Last weekend a government decree signed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban came into force, removing gender studies from the list of masterʼs programmes. Degree courses in the discipline that have already begun can be completed.

But after that, the subject will be banned at Hungarian universities. A master’s degree in gender studies is currently offered at two Hungarian universities: Budapestʼs state-funded Eotvos Lorand University (ELTE), Hungaryʼs oldest university, and theCentral European University (CEU), a private institution funded by Hungarian-American billionaireGeorge Sorosʼ Open Society Foundation. Around 20 students have taken part in the masters program at each university.

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Italyʼs economic plight, and why it matters Brussels rejected Romeʼs 2019 fiscal plan, demanding changes

Mexican journalist shot dead at restaurant Sergio Martinez Gonzalez, the editor of a local news outlet in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas, was shot dead Wednesday morning, the latest victim in Mexicoʼs wave of journalist murders. Martinez, who owned and ran the publication Enfoque, had just dropped off his daughters at school and was breakfasting with his wife at a local restaurant when two people on a motorcycle stopped in front of the couple and opened fire, local media reported. Martinezʼs wife survived the attack, and was receiving medical attention, Mexican newspaper El Uni‐ versal said. The Chiapas attorney generalʼs office announced on Twitter that it was investigating the murder.

Eurozone finance ministers sided with the European Commission on Monday in slamming Italyʼs resolve to stick to its controversial budget.

Italyʼs coalition government, made up of the far-right Lega party headed by Matteo Salvini and the anti-establishment Five Star Movement led by Luigi Di Maio, wants to cut taxes, roll back pension reforms and introduce a universal income.Rome is demandingmore fiscal freedom to implement policies promised before the election earlier this year.

This is expected to raise Italyʼs budget deficit to 2.4 percent in 2019, moving toward the 3 percent

Confusion over missing Saudi journalist in Turkey who ʼvanishedʼ from consulate Turkish and Saudi officials have given conflicting reports on the whereabouts of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who has been missing since he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Tuesday. Khashoggi, a regular contributor to The Washington Post, has been a fierce critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and has criticized Saudi Arabiaʼs policies toward Qatar and Canada,the war in Yemen and a

limit set by the EUʼs Stability and Growth Pact, after the previous governmentʼs target of 0.8 percent.

Italyʼs debt load — currently at €2.3 trillion ($2.6 trillion) or more than 130 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) — is the highest in the EU and debt maturities are among the shortest. Some 27.5 percent of its debt (35.6 percent of GDP) comes due before the end of 2020, meaning that a higher interest refinancing burden could undermine growth. crackdown on dissent, the media and activists. Khashoggiʼs personal website bore a banner saying, "Jamal has been arrested at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul!" without elaborating. A Saudi official denied that Khashoggi had been detained inside the consulate. "Mr. Khashoggi visited the consulate to request paperwork related to his marital status and exited shortly thereafter," the official said.

"He is neither in the consulate nor in Saudi custody."

Afghan leader rejects resignation of spy chief, top ministers President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday

urged Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak, Defense Minister Tareq Shah Bahrami, and intelligence chief Masoum Stanekzai to stay in their posts, the Afghan government said.

The three officials submitted resignation letters on Saturday, citing policy differences and a spate of deadly attacks. "President Ghani did not approve their resignations... and gave them the necessary instructions to improve the security situation," a statement from the presidential palace said. The offers to step down followed the resignation of Ghaniʼs national security adviser and close ally, Hanif Atmar, on Friday. Atmar, one of the countryʼs most powerful politicians, has been replaced by former ambassador to the US Hamdullah Mohib.

252/2018 • 6 November, 2018

Could oil nation Norway help save the climate?

The world may not be able to make necessary changes in time to limit rapid global temperature rise, the UN climate panel has warned. Existing emissions must also be captured and stored. Norway thinks it has the answer.

For those of us who thought installing solar panels, planting trees and switching to an electric car would do the trick,this monthʼs reportfrom the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was a startling wake-up call.

The world is facing a climate catastrophe, and urgent and unprecedented changes are needed, it said. That includescarbon capture and storage (CCS), a technology that in the past has been fraught with problems. CCS is extremely expensive, and critics

German intelligence foiled 2016 Islamic State terror attack Three teams of "Islamic State" (IS) terrorists were to have traveled to Germany in 2016 to prepare for and carry out a devastating attack — with the target possibly a music festival. A man, Oguz G., and woman, Marcia M., who traveled to Syria in autumn 2015 to join IS were to have played a central role in the attack. From ISʼ then-de facto capital of Raqqa, Marcia M. — who was herself a convert to Islam — tried to recruit women in northern Germany to marry IS members so that they could be granted permission to enter Germany. However, one of the women who was contacted was an informant for Germanyʼsdomestic intelligence agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), who alerted authorities. Details of the case emerged after an investigation by the German broadcasters ARD and WDR, as well as the Süd‐ deutsche Zeitung and Zeit newspapers.

The case was confirmed by the German Federal Prosecutorʼs Office.

have long argued that it is nothing but an excuse for the fossil fuel industry to carry on as normal, to the detriment of the growth of renewable alternatives.

Yet in Norway, the technology is gaining traction. Little surprise, giventhe countryʼs continued plans to exploit oil. "The climate challenge is so big that you have to use all the tools that you have in your toolbox," said Trude Sundset, CEO of Gassnova, the Norwegian state company responsible for finding CCS solutions for the future.

Africa wants to manufacture its own vaccines

Africaʼs dilemma is clearly illustrated by two sets of statistics: Almost 17 percent of the worldʼs population live on the continent — but it produces less than 1 percent of all the worldʼs vaccines. And every year African governments spend millions on importing them. More and more politicians there are calling for a new approach. "We have a very big market today," says Christophe Bazivamo."

In East Africa alone, we speak about 178 million people, and weʼre importing not only vaccines but also every kind of pharmaceutical product," he complains. Bazivamo is the deputy secretary general of the East African Community. This intergovernmental organization comprises six East African countries: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

Recession fears grip emerging markets amid currency crises Turkey, South Africa and Argentina are among the emerging economies most at risk of recession, chief economist for business information provider IHS Markit, Nariman Behravesh, told DW. The countries, which have seen their currencies battered this year, have "twin deficits" and large amounts of dollar and euro-denominated debt.

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252/2018 • 6 November, 2018 Germany attempts ʼface-savingʼ resolution to Saudi drugs boycott

The human rightsrow between Saudi Arabia and Canada made international headlinesin recent weeks, when the Riyadh government suddenly suspended new trade and investment to the Great White North. The punitive measures were in response to a simple tweet by Canadaʼs foreign minster, calling for the release of two jailed Saudi activists. Receiving less attention has been the diplomatic spat between Europeʼs No. 1 economy and the oil-rich kingdom — also sparked by a ministerʼs comments; this time Sigmar Gabriel, Germanyʼs thenforeign minister. During the political crisis in Lebanon last November that saw Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri resign and later rescind his decision, Riyadh was widely accused of forcing his departure, which Gabriel alluded to as "adventurism." ʼShamefulʼ remarks hurt tiesRiyadh immediately recalled its ambassador to Berlin, telling the German government the comments were "shameful."

In May, it went further and froze all new business with Germany. Over the subsequent months, several German pharmaceutical and medical technology firms, including Siemens Healthineers, Bayer and Boerhringer Ingelheim, have been excluded from public healthcare tenders in the kingdom. A pharmaceutical industry source told DW, on condition of anonymity, that Saudi authorities had not given any written explanation about the exclusion, and that there was no clear path for Germany to resolve the issue. Efforts by German diplomats to mediate with Saudi authorities were delayed, initially, by the Holy Month of Ramadan, and the summer break, as Gulf countries stop work in July and August due to the extreme heat.

eBay sues Amazon for allegedly poaching its sellers Online retailer eBay filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against its competitor Amazon, accusing the Seattle-based giant of using eBayʼs own messaging system to steal sellers. eBay described Amazonʼs scheme as an "orchestrated, coordinated, worldwide campaign" to "illegally lure eBay sellers." While both eBay and Amazonʼs revenue is boosted by independent sellers, the group has become a greater part of Amazonʼs recent growth. In 2017, more than half the items sold on Amazon came from third-party sellers. In eBayʼs lawsuit, Amazon representatives are accused of creating eBay accounts and then messaging sellers to persuade them to take their goods to Amazon.com instead. eBay argues that the move violated its user agreement.

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British and Italian lenders struggle in EU banking stress test The European Banking Authority (EBA) has published results of a stress test it ran on major lenders from the EU and Norway, showing that a clutch of British banks and two lenders from Italy fared worst.

The London-based European Banking Authority (EBA)scrutinized a total of 48 lenders on the continent between January and October, confronting them with a hypothetical scenario where gross domestic product in the EU would fall by 2.7 percent over the next two years. On top of that, the tests simulated unemployment rising by 3.3 percent to levels last seen in 2009, during the financial crisis.

Moreover, economic risks linked to a no-deal Brexit, falling trade and financial market disruption were built in, as were falling property prices,

No breakthrough in China-US trade talks Chinaʼs Ministry of Commerce said on Friday that it had held "constructive meetings" with US officialsafter talks resumed between the countries over their ongoing trade spat. Nonetheless, with no major breakthrough yet in sight, the resumption of talks did not prevent an additional $16 billion (€13.83 billion) of tariffs being levied by the US and China on each otherʼs goods, starting from Thursday. Read more: US-China trade spat: Clash of the titans, part 2 Talks took place on Wednesday and Thursday aimed at defusing the escalating conflict, which has now seen both countries slap $50 billion in tariffs on the otherʼs products, with more expected to follow. The Chinese news agency Xinhua reported that the officials on both sides have vowed to "keep in contact" in the future. High-tech will suffer, says China Meanwhile, a prominent Chinese state planner said on Friday that US tariffs onhightech Chinese technology would have an impact on the tech sectors in both countries.

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Kalashnikov unveils new electric car Kalashnikov,a company moreknown for its AK-47 machine gunsthan its electric vehicles, unveiled its new electric car on Thursday. The powder-blue prototype, dubbed the CV-1, was unveiled by the Russian arms maker at a defense expo outside of Moscow. Kalashnikov Concern told Russian media that the technology within its "electric supercar" will rival that of Elon Muskʼs Tesla. "This technology will allow us to stand in line with the worldʼs electric car manufacturers, like Tesla, and compete with them," a spokesperson told Sputnik. According to the company, the vehicle can travel 350 kilometers (217 miles) on a single charge. The carʼs retro look was inspired by a Soviet hatchback model developed in the 1970s, the "Izh-Kombi," Kalashnikov said in a statement on its website. The CV-1ʼs light blue color, large grill, retro door handles and boxy frame have received mixed reviews from Russians. On social media, some described the car as "cyberpunk" while others referred to it as the "Izh-Zombie."

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losses on holdings of sovereign debt and even potential fines over embezzlement by managers. The 2018 exercise showed among the worst performers British banks Barclays, Lloyds and Royal Bank of Scotland, along with Italyʼs Banco BPM and UBI, as well as Germanyʼs regional lender NordLB. Overall, however, the EBA said the stress-tests showed that Europeʼs banks were in much better shape as a result of clean-up measures imposed by national regulators and the European Central Bank (ECB) since the 2008 global financial crisis.

Chinaʼs Xi Jinping vows lower tariffs, more imports at trade fair

China is trying to highlight it is open to importing more at a time it is under pressure to open its markets further. Critics say it is more talk than action.

President Xi Jinping echoed previous pledges to open up Chinaʼs market and lower tariffs as he opened a weeklong trade expo in Shanghai on Monday. The first-ever China International Import Expo runs November 5-10, drawing more than 3,000 exhibitors from some 130 countries to Shanghai to show the import potential of the worldʼs second largest economy and its 1.3 billion people. In a keynote speech, Xi vowed to increase imports, lower tariffs, reduce nontariff barriers to trade and protect foreign intellectual property. He also claimed that China would import $30 trillion (€26.3 trillion) worth of goods and $10 trillion in services in the next 15 years. However, the comments were short on specifics. Critics say reforms to open up the Chinese market have been heavy on words but slow and far less wide-reaching than expected by foreign governments and businesses.

252/2018 • 6 November, 2018

German professor ordered to pay thousands in late library fees The case has highlighted many of the major problems plaguing German academia

The psychology professor lost her appeal against her universityʼs library after she kept books months past their due date.

A German professorlost her appeal on Wednesdayand must pay the €2,250 ($2,545) she racked up in late fees to her universityʼs library.

An administrative court in Dusseldorf rejected lecturer Gina Kästeleʼs arguments that the fines were disproportionately large and a hindrance to academic freedom.

Kästeleʼs lawyer had also argued that as his client had been on holiday, she did not receive the late notices. But the presiding judge was unimpressed, saying that such fines were needed to make sure books were returned on time and thus available to others who might need

Early photographs and films documenting World War I were all in black-and-white, without any synchronized sound. Although initial simple color photography methods already existed during the war, they did not become widespread until the 1930s, and even later in film. Sound cinema was only invented a decade after the end of the First World War. Now, advanced digital technology makes it possible to perfectly colorize old black-and-white footage and set it to sound. In this vein, a documentary film was recently premiered at the London Film Festival, which viewers saw as a sensation: They Shall Not Grow Old by Peter Jackson.

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them. The 50 books in question were borrowed by Kästele, a psychology professor, during the summer semester of 2015 at the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences in the city of Krefeld. They were due to be returned in July of that year but did not make their way back to the library until September of the same year. The libraryʼs late fee policy stipulates €2 per book per day for the first few days, which then increases to €5 and eventually to €20 after 30 days. On top of the late fees, the library applied administrative fees of €25 per book for the long delay.

Berlinʼs Teufelsberg listening station to be historical monument A former NSA spy station outside Berlin will receive state protection as a historical monument, authorities confirmed on Saturday. The iconic buildings on the western edge of Berlin, as well as the hill called Teufelsberg that they stand upon, will be placed under a preservation order, state curator Christoph Rauhut confirmed to the Tagesspiegel newspaper.

A spokesman for the Senate Cultural Administration also confirmed the news to the DPA news agency. The

The First World War captured in film

step will be officially announced on Monday. Authorities said the order does not mean the site will have to be reconstructed as it once was but will instead ensure its preservation in the current state. During the Cold War, US intelligence wanted to build a listening station in West Berlin to intercept Soviet radio communications.

Testing throughout West Berlin revealed Teufelsberg, a manmade hill in the Grunewald forest, had ideal conditions for such a center.

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Culture

A new exhibition celebrates 100 years of Budapest’s Gellért Hotel A recreated Baroque-style guest room, photos of the building taken during World War II and Communist-era posters reflect the history of Budapest’s most legendary hotel, the Gellért. A new exhibition at the Museum of Commerce & Catering celebrates the centenary of this institution which opened on 24 September 1918. Attached to the hotel is Budapest’s Art Nouveau Gellért Baths, whose outdoor wave pool, also illustrated at the museum, was the first of its kind in the world. Tucked away in the cobblestoned district of Óbuda, the former residence of Hungarian writer Gyula Krúdy is now home to a charming museum. Here, permanent displays include old-fashioned shop interiors illustrating the history of commerce and catering. This same building also hosts relevant seasonal exhibitions, such as the recently opened Gellért 100 to commemorate the centenary of the Gellért Hotel, a splendid Art Nouveau landmark towering above the Buda riverfront. Opened during the turmoil of World War I, during its long history, the Gellért has accommodated the likes of former US president Richard Nixon and the Dalai Lama. They both enjoyed the hotel’s fine facilities that are now brought to life through historic objects and images currently on show at the museum.

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252/2018 • 6 November, 2018

Sergio Perez: Force India keep Mexican driver for 2019 Formula 1 season

The 28-year-old Mexican has been with the team since 2014 and is seventh in the driversʼ championship with seven points finishes in the past nine races. Perez has been credited with fending off a winding-up petition against the team bystarting administration proceedingsearlier this year, saving all 405 jobs at their Silverstone base. "Iʼm very happy to finally announce my future," said Perez. "Weʼve achieved so much success in the last five seasons but I think the best is yet to come."

Floyd Mayweather tells UFCʼs Khabib Nurmagomedov ʼcome into my worldʼ

Boxer Floyd Mayweather has told UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov to "come into my world" and make a bout happen that he believes will earn him more than his fight with Conor McGregor. The American, 41,beat McGregorin August 2017 in a fight that generatedmore than £450mand earned him £210m. Nurmagomedov, after defeating the Irishman on his return to UFC, then called out Mayweather himself.

"When I face Khabib, of course I am getting a nine-figure payday," he said. "More than the McGregor fight. Probably $100m more - Iʼm going to say between $110m and $200m (more) guaranteed."

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Aleksandar Kolarovʼs free kick stunner secures Serbia win over Costa Rica

Griezmann brace condemns Germany to another loss

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.

Nations League:

A vibrant first half display wasnʼt enough for Germany, as Antoine Griezmann struck twice to turn the game in Franceʼs favor. Germanyʼs sixth loss in 10 games leaves them in real danger of a humiliating relegation.

It was a gamble that nearly worked.

With his job under more pressure than it has ever been, Joachim Löw made five changes to the teambeaten 3-0 by the Netherlands,injecting pace in to a side that has looked pedestrian for some time. If this many alterations from the most stubborn and loyal of international coaches surprised those watching, it looked also to have caught out the world champions. Germany dominated the opening 45 minutes, with Leroy Sane, Timo Werner and Serge

Gnabry posing France a different set of questions than they might have expected. But it was an old hand that gave them the lead, with a little help from Sane and the referee. Toni Kroos just about converted his spot kick after Presnel Kimpembe had been harshly adjudged to have handled Saneʼs cross. It was Germanyʼs first competitive goal since the same man scored from a free kick against Sweden to offer Germany a World Cup hope that was soon to be extinguished.

Simona Halep: World number one withdraws from WTA Finals with back injury World number one Simona Halep has withdrawn from next weekʼs WTA Finals because of a lower back injury.

The Romanian sustained the injury - a herniated disc - during a training session before last monthʼs Wuhan Open.

"Iʼm not ready to compete at this level and Iʼm still sore," the 27-year-old said.

"I didnʼt practise for the last four weeks." World number 10 Kiki Bertens takes Halepʼs place in the event, where $7m (£5.34m) prize money is available.

Halep added: "Itʼs always difficult to

withdraw from a big tournament. Actually, I think itʼs the first time in my life.

So it was a tough decision but itʼs better for my health." The French Open champion received treatment on the back problem during her defeat by Dominika Cibulkova in the second round of the Wuhan Open and then withdrew when one set down to Tunisiaʼs Ons Jabeur in the first round of the China Open. It means Bertens will get to compete in the singles competition at the seasonending WTA Finals in Singapore, which begin on 21 October.