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DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Libya: Clashes rage near Tripoli as UN ceasefire attempt fails Intense fighting between progovernment troops and militias loyal toLibyan strongman Khalifa Haftarcontinued Monday despite attempts by the United Nations to secure a temporary ceasefire. Haftarʼs forces launcheda military offensive to capture the Libyan capital of Tripolilast week, threatening to send the conflictridden country into further chaos. On Monday, the UN said an airstrike

by Haftarʼs forces hit Tripoliʼs only functional airport for civilian use. Flights were suspended until further notice. Reports of deaths very, but as of Monday, as many as 50 people are believed to have died in clashes between government loyalists and pro-Haftar forces. The UN says some 3,400 people have been displaced by the fighting, and many are cut off from emergency help.The UN had called for a two-hour truce on Sunday to allow civilians and those wounded in clashes to flee.The US military has temporarily withdrawn its troops "in response to security conditions on the ground."

Sudan: Protesters call on military to intervene Sudanese security forces on Monday fired tear gas and rubber bullets at anti-government demonstratorscamping outside the armyʼs headquartersin the capital Khartoum, witnesses said. They reported that pickup trucks carrying riot police and secret service personnel charged protesters in the early hours of the morning but were met by uniformed soldiers who came out of the compound to protect the activists. Thousands of people have beenrallying outside the military complex since Saturday, calling on the army to back their demand for President Omar al-Bashir to step down. The compound also houses the Defense Ministry and the official residence of Bashir, who has been in power for almost 30 years.

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Turkeyʼs Erdogan decries vote ʼtheftʼ The vote in Ankara has already been handed to the opposition CHP party

President Erdogan has said that a margin of only 13,000 votes is too few for either side to claim victory in Istanbulʼs mayoral contest.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan decried what he called "theft at the ballot box" on Monday after his Justice and Development Party (AKP) lost crucial votes in Ankara and Istanbul last week. The AKPhas demanded a recount in Istanbul, Erdoganʼs hometown. "We are seeing that some organized crimes have been carried out," the president told reporters before leaving on a trip to Russia. "There is an element of robbery in all of this.

There was some theft at the ballot box." Erdogan also insisted that the difference between the two major candidates for mayor of Istanbul was too slight for anyone to claim a mandate. He said a difference of "13,000 to 14,000 votes" was not enough in a city of 15 million inhabitants. Both candidates claim victory AKP candidate and former

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, and the opposition CHPʼs Ekrem Imamoglu, have both asserted victory in the race. Critics at home and internationally have accused Erodgan of undermining democracy by demanding a recount, but the AKP has held fast to its demand.

The CHP called on the Supreme Electoral Council to remain impartial in its decision on whether or not to proceed with a recount. In the capital Ankara, the council moved on Monday to officially hand the election tothe CHPʼs Mansur Yavas. While the AKPreceived the most votes across Turkey,losses in the capital and the countryʼs main business hub signal a growing dissatisfaction with the AKP, particularly its crackdown on opposition voices in the wake of a failed coup in 2016.

Germanyʼs AfD joins Italyʼs League in new populist coalition Italy’s Matteo Salvini has formally launched his much-anticipated bid to unite European far-right parties ahead of EU elections in May. "We want to reform Europe," he declared during a press conference at a swanky hotel in central Milan. "For many people, the EU is a nightmare, not a dream," said the Italian interior minister and deputy prime minister. Salvini has teamed up with Germany’s rightwing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, whose leader and currently the group’s only MEP, Jörg Meuthen was by his side. Also at the table were representatives from the Danish Peopleʼs Party and the Finns Party of Finland, who are for now the only other confirmed members.

US brands Iranʼs Revolutionary Guard a ʼforeign terrorist organizationʼ Washington put the elite Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on its list of foreign terrorist groups on Monday. In response, Iranʼs Supreme National Security Council applied its own terrorist designation to the US Central Command, also called CENTCOM, along with US forces. Iran also labeled the US a "state sponsor of terrorism."

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Two ships collide in Mediterranean near Corsica The collision between the Tunisian and Cypriot ships spilled a trail of pollution stretching 4 kilometers across the water. Italy and France have sent ships to assist with cleanup efforts. Two cargo ships collided in the Mediterranean Sea near the island of Corsica on Sunday, causing an oil spill, coastal authorities said.

The Ulysse, operated by the Tunisian operator CTN, ran into the Cyprus-based CLS Virgina while it was anchored about 30 kilometres (20 miles) off the northern tip of the island at around 7:30 a.m. local time, the regional naval authority said in a statement.

Read more: Time to clean up the ocean garbage dump No one was injured but "the collision caused considerable damage, with an opening several meters long in the CLS Virginiaʼs hull," the statement said. The spill created a trail of pollution 4 kilometers long and several hundred meters wide, heading away from Corsica to the northwest, toward the French and Italian mainland, the statement continued.

Vietnamʼs dog meat culture clashes with modern tastes Hoang has been eating dog meat since he was young. He canʼt imagine there will be a time that he wonʼt be eating it at least twice a month. However, Vietnamese officials announced in September that dog and cat meat should no longer be served in the inner districts of the capital city Hanoi because itʼs offensive to tourists and can spread diseases like rabies. Read more: Illegal dog meat trade raises moral questions Dog meat lovers and restaurant owners fear that the government will try to expand the ban and decide to officially forbid eating dog and cat meat entirely. "I donʼt see how they can ban it. The demand is just too high," Hoang said at a restaurant in Vietnamʼs largest metropolis, Ho Chi Minh City. In a small alley in Ho Chi Minh City, at least four restaurants serve dog meat, or Thịt chó. People gather around small tables to dine on the canine meat, complementing it with rice wine or beer. Hoang, who declined to give his full name, is sitting at a table with three good friends. "For us itʼs a tradition to eat dog meat. Itʼs just as normal as eating seafood or chicken," he told DW. 2

French PM calls for tax cuts to appease ʼyellow vestsʼ President Emmanuel Macron is expected to present new policies later this month

The initial conclusions of Franceʼs "grand national debate" showed "an enormous exasperation" from French citizens over taxes.

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has called for quick tax cuts while presenting the first conclusions of the countryʼs threemonth"grand national debate"on Monday. "The debates show us very clearly which way to go. We must cut taxes and cut them more quickly," Philippe said in Paris.

He added that French citizens had expressed "an enormous exasperation" over taxes, but said that the government would need to also cut

China says Interpol chief Meng Hongwei under investigation for bribery Interpol President Meng Hongwei, who had gone missing in late September, is under investigation for bribery and other crimes, the Chinese Security Ministry announced on Monday.

Meng is accused of "accepting bribes and is suspected of violating the law," the ministry said in a statement. It also hinted at a political dimension by stating Meng was being probed because of his own "willfulness and for bringing trouble upon himself."

Meng, a senior security official in China as well as the first Chinese head of Interpol, has beenmissing since September 25 while on a trip to his native country. On Sunday, Chinaʼs anti-graft body had said that "Public Security Ministry Vice Minister Meng Hongwei is currently under

Pakistan top court hears blasphemy appeal amid Islamist threats On Monday, Pakistanʼs Supreme Court began the hearing of Asia Bibiʼsfinal appeal against her 2010 death penalty. The three-judge bench said it has reserved the verdict on the appeal, however the judges did not say when they will announce it. If the top court upholds her death sentence, the only recourse for the 53-year-old would be toappeal to the countryʼs president for clemency. In 2014, her death sentence was upheld by the Lahore High Court. Rights group Amnesty International dubbed the verdict a "grave injustice." Religious extremists in Pakistan, particularly the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) group, have warned the authorities against reversing the blasphemy verdict."If there is any attempt to hand her [Bibi] over to a foreign country, there will be terrible consequences," TLP said in a statement.

public spending. The "grand national debate" was launched by French President Emmanuel Macron in response to the nationʼs "yellow vest" movement. The debate involved more than 10,000 local meetings around the country and around 2 million online contributions. Macron spentroughly 100 hours at community events. The French president is expected to announce new economic measures in a major speech next week. investigation by the National Supervisory Commission for suspected violations of law," without specifying its allegations. China has been cracking down on corruption under President Xi Jinping.

Interpol later said Meng had resigned as president of the international police organization with immediate effect. It named South Korean national Kim Jong Yang, who was Senior Vice-President, as acting president.

Attack on Iranian military parade may harden domestic and regional policies A deadly attack on an Iranian military parade may strengthen hardliners in the country and send al-

ready heightened tensions across the Middle East soaring, asTehran points its finger at the United States and its Gulf Arab allies.

The rare attack claimed by Arab separatists killed 12Revolutionary Guard (IRGC)members and 13 others in the southwestern city of Ahvaz, capital of oil-rich Khuzestan province, which is home to Shiite Iranʼs Sunni Arab minority. It was the deadliest attack in the country in nearly a decade. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed "mercenary terrorists" who carried out a crime in "continuation of the conspiracies by the US-backed regimes in the region," while the IRGC under his command vowed "deadly and unforgiving revenge," if need be abroad.

Iran did not name a particular Arab country, but the accusations appeared to be aimed at regional rivals Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

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How has Indiaʼs economy fared under Prime Minister Narendra Modi?

Five years ago, when Narendra Modi took over as prime minister, he promised to usher in "a new era" in India and "good days ahead" for Indiaʼs people.

Expectations ran high after Modiʼs Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) scored a remarkable electoral victory. For the first time in three decades, a single party managed to win a parliamentary majority in the vast South Asian country, home to the worldʼs secondlargest population. Modi and BJP supporters declared that it marked the

German billionaire family to donate $11M over Nazi past

One of Germanyʼs richest families has said they will donate $11 million (€9.7 million) to charity after learning the extent of their familyʼs ties to the Nazi regime, according to a report by the mass-circulation Bild am Sonntag newspaper. The Reimann familyʼs JAB Holding Companyowns a controlling interest in several major brands, including Panera Bread and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, among others. What the report revealed: The report focused on Albert Reimann Sr. and Albert Reimann Jr. and their industrial chemicals company in the city of Ludwigshafen during the Nazi era, and found that: Russian civilians and French prisoners of war were exploited as forced laborers in the familyʼs factories and private villas.The two men were anti-Semites and avowed supporters of Adolf Hitler.Reimann Sr. donated to Hitlerʼs paramilitary SS force as early as 1931.Reimann Jr. once complained in a letter to the Ludwigshafen mayor that the French POWs werenʼt working hard enough.

dawn of a "new India." During his 2014 election campaign, the BJP repeatedly trumpeted Modiʼs track record in the economic development of his native state of Gujarat – where he had served as chief minister from 2001 to 2014 – promising to repeat the performance nationwide, if voted to power.

Bolsonaro fires Brazilʼs controversial education minister

Brazilian PresidentJair Bolsonaroon Monday fired his education minister, Ricardo Velez, an ultraconservative who had sparked fury over a range of controversial measures. Velez will be replaced by Abraham Weintraub, an economist, who was working at the University of Sao Paolo. The countryʼs new government has already suffered political scandals and a public row with congressional leaders over the presidentʼs signa-

turepension reform policy. Rewriting school textbooks to describe the 1964-85 post-coup military dictatorship as a "democratic regime of force." Asking schools to film students singing the national anthem in front of the Brazilian flag.Promising to stamp out "cultural Marxism" and gender-identity "ideology."Velez was forced to backtrack on all of his proposed measures before he was fired.

Resistance to killer robots growing "I can build you a killer robot in just two weeks," says Noel Sharkey as he leans forward with a warning gaze.

The white-haired English professor is a renowned specialist for robotics and artificial intelligence (AI). He was in Berlin to participate in an international meeting of the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots that ended on Friday.

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Worldʼs largest underwater restaurant opens in Norway The "Under" restaurant is five meters (16 feet) under water at Spangereid on Norwayʼs southern tip. "Under" also means "wonder" in Norwegian. It opened on Wednesday for friends and family of the owners, with the first paying guests expected in April. It is Europeʼs first and the worldʼs largest underwater restaurant, with seating for 100 guests. One of the founders of the new enterprise which opened this month, Gaute Ubostad, said: "Weʼll attract tourists from all over the world.

That is our goal." Built like a rock formation rising from the sea, "Under" measures 34 meters in length and is designed to blend into the marine environment over time. Its rough concrete shell will act as an artificial reef for limpets and kelp. Norwegian architects Snoehetta designed the building. They are also responsible for the National September 11 Memorial Museum in New York, and the Opera house in Oslo. The restaurant has a large window so diners can see the sea-life as they enjoy their meals. Fish passing by should include pollack and cod, and there are crabs, lobsters and dogfish to see amid the seaweed. Architect Kjetil Traedal Thorsen said: "The big window exposes the underwater not like an aquarium, it’s the real thing." Seals are not being encouraged near the restaurant as they tend to scare away the fish. Artificial lights will be used to guide the fish and their prey near the viewing window: "One of our main criteria is that our guests will get to experience something unique in the sea," Ubostad said. Fish will be on the menu, as will seabirds, and wild sheep that have grazed the archipelago nearby will also be prepared for the evening meals.

Malta in the eye of a financial tempest A recent European Commission report on Malta warned that the country had made "limited progress in addressing the 2018 Country Specific Recommendations (CSRs) concerning money laundering, corruption and financial supervision."

A European Parliament report meanwhile described "systemized and serious deficiencies" in the rule of law in Malta, while a police investigation in Italy has alleged that theSicilian Mafiainfiltrated companies in the onlinegaming sector some based in Malta to launder money. Read more: Opinion: Golden visas and passport trade undermine EU As if that werenʼt bad enough for the Mediterranean investorsʼ paradise, the EUʼs parliament recently voted to adopt a "tax harmonization” scheme that would create one common corporate tax rate throughout the EU, a move that could halve Maltaʼs tax base.

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Deutsche and Commerzbank: A marriage of convenience that could well happen Reports that Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank are on the brink of merger talks are gathering strength. Should the two lenders come together, it would have major implications for European banking and beyond.

Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank, the grandest of the grand old German lenders, will next year both celebrate their 150th birthdays. But it increasingly looks like there might be need for only one birthday party, rather than two. Over the weekend, reports have intensified that the two banks are strongly considering the possibility of a merger.German newspaper Welt am Sonntag reported on Saturday that Deutsche Bank had agreed to start

Nissan files complaint against ex-boss Carlos Ghosn for ʼmisuse of fundsʼ Japanese automaker Nissan on Friday said it filed its own criminal complaint against its former chairman Carlos Ghosn for the "misuse of a significant amount of the companyʼs funds." Ghosn has beenarrested and charged by Japanese prosecutors with financial misconduct. On Friday, Tokyo prosecutors added a new indictment to the growing list of charges brought against the once-lauded executive.

Until the recent charges against him,Ghosn served as a top executive for Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi.

He was considered a key figure in establishing and then maintaining the alliance. Prosecutors filed two new charges against Ghosn: one for aggravated breach of trust for temporarily transferring personal investment losses to Nissan in 2008 and the other for understating compensation for three years through to 2018.Nissan called for "strict penalties" when filing its complaint, which was "based on the same violation" of aggravated breach of trust.

Hotel Parlament H-Budapest 1054, Kálmán Imre utca 19.

T.: +36 1 374 6000 reservation@parlament-hotel.hu www.parlament-hotel.hu

China: Multiple deaths in chemical plant blast Authorities in southwestern Sichuan province have opened an investigation into a blast at an industrial complex that left 19 people dead, state news agency Xinhua reported Friday.

The explosion ripped through the Yibin Hengda Technology complex in the city of Yibin at 6:30 p.m.

(1030 UTC) Thursday, sparking a fire that burned late into the night, Xinhua said. County officials said that 12 people wounded in the blast had been taken to hospital and were in a stable condition.Read more: China convicts dozens for last yearʼs giant explosions in Tianjin Reports in the Sichuan Dailysaid the force of the explosion reduced three buildings to their steel frames and shattered the windows of nearby properties.

China, the worldʼs largest producer of chemicals, has sought to improve industrial safety standards following aseries of highprofile accidentsin recent years.

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

holding talks with Commerzbank on the feasibility of them coming together. The news agency Reuters reported the same over the weekend, citing "a person with knowledge of the matter." While itʼs important to stress that the reports are unconfirmed, with neither bank yet commenting publicly, few who are familiar with the German financial scene could claim to be surprised if an engagement were to be officially announced sometime soon.

ECB holds interest rates steady to curb eurozone slowdown

The ECB has pledged to keep interest rates at their current historic low in a bid to revive the eurozoneʼs weakening economy. The move comes as fears about Brexit and global tensions threaten growth across the bloc.

Policymakers at the European Central Bank on Thursday announced a new round of cheap loans to banks and said record low interest rates would remain unchanged "at least through the end of 2019." Previously, the bank had indicated that the earliest rate hike would come in the fall. The measures aim toallay fears of a eurozone slowdownspurred by uncertainty over Brexit, aUS-China trade war, and threats by Washington to impose tariffs on European auto imports. "Weʼre coming out of, and maybe we still are in a period of, continued weakness and pervasive uncertainty," ECB chief Mario Draghi told reporters in Frankfurt. "Our decisions certainly increase the resilience of the eurozone economy," he added. "But can they address the factors that are weighing on the economy in the rest of the word? They cannot."

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Drinking hot beverages could increase your cancer risk People who regularly drink scalding hot tea are more likely to get esophageal cancer

As Germany phases out coal, villages still forced to make way for mining This end of thevillage of Immerathis peaceful, with birds chirping in the gables of empty houses. But off in the distance, the sound of excavators tearing down walls and smashing stones betray that calm. The open-pit lignite mine Garzweiler II is just a stoneʼs throw away from Immerath, and soon the village will be no more. Immerath was once a lively community with a sports club, church and several kindergartens. Today, the homes have been barricaded or bricked up. Down one abandoned street, a gutted car sits in the open garage of a family home covered in ivy. At the other end of the road, demolition work has already begun.

Sting to return to Budapest for summer 2019

A large-scale, long-term study by Iranian scientists now confirmed what WHO cancer experts had suspected since 2016.

There are several factors that up your risk of getting cancer. Heavy drinking, smoking and obesity can all contribute to a higher cancer risk — no surprise there. But now researchers from the Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Iran have confirmed another. Their largescale study showedthat people who regularly drink beverages hotter than 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit) have a significantly higher risk of getting esophageal cancer. The Iranian re-

searchers observed and examined more than 50,000 men and women from the northern Iranian province of Golestan for 13 years, from 2004 till 2017. During this time, there were 317 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), one of two common kinds of esophageal cancer. Scientists found that drinking 700 milliliters or more a day of tea that was at least 60 degrees Celsius "was consistently associated with an about 90 percent increase in ESCC risk."

Bertolt Brecht: Poet, playwright — and womanizer The two-part, three-hour documentary drama Brecht, directed by Heinrich Breloer, portrays how Bertolt Brecht (portrayed by actor Tom Schilling) turned into the star of German theater during the Weimar Republic. As a student, he was nearly expelled from school for writing in 1915 an unpatriotic essay that argued that only empty-headed people would be willing to die for their country. He was then quickly celebrated as a wild, young poet-genius with his first fulllength play, Baal, written in 1918 and first staged five years later. An inter-

national classic: The Threepenny Opera His following play, Drums in the Night (written in 1919 and first produced in 1922), anchored his reputation as a playwright. "At 24, the writer Bert Brecht has changed Germanyʼs literary complexion overnight," wrote one influential Berlin critic at the time of the rising star. Brechtʼs lyrics set to music by Kurt Weill in The Threepenny Opera (1928) became the biggest hit in Berlin during the 1920s; the musical went on to become an international classic.

Sting is head over heels for Budapest. After a successful free show with Shaggy a month ago on Heroes’ Square, the former Police frontman has just announced another Budapest concert for next summer. On 2 July, the Grammy-winning singer brings his My Songs tour to the Papp László Aréna, where he will be taking the stage with his own band. From “Englishman In New York” to “Every Breath You Take”, the set should include Sting’s biggest hits. Tickets are on sale now.

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Culture

New tourist info point pops up in central Budapest nearVárosháza park The main tourist information office Budapest Info Point in the city centre has temporarily relocated to a new site at nearby Városháza Park.

Housed in a neat kiosk of wood and glass, the new outlet will be serving tourists while the Sütő utca office is being renovated.

This pop-up shop is conveniently located, a few steps from the terminus of airport bus 100E. Until the end of February, visitors to Hungary’s capital can pick up maps, browse Budapest guides and book city tours at a new tourist info site, set up near the Deák tér transport hub.

Overseen by the Budapest Festival and Tourism Center, this temporary setting is stationed here while the main Budapest Info Pointon nearby Sütő utca is being revamped. The pop-up store serves as a sales outlet for the Budapest Card, offering free and discounted services for 24, 48 and 72 hours, as well as for four or five days.

This new office also stocks copies of our free We Love Buda‐ pest pocket guides, seasonal booklets covering attractions aroundBudapest,Balaton andHungary in English and Hungarian.

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82/2019 • 9 April, 2019

Niko Kovacʼs big week at Bayern Munich

Niko Kovac was a frustrated figure on the touchline at the Allianz Arena towards the end of November. His team had let a three-goal lead slip to recently promoted Fortuna Düsseldorf.

His apparently mutinous dressing room was leaking stories to the press.

Bayern Munichʼs title defense was said to be over and debate was swirling about whether or not he should be sacked. Fast forward four months and the mood at the Bavarian giants is much improved. Four wins on the bounce have pulled them level on points at the top of Bundesliga table with Borussia Dortmund, andKovac mastermindeda way to stifle Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League tie.

New Bayern signing Alphonso Davies arrives in Munich

After a start to the season that has had some Bayern Munich fans clamoring for a big signing in the January transfer window, one that could eventually turn out to be a big one has already arrived in the Bavarian capital. After flying into Munich on Tuesday,Alphonso Davies,who just turned 18 earlier this month, underwent medical checks and took part in his first training session with his new club this Wednesday. "My first impressions of the training ground were great," Davies said in a video posted on Bayern Munichʼs website.

"As a kid I dreamed of being part of such a big club. Now I am and itʼs unbelievable. .. I just want to work as hard as I can in training and hopefully get some games."

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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.

Mick Schumacher to make Formula 1 test debut for Ferrari in April Mick Schumacher will drive for Prema in his first Formula 2 season

Mick Schumacher, son of seven-time champion Michael, will make his Formula 1 test debut for Ferrari on 2 April.

The 20-year-old German, who signed up to theFerrari driver academy over the winter,will drive for Ferrari in Bahrain on one day and the affiliated Alfa Romeo team the next. Ferrari would not immediately confirm the test but BBC Sport has verified it independently. Schumacher will make his Formula 2 series debut this weekend in Bahrain.

Michael Schumacher won five of his record-breaking tally of world

titles for Ferrari, and the vast majority of his all-time record 91 Grand Prix victories. The 50-yearold, who retired from F1 for a second time at the end of 2012, has not been seen in public sincesuffering severe brain injuriesin a skiing accident in December 2013. His family has declined to reveal details of his condition, saying they believe he would prefer it to remain confidential.

Emiliano Sala: Cardiff set to claim transfer deal ʼnot legally bindingʼ Cardiff City are set to claim the deal to buy Emiliano Sala from Nantes for £15m was not legally binding.

The Bluebirds are refusing to make interim payments for the striker, who died in a plane crash on 21 January.

Cardiff will tell world footballʼs governing body Fifa that Nantesʼ conditions for completion of the deal were not fulfilled and Sala was not registered as a Premier League player.

Nantes claim the required paperwork was completed. The French club referred the matter to Fifa, who want Cardiff to submit their evidence by 3 April. Sala, 28, was Cardiffʼs record signing, announced on Saturday, 19 January. The Argentine died when an aircraft piloted by David Ibbotson, who is still missing, crashed into the English Channel near Guernsey. The club was due to pay a first instalment on 20 February.