DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
US says Russia meddling in Macedonia ahead of name referendum US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Monday that there is "no doubt" that Moscow is funding pro-Russian groups to influence areferendum on changing the countryʼs namelater this month, which could lead to NATO and EU membership. "They have transferred money and theyʼre also conducting broader influence campaigns," Mattis said to reporters traveling with him to the Macedonian capital Skopje. Macedonians are voting on September 30 on whether to change the countryʼs name to the Republic of North Macedonia. The referendum follows aJune deal with neighboring Greece, which has long called for the name change, as Macedonia is also the name of a Greek region.
Typhoon Mangkhut leaves trail of destruction in China Southern China braced for more heavy rains and winds on Monday, after a powerful typhoon already ravaged Hong Kong and left dozens dead from landslides in the Philippines. Tropical cyclone Mangkhut advanced west through southern Chinaʼs Guangdong province after making landfall on Sunday, forcing more than 2.4 million people to evacuate. The storm also brought transportation in the region to a halt. Read more: The worldʼs deadliest hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones The China Meteorological Administration said 100-160 millimeters (4-6 inches) of rain was expected on Monday in parts of Guangdong, Chinaʼs most populous province. Two people were killed in southern China, authorities said.
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Germanyʼs Angela Merkel backs Austria on stronger EU borders European leaders are under pressure after the main route across the Mediterranean shifted
The German chancellor and her Austrian counterpart, Sebastian Kurz, have agreed to stem migrant arrivals to the EU. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her Austrian counterpart Sebastian Kurz appeared toput aside their differenceson Sunday, as the two leaders announced a series of efforts aimed at combating irregular migration to Europe. The pair agreed to collaborate with several African nations to stem migration flows and welcomed plans by European Commission President Jean-Clause Juncker tobolster Frontex staffto 10,000 by 2020. Although Merkel and Kurz have previously clashed on migration, Austriaʼs antiimmigration chancellor acknowledged that Berlin had adopted a harder line, thanks in large part toGerman Interior Minister Horst Seehofer. Ahead of Sundayʼs meeting, a spokesman for Austrian chancellery said strengthening the EUʼs external borders would be a focal point in the discussions in Berlin. "There can be no open borders within Europe without proper protection of external EU borders," Kurz said in remarks provided to the DPA news agency by his spokesman. "Thatʼs why it is so im-
portant tostrengthen Frontex." Following the last formal EU leadersʼ summit in June, the Commission vowed to boost the blocʼs border management agency Frontex, and establish migrantprocessing centers on the European periphery and in North Africa. Those proposals have yet to be translated into policy. Kurz said he and Merkel agreed that "we have to work out the details of the turning point that we achieved" in June. Kurz also announced plans to co-host a joint EU-Africa summit in Vienna with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in December. Austria, which currently holds the rotating European Council presidency, said the summit would focus on improving economic ties between the two continents in a bid to tackle one of the drivers of migration to Europe. Merkel also stressed the need toengage with the African countries of origin. Areas for collaboration between the EU and the 53 African countries must be clearly defined, the German chancellor said, since "nobody can be expected to have to deal with everything."
Merkel in Algeria: Migration likely to influence trade talks Officially, the main purpose of German Chancellor Angela Merkelʼs visit to Algeria is to strengthen trade relations. According to Algerian news agency APS, the visit will offer "an opportunity to take stock of the economic relations between Algeria and Germany" and to strengthen them. And there is room for improvement. In terms of imports to Algeria, Germany ranks fifth behind China and the Mediterranean states of France, Italy and Spain. In terms of exports — Algeriaʼs most important are oil and gas — Germany is barely on the list. But Merkelʼs talks with President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia will likely also focus on migration. Algeria is by far the largest country in the region, bordering Mali and Niger in the south. Many migrants travel through these countries to reach the Mediterranean and attempt the perilous voyage to Europe.
Honduras: Environmental activist Berta Caceresʼ alleged murderers go on trial Berta Caceres, a human rights and environmental activist in Honduras, was a prominent coordinator of the indigenous organization COPINH. For years she fought against the construction of a hydroelectric power plant on the Gualcarque River, a project that would have severely altered fragile ecosystems and the traditional home of the Lenca people. In April 2015 Caceres was awarded the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize for her work.
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214/2018 • 18 September, 2018
China offers Africa billions, ʼno strings attachedʼ Chinese President Xi Jinping (above, with Somalian President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed) pledged $60 billion (roughly €52 billion) in aid to African leaders duringa major summit in Beijingon Monday as part of Chinaʼs push to boost its influence abroad. Xi promised at the Forum on China-African Cooperation (FOCAC) that "Chinaʼs investment in Africa comes with no political strings attached." "Chinaʼs cooperation with Africa is clearly targeted at the major bottlenecks to development. Resources for our cooperation are not to be spent on any vanity projects, but in places where they count the most," Xi said. Beijing has poured billions in its Belt and Road initiative, a development and investment scheme focused on promoting trade connectivity that places China at the center. Xi, however, stressed, that Belt and Road "is not a scheme to form an exclusive club or bloc against others."
Whatʼs behind Chinaʼs ʼnoninterferenceʼ in Africa?
President Xi Jinping told African leaders on Monday that Chinaʼs investments on the continent have "no political strings attached," pledging $60 billion (€51.6 billion) in new development financing, even as Beijing is increasingly criticized over its debt-heavy projects abroad. Xi offered the funding at the start of a two-day China-Africa summit that focused on his cherished Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The money — to be spent over the next three years — comes on top of $60 billion Beijing offered in 2015. Read more: Second-hand clothes, smuggling and the US-China trade war in Africa The massive BRI scheme is aimed at improving Chinese access to foreign markets and resources, and boosting Beijingʼs influence abroad. China has poured billions in loans for roads, railways, ports and other major infrastructure projects in Asia and Africa. But critics warn that the Chinese leaderʼs pet project is burying some countries under massive debt. In a DW interview, Professor Helmut Asche says Chinaʼs development cooperation is overshadowing Western cooperation in terms of the speed of delivery, coverage and scope of infrastructure funding. 2
Cologne takes a stand against deportation The demonstrators took issue with countries like Afghanistan being considered safe for return
More than 12,000 people protested against racism across western Germany, two weeks after far-right violence in the east. Some 12,000 people took to the streets in Cologne, Dortmund and Gelsenkirchen on Sunday to demand the German governmentcease deportationsto countries like Iraq and Afghanistan. Opponents of the policy say both nations are too dangerous for individuals to be deported to, and that they should be allowed to stay in Germany instead. Cologneʼs conservative mayor Henriette Reker, who was famously stabbed by an anti-immigration extremist, was among those who took part in the "Cologne takes a stand!" demonstration. The marchers also wanted to protest racism and xenophobia in the
Turkish central bank to act on record inflation Official data from Turkey showed Monday that the countryʼs year-onyear inflation rate stood at 17.9 percent in August. Inflation is now at its highest level since September 2003, the year Recep Tayyip Erdogan first took power as prime minister. Ratings agencies and analystshad long called on the central bank to raise interest rates, but in July the lender kept them at 17.75 percent despite all warnings. While central banks typically try to dampen sharply rising consumer prices with interest rate hikes, Erdogan — now Turkeyʼs president — has opposed higher rates claiming they could cause even higher inflation. Decision in two weeks But the central bank said Monday that "recent developments regarding the inflation outlookindicated sig-
wake of right-wing violence in the eastern city of Chemnitz earlier in September. Their signs bore slogans such as "sea rescues are a duty," and "nationalism is a mistake." The decision by the German government to declare parts of conflict-ridden nations like Aghanistan "safe countries of origin," has proven extremely controversial. This was most recently highlighted by the case ofan Afghan man committing suicideupon return to Kabul, one day after conservative Interior Minister Horst Seehofer bragged about having carried out 69 deportations in time for his 69th birthday. nificant risks to price stability, pledging it would take action. "Our monetary stance will be adjusted at the September Monetary Policy Committee Meeting in view of the latest developments," the lender said of its forthcoming meeting on September 13. Also on Monday, Erdogan denounced the dollar as an obstacle to global trade. "Weʼreproposing to trade in our own currency rather than the US dollar," he told a summit in Kyrgyzstan.
South Korea slashes North Korea human rights budget, raises regime aid Under the budget bill put forward by President Moon Jae-inʼs government, spending earmarked for the North
Two Malaysian women caned publicly for samesex relations Two Malaysian Muslim women convicted under Islamic Shariah law of attempting same-sex relations were given six strokes of the cane in public on Monday, with some 150 people witnessing their whipping. The women, aged 32 and 22, who had pleaded guilty last month to the charges leveled against them, received a fine in addition to the caning, which was carried out using a light rattan cane while they were fully clothed. The incident occurred in northeast Terengganu state. The punishment, which is banned under civil law in Malaysia, is allowed under Islamic law in the countryʼs dual-track legal system. The country, whose population is around 60 percent Muslim, has seen a recent rise in Islamic conservativism, with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in Malaysia regularly subjected to discrimination and hostility.
Korean Human Rights Foundation has been set at KRW800 million (€620,857), down 92.6 percent from the original sum of KRW10.8 billion (€8.4 million). Similarly, the budget for the organizationʼs database has been slashed by nearly 71 percent to KRW486 million (€377,201). Assistance to the more than 31,000 North Koreans, who have managed to flee the regime and settle in South Korea, has been reduced by more than 31 percent to KRW39.9 billion (€31.03 million), with the government saying that fewer North Koreans are defecting and there is therefore less need to support them once they reach the South. The South Korean government has previously withdrawn funding for a number of organizations, including the North Korean Defector Comradery, a group set up in 1999 to assist some of the people who have managed to flee the regime in finding jobs or to receive education or training.
214/2018 • 18 September, 2018
German minister urges long-term military presence in Iraq German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen has said Germany needs to stick around to deliver training to Iraqi troops. She warned that "Islamic State" still has an ideological foothold. German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyenpushed for a longer mandate for Germanyʼs military training program in Iraq on Sunday, as she met with Iraqi defense officials. Although the "Islamic State" (IS) group hassuffered major military defeats in Iraq, the terror group still has an ideological foothold, the German defense minister warned. "The fight against IS has left behind deep wounds and scars in the country," von der Leyen said, adding: "it takes patience for these
Diplomatic Oops! Embarrassing state-visit blunders Politiciansʼ visits abroad are serious business. But very often at these diplomatic affairs, something goes awry — usually in front of the eyes of the world. An (incomplete) list of blunders and awkward moments. Known for her no-nonsense approach, German Chancellor Angela Merkel doesnʼt seem like sheʼd be susceptible to cheap flattery, so the song choice for welcoming her in Senegal was a bit dubious: "Schöne Maid, hast du heutʼ für mich Zeit?" ("beautiful maid, do you have time for me today?"), a cheesy pop hit. Whatever his protocol team was thinking, President Macky Sall got lucky: Merkel indulged him. The list of embarrassments that have occurred during foreign visits is long. US President Donald Trump and the British Royal Family feature often. So what happens when the two collide? Double trouble! In 2018, in a combination of bad manners and a break of protocol, Trump kept the monarch waiting 12 minutes in the sun and then walked faster than her at the parade — not amusing!
scars to heal and for Iraq to become strong." She said that the focus of the Bundeswehrʼs mission in Iraq was "to gain peace." A German parliamentary mandate for the military assistance program in Iraqwas extended in March this yearand is due to expire on October 31. It will likely be extended as well, although there has been pushback from the junior coalition partner in Chancellor Angela Merkelʼs government, the Social Democrats.
Zimbabwe struggles to contain cholera outbreak
The latestcholera epidemic in Zimbabwehas claimed the lives of 28 people, state media confirmed on Sunday. The outbreak was first detected earlier this month in a township outside the capital of Harare and has prompted the government to declare a state of emergency. At least 3,000 cholera cases have been reported in the city, where 2 million people reside. "Although I cannot say we have contained the disease as of yet, we are moving swiftly in all provinces of the country," health minister Obadiah Moyo told the state-owned Sunday
Mail. Drug resistant Moyo said the strain of the disease was found to be resistant to several drugs, meaning new antibiotics had to be approved to tackle the outbreak. The government planned to remove accumulated trash from high-risk areas in Harare, repair sewer pipes and bar street food vendors from operating in an effort to contain the infectious disease. Authorities alsobanned public gatheringsin the city as a precautionary measure, which forced the opposition MDC party to call off a major rally it had planned on Saturday.
Hornet attack leaves 18 injured during German wine festival A German wine festival celebrating the final weeks of summer instead ended with 13 people needing hospital treatment, after a swarm of hornets decided to crash the party. Emergency services were called to the town of Weingarten, near Karlsruhe, on Sunday after festivalgoers were attacked by a vicious swarm of hornets. Eighteen people were injured, 13 of whom required medical treatment, authorities said. No children were hurt in the incident and none of the injuries are thought to be life-threatening.
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214/2018 • 18 September, 2018
Franceʼs SNCF rail network plans driverless trains by 2023
French state railway concern SNCF announced the project for mainline, long-distance trains which is to be financed by the SNCF, the French state and commercial partners. French cities, including Paris, already have driverless metro trains. The €57 million ($66 million) first phase of the development is divided into two consortia: A prototype for driverless freight trains which includes the commercial Alstom, Altran, HitachiAnsaldo and Apsys (Airbus) companiesA passenger train prototype for regional TER routes which will be developed in partnership with Bombardier, Bosch, Spirops and Thales. SNCF said it is in discussions with Deutsche Bahn to promote a European standard for driverless trains. Director of the autonomous train project Luc Laroche said: "These human and technological issues are considerable ones. We are mobilizing the collective intelligence, competence and savoir-faire of our partners from the varied world of industry." "These partners constitute a world first for ambition, approach and combined skills," Laroche said. Read more: French Senate approves SNCF overhaul, cementing Emmanuel Macronʼs rail reforms President of Bosch France, Heiko Carrie said "As a provider of leading mobility solutions, the Bosch Group is pleased to be part of this consortium and to be able to contribute, thanks to its technology, to this important new step towards autonomous trains."
Turkish delights in Montenegro entice entrepreneurs The "Vektra" building in Podgorica is considered the business core of the Montenegrin capital and the meeting point for businessmen, politicians, as well as people simply wanting to be seen. Amid the bustling crowd, the newly opened "Istanbul Corner" restaurant is an island of calm, standing out from the modern-looking cafes nearby. The owner, 31-year-old Kaya Dogus, greets DW with a smile and a cup of Turkish tea. "Iʼve been living in Montenegro for nearly a year," Kaya says. "I moved here completely by accident. | came in to buy an apartment in Budva and just thought I could live here and start a business," he told DW. "I like it, because itʼs peaceful and safe. My wife and children are now with me." Kaya is just one of around 2,500 Turkish citizens living in Montenegro, which has a population of about 620,000. Most of Kajaʼs compatriots arrived over the last two years, fleeing the worsening political and economic crises in Turkey. 4
EU investment in Africa: Europe racing to catch up The EU plans to invest more in Africa and wants to intensify trade relations. Since the refugee crisis, Europe has been courting African governments and banking on increased cooperation. For many years now, the EUʼs Africa policy has been a graveyard of big words, good intentions and unfulfilled promises. However, since the refugee crisis interest in a new strategy for cooperation with the continent has increased sharply. The Europeans have stood by and watched as China established itself in Africa,investing billions in the continent. EU states fear they will find themselves relegated to the second league. This is why, in his speech this week on the state of the EU, Commission President Jean-
Donald Trump makes Ohioʼs Youngstown great again In this region traumatized by a decadeslong beat-down from harsh economic realities mostly beyond its power, a new generation is fighting to build a prosperous future. But the hum of a poignant song still resonates around the Mahoning Valley. "Well my daddy come on the Ohio works, when he come home from World War Two, now the yardʼs just scrap and rubble, he said, ʼThem big boys did what Hitler couldnʼt do.ʼ" So sings Bruce
Springsteen in his ballad "Youngstown." A tribute to the declining steel industry here, it gives voice to decades of bubbling frustration. Youngstowners had been listening to The Bossʼs serenade for 21 years when, in 2016, they found a new voice that needed just four words: Make America Great Again. The town of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, also known as the Steel Valley, remain at the center of understanding the ascendance of Donald Trump. Traditionally a Democratic stronghold with a large union presence in the mills that once were the backbone of Americaʼs industrial might, steelʼs decline in the second half of the 20th century painfully disrupted the illusion of everlasting economic security and riches.
Hotel Parlament H-Budapest 1054, Kálmán Imre utca 19. T.: +36 1 374 6000 reservation@parlament-hotel.hu www.parlament-hotel.hu
US sees gas exports to Germany by 2022 Companies from the US will start delivering liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Germanywithin the next four years, US deputy energy secretary, Dan Brouillette, told German newspaper Bild on Monday. "US liquefied natural gas is coming to Germany. The question is not if, but when," Brouillette said. American LNG would cost more than existing gas supplies from the Netherlands and Russia, but the entry of US suppliers onto the German market would set a price ceiling for Russian state-run export monopoly Gazprom, Brouillette went on. "Because US LNG is here, Gazprom cannot demand whatever it wants," he added. Read more: Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline – What is the controversy about? Russiaʼs gas exports to Europe rose 8.1 percent in 2017 to a record 193.9 billion cubic meters, with Gazprom holding an effective monopoly over Russiaʼs network of pipelines to Europe, supplying 40 percent of Europeʼs gas.
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Claude Juncker once again announced "a new pact with Africa." Read more: Jean-Claude Juncker calls for EU to be a global player More investment, more work, more training In the next budget period the EU plans to increase funding to Africa to €40 billion ($46.5 billion). The hope is that this money will then be multiplied by private investors. As an incentive, the EU wants to provide risk guarantees to encourage the private sector to make the commitment and invest in African countries.
Elon Muskʼs SpaceX to reveal worldʼs first space tourist
Space X has signed the worldʼs first civilian passenger for its ʼepic tripʼ around the moon. The mystery moon orbiter will travel in SpaceXʼs BFR vehicle designed to fly to Mars. Space travel took a step forward last week when SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced that his US aerospace company had signed the worldʼs first private passenger for its planned "Big Falcon Rocket (BFR) Lunar Mission." The identity of the mystery moon orbiter will be announced by Elon Musk in a news conference later on Monday. Speculation was building on social media about the individualʼs identity, with some space fans suggesting it was Musk himself. The SpaceX CEOʼs reply showing a Japanese flag fueled rumors that it could be one of several Japanese businessmen. Space fan Daisuke ʼDice-Kʼ Enomoto is high on the list of potential passengers. The space enthusiast previously paid for a flight to the International Space Station (ISS) but was grounded for medical reasons.
214/2018 • 18 September, 2018
Majority of Germans support #MeToo in schools A majority of Germans also believe that workplace discrimination remains a major problem
Most adults and teens in Germany believe that discussing assault and inequality in schools can help combat these problems. According to a new study published on Thursday, mostGermans think that #MeTooinspired school lessons would be a good idea. The Education Survey 2018 by the Ifo Institute at the Center for Economic Studies in Munich discovered that the vast majority of both adults and teens in the country think that gender equality and sexual assault should be themes covered in school. "82 percent of youths and 86 percent of adults support cov-
ering the topic of equal opportunities for men and women at school," the report said. "Similarly, very high shares of youths (81 percent) and adults (78 percent) also think that the topic of sexual harassment should be dealt with at school." The study also found that while the majority of adults did not believe that gender inequality was a problem at schools and universities, the workplace was another matter.
Anti-Nazi hashtag campaign tries to correct eastern Germanyʼs farright image A new social media campaign is aiming to redress the perception that eastern Germany is in the grip of far-right populists and neo-Nazis. The blogger Stefan Krabbes has started "the other East" hashtag, which has been taken up enthusiastically. Eastern Germany is divided these days, but if thereʼs one thing that unites people who join far-right demos and those who march against them, itʼs the conviction that the region has been misrepresented in the media. Reporters who travelled to Chemnitz orKöthento coverthe countless demosthat took place after the deaths of Daniel H. and Markus B. – allegedly at the hands of asylumseekers – would regularly be told by locals not to simply dismiss the entire region as a "Nazi swamp" and point out that many of the neo-Nazis that took part in the demos had travelled from the West.
Leo Budapest Bar the best panoramic view of the city!
Refugees Worldwide book explores migration stories from unusual perspectives An unprecedented 68.5 million people have been forced from their homes worldwide, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR. The refugee situation was also on the agenda at this yearʼs International Literature Festival (ilb) in Berlin, which ended on September 15. In the framework of the Refugees Worldwide project, several authors presented essays about the refugeesʼ plight, and their own interaction with asylum-seekers. Their reports are included in in the upcoming book Refugees Worldwide, volume II. Karen Connelly: A learn-
ing process for newcomers and supporters Among the reporters featured in the book, Karen Connelly was born in Canada and still lives there with her family. The writer/humans rights activist/therapist has published 11 books, including awardwinning works. Connelly has traveled and spent time in Thailand, Spain, France, the Middle East, North Africa and Myanmar. Since 1992, she has had a second home on the Greek island of Lesbos, where she helped raise money for the Greek Starfish emergency service for refugees.
Hotel Clark, at the Buda foot of Chain Bridge, houses two outlet. Beefbar on the ground floor and, on the roof terrace, Leo Budapest named after the famous lions guarding the bridge. At the panoramic bar, you can admire the breathtaking vista of Buda Castle, the Danube, Chain Bridge and the rooftops of the riverfront while sipping on a refreshing drink. Leo offers a wide variety of wines and cocktails, and the kitchen is led by talented young chef András Sipos, also responsible for downstairs.
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Culture
‘Sunset’ by Oscar-winning László Nemes Jeles premieres at Venice Oscar-winning Hungarian director of ‘Son of Saul’ fame, László Nemes Jeles has brought his second full-length feature, ‘Sunset’, to compete at the 75th Venice Film Festival. It then heads to the Toronto Film Festival to premiere in North America before being screened in Hungarian cinemas at the end of September. In 2016, the director’s first feature, acclaimed Hungarian Holocaust drama ‘Son of Saul’, became the second Magyar-made movie to win an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, taking top prize at Cannes and a Golden Globe in the same year. Sunset was shot over 53 days during the summer of 2017 at various locations around Budapest and rural Hungary. The main setting of the film, the Leiter Hat Store, was created in the beautiful Budapest neighbourhood of the Palace District. For two years, the film’s creators had been looking for the ideal lead actors until finally finding Juli Jakab (Írisz Leiter) and Vlad Ivanov (Oszkár Brill). In addition to nearly 100 Hungarian, Romanian and German actors – some already featured in Son of Saul – about 4,400 extras were used in the film. Sunset comes to Hungarian cinemas on September 27th.
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214/2018 • 18 September, 2018
Higuain joined Milan for a loan fee of 18m euros (£16m)
Summer signing Gonzalo Higuain scored his first goal for AC Milan to rescue a draw at Cagliari. Higuain, who had not scored in his first two games since joining on loan from Juventus, equalised after rounding goalkeeper Alessio Cragno. Joao Pedro had put the hosts ahead in the third minute in his first match since a sixmonth doping ban. The point lifts Milan to 14th with four points from three games and they have a game in hand on most teams around them.
Bayern Munich recover from early shock to beat tenman Bayer Leverkusen
Goals from Corentin Tolisso, Arjen Robben and James Rodriguez turn the game around for Bayern after Leverkusen took an early lead from the spot through Wendell. The visitors were reduced to ten men in the second half when Karim Bellarabi saw a straight red for a foul on Rafinha after being on the pitch for less than ten minutes. Heiko Herrlichʼs team never looked like getting back in the game and find themselves bottom of the Bundesliga with three defeats from three - nowhere near good enough for a club with Champions League aspirations. 6
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.
Lewis Hamilton has a hold on the title Thanks to Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, through sheer force of his talent, has grabbed hold of this championship with a vice-like grip. But there is no escaping the fact that Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel have helped him along the way. Each race, Hamilton seems to find new ways to deal another hammer blow to Ferrariʼs hopes, and his rivals seem powerless to stop him. In fact, the pressure the world champion and his Mercedes team are applying seems to be slowly breaking their rivalsʼ resolve. Singapore this weekend was another crowning achievement - this time founded on one of the qualifying laps of Hamiltonʼs career. Which, given some be-
lieve the 33-year-old is up with Ayrton Senna as the greatest qualifier in grand prix history, is saying something. It has moved him 40 points clear of Vettel in the championship. Mathematically, Vettel can win the title by two points if he wins every remaining race even if Hamilton finishes second behind him. But, realistically, it is hard to see him coming back with only 150 points remaining on the table.
Sebastian Vettel defends Ferrari strategy Sebastian Vettel defended Ferrari after a strategy call cost him second place in the Singapore Grand Prix. The German slipped to 40 points behind title rival Lewis Hamilton, who won the race from Red Bullʼs Max Verstappen. Vettel said: "It is not great when you come to the end of the championship and you are losing points rather than making up points. But we still have a lot of races left. "If we win every race from now, weʼre safe - thatʼs what
we need to aim for." Vettel was favourite to win in Singapore before the race weekend but he could qualify only third with Hamilton on pole. In the race, he passed Verstappen for second on the first lap, but an early pit stop backfired and Vettel conceded the place again, and was then left to conserve his tyres to the end rather than attack. "Looking back, there is something we missed but at the time it felt like the right thing to do," Vettel said.