DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Israeli leaders back death penalty for ʼterroristsʼ The right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu has received backing for a controversial bill targeting convicted "terrorists." The proposal to change how the death penalty can be applied has divided lawmakers in Israelʼs parliament. Middle East Israeli leaders back death penalty for ʼterroristsʼ The right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu has received backing for a controversial bill targeting convicted "terrorists." The proposal to change how the death penalty can be applied has divided lawmakers in Israelʼs parliament. Political leaders of Israelʼs ruling coalition on Sunday evening backed a legislative proposal to allow capital punishment for convicted terrorists. While Israel allows for the death penalty under domestic law and in the occupied West Bank under military law, it has not carried out capital punishment since 1961, whenconvicted Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann was hanged.
UN to vote on resolution rejecting US Jerusalem decision The UN Security Council is set to vote on a draft resolution nullifying any changes to Jerusalemʼs status, after the US policy change on the holy city. Protest against the US decision broke out in Jakarta on Sunday. The United Nations Security Council will on Monday vote on a draft resolution earlier next week that would consider any changes to the status of Jerusalem legally invalid and call on any such changes to be reversed,. While not naming the US specifically, the Egyptian-drafted text, seen by AFP and Reuters news agencies, isa significant repudiation from the international communityof US PresidentDonald Trumpʼs decision earlier this monthto recognize the holy city as the capital of Israel and move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv.
298/2017 • 21, DECEMBER 2017
Serbia balances between Russia and the West But will the country eventually have to choose one path?
As Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic meets with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, his country is keeping both Russia and the West at bay. "Good news" is what Aleksandar Vucic has said he expects from his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday. The Kremlinʼs announcement about the meeting keeps the issues on the agenda vague. "The leaders will discuss issues concerning the development of the Russian-Serbian strategic partnership" in its political, economic, cultural and humanitarian facets. But this visit also shows that Serbia is resisting pressure to choose sides as tensions between Russia and the West heat up. During a visit to Belgrade in October, US diplomat Brian Yee warned Serbia that "you cannot sit on two chairs at the same time, especially if they are so far apart." It was seen as a swipe at the countryʼs policy of pursuing EU membership while continuing to cozy up to Moscow. According to Dimitar Bechev, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and the author of the book "Rival Power: Russia in Southeast Europe," Vucic is not the first Serbian leader to look both east and west. "Thatʼs been the policy by
pretty much every government in Serbia." After all, there is more at stake for Serbia in relations with Moscow than just keeping up appearances with a fellow Slavic and Orthodox Christian country. True, the European Union is Serbiaʼs largest trade partner and has invested seven times more in the country than Russia has since 2010. But Serbia is heavily dependent on Russia for its oil and gas. And the country has been discussing involvement in the plannedTurkish Streampipeline project, which is supposed to run from Russia across the Black Sea. The head of Russian oil and gas giant Gazprom, Aleksei Miller, was in Belgrade at the end of November to discuss the project with Aleksandar Vucic. Military equipment and weapons are also on the table in Russian-Serbian relations. The Serbian government is currently in talks about buying Russian-made S-300 anti-aircraft systems and military helicopters. Serbia recently bought six Russian fighter jets, which were delivered in October.
Polish terror victimʼs parents disappointed with Germany The grieving family of the first victim killed in last yearʼs Berlin Christmas market attack is still waiting for Chancellor Angela Merkel to send her condolences. Frank Hofmann met the truck driverʼs parents in Poland. Janina Urban has set the table in the living room and placed a plate full of Christmas cookies on it, along with Berlin-style iced doughnuts filled with red jam. Her son, Lukasz Urban, was the first victim of last yearʼs Berlin terror attack. The cheerful Polish truck driver was shot by the attacker Anis Amri, who stole the truck and later drove it into a Christmas market, killing 11 more people and injuring 70. Ever since then, Janina Urban and her husband Henryk have tried daily to come to terms with the heinous crime.
Chile election: Billionaire Sebastian Pinera wins presidential vote Conservative former President Sebastian Pinera has won Chileʼs presidential runoff election. Initial results placed him well ahead of his centerleft opponent Alejandro Guillier, who subsequently conceded defeat. Conservative billionaire Sebastian Pinera looked set for a return to office after he secured a comfortable lead over his opponent in Chileʼs presidential runoff vote on Sunday. The electoral results push Chile politically towards the right, following other South American nations who have experienced similar electoral outcomes.
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298/2017 • 21, December 2017
Russia vetoes last-ditch bid to save probe into gas attacks in Syria Russia used its veto twice in 24 hours to deny a new mandate to the UN team looking into chemical weapon attacks in Syria. Moscow said it would not extend the mandate of the probe without fixing its "fundamental flaws." Tensions were running high in the UN Security Council on Friday after Russia vetoed a last-ditch motion by Japan to continue the UN-led investigation into chemical weapons use in Syria. The move comes only a day after Russiavetoed a separate US draft resolutionto extend the probe, and its own draft was in turn rejected by the US, UK, and France. Moscow has repeatedly criticized the findings of the UN-backed investigative body, dubbed Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) as biased and inaccurate. Last week, JIM released a report blaming the Syrian regime for the chemical attack which killed around 100 people in the town of Khan Sheikhoun in April. Russia rejected it as "invented" and insisted that the body needed to reform.
Ousted Venezuelan opposition leader escapes house arrest, flees to Spain Ousted Caracas mayor Antonio Ledezma has likened his escape to a film. He plans to take the fight against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro abroad. The ousted opposition mayor of Caracas arrived in Spain on Saturday after orchestrating a daring escape from house arrest in Venezuela. Antonio Ledezma landed in Madrid from Bogota, Colombia, where he arrived a day earlier after slipping across the border. He was greeted by his wife and two daughters who live in Spain. Ledezma said he planned to organize resistance from abroad to President Nicolas Maduro, under whose rule millions of Venezuelans have suffered from shortages of food and other basic supplies. "I am going to travel the world to spread the hope of all Venezuelans to escape this regime, this dictatorship," Ledezma said. The 62-year-old opposition figure was removed as mayor of Caracas and arrested in 2015 on allegations he sought to topple Maduro. He was later put under house arrest due to health issues. Ledezma was one of the opposition leaders who led protests against the government in 2014, which also resulted in the arrest of opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez. He remains under house arrest. 2
Berlin Christmas market attack: ʼWe werenʼt preparedʼ One year after the Berlin Christmas market attack is gone
One year after the Berlin Christmas market attack, German politicians have said more must be done to offer assistance to victims following a terrorist incident. What should that support look like? On the one-year anniversary of the Berlin Christmas market attack, in which 12 people were killed, Justice Minister Heiko Maas has said the German government "was not sufficiently prepared for the consequences of such a terrorist attack for those affected." "For this we can only apologize to the victims and surviving relatives. It remains a never-ending task of politics in a democratic constitutional state to learn from mistakes and to assume our responsibility towards the vic-
Argentina navy loses contact with submarine with 44 crew on board No one has heard from an Argentinian submarine for at least two days. While authorities initially insisted it wasnʼt missing, Argentinaʼs navy has stepped up its search efforts. Argentinaʼs navy lost contact with one of its submarines and its 44 crew members, it announced on Friday. Although the German-built ARA San Juan has been out of contact for two days, the navy initially did not consider it lost. "Itʼs not that itʼs lost, because to be lost, you have to look for it and not find it," the navy told a local broadcaster. However, after an initial search operation in the submarineʼs last known position, around 430 kilometers (267miles) off the southeastern
tims of terror," Maas wrote in an oped in the Tuesday edition of the Tagesspiegel newspaper. At a private ceremony for the bereaved and emergency workers on Tuesday, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said there had been some failings in providing support and comfort to victimsʼ relatives: "It is true that some support came late and remained unsatisfactory," Steinmeier said. "Many family members and injured, many of you felt abandoned by the state." Valdez peninsula, bore no results, Argentina said it was stepping up its search efforts and calling on allies for help. "We have not been able to find, or have visual or radar communication with the submarine," navy spokesman Enrique Balbi told reporters at a news conference. "I donʼt want to dramatize the issue. Weʼre lacking communication and donʼt know what happened." The incident has formally been upgraded to a "search and rescue" operation, Balbi added.
Cambodia charges 2 journalists with espionage The arrests are the latest in a widening crackdown on media and the opposition in Cambodia ahead of elections next year. The move further
Australia shutters Papua New Guinea detention center Around 600 asylum seekers have refused to leave the facility, citing fears of attacks from locals. Australian lawmakers have warned of a "humanitarian emergency" when authorities in Papua New Guinea shut off the water. Private security staff at a controversial Australian detention center in Papua New Guinea left the facility for the first time in years on Tuesday ahead of its expected closure. The facility formed an integral part ofAustraliaʼs expensive offshore detention programknown as "Sovereign Borders." However, Papua New Guineaʼs Supreme Court ruled that the facility is unconstitutional and needed to be closed. Some 600 asylum seekers residing at the facility have refused to leave, saying the alternatives provided are less secure. Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the campʼs closure would proceed, and that the asylum seekers have access to temporary residences nearby. "All have been informed for a considerable period of time that there is safe and secure alternate accommodation where health and other services will be maintained," Dutton told Reuters news agency in an emailed statement.
strains ties between the United States and Cambodia. Two Cambodian journalists who worked for a US-funded radio station were charged with espionage on Saturday, the latest move in a widening crackdown on critics of authoritarian Prime Minister Hun Sen. Uon Chhin and Yeang Socheameta, former journalists of the Washington-based Radio Free Asia, were arrested on Tuesday for allegedly providing information to a foreign power. The offense carries up to 15-years in prison. Radio Free Asiaʼs Phnom Penh bureau closed its office in September, citing "intimidation" and threats that it was violating tax and registration regulations. The Cambodia Daily newspaper reported the two journalists were accused of setting up broadcasting equipment in the capital and sending news reports to Radio Free Asiaʼs Washington bureau.
298/2017 • 21, December 2017
Ryanair pilots vote for industrial action It has been a difficult few months for Ryanair. First the airline had to cancel thousands of flights and now it is facing the threat of strikes after some of its pilots across Europe voted to take action. Ryanair pilots in Germany have joined counterparts from Ireland, Italy and Portugal in voting to take some form of industrial action in the near future. Vereinigung Cockpit (VC), the German pilots union that represents some Ryanair pilots based in Germany, announced the decision on Tuesday, although it is not yet clear when industrial action would take place or indeed, precisely what form it will take. In a statement, the union said: "This is intended to enforce collective bargaining to regulate fair
US and Poland strike $10.5 billion missile defense deal The US has approved the $10.5 billion sale of a Patriot anti-missile system to NATO ally Poland. Eastern European NATO states have been ramping up their military capabilities in the face of perceived Russian aggression. In a move likely to irk Russia, the US and Poland agreed on Friday a major arms deal that could see the eastern European NATO member soon begin conducting air and missile defense operations. As part of the $10.5 billion (€8.9 billion) sale, Poland is expected to receive 208 Patriot Advanced Capabilty-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement missiles, 16 M903 launching stations, four AN/MPQ-65 radars, four control stations, spares, software and associated equipment. Made by US defense contractor Raytheon, the missiles are reportedly designed to detect, track and engage unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), cruise missiles and shortrange or tactical ballistic missiles. In a statement issued following the sale, the State Department said that: "A secure Europe capable of deterring air and missile threats and other forms of aggression promotes peace and stability within NATO and on the European continent."
working and remuneration conditions for Ryanair pilots." VC president Ilja Schulz said: "We want to agree contracts with Ryanair. We see no other way". Any plans to strike would not take effect during the December 23-26 Christmas holiday period, the union added. Ryanair responded with a strongly worded statement, saying it had not been notified of any impending industrial action and also calling into question the motives of the VC union, with which it says it will not engage.
Counting begins as South Africaʼs ANC votes for Jacob Zumaʼs replacement
South Africaʼs ruling party, the African National Congress, has started counting votes to determine who will succeed controversial leader Jacob Zuma. The race is between Zumaʼs ex-wife and the current deputy president. Vote counting has begun in the race to determine the next leader of South Africaʼs African National Congress (ANC) party. It is expected to be a close race but there is a sense among party members that Cyril Ramaphosa will eke out a win over
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, according to DW correspondent Sabry Govender, who is attending the party congress. "Thereʼs a strong belief that Ramaphosa will emerge victorious over Dlamini-Zuma," Govender writes. Some 4,776 ANC delegates began casting their ballots in the early hours of Monday to choose between Deputy President Ramaphosa and Dlamini-Zuma, who is a former cabinet minister and President Jacob Zumaʼs ex-wife .
Austrian full-face veil ban comes into effect Austriaʼs prohibition of full-face coverings has officially come into force. The government said the ban helps uphold Austrian values and promotes integration despite criticism from Muslim and refugee groups. People in Austria are now banned from covering their faces in public.
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298/2017 • 21, December 2017 Can the ad industry become sustainable?
A look at an entrepreneur who wants to revolutionize the ad industry. Andrea Henao is a former advertising executive who left the corporate world to found her own business — a boutique ad agency that vets its clients. ndrea Henao wants to change the ad industry. Two years ago, the Berlin-based French entrepreneur founded an ad agency that only works with sustainable brands. I met Henao in her offices, not too far from the Berlin’s notorious Alexanderplatz. The premises are decorated with second-hand furniture that she bought online, and art pieces collected and made with friends and colleagues. While showing me around, she shared the stories about the furniture and art. Henao understands the importance of stories. And she knows just how brands come up with stories that appeal to customers with certain values. With rising consumer awareness about environmental issues and labor practices, brands increasingly emphasize ecological footprint and employee working conditions. Unfortunately, ad campaigns do not always tell the truth — they exaggerate, embellish and lie. And this is something Henau wants to change. "We really believe that we are responsible for the ad that we promote, hence we promote exclusively sustainable brands," she tells me. The ad industry has yet to play a significant role in ensuring brands tell the truth.The onus to reveal false claims has generally fallen on activists, consumer groups and the media. But Henao believes advertisers can play a bigger role.
China sales behind German carmakersʼ rosy third quarter Strong vehicle sales in the wordʼs most important car market have been essential in enabling German carmakers to end their third quarters on a positive note. Their dependence on China is expected to increase further. Germanyʼs top carmakers would not have been able to present positive third-quarter results without a booming auto market in China, a study by consultancy EY showed Tuesday. It said China had long become the most important market for Volkswagen, BMW and Daimler, with one in three of their cars sold in the third quarter having gone to the Asian nation. To be more precise, the Chinese market accounted for 34 percent of Germanyʼs overall car sales between July and September, the highest ever rate logged so far. Back in 2010, only 23 percent of Germanyʼs quarterly car sales ended up in China. 4
Brexit: Hard-liners angered by Royal Mailʼs refusal to release Brexit stamp British advocates of Brexit have slammed the UKʼs postal service following reports that it will not produce a stamp marking the countryʼs exit from the EU. Some MPs said theyʼd push Royal Mail to reverse its decision. Conservative Brexiteers attacked Britainʼs Royal Mail postal service on Monday following reports in the press that it would not release a stamp commemorating thecountryʼs departure from the European Union, scheduled for March 2019. ProBrexit Conservative ministers were quick to accuse the postal service of hypocrisy, saying that it had released a series of stamps celebrating
Germany bans sale of childsnooping smartwatches A German regulator has banned the sale of childrenʼs smartwatches that have one-way monitoring functions. Officials said parents had been using the watches to listen in on teachers while their children were in class. Certain smartwatches for children can no longer be sold in Germany as some of these models are equipped with a "wiretapping" function, a regulator said on Friday Germanyʼs Federal Network Agency, orBundesnetzagentur, announced the ban saying that these watches can be classed as "unauthorized transmitters." "According to our investigations, parents were using the watches, for example, to listen in on teachers during class," said Bundesnetzagentur President Homann. Germany Germany bans sale of child-snooping smartwatches A German regulator has banned the sale of childrenʼs smartwatches that have one-way monitoring functions. Officials said parents had been using the watches to listen in on teachers while their children were in class.
Hotel Parlament H-Budapest 1054, Kálmán Imre utca 19. T.: +36 1 374 6000 reservation@parlament-hotel.hu www.parlament-hotel.hu
Norwegian wealth fund plans to divest of oil and gas Norwayʼs trillion-dollar sovereign wealth fund is proposing to drop oil and gas companies from its holdings, saying it already has enough exposure to the industry and wants to protect against fluctuating oil prices. Oslo is set to decide in the fall of 2018 on backing a proposal from the countryʼs sovereign wealth fund —the worldʼs biggest— to cut oil and gas companies from its benchmark index. In a letter to the government, the Norwegian central bank, which manages the fund, said on Thursday that the move would make Norway "less vulnerable to a lasting decline in oil prices." "This advice is based exclusively on financial arguments and analyses of the governmentʼs total oil and gas exposure," the bankʼs deputy governor Egil Matsen said in a statement. "It does not reflect any particular view of future movements in oil and gas prices or the profitability or sustainability of the oil and gas sector," he added.
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Britainʼs accession to the European Community back in 1973. Speaking to the British press, David Jones, a former minister in Britainʼs Exiting the EU Department and a Conservative for Clwyd West, described the Royal Mailʼs decision as "outrageous," and said that he would write to the UK Business Secretary Sajid Javid, whohas oversight over the postal service, to complain.
EU launches investigation into IKEA tax deals
The European Commission is investigating IKEAʼs tax benefits in the Netherlands, which have helped the flat-pack furniture retailer avoid paying taxes of close to €1 billion between 2009 and 2014. The European Commission said on Monday that it was looking into two tax rulings issued to Inter Ikea, which operates Ikeaʼs franchise business and collects a franchise fee of 3 percent of turnover from all Ikea shops via its subsidiary Inter Ikea Systems in the Netherlands. According to a report published by the Greens in the European Parliament in February 2016, the companyʼs"sweetheart tax deals"allegedly allowed IKEA to avoid nearly €1 billion ($1.17 billion) in EU taxes. "All companies, big or small, multinational or not, should pay their fair share of tax. Member states cannot let selected companies pay less tax by allowing them to artificially shift their profits elsewhere," European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said.
298/2017 • 21, December 2017
Sleeping giants — when whales nap But what about whales and other marine mammals — why donʼt they drown?
Falling asleep in a bathtub appears to be a very bad idea for humans. Simply, because we canʼt breathe under water. It must be a slightly surreal sight. Imagine being a diver and coming across a group of sperm whales, not swimming but floating upright and motionless in the open sea. If you ever see such a scene, congrats, you have found cetaceans sleeping. Itʼs a rare occurrence, but occasionally pictures of such discoveries are published (see above). There are even researchers working on the subject on different species of marine mammals - both in the wild or in captivity. The results of both approaches allow an
impression of how sleep works in a whaleʼs world. Back in 2008, a team of scientists from Scotland and Japan literally bumped into a group of sperm whales drifting vertically close to the surface of the water. The mammals were so immersed in a state called "drift diving" that they didnʼt even respond to the presence of the passing boat. By observing the whales, the researchers onboard found they spend just seven percent of their day napping, for bursts of around 10 to 15 minutes each time.
Teachers for AI — can robots create more jobs than they retire? While headway in the artificial intelligence (AI) industry has many worried about potential jobs losses, others see this as a perfect opportunity to nurture an economy that is completely human-based. Workers can spend anywhere from 5 minutes to 40 hours a week going through simple tasks on a smartphone, making AI all over the world more intelligent and efficient. By building platforms and crowd sourcing a large supply of workers, the companies that train AI were smart to realize the data needed could be processed by anyone with steady access to the internet. From this developed companies like Clickwork, Neurala,
and Alegion Inc., which utilize "human taggers" to push AI education. With over a million "clickworkers" signed up, thereʼs an estimated 100,000 people logged on at this very moment, sifting through droves of information and lending a human touch to robot training. "Staring at security cameras or an airport scanner, remote-controlling a robot, driving trucks up and down a mine did not exist as jobs until recently," says Massimiliano Versace, CEO of Neurala, "and will probably not exist as jobs occupying a full-time human as they are today. Humans were created to do much more complicated and elevated tasks than watching videos 24/7."
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Germany must allow third gender in registry of births, court rules An intersex person has won a court case to allow them to enter a third gender into the registry of births. The case was appealed to the Federal Constitutional Court after failing at lower levels. Germanyʼs Federal Constitutional Court on Wednesday called for a third gender option in the registry of births. Intersex people, who are neither male nor female, should be able to register their sexual identity as such, the Karlsruhe court ruled. The court found that the general right to the protection of personality in Germanyʼs Basic Law meant the register had to be altered to allow a third gender. The court ruled seven to one that lawmakers must create new legislation by the end of 2018 to allow for a third sex, providing the examples of "intersex," "diverse" or another "positive designation of sex." Another possibility raised was to scrap gender entries altogether. "Assignment to a gender is of paramount importance for individual identity; it typically plays a key role both in the self-image of a person and in the way in which the person concerned is perceived by others. The gender identity of those persons who are neither male nor female is protected,"the court ruled.
Advent Feast at the Basilica November 24 - January 1
One of the ‘Best European Christmas Markets’ is a must-see event in the heart of Budapest Discover Hungary’s most acclaimed Christmas market: The Advent Feast at the Basilica is blending Central European traditions and modern attractions, turning the iconic St. Stephenʼs square into 3D cinema. For more details and information about the Advent Feast’s event schedule, check out thewww.adventiunnep.hu/enwebsite. Budapest 1051, Szent István tér Opening hours: MondayFriday: 11 am – 10 pm, SaturdaySunday: 10 am – 10 pm, and 10 am – 2 pm on December 24. Skating class hours: Friday from 2-8 pm, Saturday from 10 am – 6 pm and Sunday from 10 am -6 pm.
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Culture
New Hungarian film Aurora Borealis now screens in Budapest Becoming a mother is a miraculous time in a woman’s life. However, there are certain scenarios when the arrival of a newcomer is not entirely wonderful news. The new motion picture by eminent Hungarian director Márta Mészáros, Aurora Borealis, tells a touching tale, taking viewers back in time in Hungary and leaving them reaching for the Kleenex. The story has two timelines. One transports viewers back to a western Hungarian village in 1953, where a descendant of an aristocratic family, Ákos, falls for a village girl, Mari. They try to escape to Austria together, but unfortunately with no success, and after being harassed by soldiers, Mari has to start a new life alone and pregnant in occupied Vienna. The other storyline is in the present, unfolding the events through the recollections of old Mari, now a pensioner living in her old village. One day she gets a letter from Russia and falls into a coma. Her daughter Olga, a lawyer living alone in Vienna, comes back to care for her. Suspecting something about her mother’s past isn’t quite right, she starts investigating. This is only a fraction of the story, as anything else would be a major spoiler. However, even the trailer foretells that Olga’s dad might not be who she thinks after all.
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298/2017 • 21, December 2017
Tour de France winner Chris Froome fails doping test
Four-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome has failed a doping test. The British rider said that he took an increased dosage of asthma medication during another race on the advice of a doctor. The UCI, cyclingʼs world governing body, announced in a statement posted on its website on Wednesday that it had notified Chris Froome of an "Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF)" in excess of 1000ng/mg (*) in a sample collected during theVuelta a Espana," which he wonin September. According to Britainʼs The Guardian newspaper, a urine sample taken from Froome at the Vuelta was found to have twice the permissible limit of the asthma drug salbutamol. However, the 32year-old Froome, who is asthmatic, has denied any wrongdoing.
FIFA suspends president of Brazilʼs football confederation
Marco Polo Del Nero, the president of Brazilʼs football confederation, has been suspended for 90 days while he is under an ethics investigation. He has remained in power despite facing US corruption charges. FIFA announced in a statement on Friday that Marco Polo Del Nero, 76, has been suspended for 90 days as he is investigated by the governing bodyʼs ethics committee. "Mr. Polo Del Nero is banned from all football activities at both national and international level," the FIFA statement read. It also said that his suspension could be extended by up to 45 days as the ethics committee completes its investigation. It did not give a reason for the ethics probe. 6
Athletics doping: IOC confident over Russia doping reform plans International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach believes Russia will resolve its doping issues and field athletes at next yearʼs Rio Games. Russia was provisionally suspendedfrom world athletics after an independent World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) report alleged "state-sponsored doping". Bach met with his Russian Olympic Committee counterpart Alexander Zhukov to discuss the report. He said he was "confident" in the measures put forward by the ROC. Council members of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on Friday voted 22-1 in favour of Russia being banned. As it stands, Russian athletes may not enter international competitions, including the World Athletic Series and Rio Olympics, which begin on 5 August next year. Russia will also not be entitled to host the 2016 World Race Walking Cup in Cheboksary and the 2016 World Junior Championships in Kazan. "We are confident that the initiatives being proposed by the ROC, with the responsible international organisations - Wada and the IAAF - will ensure compliance as soon as possible in order to provide participation of the clean Russian athletes at the Olympic Games," said IOC president Bach.
Cristiano Ronaldo free kick seals third Real Madrid title Club World Cup:
A second half free kick from Cristiano Ronaldo secured a third Club World Cup win in four seasons for Real Madrid. The Portuguese superstar and his club have won almost every trophy going in 2017. After a first half where the European champions had much of the ball but failed to do a great deal with it, Ronaldo drove the ball home through the wall after Real had been awarded a free kick 25 yards out. Therecently-crowned Ballon dʼOr winnerwas the man who got the Spanish side in to this competition, which has been won by a European club on 10 of the last 11 occassions, witha brace in the Champions League final win over Juventus. He thought he had another double here,
just five minutes after the opener, but his strike was ruled offside. Real continued to dominate proceedings, with Luka Modric striking a post just after the hour mark. Despite the narrow scoreline, the gap in class meant Gremio never really threatened and Ronaldo, coach Zinedine Zidane and the rest of Realʼs latest batch of Galacticos could add another trophy to a year that has already seen them lift the La Liga title, Spanish Super Cup, Champions League and UEFA Super Cup.
Tyson Fury seeks sensational comeback after doping ban compromise Former heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury has accepted a backdated two-year doping ban, meaning he is free to fight again. The British boxer has vowed to put "the nightmare of the past two years" behind him as he seeks a comeback bout with reigning world heavyweight champion, and fellow Briton, Anthony Joshua. "Next year I will be back doing what I do best, better than ever and ready to reclaim the world titles which are rightfully mine," he
said after the announcement. Fury’s last fight, astunning victory over Wladamir Klitschoto clinch the WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles in November 2015, was his last before the UK Anti-Doping Agency found him guilty of doping in June 2016. Fury contested the result, blaming the presence of a banned substance on eating uncastrated wild boar. The resulting legal battle has prevented the fighter from competing for over two years.