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How Elin Ersson and other European activists derail deportations The activists network over groups and events on Facebook. On Monday, one such event dubbed "Stop deportations from Goteburg to Afghanistan" had 79 people "interested in going" and 13 people registered as "going." Among them was a 21-year-old student, Elin Ersson. In an attempt to prevent the deportation of an Afghan man,Ersson refused to take her seaton board a Turkish Airlines flight destined for Istanbul. Her video of the protest received international attention. DW also published excerpts of the video, which were viewed more than 10 million times within the span of two days. Thus far, there have been no other eyewitness accounts of what happened on board; the airline declined to comment when asked by DW.

EU election monitors call Pakistani elections unfair

Following two days of vote counting, the Pakistani Election Commission formally declared that Imran Khanʼs party was the winner of the countryʼs parliamentary elections. But EU observers concluded on Friday that there was a "lack of equality" in Pakistanʼs elections and that the playing field was more uneven since the last vote in 2013. "Although there were several legal provisions aimed at ensuring a level playing field, we have concluded that there was a lack of equality and opportunity," Michael Gahler, chief observer of the EU Election Observation Mission, told reporters.

173/2018 • 31 JULY, 2018

Most Britons support a vote on final Brexit deal For the first time, the number supporting a final vote has overtaken those who do not

A majority of British voters questioned in a YouGov poll have said they favor a referendum on a final Brexit deal. Most British voters support a referendum on the final terms on any Brexit deal, according to a YouGov poll for UK newspaper The Times. Some 42 percent of those questioned said there should be a vote on the final Brexit terms, while 40 percent said there should not. In a 2016 referendum on EU membership, Britons voted 52-48 percent to leave the bloc. There have been calls for a re-run of the referendum — a "second vote" — something that British Prime Minister Theresa May has ruled out. The YouGov poll also suggested that if the original Brexit vote were to be held a second time, the result would be the same. It showed that two years from the referendum, the views of most voters had not changed: a 45-42 percent majority said they would vote to leave the European Union, according to The Times. British and EU negotiators are hoping for a final Brexit agreement by October, in order to allow time for ratification by European and British

parliaments before a March 29, 2019 deadline. There are several sticking points, however, including the status of the border between Northern Ireland, a UK territory, and the Republic of Ireland. Britainʼs Brexit Secretary, Dominic Raab, said on Thursday that 80 percent of Britainʼs withdrawal deal had been agreed, adding that he and EU negotiator Michel Barnier would discuss "how we complete the remaining 20 percent, including guarantees to avoid ahard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland." Deadline extension It is possible, however, that the date will be extended, provided the remaining 27 EU member states support the continuation of negotiations. Irelandʼs foreign minister, Simon Coveney, said the country would "absolutely" support an extension. He said that in order for a deal to be hammered out within the current timetable, there would need to be an "intensification" of negotiations between London and Brussels.

North Korea returns possible remains of US Korean War soldiers A US military plane touched down in South Korea on Friday after flying to North Korea, where itpicked up what are thought to be the remains of US servicemenkilled during the Korean war. The plane landed at Osan Air Base outside of Seoul and was met by American soldiers lining up for a ceremony. The transfer of the soldiersʼ remains to the US follows through on a promise made by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to US President Donald Trump when they met at a landmark summit in June. It isone of the first concrete results of the summit, which primarilyfocused on the denuclearization of North Korea.

Pakistan: Imran Khan promises change amid rigging complaints In his"victory speech" on Thursday, Prime Minister-elect Imran Khan promised wide-ranging reforms to build a "new Pakistan." He touched upon a number of pressing issues, including better governance, security affairs and ties with global powers and neighboring countries. Khan spoke from the heart during the speech. He promised to end rampant corruption, nepotism, and pledged that economic benefits would trickle down to the masses under his government.

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Berlin beats Chinese firm to buy stake in 50Hertz power company A government-owned bank in Germany has been instructed to buy a 20 percent share of the power distributing company 50Hertz, reportedly thwartingthe State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC)from acquiring a share. German ministries of economy and finance announced the buy on Friday, saying that the move was motivated by "considerations of security policy." Berlin has a "strong interest to protect critical energy infrastructure," officials said in a statement. The 1000strong company supplies electricity to some 18 million people in northeast Germany. Belgian electricity operator Elia currently owns 100 percent of the German-based 50Hertz, after buying out Australiaʼs IFM. The 1000strong company supplies electricity to some 18 million people in northeast Germany. Belgian electricity operator Elia currently owns 100 percent of the German-based 50Hertz, after buying out Australiaʼs IFM. Greece fires: Arson suspected in devastating blaze

Greek authorities said on Thursday they suspected arson was behind the devastating forest fires that killed at least 82 people near capital Athens. "We have serious indications and significant signs suggesting the criminal actions of arson," Civil Protection Minister Nikos Toskas told a news conference. He said police had testimonies to that effect, but did not elaborate. Toskas said satellite image analysis of the deadly fires that broke out on Monday on the east and the west sides of Athens indicated that both had been set in multiple places within a short time frame. Fifteen fires had started simultaneously in three areas around Athens, raising suspicions among authorities. US surveillance aircraft were being used to gather footage to try to determine the causes of the fires. Wildfires near populated areas in Greece are often blamed on arsonists believed to be targeting forest land for development, but arrests are rare. Fifteen fires had started simultaneously in three areas around Athens, raising suspicions among authorities. US surveillance aircraft were being used to gather footage to try to determine the causes of the fires. Wildfires near populated areas in Greece are often blamed on arsonists believed to be targeting forest land for development, but arrests are rare. 2

I would be out of a job with Merkelʼs migration policy Hungary PM Viktor Orban: ʼ

Hungaryʼs anti-migration PM Viktor Orban has said that if he copied Germanyʼs migration policy he would be fired. Orban has also called for a revamped European Commission with a fresh approach to migration. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban told Germanyʼs Bild newspaper in an interview published on Friday that "if I made a refugee policy like your chancellor, people would chase me out of office the same day," Orban was referring to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who in 2015 opened up Germanyʼs borders as Europe was confronted withthe largest refugee

US struggles with family reunification as court deadline hits The US government failed to meet a court-ordered deadline on Thursday that called for children and parents who had been separated at the USMexico border to be reunified before 6:00 p.m. Eastern time (2200 UTC) on July 26. In a filing with the California court that imposed the deadline, the Trump administration said that 1,820 children ages 5 and uphad been released from detainment. However, only 1,442 of these children had been reunified with their families under Immigration and Customs En-

crisis it had seen in years, famously declaring "Wir schaffen das" or "We can do this." Orban, one of the strongest opponents of the European Unionʼs migration policy, said the issue is "not a common task of the EU. This is a national matter of each individual member state. Since 2015, attempts have been made to make this a joint task — and have failed." forcement (ICE) custody, while 378 others were released "in other appropriate circumstances." The filing also said that 711 children would not be reunified with their parents by the deadline because the adults were either not "eligible" or had been deported. The kids remain in the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement.

Spainʼs new minority government faces budget revolt olitical allies of Spainʼs new centerleft government pulled their support for its spending proposals hours be-

Manaro volcano in Vanuatu prompts full evacuation of island As Manaro volcano in Vanuatu continues to spew smoke and ash, the government of the Pacific country launched a compulsory evacuation effort on the island of Ambae. All 11,000 residents have been ordered to leave. The vent of the Manaro volcano is surrounded by a volcanic lake within the island of Ambae Vanuatuʼs government imposed a state of emergency and ordered full evacuation of the island of Ambae on Friday, after the Manaro volcano sent out thick clouds of smoke which blocked off the sun and coated the South Pacific island with ash. The US-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released satellite footage of the ash cloud. The Meteorology and Geo-hazards department of Vanuatu, which boasts around 65 inhabited islands, described Manaro as a "danger to direct safety to life." It also warned residents to stay at least three kilometers (1.9 miles) away from the vent. "The local population from Ambae and from neighboring islands will continue to hear rumbling, volcanic explosions (and) smell volcanic gases," experts said. Earlier this week, the volcano set off a 12 kilometer (7.5-mile) column of smoke into the air.

fore a key budget vote in parliament on Friday. The minority government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez relies on support from the left-wing, anti-establishment Podemos party as well as several Catalan regional parties to get anything done. Without their backing, Sanchez cannot pass his budget, putting the stability of his fragile government into doubt. The Catalan separatist parties — Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) and the Catalan Democratic Party (PdeCat) — as well as Podemos, said they were abstaining on the key parliamentary vote to pass the budget proposals for 2019. Sanchez aims to raise the public spending ceiling, easing the fiscal purse strings after years of deficit-cutting that won Rajoy credit for a turnaround in Spainʼs economy.

173/2018 • 31 July, 2018

Osama bin Ladenʼs suspected bodyguard Sami A. released from Tunisian prison Sami A., a suspected al Qaeda-trained bodyguard who once protected Osama Bin Laden, was deported from Germany two weeks ago. A Tunisian judge said no accusations could be made against him at this time. Sami A., an alleged former bodyguard for Osama bin Laden, was released from Tunisian prison on Friday, authorities in the capital Tunis announced. The 42-year-old Tunisian national was granted provisional release after a judge found that no charges could be brought against him at this time. "Sami A. appeared today before a magistrate ... who decided on his provisional release as no charge

Belgium charges couple for allegedly plotting terror attack against Iranian group Belgian prosecutors suspect a married couple of "having attempted to carry out a bomb attack" at a conference of an Iranian dissident group, officials said on Monday. The 38-year-old man and the 33-year-old woman, both Belgian nationals of Iranian heritage, allegedly intended to target a militant group calledPeopleʼs Mujahedeen of Iran, also known as MEK.The controversial group, listed as a terror organization by the US from 1997 to 2012, held a summit on Saturday in the French town of Villepinte outside of Paris. Belgian police intercepted the couple ahead of the event and found about half a kilogram (one pound) of home-made explosives in their car, alongside a detonator. "We can say we arrested them just in time," Belgian federal magistrate Van der Sijpt told the AP news agency.

has been filed against him," a prosecution spokesperson said. It comes just two weeks after Sami A. was deported from Germany at the behest of the Federal Office for Migration. A German court had initially blocked his deportation after it found he would faced "the considerable likelihood" of "torture and inhumane or degrading treatment" if he returned to Tunisia.

Berlin bares teeth, Beijing cries foul over power firm 50Hertz

Chinese media noted the ʼcoincidenceʼ between what they called de facto German protectionism and EUUS moves this week to avert a trade war. Meanwhile, some in Germany want a tougher trade stance on China. The German economy and finance ministries said in a joint statement on Friday that the German government would buy a 20 percent stake in electricity network firm 50Hertz, in effect

blocking Chinese investors from taking a majority stake in the strategic company. Chinaʼs State Grid had been in talks to acquire the stake, which was put up for sale by Australian infrastructure fund IFM. Its first attempt was blocked after 50Hertzʼs majority shareholder, the Belgian power transmission system operator Elia, expanded its holding to 80 percent.

Germany set to deport alleged bin Laden bodyguard German officials said on Monday that they had detained a 42-year-old Tunisian man alleged to have served as a bodyguard to the former head of terror group al-Qaida, Osama bin Laden, and were planning to deport him back to his homeland. His case had caused a public outcry in Germany in recent months when it was reported that the man, identified as Sami A.,could not be deported despite being seen as a security threat because a court had ruled that he could face torture in Tunisia.

173/2018 • 31 July, 2018

Can Juncker keep his pledge to buy more US gas? US President Donald Trump was characteristically hyperbolic this week after European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker pledged the EU would build more terminals to import US liquefied natural gas (LNG). "They want very much to do that and we have plenty of it," Trump said. True, the US has "plenty of it." But whether the EU really "very much wants to do that" is moot. "Junckerʼs promise to import more LNG is of course not his promise to make," Tim Boersma, an energy expert at Columbia University, told DW following Wednesdayʼs talks between the two leaders. "Just like the White House does not sell LNG, Brussels does not buy it. But there is a reasonable chance that the market can help Juncker out a little in the coming years." An EU official present at the White House talks on Wednesday played down the significance of Junckerʼs promise, saying that the declaration says the EU "wants" to import more LNG. It doesnʼt say we are committing to import more. It is a "declaration of intention."

Berlin readies veto of first Chinese takeover - media The German government is to prevent Chinese investors from purchasing the machine tool manufacturer Leifeld Metal Spinning, the business magazine Wirtschaftswoche reported on Thursday. Citing sources within the German government, the weekly said the cabinet will make a final decision on August 1 following a month-long investigation by the economy ministry of the proposed takeover by Yantai Taihai Corporation. The veto would be the first time Germany has prevented one of its firms being sold to Chinese investors, who have been actively acquiring US and European companies over the past five years. The German government is to prevent Chinese investors from purchasing the machine tool manufacturer Leifeld Metal Spinning, the business magazine Wirtschaftswoche reported on Thursday. Citing sources within the German government, the weekly said the cabinet will make a final decision on August 1 following a month-long investigation by the economy ministry of the proposed takeover by Yantai Taihai Corporation. The veto would be the first time Germany has prevented one of its firms being sold to Chinese investors, who have been actively acquiring US and European companies over the past five years. 4

Ivanka Trump shutters fashion brand The US presidentʼs daughter said she made the decision so she could focus more on work as a White House adviser. Ivanka Trumpʼs brand has been facing boycotts from shoppers after Donald Trumpʼs election. US President Donald Trumpʼs daughter Ivanka Trump said on Tuesday she was closing down her fashion line to focus on her role as an informal adviser to her father. She had stepped away from the day-to-day management of her company when shejoined her fatherʼs administration more than a year ago. "After 17 months in Washington, I do not know when or if I will ever return to the business, but I do know that my focus for the foreseeable future will be the work I am doing here in Washington," Ivanka Trump said in a statement on Tues-

China wrecks US chipmaker Qualcommʼs $43 billion plan to buy rival

US computer chip maker Qualcomm on Thursday walked away from its $43 billion (€36.8 billion) bid to acquire Dutch rival NXP, after it failed to win approval from Chinese antitrust authorities. "Qualcomm River Holdings has terminated its previously announced cash tender offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of NXP," the company said in a statement, referring to a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm. The San Diegoheadquartered firm had applied for Beijingʼs anti-monopoly review of the takeover before trade tensions between Washington and Beijing escalated, over complaints that China steals or forces foreign companies to hand over technology. Chinese approval was needed because the country accounted for nearly two-thirds of Qualcommʼs revenue last year.

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day. Eighteen people will lose their jobs because of the closure. Political boycotts Ivanka Trumpʼs fashion line of dresses, shoes and accessories was faced with political boycotts from shoppers after her father was elected. Retailers Nordstrom,Sears and Hudsonʼs Bay dropped the Ivanka Trump line, citing poor sales. But the company said that its business was strong, and the decision to shut down had nothing do with its performance. It added that retailers, including Macyʼs, Dillardʼs and Amazon, continued to carry its wares.

BP buys BHPʼs US onshore oil and gas assets

The worldʼs biggest miner BHP has announced the sale of its shale oil and gas operations in the US to the British oil giant BP. The deal means a huge loss for BHP, but a potential windfall for its shareholders. BHP has sold its US onshore oil and gas assets to British oil giant BP for $10.5 billion (€9.03 billion), the two companies announced on Friday, meaning a huge loss for the worldʼs largest mining company. The Anglo-Australian firm spent $20 billion in 2011 to acquire the assets, but the sector later experienced a fall in prices, hammering profits. As a result, BHP had announced last year that it would withdraw from the shale sector. Read more: BP projects oil output to peak in late 2030s "We are pleased that we have agreed to sell all of our shale assets in two simple transactions that provide certainty for shareholders and our employees," said BHP chief executive Andrew Mackenzie. "The sale of our onshore US assets is consistent with our long-term plan to continue to simplify and strengthen our portfolio to generate shareholder value and returns for decades to come."

173/2018 • 31 July, 2018

How the moon has inspired art and culture Lunar mystique:

Of space and time: a new opera in Bayreuth The tale can be read out loud in four minutes. In the version with music, choreography, video production and singing, it takes one hundred minutes. A flurry of gentle, rapid notes envelop listeners seated in an old movie theater as musicians perform to the audienceʼs left and right. A dancer shares the stage space with video projections that seem like holograms. The latter sometimes merge with the corporeal figure and sometimes drift apart or multiply. Two windows at stage rear afford a view of the countryside, which is sometimes stationary, and sometimes whizzing by. Projected images seem to show people looking in on the stage action from behind. Everything is drawn out to a snailʼs pace. A sense of timelessness ensues, the audience drawn into the hypnotic spell.

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Hungary Budapest: Debrecen: Eger: Hévíz:

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Athens: Berlin: Bratislava: Bucharest: London: Madrid:

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Kecskemét: Keszthely: Siófok:

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Europe Moscow: Paris: Prague: Rome: Varsaw: Vienna:

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On July 28th, the Zugliget Chairliftwelcomes visitors to take a ride after nightfall. Up on János Hill, the wine stands of Borjour will be waiting for you with Hungarian, Italian and Spanish varieties – and a DJ, of course.

As passengers know, a plane cannot take off until all on board have taken their seats and buckled their seat belts. On Monday, a young Swedish activist named Elin Ersson used that rule to keep a flight carrying a 52-yearold Afghan manbeing deported to Kabulfrom taking off in Gothenborg. The flight was scheduled to travel to Istanbul where the man was to be transferred to another plane to Afghanistan. With everyone else on the plane seated, the young Swede took out her cellphone and began livestreaming video on Facebook. As passengers know, a plane cannot take off until all on board have taken their seats and buckled their seat belts. On Monday, a young Swedish activist named Elin Ersson used that rule to keep a flight carrying a 52-year-old Afghan manbeing deported to Kabulfrom taking off in Gothenborg. The flight was scheduled to travel to Istanbul where the man was to be transferred to another plane to Afghanistan. With everyone else on the plane seated, the young Swede took out her cellphone and began livestreaming video on Facebook.

will shine brighter than Jupiter as it comes to within a mere 60 million kilometers of earth. Read more: Longest ʼblood moonʼ of century coincides with chance to see Mars at nearest But the moon itself has always been a magnet for people, and for artists who from the Saxons to Ai Weiwei have tried to articulate its mysterious, seductive power.

wall, says Cologne historic preservation official Marcus Trier. After comparing the structure with other ancient buildings, including the Roman city of Ephesus in present-day Turkey that had a monumental library, it turned out that the remains in Cologne belonged to a library built in the 2nd century in the then-Roman city.

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Borjour wines on Chairlift Night

Sensational archaeological find is likely Germanyʼs oldest library The massive remains of an ancient wall in the city of Cologne were first unearthed a year ago during construction work for a new Protestant church community center. While it was clear from the start that the wall was of Roman origin, it was initially believed to be the ruins of a public assembly room. But what stumped experts were "unusual, niche-like divisions" in the

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Swedish student faces consequences of plane deportee protest

The convergence of a ʼblood moonʼ and an unusually bright red planet Mars in the night sky promises to be a celestial extravaganza for sky watchers. Such cosmic events have been celebrated by artists for millennia. On Friday night, sky gazers the world over will be looking out for a very special lunar eclipse, or ʼblood moonʼ — the longest this century — as a glowing planet Mars simultaneously comes closest to the earth for 15 years. As the earth casts its shadow over the moon — and refracted sunlight passes through the earthʼs atmosphere to give the celestial body a rich reddish hue — Mars

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173/2018 • 31 July, 2018

Davy Klaassen: Everton midfielder joins Werder Bremen

Netherlands international Davy Klaassen has completed his move from Everton to Werder Bremen for an undisclosed fee. The 25-year-old was not involved in the Toffeesʼ 3-0 friendly defeat at Blackburn on Thursday after being given permission to travel to Germany. Bremen have reportedly paid £12mfor the former Ajax captain, who joined Everton in June 2017 for £23.6m. He made only 16 Everton appearances, and was told he had no future at the club by new head coach Marco Silva.

Barcelona puts men in business, women in economy

Internationally renowned soccer team FC Barcelona caused a storm on social media on Thursday after it emerged that ahead of their current international tour — the first to feature the menʼs and womenʼs team together — the women flew in economy, while the men were treated to business class. The shock was compounded by the fact that the team first had male and female players pose together for a photo op in business class. But it was clear from the womenʼs social media accounts that they flew in the cheap seats. 6

Is eSports about to be recognized as a sport in Germany? Politicians in Germany are mulling recognizing eSports as a sport. Their decision would have wide-ranging repercussions in the gaming industry in the country and further legitimize the digital sport phenomenon. eSportsʼ continued growth has pushed competitive gaming ever-more into the public eye. This has sparked a debate about gaming’s role within German society, and whether eSports should be officially classified as a sport. And it is looking increasingly like it will. Chancellor Angela Merkelʼs grand coalition of her Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and the Social Democrats (SPD) agreed to recognize eSports as a sport as part of the coalition agreement they reached earlier this year. However, the legislation necessary to do so has not yet been passed. "eSports were long considered a niche topic, generally only discussed by experts. It has now reached a tipping point where it has become a meaningful topic to all of society and cannot be ignored," Konstantin von Notz, deputy chair of the opposition Green Party in the lower house Bundestag said.

Tiffany Joh leads after brilliant 62 Ladies Scottish Open:

American Tiffany Joh has a four-shot lead after a stunning openinground 62 at the Ladies Scottish Open. The 31-year-old shot nine birdies at Gullane to propel herself clear of South Korean trio In-Kyung Kim, Amy Yang and Jenny Shin, all of whom are on five under par. Scot-

landʼs Kelsey McDonald is a further shot back having earned four birdies. As is 22-year-old Englishwoman Charley Hull, who picked up six birdies and two bogeys.

Hungarian Grand Prix: Red Bullʼs Daniel Ricciardo leads way in first practice Red Bullʼs Daniel Ricciardo pipped Ferrariʼs Sebastian Vettel in first practice at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Australian was just 0.079 seconds quicker than Vettel but was running on a harder tyre than the German. Ricciardoʼs team-mate Max Verstappen was third quickest as only 0.088secs separated the fastest three cars. Ferrariʼs Kimi Raikkonen was fourth, 0.335secs off the pace, and

ahead of Mercedesʼ Lewis Hamilton, who had a big spin at Turn Five. The world championship leader was not the only driver to lose control on the twisty and challenging Hungaroringʼs dusty track surface. Sauberʼs Marcus Ericsson had two spins - one at the final corner early in the session and a high-speed one at the uphill kink of Turn Five, in which he narrowly escaped a sizeable impact with the barriers.