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17/2018 • 20, JANUARY 2018 WEEKEND ISSUE

DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Czech Republic starts voting for president Pollsters say he wonʼt win the votes needed to secure a second term outright, so a run-off may occur

Czechs have started voting in the 2018 presidential election, with incumbent Milos Zeman leading pre-election polls.

The Czech Republic headed to the polls on Friday to vote in a presidential election that pits current proRussian President Milos Zeman against eight other candidates. Polls showed73-year-old ex-communist Zemanwas leading in the nine-candidate race, ahead of his most likely challenger, Jiri Drahos, a pro-European independent candidate who is a physical chemist and the former head of the Czech Academy of Sciences. Zemanʼs campaign has centered on antiimmigration and a referendum on the Czech Republicʼs withdrawal from the European Union, despite his own support of the countryʼs membership in the bloc. His rhetoric echoes other populist-minded eastern EU leaders – such as in Hungary and Poland – that are in disagreement with Brusselsover mandatory refugee quotasand various rules they see as attempts to limit national sovereignty. He also has harsh anti-Muslim views, having once called the 2015 migrant crisis "an organized invasion" of Europe and insisted Muslims were "impossible to integrate." However, the country of 10.6 million people has received only 12 migrants under the EU quota system. Pollsters do not expect Zeman to win more the more than 50 percent of votes needed to secure a second term outright, meaning a run-off might occur. Zeman has the support of embattled billionairePrime Minister Andrej Babis, who on Thursday said he saw the incum-

bent as "one of the most remarkable personalities" since the fall of communism in 1989. "He lives for politics, not from politics; he fights for our national interests," he said, adding that Zeman should "unite, not divide" Czechs. Drahos, on the other hand, is a liberal centrist who has called on Prague to "play a more active role in the EU." "The president should bring good manners to the political scene," Drahos — whom some critics accuse of being "wishy-washy" — said in a TV debate on Thursday. "The vote shows a broader conflict; it shows how society is polarized," independent political analyst Jiri Pehe told AFP. "It is a clash between ... the post-communist part of society represented by Zeman and the other part, say, modern, proWestern, which simply doesnʼt want this president anymore," Pehe said. Other candidates in the running include ex-gambler and songwriter Michal Horacek, former right-wing premier Mirek Topolanek and Vratislav Kulhanek, former head of Czech carmaker Skoda Auto. Preliminary results are expected on Saturday night. "The vote shows a broader conflict; it shows how society is polarized," independent political analyst Jiri Pehe told AFP. "It is a clash between ... the post-communist part of society represented by Zeman and the other part, say, modern, pro-Western, which simply doesnʼt want this president anymore," Pehe said.

Car drives into pedestrians in Melbourne

Philippine ferry capsizes with 251 people aboard

UNICEF: 220,000 children threatened by mines in Ukraineʼs east

Senior UK minister Damian Green resigns

At least 19 people have been injured after a man intentionally drove into pedestrians. Police have said there is no connection with terrorism "at this time." A car intentionally plowed into pedestrians at one of Melbourneʼs busiest intersections on Thursday, injuring at least 19 people. The white four-wheel drive hit the pedestrians at the intersection of Flinders and Elizabeth Street around 4:45 p.m. local time (0645 UTC/GMT), Victoria Police said in a statement. The intersection is next to Flinders Street Station.

A Philippine ferry carrying over 250 passengers has capsized off an island south of Manila. Reports suggest at least four people have died as rescue efforts remain ongoing. The Philippine ferry sank off the countryʼs eastern coast on Thursday after being caught in a heavy storm and choppy waters, coast guards said. Officials said that at least four passengers had died in the accident, while between 40 and 88 remained unaccounted for, according to varying media reports. The remaining passengers had been rescued.

In Ukraineʼs war-torn east, 220,000 children are at risk of injury or death by explosives littering the territory. They have caused scores of deaths, and left many children with "lifelong disabilities," says UNICEF. According to areport by the UN childrenʼs agency, UNICEF, published on Thursday, 220,000 children living ineastern Ukraineare at severe risk of serious injury by landmines and other deadly explosives littering the territory. These landmines and other explosives have caused scores of deaths and have left many children with "lifelong disabilities."

UK Prime Minister Theresa Mayʼs most senior minister has resigned after an inquiry found he had made misleading comments about pornography found on his computer. It is a serious blow for an already isolated premier. First Secretary of State Damian Green has resigned amid allegations pornographic material was found on his computer in the House of Commons in 2008. "I regret that Iʼve been asked to resign from the government following breaches of the Ministerial Code, for which I apologize," Green said in a letter to Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday.

17/2018 • 20, January 2018 Weekend issue

Westjet, Sunwing planes collide on the ground at Toronto airport A Westjet plane arriving from Cancun was hit by a Sunwing aircraft at Toronto airport, prompting the Westjet passengers to evacuate via emergency slides. The other plane was reportedly empty. Two planes collided after landing at Toronto Pearson Airport, starting a small fire and forcing all 168 passengers on one of the planes to leave via the emergency slides. No passengers or crew members were injured, but one member of the emergency services was treated in hospital, officials said late on Friday. The Boeing 737, operated by Westjet, had landed from Cancun, Mexico, and was waiting to approach the gate, when it was "struck" by a Sunwing plane, Westjet said. No crew or passengers were aboard the Sunwing aircraft, as it was hauled away from the terminal by ground crew.

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

Mexico border ʼWall is the Wallʼ Donald Trump tweets:

Donald Trump is defending his pledge to build a "big, beautiful wall" on the USʼs border with Mexico. The president says his position on his most popular campaign promise "has never changed or evolved." Donald Trump struck back after Chief of Staff John Kelly attempted to clarify the presidentʼs current stance on his campaign pledge to erect a wall on the USʼs southern border. "The Wall is the Wall, it has never changed or evolved from the first day I conceived of it," Trump wrote Thursday on Twitter. "Parts of it will be, of necessity, see through [sic] and it was never intended to be built in areas where there is natural protection such as mountains, wastelands or tough rivers or water."

Kelly made the remarks at a closed-door meeting with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on Wednesday, The New York Times reported. According to the newspaper, Kelly said Trump had pledged his "big, beautiful wall" before becoming "fully informed" of the natural barriers that already lie along the US border with Mexico. He added that he had persuaded Trump that he did not need the wall and said the presidentʼs opinion on the once-sacred barrier had "evolved." 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.

17/2018 • 20, January 2018 Weekend issue

YOUR JOURNEY TO TOTAL RELAXATION AND WELLBEING BEGINS AT HARMONY SPA BUDAPEST The Harmony Spa welcomes local guests as well as hotel guests for treatments, relaxation and wellness usage as a DaySpa. Aria Hotel Budapest’s spa offers 35 Feet Indoor Heated Pool and Jacuzzi, Finnish and Infrared Sauna, Aromatic Steam Bath, Gym and private rooftop yoga sessions, all in the heart of Budapest, just a few steps away from St. Stephen’s Basilica. 35 Feet Indoor Heated Pool, lounge space with Private Cabanas, and indulging Jacuzzi – Harmony Spa is truly a place for total relaxation in the heart of Budapest, which was also honored as the Europeʼs Best Wellness Spa 2015 at the World Boutique Hotel Awards. There is so much to love about Harmony Spa at Aria Hotel Budapest, but what the judges said put the Aria on top was the unique experience of musically inspired spa treatments and the option to book a private Harmony Rooftop Yoga to take in the morning glow of the beautiful and majestic city around you while taking time to reset, relax and restore. The Harmony Spa welcomes local guests as well as hotel guests for treatments, relaxation and wellness usage as a DaySpa. Harmony Spa offers lounge space with Private Cabanas, 35 Feet Indoor Heated Pool and Jacuzzi, Finnish and Infrared Sauna, Aromatic Steam Bath, Hydro Rider Aqua Bicycles and a wellequipped Gym. Private rooftop yoga and aquafitness sessions can be booked on request, as well as the Harmony Rooftop Yoga classes organized on every second Sunday with

breathtaking views to the St. Stephen’s Basilica. Discover the haven of wellness and beauty, with an orchestra of sensory experiences to indulge in. Harmony Spa at the Aria Hotel Budapest provides a unique fusion of spa and state of the art wellness for an integrated experience to help you relax, revitalize, re-energize and rejuvenate. From innovative antiageing and lifting facials to tranquilizing beauty and spa treatments, massages, manicure and pedicure are all available to our guests. Local guests who book a treatment also enjoy a complimentary half day pass to the Wellness and Gym. More on treatments: Enjoy our all natural approach to beauty and well-being with exclusive body treatments and rituals, benefit from high performance ingredients, Hungarian thermal water, natural herbs and vitamin extracts for exceptional results, leaving your skin healthy and glowing. Throughout the treatments you will have our therapists’ undivided attention as they ensure your comfort with warmed beds and heated towels, and anything you need to feel completely at peace. Guests may choose from one of

Aria’s most simple treatments or one of the intensive treatments such as structured detox or anti-aging nourishment. One can also enhance their experience with a wide range of spa, well-being, and anti-aging services. More on the Gym: Treat yourself to some "me" time that will benefit your life long after your holiday ends. The guests of the Aria Hotel Budapest and local visitors are welcome to arrange for personal training sessions or physical therapy sessions to help them start on a path to wellness and recovery. Guests enjoy access to an array of high performance equipment to enhance their strength and stamina, including Cardio Machines with treadmill, elliptical, bicycle from Technogym, Kinesis Wellness Ball and free weights. Two Aqua bicycles are available to enjoy in the heated indoor swimming pool. Enjoy swimming, private or group aqua fitness classes, as well as our unique Harmony Rooftop Yoga sessions. Every treatment at the Aria comes with a complimentary pass to the Harmony Spa Fitness and Wellness. We wish you a great relaxation! See you there!

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 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.

35th Hungarian Press Photo Exhibition at Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Center The previous year’s best Hungarian press photos were chosen for the thirty-fifth time - a celebration of photo reporters and photography across the country. Capa Center exhibits camera-captured fates, relationships and humanity for two months.

17/2018 • 20, January 2018 Weekend issue

Franceʼs first panda cub, Yuan Meng, makes public debut Little Yuan Meng is the first panda cub to be born in a French zoo

Global warming: 2017 was secondwarmest, last three years are record hot Data from leading international weather agencies shows the recordbreaking trend toward a warmer planet is continuing. The findings uphold scientistsʼ understanding of human-caused climate change. The World Meteorological Organization has released ameta-analysis confirming that 2017 was the second-hottest year on record. The year2016 remains the warmest since records began, the United Nations agency said, with an average Earth surface temperature at 1.2 degrees

Celsius (2.2 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. Measuredglobal average temperatures in 2015and 2017 came in at 1.1 degrees Celsius warmer. The analysis consolidated millions of meteorological and marine observations from five international datasets: NASA, the NOAA, the Met Office, the Copernicus Climate Change Service, and the Japan Meteorological Agency. Data from these sources confirmed that the last three years — 2015, 2016 and 2017 — were the warmest ever recorded.

A playful baby panda has been the star attraction this weekend at Beauval Zoo, south of Paris. Five-month-old Yuan Meng — whose name means "making a dream come true" — has proved a huge hit at Beauval Zoo. The baby appeared along with his mother in a new enclosure. In keeping with his name, Yuan Mengʼs appearance meant some zoo visitors had their wishes fulfilled. "We got up at 3 in the morning," said Delphine, who had traveled from the Paris region. "My son absolutely wanted to see the cub. We felt we took part in a historic moment. It was very moving." Yuan Meng wasone of

twins when he was born in August, but his sibling died soon after birth. "It is very important," said another visitor, Patricia. "We absolutely wanted to be here, to discover this ball of fur. Itʼs a little ball of happiness, of peace." China has sent pandas to only about a dozen countries, using the animal as a mark of good relations. A female and male arrived in Beauval in 2012 after top-level negotiations between Paris and Beijing. Yuan Meng was born five years later through artificial insemination.

Extreme weather a factor in 2015 mass death of saiga antelopes

Trump ʼhealthyʼ with perfect cognitive score, says doctor

"Unusually" warm weather contributed to the sudden death of 200,000 saiga antelopes in 2015 — an event that had baffled scientists — according to a new study. It could happen again, putting the species at risk. Unusually high temperatures helped contribute to the dramatic sudden death of more than 200,000 "critically endangered" saiga antelopes in Central Asiaʼs remote steppe grassland in 2015, according to a new study. Over the course of three weeks in May 2015, a bacterial disease caused blood poisoning and wiped out more than 80 percent of the saiga population in Kazakhstanʼs Betpak-Dala region. In some herds, not a single animal survived. Researchers already believed the disease was caused by the pathogen Pasteurella multocida, but they were baffled by the die-off because the bacteria had likely been living harmlessly in the saigasʼ tonsils up to that point. This led researchers to wonder why the bacteria suddenly became deadly on such a vast scale among the nomadic animals with the distinctive pendulous nose. 4

The White House doctor says Donald Trump is in excellent health following his first physical as president. The exam took place days after a controversial book raised questions about Trumpʼs mental fitness for office. White House physician Ronny Jackson said Tuesday that Donald Trump had a very strong chance of remaining physically fit and healthy for the full term of his presidency. "In summary, the presidentʼs overall health is excellent," Jackson told reporters at a briefing in Washington.

Following UK, German politicians urge for measures to fight loneliness

German lawmakers have said more needs to be done to help those who suffer from loneliness and to remove the taboos around the issue. They also praised the UKʼs recent decision to appoint a "Minister for Loneliness."

Politicians in Germany are taking a harder look at loneliness and how it affects the countryʼs large — and growing — elderly population. For someone over the age of 60, loneliness "increases mortality as much as heavy smoking," Karl Lauterbach, a health expert and Social Democrat (SPD), told the German daily Bild newspaper on Friday."There has to be someone who is responsible for the topic of loneliness, preferably in the Health Ministry, who can coordinate the fight against loneliness," Lauterbach added. A discussion about loneliness in Germany was prompted by the United Kingdomʼs recent moveto name a "Minister for Loneliness." Marcus Weinberg, a politician with German Chancellor Angela Merkelʼs Christian Democrats (CDU), said people should be able to talk the issue freely without fearing that they would be seen as weak, reported Bild.

17/2018 • 20, January 2018 Weekend issue

Nail biting can make you ill! It also heightens the risk of disease

Nail biting is a bad habit. Most people do it unconsciously, to relieve stress and tension. But nail biting doesnʼt just make your hands unattractive. Our hands touch all sort of things during the course of the day, and we donʼt always have the opportunity to wash them. If you bite your fingernails, youʼre constantly ingesting microorganisms, and that can have consequences. Nail-biters get colds, gastrointestinal infections and skin rashes more frequently. Your teeth and oral cavity can suffer as well, because pathogens can also establish themselves there. If you gnaw your nails down to below the quick, it can lead to bleeding and damage the nail bed. Constantly open wounds on your fingers can also become infected. In addition, nail biters often suffer psychologically. The feel stigmatized and hide their fingers because theyʼre embar-

rassed. Many people think chewed fingernails are a sign of being weakwilled and lacking self-discipline. Our tips for kicking the habit: Choose one finger and consciously donʼt bite it. After a few days, youʼll already see progress. Then choose the next one. Or if you have the impulse to bite your nails, clench your fist, squeeze a rubber ball or chew gum. You canʼt chew gum and your nails at the same time. Another option is to wear special nail varnish that acts as a deterrent because of its bitter taste. Another tip: always carry a small nail file with you to smooth out irregularities and hangnails. And use hand cream: that really doesnʼt taste good.

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 selfimage 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.

Worldʼs coolest coffee event is back!

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."

Weather

Germany must allow third gender

Location: Ottakringer Brauerei, Ottakringer Platz 1, 1160 / Wien / Austria, Date: 12-14, January, 2018 The festival will feature the best coffee specialities, gourmet food, tastings and demonstrations from world class baristas, interactive coffee workshops, the SCAE Austria Barista Championship, craftmanship, coffee based cocktails, live music, DJs and much more! http://www.viennacoffeefestival.cc/

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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.

17/2018 • 20, January 2018 Weekend issue

Dakar Rally: Toyotaʼs AlAttiyah takes first stage

Qatarʼs Nasser Al-Attiyah has won the first stage of the Dakar Rally in the Peruvian town of Pisco. Nine-time rally world champion Sebastian Loeb of France endured a torrid opening day, finishing in 29th place. The opening round of the Dakar Rally saw defending champions Peugeot left stunned, as two-time winner Nasser Al-Attiyah of Toyota swept across the short 31-kilometer (19-mile) stretch of desert between Lima and Pisco in just 21 minutes and 51 seconds. The Qatari finished 25 seconds more quickly than his Toyota teammate, Bernhard ten Brinke of the Netherlands, and with 34 seconds in hand over Peruʼs Nicolas Fuchs, driving for Borgward.

One more year! Bastian Schweinsteiger signs new Chicago Fire contract

A hunger for yet more trophies has seen Bastian Schweinsteiger sign up for a further year in Americaʼs Major League Soccer. The German midfielder has extended his deal with Chicago Fire ahead of the 2018 season. Amove to Americamay be seen as a wind down to retirement for many European footballers but Bastian Schweinsteiger has insisted that he has unfinished business with Chicago Fire. Despite a trophy-laden career with Bayern Munich and Germany that included a World Cup, a Champions League title and eight Bundesliga crowns, the 33-year-old has just inked a new deal to try and right the wrongs of his first year in Major League Soccer (MLS). 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.

Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho retires The 37-year-old is planning a series of farewell matches after this yearʼs World Cup

The former Barcelona playmaker won multiple club trophies and was a key part of the Brazilian team that won the 2002 World Cup. Ronaldinho, who won the 2002 World Cup with Brazil and the 2006 World Player of the Year award, is retiring from football, his brother and agent Roberto Assis said Tuesday. "Ronnieʼs professional career is over," Assis told The Associated Press news agency. "He wants to be a football ambassador, do charity, and work with his friends in music from now on." The announcement brings

a definitive end to the former Brazilian and Barcelona midfielderʼs celebrated career. The 37-year-old last played in a competitive match in 2015. Assis suggested his brother may play in some farewell matches, including one with the Brazil national team. "Weʼre going to do something pretty big, something cool, after the World Cup in Russia, probably in August," he said.

Franck Ribery on song as Bayern Munich end Leverkusen’s unbeaten run Bayern Munich go 14 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga with victory at Bayer Leverkusen, courtesy of goals by Javi Martinez, Franck Ribery and James Rodriguez. Franck Ribery may be in the twilight of his career, but his value to Bayern still cannot be understated. All eyes were onnew signing Sandro Wagner, who was restricted to a late cameo despite the absence of Robert Lewandowski, but it was a trademark dribble and instinctive low finish by Ribery shortly before the hour that settled this game. His goal ensured the Frenchman be-

comes the first non-German player to score in 11 Bundesliga seasons for Bayern. For all the calls to replace him – and his partner in crime Arjen Robben – Bayern will be hard pressed to find a winger as effective and consistent. His strike made it 2-0 and effectively put the game out of Leverkusen’s reach. The hosts went into the game on a high. Undefeated since September, Leverkusen have flourished under Heiko Herrlich and played without fear, shifting the ball to Leon Bailey at every opportunity as the Jamaican tried to rip through a Bayern defence missing Mats Hummels.