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DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH

German Protestant Church rules out AfD politicians as speakers at congress At the German Protestant Churchʼs (EKD) congress slated for June 2019 in Dortmund, politicians from Germanyʼs far-right populist party, the Alternative for Germany (AfD), will be welcome to attend the church service. They will not, however, be invited to take part in podium talks or other discussion events, the EKD announced on Wednesday. The ban on AfD politicians from taking the stage at the multiday congress, known in German as the "Kirchentag," reflects the ongoing struggle within German church organizations on how to deal with the AfD, which has beencriticized for dehumanizing and antidemocratic statements, among other things, in their role aspolitically independent institutions. The EKDʼs executive committee cited the AfDʼs "fluid boundary on right-wing extremism and ties to anti-constitutional networks" in its decision, a church spokesperson said Wednesday.

Indiaʼs top court curbs use of worldʼs largest biometric scheme Indiaʼs Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the validity of the countryʼs Aadhaar biometric identity scheme, saying it did not infringe the privacy of Indians.

Aadhaar, which translates to "foundation" in Hindi, is the worldʼs largest biometric ID database, is a 12-digit unique identification number tied to an individualʼs fingerprints, face and iris scans. Critics of the scheme had expressed concerns that it could give rise to a surveillance state and hand over critical personal information to private companies.

"This is a fabulous judgment," said lawyer Kapil Sibal, a member of the opposition Congress Party, which led the government that launched the scheme in 2010.

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Airline cancels 150 flights Ryanair strikes:

Fired German migration chief relegated to Interior Ministry Jutta Cordt was given a new job in the Interior Ministry in charge of a subsection on digitalization, according to a Bild newspaper report on Wednesday. The position means that she will receive a monthly salary cut of €1,700 ($2,000) as she shifts several levels down the pay scale for civil servants. In June, the 55-year-old lawyer was sacked as head of Germanyʼs Federal Office of Migration and Refugees (BAMF), a job she had been appointed to by the Interior Ministry. Under Cordtʼs watch, a corruption scandal at the Bremen branch of BAMF provoked feverish media attention and a drop in public trust in the countryʼs migration authorities and contributed to tensions within Chancellor Angela Merkelʼs conservative party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU).

More than 30,000 passengers across Europe will be impacted by Ryanair cabin crew strikes on Friday. German cabin crew are to decide on joining the strike on Thursday.

Ryanair will cancel 150 flights scheduled Friday due cabin crew strikes across Europe, the budget airline said Wednesday. The Ireland-based carrier said six percent of its 2,400 daily flights would be scrapped due to 24hour walkouts in Italy, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium over pay and conditions. In Germany, the Verdi union that represents about 1,000 cabin crew said it would hold rallies in Berlin and Frankfurt on Friday. The German union said discussions about whether to participate in walkout were continuing and a final decision would be made on Thursday.

Some 30,000 passengers will be affected by the strike on Friday.

Ryanair has described workersʼ action as "unnecessary," pointing to "significant progress in recent weeks with our union negotiations ... in Ireland, UK, Italy and Germany," the airline said in a statement on Tuesday. The airline had previously said 190 flights would be impacted by the strikes and all affected customers had been given

three days notice of the cancellations. Kenny Jacobs, Ryanairʼs chief marketing officer, said the airline apologized for the strikes, "which we have done our utmost to avoid, given that we have already offered these unions recognition agreements, Collective Labour Agreements, and a move to local contracts/law in 2019." "We hope these unions will see common sense and work with us to finalize agreements for the benefit of our pilots and cabin crew over the coming weeks without further disrupting our customers or our flights," Jacobs said.

Staff at Ryanair have long been in conflict with the company over its practice of hiring under Irish labor law. On Wednesday, Ryanair chief executive Michael OʼLeary met with EU Employment Commissioner Marianne Thyssen about labor conditions at the low-cost airline. Thyssen called upon OʼLeary to "ensure full compliance with all applicable EU rules and legislation, as it is the case for all EU airline companies," commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said.

Germany: The gap between east and west is narrowing, but not fast enough The economic gap between Germanyʼs former Soviet eastern states and their neighbors to the west continues to narrow, but at a rate that is hardly noticeable. Theannual Unity Report, (Jahresbericht zum Stand der deutschen Einheit) presented to the federal government on Wednesday, found that the east German statesʼ economic power is "only very slowly" catching up to the levels enjoyed in the more export-oriented states in the west.

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221/2018 • 27 September, 2018

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.

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.

Ceasefire on Israel-Gaza border largely holds as UN warns sides are on ʼbrink of warʼ

A ceasefire announced by Hamas largely held along the Israel-Gaza border on Sunday, a day after the most intense exchange of fire between Israel and the Palestinian group since the 2014 Gaza war.

Israeli warplanes carried out dozens of airstrikes in the densely populated Gaza Strip on Saturday on what it said were Hamas military, training and supply targets, while Hamas and Islamic Jihad fired nearly 200 rockets and mortars at Israel. Read more: Israel and Gazaʼs militant groups agree to ceasefire The Israeli airstrikes wounded more than 20 people and killed two teenage boys, Palestinian health officials said, while a Hamas rocket injured four Israelis.

Hamas, which has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007, and Islamic Jihad announced the Egyptian and UNbrokered ceasefire late Saturday.

The Israeli military said its response would depend on the situation on the ground.

After the ceasefire announcement, four mortars were fired into Israel early Sunday. In response, Israeli planes destroy at least one launch site.

Israel also carried out three airstrikes later in the day on what it said were Hamas squads launching incendiary balloons and kites across the border.

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What now happens for Angela Merkel?

No no-confidence vote for now

Iraq braces for more unrest as Basra protests gather pace An estimated 200 protesters gathered on Monday morning at the main gate leading to three of Iraqʼs major oil fields in the southern oil-exporting city of Basra. Protests in Basra, Iraqʼs second-largest city, started last Tuesdaywhen security forces opened fire, killing one person and wounding five.

They soon spread to other provinces.

Read more: Iraq hangs 13 ʼISʼ prisoners as PM Haidar al-Abadi calls for ʼjust retributionʼ The oil hub of Basra and other parts of the Shiʼite south have long been neglected, first by Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein and then by Shiʼite-led governments. But an ongoing political crisis and the recent rhetoric of Grand Ayatollah alSistani, the top Shiʼite cleric in the country have also clearly aggravated the situation.

Once again, German Chancellor Angela Merkel is facing predictions that her "era" is over. But in the short-term, the main thing she will have to change is her relations with her own Christian Democratic Union (CDU).

Thedefeat of Angela Merkelʼs long-time ally Volker Kauderas leader of her parliamentary party group has been widely read as a disaster for the German chancellor despite protestations by Kauderʼs deposer, Ralph Brinkhaus, that he does not oppose Merkelʼs politics.

Indeed, as even hostile media commentators had to admit, the tax consultant with a reputation for cool, level-headed budgetary analysis has never previously been con-

Trade tensions hit Chinese growth Chinese growth slowed slightly in the second quarter as the worldʼs number two economy faced a snowballing trade fight with the United States, after Washington and Beijing slapped new tariffs on $34 billion (€29 billion) of each othersʼ goods earlier this month, with threats of further tariffs on goodsworth an additional $200 billion. Despite this escalation, the Chinese economy expanded by 6.7 percent in the second quarter from a year ago. This is down from 6.8 percent in the first quarter, according to official figures released on Monday by the National Bureau of Statistics. Nonetheless, the growth was still higher than the gov-

sidered a party rebel. Nevertheless, as Merkel herself said, there is no way to "sugarcoat" Tuesdayʼs vote — it looked really bad, and was a shock for her party leadership.

Kauder had been in the post for 13 years, and not only Merkel, but other leaders in her conservative alliance of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU), had lobbied for him among the 246 conservative Bundestag members. ernmentʼs annual target of around 6.5 percent. China faced an "extremely complex environment both at home and abroad," said Mao Shengyong, a spokesperson for the national statistics bureau, noting that growth nonetheless remained strong.

UK reveals fighter jet ʼTempestʼ for post-Brexit era Williamson said the "world-beating" jet can be used unmanned, as a drone, or with pilots. It is scheduled to be operational by 2035. The UK is to invest 2 billion pounds ($2.7 billion, €2.3 billion) to 2025 in the stealth warplane, which will involve British companies BAE Systems and Rolls-

Royce as well as Anglo-Italian Leonardo and pan-European MBDA. Aiming to ensure UK leadership in defense Williamson said the program was designed to ensure Britainʼs continued leadership in fighter technology and control of airspace in future conflicts. Last year,France and Germany signed an agreementto develop Europeʼs next-generation fighter jet to replace the aging Rafale and Eurofighter jet by 2040, involving Europeʼs Airbus and Franceʼs Dassault Aviation. Following the 2016 Brexit referendum, Airbus moved to partner with Dassault at the expense of Britainʼs BAE Systems. There are concerns in Britain that its defense industry may be shut out from EU plans for next-generation fighter jets, although, officially, both projects have invited other companies to join.

221/2018 • 27 September, 2018

Trump accuses China of meddling in US midterms

Donald Trump says China is seeking to influence the upcoming midterm elections. In a speech at the UN Security Council, the American president also took aim at Iran, vowing to pursue tougher sanctions "than ever before."

US President Donald Trump opened a meeting of the UN Security Council on Wednesday with an attack on Iran and a pledge to ensure Tehran never obtains a nuclear bomb. It was the first time Trump had chaired a session of the Council on countering nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. He used the occasion toaccuse Iran of sponsoring terrorismand fueling "conflict around the region

Two Australians sentenced over Airbnb killing in Melbourne An Australian court passed prison sentences for two Melbourne residents, Ryan Smart and Craig Levy, on Wednesday, after they confessed to killing their Airbnb guest Ramis Jonuzi after a dispute over 210 Australian dollars ($152, €130) in rent.

Ryan Smart received a nine-year sentence and will serve at least six years before parole, with Levy being sentenced to seven and a half years and spending at least four and a half years in jail. Both men had pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Smart and Levy shared a Melbourne house with the third housemate, who is also alleged to have taken part in the attack. They admitted to assaulting Jonuzi in October last year after he extended his stay and was unable to pay for it. The victim was kicked and punched until he passed out inside the Levy-owned property. The beating continued outside after Jonuzi regained consciousness. According to the prosecutors, Smart at one point held the 36-year-old in a leg lock and forced Jonuzi to check his bank account balance, confirming that he only had six Australian dollars.

and far beyond." The US backed out of a 2015 nuclear accord with Iran in May and has since beensteadily reimposing sanctionson the Islamic Republic. The American president warned world leaders at the UN that "all US nuclear-related sanctions will be in full force by early November," adding that countries who didnʼt comply would face "severe consequences."

Milk and mushrooms may prevent metabolic diseases

Recent research conducted at Pennsylvania State University in the US studied the effect of mushrooms on glucose production in the body.

Mushrooms are a probiotic food, which means they positively influence the bacteria in the gut. In astudy with mice, researchers discovered that the regular consumption of white button mushrooms boosted the growth of certain bacteria which produce substances that influence glucose production. The researchers believe that white button mushrooms may be especially helpful for people with dia-

betes, due to the fungiʼs role in glucose production. Like mushrooms, milk also seems to regulate blood glucose levels. That is the result of arecent studyby researchers at the University of Guelph and the University of Toronto in Canada. Their research showed that consuming milk at breakfast lowers blood glucose levels during the day, compared to consuming water. They also found that specific proteins contained in milk trigger the release of hormones in the gut, which then slow down digestion and increase the feeling of being full.

Crowdfunding for dams — why Pakistani PM Khanʼs drive is not feasible The construction of two dams has become a major policy priority for the new Pakistani government, headed by Prime Minister Imran Khan. The fact was evident from Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshiʼs engagements in the United States, which he is currently visiting. On Tuesday, Qureshi, who is due to speak at the UN General Assembly on September 29 and meet with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on October 2, urged the Pakistani diaspora in the US to donate generously to the governmentʼs fund for the construction of dams.

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221/2018 • 27 September, 2018

Will new train boost trade in Southeast Asia?

Itʼs slow and not as comfortable yet as trains in developed countries, but Cambodians were nonetheless proud when the first train in decades left the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh for border town Poipet last month, effectively connecting the northern part of Cambodia with the south.

This rail line will soon cross the border and connect with Thailand.

Itʼs expected to become popular among travelers and boost trade between Thailand and Cambodia. Read more: Cambodian girls defy gender barriers to excel in technology Sitting in the train to Poipet on a quiet Sunday morning, music teacher Hang Sothanun said that heʼs happy that he can now take the train. "I have to travel all over the country, most of the time by bus or by car.

But the train is really nice. Itʼs relaxing and it offers a very nice view of the countryside," he told DW. During decades of war and poverty, Cambodiaʼs railway lines, which were initially built at the time of the French colonial rule, were severely damaged and neglected. Only two years ago, the first line in the country was reopened, connecting Phnom Penh to the coastal city Sihanoukville.

US loses its shine as investment location for German firms Presenting the results of a poll among its member companies, the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany on Tuesday said German firms had become less confident in doing business in the United States.

It said that over two-fifths of the companies polled stated the US had become less attractive as a business location in the wake of a transAtlantic trade conflictthat looks defused for the moment, but by no means resolved. While 82 percent of respondents acknowledged that economic relations between the US and Germany were still "strong or very strong," 42 percent of the German firms polled said the US had lost some of its former attractiveness to them. Only 20 percent of the US firms polled said the same about Germany. While 82 percent of respondents acknowledged that economic relations between the US and Germany were still "strong or very strong," 42 percent of the German firms polled said the US had lost some of its former attractiveness to them. Only 20 percent of the US firms polled said the same about Germany.

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EU plan to sidestep Iran sanctions: How will it work?

The EUʼs vow to keep trading with Tehran despite new US sanctions is causing further friction with Washington. The creation of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) will help facilitate payments between Iran and Europe.

The foreign ministers of the EU, Germany, France, Britain, Russia and China agreed on Tuesday to set up a new mechanism to facilitate legitimate trade between European companies and Iran. The goal: To bypass United States sanctions, which have been reintroduced after US President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Anew legal entity will be created to allow financial transactions with Iranbetween oil companies and other businesses. The EUʼs External Action Service (EEAS)

saysthe measure is being created to "ensure the full and effective implementation of the Iran deal." EEAS said the new payment system will "assist and provide reassurance to European businesses wishing to continue trading with Iran, mitigating the effect of re-imposed US sanctions, in accordance with European Law." In 2017, the EU was Iranʼs second largest trading partner, after China. Some of Washingtonʼs new punitive measures against Tehran took effect in August; the rest are due to begin in November.

Visiting Kenya a year into its plastic bag ban

US trade official hopes for breakthrough in NAFTA talks

Trade conflicts to dampen growth in Asia

In 2013, student and photographer James Wakibia was so sick of seeing the plastic bags that littered the route between his house and the town of Nakuru, some 150 kilometers northwest of the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, he felt he had to take action. "They were everywhere, in the trees, in the puddles and on the road. They were like air, just everywhere," he recalls.

Two years later, he launched a social media campaign with the hashtag #ISupportBanPlasticsKE, calling for an end to single-useplastic bags. Wakibiaʼs activism attracted widespread attention, including from the government in Nairobi, which put a ban at the top of its to-do list. Plastic carrier bags and their smaller, thinner counterparts used for packaging fruit and vegetables have now been outlawed for a year. Read more: Plastic fantastic: Nigeriaʼs carrier bag fashionistas "Kenya has come a long way and has taken a very bold step," Wakibia said. "Most other governments donʼt dare to take this step because they are very connected to the industry."

On the eve of the resumption of high-level talks between US and Mexican officials on Friday, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said he was hopeful that "in the next several days weʼll have a breakthrough" innegotiations.

Speaking during a White House cabinet meeting with US President Donald Trump on Thursday, Lighthizer however also noted that there was still "some difficult issues to work on." At the same time, he indicated that Canada could rejoin the talks soon. "Iʼm hopeful with Mexico. And then I hope once we get one with Mexico, that Canada will come along," he said. Read more: Donald Trumpʼs trade spats with Europe, China and NAFTA ― What you need to know Lighthizerʼs optimism comes about a year after renegotiations began followingTrumpʼs threat to exit the free trade pact with Mexico and Canadabecause it was a "disaster" and an unfair deal to American workers.

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The Manila, Philippines-based Asian Development Bank said in an updated report Wednesday thatit expected economic expansion in Asia to remain at a robust 6 percentthis year but to slip to 5.8 percent in 2019. The worldʼs second-largest economy, China, was forecast to log 6.3 percent growth next year, down from 6.6 percent in the current year. The lender citedlooming financial and trade shocks as the biggest sources of potential trouble on the continent. It said that if the US kept hiking interest rates, including one increase expected Wednesday to take the benchmark rate to 2-2.25 percent, currency markets and capital flows in Asia could be disrupted, leading to massive problems with toxic loans.Overly high housing prices were seen as a big risk for China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and South Korea.

221/2018 • 27 September, 2018

The top fall feasts celebrated in Germany Autumn has its own special brand of festivities celebrating harvest

Germany is full of traditions celebrated throughout the year, but autumn has its own special brand of festivities celebrating harvest, light, liberty and luck to warm up a season heading into darkness.

Whether itʼs fireworks on New Yearʼs Eve, not saying "Happy Birthday" before oneʼs actual birthday, dancing around the May pole on May Day, or celebrating Christmas on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day, Germany has its own unique take on traditions, superstitions and simply throwing a party. Even in modern, technicized 2018, many traditions and customs still center around the seasons.

Spring is heralded as the season of new beginnings; summer is cherished as time off work and school and a chance to experience; Christ-

mastime will make any small kidʼs eyes light up – while fall traditions often look to the outdoors for inspiration. The changing light outside plays a big role in those autumn traditions, with candles and lanterns taking center stage. Apple festivals celebrate the bounty of a fruit harvest, but also mark the end of a season full of sunlight. Fall in Germany also means a look back at significant political events that changed modern German history forever.

Take a look at our picture galleries to get a glimpse of autumn in Germany.

Berlin Art Week bridges local creativity and commercial success Following the Gallery Weekend in spring, the Berlin Art Week in autumn has established itself as one of the German capitalʼs two major visual arts festivals. From September 26-30, the seventh Berlin Art Week seeks again to attract art lovers from all over the world with contemporary art exhibitions and fairs. Visitors can expect large-scale exhibitions featuring established artists — including solo shows by Lee Bul at Gropius Bau, Agnieszka Polska at Hamburger Bahnhof and Julian Charrière at the

Berlinische Galerie — as well as presentations of yet-to-be-discovered artists across diverse genres. In addition to the Art Berlin and Positions Berlin Art Fair pitched to international buyers, 15 museums and exhibition halls, almost 70 galleries, a theater and 11 Berlin private collections are open to visitors. All of this is despite the fact that, unlike the highly successful Gallery Weekend, Berlin Art Week is still establishing itself on the international art calendar.

Pop singer Lary: ʼI was often reduced to sexʼ Because the decision-makers are often just men who maybe just donʼt have the vision or the perspective at that moment to really let something in and let something grow, which they might not really understand or see at first. We simply have a fundamentally different perspectives on life. And thatʼs why itʼs so important that men AND women are included everywhere. That happens all the time. In my first album, for example, I showed a lot more skin, a lot more sex than usual. A lot of it resonated. It struck me that I was automatically taken less seriously than an artist as a result. I found that somehow unfair. After all, I wrote all my songs myself and perceived myself as an artist. But then I was often reduced to sex. Because the theme was very loud in the music, but also because I dealt with it a lot at that time. I found it a shame that I then had the feeling I had to censor myself because I was not perceived the way I would have liked to be.

World Press Photo exhibition now open in Budapest

A heartwarming hug, exploited sex workers and all of the chaos and calamity caused by an increasing terrorist attacks and conflict. The annual World Press Photo travelling exhibition once again portrays milestones from the past year through the best works of photojournalism. The exhibition is on view until October 23rd at the Hungarian National Museum. If you just visit one show in Budapest this autumn, it should be this one.

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Culture

What’s happening in Budapest – September 2018 Festivals, cool concerts, cultural events and amazing parties – Budapest is always buzzing. Every month, we bring together all of the important happenings taking place in and around Hungary’s capital, so you can plan ahead. In September, the Budapest Wine Festival, the National Gallop and cool concerts are all among the many exciting events you shouldn’t miss. Whether you would like to shake it to the coolest beats, immerse yourself in culture or give in to guilty pleasures, we present a bunch of suggestions for the upcoming weeks. Get out there and enjoy everything that Budapest has to offer! Budapest Urban Games A38 concerts Ricky Martin Budapest Wine Festival Food Truck Show Budapest 33rd Wizz Air Budapest Half Marathon National Gallop Sweet Days Chocolate and Sweets Oktoberfest Dub FX In September, scores of cool concerts will be rocking the A38 Ship, a repurposed Ukrainian cargo vessel that is today one of the hottest hangouts in Budapest. Parties aboard are plenty, but here is our pick of the bunch: on September 24th ‘the occult Nick Cave’, King Dude, brings his new album to Budapest, performing with the Icelandic dark-wave trio, Kælan Mikla. On September 28th, another album launch will be presented, by Berlin-based downtempo-nu-jazz collective, Jazzanova, and on 30th, one of the most unique characters in contemporary European r’n’b-pop, Dena, brings a gentle mix of modern glitter and DIYBalkan aesthetics aboard.

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221/2018 • 27 September, 2018

Gennady Golovkin v Saul ʼCaneloʼ Alvarez Golovkin relishes rematch

Gennady Golovkin says Saturdayʼs rematch with Saul ʼCaneloʼ Alvarez is "100% the biggest fight of my career". The middleweight pairʼs first fight, in September 2017, wascontroversially scored a draw,with Golovkin landing more punches and considered the stronger fighter by many pundits.

"I hope it is going to be a better fight than the first one," said the 36-yearold Kazakh. A May rematch was postponed after Alvarez, 28, failed two drugs tests. The Mexican blamed his positive test for clenbuterol - an asthma medication that can also help build muscle and burn fat -on eating contaminated meat. The drug is sometimes illegally mixed into livestock feed to make meat leaner.

Rafael Benitez & Manuel Pellegrini: Newcastle & West Ham bosses adjust to life at bottom

Aleksandar Kolarovʼs free kick stunner secures Serbia win over Costa Rica A brilliant second half free kick from captain Aleksandar Kolarov led Serbia to a deserved win over Costa Rica. Serbia were wasteful in front of goal but did enough to secure three vital points in Group E. Another World Cup day, another sublime freekick. If Cristiano Ronaldo’s ice-cold effort tosnatch a point against arch-rivals Spain on day two was the current goal of the tournament front-runner, the Portuguese may have just met his match. Aleksandar Kolarov, take a bow. A combination of poor finishing and sublime goalkeeping had kept the scores level until Serbia’s no.11 produced his moment of magic. Kolarov’s powerful left foot is no secret, but few inside the stadium would have expected such a thunderous strike when the Roma defender stood over a free kick midway through the second half. His shot was unstoppable; a side-footed missile which screamed into the top corner of the Costa Rica net.

The two sides of ʼFIFA Bestʼ Luka Modric The Croatian is both adored and hated in his homeland. DW explains why this is so

Luka Modric has won footballʼs highest individual honor, having been named the winner of FIFAʼs The Best award for the 2017-18 season.

No tattoos, no gel in his hair and a closely-guarded private life; Luka Modric seems like a footballer from an earlier time. The 172-centimeter (5 ft. 8 in.) tall captain of the Croatian national team is shy, and press conferences or interviews arenʼt his thing. He finds it difficult to speak about himself. But on the pitch, he is the boss. "The war, life in the refugee camp hardened me," he once said of his early years growing

up during the Croatian War of Independence. It certainly hardened him enough to withstand stiff competition to establish himself as a regular at Real Madrid. "El Pony," as he is known to his teammates, wears the number 10 jersey at Real – a sign of appreciation for his achievements.

Modric is both a battler and a technician with deadly passes over 30-40 yards with the outside of his boot his signature move.

Anthony Joshua defeats Alexander Povetkin, retains champion status Rafael Benitez and Manuel Pellegrini are two managers used to living the high life who now find themselves stranded in the Premier Leagueʼs bottom three with Newcastle and West Ham after poor starts to the season. Benitez, a Champions League winner with Liverpool in 2005, has also collected European trophies with Valencia and Chelsea, while Pellegrini won the Premier League with Manchester City.

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With a brutal combination of punches in the seventh round, the 28-year-old British boxer brought the veteran Povetkin to his knees.

Joshua delivered another thrilling comeback in front of a ruacous home crowd.

World Heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua defeated Alexander Povetkin with a technical knockout on Saturday night, in front of 80,000 spectators at Wembley Stadium, in London. It was a close contest, but the young Brit ulti-

mately prevailed, extending his unbeaten professional record to 22 wins from 22 fights, with 21 knockouts.

The 28-year-old put his International Boxing Federation, World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization belts on the line as he faced 39-year-old Russian challenger Povetkin, whose best days appear to be behind him. Joshua enjoyed a weight and height advantage going into the fight, not to mention a rowdy home crowd, and was the bookmakersʼ heavy favorite.