DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Russia brings back children of IS fighters from Iraq The first flight carrying Russian children of "Islamic State" (IS) militants landed in Russia after leaving Baghdad on Sunday. The group included 16 girls and 14 boys aged between 3 and 15, Russian officials said. Out of 30 minors on board the flight, 24 were from the Muslim-majority Russian state of Dagestan, three from Chechnya, one from the southwest city of Penza and one from Moscow, said Chechnya strongman Ramzan Kadyrov in an online post. He later added that the effort to retrieve Russian citizens would not be stopped "as long as there is one more child and one more woman in Iraq and Syria." With "IS" virtually purged from most of its former strongholds, many foreign-born militants are dead or imprisoned in Iraq and Syria. Governments have been hesitantto repatriate their family membersfor fear of importing terrorism.
Thousands protest over David Dragicevic death in Bosnia Several thousand people marched through Banja Luka, the main city ofBosniaʼs Republika Srpska, demanding accountability over the death of 21-year-old student David Dragicevic. Like previous protests, the Sunday rally was led by Davidʼs father, Davor Dragicevic. Following the rally, riot police dispersed dozens of protesters who remained on the streets, with local media reporting several people had been detained. Addressing the crowd, Davor restated his accusations that his son was kidnapped, tortured, and eventually murdered by members of Republika Srpska police. He also urged the protesters to join him and camp out at a local square until the perpetrators are found. "If you donʼt stand by this, they will kill you all," Dragicevic said. "Iʼm not leaving. Everyone should come and stay as long as they could based on their conscience and obligations."
2/2019 • 3 JANUARY, 2019
ʼDemocracy thrives on changeʼ Angela Merkelʼs New Yearʼs speech:
German Chancellor Angela Merkel appeals to the public spirit in her own country and evokes the idea of a stronger EU in her New Yearʼs address. Her answer to international crises: greater responsibility for Germany. In her traditional New Yearʼs address, Germanyʼs chancellor first directs her words at the people in her own country: "Dear fellow citizens." Yet these words should also be listened to attentively beyond Germanyʼs borders. When Angela Merkel takes stock of what she sees as an "extremely difficult political year," she does so from two perspectives: national and international. The chancellor begins her speech with an inward look at the long and difficult process of forming a government after the 2017 federal elections. The process lasted six months "and once we had it, there was a lot of quarrelling and preoccupation with ourselves." Merkel, a member of the Christian Democrats (CDU), does not mention any examples. But two are memorable:the constant disputes with Interior Minister Horst Seehofer from the CDUʼs Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), and spats with the Social Democrats (SPD). Most of them were over Germanyʼs migration policy. But Merkel does not want the tense climate within the coalition to be understood as the reason for her intention tostep down
as chancellor at the end of this legislative period in 2021. She says she would have done so "regardless of how unsatisfactory the past year was." Her long tenure in office, which has lasted 13 years, is "reason enough." We build on "what our predecessors have left us" and shape the present for those who come after us. "Democracy," she says, "thrives on change." Merkel is convinced that the challenges of the time can be mastered "if we stick together and work with others across borders." These challenges include not only the "fateful question of climate change," but also migration and the fight against international terrorism. "We want to solve all of these questions because it is in our interest." However, a willingness to accept the many challenges is shrouded by doubt. Merkel says the traditional certainties of international cooperation have come under pressure. Again, she gives no examples. But there is no question that this includes nationalist politics on both sides of the Atlantic. Her conclusion: "In such a situation, we have to advocate, argue and fight for our beliefs with more conviction."
Jewish immigration to Israel increases in 2018 Immigration by Jews to Israel rose by 5 percent over the past year, with 29,600 people moving to the country in 2018, according to figures released on Sunday by the state immigration organization "Jewish Agency for Israel." More than 10,500 of the Jewish immigrants came from Russia, the agency said, an increase of some 45 percent over 2017. In contrast, immigration from Russiaʼs neighbor, Ukraine, went down by 9 percent to 6,500. Argentina saw a spike of 17 percent more Jews relocating to Israel, though the number of immigrants coming from the country was far more modest at 330. The number of immigrants coming from the US and Canada remained stable at 3,500, while immigration from France dropped 25 percent to 2,660 people. Just 660 came from the UK and 330 from Brazil, a drop of 4 percent in each case.
US policy spreads gloom in Iran Bahareh Hedayat canʼt see any sense in Americaʼs policy. "The United States has been imposing sanctions on one country or another for 50 years: Cuba, Libya, Iraq, Iran, North Korea. Where, in which country, has it achieved its aims?” she asked, rhetorically, in an interview with DW. Hedayat is an Iranian activist for womenʼs and for human rights. "The economic situation in Iran has worsened," she said. "A lot of newly created jobs have been lost. Now the system is again looking for ways to bypassthe sanctions, and in doing so it leaves the door wide open for corruption. Ultimately, itʼs the ordinary people in Iran who have to suffer the consequences."
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2/2019 • 3 January, 2019
DR Congo: Election marked by delays, irregularities Millions of voters cast ballots in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday, in a widely anticipated election that could mark the African giantʼs first democratic transfer of power or tip it further into violence. The election comes after President Joseph Kabila delayed elections for two years after the end of his second and final term, triggering a violent political standoff that left dozens dead across the country. Some 40 million registered voters chose from a crowded field of 21 presidential candidates in the election, which took place alongside legislative and municipal ballots. The opposition has been split between two main candidates, Martin Fayulu, a former Exxon Mobil manager who was a relative unknown months ago, and Felix Tshisekedi, the scion of late opposition icon Etienne. Kabilaʼs preferred successor, the former Interior Minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, ran on the ruling partyʼs ticket.
Bangladesh election: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wins by landslide Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinaʼs party has won the general election with a landslide majority, the Election Commission said early on Monday. An alliance dominated by Hasinaʼs Awami League won 288 seats in the countryʼs 300-strong parliament. The opposition alliance led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia won just six seats. Election to one seat was not held Sunday and results for another seat were halted by the commission. "My congratulations to the Awami League," Helal Uddin Ahmed, secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat, told reporters. Hasinaʼs party was widely anticipated to win the election that was hit by violence and rigging allegations. At least 16 people were reported to have been killed in violence between rival supporters. Hasina, who is set to take office for the third consecutive time and fourth time overall, is credited with improving the countryʼs economy, which grew at a faster rate than neighboring India last year, and giving refuge to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled Myanmar. But she has also been accused of a crackdown on media and dissent. 2
Angela Merkel tells Turkey to act responsibly in Syria Angela Merkel has spoken with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Syria
The German chancellor highlighted the importance of exercising restraint as the US exits the conflict. German Chancellor Angela Merkel held a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday to discuss the situation in Syria. Merkel told Erdogan that she expected Turkey to "exercise restraint and act responsibly," the Chancellery said in a statement. The conversation comes as the US plan to withdrawal some 2,000 troops backing mixed Kurdish and Arab forces in northeast Syria has plunged the region into uncertainty. After US President Donald Trump announced the US withdrawal, Turkey mobilized army units and its Syrian rebel allies to the bor-
Berlin AG wants to get rid of fines for fare evaders Authorities in Berlin view fare dodging as a criminal offense punishable by a €60 ($68.6) fine. Local police filed 12,000 complaints over the issue in 2017 and more than 300 people are imprisoned every year for not being able or willing to pay the fines. The leftleaning mayorand other top officials have recently called for less drastic regulations, with some proposing to downgrade fare dodging to a mere administrative offense. Now, the Berlin attorney general wants to go a step further and "completely abolish" the crime of fare dodging. "We shouldnʼt waste re-
der and near the Syrian city of Manbij. This prompted the Kurdish Peoplesʼ Protection Units (YPG) to sound the alarm and call for the Syrian army to enter the town in an apparent bid to ward off a Turkish offensive. US military officials say American troops remain in Manbij. Ankara considers the YPG as an extension of insurgents in Turkey and classifies them as a terrorist organization. The YPG is the main component of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces waging war against the last pockets of the "Islamic State" (IS). sources for criminal offenses where criminality is highly questionable," Attorney General Margarete Koppers told Berliner Morgenpost. Koppers is one of the most senior judiciary officials in Berlin, a 3.6-million-strong city which is also considered one of Germanyʼs 16 federal states. Talking to the local daily, Koppers said downgrading the offense would pose "no relief for the judiciary."
Belgium vows to amplify EU voice on UN Security Council Belgiumʼs foreign minister says his country will use its temporary UN Security Council seat to make the EU more influential on the global stage.
2018: The year Trumpian disruption rocked German politics The image that sticks most in my mind from the uniquely disruptive political year that was 2018 is of Angela Merkel with Horst Seehofer on the balcony of the Chancellery building. The chancellor, a glass of white wine in her hand, has turned her back and is stalking away from her rebellious interior minister, as though he were a dog sheʼd just caught going through the kitchen garbage can. The wind has ruffled her normally perfectly styled hair. She looks unhappy, tired, old. To be fair, Merkel had every reason to be a tad disheveled, having spent many a late night negotiating with Seehofer and her other coalition partners over one-stop holding centers for migrants, so-called "Anker" centers, versus transit centers —an issue that threatened for a few summer weeks to bring down her government and was immediately forgottenwhen a suitably face-saving compromise was found. Nonetheless, this press photo was a disconcerting sight for anyone who has ever come close to the chancellor in person. Iʼve witnessed her testify for five straight hours in front of a parliamentary investigative committee only to decline with a confident smile when asked if sheʼd like a break. For Merkel stress was always like water off a duckʼs back.Until 2018.
Belgium and Germany are to scheduled to take up their seats on January 1. Belgium will use its two-year seat on the United Nations Security Council to bolster the European Unionʼs influence within the global body, Belgiumʼs foreign minister has said. Didier Reynders told Germanyʼs Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung news outlet that Belgium aims to help harmonize each EU member stateʼs diplomacy so that they "send the same message with different voices." Belgium will take up its temporary seat on the Security Council,the UNʼs highest decisionmaking body, along with Germany on January 1. "We have an important role to play in supporting multilateralism," Reynders said. "There is no better place for it than in the United Nations Security Council."
2/2019 • 3 January, 2019
Angela Merkelʼs CDU receives the most large donations in 2018 The parties in Germanyʼs parliament received some €2.1 million in large donations in 2018. But one was favored more than any other, particularly by industry. Germanyʼs co-governing Christian Democrats (CDU) profited the most of any political parties from large donations in 2018, figures issued by the parliamentary administration show. The CDU received some €850,000 ($972,267) in 2018 from a range of donors that included major shareholders in carmaker BMW. That compares with nearly €2.9 million in 2017, with the larger amount possible reflecting the fact that it was an election year. The highest single donation, amounting to €260,000, came in July 2018 from the former CEO of the pharmaceutical
Italian health czar resigns over governmentʼs ʼanti-scientific positionsʼ The president of Italyʼs national health research organization, who announced that he was stepping down from his position in December, said Monday that the antiscientific positions and xenophobic views of members of the current populist government were behind his resignation. Inan interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera, Walter Ricciardi of Italyʼs National Institute of Health (ISS) said that, "Representatives of the government have endorsed unscientific or frankly antiscientific positions on many issues." Ricciardi also said that after four and a half years at the institute, he had achieved the goals he set out to accomplish: the financial recovery, reorganization and relaunch of the ISS. Italy is currently governed by the far-right Northern League and the populist Five Star Movement (FSM). Italyʼs ʼanti-vaxʼ populist politicians Ricciardi aimed his criticism at League head and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, who is also the deputy prime minister.
company Merck, Hans-Joachim Langmann, who was also the largest donor to the CDU in 2017. The amount received by the CDU is about three times higher than that pocketed by its coalition partner, the Social Democrats (SPD), which was given €280,000. That sum was, however, exceeded by the one large donation given to the German Communist Party (DKP), which in May was presented with around €352,000. Automaker Daimler and chemical company Evonik were even-handed in their donations, giving both the CDU and the SPD €180,000.
German interior minister renews call for stricter deportation laws in wake of Amberg attacks
An attack by a group of asylumseekers on passers-by in a Bavarian town has prompted Germanyʼs interior minister to renew his longstanding call for stricter deportation laws. Ambergʼs mayor has called for caution. Germanyʼs Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said asylum-seekers who commit violent crimes must leave the country, after a group of apparently drunken teenagers attacked a dozen people in the Bavarian town of Amberg. "If existing laws are not sufficient, they must be changed,"
Seehofer told Wednesdayʼs edition of Germanyʼs Bild newspaper. "The events in Amberg are very troubling. This is excessive violence, which we cannot tolerate." Seehofer — the leader of Bavariaʼs Christian Social Union (CSU) party, the Bavarian sister party to Chancellor Angela Merkelʼs Christian Democrats — said that he would make suggestions to the federal government. Seehofer had already madesimilar proposalsin midDecember for the beginning of this year.
Fatal train accident closes Denmarkʼs Great Belt Bridge Six people were killed and 16 others injured on Wednesday morning after a train accident on a bridge linking the Danish islands of Zealand and Funen. A initial investigation by Denmarkʼs Accident Investigation Board showed an empty lorry trailer had blown off a cargo train wagon onto the oncoming tracks. The trailer probably overturned or was blown off the freight train, said accident investigator Bo Haaning. It rammed an oncoming passenger train either frontally or laterally, causing it to brake suddenly, he said.
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2/2019 • 3 January, 2019
Germanyʼs minimum wage is barely above the poverty line At about €1,500 ($1,700) per month gross for full-time workers, Germany has one of the highest minimum wages in the European Union. And itʼs rising: As of January 1, employers are required to pay their workers at least €9.19 per hour, a 35-cent raise. Compared with their counterparts in other EU nations, Germanyʼs minimum wage workers seem to do fairly well in sheer numbers. Luxembourgʼs minimum wage, for instance, may be higher, but Germanyʼs is far closer to the top of the list than it is to the bottom. DW has analyzed the income that full-time minimum wage workers take home each month in the 22 EU countries that have minimum wage policies in place, using numbers from 2017. Though the data are complicated, the research question was simple: In which countries are workers vulnerable to poverty even though they have full-time jobs? With the previous minimum wage of €8.84 per hour, a single adult without children in Germany could expect to take home €1,110.50 a month after taxes and social contributions, according to DWʼs calculations — or about €14.50 above Germanyʼs official poverty threshold. Adults are typically considered vulnerable to poverty by the European Union if they have an income of less than 60 percent of their countriesʼ median income. The median income is the income level that is exceeded by half of the population and not reached by the other half.
German online shoppers are serial returners German shoppers return roughly 12 percent of online purchases, a new poll by digital industry association Bitkom shows. Two years ago, the figure was 10 percent. One-third of shoppers said they send back every tenth item, 14 percent admitted to returning a quarter of all purchases. "The share of returns is extremely high and rising steadily, especially in certain sectors, like the fashion industry," says Julia Miosga, who heads Bitkomʼs trade and logistics department. The 14 to 29-year-olds are the worst offenders, with a hefty 18 percent of purchases being returned. Overall, women return 15 percent of items bought online, men only make up 9 percent of the total figure. Retailers are increasingly looking for ways to make it easier to buy the right product and size online by giving more detailed information – specifically about clothes – via chats, product descriptions, 360 degree pictures and videos. Some also reward honest feedback with vouchers and discounts. 4
2019 brings Germans greater fear of old-age poverty More and more Germans are worried about not being able to make ends meet when they retire, a new study has shown. Rising energy costs and low interest rates are also feeding fears of financial insecurity. More than half of all Germans are afraid of being financially insecure in old age, German newspaper Die Welt reported, citing a study from the Ernst & Young (EY) consulting company on consumer trust for 2019. With a rapidly aging population, Germanyʼs pension system is under stress, and rising living costs, low interest rates, and the growth of thetemporary and lowwage employmentmean that many people face challenges to achieving financial security for their retirement. "Many Germans no longer think that their pension is secure," said Bernhard
Miamiʼs affluent ʼclimate refugeesʼ seek higher ground Climate refugees arenʼt usually spotted driving a Bentley through a lowincome neighborhood, searching for a new place to call home. But in Miami, one of the most energetic real estate markets in the United States, property prices on the oceanfront are no longer the cityʼs main draw. Instead, the area attracting the most attention is on the ridge where the cityʼs original settlers built the railroad — the most elevated land in Miami. A recent Harvard University study tracked the property values of more than 100,000 single-family homes across Miami going back to the early 1970s. It showed that values of homes along Miamiʼs coastline have been dropping, while those at higher elevations are increasing. Flooding is becoming more and more frequent in Miami, with so-called king tides — a nonscientific term used to describe unusually high tides — affecting some of the cityʼs most desirable locations. Sea levels are predicted to rise by 13-34 inches (33-86 centimeters) over the next 40 years.
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2018: The worst year for stocks since financial crisis Major US stock indices had their worst annual performance in 2018 since the beginning of the financial crisis, despite making small gains on Monday — the last trading day of the year. The main benchmark S&P 500 index finished the year down 6 percent, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 5.6 percent, and the Nasdaq composite slid nearly 4 percent. The anemic report card, however, came just four months after Wall Street marked the longest-ever bull market, following a decade of ultra-loose monetary policy. Major indices in Europe also ended 2018 in the red, includingGermanyʼs DAX which entered bear market territory, down 22 percent from its high in January and 18 percent from the start of the year. The CAC 40 of France finished the year down 11 percent, while Britainʼs FTSE 100 lost 12.5 percent.
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Lorentz, one of the studyʼs authors and the head of EYʼs Government & Public Sector. "Politicians must take these worries seriously." "The low interest rates we currently have are making it much more difficult to build wealth and prepare privately for retirement," he added. Illness, environment also cause worry For the second year in the row, thefear of poverty in old agewas the fastest growing category. A total 56 percent of all respondents were either very or slightly scared of financial insecurity in old age, an 18 percent jump from 2017.
Financial woes hit Victoria Beckhamʼs fashion label
Victoria Beckhamʼs fashion label has been struggling to turn a profit, but the ex-Spice Girl is not giving up just yet. Still, itʼs unclear if business fortunes will change anytime soon. Beckham Brand Holdings, the company that runs David and Victoria Beckhamʼs business empire, reportedly paid out 30 million pounds (€35 million, $38 million) in dividends to the coupleeven after profits in Victoriaʼs part of the company tanked. The companyʼs pretax profits fell 20 percent, to 15.7 million pounds, as losses rose at Victoria Beckhamʼs fashion business, despite revenue rising by 17 percent, to 55.7 million pounds. Victoria Beckhamʼs business losses rose from 8.5 million pounds to 10.3 million pounds in 2017, and the unit was only helped by writing off almost 7 million pounds in debts that the business owed to David Beckhamʼs firm and the parent company. Victoria Beckham Limited then raised 30 million pounds from NEO Investment Partners, in return for a 28 percent stake in the business.
2/2019 • 3 January, 2019
Galapagos bans fireworks to save wildlife Germans, too, have been urged to limit fireworks
Ecuador has banned most fireworks in the archipelago, just days before New Yearʼs celebrations. Conservationists say the explosions cause damage to the islandsʼ wildlife. Ecuadorʼs government has banned the use and sale of most fireworks on the Galapagos Islands to protect the archipelagoʼs unique fauna. The ban comes just days before New Yearʼs celebrations that traditionally see fireworks set off across Latin America and the rest of the world. Fireworks that produce light but no noise have been exempted from the ban. Conservationists have said the sounds of explosions cause elevated heart rates, nervous stress and anxi-
ety among animals on the islands, which are home to several endemic species including iguanas and tortoises. The new rule bars the entry, sale and distribution of any fireworks that cause noise on the archipelagoʼs 13 main islands and at least 17 islets that lie about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) off the coast of Ecuador. "This is a gift for Ecuador and the world," Lorena Tapia, the president of the Government Council of Galapagos, wrote on Twitter.
Music plagiarism: two seconds of beat and two decades of litigation "If youʼre a good composer, you steal good steals," said the American composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein. Referring toone composerʼs appropriation of musical material by another, Bernstein meant that "good" composers of serious music were highly creative with what they "stole." Itʼs common in every musical genre for melodies, harmonic progressions and characteristic rhythms to change hands — often without permission. Indeed, the issue of intellectual property
rights in music has been occupying courts for decades, with the financial implications growing ever larger. Kraftwerk vs. Pelham A lingering point of copyright contention is the ongoing case between the German electronic band Kraftwerk and rap artist Moses Pelham: two seconds of music lifted from Kraftwerkʼs "Metall auf Metall" (Metal on Metal) single was looped into the track "Nur mir" (Only to Me), which Pelham produced for vocalist Sabrina Setlur.
Is Israel interfering in German cultural policy? The German government has been asked in an anonymous letter to reconsider its support for NGOs such as "Brot für die Welt" (Bread for the World) and to cut funding to the Jewish Museum Berlin. What is going on? "The German promotion of nongovernmental organizations that intervene in Israelʼs internal affairs or promote anti-Israel activities is unparalleled," says the letter, which was sent without sender and signature to the German daily taz, most likely from Israel. "We would like the Federal Government to tie its further financial support to the complete halt of such activities." The author demanded that the federal government "review its funding guidelines." In concrete terms, the financing of a total of twelve NGOs with their partners in Israel and Palestine, is being questioned. This includes organizations such as Brot für die Welt and Misereor, as well as various political foundations such as the Green partyaligned Heinrich Böll Foundation, the Jewish Museum Berlin and the Berlinale film festival.
Sting to return to Budapest for summer 2019
Sting is head over heels for Budapest. After a successful free show with Shaggy a month ago on Heroes’ Square, the former Police frontman has just announced another Budapest concert for next summer. On 2 July, the Grammywinning singer brings his My Songs tour to the Papp László Aréna, where he will be taking the stage with his own band. From “Englishman In New York” to “Every Breath You Take”, the set should include Sting’s biggest hits. Tickets are on sale now.
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Culture Vintage Budapest baths reopen
BATHERS IN BUDAPEST NOW HAVE ONE MORE THERMAL SPA
Deep distant District XX, south Pest, an old pool complex has just reopened to welcome soakers with medicinal waters containing salt and iodine. Currently operating in an initial test phase, the modernised wing of this complex features four pools, saunas and steam rooms. According to plans, a public lido with swimming and wave pools will be added next summer. Bromide, salt and iodine provide healing effects at a spa in Pesterzsébet that has just reopened to the public. These natural remedies help improve circulation, reduce inflammation and soothe the senses. Built in 1936 on a mineralrich spring, this Turkish-style site always featured indoor and outdoor facilities, including a wave pool. Financial woes forced the baths to close in 2005. Renovations began earlier this year, allowing for the reopening of four indoor pools of distinct temperatures ranging from 34°C to 40°C. Ongoing modernisation also includes the outdoor area. If all goes to plan, bathers can enjoy seven additional pools for swimming and recreation from May 2019. The spa is open every day of the week from 9am to 7pm and admission is 1,900 forints, with various discounts. You can reach the baths by taking tram 2from the Pest riverbank to the terminus at Közvágóhíd, then change to suburban railway line H6. Alight two stops later at Pesterzsébet felső, before a five-minute walk to the spa. Pestszentérzsebet
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2/2019 • 3 January, 2019
Germany captain Manuel Neuer speaks of ʼnew spiritʼ in national team
Writing in an article posted on the German Football Associationʼs (DFB) website on Wednesday, captain Manuel Neuer conceded that through theirlack of success at the World Cup in Russiaand theNations League,the national team had "lost a lot of credit" with the fans. He said thereaction of the fansat the home games against Russia and the Netherlands in November had not been lost on the players. However, at the same time, he said the team was committed to turning things around and he was confident that Germany could do this in 2019, after head coachJoachim Löwbegan to change things in the last couple of international breaks of this year.
Germany coach Joachim Löw has some tough decisions ahead of him in 2019
Toni Söderholm takes charge of German national ice hockey team Weeks after Marco Sturm left to pursue an opportunity in the NHL, the German ice hockey team have a new coach. Finnish coach Toni Söderholm has signed a contract that will take him through the 2022 Winter Games. The German Ice Hockey Association (DEB) confirmed on Thursday what had been widely rumored for days;Toni Söderholm is the national teamʼs new head coach. "The decision was an easy one for us," DEB President Franz Reindl told a press conference in Munich. "He knows the system, he is predestined for international ice hockey. I am proud and am 100 percent certain that it will work out well with Toni." For his part, said he was "very happy" to have accepted the post. "The No. 1 job is to make the national team better and better. Söderholm, a former defenseman, is a relatively inexperienced coach, having only retired as a player in 2016 following a season at Red Bull Munich. Before turning professional, Söderholm spent four years playing US college hockey with the University of Massachusetts. As a pro he spent the bulk of his career at the club of his youth, Helsinki IFK, but also had spells in the top leagues in Sweden and Switzerland – where he learned to speak German.
A sporting great still admired Michael Schumacher turns 50:
Formula One icon Michael Schumacher celebrates his 50th birthday on Thursday. While a skiing accident five years ago has seen Schumacher retreat from the public eye, his impressive career is fondly remembered. From the moment Michael Schumacher won his first Grand Prix race in 1992, the sporting world got the sense that a racing great was about to emerge. But few could have predicted just how monumental andgame-changing his career would prove to be. At the age of just 23, Schumacherʼs first season in Formula One was the beginning of an incredible and record-shattering career. Across his 18 seasons competing at the highest level, Schumacher claimed an unrivaled seven world
championships and 91 race victories. The German was a true trailblazer in Formula One, bringing unprecedented levels of committment, competitiveness and physical conditioning to the track. While he has retreated away from the public eye after a tragic skiing accident in 2013, his legacy lives on. "He will always be the greatest of all time." Schumacherʼs standing in F1 is untouchable, with the German boasting millions of fans and admirers among drivers past and present.
Roger Federer wins match against fellow tennis legend Serena Williams
What a successful summer 2017 was for German football, as Joachim Löwʼs relatively young and inexperienced team won the Confederations Cup in Russia, a tournament that is held a year before every World Cup, something of a dress rehearsal for the organizers. "The lads did a great job," Löw said after Germany beat Chile 1-0 in the final in St. Petersburg. "Iʼm very proud of everyone. 6
Roger Federer has emerged victorious in his first-ever on-court encounter with legend Serena Williams. The two faced each other in a mixed-doubles match at the Hopman Cup in Australia. Defending champions Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic of Switzerland beat Americans Serena Williams and Frances Tiafoe 4-2, 4-3 (5-3) at Perthʼs RAC Arena on Tuesday in what had been the most highly anticipated match of this yearʼs Hopman Cup, an annual mixed-team tennis tournament. This was the first time that Federer and Williams, who are now both 37 and
have a total of 43 Grand Slam single titles between them, had ever faced each other on the court, and after the match the two legends paid tribute to each other. Williams said it was "super cool" that they did finally get to play against each other. "The guy is great, heʼs the greatest of all time. Both on and off the court he has such charisma," Williams said. For his part,Federer described Williamsa "great champion." "I was nervous returning. People talk about her serve so much and I see why it is such a wonderful serve because you just canʼt read it," he said.