DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Germanyʼs ʼfat yearsʼ of high tax revenue are over: Finance Minister Scholz Germanyʼs "fat years" ofhigher-thanexpected revenue from tax receiptsare over, Finance Minister Olaf Scholz warned on Sunday, signaling that Europeʼs top economy is set to loose momentum in the next few years. "The good times in which the state kept taking in more taxes than expected are coming to an end," Scholz told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper. That, he said, restricted the governmentʼs capacity for passing new tax cuts or increasing public investment. Germany was however expected to post another budget surplus in 2018, Scholz said, after it posted a €36.6 billion ($41.7 billion) surplus in 2017.
Afghanistan: Gold mine collapse leaves several dead At least 30 people were killed and seven injured on Sunday when a gold mine collapsed in northeastern Afghanistan, officials said. The victims were villagers who were mining for gold illegally, according to officials in Badakhshan province. The villagers had dug a 60-meter (200-foot) deep shaft in a river bed and were inside when a landslide caused it to cave in. About 50 miners were inside when the incident occurred during heavy snowfall. Two rescue teams have been deployed to the scene. Illegal mining is common in Afghanistan, a country rich in mineral deposits. The Taliban,a jihadist movement fighting to regain control of the countryfrom the Western-backed government, relies on illegal mining for much of its revenue. "Poor villagers during winters try to compensate their earnings by pursuing illegal mining," said Nek Mohammad Nazari, a spokesman for Provincial Governor Mohammad Rustam Raghi.
5/2019 • 7 JANUARY, 2019
Venezuela congress names new leader, calls Nicolas Maduro illegitimate Juan Guaido also said congress aimed to restore constitutional order
The new leader of Venezuelaʼs opposition-controlled National Assembly has called Nicolas Maduro a dictator whose legitimacy has run out. Venezuelaʼs opposition-controlled National Assembly opened a new legislative session on Saturday, swearing in a new leader who declared Nicolas Maduroʼs presidency illegitimate. Juan Guaido, 35, assumed the presidency of the National Assembly stripped of power by Maduro, who is set to be inaugurated to a second six-year term next Thursday followingcontroversial elections last May. "We reaffirm the illegitimacy of Nicolas Maduro," Guaido told lawmakers and foreign diplomats in attendance to show solidarity with the embattled legislative body. "As of January 10, he will be usurping the presidency and consequently this National Assembly is the only legitimate representative of the people." Guaido called the Socialist president a dictator who has plunged the oil-rich country into economic and social misery, adding that Venezuela was living through a "dark but transitional" period in its history. He told lawmakers that opposition politicians have been jailed, driven into exile or killed. The National Assembly was stripped of its powers in 2016 by the Supreme Court, which is dominated
by Maduro loyalists, and replaced by a separate regime-created Constituent Assembly. The May 20 elections called by the Constituent Assembly were boycotted by most of the main opposition groups and condemned by the international community. On Friday, a dozen Latin American countries and Canada declared they wouldnot recognize Maduroas president if he stays in office and called on him to hand power to the National Assembly. Maduro accused the so-called Lima group of encouraging a Washington-backed "coup dʼetat." In his speech, Guaido said the National Assembly would move to create a transitional body and prepare for free, democratic elections. He did not provide details of how this process would work, but called for the armed forces and civil society to play a role. The National Assembly would assume "the representation of the people and of Venezuela before the international community, to defend and protect the interests, rights and patrimony of the people and state, inside and outside of Venezuela, while the usurpation lasts," he said.
Malaysiaʼs King Muhammad V resigns Malaysiaʼs King Muhammad V stepped down from the throne on Sunday. "The National Palace informs that his majesty has resigned as the 15th king effective January 6," the National Palace said in a statement. No reason for his abdication was given. It is the fist time a ruling monarch has abdicated before the end of a five-year term since Malaysia gained its independence from Britain in 1957. Muhammad V was selected in October 2016 as Malaysiaʼs head of state. He is also the ruling sultan of Kelantan, one of Malaysiaʼs nine states. Muhammad V, Malaysiaʼs 15th king, had recently taken a leave of absence for medical reasons. Over the past weeks, rumors had surfaced in Russian and British media that he had married a former Russian beauty queen. The wedding reportedly took place in Moscow. The palace has not yet commented on the rumors.
Winter storm in German Alps triggers avalanche warnings Heavy snowfall in the southern German state of Bavaria has triggered the second-highest avalanche warning level, the Bavarian Avalanche Warning Service (BAWS) said on Sunday. Avalanche danger is assessed through a five-level European danger scale, from low (one) to very high (five). The BAWS graded the German alpine area with four, warning that many medium to large avalanches could occur spontaneously. "The main problem is the enormous weight of new snow on the unstable old snow cover," the BAWS said.
weather today BUDAPEST
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5/2019 • 7 January, 2019
European Court of Justice rules Polish arrest warrants can be halted The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled against extraditing suspects to Poland on Wednesday if there are "serious and fact-based grounds" to believe the suspect would not receive a fair trial. The ruling concernsa Polish man in Irelandwho claims recent justice reforms in Poland harmed his chances of being treated fairly. The man is suspected of drug trade. In recent years, Polandʼs ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party has been working to place courts under a tighter control of the executive branch. Among other steps, the parliament now has power to choose members of the National Council of the Judiciary whose job is to oversee judicial impartiality. More recently, the lawmakers changed retirement age for the Supreme Court judges, which critics believe was aimed at ousting the most experienced judges and stacking the body with government supporters. The Supreme Court and its chief Malgorzata Gersdorf are opposing the move.
Geely the car industryʼs rising ʼprofitability starʼ Ferdinand Dudenhöffer from the CAR Center Automotive Research at Germanyʼs Duisburg-Essen University called Chinese auto manufacturer Geely "the profitability star of the worldʼs car industry." A fresh study by the center points out that on average, a Geely car costs just €9,529 ($10,942), but the companysecures a 14.4 percent profit from revenues before tax and interest. Dudenhöffer says thatʼs a lot more than, say, the profit margins of foreign rivals BMW, Toyota or PSAOpel. The worldʼs largest carmaker, Wolfsburg-based Volkswagen, logs a profit margin of only 8.2 percent, the survey says. Geely is part of the Zhejiang Geely Holding,which also owns Volvo Cars, London EVTaxi and Lotus.The holding has also acquired a 10 percent stake in Daimler. According to the CAR researchers, Geelyʼs rapid rise is based on its successful compact car platform, which it developed together with Sweden-based Volvo. "What Ferdinand Piëch managed to implement at VW from 1993 with the help of his platform strategyis in a way being copied now by Geelyʼs main shareholder and founder, Li Shufu," said Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, adding that the Chinese were becoming major players in the global auto market. 2
Germanyʼs Horst Seehofer promises clarity after hack attack Chancellor Angela Merkelʼs coalition partner, the SPD, is demanding answers over the attack
Mexican journalist shot dead at restaurant Sergio Martinez Gonzalez, the editor of a local news outlet in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas, was shot dead Wednesday morning, the latest victim in Mexicoʼs wave of journalist murders. Martinez, who owned and ran the publication Enfoque, had just dropped off his daughters at school and was breakfasting with his wife at a local restaurant when two people on a motorcycle stopped in front of the couple and opened fire, local media reported. Martinezʼs wife survived the attack, and was receiving medical attention, Mexican newspaper El Uni‐ versal said. The Chiapas attorney generalʼs office announced on Twitter that it was investigating the murder.
The German interior minister says he will meet police and cyber defense chiefs to seek clarity on the massive data breach. German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer has pledged to provide clarity on a massive data breach that has shaken Germanyʼs political establishment. Seehofer told Süddeutsche Zeitung that he would meet the heads of the countryʼs criminal police office (BKA) and cyber defense agency (BSI) again on Monday to find out what they knew about the cyberattack and how they dealt with it. The interior minister said he would share everything he finds out with the public by the middle
Confusion over missing Saudi journalist in Turkey who ʼvanishedʼ from consulate Turkish and Saudi officials have given conflicting reports on the whereabouts of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who has been missing since he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Tuesday. Khashoggi, a regular contributor to The Washington Post, has been a fierce critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and has criticized Saudi Arabiaʼs policies toward Qatar and Canada,the war in Yemen and a
of the next week at the latest. "The public will know everything I know," Seehofer said. The security breach — one of Germanyʼs biggest cyberattacks —saw personal data and documents from Chancellor Angela Merkel and hundreds of other German politicians and public figures published online. The interior committee of the German parliamentʼs lower house, the Bundestag, will also meet for a special session on Thursday to discuss the breach. crackdown on dissent, the media and activists. Khashoggiʼs personal website bore a banner saying, "Jamal has been arrested at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul!" without elaborating. A Saudi official denied that Khashoggi had been detained inside the consulate. "Mr. Khashoggi visited the consulate to request paperwork related to his marital status and exited shortly thereafter," the official said. "He is neither in the consulate nor in Saudi custody."
Afghan leader rejects resignation of spy chief, top ministers President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday
urged Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak, Defense Minister Tareq Shah Bahrami, and intelligence chief Masoum Stanekzai to stay in their posts, the Afghan government said. The three officials submitted resignation letters on Saturday, citing policy differences and a spate of deadly attacks. "President Ghani did not approve their resignations... and gave them the necessary instructions to improve the security situation," a statement from the presidential palace said. The offers to step down followed the resignation of Ghaniʼs national security adviser and close ally, Hanif Atmar, on Friday. Atmar, one of the countryʼs most powerful politicians, has been replaced by former ambassador to the US Hamdullah Mohib.
5/2019 • 7 January, 2019
A timeline of Franceʼs ʼyellow vestʼ protests French President Emmanuel Macronʼs concessions to protesters have not been enough to end demonstrations replete with violence and vandalism. DW takes a look at the chronology of the protests shaking Franceʼs streets. Since his election in May 2016, French President Emmanuel Macronʼs popularity has fallen steadily thanks to unpopular financial policies, such as ending a wealth tax, and his public manner, which many see as aloof and arrogant. But it was his planned fuel-tax hike, an environmental measure, that really kicked things off. An online video saying Macron is "hounding drivers" goes viral in October. On-
Police identify source of deadly Novichok nerve agent in UK deaths British police announced Friday that they found a bottle containing the Novichok nerve agent in the home of one of the victims of a nerve agent poisoning in Wiltshire last month. "On Wednesday, 11 July, a small bottle was recovered during searches of Charlie Rowleyʼs house in Amesbury," police said in a statement. The statement said scientists from Porton Down defense laboratory confirmed the bottle contained the Novichok nerve agent, the same poison used against Sergei Skripal and his daughter earlier this year. "Further scientific tests will be carried out to try and establish whether it is from the same batch that contaminated Sergei and Yulia Skripal in March," the force said, adding that a link to the Skripals remained "a main line of enquiry for police." Dawn Sturgess died in a hospitalon Sunday after exposure to the nerve agent. Her partner, Rowley, isstill in critical condition, but has regained consciousness. The Foreign Office said on Friday it had invited independent technical experts from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons early next week "to independently confirm the identity of the nerve agent."
line outrage is soon transferred to Franceʼs streets as more than 290,000 demonstrators don the highvisibility vests that drivers are required by law to keep in their cars. They block roads nationwide. The protests, coordinated via social media, have no structural organization, lack visible leadership and disavow union or party ties. At least one person is killed and more than 150 are arrested.
A reality check for Indian PM Narendra Modi
Democracy is a humbling experience. While the outcome of five state elections is shocking for Indiaʼs ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), it is at the same time humbling for all political groups, including the countryʼs main opposition, the Congress party. The Congress party has definitely received a big boost in the recent state elections. Although it lost in Telangana and
Mizoram states to regional parties, the victory in three crucial states has somewhat revived Indiaʼs founding party, now headed by Rahul Gandhi. Since the BJPʼs comfortable victory in the 2014 parliamentary elections,Prime Minister Narendra Modihas presented himself as an "invincible leader" of the country. But the myth of invincibility is starting to wear off.
Opel reported to have manipulated diesel car exhaust emissions According to a media report, automaker Opel is being investigated for manipulating vehicle emissions on about 60,000 cars worldwide. It is the first time the company has been named since Dieselgate broke in 2015.
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5/2019 • 7 January, 2019
Germany attempts ʼfacesavingʼ resolution to Saudi drugs boycott The human rightsrow between Saudi Arabia and Canada made international headlinesin recent weeks, when the Riyadh government suddenly suspended new trade and investment to the Great White North. The punitive measures were in response to a simple tweet by Canadaʼs foreign minster, calling for the release of two jailed Saudi activists. Receiving less attention has been the diplomatic spat between Europeʼs No. 1 economy and the oil-rich kingdom — also sparked by a ministerʼs comments; this time Sigmar Gabriel, Germanyʼs thenforeign minister. During the political crisis in Lebanon last November that saw Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri resign and later rescind his decision, Riyadh was widely accused of forcing his departure, which Gabriel alluded to as "adventurism." ʼShamefulʼ remarks hurt tiesRiyadh immediately recalled its ambassador to Berlin, telling the German government the comments were "shameful." In May, it went further and froze all new business with Germany. Over the subsequent months, several German pharmaceutical and medical technology firms, including Siemens Healthineers, Bayer and Boerhringer Ingelheim, have been excluded from public healthcare tenders in the kingdom. A pharmaceutical industry source told DW, on condition of anonymity, that Saudi authorities had not given any written explanation about the exclusion, and that there was no clear path for Germany to resolve the issue. Efforts by German diplomats to mediate with Saudi authorities were delayed, initially, by the Holy Month of Ramadan, and the summer break, as Gulf countries stop work in July and August due to the extreme heat.
T-Mobile reports cybersecurity incident T-Mobile US and its unit Metro PCS told customers that cybersecurity staff found and shut down unauthorized access to certain information on August 20 and immediately reported the matter to authorities. The company added that no financial data, social security numbers or passwords were compromised during the attackon its networks, admitting, though, that other personal information like names, email IDs, phone numbers as well as account numbers or account types (postpaid or prepaid) may have been exposed. T-Mobile said that about 3 percent of its 77 million customers could have been affected (roughly 2 million people potentially affected). 4
Markets crumble on Apple revenue crunch A "flash crash" saw the yen smash through levels it had held for almost a decade. Appleʼs revenue cut was the trigger, but unease about global economic and political fundamentals remains the underlying cause. Appleʼs shock announcement on Wednesday evening that it was cutting its revenue forecast has hit US and European stock exchanges, with the companyʼs shares down 7.45 percent in after-hours trading in the United States,slashing $55 billion (€48.4 billion) off its value. The Apple news sparked a sell-off in the currency market, with the Japanese yen, usually seen as a safe haven in periods of market turmoil, up about 3.7 percent to 104.87 against the dollar. Business Markets crumble on Apple
No breakthrough in China-US trade talks Chinaʼs Ministry of Commerce said on Friday that it had held "constructive meetings" with US officialsafter talks resumed between the countries over their ongoing trade spat. Nonetheless, with no major breakthrough yet in sight, the resumption of talks did not prevent an additional $16 billion (€13.83 billion) of tariffs being levied by the US and China on each otherʼs goods, starting from Thursday. Read more: US-China trade spat: Clash of the titans, part 2 Talks took place on Wednesday and Thursday aimed at defusing the escalating conflict, which has now seen both countries slap $50 billion in tariffs on the otherʼs products, with more expected to follow. The Chinese news agency Xinhua reported that the officials on both sides have vowed to "keep in contact" in the future. High-tech will suffer, says ChinaMeanwhile, a prominent Chinese state planner said on Friday that US tariffs onhigh-tech Chinese technology would have an impact on the tech sectors in both countries.
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Kalashnikov unveils new electric car Kalashnikov,a company moreknown for its AK-47 machine gunsthan its electric vehicles, unveiled its new electric car on Thursday. The powder-blue prototype, dubbed the CV-1, was unveiled by the Russian arms maker at a defense expo outside of Moscow. Kalashnikov Concern told Russian media that the technology within its "electric supercar" will rival that of Elon Muskʼs Tesla. "This technology will allow us to stand in line with the worldʼs electric car manufacturers, like Tesla, and compete with them," a spokesperson told Sputnik. According to the company, the vehicle can travel 350 kilometers (217 miles) on a single charge. The carʼs retro look was inspired by a Soviet hatchback model developed in the 1970s, the "Izh-Kombi," Kalashnikov said in a statement on its website. The CV-1ʼs light blue color, large grill, retro door handles and boxy frame have received mixed reviews from Russians. On social media, some described the car as "cyberpunk" while others referred to it as the "Izh-Zombie."
Published by: Mega Media Kft. 1075 Budapest, Madách I. út 13-14. +36 1 398 0344 www.hotelujsag.hu
revenue crunch A "flash crash" saw the yen smash through levels it had held for almost a decade. Appleʼs revenue cut was the trigger, but unease about global economic and political fundamentals remains the underlying cause. Appleʼs shock announcement on Wednesday evening that it was cutting its revenue forecast has hit US and European stock exchanges, with the companyʼs shares down 7.45 percent in after-hours trading in the United States,slashing $55 billion (€48.4 billion) off its value.
Indiaʼs rupee dips after central bank chief resigns
The rupee took a hit after the shock resignation of central bank governor Urjit Patel. He has reportedly been battling against interference from Prime Minister Narendra Modiʼs government for months. Indiaʼs central bank chief Urjit Patelʼs shock resignation caused the rupee to shed value on Tuesday. Patel stepped down on Monday amid a huge spat between the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Prime Minister Narendra Modiʼs government over perceived interference in the bankʼs policy. He cited "personal reasons" for his decision but experts and Indian media reports have pointed instead to his apparent frustration with attempts from the government, led by Modiʼs Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), to assert influence over the central bank. The currency dropped more than one per cent to 72.19 to the dollar, while the benchmark Sensex in Mumbai slid 1.47 per cent almost immediately after the opening bell rang, before paring its losses later in the day. Central bank ʼunder attackʼ? Analysts say Patelʼs uncommon resignation is a sign the autonomy of the RBI is under threat.
5/2019 • 7 January, 2019
Fly me to the moon in art and culture But the moon has fascinated artists for millennia
The successful landing of a Chinese probe on the far side of the moon has reawakened interest in our planetʼs nearest celestial neighbor. Be it a super moon, blood moon or simple crescent: the moon has always been the skyʼs leading attraction. From the early days of antiquity through the Middle Ages and on to to today, there are countless testimonies to the mysterious celestial body. 20th century space exploration has only served to enhance the moonʼs mysterious
"I have never seen such a picture of misery," Carlo Levi once wrote about Matera. The Italian doctor, painter and writer brought questionable fame to the southern Italian town in his 1945 account of his life in the region, Christ Stopped at Eboli. Matera is east of Eboli. Levi, a supporter of the opposition, was incarcerated in the Basilikata region by the Mussolini regime. In his famous book, Levi describes the sparse landscape where shepherds, their families and animals live in caves without running water and electricity, with scant health care, far from the rest of the world. Matera, too, lies in this region. Leviʼs book made it to school reading lists, and Matera was pronounced "Italyʼs disgrace" — an image the city worked hard to get rid of. In 1993, it was named a UNESCO World heritage site and this year, Matera is one of the two European Culture Capitals. Carlo Levi never lived to see the cityʼs make-over. He died in 1975 and was buried in the town of Aliano in Matera province, according to his own wishes.
Sting to return to Budapest for summer 2019
power — and its essential place in romance. The moon continues to harbor a profound magical effect over both humans and animals. As always, artists have been at the forefront in documenting this relationship between man and moon — from cave paintings to artifacts, oil paintings to cinema.
Germanyʼs Green party: Ban dangerous chemicals on high seas German environmental organizations and politicians are calling for shipping containers on cargo vessels to be fitted with tracking devices, in response to an accident that caused a huge vessel tospill around 270 containers in the North Sea earlier this week. "The problem is locating the containers," said Olaf Lies, environment minister for the state of Lower Saxony, off whose coast the accident happened. Speaking with the local ffn radio station, he demanded an investigation. "We urgently need to do something," he
Matera, European Capital of Culture 2019
said. That sentiment was echoed by Manfred Santen, a Greenpeace expert for chemical pollutants, who told broadcaster NDR that it was "no problem technically" to install trackers. Lies also suggested that containers carrying hazardous materials should no longer be stored near the edges or tops of cargo vessels. The Panamanian-flagged MSC Zoe lost its 270 containers during a storm in the North Sea on Tuesday night, as it was travelling from Antwerp in Belgium to Bremerhaven on the German coast.
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
Renovated Museum of Fine Arts to Open on 31 October AFTER MORE THAN THREE YEARS OF RENOVATION, THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS BUDAPEST WILL OPEN ON 31 OCTOBER. NOW OPEN TO PUBLIC Thanks to the largest-scale and most comprehensive reconstruction project in the museum’s history, the museum building has been renewed, and, returning to the collection’s first concept, the museum’s permanent exhibitions will also be rearranged. Besides the new permanent exhibitions, the revamped museum will welcome visitors with a chamber exhibition titled Leonardo & the Budapest Horse and Rider. The museum reconstruction, implemented within the framework of the Liget Budapest Project, included the restoration of the Romanesque Hall, which sustained severe damage in World War II and since then had been only partially renovated and used as a storage area, along with the modernisation of the building’s obsolete heating system, the installation of air conditioning in some of the exhibition halls, the renewal of a large part of the roof structure, as well as the addition of new exhibition spaces, visitor areas and modern storage facilities.
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5/2019 • 7 January, 2019
Bayern Munichʼs Ribery fined for foul-mouthed online tirade
Bayern Munich has handed French footballer Franck Ribery a "heavy fine" for his profanity-laced response after he was criticized for eating a golden-coated steak, club sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic said on Sunday. "He used words we cannot accept as Bayern Munich and which Franck as a role model and Bayern player must never use," Salihamidzic said at the clubʼs training camp in Doha, Qatar. The Bayern sporting director did not reveal how much the fine was. "I had a long chat with Franck yesterday and told him he has received a hefty fine. He has accepted the punishment."
Federer powers past Thiem to keep title hopes alive
Roger Federer made short work of Dominic Thiem to recover from his opening match loss and keep his hopes of another title alive. Earlier, Kevin Anderson moved to the brink of the last four by hammering Kei Nishikori. Federer, who has won this event six times, looked uncharacterisically poor in his opening match loss to Kei Nishikori, but - after skipping practice on Monday - outclassed Dominic Thiem from the off on Tuesday night to win 6-2, 6-3. "It feels good, I’m very happy that I showed a reaction," Federer told Sky after the win. "I’m not used to losing and then coming back to play, it was a good test." The Austrian is a notoriously slow starter and lived down to his reputation by losing his second service game, netting a series of straightforward strokes. 6
Aleksandar Kolarovʼs free kick stunner secures Serbia win over Costa Rica
Robert Lewandowski still the talisman as Bayern paper over cracks
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. Kaylor Navas, who kept his team in the game with several crucial saves either side of half time, was nowhere near it.
Champions League:
Basic errors, bad defending and a brace from Robert Lewandowski, so far, so familiar. The cracks in Bayern Munich were evident in a wild 3-3 draw that ensures top spot but itʼs clear the Pole still carries their hopes. The3-3 draw in Amsterdamthat keeps Bayern top of group E was not short of a talking point. Thomas Müller planting his studs in Nicolas Tagliaficoʼs head, Jerome Boateng lunging in unneccesarily to concede a penalty again, Andre Onanaʼs wonder save, Kingsley Comanʼs brilliant comeback strike, or any of the four goals scored after the 81st minute. A fair way down that list comes another Robert Lewandowski brace, his sixth of a campaign where he has scored more goals in all competitions than any other player in Europeʼs big five
leagues (21) and more goals than anyone in the Champions League (8). That scoring a double away from home feels so routine is testament to the levels of consistency and efficiency the Polish striker displays. In an open first 13 minutes, heʼd barely touched the ball. Then, all of a sudden, the former Borussia Dortmund man spotted a defender deeper than his teammates, curved his run, controlled a perceptiveSerge Gnabrypass and hammered home with minimal fuss. Those two touches were just his third and fourth of the game.
Michael Schumacher turns 50: A sporting great still admired 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.