title

DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Armenian PM seeks to bolster authority in early parliamentary election Armenians are voting in an early parliamentary election on Sunday after acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashiniandissolved parliament in October to shore up his authority.

Pashinian, a former journalist, is hoping the My Step Alliance, which includes his Civil Contract Party, will achieve a parliamentary majority ahead of the former ruling Republican Party. Polls show that the alliance is on course to easily win a majority.

The star of the countryʼs protest movement on Sunday praised the vote as "really free, transparent and democratic," reported state media. "Our main goal was to achieve democracy, which we succeeded in," Pashinyan told reporters, according to the Armenpress state news agency.

Brazilʼs Odebrecht cuts deal with Peru to name bribed officials eruvian authorities have reached a deal with Brazilian construction giant Odebrechtʼs Peruvian unit that will allow the scandal-tainted firm to operate in Peru in exchange for fines and divulging information about officials it bribed, local media and Reuters reported on Saturday.

Odebrecht has been at the center of a major graft scandal after it admitted to US, Brazilian and Swiss prosecutors in 2016 to paying nearly $800 million (around €700 million) in bribes to politicians in a dozen Latin American countries, including Peru. Peruvian anti-graft prosecutors are currently investigating former presidents Alejandro Toledo (2001-2006), Alan García (1985-1990, 2006-2011), Ollanta Humala (2011-2016) andPedro Pablo Kuczynski(2016-2018), in addition to the former presidential candidate and opposition leaderKeiko Fujimori, who is in prison.

279/2018 • 10 DECEMBER, 2018

More than 1,200 in custody after ʼYellow Vestʼ riots France:

Paris and other French cities are cleaning up after some 125,000 people took to the streets in sometimes violent protests. Unrest sparked by proposed fuel tax hikes has morphed into a general antigovernment revolt.

French authorities said on Sunday they had arrested more than 1,700 people amidnationwide "yellow vest" anti-government proteststhe day before that caused widespread damage, particularly in the capital, Paris. The Interior Ministry said a total of 1,220 of those arrested had been retained in custody. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said 135 people were injured in the Paris protests, after demonstrators clashed with teargas-wielding police. He estimated the number of protesters at 10,000 in Paris and 125,000 across the country.

Local media put the number of injured higher, at 264, including 39 security personnel. Some 89,000 police were deployed. In Paris, cars were set on fire and store windows smashed, causing damage that city authorities said was much greater than that during similar protests on December 1.

The protests will have a severe impact on the French economy, the countryʼs finance minister said on Sunday. "We must expect a new slowdown of economic growth at yearend due to the "yellow vest" protests," said Bruno Le Maire. Clean-up oper-

ations on Sunday were complicated by fierce winds and rain that hit the capital overnight. Two major landmarks, the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre museum, reopened after being shuttered the day beforeamid the protests. News France: More than 1,200 in custody after ʼYellow Vestʼ riots Paris and other French cities are cleaning up after some 125,000 people took to the streets in sometimes violent protests. Unrest sparked by proposed fuel tax hikes has morphed into a general anti-government revolt. French authorities said on Sunday they had arrested more than 1,700 people amidnationwide "yellow vest" anti-government proteststhe day before that caused widespread damage, particularly in the capital, Paris. The Interior Ministry said a total of 1,220 of those arrested had been retained in custody.

Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said 135 people were injured in the Paris protests, after demonstrators clashed with tear-gas-wielding police. He estimated the number of protesters at 10,000 in Paris and 125,000 across the country.

Belgian PM reshuffles cabinet after right-wing party quits over UN migration pact Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel has vowed to continue his administration as a minority government after the largest party in his coalition quit over his intentionto sign the United Nationsʼ controversial migration pact. The leader of the Flemish-speaking N-VA party, Bart De Wever, announced his partyʼs withdrawal late on Saturday after Michel, a French-speaking liberal, said: "I stand by my word, I will leave for Marrakesh." World leaders are to meet in the Moroccan city next week to sign the UN migration pact, which has elicited a strong backlash from rightwing partiesin many countries. Conservative governments in Australia, Austria, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic have withdrawn their support for the deal, which sets out non-binding measures for regulating global migration.

White House chief of staff John Kelly to quit Trump administration US President Donald Trump on Saturday confirmed his chief of staff, John Kelly, is to leave his post at the end of the year. "John Kelly will be leaving — I donʼt know if I can say ʼretiring,ʼ" he said, before adding: "I appreciate his service very much." Nick Ayers, Vice President Mike Penceʼs chief of staff, is Trumpʼs top choice to replace Kelly, and the two have held discussions for months about the job, a White House official said. An announcement is expected in the coming days.

weather today BUDAPEST

0 / 5 °C Precipitation: 0 mm

279/2018 • 10 December, 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.

2

Frans Timmermans elected European socialistsʼ lead candidate for 2019 vote He was the only candidate on the ballot

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.

The European Commission vice president and former Dutch foreign minister Frans Timmermans will lead the Party of European Socialists (PES) in the 2019 European elections.

European socialist parties have approved Frans Timmermans of the Netherlands to lead them in May elections and to succeed Jean-Claude Juncker as head of the European Commission. Juncker is due to step down in mid-2019. Timmermans, who currently serves as Junckerʼs deputy, won the election at the 11th congress for Europeʼs alliance of socialist parties in Lisbon on Saturday after his only rival, Slovakiaʼs Maros Sefcoviv, dropped her candidacy in

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-

November. The 57-year-old has been at the forefront of the EUʼs standoff with Polandʼs right-wing governmentover its attempts to undermine the rule of law. "I am aware of the burden on my shoulders," Timmermans said in a speech to delegates in Lisbon. "But how can I fail with a family like this behind me." Socialist parties have suffered major electoral defeats across the continent in recent years amid a surge in support for antiestablishment and nationalist parties. 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.

279/2018 • 10 December, 2018

Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer says Merkel is safe, for now In an exclusive interview with DW, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, the new leader of Germanyʼs Christian Democrats (CDU), has said that she wants Angela Merkel to see out her remaining three years as chancellor.

The new head of Germanyʼs Christian Democrats (CDU), Annegret KrampKarrenbauer, spoke to DW shortly after the conclusion of the partyʼs conference. DW asked her if she still thinks that Merkel will remain in office for the remaining three years of her term. On becoming chancellor: Kramp-Karrenbauer said: "We have a federal government that has been elected for this legislative period. Angela Merkel has said sheʼs available to see out the legislative period. And the party conference yesterday showed very clearly that thatʼs what members wish — and it is also my personal wish. "And I also see it as

my task as the leader of the ruling party to ensure that this government has the stability it needs to fulfill its electoral mandate." AfD: Next year, several key state elections will take place in eastern Germany. The nationalist Alternative for Germany (AfD) has been particularly successful in the east. DW asked, "How are you hoping to win back these voters?" "With our own strength," KrampKarrenbauer replied. "First, weʼre not going to follow what the other parties are doing, even if these state election campaigns are admittedly not going to be easy. Instead we want to build our power there as the CDU.

Nissan seeks to Brazilʼs Amazon deforestation block disgraced documented via massive satellite chairman from Rio imaging apartment The Nissan Motor Company said on Sunday it was looking to block its formerchairman Carlos Ghosnfrom entering a company-owned apartment in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro. The Japanese automaker said it fears the fired executive — who is being detained in Tokyo — may remove or destroy evidence.

"Nissan […] is working to prevent the destruction of any potential evidence that could occur by allowing access to residences in question," a Nissan spokesman said in a statement to the Reuters news agency. A lower court had granted Ghosn access to the property in Rioʼs Copacabana neighborhood.

Nissan is now petitioning a superior court. Brazilian-born Ghosn has been held without charge in the Japanese capital since his November 19 arreston suspicion of violating financial regulations.

His maximum detention period of 23 days ends on Monday, when prosecutors must charge him, release him, or arrest him over additional allegations.

Driving from south to north in Brazil one can observe how the landscape is changing. Where the Amazon rainforest increasingly begins to shape the landscape is also where destruction begins. The landscape alternates between dense canopies and bare, stony soil.

What the loggers leave behind is well

documented. One day later, it appears on the screens of the National Brazilian Institute for Spatial Research (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, INPE), 2,000 kilometers further south, in Sao Jose dos Campos in the state of Sao Paulo. A whole team is in charge of documenting the deforestation.

ʼRome Says Enough!ʼ: Thousands protest cityʼs decline Romans are counting on their mayor to resign as the city falls into a steep decline in both safety and public services. Besides its crumbling infrastructure, the city is also reeling from the brutal murder of a teenager. Some 8,000 Romans took to the streets of the Italian capital on Saturday to protest the "decline" of their city under Mayor Virginia Raggi. They were also protesting a rise in crime highlighted by the recent rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl.

3

279/2018 • 10 December, 2018

Leaky Brexit mug: Unusable and a ʼnightmare to makeʼ A potter in northern England is struggling to cope with orders for a leaky Brexit mug he made as a joke. Despite several hundred inquiries, the flawed beakers will be a strictly limited edition souvenir.

A British potter who made a satirical Brexit mug with holes in the side has turned down a potentially lucrative business opportunity to produce thousands more of the beakers. The novelty mug, which went viral on social media, has the word BREXIT cut through one side, which stops it being able to hold liquid. Lee Cartledge of Bentham Pottery, based near the UKʼs Lake District national park, told DW he was taken aback at the response to an image of the half-finished mug posted to his companyʼs Facebook page last week. "I had no idea it would take off," he said after the beaker was shared thousands of times on social media in the same week as Britain and the European Union announced a deal on the countryʼs withdrawal from the bloc. Priced at 80 pounds each (€90, $102), the mugs sold out in three hours. Even so, Cartledge has no intention of turning the novelty mug into a business. Despite receiving "hundreds and hundreds" of inquiries from people who want to buy it, he decided to make it a limited edition souvenir. "Theyʼre a nightmare to make, but Iʼll do a hundred and donate the proceeds to charity," he said. Ten percent of the revenue from the mugs will go to the UKʼs Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA).

Can Poland end its toxic relationship with coal?

Polandʼs love affair with coal goes way back. For decades coal was the favorite for energy: mined locally, and cheap. In those days, the environment was pretty low on the agenda. But things are slowly changing. When the Iron Curtain fell in 1989, coal made up almost 100 percent of Polandʼs energy mix. Last year, the country turned to other sources for 20 percent of its power, and its wind power operators boast that Poland has more installed turbines than Denmark. The official plan is to reduce the share of coal in Polandʼs energy mix to 50 percent by 2050. For a country that has long relied on coal as the backbone of its economy, that entails a dranatic transformation. Yet, with coal reserves in existing mines running low and most power plants due to retire well before mid-century, environmentalists argue the target is actually a renewed vow of commitment to a relationship already turned sour.

4

As coal mines shutter, Polish miners seek a way to adjust Poland has pledged to keep burning coal, flying in the face of climate change science. Activists say the country needs to phase out coal for the climate and the economy, while protecting minersʼ livelihoods.

In a large kitchen with soup ladles hanging from hooks on the yellowtiled walls, caterer Joanna Wegrzynowicz stuffs cuts of beef with pickle, mustard and bacon, rolls them up and ties them with string. Theyʼre on todayʼs menu at her canteen on the edge of the southern Polish town of Zabrze, in the heart of the countryʼs coal-mining area, Silesia. Sheʼll serve the beef roulade with Silesian dumplings and red cabbage. But there wonʼt be many customers to enjoy the regional specialty. Business has been slow since the Makoszowy coalmine

Deutsche Bahn delays on-time arrival goal amid lack of investment Germans are generally known for valuing punctuality.

Germanyʼs trains, however, are earning a reputation of their own for often being late, old and overloaded, according to an investigation by public broadcaster ARD. Only 20 percent of the countryʼs high-speed intercity express (ICE) trains are fully functional, according to Deutsche Bahn documents viewed by theARDʼs Kontraste TV show. But maintenance is not the only headache ailing the state-owned train company.

On Thursday and Friday, Deutsche Bahnʼs supervisory board is meeting to discuss this and other problems, including delays, a dearth of drivers and an overall lack of infrastructure investment. Delays, bad maintenance and lack of workers The documents seen by Kontraste show that Germanyʼs train company had planned to reach an 82 percent punctuality rate for all trains by 2018, but that the goal has been pushed back to 2025.

Thermal Hotel Visegrád****superior 2025 Visegrád Lepence-völgy, hrsz.: 1213 Phone: +36 26 801 900 Fax: +36 26 801 918 info@thv.hu www.thv.hu

Amazon workersʼ union calls strike Workers at Amazon warehouses in Hesse and North RhineWestphalia have vowed to walk off the job on Friday, hoping to disrupt one of the busiest days of the year for the company. German trade union Verdi called for its workers at Amazon warehouses in Bad Hersfeld and Rheinberg to strike at the beginning of the night shift on Thursday and continue the work stoppage until the end of Friday. Friday is a major sale day for retailers, particularly Amazon, with shoppers looking for deals on the American-inspired shopping day known as Black Friday. Union Secretary Mechthild Middeke said the "end of the year rush is the most stressful time for employees," demanding long hours of overtime. "Employees are particularly important on a day like Black Friday. The commitment of the employees must be better rewarded by a higher salary and by a collectively agreed Christmas bonus," she said.

Published by: Mega Media Kft. 1075 Budapest, Madách I. út 13-14. +36 1 398 0344 www.hotelujsag.hu

across the road shuttered in December 2016. "There was lot of business from the mine, because the miners used to have their lunch here," said Wegrzynowicz. "Really [it was] the social life of the mining community.

But when the mine closed, that disappeared." Itʼs just one of many local businesses hit by the closure of the state-owned mine that employed around 3,000 workers. A number of shops have closed too, and the local health center might soon have to call it a day as miners have taken jobs further afield.

Hotel prices rise in Berlin for New Yearʼs Eve

Whoever wants to celebrate the turn of the year in the German capital has to pay an average of 68 percent more than usual for an overnight stay in a hotel room. This is the most expensive in Germany.

According to a study by the comparison portal Check24, a hotel room in Berlin costs an average of 175 euros on New Yearʼs Eve, which is 68 percent more than the average. Prices in other European cities are also rising at the turn of the year. In 19 of the 21 cities surveyed, hotel rooms cost more than the usual December average. The price increase amounts to 34 percent. Prague is in the lead with an average price of 292 euros for a hotel room. This is more than twice as much as the average price level in December (141 euros) and 107 percent more than the average. On New Yearʼs Eve, visitors spend the cheapest nights in the Main metropolis Frankfurt (95 euros per night) and in the Polish capital Warsaw (101 euros per night). Prices in Stockholm and Stuttgart, on the other hand, remain constant in comparison to the December average.

279/2018 • 10 December, 2018

Why St. Nicholas puts candy in boots and stole our hearts Were your boots ready for St. Nicholas Day on December 6?

Lyon celebrates with light art With its "Fête de Lumières" festival, the French city is internationally regarded as a trendsetter in light art.

Four million spectators a year donʼt want to miss this four-day spectacle in December 6 to 9. Legend has it that in 1852 the end of a serious plague epidemic in Lyon was celebrated with a feast in honour of the Virgin Mary.

Storms and floods prevented the celebrations planned for 8 September.

These were made up on 8 December — illuminated by candlelight in all windows of the city. Since then every year is celebrated with lanterns and candles. As early as 1989, Lyon became the first European city to offer a big stage with a festival of light art.

From the 6th to the 9th of December, the city will again offer numerous events. International artists show their installations on the theme of light, and the most important buildings in Lyon are illuminated in bright colours. The spectacular large-scale projections with coloured light and images have also influenced other cities and events, such as the Luminale in Frankfurt.

Visit Budapest’s most charming Basilica Advent Fair We explores why the saint means so much to both secular and religious people all over the world.

Each year, something peculiar happens on the eve of December 5: Children across Germany each leave a single boot outside their doorsteps, which is then magically filled overnight with chocolate and sweets.

Other cultures in Europe and beyond have also taken to celebrating similar traditions either on the same date or stretched out throughout the holiday season. The tradition of hanging stockings up on Christmas Eve is one of the parallels that might come

to mind. December 6 is the day that celebrates St. Nicholas — Santa Clausʼs predecessor, if you like.

Long, flowing beards and red overcoats are but two commonalities they share. But unlike the American invention of Santa Claus, which can at least partly be traced back to clever marketing by Coca-Cola from the early 1930s, St. Nicholas carries the weight of almost two millennia on his shoulders — in addition to various gifts and pick-me-ups.

Belgiumʼs revamped Africa Museum faces a dark colonial legacy Just a few hundred meters from where 267 Congolese villagers were kept behind fences bearing do not feed signs, Brusselsʼ Africa Museum is trying to make peace with that history. On sunny days, the names of seven of those villagers who died of pneumonia while on display in a human zoo in 1897 will be projected through a glass window onto a wall bearing the names of 1,500 Belgians who also died during

the colonial period. "It puts a shadow over the colonization, over the violence," explained Koekie Claessens, one of the museumʼs project managers, gesturing at the wall. "So you canʼt say that we donʼt remember them," museum director Guido Gryseels pointed out, adding that a plaque to "remind everybody of the tragedy" has just been dedicated in the park where the zoo stood.

Weather

Tue

1/3

Wed

Thu

0/4

-1 / 2

Hungary Budapest: Debrecen: Eger: Hévíz:

8/5 9/3 7/5 8/3

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

15/11 5/9 7/11 6/11 11/14 10/15

Kecskemét: Keszthely: Siófok:

6/3 7/4 7/5

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

2/6 11/14 8/10 8/15 3/8 9/8

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

The Advent Fair by St Stephen’s Basilica is one of the most atmospheric in Budapest.

Centrepieced by a towering Christmas tree and a free ice-rink for kids, stalls offer delicious dishes and all things jolly, while special light shows projected onto the façade of the Basilica make every night special. See below for tips on what to eat, drink and buy – and find out what film star Antonio Banderas was up to here last year! Right in the city centre, this Christmas fair has been improving year upon year, offering an enchanted experience for all ages.

The main attraction is a recent one, illuminated visuals projected onto the façade of the historic Basilica.

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.

5

279/2018 • 10 December, 2018 Jack Grealishʼs goal against Birmingham City was his second of the season

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith claims his side were well short of their best after watching them come from behind to beat Birmingham City in one of the great Second City derby games. After trailing to Lukas Jutkiewiczʼs volley, Smithʼs side turned it round with two goals in two minutes before the break from Jonathan Kodjia and Jack Grealish, followed by a Tammy Abraham penalty just after the restart. Kristian Pedersen jangled the nerves by pulling one back, before Alan Hutton settled the outcome with his stunning late run and neatly placed left-foot finish. "It was a great result but not so good a performance," boyhood Villa fan Smith told BBC Sport as he reflected on a win in his first derby. "Itʼs a game I wasnʼt enjoying because, for 30 minutes, we didnʼt play very well. But I got the chance to savour the atmosphere in the end. "It was a fantastic crowd and we got to sent a lot of people home happy.

And itʼll make a lot of my family and friends happy too."

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.

Kaylor Navas, who kept his team in the game with several crucial saves either side of half time, was nowhere near it.

Boston Celtics make franchise history with 133-77 victory over Chicago Bulls Victory also meant the Celtics stretched their winning streak to five games

The Celtics cruised to their second consecutive one-sided victory after beating New York 128-100 two days ago.

The Chicago Bulls suffered their worst ever defeat with a 133-77 loss to the Boston Celtics. Guard Jaylen Brown came off the bench to score 23 points in what was the Celticsʼ biggest margin of victory in franchise history. Celtics forward Daniel Theis made his first start of the season and delivered a career-high 22 points and 10 rebounds. "I was real excited [to

start]," said German Theis, 26.

"Iʼm just trying to help the team however I can. Itʼs been a while since Iʼve played that long, but I feel great." The Bullsʼ 56-point margin of defeat surpassed that of the 53 they fell to at Minnesota in November 2001, and victory for the Celtics eclipsed their 51-point win over the Philadelphia Warriors in 1962.

Lionel Messi opened the scoring against Espanyol with a close-range free-kick

Lionel Messi scored two direct freekicks in a single La Liga game for the first time as Barcelona beat Espanyol to move three points clear at the top.

Messi first found the top corner from the edge of the penalty area to put the visitors ahead. Ousmane Dembele doubled Barcaʼs lead with a curling finish before Luis Suarez made it 3-0 from a tight angle. Another sensational Messi set-piece - this time from further out - completed the victory.

Sevilla had missed the chance to leapfrog Ernesto Valverdeʼs side earlier on Saturday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Valencia.

6

International Olympic Committee says further study needed over Olympic bid It is too early to discuss including esports as a medal event at future Olympic Games, says the International Olympic Committee.

The IOC said "competitive gaming entails physical activity which can be compared to that required in more traditional sports". However, it said further study is needed before using the word "sport" to describe esports and egames. IOC officials met in Lausanne to debate the "future of the Olympic movement". In April, organ-

isers of the 2024 Paris Olympics said they were "deep in talks" about including esports as a demonstration sport at the Games. In September, IOC president Thomas Bach said "some egames are not compatible with the Olympic values". Esports will be a medal event at the 2022 Asian Games - a traditional sporting event - while the Premier League, Uefa and Formula 1 are among the sporting organisations who have launched their own esports leagues.