title

DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH

EU targets tech giants with new copyright deal for digital age Negotiators from the EU member states, the European Parliament and European Commission reached a tentative breakthrough deal on Wednesday night after a two­year debate on how toprotect the blocʼs cultural heritage, and reward publishers, broadcasters, writers and artists fairly. Commissioner for the Digital Single Market, Andrus Ansip said: "Europeans will finally have modern copyright rules fit for the digital age with real benefits for everyone: guaranteed rights for users, fair remuneration for creators, clarity of rules for platforms." The rules will oblige online companies such as Alphabet Incʼs Google and Facebook Inc to pay publishers for displaying news snippets and share revenue with the creative industries and remove copyright­protected content on YouTube or Instagram. They will have to sign licensing agreements with rights hold­ ers such as musicians, performers, authors, news publishers and journalists to use their work online. They will have to install filters to prevent users uploading copyrighted material.

Germany avoids recession with flat final 2018 quarter The Federal Statistics Office (Destatis) reported on Thursday that gross domestic product (GDP) in the final quarter of 2018 was zero percent compared to the third quarter, and 0.6 percent compared to thesame quarter in 2017. A decline in the third quarter of 2018had raised fears of a technical recession, defined as two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth. Europeʼs largest economy enjoyed a "first half year with plenty of momentum", adding 0.4 percent in the first quarter and 0.5 percent in the second, federal statistics authority Destatis said, adding: "A small trough in the second half of the year" brought shrinkage of 0.2 percent between July and September and no change in the final three months. Read more: Germanyʼs ʼeconomic sagesʼ lower growth forecast

39/2019 • 15 FEBRUARY, 2019

Could Russia and Belarus trade oil for national sovereignty? Aleksander Lukashenko is in Sochi for three days of talks with Vladimir Putin

Poland, US hold controversial Middle East conference in Warsaw US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo struck a chordin Poland this week when he said that the US had steered clear of the region for too long, leaving Russia to fill that "void." Warsaw sees Washington as a guarantor of security in the region. The Polish government is proud to have purchased 20 US­made HIMARS rocket launchers – a deal that was struck just before the start of the conference. As the contract was signed – in the presence of Polish and US soldiers ­ US Vice President assured Warsaw it would "stand behind Poland…" A Middle East conference – without Iran US support for Poland is also the reason why Warsaw is organizing the Middle East conference – inspired by the US.

Airbus scraps production of A380 superjumbo The meetings come amidst persistent rumors that Belarus could become part of a single state controlled by Russia — and even ruled by Putin. Itʼs Belarusian President Aleksander Lukashenkoʼs third meeting with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in less than two months. And according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, their talks wonʼt just last one day but will continue "tomorrow and even the day after." However, behind the empty diplomatic statements from both sides about "questions on Belorusian­Russian cooperation" things could be tense. There is likely to be economic wrangling going on behind closed doors — and it could have implications for the future of the Belarusian state. At the meeting Wednesday, Putin called energy policy "one of the most important areas" up for discussion. In July, the Russian Duma passed a law allowing a "tax maneuver" in the oil and gas industry. The Russian Finance Ministry has complained the country is losing a significant amount of money every year by providing Belarus with oil on preferential terms. The new regulations slowly get rid of tariffs but raise other taxes for the country.

y Belarus is unhappy with the new regulations, which officials say will leave a gap of 3.8 percent inthe countryʼs GDPin the coming years. Minsk insists it wants gas at Russian market prices, not European prices. Relations betweenBelarus and Russiahave always been close. They are important trade partners and are both members of the Eurasian Economic Union. Belarus has also been part of the "Union State of Russia and Belarus" since 1999 — the details of which have remained vague. Now Moscow has made it clear it is willing to exchange preferential economic treatment for a re-examination of the Union Treaty. In December, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev issued what some media outlets called an "ultimatum" — he said Russia would be happy to continue "building" a Union with Belarus, which could even include a common court and currency. He mentioned an"imbalance" in tradebetween the two countries in the same breath.

European aircraft manufacturer Airbus on Thursday announced it will end production of the A380 doubledecker passenger jet by 2021. The Franco­German company had hoped the superjumbo would challenge Boeingʼs 747 and revolutionize air travel in the 21st century. What the company said: Key client Emirates had informed Airbus it was cutting orders from 162 to 123 aircraft;That left the company with no substantial A380 backlog and no basis to sustain production.Shutdown costs are estimated at €463 million ($521 million) with a billion euros of European government loans forgivenIt will still produce 17 A380s including 14 for Emirates and 3 for Japanese airline ANA

weather today BUDAPEST

0 / 10 °C Precipitation: 0 mm

39/2019 • 15 February, 2019

German teachers fined for treating wasp sting with heated fork Two teachers at a school in the western German state of Hesse were fined for causing bodily harm with their questionable home remedy for a studentʼs wasp sting. The incident occurred during a school trip to a youth hostel in the neighboring state of RhinelandPalatinate in May 2017, when a 14-year­old student was stung by a wasp. In response, a 39-year-old male teacher heated the handle of a fork with a lighter and pressed it on the boyʼs hand where heʼd been stung. After a blister formed, another 40-year­old female teacher cut it open and treated the wound with cream. The studentʼs lawyer said that as a result of the sting, the boy had to wear a protective glove for a considerable period of time. The German daily Bild news­ paper reported that the boyʼs hand became infected and that he wasnʼt able to attend an internship as a result. A district court in Cochem fined the male teacher €2,700 ($3,160) for causing bodily harm. The female teacher was also fined €2,500 ($2,900) for both assisting and causing bodily harm to the student.

Dutch shipbuilder in dock over North Koreanʼs Polish slave claims The first case in the Netherlands of worker exploitation involving a Dutch company for alleged crimes committed outside the country could be nearing an end in the coming weeks, lawyers said, and if successful may open the door to more such cases. Barbara van Straaten, the lawyer representing a North Korean worker, said Dutch law criminalizes the act of profiting from exploitation. The name of the Dutch shipping company sued by the worker couldnʼt be disclosed for safety reasons, she added. Under the countryʼs anti-trafficking law, offenders can be jailed for up to 18 years and face fines of €83,000 ($95,000). The plaintiff claims he was sent to Poland by the Pyongyang regime and forced to work12­hour days for low wages in awful conditions. The lawyer did not say when this happened. Van Straatenʼs Amsterdam­based law firm, Prakken dʼOliveira, said the North Korean worked for the Polish company Crist. Crist received financial assistance from the European Regional Development Fund, a loan of €37 million in 2009.

2

Voting under the threat of Boko Haram 2019 NIGERIA ELECTIONS

Voters in northeastern Nigeria are eager to cast their ballots in Saturday’s crucial election. But the security challenges caused by Boko Haram are immense as DWʼs Thomas Mösch reports from Maiduguri. Traffic is dense in Maiduguri, the capital Nigeriaʼs remote Borno State. Only a few days before presidential and regional elections, the streets are lined with election posters of all sizes. They almost exclusively show the candidates of President Muhammadu Buhariʼs APC party, which governs both northeastern state as well as at the federal level. Campaign posters

Syria blames Israel for ʼattack on Damascus airportʼ Israel launched missiles at a target near the Syrian capital of Damascus, the state­run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on Sunday. "Our air defenses responded to an Israeli missile attack on Damascus international airport and shot down a number of hostile missiles," said a military source cited by Syriaʼs SANA news agency. The UK­based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), an independent war monitor that relies on a network of on-the-ground sources, said the missiles had targeted an arms depot near the airport,likely used by Iranian forces or the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. History of attacks An Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokeswoman said Is-

p g p from other political parties are few and far between. Nevertheless, a convoy from the Green Party of Nigeria, which has made agriculture its main policy, stalls the flow of traffic on this day. Maiduguri has grown steadily in recent years – a large percentage of the more than two million Nigerians fleeing Boko Haram attacks have sought refuge here.

( ) p rael does not comment on reports by foreign media. However,it would not be the first time Israel has targeted assets on Syrian soil. Earlier this month, an Israeli official said the IDF has hit more than 200 Iranian and Hezbollah targets in Syria.

World Bank offers financial assistance to disaster-hit Indonesia The World Bank announced Sunday it would provide up to $1 billion (€860 million) in loans to the Indonesian government to help relief and reconstruction efforts in areas hit by recent earthquakes and a tsunami.

Germany ready to ʼhelp Iraq back on its feetʼ German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Iraq on Saturday to discuss her countryʼs intention to develop its military assistance program in the country. Von der Leyen said that followingthe "Islamic State" militant groupʼs military defeat in Iraq, it is time to move forward with other endeavors, includingstabilization and reconstruction. "Now it is important to shape and protect the reconstruction of the country under a new mandate," said von der Leyen. "Germany is ready to continue helping Iraq get back on its feet. That is why I am here." ʼOther forms of engagementʼ In February, von der Leyen saidthe role of the Bundeswehr — Germanyʼs armed forces — needed to evolveto meet the "needs of Iraq." At the time, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al­Abadi said Baghdad wanted a "commitment from Germany" for "other forms of engagement," including training and logistics. Since 2014, Germany has provided Iraq withmore than €1 billion ($1.16 billion) in humanitarian and development aid, making the Middle Eastern country one of the largest recipients of German foreign assistance.

Kristalina Georgieva, the bankʼs CEO, unveiled the funds in Bali during its annual meeting. "Disasters will continue to hit, and with climate change there will be more," said Georgieva, who earlier visited Palu City, which was hit by a 7.5-magnitude quake and a resulting tsunami last month. "The best memorial we can build for the victims of disaster is to build better, so next time when a disaster hits, fewer people are affected, fewer lives are lost, and there is less damage," she added. Indonesia sits on one of the most tectonically active parts of the world, and is prone to earthquakes as well as occasional tsunamis and volcanic eruptions. On Saturday, torrential rains triggered flash floods and landslides on the island of Sumatra, killing 27 people, including a dozen school children.

39/2019 • 15 February, 2019

German jump in anti­Semitic crimes ʼworrying, but no surpriseʼ

The number of anti­Semitic incidents has increased by 10 percent over the previous year. Jewish leaders said the numbers merely reinforced what people had already seen in their daily lives.

The number ofanti-Semitic crimesincreased significantly in 2018 over the previous year, according to government statistics released on Wednesday. There were 1,646 incidents recorded nationwide, compared to 1,504 in 2017. Some 43 people were injured, though none fatally, in 62 acts of violence. At least 282 were instances of hate propaganda. With 37

Jewish Museum Berlin bans Iranian state broadcaster IRIB

The Jewish Museum Berlin (JMB) is currently showcasing an exhibition titled "Welcome to Jerusalem," which attracted criticism from Israelʼs Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said it adopts a onesided Muslim and Palestinian perspective. Netanyahu even demanded the German government cut back its financial support for the museum. Now, in the wake of this high­profile criticism by Netanyahu, the Berlin bureau of Iranian state broadcaster IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting) has requested to report on the exhibition, citing an interest in the JMBʼs view on Jerusalem. IRIB said it wanted to convey the exhibitionʼs message that Jerusalem is an important center of faith for "all major monotheistic religions," as its chief correspondent, Valiallah Shojaee Khanabadi, told DW.

p p g acts of violence recorded in 2017, this constitutes an increase of around 60 percent in 12 months. Police said that 19 people were arrested, but did not provide details as to how many charges were filed. The numbers were released by the governmentʼs office of criminal statistics, following a request from the opposition Left party in the Bundestag.

France: ʼYellow vestʼ boxer given one­ year jail term

A former boxer who punched a police officer during a "yellow vest" protestin Paris has been sentenced to one year in prison. The presiding judge, who sentenced Christophe Dettinger to 30 months in prison with 18 months suspended, said he could work during the day but would have to spend the nights in prison for the remainder of his sentence.

Dettinger was also banned from visiting Paris for six months and ordered to pay the two police officers he had hit 2,000 and 3,000 euros ($2,250 and $3,400). Two video recordings went viral in January thatshowed the 37-year­old punching a police officer on a bridge and kicking another, who had fallen to the ground.

Europe-wide Rhine River cleanup draws thousands of volunteers Anke Mielke digs through her orange garbage bag, sifting through numerous plastic bags and other scraps of trash before pulling out the strangest thing sheʼs found so far on the banks of the Rhine River — a pungent pair of jeans. Mielke tells DW that she hopes that by cleaning up the riverbank, others will be reminded to take their rubbish with them next time. "I grew up along the Rhine and I want it to remain beautiful so that others can enjoy it," she says.

3

39/2019 • 15 February, 2019

Older German diesels face reckoning German government ministers met at Chancellor Angela Merkelʼs offices on Friday to discuss the vexatious diesel question. After years of wrangling, a solution is dearly sought, but what are the realistic options? Is Germanyʼs seemingly never-ending diesel debate edging towards its endgame? On Friday, German government ministers for transport, finance, the economy and the environment met at the offices of German Chancellor Angela Merkel to try and reach an agreement on the thorny sub­ ject of how to reduce pollution from diesel cars as quickly as possible. Read more: New analysis reveals deadly scale of diesel emissions Last weekend, German government figures and car manufacturers were in talks over potential hardware retrofits for older diesels, but no deal was reached. With diesel bans allowed in Germany since rulings earlier this year, the debate has entered a decisive phase.Hamburg began a partial ban in May, while Stuttgart,Frankfurtand Düsseldorf are among the other cities expected to follow. Car manufacturers are vehemently opposed to such bans, as they have added to uncertainty over dieselʼs future and hit sales. The debate in the Chancellery once more centered on a few key questions around whether older diesels should be banned outright, retrofitted with new hardware or gradually phased out through incentivized buyback schemes. On top of that is the fundamental issue of who pays to make things better.

Sri Lanka seeks investment, but China questions linger You donʼt need to be an expert on international trade routes to look at a map and understandthat Sri Lankaʼs location is one of potentially serious economic advantage. The island nation — population 22 million — sits at the southern tip of India, almost as close to the Middle East and the Horn of Africa as it is to South East Asia. The value of this location has not been lost on its northern neighbor China.Under Xi Jinpingʼs so­called ʼBelt and Road Initiative,ʼ the Chinese government has pumped billions into Sri Lanka in the form of both foreign investment and loans in recent years. This reliance on Chinese money is part of a long-standing Sri Lankan problem. With a major trade deficit, as well as crippling levels of debt, the country needs foreign money. China has rushed to fill the gap more enthusiastically than anyone else. The current Sri Lankan government came to power in 2015, when it replaced former President Mahinda Rajapaksaʼs administration. 4

Boeing 747: The original jumbo jet turns 50 Fifty years ago saw the maiden flight of the Boeing 747. The jumbo jet became the worldʼs dominating passenger aircraft in no time, offering new (big) opportunities to airlines around the globe. A British Airways jumbo approaching Heathrow Airport near London. This picture shows why the Boeing aircraft officially designated the 747 was quickly given the nickname "jumbo jet" shortly after its market launch 50 years ago. The four­engine jet is simply huge. Boeing President Bill Allen (left) and the head of the US airline Pan Am, Juan Trippe, on February 9, 1968 after the maiden flight of the first 747. The two had a long­standing friendship. According to legend, Trippe is said to have approached

Can the European Union control Chinaʼs connectivity in Europe?

Last week, the EU announced a proposal for a "new and comprehensive strategy to better connect Europe and Asia." As European countries and industry expand infrastructure and network connections with Asia, and China in particular, the EU is seeking to level the playing field and ensure that joint projects develop with Brussels setting the standard. DW spoke with Mathieu Duchâtel, senior policy fellow and deputy director of the Asia and China Program at the European Council on Foreign Relations, about the EUʼs strategy on connecting Europe and Asia. Mathieu Duchâtel: This proposal is the EUʼs response mainly to Chinaʼs Belt and Road initiative, with the aim of making European values on connectivity clear. I think itʼs the result of a feeling in the EU that it wasnʼt in the driverʼs seat on the connectivity discussion in Eurasia. This, of course, includes infrastructure because thereʼs no connectivity without infrastructure.

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

KnorrBremse set to become German IPO of the year

Knorr­Bremse said on Friday that strong investor demand for its 35 million shares to be publicly listed on October 12 could value the stake at up to €4.21 billion ($4.77 billion). The German braking and technology group now hopes to sell its newly­floated shares at a price of between €72 and €87. Earnings from the 30­percent stake in the company could make the flotation the biggest in Germany this year, overtaking that of Siemens Healthineers — the worldʼs largest maker of medical imaging equipment — which sold for €4.2 billion. The companyʼs chief executive Klaus Deller, said Knorr­Bremse would welcome new investors as it was heading toward further growth. "We have received very positive feedback from investors and other stakeholders...confirming our strong belief that this IPO is the next logical step for us," he said in a statement.

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

pp pp Allen as the plane-maker was finishing plans for the wide­body aircraft: "If you build it, Iʼll buy it." Boeingʼs answer: "If you buy it, I will build it." The new 747 was not only praised for its technical innovations, it also stood for glamor. With a lounge serving cocktails, it promised a sleek and relaxed travel experience. At more than 70 meters (230 feet) long and with a wingspan of almost 60 meters, it offered space for between 366 and 550 passengers, depending on how the seats were arranged.

Hard Brexit risks 100,000 German jobs

A study has shown that Germany stands to lose the greatest number of jobs if Britain exits the EU without a deal. Some of the countryʼs well­known auto and tech hubs are likely to be the worst hit. A hard Brexit could affect more than 100,000 jobs in Germany, the Welt am Sonntag newspaper reported on Sunday, citing a study by the Leibniz Institute for Economic Research Halle (IWH) and the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. The study, which looks at the effect of a hard Brexit down to individual districts and cities, showed that some of Germanyʼs well-known auto and technology hubs could face the maximum brunt. "In no other country is the effect on total employment as great as in Germany," Oliver Holtemöller, one of the authors of the study,told the newspaper. Fears of Britain leaving the European Union without a dealhave risen after the British Parliamentrejected an exit dealreached between Prime Theresa Mayʼs government and the European Union. Britain is slated to leave the 28-nation bloc on March 29.

39/2019 • 15 February, 2019

Prepare for the mind­ boggling Germanyʼs school system 101:

Virtually every parent wants whatʼs best for their child and education is certainly no exception. But choosing a secondary school for a child is tricky business in Germany, says DWʼs Louisa Schaefer. Youʼd think signing your child up for a secondary school shouldnʼt be that tough. You fill out a few papers, sign them, and turn them in. But nope, in Germany, itʼs no walk in the park. My friends from abroad and I sometimes poke fun at the Germans and their notorious bureaucracy. "Why make things easy when you can make them complicated?" we muse about

p them. The same applies to the extensive educational system. In fact, an Australian friend recently quipped: "You need a PhD to understand the German public school system." Too much, too soon Edu­ cational systems and types of schools vary widely among Germanyʼs 16 states, as they — and not the federal government — are responsible for education laws.

How to deal with money like a German While other European countries make the transition to cashless societies, Germany still has a stubborn affection for a pocket full of loose change. Rachel Stewart investigates the very specific German attitude to money. Rachel Stewart is on a mission to investigate the quirks and idiosyncrasies of daily life in Germany. Every two weeks she explores a new topic ­ from beer to nudity to complicated grammar ­ and heads out to get some tips from the Germans themselves. Rachel moved from the UK to Germany in 2016. As a relative newcomer she casts a fresh eye over German clichés and shares her experiences of settling into German life. Youʼll find more fromMeet the Germans on YouTube or atdw.com/MeettheGermans.

Brand new place on the Buda side! Spatula Cafe · Crêperie · Breakfast & Brunch Restaurant

Mariah Carey and Saudi Arabiaʼs dismal human rights record Careyʼs concert is planned for Thursday at the King Abdullah Economic City, which is located about 150 kilometers (90 miles) north of the port city of Jeddah. On social media, many critics agreed that if Carey goes ahead and performs in the country, it would effectively amount to a betrayal of Saudi women, who suffer tremendously under thecountryʼs repressive gender laws. Moreover, they say the concert

y y would undermine the work of womenʼs rights activists in Saudi Arabia. Belgium­based Saudi activist Alia alHathloul took to Twitter to remind Carey that her sister, Loujain, has been locked up in a Saudi jail since May 2018 for demanding women be permitted to drive. While women are now allowed behind the wheel, activists such as Loujain, who fought for this right, still remain imprisoned.

Address: 1111 Budapest Bartok Béla út 8 (only 100 metres from Hotel Gellért) Brand new place ­ just opened end of November! With amazing coffee, breakfast, soups, sandwiches, tortillas, pancake, cookies, etc. even lunch menu! Come and see us for a coffee or more before or after your Gellért Bath visit! :)

Weather

Sat S

1/8 1/7 1/7 Budapest: Debrecen: Eger: Hévíz:

Sun M

Mon

1/7 1/7 Hungary 5/10 4/8 5/7 6/8

Kecskemét: Keszthely: Siófok:

6/8 4/5 6/12

Europe Athens: Berlin:

9/8 5/9

Moscow: Paris:

-4/1 4/6

Culture

Renovated Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest to Open on 31 October AFTER MORE THAN THREE YEARS OF RENOVATION, THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS BUDAPEST WILL OPEN ON 31 OCT NOW OPEN TO PUBLIC Thanks to the largest­scale and most comprehensive reconstruction project in the museum’s his­ tory, 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

39/2019 • 15 February, 2019

Marouane Fellaini: Manchester United agree deal with Shandong Luneng for Belgium midfielder

Manchester United have reached an agreement with Chinese Super League club Shandong Luneng over the transfer of midfielder Marouane Fellaini. It is understood the Belgium player has already passed his medical and the transfer is close to being completed. Fellaini, 31, joined United fromEverton for £27m in 2014when he became the first significant signing after Sir Alex Fergusonʼs departure as manager. He signed anew two-year deallast summer that was due to run until 2020. However, Fellaini has managed just three minutes of Premier League action in seven top­flight games under interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Indian Wells: Twotime champion Maria Sharapova withdraws

Five­time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova says she is "working through some painful days", after withdrawing from next monthʼs BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California. The 31-year­old, who has a shoulder injury,has withdrawn or retired from two out of the three eventsshe has played in since Septemberʼs US Open. "Itʼs been an issue last year and going into this year," said the Russian. "My doctor says itʼs a day-by­day pain management situation." Sharapova beat defending champion Caroline Wozniacki to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open in Januarybefore losing to Ashleigh Barty. She then pulled out of the St. Petersburg Ladiesʼ Trophy at the end of January.

6

London Broncos have long-term ambition to win Super League title Promoted London Broncos must have the ambition to win Super League in the future, says head coach Danny Ward. The Broncos will be back in the top flight in 2019 afterbeating Toronto Wolfpack 4­2 in the Million Pound Gameon Sunday. "We need to make it work, have a five-year plan of where we want to be," Ward told BBC Radio London. "Next year is going to be tough but we want a long­term vision to make London the best club in the country." He added: "We donʼt just want to compete in Super League, but win it. We are not there just to survive." Ward, who took charge following the departure of Andrew Henderson at the end of last season, described their victory over the Wolfpack in Canada as "one of the proudest moments" of his career. "What a performance, what a day and what an achievement ­ I am still on a massive high," he said on their return to England. "To lead the club into the Million Pound Game and win promotion is one of my biggest ever achievements."

UIPM LASER RUN, BIATHLE AND TRIATHLE TOUR DATES IN PLACE FOR 2019 MONACO

From Cape Town to Tbilisi, from Panama City to Beijing, preparations are continuing in all corners of the world for the 3rd UIPM Global Laser Run City Tour. With a truly global schedule and a growing band of devotees of all ages and social backgrounds, the urban sports phenomenon is poised in 2019 to enjoy its most successful year to date, with the calendar now available to view. UIPM’s pyramid of development sports exists to grow participation rates from the bottom up, offering all athletes a potential pathway to the Olympic sport of Pentathlon. And Laser Run is not the only one on the brink of an exciting year. There will also be a first edition of the new Biathle/Triathle National Tour, which will begin in June 2019, visiting eight cities, leading up to the UIPM Biathle/Triathle World Championships in St Petersburg, Florida (USA) in October. The Biathle and Triathle cal-

endars are now available to view. Furthermore, Laser Run and Triathle will both feature for the first time in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in the Philippines.UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann said: “On behalf of our global pentathlon community I am proud to say that we are making truly great strides in the development of our non-Olympic sports. UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann said: “UIPM competitions don’t only happen in stadiums and park venues, they can also take place on beaches and in cities. We are taking our sport to the people, rather than asking the people to come to us.” For more information on UIPM’s various multi­discipline sports visit the UIPM website.

Champions League: Absentees reveal Borussia Dortmund’s soft underbelly p g

For all that thereʼs still a glimmer, for all the early threat from Jadon Sancho, and for all the overachievement: the lack of a ruthless, gamestretching presence up front — and a worrying recent tendency to crumble in adversity — leavesBorussia Dortmund all but out of the Champions League. Both sides came into Wednesday’s game without some of their most reliable threats, with Dortmund missing Paco Alcacer and Marco Reus and Spurs having lost

Harry Kane and Dele Alli to injury. While Dortmund struggled to replace their cutting edge, in Son Heung­min, Spurs have a razor blade that seems to get sharper by the week. “He’s been fantastic. He’s a player that provides the team a lot of very good things," said Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino after the match. "He has good energy and the performances are improving and improving. We are so happy, it is so obvious how (important) he is."