DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Ramadan: Danish immigration minister Stoejberg calls fasting ʼdangerousʼ Inger Stoejberg received backlash after suggesting Muslims spend the month of Ramadan away from work. Experts and businesses fired back that there was no evidence of fasting affecting work safety. Denmarkʼs Immigration and Integration Minister Inger Stoejberg has stirred controversy after claiming late on Monday that the celebration of Ramadan was incompatible with the modern labor market. The minister, who has a reputation for hardline immigration policies, wrote a blog post for the Danish tabloid BT that the month-long Muslim celebration, which includes fasting during daylight hours, was "dangerous for us all." Questioned the idea of "commanding observance to a 1,400-yearold pillar of Islam."Suggested that, if Muslims were going to fast, they should take a month off from work "to avoid negative consequences for the rest of Danish society."
Hundreds of Reichsbürger, extremists lose weapons permits As sympathisers reach out across social media and messaging services, the number of Reichsbürger supporters appears to have grown to 18,000. A number of them hold weapons but 450 have lost their permits. The German Interior Ministry on Tuesday said that approximately 1,200 Reichsbürger and 750 right-wing extremists currently have a permit for one or more weapons. The revelation came as part of its response to a parliamentary question from the Green party on the dangers of right-wing terrorist structures and right-wing militancy in Germany, as the Greens had expressed concern over an increase in the number of acts of violence perpetrated by rightwing extremists.
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Populist academic Giuseppe Conte given mandate to form Italian government Conte pledged to be defense lawyer of the Italian people
Italian law professor Giuseppe Conte from the populist 5-Star movement has been tasked with forming a new government in Rome. Italyʼs President Sergio Mattarella gavelittle-known legal scholar Giuseppe Contea mandate to form the next cabinet on Wednesday. With the combined support of Conteʼs populist 5-star movement and their allies from the far-right League party in Italyʼs parliament, Conte is likely to win the post of prime minister next week. Accepting the nomination, Conte said he was "aware of the need to confirm Italy’s European and international standing." A euroskeptic 5-Star government could present Brussels with its greatest challenge since Brexit. "Iʼm preparing myself now to defend the interests of all Italians in all places, in Europe and internationally," he told reporters. "I will be the defense lawyer of the Italian people." Conte has to draft a list of Cabinet ministers for presidential approval before they can take office, perhaps by the end of next week. Conte added he was committedto working with European and international allies. The 53-year-old lawyer has never held
public office. Some European officials have already sounded the alarm over a government led by Conte and supported by the laboriously negotiated alliance between the 5-Star movement and the League. The coalition has called for Italy to change its relations with the EU and announced plans to increase government spending in the country burdened by debt. On Sunday, France urged Italy to respect its financial commitments to the EU."Everyone in Italy must understand that Italyʼs future is in Europe and nowhere else, and if this future is to be in Europe, there are rules that must be respected," French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire said. Conte himself also facedaccusations that he had padded his resume, listing reputable international universities, such as in New York, where he never studied or held a teaching post. He is expected to present his outline for the new government ahead of the parliamentary vote.
Former Taiwan president gets jail time for information leak Taiwanʼs High Court has overturned a previous not-guilty verdict and charged former Taiwanese President Ma Yingjeou. Ma plans to appeal his sentence but can also avoid prison by paying a fine of €3,370. Former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou was sentenced to four months in prison on Tuesday for leaking classified information. Taiwanʼs High Court found that "Ma Yingjeou violated the Communication and Surveillance Act," when he leaked information relating to national security and opposition lawmaker Ker Chienming, which should have been confidential. Ma told local media he planned to appeal the High Court sentence, but he could also skip prison if he pays a fine of T$120,000 ($4,020, €3,370), the court said. A former stalwart of major opposition party Kuomintang of China, Ma was Taiwanʼs president from 2008 to 2016 and encouraged closer ties with China.
Five dead in samurai sword attack on Indonesian police Police have shot four men dead during an attack on a police headquarters in Pekanbaru on Sumatra island. The third Islamist militant assault in Indonesia in the past week also left an officer dead and two wounded. Four samurai sword-wielding men were shot dead by Indonesian police on Wednesday after they attacked a police headquarters on the island of Sumatra. National police spokesman Setyo Wasisto said the men attacked officers after driving a minivan into the police compound in Pekanbaru.
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Sweden and North Korea end talks ahead of possible Trump-Kim summit The Swedish and North Korean foreign ministers have wrapped up three days of talks on the security situation on the Korean peninsula. Have they cleared the way for a historic meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un? Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom and her North Korean counterpart Ri Yong Ho discussed the "opportunities and challenges for continued diplomatic efforts to reach a peaceful solution to the conflict," Swedenʼs Foreign Ministry said Saturday. The ministry did not comment on whether thethree days of talksin Stockholm hadlaid any groundwork for a possible meetingbetween US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. "The main focus for the talks was the security situation on the Korean Peninsula," Wallstrom told reporters, adding that UN sanctions, nuclear weapons, and humanitarian concerns in North Korea were also on the agenda. Ri did not address the media during his visit.
Brexit causes record number of Britons to be granted German citizenship Britons are rushing to become German citizens before their country leaves the European Union. More than 10 times as many Britons became German citizens in 2017 than in 2015. A record number of Britons became German citizens for the second year running, the German Federal Statistical Office reported on Wednesday. The consecutive record has been linked to Britainʼs upcoming departure from the European Union. "A link with the upcoming Brexit is obvious,” Germanyʼs statistics office Destatis said. About 7,500 Britons were granted German citizenship in 2017 —more than double the record set in the previous year. The 2017 figure eclipses the 2015 number, when 622 pre-referendum Britons gained German citizenship. A total of 112,200 foreigners were granted German citizenship in 2017, the most since 2013 and a 1.7-percent increase on the previous year. The largest contingent of foreign naturalizations came from Turkey (14,984), followed by Britain, Poland (6,613), Italy (4,256) and Romania (4,238). The new citizens from Britain are on average almost 53 years old, significantly older than other naturalized persons (34.8 years). 2
Barack and Michelle Obama ink Netflix deal The couple have agreed to a multi-year production deal that includes films and series
Canada to deploy troops, helicopters to Mali Canada will send troops and helicopters to Mali to join a UN peacekeeping mission there, Canadian media have reported. The helicopters are expected to replace a German contingent. Canada will soon take part in its first peacekeeping mission to Africa since Rwanda in 1994, sending peacekeepers, backed by helicopters, to join UN Blue Helmets in Mali before autumn, Canadian media reported late on Friday. The commitment comes amid pressure on Canada from Germany and the Netherlands to send peacekeepers, with the Canadian helicopters expected to replace a German contingent, CBC News said, citing a senior government official. The deployment would be for a planned 12 months, according to the report.
Michelle Obama said she hoped to use the platform "to promote greater empathy and understanding between peoples." Barack and Michelle Obama have signed a deal to produce films or series for the streaming service Netflix, the company announced on Monday. Under the umbrella of Higher Ground Productions, the former first couple have a wide range of creative options at their fingertips. While the conditions of the multi-year deal were not made public, Netflix said that the Obamas will be able to produce scripted or unscripted series, documentaries, and feature films. "One of the simple joys of our time in
Donald Trump signs Taiwan Travel Act, drawing Chinaʼs ire US President Donald Trump has signed a law promoting official exchanges between the US and Taiwan. The move could further strain US-China ties. US President Donald Trump on Friday signed legislation promoting contacts between Washington officials and their Taiwanese counterparts, angering China, which considers Taiwan as part of its territory. The Taiwan Travel Act will allow unrestricted two-way travel for officials from the United States and Taiwan, thus restoring direct official US contacts with the self-ruled is-
public service was getting to meet so many fascinating people from all walks of life and to help them share their experiences with a wider audience," former President Obama said in a statement. "Thatʼs why Michelle and I are so excited to partner with Netflix we hope to cultivate and curate the talented, inspiring, creative voices who are able to promote greater empathy and understanding between peoples, and help them share their stories with the entire world." land, which were cut in 1979 when Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. The White House said the bill, which was passed unanimously by Congress, would go into effect on Saturday morning even without the presidentʼs signature. The United States still does not have formal ties with Taiwan, but is required by lawto help it with selfdefense.
Syria: Al-Qaida and IS increasingly lose territory to Assad With the exception of Idlib, Syriaʼs government has recovered control of most major cities from rebels and ter-
ror organizations. Are the "Islamic State" and al-Qaida being beaten out of Syria? With Syriaʼs civil war now in its eighth year, the "Islamic State" (IS) and al-Qaida — two of the most prominent terror organizations active in the fighting — are on the decline. DW takes a closer look at their roles in the conflict. IS drew international attention when it swept across Iraq and Syria in 2014, making Raqqa, Syria, its capital and taking control of Iraqʼs second-largest city, Mosul. In Syria, IS now only really controls some area near Iraqʼs border, as well as some parts of the countryside. The organization does not currently have a central headquarters. In October, the US military estimated that the group still had about 6,500 members. AlQaida operates most prominently as Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham, a Salafist group that is concentrated near and in the major Syrian city of Idlib.
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Germany reaffirms Iran nuclear deal but business worries abound A day after the US pulled out, Chancellor Angela Merkel reaffirmed that Germany and other EU nations support the agreement. But can the European Union offer Iran enough guarantees to convince leaders to stay the course? Less than 24 hours afterUS President Donald Trump announced the United States would reinstate sanctions on Iran, effectively withdrawing his country from the nuclear containment deal, Berlin was keen to project an atmosphere of calm. Chancellor Angela Merkel held her weekly Cabinet meeting as scheduled and only briefly interrupted a meeting with regional conservative leaders to restate Germanyʼs commitment to the nuclear agreement. "I think yesterday showed us that we in Europe will have to take
Angela Merkel hints at increased military spending Germanyʼs chancellor has hinted that defense spending is likely to increase in years ahead, saying reaching NATOʼs target was "not completely beyond the imagination." It comes amid budget talks and pressure from allies. Merkel said on Monday that it was important to stand by Berlinʼs commitments to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and noted that Germany had in the past spent much more than the current 1.24 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) without any difficulty. Reaching NATOʼs target of 2 percent of GDP was "not completely beyond the imagination," Merkel said. She was addressing top military officers in Berlin, alongside her defense minister, Ursula von der Leyen, on the eve of the budget debate in Germanyʼs parliament. Von der Leyen told the officers military spending would increase to about 1.3 percent of GDP by 2019, with a goal of 1.5 percent by 2025. US President Donald Trump in March singled out Germany for failing to meet a defense spending target of 2 percent of GDP agreed upon between NATO members.
more responsibility, " Merkel said. "Germany, France and the UK have decided that we will abide by the agreement, and we will do everything we can to see that Iran also abides by its responsibilities in the future." Merkel acknowledged that Iran is, in some respects, a destabilizing force in the Middle East. But she called the 2015 agreement, in which Iran agreed to discontinue any nuclear weapons development in return for the easing of sanctions, "an important pillar we donʼt want to do without."
German prosecutors push for Carles Puigdemontʼs extradition
The Schleswig-Holstein state prosecutor is advancing his case for the extradition of former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont. However, the stateʼs top court has ruled that Puigdemont cannot yet be rearrested. The public prosecutor in the state of Schleswig-Holstein is preparing the paperwork to extradite former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont to Spain, where he could face charges of
rebellion and disturbing the public order following a referendum on October 1 in which a majority of voters expressed a clear preference forthe semiautonomous regionʼs secession. On Tuesday, however, a court ruled that Puigdemont, who was taken into custody by German authorities in March at the request of Spain, could not be rearrested because he doesnʼt pose a "flight risk."
European markets plunge at opening bell as stock market dip deepens Global markets continue to wobble precariously. European markets took a big hit as Tuesdayʼs trading began, following major losses across Asia and particularly in Japan. Wall Street fared no better on Monday. European markets opened on Tuesday awash with red, with the main benchmark indices all down around 3 percent followingWall Streetʼs Monday rout. Minutes after the bell to signal the start of trading, Germanyʼs DAX index dropped 3 percent to 12,308 points. It was a similar story in France and the UK, whose indices opened 3 and 2.5 percent lower respectively.
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Chinese migration brings social change to Italyʼs Alps Home to the largest concentration of Chinese residents in Europe, two mountain villages have become the unlikely setting of an integration experiment. Giulia Saudelli and Matteo Civillini report from northern Italy. At midday, the fog is so thick one can barely see the mountainside. From the vast space that opens out below, all one can hear are the Chinese workers busily hitting large slabs of stone with their chisels. The quarryʼs owner paces around them, making sure the precious material is handled with care. A few meters away a truck is ready to load the rough-cut stones, which, after a journey down a steep mountain road, will be delivered to the workshops in the tiny villages of Bagnolo Piemonte and Barge. This is the daily routine in the Infernotto Valley, in northern Italy, home to the largest Chinese community in terms of concentration in Europe. Since the early 1990s more than 1,300 of them have settled in this remote area, making up around 10 percent of the total population. The Chinese presence is so strong that Hu has now become the most common surname in Barge. Their arrival initiated what can be described as a 20-yearlong migration experiment, unintentionally providing a testing ground for integration policies in Italy and beyond. What brought them to this unlikely place is the Luserna stone.
WTO rules against Airbus in subsidies row with Boeing The global trade body has found the EU is still ignoring requests to stop its illegal subsidies for Airbus, handing a victory to its US rival Boeing and paving the way for potentially billions in punitive tariffs. In its ruling on Tuesday, the World Trade Organization (WTO) said the European Union had failed to remove support in the form of preferential government loans for AirbusʼsA380 superjumboand A350 twin-aisle jet programs, causing losses for Boeing and US aerospace workers. At the same time, however, the appellate division of WTOʼs Dispute Settlement Body dismissed a US claim that loans for Airbusʼs most popular models, the A320 and A330, were costing Boeing significant sales. The ruling was not subject to appeal, WTO said, potentially clearing the way for the US to seek billions of dollars in retaliatory tariffs against European exports. But its decision on the A320 and A330 models is seen narrowing the scope of punitive tariffs in one of the worldʼs longest and costliest trade disputes. 4
Japan economy shrinks for first time in 2 years The worldʼs third-largest economy has slid into reverse for the first time in two years as a result of sluggish consumption and seasonal factors. But experts said it was not the beginning of a longer downswing. Japanʼs economy contracted by 0.2 percent quarter on quarter in the January-March period, the Cabinet Office reported Wednesday. This brought to an end a series of eight consecutive quarters of growth — a streak not seen since the heady days of the miracle boom in the 1980s. The slight decline at the beginning of the year came as a blow to the economic policies of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is already under pressure over a series of scandals. The economy was hit by stagnant private consumption, fresh data showed. "Consumers will keep purse
United Kingdom waits to see how the post-Brexit winds will blow The UK is the current world leader in offshore wind capacity. But with the country heading for the EU exit door, can the renewable energy boom last? Lying unpainted on its side, the greenish curve of a 75meter (246 feet) long wind turbine blade bears a passing resemblance to a whale. Itʼs twice the length of a blue whale but at 25 tons, is much lighter than the earthʼs largest creature. For employees at the state-ofthe-art Siemens Gamesa factory in the port city of Hull in northern England, another comparison is more apt. "Four bull elephants, thatʼs how we equate it," said Alison Maxwell, the head of communications at the facility. Siemensʼ £160 million ($223 million/182 million euros) plant has manufactured these great fiberglass beasts for wind farms in Britain since it opened at the end of 2016 in the economically deprived city. And itʼs a good time to be in business.
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Nissan, Dongfeng to invest heavily in e-cars in China Together with its joint venture on the ground, Japanese automaker Nissan is to make a multi-billion-dollar investment in the production of e-cars in China. Beijingʼs e-car quota system goes into effect next year. Japanese carmaker Nissan and its Chinese joint venture partner Dongfeng Motor Company announced Monday they would invest $9.5 billion (€7.6 billion) in China to increase annual sales by 1 million vehicles andboost the production of electric cars. The move came as China was rolling out new regulations to limit gas vehicles in a bid to reduce air pollution across the Asian nation. Authorities in Beijing will implement a complex quota system as of 2019, requiring carmakers to produce a minimum number of electric vehicles. They are also looking at plans to completely ban fossil fuel cars at a date that has yet to be decided.
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strings tight unless the pace of wage increases shows a clear acceleration," said SMBC Nikko Securities Chief Market Economist Yoshimasa Maruyama. Other pundits mentioned special factors that impacted growth in the first quarter. "There were one-off factors ranging from stock market selloffs to higher vegetable prices due to bad weather," said Takeshi Minami, chief economist at Norinchukin. Also, the yen strengthened against other major currencies on safe-haven buying,clouding the prospects for Japanese exporters.
Sony to secure majority stake in EMI Music Publishing
Electronics and entertainment company Sony has announced itʼs acquiring another big stake in EMI Music Publishing in a bid to strengthen its entertainment portfolio. Itʼs another move to adjust to the digital age. Sony said Tuesday it planned to buy a 60-percent stake in EMI Music Publishing for $2.3 billion (€1.95 billion). The Japanese conglomerate already owns 30 percent of EMI, so once the deal is finalized, itʼll boast a 90-percent stake in the entertainment firm. EMI has under its wing classics such as the Motown catalog and Queen, as well as contemporary artists including Kanye West, Alicia Keys and Pharrell Williams. Sonyʼs move to secure a majority stake in EMI comesas the Japanese company aims to broaden its entertainment portfolio. Sony also unveiled plans to invest $9 billion mostly in image sensors over the next three years under a revamped strategy to boost profits from both hardware and creative content. CEO Kenichiro Yoshida told reporters the companyʼs main focus was "getting closer to people" by connecting consumer services and contentthroughout its sprawling operations, which include the PlayStation game platform, music, films and home entertainment, still and video cameras, cellphones, computer chips and financial services.
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Internet provides vast platform for illegal trade of live animals Worldʼs last male northern white rhino dies in Kenya
A fresh study by the International Fund for Animal Welfare has highlighted the vast quantity of live animals and their body parts that are available for sale online and the threat this poses to their survival. A report by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) released Wednesdaydetailed the challenges faced by conservationists, governments and the private sector in curbing wildlife cybercrime. Specifically looking at the situation in France, Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom over a six-week period in 2017, IFAW researchers found thousands of live endangered and threatened animals and animal products offered for sale online. The fund said it had identified well over 5,000 adver-
tisements spread across 106 online marketplaces and social media platforms, listing over 11,000 endangered specimens worth $3.9 million (€3.3 million). "For the first time in Europe, IFAW investigated the burgeoning wildlife trade on social media," said Wildlife Crime Program Director Rikkert Reijnen. "While this represents a small percentage of overall online trade, we caution that thereʼs reason to believe itʼs just the tip of the iceberg, with traffickers likely to be operating in closed groups."
Russian accused of running spam network extradited to US Suspected Russian hacker Pyotr Levashov pleaded not guilty before a US judge after being extradited from Spain. Prosecutors claim he ran a massive computer network that sent out spam and installed malicious software. Spanish authorities have extradited to the US a Russian man suspected of carrying out cybercrimes using bulk spam emails and malicious software, US officials announced Friday. Pyotr Levashov, a 37-year-old from St. Petersburg, pleaded not guilty to the charges of wire and email fraud, hacking, identity theft and conspiracy after appearing before a federal judge in the US state of Connecticut. He re-
mains in detention. Levashov was arrested in Aprilwhile vacationing with his family in Barcelona. In October, Spainʼs National Court granted the US extradition request, rejecting a counter-extradition request from Russia. US prosecutors say Levashov ran the sprawling Kelihos botnet — a network involving up to 100,000 infected computers that sent spam emails, harvested usersʼ logins and installed malicious software that intercepted bank account passwords. According to the indictment, the network generated and distributed more than 2,500 spam emails a day and allegedly victimized thousands of people in the US.
German university hospital defends auto firmsʼ nitrogen dioxide test ethics No experiments on animals or humans can take place in Germany without a go from an authorized ethics committee. Dr. Thomas Kraus from Aachen University Hospital says this was the case in the most recent NO2 scandal. The European Research Group on Environment and Health in the Transport Sector (EUGT) "did not impinge in any way on the nitrogen dioxide (NO2) research it commissioned Aachen University Hospital to do," Professor Thomas Kraus from the hospital told the German press agency DPA on Monday. The EUGT is a now defunct organization that was funded by German carmakers Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW plus partsmaker Bosch, thus raising questions of possible conflicts of interest. In 2013, 25 healthy volunteers were exposed to NO2 pollution for three hours, Kraus said. "None of them had any negative health effects," he went on, adding that the tests were meant to measure the impact of pollutants in the workplace.
English-Language Daytime Science Camps Center of Scientific Wonders (Csopa)
6/12/2018 - 8/31/2018 The fascinating Center of Scientific Wonders in Budapest now awaits children aged between 8 and 12 with exciting Englishlanguage daytime science camps. Kids who wish to dig deeper into the nature of sciences and art can get an insight into what it is like working in a laboratory, at an interactive exhibition, or at a scientific auditorium while they also get a chance to spread the wings of their creativity. The camps include plenty of playful events like workshops, experiments, physics shows in various themes, team-building games, arts-and-crafts activities, sports games, and several sweet surprises that will certainly sneak a smile on the faces of little ones.
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Culture
Gergő Szinyova: Comfortable/Comfortless The new exhibition at Kisterem, Comfortable/Comfortless, presents Gergő Szinyova’s latest series. The paintings’ extremely thin, print-like painted surfaces are similar to silk screen printing, and echo aesthetic characteristics of risograph printing. The artist developed a technique that makes it possible for him to paint print-like surfaces that are unique, unrepeatable and not multipliable, however, the repetition of digitally pre-drawn motifs in the pictures is a reference to the possibilities of reproduction. Gergő Szinyova (born 1986), one of the most prominent talents of his generation, participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions in the past years in Budapest, Graz, New York and Los Angeles. The artist developed a technique that makes it possible for him to paint print-like surfaces that are unique, unrepeatable and not multipliable, however, the repetition of digitally pre-drawn motifs in the pictures is a reference to the possibilities of reproduction. Gergő Szinyova (born 1986), one of the most prominent talents of his generation, participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions in the past years in Budapest, Graz, New York and Los Angeles. however, the repetition of digitally pre-drawn motifs in the pictures is a reference to the possibilities of reproduction. Gergő Szinyova, one of the most prominent talents of his generation, participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions in the past years in Budapest, Graz, New York and LA.
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Mesut Özil and Ilkay Gündogan criticized for Erdogan meeting
Germany players Mesut Özil and Ilkay Gündogan have been criticized for meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Both are of Turkish heritage, but chose to represent Germany in international football. The Premier League stars, who were joined by a third player, Everton striker Cenk Tosun, met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at Londonʼs Four Seasons hotel on Sunday. President Erdogan, who is up for re-election on June 24, is in the British capital for a three-day state visit, where he is to be received by Queen Elizabeth II and meet with Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday.
Löw unveils preliminary World Cup squad, signs new deal
Autopsy confirms Michael Goolaerts died of heart attack An autopsy carried out on the body of Michael Goolaerts has confirmed that the Belgian rider died of cardiac arrest. He suffered the heart attack and fell off his bike during a race on the weekend. Remy Schwartz, the state prosecutor for the northern French commune of Cambrai said the autopsy following Michael Goolaertsʼ death on Sunday, confirmed that the Belgian had died of cardiac arrest, as had been widely speculated. "The autopsy confirms the previous hypothesis that death was due to a heart attack and not a crash," Schwartz told the AFP news agency on Wednesday. "He suffered an attack while racing. His heart stopped, and thatʼs why he crashed." The 23-yearoldGoolaerts crashed in the early stages of the Paris-Roubaix oneday classicand shortly afterwards he was found unconscious and not breathing along the side of the road. He was rushed to a hospital in Lille, but the Verandaʼs Willems team rider was pronounced dead late on Sunday. Toxicology and other tests are now to be conducted on his body in an effort to determine an exact cause of the heart attack. The results of these may not be known for several weeks.
Mario Götzeʼs omission no real surprise as Joachim Löw shows his hand Itʼs no secret that Germany have an embarrassment of riches
Despite the temptation to go with the man who scored the World Cup winner in 2014, Joachim Löw was left with little choice but to leave Mario Götze out. As the names rolled across the screen at the announcement ofGermanyʼs 27-man provisional squadin Dortmund on Tuesday, the surprises were largely those of absence rather than selection. Doubts over the fitness of Manuel Neuer and the recentpersonal choices of Mesut Özil and Ilkay Gündogannever seriously threatened their places, meaning the selection of uncapped Freiburg
striker Nils Petersen was the only real shock among a host of familiar faces. Petersen may still miss out on Russia, with four players to be cut by June 4, but the man indelibly associated with Germanyʼs 2014 World Cup win will definitely have the summer off. As indeed will Andre Schürrle, his current Borussia Dortmund teammate and the man who provided the assist in Rio.
Rafael Nadal mounts comeback to defeat Alexander Zverev in Italian Open Germany head coach Joachim Löw has named his preliminary squad for the World Cup, which kicks off in Russia next month. The DFB has extended the head coachʼs contract through to the World Cup in 2022. Head coach Joachim Löw named a squad of 27 players, who will accompany him to the national teamʼs training camp in Austria next week. This means he will have to cut four players from the roster before departing for the tournament. 6
A rain delay derailed Alexander Zverevʼs title charge in the Italian Open, as Rafael Nadal roared back to take the title for the eighth time with a 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 win. Both men have enjoyed strong clay court seasons. After struggling in the first set Zverev, who won this title last year andclaimed the Madrid Open earlier this month,put on a scintillating display in the second to put the Spanish "King of Clay" in real trouble. The German, 21, was a break up in the third set when the heavens opened, leading to a 50 minute de-
lay. With the benefit of his vast experience, Nadal used the time to regroup and broke back immediately before wrapping up his 78th ATP title and his 56th on clay. “You’re the greatest clay court player of all time and I think everybody saw that today,” Zverev told Nadal after the match. The Spaniard responded by saying he had a special affinity with the event in Rome. “My first victory here in 2005 was one of the most beautiful victories of my career,” he told the crowd. “To have this trophy again with me after so many years is really very special.”