74/2019 • 30 MARCH, 2019 WEEKEND ISSUE
DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Alaa AbdelFattah freed from prison A key Egyptian pro-democracy activist and blogger, Alaa Abdel-Fattah, was released from prison on Friday afterserving a five-year sentence for holding an unauthorized protest. His imprisonment in 2013 for taking part in a peaceful demonstration was seen by many observers as another indication that Egypt was returning to autocratic rule. Dozens of activists have been jailed in Egypt in recent years for violating draconian laws banning public gatherings that rights advocates say are aimed only at muzzling dissent.
French retailer Decathlon cancels plan to sell sports hijab French sporting goods chain Decathlon has canceled plans to sell a runnerʼs hijab in France following a public outcry and opposition from some politicians who called for a boycott. Decathlon official Xavier Rivoire told the RTL broadcaster on Tuesday that the Muslim headscarf designed for runners would not be sold at its stores in France for the time being. Read more: Muslim fashion for women: Modesty meets trendy style Decathlon had initially said it would sell the sports hijab to meet "a requirement of certain runners, and we are therefore responding to this sporting requirement." Several French politicians criticized Decathlon for its plans to sell the product in France, including Health Minister Agnes Buzyn. Such a product is "not forbidden by law," she said on RTL, but "it is a vision of women that I do not share. I would have preferred that a French brand not promote the veil." Several French politicians criticized Decathlon for its plans to sell the product in France, including Health Minister Agnes Buzyn. Such a product is "not forbidden by law," she said on RTL, but "it is a vision of women that I do not share. I would have preferred that a French brand not promote the veil."
Angela Merkel honored with ʼelectro-operaʼ in Netherlands The play focuses on struggles she faced during her career
A Dutch theater has staged a "Wagnerian electro-opera" about German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a "woman whom nobody really knows."
Facebook, Instagram ban British farright figure Tommy Robinson Facebook has taken harsh measures against British far-right personality Tommy Robinson, banning him from its platforms and closing his Facebook page and Instagram profile. Robinson is said to have violated Facebookʼs "community standards" by promoting "organized hate" and other prohibited behavior. Specifically, the company noted in a statement that Robinsonʼs pages had repeatedly broken its standards by "posting material that uses
dehumanizing language and calls for violence targeted at Muslims." "This is not a decision we take lightly, but individuals and organizations that attack others on the basis of who they are have no place on Facebook or Instagram," the social media giant said. Anti-fascist and anti-racist organization Hope Not Hate welcomed the decision, referring to Robinson as "a farright thug who uses his platform to bully, abuse and stir up division."
Ronnie OʼSullivan and Mark Selby through to second round Five-time world champion Ronnie OʼSullivan booked his place in the second round of the Welsh Open with victory over Sanderson Lam. After going 2-1 down, breaks of 95 and 116 helped OʼSullivan to a 4-2 win to set up a tie with Chinaʼs Yuan Sijun. Three-time world champion Mark Selby beat Anthony McGill 4-2, with Adam Duffy his next opponent. Former world champion Neil Robertson made a maximum 147 break dur-
ing his 4-1 win against Jordan Brown. There were also first-round wins for Barry Hawkins and Stuart Bingham, Hawkins beat Sunny Akani 4-0, Bingham was a 4-0 winner over Ali Carter, while Nigel Bond won a deciding frame to beat Alan McManus 4-3. Duane Jones gave the home crowd something to cheer when he produced an upset to beat Xiao Guodong 4-3. Jonesʼ compatriot Jackson Page is out, having lost 4-1 to Zhao Xintong.
Germanyʼs extra-special wish for the United Kingdom to stay Germany would probably miss Britain more than other members of the EU 27 when, and if, Brexit finally happens. Thatʼs the opinion of Norbert Röttgen, who heads the German parliamentʼs foreign affairs committee. With the Brexit process stalling ahead of athird vote on Theresa Mayʼs withdrawal deal, Röttgen told DW he still hoped that Brexit might not happen. "We know the high and valuable contribution of Britain to the European Union. Perhaps Germany even more than others do," the former environment minister explained.
Mass protests in Algeria as Bouteflika clings to power Protesters crowded the streets of several Algerian cities for thesixth weekly protest against veteran president Abdelaziz Bouteflikaand his allies on Friday. Huge numbers of demonstrators, including veterans of the countryʼs 1990s civil war, congregated in front of the central post office in downtown Algiers. "Weʼre fed up with those in power," the demonstrators chanted. "We want a new government." Strong police presence was noticeable in Algiers, with helicopters flying overhead.
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74/2019 • 30 March, 2019 Weekend issue
Carnival season Arjen Robben set to miss Der Klassiker but hopeful of final Bayern Munich in Budapest appearance and beyond Costume parades and carnival masks denote Budapest’s farewell to winter. With the onset of ‘farsang’, or carnival season, Hungary’s capital sees colourful crowds flooding to masquerade galas and themed events. This colourful festive period stretches until Ash Wednesday, this year falling on 6 March, when Lent begins the run-up to Easter. However, in stark contrast to fasting, farsang celebrations see a diet rich in meat and sweets. A staple for the season is the carnival doughnut, a treat of powdered sugar and jam.
Tiger Woods to play Rory McIlroy in WGC Match Play knockout round Tiger Woods produced a superb burst of scoring at the WGC Match Play in Texas to set up an intriguing knockout round match with Rory McIlroy on Saturday. The three-time winner was one down to Patrick Cantlay but played the next four holes in five under and won 4&2. Aaron Wiseʼs emphatic 6&4 win over Brandt Snedeker ensured that world number 14 Woods topped Group 13. McIlroy,the 2015 winner,continued his 100% start with four front nine birdies in a 4&2 win over Matthew Fitzpatrick. Woods, playing the event for the first time since 2013,lost to Snedeker on Thursdayand was one down to Cantlay after 10 holes.
Clashes with Borussia Dortmund have been pivotal in Arjen Robbenʼs long Bayern Munich career, with memories good and bad. But the Dutchman admits injury is likely to deny him a last chance to face Bayernʼs title rivals. As the opponent heʼs both faced and lost against most in his career, those with an eye for a narrative arc would have hoped Arjen Robben might have played one last time against Borussia Dortmund, before leaving Bayern Munich and riding off in to the sunset. But the 35-year-old Dutch winger, who will leave the club he joined in 2009 at the end of the season, believes the April 6
meeting will come too soon. "I still donʼt know whether I will be fit, we will have to see, but I think it is probably unrealistic," Robben told Munich newspaper Abendzeitung on Wednesday. "I am on the road to recovery, but I am not yet training with the team," he added. "I think it will take a bit more time. All I can do is keep working hard and fighting to get back on the pitch."
Amador: 8 Jahre lang 3 Michelin Sterne, seit 2016 in Wien Juan Amador, deutscher Sternekoch mit spanischen Wurzeln, blickt auf mehr als 20 Jahre internationale Kocherfahrung in den besten Küchen der Welt zurück. Seine kulinarischen Geschicke brachten ihm unter anderem drei Hauben von Gault&Millau und acht Jahre in Folge drei Sterne des Guide Michelin ein. Um seine Kochphilosophie verwirklichen zu können, ist Amador stets auf der Suche nach den besten Produkten, aus denen er kreative, authentische Gerichte auf höchstem Niveau auf die Teller zaubert. Seit 2016 ist er mit dem Restaurant
Amador in Wien Döbling vertreten, für das ihm zwei Sterne sowie 18 Punkte von Gault&Millau verliehen wurden. Es handelt sich um ein Gemeinschaftswerk von Juan Amador, dem Tourismusprofi Gebhard Schachermayer sowie dem bekannten Wiener Winzer Fritz Wieninger. Das umgebaute Kellergewölbe von Wieninger mit 45 Sitzplätzen und einem Weinkeller, in dem mehr als 1200 edle Tropfen aus der ganzen Welt lagern, vereint das Traditionelle mit einer eleganten Note. Diese spiegelt sich nicht zuletzt auch in den Gerichten von Amador wider. Mehr Infos über Amador und seine Küche: www.restaurant-amador.com
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H-1056 Budapest, Só u. 6. Telephone: +36 1 577 0700 Fax: +36 1 577 0710 bhzinfo@zeinahotels.com www.boutiquehotelbudapest.com
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How to celebrate Beethoven? The festival named after him shows the way Another stone has been laid in the mosaic of the coming Beethoven anniversary year. At the International Trade Show (ITB) in Berlin, the Beethovenfest Bonn is giving a sneak preview of its special lineup. Germanyʼs president, government and parliament have all declared honoring the 250th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethovenʼs birth a "national assignment." Public subsidies have been flowing to the Beethoven Anniversary Company under the project name BTHVN2020, so the composer will be celebrated nationwide next year — but nowhere more than in Bonn, the city of his birth. TheBeethoven House recently announcedits yearlong series of special events. Now the Beethovenfest is also offering a glimpse of its own anniversary program at the International Trade Show (ITB) in Berlin on Friday. Usually lasting three weeks in September, the festival will this time have spring and fall editions.
Belgium vows to amplify EU voice on UN Security Council Belgiumʼs foreign minister says his country will use its temporary UN Security Council seat to make the EU more influential on the global stage. Belgium and Germany are to scheduled to take up their seats on January 1. Belgium will use its two-year seat on the United Nations Security Council to bolster the European Unionʼs influence within the global body, Belgiumʼs foreign minister has said. Didier Reynders told Germanyʼs Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung news outlet that Belgium aims to help harmonize each EU member stateʼs diplomacy so that they "send the same message with different voices." Belgium will take up its temporary seat on the Security Council,the UNʼs highest decision-making body, along with Germany on January 1. "We have an important role to play in supporting multilateralism," Reynders said. "There is no better place for it than in the United Nations Security Council."