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34/2019 • 9 FEBRUARY, 2019 WEEKEND ISSUE

DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Spain PM faces protests after concessions to Catalan separatists Pedro Sanchez is facing criticism from all sides after he agreed to Catalan separatistsʼ demands

Opposition parties have accused him of giving in to "blackmail" in order to win budget votes and called for protests.

Wolfgang Ischinger: ʼEuropean Union is alive and kickingʼ

Fire at Flamengo academy in Brazil — 10 dead

The European Union integration effort has not failed, despite Brexit and recent disagreements between Germany and France.

That message will be demonstrated at the 2019 Munich Security Conference (MSC) , says Wolfgang Ischinger, MSC head and former German ambassador to the UK and the US. "The European Union is alive and kicking," Ischinger told DW ahead of the worldʼs most important conference on international security, which starts on Thursday.

Flamengoʼs recently-expanded youth training facility at Ninho do Urubu went up in flames in the early hours of Friday morning, less than two months after it opened.

The facility included lodgings for players whose families did not live near the Rio de Janeiro club, one of Brazilʼs biggest.

"The kids from the Flamengo youth team were sleeping there at the time," firefighter Douglas Henault told Brazilian broadcasting giant Globo News.

Spainʼs Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has come under fire from the opposition, as well as from members of his own party, following a concession granted to Catalan separatists in future talks over the regionʼs debate on potentially splitting from Spain. The firestorm comes at a critical time for Sanchez, whose minority government is propped up by Catalan pro-independence national lawmakers. On February 12, 12 imprisoned Catalan separatist leaderswill go on trial for rebellion, and in the upcoming weeks, Sanchez will attempt to pass his 2019 budget, for which Catalan lawmakersʼ votes are needed. Earlier this week, Sanchez had announced that a neutral "rapporteur" would be present in future talks between various political parties within Catalonia, a demand that had been made by separatists. These talks would take place alongside others between representatives from the regional Catalan government and the national government in Madrid. Catalonia is divided between those who want to split from Spain and those who want to remain, though separatists currently hold regional political power. Sanchez is caught between wanting to avoid inflaming Catalan separatist sentiment and taking a hard-enough line against the breakaway movement to reassure the many Spaniards who believe he has been soft on the issue of keeping Spain unified. Opposition politicians from the conservative Popular Party (PP), the center-right nationalist Citizens

(Ciudadanos) party and the far-right Vox party accused Sanchez of giving in to "blackmail" by separatists in order to secure their support forthe budget vote. PP leader Pablo Casado called Sanchez a "traitor" and told EFE news agency that the prime minister had "crossed all red lines; the legislature is totally over and the government is illegitimate." Casado also called for early national elections to take place. Citizens and PP are organizing a rally in Madrid on Sunday to protest Sanchez, and the far-right party Vox has also called on its supporters to take part. The slogan of the march will be, "Elections now for a united Spain." Citizens, PP and Vox have already become an effective counterforce to Sanchezʼs Socialists at the regional level. FollowingDecember elections in the southern autonomous community of Andalusia, the three parties teamed up to deny the Socialists governing power in their traditional stronghold.

Criticism has also come from within Sanchezʼs own party: "Approving a budget doesnʼt justify concessions that call into question the constitution, Spainʼs unity, the rule of law or decency," said Javier Lamban, the Socialist president of the northeastern region of Aragon. Felipe Gonzalez, ex-president and former head of Spainʼs Socialists, who is admired nationally for his role in Spainʼs transition to democracy, questioned Thursday why it was necessary to have a rapporteur and intra-Catalan talks.

Australia investigates national parliament hacking attempt

Well-being ʼimproved,ʼ but job acquisition ʼminorʼ

Australian authorities are investigating a breach of the countryʼs federal parliamentary computing network after a suspected hacking attempt, the Australian parliament revealed Friday. "Following a security incident on the parliamentary computing network, a number of measures have been implemented to protect the network and its users," parliamentary authorities said in a statement.

The Finnish governmentʼs Social Insurance Institute (Kela) published mixed results Friday in its bid to find simpler alternatives to the Nordic nationʼs social security model that currently includes sanctions on beneficiaries who turn down work. The study involves giving a "basic income," a guaranteed but small monthly income with no strings attached, to 2,000 unemployed people rather than standard state assistance.

34/2019 • 9 February, 2019 Weekend issue

Two ships collide in Mediterranean near Corsica The collision between the Tunisian and Cypriot ships spilled a trail of pollution stretching 4 kilometers across the water. Italy and France have sent ships to assist with cleanup efforts. Two cargo ships collided in the Mediterranean Sea near the island of Corsica on Sunday, causing an oil spill, coastal authorities said.

The Ulysse, operated by the Tunisian operator CTN, ran into the Cyprus-based CLS Virgina while it was anchored about 30 kilometres (20 miles) off the northern tip of the island at around 7:30 a.m. local time, the regional naval authority said in a statement.

Read more: Time to clean up the ocean garbage dump No one was injured but "the collision caused considerable damage, with an opening several meters long in the CLS Virginiaʼs hull," the statement said. The spill created a trail of pollution 4 kilometers long and several hundred meters wide, heading away from Corsica to the northwest, toward the French and Italian mainland, the statement continued.

Vietnamʼs dog meat culture clashes with modern tastes Hoang has been eating dog meat since he was young. He canʼt imagine there will be a time that he wonʼt be eating it at least twice a month. However, Vietnamese officials announced in September that dog and cat meat should no longer be served in the inner districts of the capital city Hanoi because itʼs offensive to tourists and can spread diseases like rabies. Read more: Illegal dog meat trade raises moral questions Dog meat lovers and restaurant owners fear that the government will try to expand the ban and decide to officially forbid eating dog and cat meat entirely. "I donʼt see how they can ban it. The demand is just too high," Hoang said at a restaurant in Vietnamʼs largest metropolis, Ho Chi Minh City. In a small alley in Ho Chi Minh City, at least four restaurants serve dog meat, or Thịt chó. People gather around small tables to dine on the canine meat, complementing it with rice wine or beer. Hoang, who declined to give his full name, is sitting at a table with three good friends. "For us itʼs a tradition to eat dog meat. Itʼs just as normal as eating seafood or chicken," he told DW. 2

Czech PM Andrej Babis criticizes DW migrant workers story He labeled Deutsche Welle and the Guardian pro-migration media

Czech PM Andrej Babis has denounced a Deutsche Welle story about migrants working at a poultry farm he owned. He labeled Deutsche Welle and the Guardian "pro-migration media" that publish "falsehoods and lies" about him.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis has dismissed areport by DW about migrant workers employed at his companies, going as far as to say the story had been "invented." The DW articlehighlighted that despite years of stoking anti-migrant sentiment in the Czech Republic, foreigners from countries including Vietnam, Mongolia, Ukraine and Romania were working at a poultry

China says Interpol chief Meng Hongwei under investigation for bribery Interpol President Meng Hongwei, who had gone missing in late September, is under investigation for bribery and other crimes, the Chinese Security Ministry announced on Monday.

Meng is accused of "accepting bribes and is suspected of violating the law," the ministry said in a statement. It also hinted at a political dimension by stating Meng was being probed because of his own "willfulness and for bringing trouble upon himself."

Meng, a senior security official in China as well as the first Chinese head of Interpol, has beenmissing since September 25 while on a trip to his native country. On Sunday, Chinaʼs anti-graft body had said that "Public Security Ministry Vice Minister Meng Hongwei is currently under

Asia Bibi: Pakistan top court hears blasphemy appeal amid Islamist threats On Monday, Pakistanʼs Supreme Court began the hearing of Asia Bibiʼsfinal appeal against her 2010 death penalty. The three-judge bench said it has reserved the verdict on the appeal, however the judges did not say when they will announce it. If the top court upholds her death sentence, the only recourse for the 53-year-old would be toappeal to the countryʼs president for clemency. In 2014, her death sentence was upheld by the Lahore High Court. Rights group Amnesty International dubbed the verdict a "grave injustice." Religious extremists in Pakistan, particularly the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) group, have warned the authorities against reversing the blasphemy verdict."If there is any attempt to hand her [Bibi] over to a foreign country, there will be terrible consequences," TLP said in a statement.

factory called Vodnanská in Mirovice, which is part of Babisʼ conglomerate holding company Agrofert. Babis, a billionaire businessman, transferred the company to a trust fund in 2017. DW contacted Babis for comment prior to publication, but he did not respond until after the German version of the article was published online on February 5. investigation by the National Supervisory Commission for suspected violations of law," without specifying its allegations. China has been cracking down on corruption under President Xi Jinping.

Interpol later said Meng had resigned as president of the international police organization with immediate effect. It named South Korean national Kim Jong Yang, who was Senior Vice-President, as acting president.

Attack on Iranian military parade may harden domestic and regional policies A deadly attack on an Iranian military parade may strengthen hardliners in the country and send al-

ready heightened tensions across the Middle East soaring, asTehran points its finger at the United States and its Gulf Arab allies.

The rare attack claimed by Arab separatists killed 12Revolutionary Guard (IRGC)members and 13 others in the southwestern city of Ahvaz, capital of oil-rich Khuzestan province, which is home to Shiite Iranʼs Sunni Arab minority. It was the deadliest attack in the country in nearly a decade. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed "mercenary terrorists" who carried out a crime in "continuation of the conspiracies by the US-backed regimes in the region," while the IRGC under his command vowed "deadly and unforgiving revenge," if need be abroad.

Iran did not name a particular Arab country, but the accusations appeared to be aimed at regional rivals Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

34/2019 • 9 February, 2019 Weekend issue

Dark, intense shades meet casual feminine style:WINTER SALE few more days to go!!!

WINTER SALE! UP TO 50% ON THE COLLECTION AUTUMN/WINTER IN OUR BUDAPEST STORES!! /Högl Store Andrassy Andrássy út 12 (only 100 meters from your Hotel Moments to Opera) , Högl Store Allee Center Október 23. utca 8, Högl Aréna Mall Kerepesi út 9 /

The Högl autumn/winter 2018/19 collection confidently showcases the new on-trend colours dark plum, violet, rust brown and different shades of grey. The new season’s styles are impressively strong, but still feminine.

They come in a range of new colours and materials, in slim, elegant styles with block heels and profiled soles – guaranteed to turn heads. Nightwalker Mysterious and as dark as the night, the styles in this part of the collection won’t fail to impress. The focus is on new interpretations of classics: boots and ankle boots with stylish details such as laces, eyelets and buckles. The colour palette

ranges from black to dark grey to the new addition of dark plum.

Swarovski® crystal detailing emphasises the feminine look and adds a hint of opulence. Winter styles are enhanced by a Gore-Tex® membrane, and are available in both casual suede and metallic leather. Sense Maker Delicate greys bring a ray of light in the winter darkness, complemented by clean, simple lines. The urban focus of the collection uses a palette of flattering dark grey, stone, nude and mauve tones. Trendy block heels and new queenie heels feature strongly.

From sneakers to heels (in round, V-neck and high-fronted cuts) to

bootees and over-knee boots, the high-quality leather and soft neutral colours of these new designs complement next season’s relaxed, feminine look perfectly. Experiencer The third theme of the collection is expressed in earthy tones, from espresso to rust brown and camel. Sneakers, bootees and heels in burnt colours and retrochic style invite to experiment with all sorts of different combinations.

The multi-tone effect of the new materials used for ankle boots – such as crushed Naplak – adds a surprising twist to their look. Singer Adrien Szek‐ eres is now 3rd year brand ambassador of Högl Shoes in Hungary!

Chinese Spring Celebrations to take place in Budapest

On 25-27 January, the Millenáris Park cultural centre is hosting an early spring celebration, dedicated to China and promoting its diplomatic relations with Hungary. Featuring a dragon dance, a Beijing opera piece and authentic street food, this free weekend event allows visitors to delve deeper into Chinese culture and cuisine. Organised by the HungarianChinese Association for Arts and Culture, the festival brings a slice of the Far East to Budapest, including an exhibition of calligraphy, tea tasting and a presentation of traditional Chinese medicine. The agenda of this three-day event also features a kung fu show, a display of traditional Chinese apparels and tourism-related offers. In addition, guests can sample authentic Asian dishes, provided by wholesale hub Chinatown Budapest that also hosts the popular Street Food Night Market every summer. The event as a whole ties in with Chinese New Year, this year celebrated on 5 February.

Stars named for Balaton Sound 2019 Hungary’s biggest music festival outside Budapest, Balaton Sound, has just announced a second round of headliners for its 2019 event. Artists include Brit-nominated UK singer Jess Glynne, rap star G-Eazy and big-name trance DJ Armin van Buuren. The Chainsmokers return to Balaton Sound after last year’s successful set, Alex Pall and Drew Taggart having just released Sick Boy, an album of singles issued throughout 2018. A set by legendary Dutch DJ Tiësto will crown opening night, while London drum ‘n’ bass band Rudimental close the whole shebang. Balaton Sound, Zamárdi, 3-7 July

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34/2019 • 9 February, 2019 Weekend issue

Oscars 2019 ceremony to take place without a host Itʼs not the first time that Hollywoodʼs biggest night will take place without a host

5 things to know about the HIVprevention drug, PrEP US President Donald Trump has announced a plan to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in America.

The drug known as PrEP, which prevents spread of the disease, still faces challenges to widespread adoption around the world.

In his annualState of the Union address, US President Donald Trump announced his administrationʼs plan to end the HIV epidemic in the United States by 2030. The main goal of the plan is to reduce new infections by 75 percent over the next five years

and end the epidemic. Around 40,000 Americans contract the disease each year. Globally, 36.9 million people have HIV and 5,000 more get it every day. One important part of preventing the transmission of HIV is the drug PrEP, which stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. Derived from the antiretroviral drugs that reduce the amount of HIV in infected patients — thus reducing their likelihood of transmitting the virus to others — PrEP is for people who have not yet contracted HIV. Here are five things to know about PrEP.

The awards night was left lacking a compere after comedian Kevin Hart pulled out following criticism of past homophobic statements.

This yearʼs Oscar ceremony will go ahead without an official host, an ABC television executive said on Tuesday. The February 24 event will see presenters double up as hosts, said Karey Burke, the president of ABC entertainment, which televises Hollywoodʼs top awards event. Comedian Kevin Hart in December stepped down from hosting the Oscars amid criticism over past homophobic

tweets, for which he apologized. "After that [Hartʼs withdrawal], it was pretty clear that we were going to stay the course and just have presenters host the Oscars. We all got on board with that idea pretty quickly," Burke told reporters in the Los Angeles suburb of Pasadena. Itʼs only the second time that the Oscars ceremony has gone without a host in its 91-year history.

One night in February brings a dozen choirs together in Budapest

Carnival season in Budapest and beyond

Midwinter can be bleak but never dull in Budapest. On 9 February, popular events series The Night of Choirs brings together a dozen groups to sing in several rooms of the MagNet Community House on showcase boulevard Andrássy út. Performances start at 6pm. Next month, 200 singers perform 35 shows after sundown for the winter edition of the popularNight of Choirsfestival. Hosted at theMagNet community hubfor cultural attractions, the event features performances in diverse genres from folk to jazz. Concerts start early evening and community singing will bring the day to a close at 10pm.

Tickets at 1,600 forints are available on the event’s website. Set between the Bajza utca and Kodály körönd stations on the M1 Millennium Underground, MagNet House is a centre for diverse community activities. The building is also home to MagNet Bank, a financial institution focused on ethical commerce.

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Michelangelo, Rubens and Dalí all coming to Budapest in 2019 view for nearly three months until 30 June, The Triumph of the Body exhibition featuring 80 drawings by Michelangelo should draw bumper crowds to Budapest’s revamped Museum of Fine Arts this spring. Later in October, the museum will present Rubens and the Golden Age of Flemish Painting, a total of 120 works of art,

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.

Michelangelo, Rubens and Salvador Dalí all feature at the bighitting exhibitions coming to Budapest’s Museum of Fine Arts and the Hungarian National Gallery during 2019.

The season starts on 5 April with a display of 80 drawings by Michelangelo, on loan from the Louvre, the Uffizi and the British Museum. On

ten by Van Dyck and 30 by Rubens himself. Curated from 50 prestigious collections around the world, including the Hermitage, the Prado and London’s National Gallery, the exhibition will run until February 2020.

Over at the National Gallery, The

Surrealist Movement from Magritte to Dalí – Crisis and Rebirth in 1929 will focus on

the leading artists active in this groundbreaking genre during the momentous year of the Wall Street Crash. The exhibition, on show from 27 June until 20 October, is being organised in collaboration with the Pompidou Centre in Paris, which will provide many of the featured pieces.

34/2019 • 9 February, 2019 Weekend issue

A look at how Africa is tackling foodborne illness Contaminated food poses a major health and economic threat to sub-Saharan Africa

While efforts are taken to provide safe food for exports, governments are reijigging the system to do more for domestic markets.

Small flies can be seen buzzing around many food markets. But the threat they bring is not visible to the naked eye. Houseflies, infected with salmonella, E. coli and other bacteria, can contaminate food and cause serious gastrointestinal illnesses. In Ugandaʼs popular pork snack bars, for example, one-third of raw pork sampled for a study by the International Livestock Research Institute tested

After Schindlerʼs List screened in US cinemas for one week in December, Spielbergʼs epic Holocaust drama will return to Germany on January 27 to coincide with International Holocaust Remembrance Day. A quarter of a century after it premiered across the world, Schindlerʼs List is once again being released in theaters worldwide in a newly restored 4K Ultra HD version. This includes in Poland, the country where the film was set and shot, and where the German-Nazi Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated 74 years ago. ʼThe extent of the Holocaust must not be forgottenʼ "It is difficult to believe that itʼs been 25 years since Schindlerʼs List first arrived in theaters," said Steven Spielberg regarding the filmʼs rerelease. "The true stories of the magnitude and tragedy of the Holocaust are ones that must never be forgotten, and the filmʼs lessons about the critical importance of countering hatred continue to reverberate today. I am honored that audiences will be able to experience the journey once again on the big screen."

Sting to return to Budapest for summer 2019

positive for salmonella. Foodborne diseases, either caused by pests, pesticides or improper storage, pose a major health threat to subSaharan Africa, which suffers the highest levels of foodborne illness anywhere in the world. More than 91 million people in the region fall ill every year from eating contaminated food and 137,000 die as a result,according to the World Health Organization.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day: Itʼs not about guilt, but about responsibility The 1961 novel Friedrich by Hans Peter Richter was on the curriculum of my 6th grade German class at the beginning of the 2000s. The narrator of the book is a young German boy recounting the fate of his neighbor and best friend, a Jew, under the Nazis. It was the first time I consciously came into contact with the history of the persecution of Jews in Germany. "At that time it was the Jews... Today itʼs the blacks.

Here the students... tomorrow it might

ʼSchindlerʼs Listʼ re-release evokes conflicted legacy

be the whites, the Christians or the public officers..." stated the foreword of the book. "The public officers?" my 11year-old self questioned reflexively at the time. Yet, I also suddenly realized the enormity of those lines. From that point on, the history of the Nazi era and the Holocaust never let go of its hold on me. They remained my constant companion. Of course, in history lessons, but also in German, English and French classes.

Sting is head over heels for Budapest. After a successful free show with Shaggy a month ago on Heroes’ Square, the former Police frontman has just announced another Budapest concert for next summer. On 2 July, the Grammy-winning singer brings his My Songs tour to the Papp László Aréna, where he will be taking the stage with his own band. From “Englishman In New York” to “Every Breath You Take”, the set should include Sting’s biggest hits. Tickets are on sale now.

Weather

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Hungary Budapest: Debrecen: Eger: Hévíz:

5/6 4/7 5/11 6/12

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

9/17 5/12 5/7 3/8 1/5 2/7

Kecskemét: Keszthely: Siófok:

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

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Culture

New tourist info point pops up in central Budapest nearVárosháza park The main tourist information office Budapest Info Point in the city centre has temporarily relocated to a new site at nearby Városháza Park.

Housed in a neat kiosk of wood and glass, the new outlet will be serving tourists while the Sütő utca office is being renovated.

This pop-up shop is conveniently located, a few steps from the terminus of airport bus 100E. Until the end of February, visitors to Hungary’s capital can pick up maps, browse Budapest guides and book city tours at a new tourist info site, set up near the Deák tér transport hub.

Overseen by the Budapest Festival and Tourism Center, this temporary setting is stationed here while the main Budapest Info Pointon nearby Sütő utca is being revamped. The pop-up store serves as a sales outlet for the Budapest Card, offering free and discounted services for 24, 48 and 72 hours, as well as for four or five days. This new office also stocks copies of our free We Love Budapest pocket guides, seasonal booklets covering attractions aroundBudapest,Balaton andHungary in English and Hungarian.

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34/2019 • 9 February, 2019 Weekend issue

Adam Peaty criticism leads to Fina promising to ʼmoderniseʼ By Nick Hope

Swimmingʼs international governing body says it will look to "improve and modernise" following criticism from Olympic champion Adam Peaty.

Briton Peaty is among a host of leading swimmers to have criticised Finaʼs governance over the past year. "It feels like weʼre still in 1970," Peaty, 23, told BBC Sport. But Fina responded on Wednesday to say it is planning to launch an "innovative" new competition in 2019 in order to attract "the best athletes". "Fina will continue to make every effort to protect and improve the competition calendar and promote its harmonious development," the statement added.

Peaty, along with other athletes, has been particularly frustrated by the bodyʼs lack of dialogue in key decision-making.

New Bayern signing Alphonso

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.

What Brexit could mean for the Premier League and the Bundesliga What will it all mean for the Bundesliga

The impacts of Brexit, however it arrives, will be felt far and wide, and the worldʼs biggest sport is by no means immune. But what will it all mean for the Bundesliga, the Premier League, transfers, wages and players?

Whatever your perception, itʼs fair to say that itʼs still unclear exactly what Brexit will look like, or what all of its short- and long-term effects will be. But itʼs also true that the process of withdrawal has already changed plenty in the UK and in Europe. As in life, so it is in football, in this instance at least, and the uncertainty surrounding the future has already made its mark on the richest league in the world and its European counterparts. One of the concrete changes

has been the fluctuation in the value of the pound against the euro, withlast Tuesdayʼs developmentssending the British currency tumbling once again, something thatʼs clearly a problem for British clubs. Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino even cited this as a reason why his club made no summer signings back in August: "With Brexit it is worse because the cost is 30 percent more. That is a drama too," the Argentine coach said.

Davies arrives in Munich

After a start to the season that has had some Bayern Munich fans clamoring for a big signing in the January transfer window, one that could eventually turn out to be a big one has already arrived in the Bavarian capital. After flying into Munich on Tuesday,Alphonso Davies,who just turned 18 earlier this month, underwent medical checks and took part in his first training session with his new club this Wednesday.

"My first impressions of the training ground were great," Davies said in a video posted on Bayern Munichʼs website. "As a kid I dreamed of being part of such a big club. Now I am and itʼs unbelievable. .. I just want to work as hard as I can in training and hopefully get some games."

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Police ask for Cristiano Ronaldo DNA sample in rape case Las Vegas police have asked Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo to submit a DNA sample as part of their investigation into rape allegations made against him. The request relates to an alleged rape nearly a decade ago.

The Portuguese forward has consistently denied the allegations and his lawyer Peter Christiansen told press agency AFP that the DNA request was standard practice. "Mr Ronaldo has always maintained, as he does today, that what occurred in Las Vegas in 2009 was consensual in nature, so it is not

surprising that DNA would be present, nor that the police would make this very standard request as part of their investigation," he said in a statement. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said it had made an official request to Italian authorities and confirmed that the request for DNA was a case of taking "the same steps in this case as in any other sexual assault."

Former model Kathryn Mayorga, 34, of Las Vegas,made the accusationagainst the 33-year-old footballer last year in the state of Nevada.