DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Outsider poised to win El Salvador presidential election Salvadorians have begun voting to elect their new president in the sixth election since the end of the countryʼs 1980-92 civil war. Polling stations opened at 7:00 a.m. local time (1300 UTC) on Sunday, with local media reporting large queues from early morning. The vote comes as the small impoverished Central American countrybattles to tackle gang violence,corruptionandmass migration from the regionto the United States. About 5.3 million people are registered to cast ballots. Although the race is expected to be close, opinion polls suggest Nayib Bukele, a candidate for the right-wing Grand Alliance for National Unity (GANA), has the best chance of winning. A victory for the 37-year-old would be significant, given that he isnʼt from either of the two main parties that have dominated Salvadorian politics since 1989.
Ukrainian Orthodox head enthroned, Russia fuming Metropolitan Epiphanius I was enthroned in Kyiv Sunday as head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, two months after its independence - known as "Tomos" - was recognized by the Orthodox worldʼs Istanbul-based Patriarch Batholomew I. The inauguration, broadcast on Ukrainian television, was described by Poroshenko as the "completion" of the new church formation he has spearheaded in recent months. Sundayʼs rituals in Kyivʼs Saint Sophia Cathedral Sunday,was performed by two Ukrainian bishops and Parisʼ Metropolitan Emmanuel. Absent were delegations from "almost all" other [foreign] Orthodox churches, reported Germanyʼs Catholic news agency KNA.
29/2019 • 4 FEBRUARY, 2019
Queen Elizabeth to be evacuated in case of Brexit riots The British monarch could be whisked away to a secret location if disorder was to break out
The British monarch could be whisked away to a secret location if disorder was to break out, UK media reported. The chance of a nodeal Brexit has prompted businesses, people and the government to make contingency plans. Queen Elizabeth II and other members of Britainʼs royal family could be evacuated from London in case of nodeal Brexit civil unrest, Britainʼs Sun‐ day Times and Mail on Sunday newspapers reported on Sunday. Citing sources within the UK government, The Sunday Timessaid Cold War-era plans to rescue the monarch in the event of a nuclear attack from the Soviet Union have been "repurposed" for aworst-case scenario where Britain leaves the European Union without a deal. The evacuation plans were "dusted off" for the sake of "sensible planning," a government source told the paper. In the case of widespread rioting in the UK capital after March 29, the royals would be transferred to a top-secret location, the newspaper said. Read more: Worried about Brexit, Brits stockpile food, supplies Brits could turn against the Queen The plans have been prompted by concerns that the royals may be a target for angry Britons if the country faced large-scale disruption. The Sun‐ day Timessaid the contingency plans for the royal family were part of
stepped up no-deal preparations by British civil servants, codenamed Operation Yellowhammer, and involved discussions between Londonʼs Metropolitan Police and one other regional police force. The original contingency plan, devised in 1962 following the Cuban missile crisis, would have seen the royals evacuated from London to other royal residences in the event of a nuclear war. If there had been enough warning, they would have then been moved to HMS Brittania, the Queenʼs personal yacht, which had orders to move to islands off the northwest of Scotland, if conflict seemed inevitable. The plans were revised several times over the years, including when Brittania was retired from service. Although the plans have been amended, the paper said there was no guarantee Queen Elizabeth would agree to being evacuated. The royals famously remained in London despite the UK capital being targeted a nearly 8 month-long bombing campaign by Nazi Germany in World War II, known as The Blitz.
German minister defends controversial industrial strategy During a visit to Algeria, German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier on Sunday defended a new government strategy to protect and promote German companiesin an increasingly competitive global economy. The "Industrial Strategy 2030" is necessary because German companiesare under increasing pressure from innovative firmsthat receive government support in the United States and Germany, Altmaier said on the sidelines of a trip to Egypt. In a guest column for Die Welt am Sonntag newspaper, Altmaier dismissed critics who said his ministryʼs "Industrial Strategy 2030" advocated protectionism and massive government interference in the economy. "The state can only nudge or give [the economy] a boost," he said. "Investments must come from the private economy."
Yemen government, rebels meet aboard UN ship for truce talks Representatives from Yemenʼs internationally recognized government and the Houthi rebels met on a UN vessel docked off the Red Sea port of Hodeida on Sunday. Both sides agreedduring December talks in Swedento withdraw their troops from the strategically important city and open humanitarian corridors by January 7. Butattempts to implement the planhave since flagged. The UN-brokered agreement aimed to pave the way for a resolution to Yemenʼs four-year conflict and avert a full-scale escalation in Hodeida, which is the main entry point for most of the countryʼs imported goods and humanitarian aid.
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29/2019 • 4 February, 2019
European Court of Justice rules Polish arrest warrants can be halted The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled against extraditing suspects to Poland on Wednesday if there are "serious and fact-based grounds" to believe the suspect would not receive a fair trial. The ruling concernsa Polish man in Irelandwho claims recent justice reforms in Poland harmed his chances of being treated fairly. The man is suspected of drug trade. In recent years, Polandʼs ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party has been working to place courts under a tighter control of the executive branch. Among other steps, the parliament now has power to choose members of the National Council of the Judiciary whose job is to oversee judicial impartiality. More recently, the lawmakers changed retirement age for the Supreme Court judges, which critics believe was aimed at ousting the most experienced judges and stacking the body with government supporters. The Supreme Court and its chief Malgorzata Gersdorf are opposing the move.
Geely the car industryʼs rising ʼprofitability starʼ Ferdinand Dudenhöffer from the CAR Center Automotive Research at Germanyʼs Duisburg-Essen University called Chinese auto manufacturer Geely "the profitability star of the worldʼs car industry." A fresh study by the center points out that on average, a Geely car costs just €9,529 ($10,942), but the companysecures a 14.4 percent profit from revenues before tax and interest. Dudenhöffer says thatʼs a lot more than, say, the profit margins of foreign rivals BMW, Toyota or PSAOpel. The worldʼs largest carmaker, Wolfsburg-based Volkswagen, logs a profit margin of only 8.2 percent, the survey says. Geely is part of the Zhejiang Geely Holding,which also owns Volvo Cars, London EVTaxi and Lotus.The holding has also acquired a 10 percent stake in Daimler. According to the CAR researchers, Geelyʼs rapid rise is based on its successful compact car platform, which it developed together with Sweden-based Volvo. "What Ferdinand Piëch managed to implement at VW from 1993 with the help of his platform strategyis in a way being copied now by Geelyʼs main shareholder and founder, Li Shufu," said Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, adding that the Chinese were becoming major players in the global auto market. 2
German Catholic Church ʼneeds urgent reformʼ Allegations of sexual abuse by Catholic bishops continue to fuel modernization demands
Mexican journalist shot dead at restaurant Sergio Martinez Gonzalez, the editor of a local news outlet in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas, was shot dead Wednesday morning, the latest victim in Mexicoʼs wave of journalist murders. Martinez, who owned and ran the publication Enfoque, had just dropped off his daughters at school and was breakfasting with his wife at a local restaurant when two people on a motorcycle stopped in front of the couple and opened fire, local media reported. Martinezʼs wife survived the attack, and was receiving medical attention, Mexican newspaper El Uni‐ versal said. The Chiapas attorney generalʼs office announced on Twitter that it was investigating the murder.
Eight religious thought leaders have urged Cardinal Reinhard Marx for more tolerance towards gays and a change to celibacy rules. The head of the Catholic Church in Germany on Sunday faced fresh calls for "courageous reforms" in the wake of a sex-abuse scandal that has implicated nearly 1,700 clerics. Eight well-known theologians and Catholics wrote an open letter to Cardinal Reinhard Marx urging the Church to "free diocesan priests to choose their own way of life," in other words, recommending a relaxation of strict celibacy rules. The
Confusion over missing Saudi journalist in Turkey who ʼvanishedʼ from consulate Turkish and Saudi officials have given conflicting reports on the whereabouts of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who has been missing since he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Tuesday. Khashoggi, a regular contributor to The Washington Post, has been a fierce critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and has criticized Saudi Arabiaʼs policies toward Qatar and Canada,the war in Yemen and a
letter, published in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung newspaper, also called for a limitation of church powers, the extension of full priesthood to women, and a "reasonable and just evaluation of homosexuality." "If you position yourself at the top of the reform movement, you will have our determined support," the appeal read. "Turn a new page, write ʼ2019ʼ on it, and make a start." crackdown on dissent, the media and activists. Khashoggiʼs personal website bore a banner saying, "Jamal has been arrested at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul!" without elaborating. A Saudi official denied that Khashoggi had been detained inside the consulate. "Mr. Khashoggi visited the consulate to request paperwork related to his marital status and exited shortly thereafter," the official said. "He is neither in the consulate nor in Saudi custody."
Afghan leader rejects resignation of spy chief, top ministers President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday
urged Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak, Defense Minister Tareq Shah Bahrami, and intelligence chief Masoum Stanekzai to stay in their posts, the Afghan government said. The three officials submitted resignation letters on Saturday, citing policy differences and a spate of deadly attacks. "President Ghani did not approve their resignations... and gave them the necessary instructions to improve the security situation," a statement from the presidential palace said. The offers to step down followed the resignation of Ghaniʼs national security adviser and close ally, Hanif Atmar, on Friday. Atmar, one of the countryʼs most powerful politicians, has been replaced by former ambassador to the US Hamdullah Mohib.
29/2019 • 4 February, 2019
Maas: Exit from Brexit ʼextremely unlikelyʼ German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the EU would continue to reject a renegotiation of the current withdrawal agreement. The protection of Irelandʼs border remained a priority for the EU, Maas said. Germanyʼs Foreign Minister, Heiko Maas, said on Sunday that the idea of the UK avoiding Brexit was unlikely. Maas told German media group Funke that he would like to have seen an "exit from Brexit," but that he held no hopes of it happening. Brussels and London find themselves at an impasse over the final agreement to the UKʼs exit from the EU, with themost recent deal having failedin the British Parliament, as the deadline of March 29
Worried about Brexit, Brits stockpile food, supplies
Nick Thomas, a 25-year-old hazardous waste operator from Cornwall, is insistent that Brexit will be fine. Probably. "If ʼno dealʼ goes badly, thereʼll be rioting on the streets and looting, national uproar. If people canʼt eat, theyʼll rise up and fight. But I canʼt see it happening — thatʼs a very worst case scenario," he said. Thomas, who voted to leave the EU because of the adverse effects of the common fisheries policy on his local area, is not ruling out the possibility of things going awry. He has stocked up with a substantial amount of dried goods – rice and pasta, primarily — as well as tinned beans and vegetables. "The main thing is the food supply chain," he said. "A couple of friends of mine have done the same as me and bought some big bags of rice and pasta, some long-life tins of food. But weʼre all of the same opinion that thereʼs nothing really to worry about."
looms. The uncertainty has led to calls for London to exercise its right to revoke the leave announcement it made two years ago and remain a full-fledged member of the bloc. But Maas was skeptical about the chances of that occurring. "Thatʼs what Iʼd like the most," he told Funke. "But we should have no illusions about this. The likelihood of an exit from Brexit is extraordinarily low," Maas conceded.
EU nations set to recognize opposition leader Guaido as Maduro deadline runs out
Venezuelaʼs President Nicolas Maduro faces massive pressure to call for new elections before midnight on Sunday. Germany, France, Britain, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands and Belgium have saidthey will recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as presidentif Maduro fails to announce a second vote before the eight-day ultimatum expires. Franceʼs European affairs minister, Nathalie Loiseau, told LCI television on Sunday that "if by tonight [President] Maduro does not commit to organizing presidential elections, then France will consider
Juan Guaido as legitimate to organize them in his place and we will consider him as the interim president until legitimate elections in Venezuela [take place]." "The ultimatum ends tonight," she told French media later on Sunday. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said Vienna would "acknowledge and support Juan Guaido as president ad interim of Venezuela" if Maduro failed to call new elections. The Austrian leader also said he had a "very good phone call with President" Guaido in an English-language tweet.
German WW1 grenade found in potato shipment A police bomb squad was called to the Calbee snacks factory in eastern Hong Kong after staff there found a hand grenade from the First World War inside a crate of French potatoes, police said. Officers moved cars and piled sandbags around the 1-kilogram (2.2-pound) device before safely destroying it. "The grenade was in an unstable condition because it has been previously discharged but failed to detonate," Superintendent Wilfred Wong Ho-hon told reporters.
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29/2019 • 4 February, 2019
Germany attempts ʼfacesavingʼ resolution to Saudi drugs boycott The human rightsrow between Saudi Arabia and Canada made international headlinesin recent weeks, when the Riyadh government suddenly suspended new trade and investment to the Great White North. The punitive measures were in response to a simple tweet by Canadaʼs foreign minster, calling for the release of two jailed Saudi activists. Receiving less attention has been the diplomatic spat between Europeʼs No. 1 economy and the oil-rich kingdom — also sparked by a ministerʼs comments; this time Sigmar Gabriel, Germanyʼs thenforeign minister. During the political crisis in Lebanon last November that saw Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri resign and later rescind his decision, Riyadh was widely accused of forcing his departure, which Gabriel alluded to as "adventurism." ʼShamefulʼ remarks hurt tiesRiyadh immediately recalled its ambassador to Berlin, telling the German government the comments were "shameful." In May, it went further and froze all new business with Germany. Over the subsequent months, several German pharmaceutical and medical technology firms, including Siemens Healthineers, Bayer and Boerhringer Ingelheim, have been excluded from public healthcare tenders in the kingdom. A pharmaceutical industry source told DW, on condition of anonymity, that Saudi authorities had not given any written explanation about the exclusion, and that there was no clear path for Germany to resolve the issue. Efforts by German diplomats to mediate with Saudi authorities were delayed, initially, by the Holy Month of Ramadan, and the summer break, as Gulf countries stop work in July and August due to the extreme heat.
T-Mobile reports cybersecurity incident T-Mobile US and its unit Metro PCS told customers that cybersecurity staff found and shut down unauthorized access to certain information on August 20 and immediately reported the matter to authorities. The company added that no financial data, social security numbers or passwords were compromised during the attackon its networks, admitting, though, that other personal information like names, email IDs, phone numbers as well as account numbers or account types (postpaid or prepaid) may have been exposed. T-Mobile said that about 3 percent of its 77 million customers could have been affected (roughly 2 million people potentially affected). 4
Bad Brexit actors, no romance and a dull plot Brexit is no longer the gripping political drama it once was. I get it. Writing a drama is hard. There are so many things to think about. Characters. Plot. Pacing. Dialogue. And when youʼve got a following as large as Brexit does,the pressure to deliver must be huge. But I canʼt hold back any longer. The last few episodes have been woeful! Itʼs got to the point where I can no longer bear to watch the show. Donʼt get me wrong. It started off brilliantly. I remember literally holding my breath as the votes were being counted in the middle of sea-
No breakthrough in China-US trade talks Chinaʼs Ministry of Commerce said on Friday that it had held "constructive meetings" with US officialsafter talks resumed between the countries over their ongoing trade spat. Nonetheless, with no major breakthrough yet in sight, the resumption of talks did not prevent an additional $16 billion (€13.83 billion) of tariffs being levied by the US and China on each otherʼs goods, starting from Thursday. Read more: US-China trade spat: Clash of the titans, part 2 Talks took place on Wednesday and Thursday aimed at defusing the escalating conflict, which has now seen both countries slap $50 billion in tariffs on the otherʼs products, with more expected to follow. The Chinese news agency Xinhua reported that the officials on both sides have vowed to "keep in contact" in the future. High-tech will suffer, says ChinaMeanwhile, a prominent Chinese state planner said on Friday that US tariffs onhigh-tech Chinese technology would have an impact on the tech sectors in both countries.
Hotel Palazzo Zichy H-1088 Budapest, Lőrinc pap tér 2. T.: +36 1 235 4000 reservation@hpz.hu www.hotel-palazzo-zichy.hu/
Kalashnikov unveils new electric car Kalashnikov,a company moreknown for its AK-47 machine gunsthan its electric vehicles, unveiled its new electric car on Thursday. The powder-blue prototype, dubbed the CV-1, was unveiled by the Russian arms maker at a defense expo outside of Moscow. Kalashnikov Concern told Russian media that the technology within its "electric supercar" will rival that of Elon Muskʼs Tesla. "This technology will allow us to stand in line with the worldʼs electric car manufacturers, like Tesla, and compete with them," a spokesperson told Sputnik. According to the company, the vehicle can travel 350 kilometers (217 miles) on a single charge. The carʼs retro look was inspired by a Soviet hatchback model developed in the 1970s, the "Izh-Kombi," Kalashnikov said in a statement on its website. The CV-1ʼs light blue color, large grill, retro door handles and boxy frame have received mixed reviews from Russians. On social media, some described the car as "cyberpunk" while others referred to it as the "Izh-Zombie."
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son one. The writers had done a fantastic job of building up tension. I was totally emotionally invested when the referendum came around. I mean, just think back to the first episode where David and Nigel play cricket. Itʼs clear from their angry batting that they hate each other. At one point, Nigel hits a six. His teammates go wild, waving Union Jacks stuck on cocktail sticks around and shouting "take back control" like hooligans do when their teamʼs losing.
Italy slides into recession as eurozone struggles
Italyʼs economy contracted in the last two quarters of 2018, and the slowdown is expected to continue into 2019. Italyʼs problems are having their effects on the rest of the eurozone. Italyʼs gross domestic product (GDP) fell a steeper than expected 0.2 percent for the quarter ending in December 2018, following a fall of 0.1 percent in the previous three months. A technical recession is defined as two straight quarters of economic contraction. The Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) issued the figures on Thursday and reported agriculture, forestry, fishing and industry had all contributed to the economic downturn, while a rise in net exports failed to offset those declines. The service sector was "substantially stable," ISTAT reported. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said government measures would lead to a recovery in the second half of 2019. He said the economy had been weakening since the start of 2017 and had been hit by the slowdowns in China and Germany. Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio blamed the previous government and said the data "certified the failure of the entire political class which Italians sent packing" in elections last year. It is the third recession for Italy in a decade.
29/2019 • 4 February, 2019
Hormones and depression: Can the pill lead to suicide? What is the connection between hormones and mental health?
The European Medicines Agency demands that a warning about a heightened suicide risk be included in the medication package insert for contraceptive pills. Iʼve only taken thecontraceptive pillonce in my life. It was in my early 20s, for about three months. During this time I burst into tears at the most inane issues. Missing my bus was the end of the world. But personal anecdotes, that should be emphasized, are not science and maybe as a young student I was just stressed and therefore easily upset. But there are scientific studies that do draw a connection betweendepression and hormonal contraception. One Danish study in particular has received a lot of attention. It was published in 2016 and looked into the relationship betweenhor-
In his first James Bond novels, Ian Fleming didnʼt offer much information about the spyʼs origin and background. Bond obviously had to be British, given the fact that 007 worked for the UKʼs secret service, but thatʼs all that was officially known. Following the popularity of the first James Bond film, Dr. No (top picture), released in 1962, the author provided a few biographical details in his next novel that tied in with the background of actor Sean Connery, who played the secret agent in seven films. In Flemingʼs You Only Live Twice (1964), Bond goes missing, and an obituary written by his superior, M., the head of the Secret Intelligence Service, mentions the names and nationalities of 007ʼs parents. His father was Andrew Bond, a Scottish man like Connery, while his mother, Monique Delacroix, was a Swiss national — adding to the spyʼs international flair.
Sting to return to Budapest for summer 2019
monal contraception and depression. The health data of more than one million Danish women between the ages of 15 and 34 were monitored over a total period of 13 years. The evaluation of the data showed that women who take a combined pill (estrogen and progesterone) are 23 percent more likely to also take antidepressants than women who do not use hormonal contraception. With the minipill (progesterone only) the probability was even 34 percent higher. Teenagers were even more susceptible to being negatively influenced in their mood by the pill.
Rembrandtʼs social network, centuries before Facebook Thereʼs never a shortage of works by the golden boy of the Dutch Golden Age on display in museums across the Netherlands. Yet the painter who inspired millions with his masterpieces and his works will be drawn even more into focus in 2019 as museums around the country honor the artist and his legacy, 350 years after his death. From the Mauritshuis in The Hague to the Museum Prinsenhof Delft, the Jewish Cultural Quarter and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, cultural institutions are planning special exhibitions intended to shed new light on the artist and
James Bond: Born in Germany?
present his work to younger generations in an interesting way. The artistʼs network in the pre-social media era "The ultimate artistʼs artist," as art historian Simon Schama refers to the painter in The Art Newspaper, Rembrandt created an impressive body of work before his death in 1669 at the age of 63. Considered by many to be a master even in his own time — a time of extraordinary cultural, military and scientific advancements that historians now refer to as the Dutch Golden Age — Rembrandt was a master of both the portrait and the narrative scene.
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Renovated Museum of Fine Arts to Open on 31 October AFTER MORE THAN THREE YEARS OF RENOVATION, THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS BUDAPEST WILL OPEN ON 31 OCTOBER. NOW OPEN TO PUBLIC
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 Grammywinning 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.
Thanks to the largest-scale and most comprehensive reconstruction project in the museum’s history, the museum building has been renewed, and, returning to the collection’s first concept, the museum’s permanent exhibitions will also be rearranged. Besides the new permanent exhibitions, the revamped museum will welcome visitors with a chamber exhibition titled Leonardo & the Budapest Horse and Rider. The museum reconstruction, implemented within the framework of the Liget Budapest Project, included the restoration of the Romanesque Hall, which sustained severe damage in World War II and since then had been only partially renovated and used as a storage area, along with the modernisation of the building’s obsolete heating system, the installation of air conditioning in some of the exhibition halls, the renewal of a large part of the roof structure, as well as the addition of new exhibition spaces, visitor areas and modern storage facilities.
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29/2019 • 4 February, 2019
Celticʼs James Forrest slid in to open the scoring
Celtic moved six points clear in the Scottish Premiership as goals in the final 12 minutes by James Forrest and Timothy Weah floored St Johnstone. The visitors were thwarted by a series of Zander Clark saves before Forrest finally jabbed in Timothy Weahʼs cross. Weah scored Celticʼs second on the break before the visitorsʼ Kristoffer Ajer was sent off in the final minutes. The fifth-straight win may have come at a cost, with Mikael Lustig, Odsonne Edouard and Forrest all injured. St Johnstoneʼs third consecutive defeat - after a run of 10 wins in 14 games - leaves Tommy Wrightʼs side sixth in the table, five points adrift of Hearts.
Bellshill wins in race reduced to four runners
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.
Novak Djokovic through in Australian Open after beating Daniil Medvedev Novak Djokovic is bidding to win the Australian Open for a seventh time
World number one Novak Djokovic reached the Australian Open quarter-finals for the first time since 2016 with a hard-fought win over Daniil Medvedev. The 31-year-old Serb earned a 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 6-3 victory over the 15th seed in Melbourne. Djokovic was not at his fluent best, but outlasted Medvedev to win in three hours and 15 minutes. Russiaʼs Medvedev, 22, grew frustrated as he paid the price for only taking two of nine break points. Medvedevʼs resistance continued until the end, saving two match points before Djokovic took the third with a wonderful cross-court winner. Six-time
champion Djokovic will play Kei Nishikori in the last eight after theJapanese eighth seed beat Spainʼs Pablo Carreno Bustain controversial circumstances in a five-hour match decided by a super tie-break. Another triumph for the top seed at Melbourne Park will see him move ahead of Australian great Roy Emerson and Roger Federer, who was knocked out by Greek youngster Stefanos Tsitsipas on Sunday, in terms of all-time victories.
Germanyʼs Alexander Zverev exits Australian Open in meltdown Bellshill won the Irish Gold Cup by a short head at Leopardstown on Sunday, with the field reduced to just four runners because of the conditions. Favourite Road to Respect was edged into second place as Ruby Walsh guided the Willie Mullins-trained Bellshill to an impressive victory. "We had few runners but we had the quality runners," said Mullins. Six of the 10 runners were withdrawn because of unsuitable ground, including Mullinsʼ Al Boum Photo. Meanwhile, English-trained La Bague Au Roi won the Flogas Novice Chase from Kaiser Black and Hardline. 6
Fourth-seeded menʼs player Alexander Zverev has crashed out of the Australian Open in the fourth round, losing to Canadaʼs Milos Raonic. On the womenʼs side, Serena Williams overcame Simona Halep to advance. Germanyʼs Alexander Zverev was dumped out of the Australian Open in the fourth-round on Monday by Canadian Milos Raonic 6-1, 6-1, 7-6 (7/5). In a surprsingly one-sided match, Raonic was able to break 21year-old Zverevʼs serve six times in the first two sets. Although the third set was much closer, the Canadian
converted his fourth match point to seal the contest in less than two hours. As well as losing out on a place in the quarterfinals, Zverev was also reprimanded by the umpire. Aware that the match was slipping away from him in the second set, Zverev smashed his racquet into the ground, leaving it mangled and earning him a code violation. "I just tried to stay composed, " said Raonic. "It worked extremely well for me today. I played incredibly good, did a lot of things extremely well." The 28-year-old Raonic will now face Franceʼs Lucas Pouille, who beat Bora Coric 6-7 (7-4) 6-4.