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Russia and Japan negotiate World War II peace plan Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is expected to meet with his Japanese counterpart, Taro Kano, on Monday to discuss a plan to finally end World War II hostilities. The talks will revolve aroundfour disputed islands, which Moscow calls the Kuril Islands and Tokyo dubs its Northern Territories. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Monday marked a "first round of Russian-Japanese talks on the problem of reaching a deal between the two countries." Japan and Russia did not sign a peace treaty in the wake of World War II. However, last year,Russian President Vladimir Putinand Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed toaccelerate talks for a peace deal, using a 1956 joint declaration as the basis for discussions.

Poland: Mayor of Gdansk stabbed on stage during charity event The mayor of the northern Polish city of Gdansk is reported to be in a very serious condition after being stabbed while on stage at an event for the countryʼs most important charity. Pawel Adamowicz was attacked with a sharp tool during the fundraising finale organized by the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity. Polish President Andrzej Duda said he had been informed that "doctors succeeded in restarting the heart of the seriously injured Mayor Pawel Adamowicz and there is hope, but his condition is very difficult." He called for people to pray for the mayor. Paramedics resuscitated Adamowicz at the scene before rushing him to hospital where doctors said early Monday he had survived a five-hour operation but was in a "very, very critical condition". The countryʼs interior minister, Joachim Brudzinski called the stabbing "an act of inexplicable barbarity."

12/2019 • 15 JANUARY, 2019

Tspiras to seek confidence vote in Greek government He is calling a vote of confidence in his government

Trump: US to ʼdevastate Turkey economicallyʼ if it attacks Syrian Kurds US President Donald Trump has warned Turkey that it risks economic retaliation by the United States if it attacks Syrian Kurdish forcesafter the withdrawal of US troops from Syria. "Will devastate Turkey economically if they hit Kurds," Trump wrote in a Tweet late on Sunday, without elaborating. The president also called for the creation of a 20mile (30-kilometer) safe zone in Syria and said he did not want US-allied Syrian Kurdish Peopleʼs Protection Units, or YPG, to seek any confrontation with Ankara.

German armed forces recruit fewer minors

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has lost his parliamentary majority, raising the possibility of snap elections.

Greeceʼs right-wing defense minister on Sunday announced his resignation ahead of a planned vote to end adecades-long name disputewith the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

Panos Kammenos, whose nationalist Independent Greeks party (ANEL) props up the government of leftist prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, said: "The Macedonia issue does not allow me not to sacrifice my post," after a meeting with Tsipras. "I explained to him that due to this national issue we cannot continue."

Kammenos added that his party "is pulling out of the government." In response to Kammenosʼ announcement, Tsipras said that he would request a vote of confidence in his government during the coming week. He thanked Kammenos for his governmen In a deal long opposed by Kammenos, the two countriesagreed last year to rename

FYROM as the Republic of Northern Macedonia. The controversial agreement would also allow Macedonia to join NATO and the European Union. Macedoniaʼs parliament ratified the deal by passing an amendment to the constitution on Friday, but Macedonia will start using it only after the parliament in Athens also approves the change in a vote expected later this month. Kammenos has called the deal a national sell-out and had repeatedly threatened to leave if it came before the Greek parliament for ratification. He said any deal including "Macedonia" in the name of the Balkan state to Greeceʼs north was unacceptable as the name was irrevocably tied to Greek civilization and culture. t partnership and announced that that Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will take on the role of defense minister.

The German army recruited 20 percent fewer minors in 2018 compared to the previous year, local media reported Monday. Quoting figures from the Defense Ministry, the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung daily revealed that 1,679 under-18s enlisted in the Bundeswehr in 2018, down from a record 2,128 in 2017. Parliamentary Armed Forces Commissioner HansPeter Bartels welcomed the development, emphasizing that the recruitment of minors "must remain the exception." The Bundeswehr was at a loss to explain the drop, the first since 2013. "Nothing has changed in the recruitment practices of the Bundeswehr," a Defense Ministry spokeswoman said.

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12/2019 • 15 January, 2019

Pakistan: Imran Khan promises change amid rigging complaints In his"victory speech" on Thursday, Prime Minister-elect Imran Khan promised wide-ranging reforms to build a "new Pakistan."

He touched upon a number of pressing issues, including better governance, security affairs and ties with global powers and neighboring countries.

Khan spoke from the heart during the speech. He promised to end rampant corruption, nepotism, and pledged that economic benefits would trickle down to the masses under his government.

Khan spoke from the heart during the speech. He promised to end rampant corruption, nepotism, and pledged that economic benefits would trickle down to the masses under his government.

Ceasefire on Israel-Gaza border largely holds as UN warns sides are on ʼbrink of warʼ

A ceasefire announced by Hamas largely held along the Israel-Gaza border on Sunday, a day after the most intense exchange of fire between Israel and the Palestinian group since the 2014 Gaza war.

Israeli warplanes carried out dozens of airstrikes in the densely populated Gaza Strip on Saturday on what it said were Hamas military, training and supply targets, while Hamas and Islamic Jihad fired nearly 200 rockets and mortars at Israel.

Read more: Israel and Gazaʼs militant groups agree to ceasefire The Israeli airstrikes wounded more than 20 people and killed two teenage boys, Palestinian health officials said, while a Hamas rocket injured four Israelis.

Hamas, which has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007, and Islamic Jihad announced the Egyptian and UNbrokered ceasefire late Saturday.

The Israeli military said its response would depend on the situation on the ground.

After the ceasefire announcement, four mortars were fired into Israel early Sunday. In response, Israeli planes destroy at least one launch site. Israel also carried out three airstrikes later in the day on what it said were Hamas squads launching incendiary balloons and kites across the border.

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AfD demands radical EU reforms to avoid Germanyʼs ʼDexitʼ Germany would have to leave the EU

The AfD blasted the "privileged" members of the European Parliament while campaigning to join that very body. Germany would have to leave the EU if the bloc is not reformed, the partyʼs election manifesto says.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) called for the country to leave the euro and the dissolution of the European Parliament in its European election manifesto on Sunday.

But party delegates decided to water down a proposal calling for Berlin to exit the European Union by 2024.

Hardliners at the convention in the eastern state of Saxony had pushed to include language calling for Berlin to leave the EU within the next five years if the bloc failed to enact reforms, a stance opposed by party leaders Alexander Gauland and Jörg Meuthen. The final version of the manifesto passed on Sunday evening retained the threat of a "Dexit," but

Germany: Auditors slam pricey naval ship repairs "Severe" mismanagement within the German navyand Defense Ministry led to massive cost overruns in restoration work on a naval training ship, according to a confidential report seen by Der Spiegel magazine.

Repair estimates on the Gorch Fock were originally priced at under €10 million ($11.5 million), but skyrocketed to €135 million last year, the 39-page report from the National Audit Office found.

The agency blamed military officers for inadequately examining the sailing shipʼs deficiencies, ignoring information vital for the repair work and failing to fully inform Defense

Iraq braces for more unrest as Basra protests gather pace An estimated 200 protesters gathered on Monday morning at the main gate leading to three of Iraqʼs major oil fields in the southern oil-exporting city of Basra. Protests in Basra, Iraqʼs second-largest city, started last Tuesdaywhen security forces opened fire, killing one person and wounding five.

They soon spread to other provinces.

Read more: Iraq hangs 13 ʼISʼ prisoners as PM Haidar al-Abadi calls for ʼjust retributionʼ The oil hub of Basra and other parts of the Shiʼite south have long been neglected, first by Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein and then by Shiʼite-led governments. But an ongoing political crisis and the recent rhetoric of Grand Ayatollah alSistani, the top Shiʼite cleric in the country have also clearly aggravated the situation.

jettisoned any concrete timeframe.

While granting that the EU was "sick in the head and limbs," Gauland said that the party would need to consider the consequences of Germanyʼs exit.

"Whoever toys with the idea of a Dexit, also needs to ask themsleves if this not a utopia and should we be more realistic," he said.

The party also slammed the "751 privileged members" of the current European legislature in their election manifesto, which is set to guide their campaign to join the body. "We see nation-states as having the exclusive competence to make laws," the party said.

Minister Ursula von der Leyen.

Work on the shipʼs hull and renewal of its upper and middle deck began in 2015 without an economic feasibility study, and without considering the case for constructing a new ship, auditors said. A Defense Ministry spokesperson said the ministry would submit a formal reply to the Federal Audit Officeʼs accusations

by April.

UK reveals fighter jet ʼTempestʼ for post-Brexit era Williamson said the "world-beating" jet can be used unmanned, as a drone, or with pilots. It is scheduled to be operational by 2035. The UK is to invest 2 billion pounds ($2.7 billion, €2.3 billion) to 2025 in the stealth

warplane, which will involve British companies BAE Systems and RollsRoyce as well as Anglo-Italian Leonardo and pan-European MBDA. Aiming to ensure UK leadership in defense Williamson said the program was designed to ensure Britainʼs continued leadership in fighter technology and control of airspace in future conflicts. Last year,France and Germany signed an agreementto develop Europeʼs next-generation fighter jet to replace the aging Rafale and Eurofighter jet by 2040, involving Europeʼs Airbus and Franceʼs Dassault Aviation. Following the 2016 Brexit referendum, Airbus moved to partner with Dassault at the expense of Britainʼs BAE Systems. There are concerns in Britain that its defense industry may be shut out from EU plans for next-generation fighter jets, although, officially, both projects have invited other companies to join.

12/2019 • 15 January, 2019

EU lawmakers urge Britain to call off Brexit Scores of MEPs have made an emotional appeal to the British government to think about future generations and remain in the EU. The lawmakers said they want to "send a signal" that the UK is welcome to stay.

In an open letter quoted by newspapers belonging to Germanyʼs Funke media group Monday, more than 100 European parliamentarians called on the United Kingdom to call off Brexit, saying such a decision would be welcome in the EU. The draft letter is expected to be published in Britain a day before acrucial vote in the British parliament on Prime Minister Theresa Mayʼs draft Brexit deal, which ob-

Reform Germanyʼs welfare state, urges communal association A simplification of Germanyʼs welfare state is wanted by its Association of Towns and Municipalities (BStGB). Only then, it says, will communities be able to cope with demographic aging and future economic strains. Germanyʼs11,054 communal authoritieswere overburdened with complicated welfare delivery and needed "de-bureaucratization" to stay within budget in the future, asserted association chief executive Gerd Landsberg on Tuesday. "Every problem is met with the promise that there is more money and naturally more personnel," he said, adding that, longterm, Germanyʼs highly legislated welfare state would not function, given finite taxation revenues, populations withmore elderly, and regions facing loss of industry and jobs.

Landsberg told newspapers run by the Funke MedienGruppe (media group) – which is based in Essen in the once coal and steel-dominated Ruhr region – that the reform should start with the reexamination of welfare grants and tax relief for families.

servers are expecting to fail. What the EU lawmakers said: "Any British decision to stay in the EU would be greatly welcomed by us.""We would work with you to reform and improve the European Union.""(We have) greatly valued the tremendous influence of British politicians and citizens over the past 40 years.""We would miss the extraordinary expertise of our British colleagues."

Deutsche Bahn brings in rail tsar to tackle delays

Europeʼs largest rail operator, Deutsche Bahn (DB), has appointed a punctuality tsar to urgently tackle the persistent lateness of its train services, a German newspaper reported on Sunday. Bild am Son‐ ntag said Ronald Pofalla, a former chief of staff of the German Chancellery and the current head of infra-

structure at DB, has been given until the summer to improve the performance of the national rail network, following years of worsening timetable delays. Pofallaʼs new role forms part of a rescue plan that the companyʼs top executives are due to present to the German government this week, the newspaper said.

German utilities call for more water infrastructure investment Karsten Specht, vice-president of Germanyʼs VKU local utilities association, said Tuesday that costly investments were needed to develop instrastructure for water supplies and treatment. The VKUʼs 1,460 members — largely consortia owned by local authorities — were already investing €6 billion ($7 billion) annually, Specht said. He added that while people took it for granted that taps brought water, they forgot that elaborate infrastructures were needed to get it there — and also for subsequent waste-water disposal. Politicians, must recognize this "long-term task."

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12/2019 • 15 January, 2019

German firms warned about Chinese ʼcloud hopperʼ hackers Germanyʼs BSI information security agency, tipped off by America, has identified small weak-link service firms as the gateways used to hack German industry, Germanyʼs Süddeutsche Zeitung daily newspaper said on Wednesday. Referring to US President Donald Trumpʼs trade row with China and citing the "well-informed"website Axios, the paper said the BSI "acted promptly."

Their actions in late November came after the US, via diplomatic channels, named German firms apparently targeted by "cloud hopper" hackers — allegedly from China.

German mechanical engineering and material research concerns were targeted in particular, the Munichbased newspaper said. Cyber experts have long warned that Germany, with its high level of manufacturing and engineering expertise, would be keenly targeted for industrial secrets by hackers. The BSI - in a5 December press release — said the worldwide-circulating malware (malicious software) "Emotet," with the potential to paralyze enterprise networks, had led to a "heap" of severe incidents in Germany. Categorized as Advanced Persistent Threats (APT), these were "highly professional" attacks adapted and automated the use of Emotet within infected networks, said BSI president Arne Schönbohm.

Bangladesh — a small tiger economy with big plans Bangladesh has been making progress and the country is so successful in many areas that it is a "role model for South Asia." These are not the words of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, but the British business magazine Econo‐ mist. Bangladesh is going to the polls on December 30 to elect a new government and PM Hasinaʼs Awami League (AL) party is pulling out all the stops to secure victory and retain power. During the election campaign, ruling party members have repeatedly pointed to Bangladeshʼs robust economic development under the incumbent government and promised that, should they win, this trend will continue in the coming years. The economy of the Muslim-majority nation, with a population of over 165 million inhabitants, has grown by an average of over six percent per year since 2008.

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China logs record trade surplus with US in 2018 Despite Washingtonʼs efforts, Chinaʼs trade surplus with the US grew by more than 17 percent in 2018, according to data provided by Beijing. US exports to China grew by less than one percent last year.

Chinaʼs trade surplus with the United States shot up by 17.2 percent in 2018 compared to the year before, according to Chinese data released on Monday, reaching a record-breaking $323.3 billion (€281.9 billion). In 2017, the trade difference between the two worldʼs largest economies was $275.8 billion in Chinaʼs favor.

Customs data showed that Chinese exports rose 11.3 percent in 2018 to $478.4 billion, while imports from the US only rose by 0.7 percent. However, customsʼ data for December also showed that exports to the US dropped

2019: The year after peak global growth After boom comes bust — few economists would disagree that this eternal rule of free market-based or capitalist economies is as true today as it was, say, 150 years ago. A similar consensus seems to be emerging in the profession about the current business cycle, which many say is nearing its end — in 2019, or 2020 at the latest. At the time of writing though, the post financial crisis economic boom still seems well set on becoming the longest expansion in many countries. If the American economy, for example, makes it past June 2019 without a recession, the recovery will exceed 120 months and become the longest expansion since US economic records were first taken in 1857. Yet, global data trackers, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), are less optimistic about ongoing growth in the rest of the world.The IMF, for example, thinks global growth plateauedat 3.7 percent in 2018.

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Japanʼs Nikkei plunges after US economic turmoil Japanʼs Nikkei index closed on Tuesday after tumbling by an unusually large 5.1 percent. Stocks in Shanghai and Taiwan also tumbled following heavy losses on Wall Street over PresidentDonald Trumpʼs attack on the US central bank. Tokyoʼs benchmark stock index hit a 20-month low as worries mounted over the US economy during a government funding crisis. On Monday evening, Trump shocked investor confidence by hitting out at the Federal Reserve, tweeting: "The only problem our economy has is the Fed. They donʼt have a feel for the Market, they donʼt understand necessary Trade Wars or Strong Dollars or even Democrat Shutdowns over Borders." Although the chairman of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, was nominated by Trump, the Fed is not under the control of the White House, much to Trumpʼs consternation. The US economy has also been suffering from trade disputes Trump has started with China.

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3.5 percent compared with December of the previous year, possibly due to US tariffs on an array of Chinese goods. Read more:Can fresh US-China trade talks bring a breakthrough? Race against time US President Donald Trump has repeatedly slammed Chinaʼs trade surplus with the US and the countryʼs allegedly unfair trade practices. In 2018, the US imposed billions of dollars worth of tariffs on Chinese products,prompting retaliation by Beijingand a trade war that analysts fear could escalate further and damage the global economy.

Brexit endgame: What you need to know

The Brexit saga reaches its peak on Tuesday when the UK parliament votes on Prime Minister Theresa Mayʼs deal with the EU. If she loses she could be out of a job. Rob Mudge looks at the vote and what could happen next.

The debate and vote is on whether parliament approves a motion stating that MPs back the Withdrawal Agreement, a legally binding text that sets out the terms for leaving the EU. Separately, MPs will also be asked to vote on a declaration that details the UKʼs post-Brexit relationship with the EU. Read more: Opinion: What happened to Brexit architect David Cameron? May needs 318 votes to win, but she does not have an outright majority of the 650 MPs, and hardline Brexit members of her Conservative Party have said they will vote against her plan.The northern Irish DUP,which props up her government, also opposes the deal in its current form due to the inclusion of the socalled backstop. This provision would maintain an open border between Northern Ireland, a British territory, and EU member Ireland if the UK and the EU fail to agree on a new free trade deal by December 2020. Both DUP and hardline Conservative MPs fear the backstop would tie the UK to the EU indefinitely.

12/2019 • 15 January, 2019

Submarine trip to the Titanic booking soon — for those with deep pockets But the tickets donʼt come cheap

US company OceanGate is offering commercial diving expeditions down to the Titanic. Tourists will share a submarine with marine researchers.

She is the most famous ship in the world — and the most famous shipwreck, as well. Youʼd be hardpressed to find a person who hasnʼt heard the tragic story of how the RMS Titanic collided with an iceberg the night of April 14, 1912, and sank less than three hours later. Only the most wealthy passengers could afford tickets for first-class cabins on the ocean linerʼs first — and final — trip. In 2019, those with vast coffers can roam the decks of the Titanic once again. A US company called OceanGate is planning sev-

eral trips down to the Titanic this summer, with seats in its deep-sea submarine going for $105,129 dollars (92,000 euros) a piece. Thatʼs the equivalent of a first class ticket on the shipʼs maiden voyage, adjusted for inflation. The long-term mission, spread out over several years, is conceived as a "longitudinal survey to collect images, video and sonar data" and will "provide an objective basis to assess the decay of the wreck over time and help document and preserve its submerged history," according to OceanGate.

Indian scientists slam ancient Hindu ʼstem cellʼ claim Organizers of the Indian Science Congress have dismissed claims by some prominent academics at the event, saying they had "serious concerns." The gathering has enjoyed a distinguished reputation in the past, but recent years have seen faithbased assertions and Hindumythology given greater prominence by speakers. One speaker, a vice chancellor from a western Indian university, said Indian literary epics revealed that people in ancient India had aircraft, in vitro fertilization and stem cell research. Vice chancellor

G Nageswara Rao, of Andhra University, said stories from Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata showed that such technology "was done in this country thousands of years ago." Rao, a professor of inorganic chemistry, said that 100 descendants of a legendary king had been born from one mother "because of stem cell and test tube technology." He also said that a "demon king" from a separate epic had two dozen aircraft, along with a network of landing strips on the island of Sri Lanka.

Better than Ronaldo — Do we really need robots that play football?

At 135 centimeters tall (nearly 4.5 feet), with a white, wavy body and big black eyes, robotNimbRo OP2Xis a source of pride for researchers at the University of Bonn. And rightly so. This year, he helped his team take first place in the AdultSize League in the RoboCup — the world football competition for robots. On the final fight, NimbRo pulled off a win against another German robot, Sweaty, the creation of scientists from Offenburg University. NimbRo was born in the department of autonomous intelligent systems, housed in a brand new campus at the University of Bonn.

Half of the facility is taken up by a 9 by 14 meter soccer field with artificial grass and goals. The other half is dedicated to computers, cables and changeable batteries. Here, a team of researchers from all around the world is working on something that might sound like a joke at first. Theyʼre teaching robots how to play football.

Record traffic and new terminal at Budapest Airport

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Culture

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

Budapest Airport has just announced a double-digit rise in passenger numbers for 2018. Hungary’s major international transport hub registered 14.8 million travellers last year, a 13% jump when compared to the numbers logged in 2017. This record increase has prompted further investment plans for the near future, including the construction of a new terminal building by 2024.

Budapest Airport has been given the go-ahead for a €700 million extension and modernisation project, the news following a recent official report showing a considerable growth in passenger numbers. For 2018, the airport handled close to 14.9 million travellers flying in and flying out, a 13.5% increase in comparison with 2017. This makes Budapest the fastest-growing air-travel hub in Central and Eastern Europe.

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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12/2019 • 15 January, 2019

Mixed messages on Bayern Munichʼs Bundesliga title credentials

"Weʼre not in a position to talk about the title at the moment. We simply arenʼt good enough." In a world of bland, non-commital statements from footballers, Arjen Robbenʼs words to German public broadcaster ARD rang out louder than most. The veteran has won seven Bundesliga titles in his nine full seasons with the Bavarian club and Bayern have won each of the last six. In several of those seasons, Bayern have overcome points deficits to emerge victorious, including last season where they trailed Borussia Dortmund by five points early on.

While the gap this year is bigger, seven points in November looks far from insurmountable and disregards the fact that Bayern were heavy title favorites coming into the current campaign. Robbenʼs teammate Sandro Wagner certainly has no such misgivings.

Aleksandar Kolarovʼs free kick stunner secures Serbia win over Costa Rica

As horror year continues, what now for Mesut Özil?

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.

With critics piling on, whatʼs next for the divisive playmaker?

After the furore surrounding his decision to quit the national team, Mesut Özil sought solace at his club, Arsenal. But right now, he canʼt even get a game.

Though it was emphatically not the reason hestepped away from the Germany setup, the boost in freshness and fitness Mesut Özil would get from missing international breaks would surely be a happy sentence to close a sad chapter. So when Unai Emery benched Özil for the fixture against Bournemouth on November 25 that followed an international break, eyebrows were raised. Emery explained his decision by suggesting Özil wasnʼt suited to a "very demanding match

with physicality and intensity." It was a familiar charge from an unfamiliar source. The 30-year-old has fair claim to be the most polarizing footballer in the world. Is he the floating, unselfish and incisive menace whose best qualities are those most underappreciated? Or the talented waster prone to hiding at key moments, shirking responsibility and allowing opponents to drift past him. The answer, as almost always in these matters, lies somewhere in the middle.

Australian Open: Angelique Kerber cruises into second round

Lance Armstrong says Uber investment has ʼsavedʼ his family Lance Armstrong says an early investment in Uber has "saved" his family after paying out $111m (£86.8m) in legal fees and settlements.

The 2016 champion needed just 72 minutes to beat the Slovenian and talked about being in the groove after getting off on the right foot down under. Read more: What will 2019 bring for Angelique Kerber? "Iʼve played a lot of matches here already in Australia ... I have my rhythm," said Kerber, who played lead-up events in both Perth and Sydney.

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The American, 47, was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles andbanned from cycling for lifein 2012 beforeadmitting to using performanceenhancing drugs. He says he gave $100,000 (£78,212) to a venture capital fund that invested in the ridehailing app in 2010. "Itʼs saved our family," he told CNBC. In April, Armstrong agreed to pay $5m

(£3.9m) to the US government tosettle a long-running lawsuitthat could have cost him $100m (£78m) in damages. However, he said he felt he did not "get off scot free" as other settlements and legal fees meant he had to pay $111m in total. Armstrong, who has five children, did not say how much he had earned from his Uber investment but added it was "too good to be true". He said Uber, which was founded in 2009, was valued at $3.7m (£2.9m) when he invested. The company wasvalued at $72bn (£56bn) this yearand istargeting a valuation of $120bn (£94bn) in 2019.