DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Nissan board votes unanimously to remove Carlos Ghosn Public broadcaster NHK and business daily Nikkei both said Nissanʼs board had decided to remove the 64-yearold Ghosn, who led the Japanese carmaker for nearly two decades. A Nissan Motor Co spokesman declined to comment. Ghosn and Greg Kelly remain in custody in Tokyo. Neither have issued comment. Prosecutors say they have obtained a 10-day extension of custody for Ghosn. Ghosn, also in charge of Nissan allies Renault and Mitsubishi, was the architect behind the three-party Franco-Japanese car conglomerate, which employs 450,000 people globally. He was also seen as a key figure holding the alliance together. Nissan said that its alliance with Renault "remained unchanged" amid plans to remove Ghosn. Last year, the alliance combined sold 10.6 million cars, as it competes in a three-way tussle with Toyota and the Volkswagen Group to be the worldʼs most prolific car seller.
US welcomes German firmsʼ compliance on Iran sanctions The US ambassador to Berlin on Thursday said he was pleased with the actions of German companies that had stopped trading with Iran after fresh US sanctions were imposed on the country. "We are very pleased that German businesses have decided to abide by the US sanctions," Grenell told the German news agency DPA in an interview. "German business leaders have told us unequivocally that they will stop doing business with Iran and will abide by the US sanctions," he said. "So we are very pleased that the actions of the German business community have been very clear." The US reimposed sanctions on Iranian oil this month after US President Donald Trump pulled out of an international agreement on Iranʼs nuclear program.
267/2018 • 23 NOVEMBER, 2018
German retailers divided over Black Friday shopping frenzy More and more consumers are hoping to secure deals, but that doesnʼt mean everyone is happy
Special promotion days such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday have slowly but surely changed Germanyʼs retail landscape. Itʼs been a hectic few days for the people behind the online platform blackfridaysale.de in the run-up to this yearʼs largest pre-Christmas shopping bonanza in Germany. Thousands of discounted products are on sale again this year, and brisk business has almost been taken for granted ever since Black Friday made its way across the Atlantic six years ago. "Black Friday has a fairly short history in Germany compared to the roughly 50 years itʼs been a traditional shopping event in the US," blackfridaysale.de spokesman Albert Haschke told DW. Interest among German consumers in Black Friday has risen steadily in recent years, as the exploding number of Google searches for the term bears out. Close to 90 percent of Germans know what Black Friday stands for, compared to 98 percent in the UK. So, thereʼs still some catching up to do, says Haschke, "but weʼre getting there." Some market analysts are surprised that such special sales days are a hit in
a saturated market environment like Germanyʼs, but Haschke says the huge discounts on offer are not to be sneezed at. "Itʼs true, that we have a saturated market in many retail segments, but when people realize that they can save a lot in the purchase of Christmas gifts they would have bought anyway, itʼs an incentive for many to take part in Black Friday shopping." Hardly anyone doubts this yearʼs shopping frenzy will become a success again. The German Retail Association (HDE) expects revenues to the tune of €2.4 billion ($2.74 billion), also with the help of Cyber Monday. If the figure is confirmed, it would mark a solid improvement on the 1.7 billion of generated revenue during Black Friday in 2017. Images of German consumers elbowing their way through huge crowds in brickand-mortar stores will be fairly rare, though, as an overwhelming majority of Black Friday enthusiasts prefer hunting for to so-called "best deals" online.
German nurse accused of dozens of murders apologizes nurse accused of dozens of murders apologizes A German nurse who is accused of having murdered more than 100 patients is being tried again by a court in Oldenburg, in the state of Lower Saxony. According to investigators, 41year old Niels Högel intentionally injected patients with doses of medicine liable to cause cardiac arrest, so that he could then attempt to revive them and impress his colleagues. Högelʼs killing spree is one of the most serious cases of mass murder in post-war German history. On Thursday, during a hearing of the trial which began three weeks ago, Högel apologized to the victimsʼ families, and said if there was anything he could do to help them right now, he would. "I am fully convinced now that I owe every relative an explanation," he told the court. "I am honestly sorry."
Do sanctions against Russia work? The Dutch government has held talks with EU member states aimed at establishing an EU sanctions regime against Russia based on human rights violations, which is known as an EU Magnitsky Act, adding to existing sanctions. "It appears to have momentum and is going forward," Bill Browder, who hascampaigned for the legislation known as the Magnistky Act in the US, told DW. "If successful, this would have a devastating effect on Putin and his cronies because they keep a huge amount of their money and property in the EU."
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267/2018 • 23 November, 2018
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
Germanyʼs best chocolates ranked The most expensive chocolate finished last
What does a perfect chocolate taste like? A German consumer foundation put 25 milk chocolate brands — including Milka, Lindt and Merci – through rigorous testing and tasting. Most chocolates you can buy in Germany are good, and more money does not always buy you more quality, Germanyʼs Warentest foundation discovered during a thorough examination of 25 different kinds of milk chocolate. Internationally known brands such as Lindt, Merci and Milka were subjected to consumer testing along with discount chocolates from supermarket chains and fair trade brands. The group ranked choco-
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.
lates based on taste, touch, aroma and "mouthfeel," but also considered the presence of any harmful ingredients and bacteria, packaging and the accuracy of the ingredients list provided. The best chocolate should taste creamy with a noticeable note of cocoa and smell like caramel, the foundation said on its website. The testers also appreciate bars that have a smooth surface and no air bubbles and that break away easily along the grooves. 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.
267/2018 • 23 November, 2018
CSUʼs Manfred Weber sets his sights on EUʼs highest office A little-known Bavarian is seeking the European Commissionʼs top office. Who is Manfred Weber? And what chances does a little-known member of the Christian Social Union, the sister party of Angela Merkelʼs CDU, have? This is Manfred Weberʼs moment: The politician from the Christian Social Union (CSU), the Bavarian allies of Chancellor Angela Merkelʼs Christian Democrats (CDU), is the lead candidate for the European Peopleʼs Party (EPP), the EU-wide bloc of conservative parties, in elections for the European Parliament in May 2019. Weber hopes to use the elections as his springboard to the presidency of the European Commission. "The campaign starts
Migrant caravan ʼcould not be larger giftʼ for Donald Trump
"Remember the midterms", US President Donald Trump reminded his 55 million followers on Twitter on Tuesday in a sequence of tweets focused on the so-called migrant caravan that is making its way through Mexico towards the US border. If there was ever any doubt that Trump would forego the attentiongrabbing visuals of thousands of Latin American migrants braving brutal conditions to trek tens of miles per day in hopes of reaching the US, a series of presidential tweets sent out in the past couple of days erased it. Using military jargon to describe the caravan and alleging — without offering evidence — that criminals and "unknown Middle Easterners" were part of the group, Trump faulted Democrats and US courts for standing in the way of a tougher immigration policy, and El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, the home countries of most of the migrants, for not preventing them from making the journey.
here in Helsinki," Weber told the EPP delegates on Thursday. "We are bridgebuilders, letʼs use this momentum. Then we will win in May 2019," he said. Weberwon a decisive vote against former Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb at the EPP congress in Helsinki on Thursday. Weber was considered the favorite despite the fact that the 46-year-old only has basic French and barely fluent English. Stubb is fluent in English, French and German.
Ryanair strikes deal with German cabin crew union
Ryanair on Thursday announced it had reached an agreement with German union Verdi over a wages dispute with German cabin crew. The Irish airliner launched an offensive to strike several labor accords with unions across Europe ahead of the holiday season after facing aseries of strikes. The two-year Collective La-
bor Agreement (CLA) brings Ryanairʼs employment practices in line with German labor law.It includes pay increases and other benefits. The deal needs final approval from the unionʼs members.Similar deals have been struck in Italy, Greece and Sweden.
Financial Times editor given one week to leave Hong Kong Outraged Hong Kong media and legal groups pushed the government on Monday to provide an explanation for why a Western journalist had his visa renewal denied. Financial Times Asia news editor Victor Mallet was denied a new work visa after hosting a talk by a pro-independence activist.
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267/2018 • 23 November, 2018
Aircraft makers are optimistic about Farnborough despite Brexit The Farnborough Airshow is a major trade venue for the aeronautical industry. As manufactures set up their displays their thoughts hover between anticipation of the next big order and fears of Brexit says Andreas Spaeth. The global aviation industry will come together on Monday at the Farnborough airfield southwest of London for its biennial industry fair — the second largest in the world after the Paris Air Show. The UK has traditionally been one of the worldʼs leading aviation countries and the Farnborough trade fairʼs roots date all the way back to 1920. It moved to its current location in 1948. Read more: Air India sale grounded after privatization flops However, this year is likely to be full of uncertainty as to the future role of the British aviation industry is called into question due to the UKʼs impending departure from the EU in 2019. Airlines and manufacturers have both recently denounced the prevailing uncertainties and demanded clear post-Brexit rules.Read more: Air India sale grounded after privatization flops However, this year is likely to be full of uncertainty as to the future role of the British aviation industry is called into question due to the UKʼs impending departure from the EU in 2019. Airlines and manufacturers have both recently denounced the prevailing uncertainties and demanded clear post-Brexit rules.
Indiaʼs currency tumbles amid rising oil prices The rupee has dropped over 12 percent against the US dollar since the beginning of 2018, earning it the unfortunate distinction of Asiaʼs worst performing currency this year. Economists blame risingglobal crude prices for the slide. India imports 80 percent of its oil needs and soaring prices have blown a hole in the nationʼs finances. The country also imports huge quantities of items like gold and electronics, swelling its import bill further. Indiaʼs current account deficit (CAD) will also likely widen to 2.8 percent of GDP in financial year 2018 — up from 1.9 percent last year — according to consultancy Nomura Research Institute. CAD is a measure of the flow of goods, services and investments in and out of the country. Still, macroeconomic problems resulting from a higher CAD and depreciating rupee are not Prime Minister Narendra Modiʼs biggest concerns. His administration is more worried about growing public discontent due to the rise in petrol and diesel prices. 4
Dolce & Gabbana cancels China show after ʼchopstickʼ advert causes uproar The Italian luxury brand is under fire for commercials featuring a Chinese woman trying to eat pizza and spaghetti with chopsticks. Hackers apparently then intervened and poured fuel on the existing fire. Dolce & Gabbana canceled a fashion show in Shanghai on Wednesday after a series of promotional videos were criticized as racist and full of outdated stereotypes by Chinese celebrities and social media users. The controversial commercials, which have since been deleted from the companyʼs Weibo account, featured a Chinese woman struggling to eat pizza and spaghetti with chopsticks. The row was further compounded by screenshots circulat-
Foreign investment in the United States of America down sharply
Foreign direct investment (FDI) in the United States plunged by a staggering 32 percent in 2017 year on year, the US Bureau of Economic Analysis reported. Investment totaled $259.6 billion (€221.2 billion),with the figure representing the second year of declineafter a peak in 2015 when foreign investorsʼ expenditure in the US hit $439.5 billion. Last year, most foreign investments in the US came from neighboring Canada which contributed $66.2 billion. European Union member states accounted for 40 percent of the 2017 FDI total. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the drop in foreign investment in the United States is part of a global trend.Not just a US problem OECD researchers noted that FDI levels were down 18 percent worldwide in 2017.
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China: Multiple deaths in chemical plant blast Authorities in southwestern Sichuan province have opened an investigation into a blast at an industrial complex that left 19 people dead, state news agency Xinhua reported Friday. The explosion ripped through the Yibin Hengda Technology complex in the city of Yibin at 6:30 p.m. (1030 UTC) Thursday, sparking a fire that burned late into the night, Xinhua said. County officials said that 12 people wounded in the blast had been taken to hospital and were in a stable condition.Read more: China convicts dozens for last yearʼs giant explosions in Tianjin Reports in the Sichuan Dailysaid the force of the explosion reduced three buildings to their steel frames and shattered the windows of nearby properties. China, the worldʼs largest producer of chemicals, has sought to improve industrial safety standards following aseries of highprofile accidentsin recent years.
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ing online appearing to show cofounder Stefano Gabbana making disparaging remarks about China while defending the promotional videos in an Instagram chat. The Italian luxury fashion house apologized for the insulting remarks but said Gabbanaʼs Instagram account had been hacked and the comments were not genuine. "We are sorry for the impact and harm these untrue remarks have had on China and the Chinese people," it said.
EU, UK agree to ʼambitiousʼ post-Brexit ties
Negotiators from the EU and Britain have worked out details of a future trade relationship for leaders to assess. German Chancellor Angela Merkel was cautiously optimistic about the state of the negotiations. The EU and the UK have reached a deal on their post-Brexit relationship, European Council President Donald Tusk announced on Thursday. The text has been agreed to in principle by negotiators, but still requires the endorsement of the 27 remaining EU members. "The Commission president has informed me that it has been agreed at negotiatorsʼ level and agreed in principle at the political level, subject to the endorsement of the leaders," said Tusk. The document states the "parties envisage having a trading relationship on goods that is as close as possible, with a view to facilitating the ease of legitimate trade." The draft on post-Brexit ties and an agreement on exactly how the UK will withdraw from the European Union will be discussed by EU leaders at a special summit on Sunday. EU Officials described the future partnership as "ambitious, broad, deep and flexible."
267/2018 • 23 November, 2018
On Black Friday your brain forgets everything else Psychology of shopping sprees:
When those magic red sale signs lure you into a store, your brain forgets everything else. Need it? Not really. Want it? Yes. Shopping can be like a drug. Neuroscientist Christian Elger explains why. Days like Black Friday, are entirely devoted to shopping and scoring cheap deals and with Christmas right around the corner people are buying billions of presents around the globe. Mr. Elger, why are deals and discounts so tempting for us? Christian Elger: In our brain, we have structures called the reward system. Whenever these structures are activated, different groups of neurons are triggered. That stimulates a pleasant feeling. And that
feeling is so strong that our brain tends to forget everything else in that moment. Compared to regular prices, words like ʼsaleʼ or ʼdealʼ activate the reward system a lot more. To compensate, we have regions in our brain that are supposed to rationalize whether the purchase is necessary or not. But when being confronted with discounts, this region is barely active. You just grab and buy without properly considering factors like necessity.
Author Martin Walser on why he finds Angela Merkel beautiful The 91-year-old writer Martin Walser has just published a new book. At the launch, he shared his views on Germanyʼs chancellor and the burden of memory — a topic on which he emitted controversial statements in the past. Now aged 91, Martin Walser still sees writing as his "food." "Writing replaced talking early on in my life. Writing is the only thing that I do without having to do it," the author said at the launch of his latest book, Spätdienst (Late Night Service) at the Literaturhaus in Stuttgart. Walser described it as a book "without a plot
and without genre" that offered "a literary account of his life." In his recent essay in the news weekly Der Spiegel, Walser wrote about the beauty of Chancellor Angela Merkel, with the headline of his article claiming that "he was seduced by her." He explained at the discussion that he found her "beautiful" because she does not talk like other politicians who simply learn their sentences by heart and always know what they will answer ahead of a question. "That makes their faces so miserable," said Walser, while Merkel, in contrast, "keeps things exciting for the audience."
Berlinʼs East Side Gallery saved from property investors There will be no further construction projects at Berlinʼs East Side gallery, the 1.3-kilometer remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall that has been covered with art, also known as the "worldʼs longest open-air gallery," Berlin Wall Foundation director Axel Klausmeier said at a press conference on Wednesday. Mediaspree, one of the largest property investors in Berlin, has had the strongest impact on the area surrounding the monument. Since the beginning of the 1990s, media companies, a large concert hall as well as office buildings and a residential tower were built around the East Side Gallery, while the bank of the Spree River behind the former section of the Berlin Wall was completely modernized. Now the property surrounding the wall section has been transferred to the Berlin Wall Foundation and all development plans have been stopped. Berlin will contribute € 250,000 ($285,000) annually to the preservation of the monument and the maintenance of the area.
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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
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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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267/2018 • 23 November, 2018
Mick Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel to team up at Race of Champions
Schumacher and Vettel proved a winning combination at the Race of Champions six times in the past. Now itʼs time for a new generation, as Michaelʼs son Mick Schumacher teams up with Ferrariʼs Sebastian Vettel. European Formula 3 champion Mick Schumacher announced on Tuesday that he would team up with Sebastian Vettel for Germany at the Race of Champions event in Mexico this January. The pairing restores one of the most successful combos in the eventʼs history: Vettel and Mickʼs father Michael Schumacher won the Nations Cup trophy for Team Germany six times in a row, from 2007 to 2012.
New Bayern signing Alphonso 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." 6
Aleksandar Kolarovʼs free kick stunner secures Serbia win over Costa Rica
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff praises British driver as he closes in on fifth title
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.
Lewis Hamilton:
Lewis Hamiltonʼs Mercedes boss says the Briton is "a class act" performing at the highest level as he closes on a fifth Formula 1 world title. Toto Wolff said Hamilton was "more complete than ever before". "[He is] showing commanding performance in the car and challenging the entire team to perform to higher levels at the same time," Wolff added. Hamilton will clinch the title at Sundayʼs US Grand Prix if he wins and Sebastian Vettel finishes below second. Even if Hamilton does not win at the Circuit of the Americas, he will be champion if he outscores the Ferrari
driver by eight points. Hamilton, 33, has taken six victories in the last seven races and heads to this weekendʼs race in Austin, Texas, with a 67-point lead with only a maximum of 100 points available over the remaining four races this season. The British driver has won five of the six races held in Austin since the inaugural event in 2012 - one for McLaren in 2012, and the last four in a row for Mercedes.
Andy Murray feeling ʼbetter every dayʼ before Brisbane return Andy Murray says he is physically feeling "a little bit better every day" after returning to the practice courts in preparation for the 2019 season. Murray, 31,ended his season earlyto focus on making "big improvements", having played in six events since returning from hip surgery in June. The Scot will train in Miami next month before making his competitive return at the Brisbane International in January. "Iʼm getting closer," said the former world number one. The Briton,
now ranked 263rd in the world, has not played since losing to Spainʼs Fernando Verdasco in the Shenzhen Open in September. He has spent "four or five" weeks building his fitness with off-court training in Philadelphia and plans to increase his workload in Florida before flying out to Brisbane. Murray is expected to play at the Australian Open later in January and has alsoannounced his entryto the Open Sud de France in Montpellier - an ATP Tour 250 event which he has never previously played - in February.