North Korea on Thursday strongly condemned a joint statement by Quad countries calling for Pyongyang’s “complete denuclearization”, and declared it will “never give up” its nuclear weapons programme.The sharp reaction comes days after the foreign ministers of the Quad grouping India, the US, Japan and Australia reiterated their commitment to the denuclearization of North Korea during their meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday.In a statement carried by South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry accused the Quad of interfering in its sovereign affairs and acting as “nothing but a political and diplomatic tool for the realization of US unipolar dominance”.“To put it clearly once again, ‘denuclearization’ of the DPRK will never be forever,” a ministry spokesman said, using the abbreviation of North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.Pyongyang also rejected the “hostile stance” of the “US-led” Quad and urged the group to stop “confrontational tendencies that undermine regional peace and stability.”

Quad condemned Pyongyang missile program

The reaction came after the joint statement of the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting issued after talks hosted by India in New Delhi on May 26.In the statement, the Quad countries said, “We reaffirm our commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with the relevant UNSCRs and urge North Korea to comply with all of its obligations under the relevant UNSCRs.”The group also condemned North Korea’s “unlawful development of ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction” and expressed “grave concern” over Pyongyang’s cyber activities allegedly funding its weapons programs.The Quad urged all UN member states to implement sanctions against North Korea, including a ban on arms transfers and purchases.The statement also expressed concern over the countries’ “deepening military cooperation with North Korea”, saying such steps undermine the global nonproliferation regime.South Korea’s Unification Ministry described the latest criticism of North Korea as relatively mild compared with previous years.A ministry official said Pyongyang has long viewed the Quad as a potential model for an “Asian version” of NATO and has repeatedly criticized the group.Unlike last year, when North Korea primarily targeted the United States, this year’s response also criticized Japan and Australia while defending China’s position, the official said.

DK Shivakumar Finally ready to take charge as Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah His resignation from the top post on Thursday was the culmination of the decades-long political journey of the Congress leader, who emerged as the party’s trusted troubleshooter and mass leader in the state.After the two leaders visited Lok Bhavan earlier in the day, DK Shivakumar’s supporters celebrated by distributing sweets outside his Bengaluru residence.In Kalaburagi, Indian Youth Congress members performed a special puja at the Sri Sharan Basaveshwara Temple and demanded that Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge be appointed deputy chief minister if Shivakumar holds the top post.

The rise and rise of DKS

From student politics in Bengaluru to becoming one of the most powerful organizers of the Congress party in Karnataka, DK Shivakumar has built a political career defined by flexibility, loyalty to the party high command and an unmatched reputation as a trouble-shooter.Known as a mass leader with keen organizational skills, Shivakumar began his political journey at the age of just 18 when he joined the National Students Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the Congress. Between 1981 and 1983, he served as the president of the Bengaluru district unit of NSUI while studying at Rama Narayana Chellaram College, Bengaluru. He later joined the Youth Congress and became the general secretary of its Karnataka unit.His entry into electoral politics was absolutely easy. In 1985, the Congress fielded young Shivakumar against veteran Janata Dal leader and future Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda in the Sathanur assembly constituency. Although he lost, Shivakumar attracted attention by putting up a tough fight against one of the tallest leaders of Karnataka.Two years later, in 1987, he was elected to the Bengaluru Rural District Panchayat from Sathanur. In 1989, he won his first assembly election from Sathanur on a Congress ticket, beginning a winning streak that cemented his position as one of the party’s strongest leaders in old Mysore.

Rise of DKS within Congress

Shivakumar’s rise within the Congress was rapid in the early 1990s. He played a key role in bringing the S Bangarappa-led government to power in Karnataka and was rewarded with a ministerial berth. As Jail Minister, he became one of the youngest ministers in the state cabinet.Even setbacks failed to stop his political rise. Denied a Congress ticket in the 1994 assembly elections, Shivakumar contested the election as a rebel candidate and won, underscoring his independent political strength and grassroots support.By 1999, Shivakumar had emerged as an influential strategist within the Karnataka Congress. He supported SM Krishna during his rise in the party and played a major role in the Congress campaign that won the assembly elections with 139 seats. Shivakumar organized a large campaign during the campaign and was credited with garnering support across the state. He won the Sathanur seat for the third consecutive time and was inducted into the cabinet as Cooperation Minister.Over the years, Shivakumar held several key portfolios, including urban development and energy. As Chairman of the State Planning Board and Cabinet sub-committees, she pioneered youth empowerment and women-centric initiatives such as Rajiv Yuva Shakti and Stree Shakti.His reputation as the crisis manager of the Congress Party continued to grow. Be it protecting MLAs during times of political instability or negotiating delicate alliances, Shivakumar has time and again proved his importance to the Congress leadership. In 2004, after the Congress-JD(S) alliance came to power in Karnataka, he played an important role in the internal negotiations despite not getting a place in the cabinet.Shivakumar also developed a reputation for rivaling the Deve Gowda family politically. In 1999, he defeated Deve Gowda’s son HD Kumaraswamy in Sathanur, despite the national stature of the JD(S) patron after his tenure as Prime Minister.

time of disputes

However, his political journey was not without controversies. In August 2017, the Income Tax Department had raided properties belonging to him. In September 2019, Shivakumar was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in an alleged money laundering case, spending several weeks in jail before being granted bail. The episode triggered a massive show of support from Congress workers, further cementing his image as a leader who had weathered political and legal storms.

DKS revives Congress in Karnataka

Soon after his release, the Congress leadership reiterated its confidence in him. On March 11, 2020, Sonia Gandhi appointed Shivakumar as the President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), and tasked him with rebuilding the party in the state where it was struggling against the BJP.Shivakumar threw himself into reviving the organisation, by running an aggressive campaign coupled with grassroots mobilisation. Along with senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah, he led the party’s campaign in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections. The Congress registered a decisive victory and ended the BJP’s rule in the only southern state it ruled.The victory also intensified speculation about the chief ministerial post, with Shivakumar emerging as one of the strongest contenders due to his organizational role and electoral success. Although Siddaramaiah was ultimately selected as Chief Minister, Shivakumar was named Deputy CM – a recognition of both his political clout and his years of loyalty to the Congress.For many within the party, the appointment is the culmination of the decades-long journey of a leader who evolved from a student activist to the Congress party’s trouble-shooter in Karnataka politics.

You can love him or hate him, but you can’t ignore him. yes, we are talking Rakhi Sawant. After creating a stir with her appearance in ‘Bigg Boss Marathi’ season 6, Rakhi is currently busy giving interviews and enjoying her time in India. From sharing stories about her struggles and success to opening up about her marriage, surgeries, films and personal difficulties, Rakhi is revealing a side of her life that the audience has never seen before.

Rakhi Sawant revealed that she did this breast surgery at the age of 11

Speaking on comedian Bharti Singh’s podcast, Rakhi opened up about her difficult childhood and journey in the entertainment industry. Rakhi, who comes from an economically struggling background, talked about being pushed into menial jobs at a young age, while still harboring dreams of making it big. From undergoing breast surgery at the age of 11 to dealing with heartbreak, marriage and divorce, the actress left no chapter untouched during the conversation.

Rakhi Sawant recalls their first meeting Govindasays he burped in her face

Reminiscing about her struggling days in Bollywood, Rakhi also shared a funny but shocking anecdote from the sets of Govinda starrer ‘Joru Ka Ghulam’. Twinkle Khanna. She revealed how she got to do the popular item song ‘Khula Hai Mera Pinjra’ with Govinda almost by chance.“I was coming down from my building when I met Shakeel Noorani, the director of ‘Joru Ka Ghulam’. He asked me, ‘You dance, right?’ I said yes and that’s how I got the item number,” Rakhi recalled.Sharing another unexpected moment from the shoot, Rakhi said, “I reached the set at 6 in the morning and waited for hours because I admire Govinda sir a lot. When he finally came, I greeted him with ‘Namaste’, and he burped straight in my face. It was a very loud burp – khana kha ke aayenge,” she laughed.However, Rakhi said that she never felt bad about it. “I considered it a blessing,” he joked.The actress further revealed that she did not even have proper costumes for the shoot and had to bring her own costumes for the song.

An Indian-origin delivery driver has been sentenced to 29 years in prison for the murder of a woman, whose body was found dumped on a roadside in England’s West Midlands last year.Tanvir Singh, 32, was convicted of the murder of Shara Miller, 41, after her body was found in Smethwick in August 2025.During his sentencing at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Wednesday, Judge Michael Chambers described Singh as a “manipulative and cynical” man who showed no remorse for the murder, PTI reported.The court heard that Singh met Miller after drinking at a pub before driving to Soho Road, where he contacted sex workers. Prosecutors said he later attacked Miller inside his van and strangled her to death.Detective Inspector Joe Davenport, of West Midlands Police, said the victim was “brutally killed by a dangerous predator”.“Singh had been drinking in a pub at night and had gone to Soho Road to look for sex workers. He then picked up Shara in his van and was fatally attacked,” Davenport was quoted as saying by the news agency.Investigators told the court that Singh attempted to destroy forensic evidence by pouring liquids on Miller’s body before leaving her on the sidewalk after the murder.A member of the public later discovered the body, after which West Midlands Police launched a murder investigation.CCTV footage reviewed by detectives showed a white van arriving at the scene before removing Miller’s body and leaving it on the roadside. Authorities later traced the vehicle to a rental company and established that Singh was using it for parcel delivery work at the time of the crime.Police tracked down Singh to his home address in West Bromwich before arresting him on suspicion of murder.A forensic post-mortem examination found that Miller suffered head injuries and died from strangulation.During the trial, jurors heard that Miller was living with drug addiction and was involved in sex work at the time of her death.Following the sentencing, West Midlands Police said it continued to work with support organizations supporting vulnerable women involved in sex work.“No woman deserves to feel unsafe, and we are committed to providing safe spaces to report and access support,” the force said in a statement.

India gets constitutional right to trauma care; Supreme Court orders improvement in nationwide emergency response (Image credit: ANI)

Mumbai/New Delhi: In a landmark judgment with far-reaching implications for motorists, hospitals and emergency responders, the Supreme Court has recognized access to trauma care as an integral part of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution and ordered a timely overhaul of India’s fragmented emergency care system.Order passed in SaveLife Foundation and Ors. The Union of India on May 26, among others, could reshape the way accident and trauma victims are treated across the country – from the moment of injury to definitive hospital care.The court’s directions are binding on all 36 states and union territories and cover the entire spectrum of trauma, including not just road accidents but also falls, burns, drowning, industrial accidents, fires, explosions and disaster-related injuries.For millions of Indian motorists – especially in dense urban areas like Mumbai and across Maharashtra, where traffic congestion and delays in emergency response remain a constant concern – this decision could prove to be game-changing.According to the NCRB data cited before the court, around 4.67 lakh accidental deaths are recorded annually in India. Road accidents alone cause approximately 1.77 lakh deaths every year. These figures become even more troubling when viewed against long-standing evidence that many of these deaths are preventable.The Law Commission’s 2019 report had earlier concluded that nearly half of road accident deaths could be averted by timely medical intervention, while the 2021 Niti Aayog-AIIMS Emergency and Injury Care Report found that delays in emergency care contribute to at least 30% of trauma-related deaths.Despite this burden, India had no unified and enforceable trauma-care architecture. The responses of 34 states and union territories placed before the court revealed a patchwork system marked by multiple emergency numbers, disparate ambulance standards, inadequate trauma registries and inconsistent implementation of existing central schemes.It was this systemic gap that prompted SaveLife Foundation to approach the apex court in October 2024, seeking recognition of trauma care as a constitutional right and stronger implementation of the existing emergency framework.A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and Atul S Chandurkar stopped short of creating an entirely new statutory regime, but issued broad directions to translate the policy framework into enforceable obligations.Perhaps the most visible change for citizens will be the integration of multiple emergency helplines into a single national number 112 within three months. Numbers like 100, 101, 102, 108, 1033 and 1091 are to be integrated technically and operationally with large-scale media awareness campaigns.The court has also ordered states to set up physical and digital grievance redressal systems for good Samaritans – citizens who help trauma victims at accident sites. Although protected under Section 134A of the Motor Vehicles Act and Good Samaritan rules, many spectators remain afraid of police questioning or legal implications.For road users, ambulance improvements could be equally important. All registered ambulances – public and private – must adhere to the National Ambulance Code, install GPS or vehicle tracking systems and integrate with helpline 112. States have been directed to conduct structured audits covering response time, equipment, quality of care and patient outcomes.The order also addresses a long-recognized shortage of trained emergency personnel. States will have to adopt the standardized emergency medical technician curriculum notified by the National Commission for Allied and Health Care Professions within three months.Another major reform is the creation of state stroke registries linked to a coordinated national registry. Health experts have long argued that India’s inability to systematically record trauma cases has hindered policy planning and resource allocation.The court directed states to grade and designate public and private hospitals according to trauma-care capacity. Importantly, this classification is no longer limited to national highways alone, but extends to state highways, district roads and urban and suburban areas – an important provision for cities like Mumbai where severe trauma cases often occur away from highway corridors.Equally important is the effort to implement the Centre’s cashless treatment scheme for road accident victims – PM Rahat. States have been given eight weeks to complete hospital designation and related digital systems. The court made it clear that failure to implement the scheme would be a violation of the Motor Vehicles Act.The Supreme Court has maintained constant monitoring of the case. Copies of the order are to be sent to the Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories, who will have to submit action taken reports within the specified timelines. The case is expected to come back before the court after four months for further directions.Piyush Tiwari, founder of SaveLife Foundation, called the verdict a watershed moment for public health and constitutional rights and said it ensures that no citizen should be denied timely emergency care after suffering a traumatic injury.For India – where stroke remains a silent public-health crisis and where survival often depends on opportunity, geography and affordability – this decision signals a shift from policy aspiration to constitutional promise.

Sachin Tendulkar and Vaibhav Suryavanshi

New Delhi: Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s incredible IPL 2026 season reached another level after he scored 97 off just 29 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the eliminator. Rajasthan Royals The batsman hit 12 sixes during his explosive innings and broke chris gayleHe holds the long-standing record for most sixes in a single IPL season, taking his tally to a maximum of 65. The brilliant innings helped Rajasthan Royals defeat SRH by 47 runs and qualify for Qualifier 2. Soon after the match, many cricket legends and public figures flooded social media with praise for the teenage sensation.Sachin Tendulkar Praised the young player’s batting technique and patience.“Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s bat swing has been superb. What is even more remarkable is how beautifully he clears his front foot to make space for the balls hitting his feet,” Sachin wrote, describing the innings as “nothing short of spectacular!”Yuvraj Singh described Sooryavanshi as “incredible”, while Suresh Raina called it proof that “India’s future is in safe hands”. Former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop praised the “rare quality” of his strokeplay.

Mohammad Kaif also praised the teenager, saying, “We are seeing a miracle, we are seeing a future star, we are seeing Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a wonderful boy.”Former England captain Michael Vaughan made perhaps the boldest statement, writing: “He is the best T20 opener in the world… India have to pick him…”Suryavanshi’s fearless batting has made him the breakout star of IPL 2026. Former South African captain AB de Villiers praised his calmness under pressure, saying, “That level of awareness of the game in a knockout match is remarkable for someone so young.”Anil Kumble said the pressure has “no effect on him”, while Kagiso Rabada admitted that the youngster’s fearless approach was fascinating to watch.Even politician P.Chidambaram joined in the praise, describing the innings as “brilliant”. With every match, Suryavanshi is building a reputation as one of cricket’s brightest young talents.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that Rabindranath Tagore It is one of India’s most famous – and deservedly so – majorities ever. His legacy spans poetry, music, philosophy, education and national identity. He wrote India’s national anthem, became the first non-European Nobel laureate in literature, transformed Bengali art and culture, and influenced generations beyond South Asia.But it turned out that Tagore’s legacy touched more than just this. However, what almost no one knows is that his name became associated with something completely wild: a Jurassic dinosaur.Yes – there’s a dinosaur named Barapasaurus tagori, and its story is pure science-meets-culture magic!

Barapasaurus tagori: Dinosaur named after Rabindranath Tagore

Meet Barapasaurus tagori: This dinosaur was a giant, long-necked vegetable eater that roamed the land during the Early Jurassic, about 180 million years ago. The fossils were found in India and, once the dust settled, scientists realized they had found one of the oldest and largest sauropods ever known – think of it as a prehistoric “gentle giant”!Now, the story begins in the 1960s near Pochampalli in today’s Telangana. Indian paleontologists from the Indian Statistical Institute dug out the bones from inside rocks dating back to the Jurassic period. Immediately, they knew this was no ordinary find – these were the bones of a creature that didn’t look like any other dino found in India.When he officially named the species in 1975, he called it Barapasaurus tagori. “Barapa” is Bengali for “big foot”, which fits, since this dinosaur originally walked on stilts. “Saurus” means lizard in Greek. and “Tagori?” This is to honor Tagore, his 100th birth anniversary. So, basically, the national poet of India has now been, forever, linked to a bus-sized dinosaur.For some reason, it just feels right!Barapasaurus belonged to the family of sauropods, which had huge, massive bodies, awkward necks, and small heads. Most people know of the later, even larger sauropods like Diplodocus and Brachiosaurus, but Barapasaurus was the beginning of the “Can a dinosaur be huge?” There is an initial experiment in.In fact, experts believe that Barapasaurus was about 14 meters long and weighed several tons. Its massive limbs and body already show the classic sauropod blueprint: super-sized, but not as huge as some of its futuristic cousins. At the time, India was a lush dinosaur paradise, still part of the southern supercontinent Gondwana, so the scene there looked nothing like it does today.This is the crazy part – today’s India, full of bustling cities, cricket and monsoons, used to be a straight-up dinosaur feeding ground. The land was rich in forests and rivers, and long before there was tea or Tagore’s poetry, herds of dino-giants roamed here and there.

Rabindra-Solar Crossover

Now, although it dates back to the prehistoric era, Barapasaurus tagori holds great significance in science.Why?For a long time, India did not have any big name in the discovery of dinosaurs. The discovery of these fossils changed this, putting India on the paleontological map. There were so many bones there – multiple individuals, multiple skeleton parts – that scientists got a clearer picture than most ancient discoveries.But now, you can actually see the skeleton of Barapasaurus tagori by visiting the Indian Statistical Institute in Kolkata. It is one of the largest vehicles ever installed in India. There’s something hilarious (and a little heartwarming) about a dinosaur named after Tagore, on display in the center of his own city.However, this is not that unusual, as scientists often name species after writers, artists, and great thinkers. But Tagore’s case seems special. He wrote much about the universe, nature and time; He’ll probably appreciate being part of the strange, ancient web of life. Plus, imagine the Indianness of Dino: it’s thoroughly Indian – a world where poetry, dinosaurs and philosophy collide without warning!And really, that’s the beauty of it: Rabindranath Tagore lived just over 80 years, while Barapasaurus – 180 million!Yet now, thanks to a group of determined scientists, they are linked forever. The human story and the prehistoric story overlap in the most unexpected ways.After all, it’s not every day you hear, “Did you know that a Jurassic dinosaur was named after Tagore?” But once you do, you know you’ll never forget it. And honestly, given Tagore’s thoroughness and worldview, he would probably be pleased!

New Delhi: Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah Met Deputy CM on Thursday DK Shivakumar At breakfast at his official residence ‘Kaveri’, where several state cabinet ministers were also present. During the meeting, Siddaramaiah reportedly informed his ministers that he would step down from the post, clearing the way for DK Shivakumar and ending the months-long tussle over the top chair.Shivakumar, as his successor, warmly hugged the Chief Minister upon his arrival. He then touched Siddaramaiah’s feet and took his blessings, giving rise to speculations about the expected handover.

Siddaramaiah’s resignation, Shivakumar’s promotion

After the meeting, ministers confirmed that Siddaramaiah has formally announced his decision to step down during the day and DK Shivakumar is set to take charge as the next chief minister.“The Chief Minister will resign at 3 o’clock. CM Siddaramaiah said that we will make DK Shivakumar the new CM. He will become the CM,” HK Patil told reporters after the meeting at Siddaramaiah’s official residence ‘Kaveri’.As ministers and MLAs started leaving the residence after the breakfast meeting, Karnataka minister Ishwar Khandre said the Governor had already been informed about Siddaramaiah’s decision.“The Governor has been informed. Siddaramaiah will meet him at 3 pm. I attended the meeting. We all thanked the Chief Minister for guiding us for so many years. He will talk to you himself. He has already called a press conference and will explain everything to you,” Khandre told reporters in Bengaluru.Video | Bengaluru: Ministers and MLAs leave from Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah’s residence after breakfast meeting.Minister Ishwar Khandre says, “The Governor has been informed. Siddaramaiah will meet him at 3 pm. I attended the meeting. We all thanked the Chief Minister…” pic.twitter.com/r9ekTRcu4A– Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) 28 May 2026There were also indications that Siddaramaiah may travel to New Delhi to seek approval from the Congress high command on the selection of deputy chief ministers in the new government.

Siddaramaiah informed ministers about his resignation

The breakfast meeting at Siddaramaiah’s residence became the focal point of Karnataka politics as senior ministers gathered amid growing speculation over Congress leadership change.According to the leaders present in the meeting, Siddaramaiah informed his cabinet colleagues about his decision to step down from the post of Chief Minister. This announcement came soon after the completion of three years of the Congress government’s tenure.Senior ministers including Priyank Kharge, KJ George, MB Patil, Ramalinga Reddy and HK Patil attended the meeting, while security around the residence was tightened in anticipation of major political developments.

Shivkumar points towards Siddaramaiah

Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar arrived at the residence along with several cabinet ministers and senior Congress leaders considered close to Siddaramaiah.In a moment that immediately took on political significance, Siddaramaiah warmly welcomed Shivakumar before touching the chief minister’s feet as a mark of respect. Later both the leaders hugged in front of party colleagues and ministers.Photographs of the conversation were released by the offices of both the leaders and later shared on social media by Karnataka Congress.Sharing the pictures, Karnataka Congress wrote, “That day, this day, forever… Unity is our strength! Public service is our eternal commitment!”The post was widely seen as an attempt by the party to display unity at a time of change within the Karnataka government.

State Home Minister hints at CM’s resignation

Ahead of the meeting, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said Siddaramaiah had invited ministers for breakfast to thank cabinet colleagues before stepping down.Responding to a question on whether Siddaramaiah could enter national politics or the Rajya Sabha after resigning, Parameshwara said any such decision would depend on the Congress leadership.“That’s it now, this decision has to be taken by the high command. So, at this point of time, I don’t know whether he was offered any post in Delhi or not. It is up to the high command,” he said.

Celebration has started outside Shivakumar’s residence

As news of Siddaramaiah’s decision spread, celebrations broke out outside DK Shivakumar’s residence in Bengaluru, where supporters distributed sweets in hopes of him becoming the chief minister.Amidst the increasing political turmoil, Shivakumar’s brother former MP DK Suresh also reached the residence.In Kalaburagi, Indian Youth Congress workers performed a special puja at the Sri Sharan Basaveshwara Temple, demanding that Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge be appointed deputy chief minister if Shivakumar holds the top post.

Serbian great Novak Djokovic criticized the Roland Garros crowd and said he hoped he would not have to face any more locals as he was criticized throughout the match. (Photo/IANS)

novak djokovic Criticized the crowd at Roland Garros and said he hoped he would not have to face another French player after he was jeered during his match against Frenchman Valentin Royer.Djokovic extended his bid for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title with a hard-fought 6-3, 6-2, 6-7(9), 6-3 win over Royer in the second round. This was the second consecutive match that a Serbian player has defeated a French player, after defeating Giovanni Mpetshi Pericard in the first round.At one point during the match, Djokovic sarcastically clapped at the crowd, accusing the home crowd of lacking respect, while he was being scolded and told to be quiet by the umpire. The umpire said, “Ladies and gentlemen, please have some respect for both players.” Djokovic immediately said, “He has no respect, no respect.”“I hope I won’t play any other French players for the rest of the tournament,” the Serbian player said after the win.Vintage Djokovic dominated the first two sets. The three-time Roland-Garros winner was reading Royer’s patterns and hitting a series of laser-focused shots. But Royer refused to back down and the 24-year-old’s persistence paid off as she opened up her sloping forehand to level the third set at 4-4.In the tie-break and Djokovic held the match point at 6–5. Then, Royer refused to surrender, using bold strikes and quick movements to put the 24-time major winner on the back foot. A few points later and Djokovic’s backhand went long, prompting a thunderous roar from the Paris faithful as the clash continued.“I am relieved. Obviously, it feels different when you win a match. It is a very important win in difficult circumstances for both players.” “It was very hot and I think Valentin deserves big credit for his performance today,” Djokovic said in the post-match press conference.“It was a very difficult match, a challenge from the very beginning. It is normal that in such conditions and atmosphere on the court things become difficult. I hope that by the end of the tournament I will not have to play another French player again!” he, who now has an incredible 14-0 record against French players at Roland Garros, added after the match.With a win, the Serbian has reached the third round of Roland-Garros for the 21st consecutive time. Additionally, the 39-year-old became the first man to play 120 matches in a single Grand Slam tournament, surpassing Roger Federer’s Wimbledon tally of 119.The former world No. 1 will next face 28th seed Joao Fonseca of Brazil, who made a spectacular comeback from two sets down to defeat Croatian Dino Prismic and book his place in the third round.