Eric Dier has dismissed rumours that Tottenham's players are already growing tired of life under Jose Mourinho just two months into his reign.
Reports have emerged that Spurs players believe they are regressing under the Portuguese while defender Danny Rose is said to have clashed with him after being left out of the matchday squad.
But England midfielder Dier has denied the claims and says any unhappiness only stems from frustrating results on the pitch.
"Any club, when results aren't going well, is not a happy atmosphere," he said.
"But it definitely isn't a negative atmosphere.
"I don't feel anything along those lines personally and I think everybody has been training very well, training hard, enjoying themselves in the same way as always."
When asked about the training methods, which were described in Wednesday's article in the Sun newspaper as "like lower-league sessions", Dier was quick to defend Mourinho and his staff.
"Who is saying that? Maybe you lads know -- I don't," he ...

Dier denies negative vibes at Spurs under Mourinho

PTI Automatic

American veteran Serena Williams sensationally crashed out but 15-year-old Coco Gauff went through as tennis got a glimpse of its past and future at the Australian Open on Friday.
Williams' bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam was halted by the unlikely figure of China's Wang Qiang, who triumphed in three tough sets -- after winning just one game when they played at the US Open in September.
Gauff then stepped up her giant-killing Melbourne debut as she ousted Japanese defending champion Naomi Osaka, 22, in dismissive style, winning 6-3, 6-4 in just 67 minutes to reach round four.
"Oh my gosh. Two years ago I lost first round in the juniors and now I'm here -- this is crazy," said the teenager, who upset Venus Williams in the first round.
With Williams now 38, 23 years older than Gauff, the two players are at opposite ends of their careers.
And with Williams' close friend Caroline Wozniacki retiring on Friday, after defeat to Ons Jabeur, it looked like a changing of the ...

Serena out, Coco in as tennis sees past, future at Australian Open

Inspired by a three-pronged pace attack, Pakistan's new-look bowling restricted Bangladesh to 141-5 in the first Twenty20 international in Lahore on Friday.
Only openers Mohammad Naim, who hit 43 off 41 and Tamim Iqbal, who made 39 from 34, batted with authority after Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat on a flat Gaddafi stadium pitch.
Naim smashed two sixes and three boundaries while Iqbal had four boundaries and a six in his knock.
Skipper Mahmudullah chipped in with a quick 14-ball 19 which included two boundaries.
Pakistan handed Twenty20 debuts to pacer Haris Rauf and opener Ahsan Ali in a series they must win 3-0 to retain their world number ranking in the format.
The remaining two matches are also in Lahore, on Saturday and Monday.

Pakistan restrict Bangladesh to 141-5 in Twenty20 opener

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer remains confident that Manchester United see him as the right man to take them forward, reiterating there is no "quick fix" for the stumbling Premier League giants.
Back-to-back Premier League defeats to Liverpool and Burnley have been compounded by a toxic atmosphere around the club, with fans voicing their anger at the owners the Glazer family and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.
Solskjaer himself is under growing pressure but is confident United can turn things around on Sunday at Tranmere in the FA Cup fourth round.
"For me, we do have a way of doing things," he said at his pre-match press conference on Friday.
"Of course you can see other teams have done well. Jurgen (Klopp) spent four years building his team and they're doing well now, so of course -- I've said so many times -- it's not going to be a quick fix.
"And it's not going to be like eight players in or 10 players in one transfer window. We've had one proper transfer window in the summer because .

Solskjaer says 'no quick fix' for Man Utd malaise

Naomi Osaka said she had been overwhelmed by the pressure of defending her Australian Open title and admitted she does not have a "champion mentality" after losing to 15-year-old Coco Gauff on Friday.
The 22-year-old Japanese made the startling admission after a surprise 6-3, 6-4 third-round defeat to the unseeded American, a loss she said she took "very personally".
The third seed said that she "loved" Gauff, but added: "You don't want to lose to a 15-year-old." There was intense interest in the build-up to their second ever match, which was touted as a glimpse into the future of women's tennis.
Two-time Grand Slam champion Osaka crushed a tearful Gauff in the US Open third round, but the teenager -- the youngest player in the Melbourne draw -- got emphatic revenge.
"I don't really have the champion mentality yet, which is someone that can deal with not playing 100 percent (but still win)," said Osaka.
"And I have always wanted to be like that, but I guess I still have a long way to .

Deposed Osaka says she does not have 'champion mentality'

Former Australian Open runner-up Marin Cilic rolled back the years Friday to outlast ninth seed Roberto Bautista Agut over five sets and book a spot in the round of 16.
The 31-year-old unseeded Croatian had a forgettable season last year, sliding down the rankings from seven to 39, his lowest year-ending position since 2007.
But he has started the season on fire and claimed a big scalp in beating the Spaniard, a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 6-0, 5-7, 6-3 on Melbourne Arena.
"It was four hours of incredible tennis and unreal emotions," said Cilic, who won 11 games in a row at one point in what was his second five-set match on the trot.
"There was an incredible patch of surreal tennis where every ball was going in. But I knew Roberto would fight back.
"He pushed me all the way in the fourth set, but I had a great mindset in the fifth." Cilic, whose career high was beating Roger Federer to win the US Open in 2014, is eyeing a deep run at the Australian Open.
He made 

Cilic rolls back years to beat Bautista Agut at Aussie Open

Unseeded 15-year-old Coco Gauff beat reigning champion Naomi Osaka in straight sets in a major upset at the Australian Open on Friday.
The American prodigy, making her Melbourne debut this year, beat the third seed 6-3, 6-4 in the third round to avenge her heavy defeat at last year's US Open.
The youngest player in the draw will play 14th seed Sofia Kenin of the United States or China's Zhang Shuai.
"Oh my gosh. Two years ago I lost the first round in the juniors and now I'm here -- this is crazy," said Gauff.
"I was just telling myself one point at a time and just keep fighting because you never know what happens on this court."
This was the second instalment of a budding rivalry that could light up tennis for the next decade or more, having met at the US Open, where Osaka won easily.
The teenager Gauff, who spent time training with Serena Williams in the off-season, had said she would be less nervous and more aggressive this time round.  And so it proved as they rattled through the .

Coco Gauff, 15, stuns title-holder Osaka at Australian Open

China on Friday added four more cities to a transport ban around the epicentre of a deadly virus, restricting the movement of some 41 million people in 13 cities as authorities scramble to control the disease.
Officials in Xianning, Xiaogan, Enshi and Zhijiang cities -- all located in central Hubei province where the virus first emerged -- said public transport services including buses and train stations would be closed.
The cities are the latest in Hubei to impose travel restrictions over the previous 24 hours in a bid to curb the spread of the new coronavirus which has infected more than 800 people.
The virus first emerged from the city of Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, where a seafood and live animal market has been identified as the centre of the outbreak.
It has killed 26 people so far, and has caused alarm because of its similarity to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome).  SARS killed nearly 650 people across mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003.
Zhijiang, a city 

China expands transport ban to 13 cities, 41 mln affected

Novak Djokovic trumpeted the benefits of his plant-based diet Friday in helping him thrash Yoshihito Nishioka and move into the Australian Open fourth round.
The Serbian defending champion swept past the Japanese 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in just 85 minutes on Rod Laver Arena to reach a Grand Slam round of 16 for the 50th time -- second only to Roger Federer's 67.
"I love playing on the court. I like the conditions," said the world number two after firing down 17 aces, along with 40 winners.
"I'm starting to feel very, very comfortable and compact on the court. I'm going to try to keep that going."
The win set up a clash with 14th seed Diego Schwartzman for a place in the quarter-finals after the Argentinian beat Djokovic's countryman Dusan Lajovic 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (9/7).
"Diego is definitely one of the quickest on tour. Hopefully if I serve as good as I did today, I feel I have a decent chance," said the second seed, who has been in fine touch at Melbourne Park, and in the lead-up ATP ...

Plant-based diet works wonders for no-nonsense Djokovic

China's Wang Qiang said her late coach remains in her dreams after she beat seven-time Australian Open champion Serena Williams for the finest victory of her career on Friday.
Wang said Australia's Peter McNamara, who died of cancer in July, would be proud after her steely triumph over the 23-time Grand Slam winner.
"I always dream about him. I think he could see how I played today," said Wang, who beat Williams 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 7-5 to reach the fourth round.
"He will be proud of me. I really wish he could be here to watch me play. Yes, I miss him."
McNamara, who also coached Mark Philippoussis and Grigor Dimitrov, is credited with turning Wang, 28, into a force on the women's tour during their four years together.
Under the Australian, Wang's career began to take off in 2018, when she won two titles and beat Venus Williams en route to the Roland Garros third round.
Last year, Wang had her best Grand Slam season yet, culminating in her quarter-final appearance at the US Open -- where ..

Wang pays touching tribute to late coach after Serena shock

China on Friday added four more cities to a transport ban around the epicentre of a deadly virus, bringing the number affected by the shutdown to over 41 million as authorities scramble to control the disease.
Authorities in Xianning, Xiaogan, Enshi and Zhijiang cities -- all located in Hubei province where the virus first emerged -- said public transport services including train stations would be closed.
Some cities also announced the closure of entertainment venues including theatres and karaoke bars.

Over 41 million people now affected by China transport bans

China is rushing to build a new hospital in a staggering 10 days to treat patients at the epicentre of a deadly virus outbreak that has stricken hundreds of people, state media reported Friday.
The facility in the central city of Wuhan is expected to be in use by February 3 to serve a rising number of patients infected by a coronavirus that has left at least 26 people dead and millions on lockdown in an effort to curb the spread.
Dozens of excavators and trucks were filmed working on the site by state broadcaster CCTV.
It will have a capacity of 1,000 beds spread over 25,000 square metres, the official Xinhua news agency said.
Construction began as reports surfaced of bed shortages in hospitals designated as dealing with the outbreak, which has now infected 830 people across China.
Xinhua said the new facility is aimed at "alleviating the shortage of medical treatment resources and improving the ability to care for patients".
In 2003 China erected a hospital on Beijing's rural ...

China rushes to build new hospital for virus within 10 days

Novak Djokovic barely got out of first gear in a sizzling performance to thrash Yoshihito Nishioka and move into the Australian Open fourth round Friday, closing in on a record eighth title.
The Serbian defending champion swept past the Japanese 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in just 85 minutes on Rod Laver Arena to reach a Grand Slam round of 16 for the 50th time -- second only to Roger Federer's 67.
"That's definitely one of the best service matches I have had lately," said the world number two after firing down 17 aces, along with 40 winners.
"I was inspired by my coach Goran (Ivanisevic) who came out here today. He brings a lot of insight."
He will next play 14th seed Diego Schwartzman for a place in the quarter-finals after the Argentinian beat Djokovic's countryman Dusan Lajovic 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (9/7).
"Diego is definitely one of the quickest on tour. Hopefully if I serve as good as I did today, I feel I have a decent chance," said the second seed.
Djokovic gave away just three games in his first ..

No-nonsense Djokovic cruises towards record eighth Melbourne title

Caroline Wozniacki and Serena Williams were both left in tears after the Dane's glittering tennis career ended in a third-round defeat at the Australian Open on Friday.
The former world number one, who announced in December that this would be her final tournament, lost 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 to lower-ranked Ons Jabeur of Tunisia.
The unseeded 29-year-old Wozniacki brings the curtain down on a career that saw her win 30 WTA titles, with her sole Grand Slam triumph coming in 2018 at Melbourne Park.
She was in tears when the end came at the hands of 78th-ranked Jabeur and just under two hours later, her eyes were still red and puffy as she arrived at her post-match press conference.
"I was told there are tissues here. I see the tissues in case I need them, I think I'm cried out," said Wozniacki, who was given a round of applause by reporters.
She was also given a generous reception by Melbourne Arena crowd after hitting her last shot in tennis -- "I finished my career with a forehand error. Those 

Wozniacki, Williams both in tears as Dane calls time on career

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to end a pact key to annual war games with American troops if the US does not restore the travel visa of an official who oversaw his drug war.
It is the latest in a long line of Duterte's threats to shrink or sever ties with historical ally Washington, which have periodically followed criticism of his deadly narcotics crackdown.
Duterte spoke after Ronald Dela Rosa, the former national police chief who is now a senator, said the US had cancelled his visa but did not tell him why.
Dela Rosa was the first enforcer of Duterte's internationally condemned campaign, in which police say they have killed just over 5,500 alleged dealers and users.
Human rights advocates say the true toll is four times higher, and could amount to crimes against humanity.
The US State Department and the embassy in Manila have not responded to requests for comment about Dela Rosa's visa.  Duterte went on the attack in a speech late Thursday.
"Now, they won't let 

Philippines' Duterte threatens to end US military pact

Brussels' two top officials, the presidents of the European Commission and the European Council, signed off on Britain's EU divorce agreement Friday.
With Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel's formal endorsement, the text will now go to the European Parliament on January 29 for ratification.
Then, on Thursday next week, diplomats  from the EU member states will approve the deal in writing, ensuring Britain's orderly departure at midnight on January 31.
"Charles Michel and I have just signed the Agreement on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU, opening the way for its ratification by the European Parliament," Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen tweeted.
In a separate tweet, Michel said: "Things will inevitably change but our friendship will remain. We start a new chapter as partners and allies."
And he added, in French: "I'm keen to write this new page together." Official photographs of the official signing ceremony, conducted before dawn in the European Council's headquarters ..

EU chiefs sign Brexit deal ahead of parliamentary vote

Shanghai Disneyland will close until further notice this weekend due to a deadly virus outbreak that has infected hundreds of people in China, the amusement park said Friday.
The move was decided "in response to the prevention and control of the disease outbreak and in order to ensure the health and safety" of its guests and staff, Shanghai Disney Resort said on its website.

Shanghai Disneyland closes over China virus concerns

Singapore's interior minister was sued Friday by a Malaysian human rights group in a bid to prevent the city-state from enforcing its law against false information in Malaysia.
Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam, wielding a new law to fight misinformation, had ordered Lawyers for Liberty to correct last week's post alleging the city-state used a brutal "coup de grace" to finish off botched executions.
Singapore has denied the allegations as "untrue, baseless and preposterous" but the Malaysian rights group stood by its claims and refused to issue a correction notice.
Under Singapore's law, failure to comply with a correction directive is an offence punishable with a fine and jail term.
N. Surendran, an advisor for Lawyers for Liberty, said the group were asking the Malaysian High Court to declare the Singapore directive "null and void" and unenforceable in Malaysia.
"This is an attempt by Singapore to encroach upon or to stifle or to crackdown on freedom of speech in our country," ...

Malaysian rights group sues Singapore minister over false news law

China on Friday added a ninth city to a transport ban around the epicentre of a deadly virus, bringing the number affected by the shutdown to over 30 million as authorities scramble to control the disease.
Authorities in Jingzhou, located in Hubei province where the virus first emerged, said all rail services leaving the city would close from 0400 GMT, while public buses, passenger transport, tourism buses, ferries and other boats will temporarily stop operations as well.
Some 32 million people are now affected by travel restrictions around Hubei.

China adds ninth city to transport ban, 32 million people now affected

Investigators Friday began searching the wreckage of a large tanker aircraft which crashed while battling devastating bushfires in Australia, killing three US crew members.
The C-130 Hercules plane slammed into the ground Thursday shortly after dropping a load of fire retardant on a blaze in the Snowy Mountains region of southeastern New South Wales (NSW) state.
The plane burst into a fireball on impact and debris were strewn over a kilometre-long stretch of land, with little of the large aircraft left intact, NSW police superintendant Paul Condon told a press conference near the site.
Greg Hood, chief of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said it would be "premature" to speculate on the cause of the crash, but he noted that strong winds had raked much of the fire zones of southeastern Australia Thursday.
"We will be working with the Australian bureau of meteorology specifically to look at the temperature, the wind direction and the impact that may have had on the ...

Probe begins into deadly crash of firefighting tanker in Australia

So often reviled for his antics on court, Australia's Nick Kyrgios is now something of a national hero after his box-office performances at Melbourne Park and heartfelt support for the victims of deadly bushfires.
The 24-year-old's apparent newfound maturity was lauded in local media after his four-set victory on Thursday over France's Gilles Simon in the Australian Open second round.
A picture of the 23rd seed punching the air took up half the front page of Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper, proclaiming: "Kyrgios beats demons, wins admirers." He was on the back pages too after his 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 victory, which set up a third-round meeting with Karen Khachanov, the 16th seed from Russia.
There were flashes of the worst of Kyrgios, losing his temper with his court-side coaching team and threatening to unravel as the stubborn Simon refused to lie down.
"I could have gone to a very dark place in the fourth set," the Australian, who has a suspension hanging over him following a litany .

AFP

AFP

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