Dominic Thiem booked his spot in the Paris Masters third round on Wednesday by edging out Milos Raonic in a marathon encounter, while Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas also progressed.
Fifth seed Thiem had to dig deep to get past Raonic 7-6 (7/5), 5-7, 6-4 as the Canadian powered down 30 aces in a thunderous serving display.
But Thiem, who has lost the last two French Open finals to Rafael Nadal across Paris at Roland Garros, saved nine of 10 break points to stay with his opponent before clinching the crucial breakthrough in game nine of the deciding set.
"It was unbelievable today, his serve," admitted the Austrian after winning in two hours and 38 minutes.
"He served almost all his serves between 205 (kph) and 230. When you have your chances you feel under so much pressure because you know you won't have many."
Thiem, who reached the semi-finals at Bercy last year, will face either Belgian 12th seed David Goffin or Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov in the last 16.
"The draw is unreal, only top 

Thiem battles past Raonic in Paris, Tsitsipas through

PTI Automatic

Defending champion Elina Svitolina stormed into the semi-finals of the season-ending WTA Finals after a commanding win over Simona Halep on Wednesday, while Canadian sensation Bianca Andreescu retired hurt against Karolina Pliskova.
Andreescu injured her left knee in the third game after attempting to return a wide serve and received heavy strapping during the subsequent medical timeout.
The 19-year-old gamely fought on but was noticeably hobbled and retired after the first set, which Pliskova won 6-3 in 51 minutes.
"I was really pumped for today but I feel sorry that she had to retire," Pliskova said after the match.
Svitolina will finish top of Purple Group after taking advantage of an error-strewn Halep to win 7-5, 6-3 in one hour and 39 minutes at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre.
Svitolina is the first player through to the semi-finals, having also beaten world number two Pliskova in straight sets on Monday. Wimbledon champion Halep will play Pliskova on Friday to decide the ...

Svitolina storms into semis of WTA finals

Scotland thrashed United Arab Emirates by 90 runs on Wednesday in Dubai to book a place in next year's T20 World Cup tournament.
Opener George Munsey belted 65 as Scotland made 198 in their innings.
In reply, UAE were all out for 108, with nine balls left, after 18.3 overs as Mark Watt and Safyaan Sharif each took three wickets.
Scotland joined Namibia, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea and Ireland, who had already booked their places but are still competing for the winner's trophy in UAE.
The 14-nation tournament decides which six nations complete the 16-team field for the World Cup in Australia from October 18 to November 15 next year.
The final spot was being decided between Hong Kong and Oman in Dubai later.
Scotland had struggled in group play and finished only fourth in their seven-team group.
"Not gone our way on this trip but nice to get over the line in the must-win game," said 'man of the match' Munsey.
Hosts UAE, whose squad had been diminished by the suspension of four players 

Scotland crush UAE to secure T20 World Cup ticket

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan faces the first major challenge to his leadership this week as a grey-bearded, orange-turbaned rival he calls "Maulana Diesel" marches to Islamabad with thousands of Islamists hoping to bring down the government.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman -- one of the country's most seasoned political operators -- has dominated the airwaves in recent days with his calls to unseat his old adversary Khan.
The prime minister, he says, did not win last year's election, but was "selected" by the powerful security establishment -- a suggestion denied by Khan, but spread widely by Pakistan's opposition since even before the July 2018 election.
"This movement will continue until the end of this government," Rehman told reporters ahead of the march.
"There is no other way... to bring Pakistan back on the democratic path." Rehman, who heads the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) -- one of the country's largest Islamist parties -- has been leading supporters from across Pakistan for ...

Mullah on the march: Pakistan cleric takes on Imran Khan

From budgeting for rural weddings to dressing appropriately and avoiding online porn, China's Communist Party has issued new guidelines to improve the "moral quality" of its citizens.
Officials have released several sets of guidelines this week alongside a secretive conclave of high-ranking officials in Beijing which discusses the country's future direction.
On Sunday the government published its "Outline for the Implementation of Citizen Moral Construction in the New Era" -- which advises readers how to use the internet, raise children, celebrate public holidays and behave while travelling abroad.
The guidelines from the Central Commission for Guiding Cultural and Ethical Progress calls for building "Chinese spirit, Chinese values, and Chinese power".
The texts urge citizens to avoid pornography and vulgarity online, and follow correct etiquette when raising the flag or singing the national anthem.
Public institutions like libraries and youth centres must carry out "targeted moral ...

China pushes higher 'moral quality' for its citizens

Germany's biggest lender Deutsche Bank appeared headed for a historic loss in 2019 Wednesday as a restructuring weighed on its third-quarter earnings, although bosses insist their harsh medicine is taking effect.
The group lost 859 million euros (UAS 954 million) in July-September, down from a profit of 211 million last year.
That brought its net losses in the year to September to a whopping 3.9 billion euros.
And there is little sign of the cavalry arriving in the fourth quarter, as Deutsche continues to suffer from low interest rates, market volatility and its ongoing restructuring plan.
The consensus among economists surveyed by Bloomberg is that losses could grow to 4.3 billion euros by December 31.
"We're planning and working towards a breakeven or a better year" in 2020, finance chief James von Moltke told reporters in a telephone conference.
Over the full year 2018, Deutsche scraped together a meagre profit of 300 million euros, following three successive years of losses.
Its ..

Deutsche Bank headed for painful 2019 after Q3 loss

Full scoreboard in the second Twenty20 international between Australia and Sri Lanka in Brisbane on Wednesday:
Sri Lanka
D Gunathilaka b Stanlake
21
K Mendis  run out (Agar)
1
A Fernando c Cummins b Agar
17
K Perera
b Agar
27
N Dickwella c Turner b Cummins  5
D Shanaka
c Carey b Stanlake
1
W Hasaranga st Carey b Zampa
10
I Udana c Richardson b Cummins  10
L Sandakan run out (Cummins)
10
L Malinga st Carey b Zampa
9
N Pradeep
not out
2
Extras (LB-1, W-3)
4
Total (all out, 19 overs)
117
Fall of wickets: 5-1, 2-29, 3-53, 4-65, 5-75, 6-75, 7-93, 8-98, 9-109, 10-117
Bowling: Stanlake 4-0-23-2, Richardson 3-0-17-0, Cummins 4-0-29-2, Zampa 4-0-20-2, Agar 4-0-27-2.
Australia
A Finch  c Perera b Malinga
0
D Warner
not out
60
S Smith
not out
53
Extras (LB-2, W-3)
5
Total (one wickets, 13 overs)
118
Fall of wickets: 1-1.
Bowling: Malinga 3-0-23-1, Pradeep 3-0-26-0, Sandakan 4-0-33-0, Hasaranga 1-0-18-0, Udana 2-0-16-0.

Brisbane, Oct 30 (AFP) Full scoreboard in the second Twenty20 international between Australia and Sri Lanka in Brisbane on Wednesday:

Roger Federer has withdrawn from the ATP Cup, a new team competition to be held in Australia in January, citing "family reasons".
"It is with great regret that I am withdrawing from the inaugural ATP Cup event," Federer said in a statement.
"When I entered the event last month, it was a really difficult decision because it meant less time at home with the family and a fully intense start to the season.
"After much discussion with both my family and my team about the year ahead, I have decided that the extra two weeks at home will be beneficial for both my family and my tennis."
The world number three, 38 years old, withdrew on Monday from this week's Masters 1000 tournament in Paris, two hours before the start also saying he needed to rest.
The ATP Cup organisers tweeted: "@rogerfederer announced that he would not play the #ATPCup for family reasons and therefore Switzerland was removed" from the competition.
The ATP Cup is a new competition which competes with the revamped Davis Cup .

Federer drops out of inaugural ATP Cup for family reasons

David Warner and Steve Smith each smashed half-centuries as Australia hammered Sri Lanka by nine wickets to win the second Twenty20 in Brisbane on Wednesday and wrap up the series.
It was another massive wake-up call for the Sri Lankans, who arrived in Australia on the back of a 3-0 series win against Pakistan but have now been outplayed twice, after being crushed by 134 runs in Adelaide on Sunday.
They must now regroup for the third and final match in Melbourne on Friday.
Warner and Smith came together after Aaron Finch was caught down the leg side off Lasith Malinga for a golden duck, and the pair produced a batting masterclass.
Warner was unbeaten on 60 and Smith not out 53.
Chasing 118 to win after Sri Lanka were restricted to 117 all out off 19 overs, they reached their target with 42 balls to spare.
"The bowlers did a terrific job, we bowled in the right areas and created chances and restricted them to 117, which wasn't enough on this wicket," said Smith.
"It's nice and easy ...

Warner and Smith on fire as Australia thump Sri Lanka

Tokyo's governor insisted Wednesday she still wants to see the Olympic marathon held in the capital next year, despite plans to move the event to northern Japan over heat concerns.
The location of the marathon and race-walking events in next year's 2020 Summer Games has become a major sticking point between Tokyo officials and the International Olympics Committee (IOC).
The body said earlier this month it would propose shifting the events to Sapporo in northern Japan after disastrous scenes at the Doha world championships where dozens of athletes needed medical attention in hot and humid conditions.
Last week, the chair of the IOC's coordination commission John Coates, made clear the decision to move the events was final, but Tokyo officials have not backed down.
"Let me clearly speak as the leader of the host city and the representative of the people of Tokyo, it is my wish for marathon and race walk to be held in Tokyo," Governor Yuriko Koike said at the start of a three-day meeting 

Defiant governor says Olympic marathon should stay in Tokyo

Samuel Eto'o is convinced that he is the best African footballer of all time and is now targeting more success as a coach, the Cameroon great told AFP in an exclusive interview.
The 38-year-old is pondering his next step after hanging up his boots in early September, bringing the curtain down on his playing days with a brief spell turning out for Qatar Sports Club.
"There comes a point where you have to look for other challenges. That is what I have chosen to do. I have had a wonderful career," Eto'o told AFP during a visit to Paris.
His career spanned more than 20 years in which he won 18 major trophies, including two Champions Leagues with Barcelona and another with Inter Milan. He also won the Africa Cup of Nations twice with Cameroon as well as Olympic gold in 2000.
One prize that did get away from him, however, was the Ballon d'Or. Liberia's George Weah, in 1995, remains the only African to have claimed that award, but that does not change Eto'o's belief that he is the best ...

'Africa's greatest' Eto'o eyes move into management

Victoria supremo Andrew McDonald was Wednesday appointed assistant coach to Justin Langer with the Australian men's cricket team.
The position has been vacant since David Saker, who nurtured the likes of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, stood down in February.
Since then Langer has called on former teammates such as Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh to act as mentors around his squad.
Langer said McDonald, 38, would compliment the current coaching panel.  "I have no doubt his all-round knowledge and man management skills will be a positive addition to our team," he said.
"The coaching success Andrew has enjoyed around the world in a relatively short period of time is testament to his skill, dedication and knowledge of the game."
McDonald guided Victoria and the Melbourne Renegades to all three Australian domestic titles last season.
He has also worked closely with a number of current Australian players, including Aaron Finch, Marcus Harris and James Pattinson, and coached ..

Australia apppoint McDonald as Langer's assistant

Former Australian international Lisa Keightley became the first woman to be appointed full-time coach of the England women's cricket team on Wednesday the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced.
The 48-year-old who played nine Tests and 85 One Day Internationals succeeds Mark Robinson and will take up her post in January.
Keightley -- who coached the England Women's Academy between 2011 and 2015 -- takes over a team that like their male counterparts are world champions in the 50 over format.
"I'm massively excited. It's a huge opportunity," said Keightley, who went on to win the World Cup as a player in her swansong season in 2005.
"It's a team full of world-class players and to be given the chance to work with some of the players who I worked with a few years ago is really exciting.
"I can't wait to get started and see where we can get to.
"England are the current 50-over world champions and they made it to the final of the last ICC Women's T20 World Cup.
"They're a very ...

Aussie Keightley in historic appointment as England women's cricket coach

Rescuers in Japan are searching for a man who appears to have fallen down part of Mount Fuji as he was live-streaming his climb up the country's highest peak, police said Wednesday.
The man, whose name has not been made public, was live broadcasting from the snow-covered upper reaches of Mount Fuji on Monday afternoon when he appeared to slip and begin falling.
He could be seen tumbling downwards for several seconds before the stream cut out, and local media said people watching online first alerted authorities to the apparent accident.
A team of ten rescue workers began searching for the man early Tuesday, a spokesman for the local Shizuoka police told AFP.
The man had been complaining of freezing temperatures, deep snow, steep slopes and slippery surfaces in the final minutes of his broadcast.
Several viewers commented on the feed, warning the situation appeared dangerous, but he pushed on.
Footage of the climb and his fall have been taken down from the site he was using to ...

Rescuers hunt man missing after livestreaming Mt Fuji climb

Hundreds of people staged a demonstration in a Bangladesh town Wednesday against a two-year ban on cricket captain Shakib Al Hasan for not declaring attempts to bribe him.
The ban on the 32-year-old superstar was announced on Tuesday by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which suspended one year of the punishment after Shakib "accepted three charges of breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code".
Shakib made a public appeal for support after being banned, unleashing a flood of angry anti-ICC social media posts from his fans.
Police said about 700 people took to the streets in Shakib's hometown of Magura, demanding the ICC revoke the ban which came on the eve of Bangladesh's departure for a tour of India.
"The protesters shouted slogans and marched along a highway. They also formed a human chain as part of their action against the ICC decision," said Saiful Islam, police chief in the western town.
Protesters carried placards saying that Shakib was the victim of a "conspiracy".  ...

Protests in Bangladesh over ban on cricket hero Shakib

Australia's "backpacker tax" illegally targeted some foreign workers, a court ruled Wednesday, leaving people who spent time in the country on holiday working visas in line for tax rebates.
From 2017, Canberra applied a 15 percent levy for every dollar earned for two categories of working holiday visas linked to seasonal labour.
In a landmark decision Wednesday, a Brisbane court ruled the levy -- dubbed the "backpacker tax" -- cannot be applied to a British woman due to a double taxation treaty between Australia and the UK.
Similar agreements are also in place with the United States, Germany, Finland, Chile, Japan, Norway and Turkey according to international accounting firm Taxback.com.
"That is a disguised form of discrimination based on nationality," judge John Logan said.
Australians begin paying tax once their annual income exceeds Australian dollar 18,200. That was also the previous threshold for the working holiday visas.
The Australian Tax Office said it was considering ...

Australia's 'backpacker tax' illegally targets foreigners, court rules

Japan's Sony said Wednesday half-year net profit fell nearly 15 per cent, but it upgraded its annual forecast on solid growth in its image-sensor and music sectors.
The PlayStation manufacturer said net profit dropped 14.9 percent to 340 billion yen (USD 3.12 billion) for April-September, and tipped annual net profits of 540 billion yen, compared with an earlier 500 billion yen forecast.
The company said it saw sales jump in the image-sensor sector, thanks to a growth in demand due to mobile phones.
"We think the demand will continue to grow also for the next fiscal year with the increase of smart phones with multiple lenses and large-sized sensors," CFO Hiroki Totoki said.
Hideki Yasuda, an analyst at Ace Research Institute in Tokyo, also said before the results were announced that "demand for image sensors is expected to grow further" due to the reasons Totoki explained.
"Sales of image sensors remain strong," Yasuda told AFP.
Sony currently operates four image sensor plants in ...

Sony sees first-half net profit drop but lifts full-year forecast

Airbus cut Wednesday its forecast for the number of planes it will deliver this year as it finds it difficult to meet ambitious targets to speed up production, while profits held steady in the third quarter.
The European plane manufacturer said in a statement it now plans on delivering around 860 commercial aircraft in 2019, up from 800 last year, but down from earlier estimates of 880 to 890 jets.
As Airbus gets paid when it delivers aircraft to airlines, the figure is keenly watched by investors and analysts.
Airbus shares slid 2 per cent in morning trading on the Paris stock exchange, where the CAC 40 index was up 0.2 per cent.
Production of aircraft has risen this year, with Airbus delivering 571 in the first nine months of this year compared to 503 in the same period last year, but the firm had ambitious plans to put more of its top-selling next-generation jets into the hands of clients.
"We are focused on the A320neo ramp-up and improving the industrial flow while managing the ..

Airbus cuts delivery forecast, profits in holding pattern

President Jair Bolsonaro angrily denied links to last year's assassination of a prominent Brazilian politician on Wednesday, after reports that a suspect in the murder investigation visited his residence before the killing.
Marielle Franco, a popular leftist city councillor in Rio de Janeiro, was gunned down alongside her driver in March 2018 -- a drive-by shooting that investigators described as a "summary execution."
One of the two suspects in the murder apparently published a photograph of himself alongside Bolsonaro on his Facebook account, since deleted.
Meanwhile the other lived in the same Rio de Janeiro residential complex as the president -- links that the Brazilian police have dismissed as a "coincidence."
On Tuesday night, TV network Globo reported that the first suspect visited the condominium building where Bolsonaro lived, telling the doorman he intended to visit the then-presidential candidate.
The doorman then watched the man instead visit the home of the second ...

Furious Bolsonaro denies links to Brazil politician's murder

US-Italian auto giant Fiat Chrysler and France's Groupe PSA, the maker of Peugeot and Citroen cars, announced Wednesday they are in merger talks that could create the world's number four automaker.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) said in a statement it "confirms there are ongoing discussions aimed at creating one of the world's leading mobility groups" with PSA.
The statement and a similar one from PSA offered no additional details.
A person with knowledge of the matter told AFP on Tuesday that the merger would yield an entity valued at about $50 billion.
The person said Carlos Tavares, the chief executive of Peugeot's parent, Groupe PSA, would lead the new company as CEO while John Elkann, chairman of FCA, would be chairman.
Discussions between the automakers are ongoing and there is no guarantee of an agreement, the source said, confirming details first published in the Wall Street Journal.
According to Bloomberg News, FCA's board of directors is expected to hold an emergency ...

Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot in talks to create $50 bn car giant

Eurozone countries running budgetary surpluses such as Germany should increase spending to shore up slowing growth in the eurozone, incoming European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde said Wednesday.
Lagarde told France's RTL radio that whereas eurozone members had successfully coordinated their fiscal policies to save the bloc during the 2008/2009 sovereign debt crisis, "since then the countries which have budgetary space have not really made the necessary efforts."
She said that "countries with chronic budget surpluses like the Netherlands and Germany and a few others in the world" should loosen their purse strings to help overcome the "current imbalances".
The former IMF chief, who will take over from outgoing ECB head Mario Draghi on Friday, called on those countries to increase spending in infrastructure, education and innovation.
She also echoed French President Emmanuel Macron's repeated calls for greater budgetary solidarity among the 19 countries that share the euro ...

AFP

AFP

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