Explosive tennis star Nick Kyrgios is an embarrassment to Australian sport, domestic media screamed Friday, branding his latest meltdown a "vile" new low.
The temperamental 24-year-old was fined US$113,000 after smashing two racquets, launching an abusive tirade at chair umpire Fergus Murphy before appearing to spit at him during his Cincinnati Masters defeat to Russia's Karen Khachanov.
The ATP warned him that he could also face another suspension from the sport once a full investigation has taken place.
Veteran Channel Nine television sports presenter Tony Jones said he should be immediately banned from the upcoming US Open.
"Yet again Nick Kyrgios has proved himself to be an embarrassment to Australian sport. Quite possibly world sport," he said on the broadcaster's website.
"Surely tennis authorities need to show something that resembles a backbone and deal with him accordingly.
"It's time the ATP adopted a heavy-handed approach and ban Kyrgios from this month's US Open," added ...

'Embarrassment' Kyrgios hits new low, say Aussie media

PTI Automatic

World number one Novak Djokovic has a remarkably clear road to the ATP Cincinnati Masters final after producing an efficient victory while third seed Roger Federer crashed out of the US Open tuneup event.
Djokovic was never in danger in his 6-3, 6-4 triumph over 53rd-ranked Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta, whom he finished off in 90 minutes on Wednesday.
Federer fell in a first-time meeting with Russian Andrey Rublev, who posted a 6-3, 6-4 upset.
Defending champion Djokovic will continue his quest in a Friday quarter-final, taking on France's Lucas Pouille, a 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 6-2 winner over Russian Karen Khachanov.
Djokovic earned his eighth straight victory at Cincinnati on the first of two match points.
"I'm very pleased today. I beat a top quality player," Djokovic said.
"It was straight sets but the score doesn't indicate how tough it was.
"He had break points in both sets and I got out of trouble with some good serves. Overall, it was a really good match."
Federer, the seven-time ...

Djokovic motors into Cincy quarters as Federer ousted By Bill Scott

Manchester City will seek revenge against Tottenham on Saturday for their dramatic Champions League exit last season as Liverpool and Manchester United also look to build on impressive Premier League starts this weekend.
City completed the first ever domestic treble of trophies in England last season, but fell short once more in the Champions League as Tottenham progressed from their quarter-final tie on away goals.
VAR disallowed Raheem Sterling's strike deep into stoppage time of a thrilling second leg 4-3 win for the English champions in April, robbing Sterling of his hat-trick on the night and City a place in the last four.
Yet, Sterling has started the new campaign as he finished the last, scoring a hat-trick on the opening weekend as City thrashed West Ham 5-0 to already move to the top of the table.
Tottenham were also victorious against Aston Villa, but needed to come from behind and two goals in the final five minutes from Harry Kane to secure a 3-1 win over promoted Aston ...

Man City seek Spurs revenge, Lampard hoping for home comforts

Controversial Australian star Nick Kyrgios was fined $113,000 after his explosive Cincinnati Masters meltdown which saw him smash two racquets, launch an abusive tirade at the chair umpire before appearing to spit at the official.
The ATP said the massive sanction included individual fines for ball abuse, leaving the court without permission, an audible obscenity and unsportsmanlike conduct during his second round loss to Russia's Karen Khachanov.
Kyrgios, 24, was warned that he could also face another suspension from the sport once a full investigation has taken place.
After the world number 27 lost 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 to Khachanov on Wednesday night, he called umpire Fergus Murphy a "fuckin' tool", refused to shake his hand while spitting in the direction of the chair.
He had earlier been handed a time violation, docked a point and was warned again after leaving the court without permission at the end of the second set after which he was seen to destroy two racquets in the ...

Kyrgios fined $113,000 for Cincinnati meltdown, faces suspension

Roger Federer remains determined to enter the US Open on full throttle despite taking a 6-3, 6-4 third-round loss to Andrey Rublev at the ATP Cincinnati Masters.
The 70th-ranked Russian qualifier was still in awe after knocking off the seven-time tournament winner in 61 minutes -- the quickest loss for the 38-year-old Swiss since 2003 in Sydney when he fell after 54 minutes.
But with the wisdom gained from nearly two decades on tour, the 20-time Grand Slam winner was hardly at panic stations after the surprise defeat.
"It's very important for me that I'm injury-free and I'm feeling good," he said on Wednesday.
"Regardless of what the outcome of this week, I'm happy I came here, had good practice sessions.
"I had two matches here and hoped it would have gone better -- the plan is always not to lose first round. The plan is always not to lose second round.
"The plan is never really to be in the weekend. It's trying to be there.
"When these kind of results happen, you walk away from it ..

Federer won't let Cincy setback spoil US Open prep

Israel's decision to bar two Muslim members of the US Congress drew strikingly sharp criticism from several allies to the Jewish state, including top Democratic lawmakers, presidential hopefuls and influential pro-Israel lobby AIPAC.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, widely supported by Democrats and Republicans alike in Washington, led a collection of pro-Israel groups in denouncing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's block of the anti-Trump lawmakers' visit, a move encouraged by President Donald Trump himself.
While the group's members "disagree" with support by House Democrats Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib for a boycott on Israel, AIPAC said "we also believe every member of Congress should be able to visit and experience our democratic ally Israel firsthand."
More than 70 House and Senate Democrats publicly denounced Israel's rejection, while Republican lawmakers were largely silent following the announcement.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a staunch ...

AIPAC, Democrats seethe as Israel bars US Muslim lawmakers

US President Donald Trump has said that he is "concerned" about the risk of a violent Chinese crackdown in Hong Kong, but that he would soon be talking to President Xi Jinping.
"I am concerned," he told reporters in New Jersey on Thursday before travelling to a campaign rally.
Trump urged Xi to negotiate directly with pro-democracy protesters, saying: "I would be willing to bet that if he sat down with the protesters... I'll bet he'd work it out in 15 minutes."
"I know it's not the kind of thing he does," the US president added.
He also said that a phone call was scheduled for him to talk "soon with President Xi.

Trump 'concerned' by risk of violent Hong Kong crackdown

North Korea fired two "unidentified projectiles" into the sea on Friday, the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff said -- the latest in a series of such launches by Pyongyang.
The South Korean military said the projectiles were fired from near the city of Tongchon of Kangwon Province into the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan.
"The military is monitoring the situation in case of additional launches while maintaining a readiness posture," the JCS said.

North Korea fires two 'unidentified projectiles': Seoul

China has warned that it will not "sit by and watch" the unrest unfolding in Hong Kong, as US President Donald Trump expressed concern over the risk of a violent response to pro-democracy protests.
Trump urged his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to meet with demonstrators, while US National Security Advisor John Bolton warned Beijing against creating a "new" Tiananmen Square in Hong Kong, referring to the deadly 1989 crackdown on protesters in Beijing.
The weeks-long Hong Kong protests were sparked by opposition to a plan to allow extraditions to the mainland, but have since morphed into a wider -- sometimes violent -- call for democratic rights.
The movement represents the greatest challenge to Beijing's authority since the city was handed back by the British in 1997 under a deal that allowed it to keep freedoms that many Hong Kongers feel are being eroded.
Images taken by AFP on Thursday showed thousands of Chinese military personnel waving red flags and parading at a sports stadium .

China says it won't 'sit by' on Hong Kong, Trump expresses concern

Norway said on Thursday it would halt Amazon protection subsidies worth 30 million Euro to Brazil which it accused of turning its back on the fight against deforestation.
Days after Germany also withdrew money promised for forest protection in Brazil, Norway said the South American nation "broke the agreement" with contributors to the Amazon Fund.
Norway was the single largest donor, giving almost 830 million Euros to the fund since its creation 11 years ago.
"Brazil broke the agreement with Norway and Germany since suspending the board of directors and the technical committee of the Amazon Fund,"
Norway's Environment Minister Ola Elvestuen told the Dagens Naeringsliv newspaper.
"They cannot do that without Norway and Germany agreeing," he insisted.
The Amazon is vital for absorbing planet-warming carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and converting it into life-giving oxygen, but concern about the forest has grown since Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro took office in January.
Norway's ..

Norway blocks 30 mn-euro deforestation subsidy to Brazil

An autopsy of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein found broken bones in his neck, US media reported on Thursday, as New York's medical examiner said the cause of death required further study.
Epstein, a convicted sex offender who befriended many celebrities and politicians, was found dead in jail on Saturday from an apparent suicide as he awaited trial on federal charges that he trafficked underage girls for sex.
Preliminary findings from the autopsy showed the 66-year-old had multiple broken bones in his neck, including the hyoid bone near his Adam's apple, according The Washington Post and The New York Times.
They cited sources familiar with the post mortem examination.
The newspapers also quoted experts as saying that a hyoid fracture can occur in victims of suicide, particularly older ones. They also said it can be found in incidents of strangulation.
The office of New York City's chief medical examiner, which conducted the autopsy, said it was too early to confirm exactly how ...

Epstein autopsy shows broken neck bones: US media

Space tourism moved a step closer to reality on Thursday as Virgin Galactic unveiled its new Mission Control at a spaceport in New Mexico and the schedule for final test flights before taking paying customers into the final frontier.
Spaceport America, a taxpayer-funded facility in New Mexico's remote Jornada del Muerto desert, received its license to operate in 2008 and was officially "opened" by flamboyant British billionaire Richard Branson three years later.
But despite having signed up more than 600 would-be space tourists across 60 countries, including several Hollywood celebrities, the project has been hit by delays.
An accident in 2014 that killed a co-pilot dealt Virgin Galactic -- and the wider cause of space tourism -- a major blow.
The company has since developed a viable spacecraft that has twice touched the edge of space, and chief executive George Whitesides told AFP last month it hoped to take its first paying passengers "within a year."
On Thursday, Virgin invited ...

Virgin Galactic unveils new Mission Control for space tourism

One of France's biggest wildfires this year has been stopped after more than 500 firefighters battled for two days to protect homes and lives, emergency services said.
"The fire has been stopped, we hope to be completely on top of it overnight," Colonel Eric Felten of the Aude department's fire and rescue services told AFP late on Thursday.
"Some flare-ups will have to be dealt with, but nothing major," Felten said, adding that the number of firefighters had been drawn down to 200 to keep watch over a ravaged pine forest.
Firefighters said they had been helped by light rain as well as winds that were milder than forecast.
Aude prefect Alain Thirion underscored the "judicious and massive participation" of five firefighting aircraft that had resumed water and chemical drops early in the day.
Around 900 hectares (2,200 acres) were destroyed after the fire broke out Wednesday in the rugged hills of the Aude department, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) southeast of Toulouse.
No injuries ...

Fierce wildfire halted in southern France

A joint Saudi-Emirati military delegation travelled to Aden on Thursday to discuss demands for a pullout of UAE-backed southern separatists from positions they captured in Yemen's interim capital, government and separatist sources said.
The visit comes after deadly clashes last week in the southern port city that reflected a rift between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, the main partners in a pro-government coalition fighting Iran-aligned Shiite Huthi rebels.
It also coincided with protests in Aden in favour of independence.
The delegation's mission was "to discuss the issue of the withdrawal of southern Security Belt forces from government camps and positions they seized last week", a source in President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's government told AFP.
A source from the Southern Transitional Council (STC), which is backed by the UAE-trained Security Belt, said "we will hold talks with them", without giving details.
The forces backing the STC, which seeks an independent South Yemen, seized the ...

Saudi-UAE delegation in Yemen's Aden to discuss separatist pullout

Sudan's protest leaders agreed Thursday to nominate former senior UN official Abdalla Hamdok as the first prime minister of the country's three-year transition government, a statement said.
The veteran economist, who stepped down last year as deputy executive secretary of the UN's Economic Commission for Africa, is due to be formally selected on August 20.
The Alliance for Freedom and Change protest umbrella "have agreed on the appointment of Dr Abdalla Hamdok as prime minister," the statement said.
The statement was issued by the Sudanese Professionals Association, a trade union alliance which has played a big part in the protest movement.
The protest camp and a ruling military council agreed an outline power sharing accord on July 17, ahead of a landmark deal paving the way for civilian rule that is meant to be signed on Saturday.
The military council came to power by toppling long-time president Omar al-Bashir in April on the back of months of protests, but demonstrations had ...

Sudan protest group nominates ex-UN economist for PM

An Angola ex-transport minister was on Thursday jailed for 14 years for corruption, making him the first high profile official to be convicted since President Joao Lourenco took office two years ago.
The Supreme Court found Augusto da Silva Tomas, who was minister under former leader Jose Eduardo dos Santos, guilty of six counts including corruption, embezzlement, money laundering and abuse of power.
Tomas, who was arrested in September last year, is the first most senior former government official to be convicted and jailed for corruption under president Lourenco who has pledged to curb graft.
Judge Joel Leonardo, handed down what he described as a "fair" sentence after the court found that Tomas and his accomplices "unscrupulously appropriated public money for personal economic and financial gains, emptying the state coffers".
He was found guilty, along with other officials, of diverting millions of dollars of state funds from the state-owned shipping regulatory organisation to ...

Angola ex-transport minister jailed for 14 years for graft

How people stay informed in the Hermit State of North Korea is always a question, and US President Donald Trump may have answered it Thursday: by Twitter alerts.
Trump said it only took Kim Jong Un 10 minutes to respond to his tweeted proposal for a landmark meeting in June at the border of North and South Korea.
That suggested that someone in Pyongyang -- perhaps Kim himself -- keeps a minute-by-minute watch on what the US tweetmaster-in-chief is saying on social media.
"When I was flying to South Korea I had the idea, you know what, I am going to South Korea, right next to North Korea, right with the border, right near there," Trump told the New Hampshire Today radio program.
"There was no way that anybody knows how to get Kim Jong Un. How do you get him?" Trump said.
"I put out a tweet: 'Hey, I am going to South Korea. If you want to meet for a couple of minutes, let's meet.'"
"And I put it out and he was calling within 10 minutes."
Trump appeared to reject speculation that the ...

Does North Korea's Kim get Trump tweet alerts?

General Electric shares plunged Thursday after an accounting expert accused the company of fraud, an allegation the industrial giant strongly denied.
Harry Markopolos, who warned securities regulators about the Bernard Madoff investment scheme years before that firm went under, accused GE of "running a decades long accounting fraud," according to information on gefraud.com, a website set up by Markopolos and his associates.
Markopolos told the Wall Street Journal that GE will need to bolster its insurance reserves by USD 18.5 billion in cash and should have booked billions in losses in its oil and gas division.
He is working with an unnamed hedge fund that is betting that GE shares will fall, an investment tactic known as "shorting" a stock, and gave the fund access to his research before it was published.
He also will receive a share of trading proceeds, the Journal reported.
GE called the claims "meritless," noting the financial incentive to get the share price to fall, and said it .

GE shares plunge after fraud accusation

Two Palestinian youths attacked Israeli police with knives in Jerusalem's Old City on Thursday before being shot by officers, leaving one of the assailants dead, officials said.
Israeli police said an officer was moderately wounded and that the two assailants were shot.
The Palestinian health ministry said one was killed, while Israel's Shaare Tzedek hospital said the second was left in critical condition.
Another person in the area was injured in the leg, police said, without providing further details.
Tensions ran high in Jerusalem's Old City this week after overlapping Jewish and Muslim holidays led to clashes at a flashpoint holy site.
The clashes on Sunday between Israeli police and Palestinian worshippers at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, wounded dozens of Palestinians and four police.
Sunday marked the start of the four-day Muslim holidays of Eid al-Adha and thousands of Palestinians prayed at the Al-Aqsa mosque.
It coincided with the Jewish ...

2 Palestinians in knife attack on Israel police, one shot dead: Officials

Asian and European seamen were kidnapped Thursday aboard a vessel in the Gulf of Guinea off the southern Cameroon port of Douala, a senior Cameroonian navy source said.
"(They) were abducted this morning," said the source, who gave no details about the number or nationality of the kidnap victims.
"The kidnappers are probably Nigerian pirates," the source said. "Cameroonian forces have launched search operations."
An official at Douala port confirmed the kidnappings, and said the seamen had been taken after their ship came under attack.
"We don't know the number of abducted seamen for the time being," the official said.
The Gulf of Guinea, whose coastline stretches in a huge arc from Liberia to Gabon, is notorious for piracy as well as oil theft, illegal fishing and human and drugs trafficking.
According to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), 62 seafarers were taken hostage or abducted in the area in the first half of 2019.
The Gulf of Guinea accounted for 73 per cent of ...

Asian, European seamen kidnapped off Cameroon: Navy source

July 2019 temperatures were the hottest ever recorded globally, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said Thursday, confirming earlier observations by the European Union.
"Much of the planet sweltered in unprecedented heat in July, as temperatures soared to new heights in the hottest month ever recorded. The record warmth also shrank Arctic and Antarctic sea ice to historic lows," the agency said.

AFP

AFP

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