Austrian Open: Murray, Ferrer in the running for year-end finals |
- Austrian Open: Murray, Ferrer in the running for year-end finals
- Rodgers looks to Sterling to silence the critics
- Fatty foods could harm men more than women, study reveals
- Dollar climbs against other currencies as eurozone concerns continue
- 20 dead in fresh clashes in Libya’s Benghazi
- Paris flustered by erection of ‘sex-toy’ sculpture
| Austrian Open: Murray, Ferrer in the running for year-end finals Posted: 17 Oct 2014 05:58 PM PDT
Murray, seeded second and the heavy crowd favourite in his debut at Vienna's Stadthalle, played it safe against German Jan-Lennard Struff in a 6-2, 7-5 win. Spain's top seed Ferrer limited the damage from the lethal serve of Ivo Karlovic as he defeated the sixth-seeded Croatian 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, holding Karlovic to 17 aces. Ferrer won the first set in 44 minutes from two unforced Karlovic errors and secured a break in the seocnd set for what proved to be a winning margin. He has now won three of four matches in the series, Ferrer stands provisional ninth in the race for one of three remaining places at the World Tour Finals, one spot ahead of Murray. Murray will Saturday face Viktor Troicki, who took a big step in his return from tennis exile as he beat Thomaz Bellucci 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (2/7), 6-2 to reach his first semi-final since 2011. Ferrer will take on fourth seed Philipp Kohlschreiber, a winner over Benjamin Becker 6-4, 7-6 (7/3). Murray's only wobble against the 52nd-ranked Struff came as the Scot trailed 3-1 in the second set, but Murray quickly put that right and returned to 3-all. The former Wimbledon champion ran out the winner after less than 90 minutes with a love game. "I expected a tough match from him, even if I didn't know a lot about his game," said Murray, provisional tenth in the race to London which will be decided this weekend and over the remaining two weeks of the ATP season. "He was hitting big. I had to play well to win and fight to get through. My game was more consistent than in the previous round, I was able to change up the rhythm "He was playing high-risk tennis but he made a couple of mistakes which helped me. I still was not able to hit a lot of winners." Number 127 Troicki has crawled back up the rankings after returning in July from a one-year ban for delaying a post-match blood test in 2013. The 28-year-old made his return with just 20 ranking points remaining thanks to a wild card from Gstaad organisers. He reached the quarter-finals in Switzerland and did the same last month in Shenzhen, China. A Beijing wild card produced a first-round win, with Troicki capitalising on success from qualifying to carve his way through the Vienna event upon his debut. The Serb last played a semi-final at Moscow, 2011. "It's great to win," said the player who was stoutly defended during his ban by world number one and good friend Novak Djokovic. "I've not played a semi-final in a long time. "My comeback has been tough but I always knew it would be like this: you have to come from the bottom if you want to arrive at the top." I knew I was clean Troicki said that while he tries to bury bitter memories of the sanction he received after being informed - erroneously as it turned out - that he could postpone a blood test by 24 hours due to feeling poorly in April, 2013, in Monte Carlo, the episode remains distasteful to him. "That you didn't do anything wrong and you are being punished is the worst feeling," he said. "One year is a long time in any sport. "They told me at the tribunal hearing that if I had just taken something illegal in my body I would have gotten a lesser sentence. As it turned out, 12 months was the minimum punishment for missing a test. "And the International Tennis Federation lawyers were trying to get me banned for two years. "But it's over now. Inside myself I know I was clean and not trying to do anything wrong. I had good lawyers but you feel like you don't have any chances (in the hearing)." — AFP  |
| Rodgers looks to Sterling to silence the critics Posted: 17 Oct 2014 05:53 PM PDT
Sterling endured some unpleasant jibes after telling England manager Roy Hodgson he felt too tired to start last weekend's Euro 2016 qualifier against Estonia. Hodgson responded by leaving Sterling on the bench in Tallinn before eventually introducing him as a substitute in England's 1-0 win, but his decision to publicly talk about the teenager's mental and physical fatigue exposed him to the barbs of fans and pundits disappointed he cried off with what was perceived as a trivial excuse. Rodgers has been left to restore Sterling's bruised ego, but the Liverpool boss has no plans to rest one of his key players as the Reds return to Premier League action at Loftus Road this weekend. "I've obviously read and listened to a lot of what has been said," Rodgers said. "He (Sterling) has been absolutely incredible for me and what has been nice to see is his maturity as a young man; he's 19, a full international and he will hopefully be a key player for England and Liverpool for many years. "This is a kid we bring up to be responsible and honest - lots of players will tell you they haven't played when they haven't felt right but this is a kid who didn't say that. "What he was saying was he felt tired. I've had it a number of times here with Raheem where he has been tired in his legs but he has gone on to play in games and be exceptional. "What has been disappointing in the whole affair is it has been grossly unfair how the kid has been put on the back pages for something he clearly did not say. "For a couple of days it probably shook him a little bit but he was brilliant in training on Friday (yesterday)." Confidence damaged Rodgers can ill-afford to have Sterling's confidence damaged by his England experience because Liverpool have struggled to recapture last season's scintillating attacking play for much of the current campaign. Aside from Luis Suarez, since sold to Barcelona, it was Sterling and England striker Daniel Sturridge, who were the most dynamic of Liverpool's attackers as they went within a whisker of winning the title. To Rodgers' immense relief, Sturridge — who has missed seven matches after sustaining a thigh injury on England duty — is on the verge of a comeback and could feature at some stage tomorrow. Meanwhile, QPR boss Harry Redknapp does not want any assurances over his position amid growing speculation that he is set for the sack. Redknapp guided QPR back into the Premier League through the Championship play-offs last season, but the west Londoners have struggled on their return to the top-flight and sit bottom of the table with just four points from their seven matches. Adding to the tension at Loftus Road, QPR owner Tony Fernandes reportedly decided to withdraw the offer of a new contract for Redknapp recently, while Tony Pulis and Tim Sherwood are said to be on the Malaysian's shortlist as potential replacements for the former Tottenham boss. But Redknapp tried to maintain an upbeat mood ahead of the Liverpool clash as he claimed his job isn't under immediate threat. When asked if he was feeling any pressure, Redknapp said: "None whatsoever. I'm not under pressure, none whatsoever. I'm looking forward to the game on Sunday (tomorrow). "We have played seven games, we are seven games into a Premier League season. We have played three home games, we got beaten by Hull 1-0 and missed a penalty, we beat Sunderland and drew with Stoke in a tough game - it is not easy. "I still have every confidence in the players here that we will start getting the results, and hopefully that will start on Sunday (tomorrow)." — AFP |
| Fatty foods could harm men more than women, study reveals Posted: 17 Oct 2014 05:51 PM PDT
"For the first time, we have identified remarkable differences in the sexes when it comes to how the body responds to high-fat diets," says Cedars-Sinai Diabetes and Obesity Research Institute scientist Deborah Clegg. "The brains of the male mice became inflamed and their hearts were damaged. But the female mice showed no brain inflammation and had normal hearts during the diet." Dr. Clegg and her team fed the mice what she says is the equivalent of a steady diet of hamburgers and soda. She couldn't say for sure what protected the females against the harmful effects of such an unhealthy diet but likens it to a chemical force. "These findings on how the brains and bodies of males and females respond so differently to nutrients suggests we have to reconsider whether the diets and drugs we recommend for managing obesity may need to be sex-specific to be more effective," said Richard Bergman, PhD, director of the Diabetes and Obesity Research Institute. If these findings do apply to humans ― which is next on the team's list of things to find out ― men need not despair just yet because the researchers say male brains can be manipulated to develop the protective characteristics of female brains. At least in mice. The study was published in the journal Cell Reports. ― Afp-Relaxnews |
| Dollar climbs against other currencies as eurozone concerns continue Posted: 17 Oct 2014 05:49 PM PDT
The dollar rose against the euro and yen for a second day running as global financial markets steadied, in part in response to soothing commentary from central bankers. On Thursday, James Bullard, head of the St Louis branch of the Federal Reserve, suggested the US central bank could extend its bond-buying program rather than winding it down, as had been expected. Then yesterday, Andrew Haldane, chief economist of the Bank of England, said recent economic weakness implied the need for a "back foot," or slower, approach to raising rates. Kathleen Brooks, a research director for Europe and Britain at Forex.com, said the dovish commentary, coupled with eurozone uncertainty, could lift the greenback. "If Eurozone sovereign fears rise once more, loggerheads at the ECB could hurt market sentiment, and European assets in particular," she said. "This may sound odd, but if Fed members stick to their dovish mantras then it could benefit the US dollar," Brooks said. "If volatility continues to recede, US Treasury yields may move higher, as the markets breathe a sigh of relief, which may also be dollar positive." — AFP |
| 20 dead in fresh clashes in Libya’s Benghazi Posted: 17 Oct 2014 05:45 PM PDT
An AFP correspondent said the latest fighting was the most violent since forces of former general Khalifa Haftar launched the assault on Wednesday with the backing of army units and civilians who have taken up arms. Benghazi Medical Centre said the 18 dead were mostly soldiers and their civilian supporters in the central district of Al-Majouri. There was no word on casualties on the side of the Islamists, who rarely announce their losses. Another four people died yesterday night after a suicide bomber blew up his car at a checkpoint in the central Benghazi district of Boudhima. The suicide bomber was among the dead, Benghazi Medical Centre said. In a statement on a pro-Haftar television station, Al-Karama, the retired general said he was "satisfied with the results of the battle for Benghazi" and vowed that "victory is near". At least 52 people have been killed in the three days of what Haftar has called an operation to "liberate" Benghazi, according to hospital figures. Al-Majouri is home to Mohamed al-Zehawi, leader of the Ansar al-Sharia jihadist group, which the United States has designated a terrorist organisation, and many of his men. Residents said the two sides were using weapons of all calibres in street fighting in a densely-populated district. The Libyan Red Crescent called on its Facebook page for a ceasefire, "even for one hour," to allow families to flee the combat zone. Elsewhere, air raids struck Islamist targets in the districts of Al-Lithi, Al-Massaken and Bouatni, southeast of the Mediterranean city, witnesses said. Islamist militias have seized control of large parts of turmoil-gripped Libya since a 2011 uprising against long-time leader Moamer Kadhafi. The army has this time publicly thrown its weight behind Haftar, who launched a first, unsuccessful, campaign against the Islamists in Benghazi in May, dubbing it "Operation Dignity". "The Libyan army claims 'Operation Dignity'" as one of its own campaigns, spokesman Colonel Ahmed al-Mesmari said Wednesday. Final redoubt Before this week's assault, Haftar's forces had been steadily beaten back to a final redoubt at Benghazi's airport, which has come under attack by Islamists since mid-September. Last week, more than 50 people were killed in fighting between the rival sides, according to military and hospital sources. In May, the authorities had accused the former Kadhafi-era general—who spent years in exile before returning to join the 2011 revolution—of trying to mount a coup. But the internationally recognised interim government of Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani "is now left with no choice but to make things up with Haftar", said Libyan analyst Fradj Najm. Oil-rich and largely lawless Libya has two competing governments as well as a host of rival armed militias jostling for influence. Parliament, elected in June, is recognised by the international community but contested by the militia controlling most of Tripoli and by the Islamists who dominate Benghazi. Thani and the majority faction of that legislature decamped this summer to the far eastern city of Tobruk because of widespread insecurity, including in the capital, where a rival administration has been set up. Clashes between rival militias have driven an estimated 287,000 people from their homes, including 100,000 who have fled the outskirts of Tripoli, according to the UN refugee agency. — AFP |
| Paris flustered by erection of ‘sex-toy’ sculpture Posted: 17 Oct 2014 05:42 PM PDT
The 24 metre-high artwork, called "Tree" was unveiled on Thursday on the Vendome Square alongside the Ritz Hotel and luxury jewellery stores, and has provoked a storm of mirth and outrage on social media. "Hey Paris. Your Christmas tree is a little... off," said one Twitter user, over the sculpture's jarring resemblance to a sex-toy called a butt-plug. "J'adore your giant butt-plug Christmas tree Paris," wrote another. Contemporary artist Paul McCarthy, 69, is known for his controversial and ambiguous works, but even he was surprised at the reception he got in Paris. On Thursday afternoon a man slapped him three times in the face, yelling that he was not French and his work had no business on the square, before running off, reported Le Monde daily. "Does this kind of thing happen often in France," said the bemused artist. However he admits that the ambiguity of his work is not entirely accidental. "It all started as a joke: at first I found the anal plug had a similar form to Brancusi's sculptures," he told the newspaper, referring to Romanian Constantin Brancusi, considered a pioneer of modern sculpture. "Then I realised it resembled a Christmas tree, but it is an abstract work." ― Afp-Relaxnews |
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