Cameron McEvoy expects a “very fast” men’s 100m freestyle final at the world championships on Thursday with a “dog-fight” on the cards and the blue riband event wide open. France’s Mehdy Metella clocked the fastest time from Wednesday’s semi-finals of 47.65 seconds, but all of the top five swam under 48 secs. With both Olympic … Read more
New music from world-renowned Australian Aboriginal singer Gurrumul will be released next month, his record label said, with one album already completed as part of a documentary. The singer, who was born blind and never gave any interviews, passed away on Tuesday after a long battle with illness aged 46. He won international acclaim for … Read more
Wallabies captain Stephen Moore announced his retirement Thursday from international rugby at the end of this year, but he will play one more season for the Queensland Reds. The veteran hooker, who has played for Australia 120 times, is the tenth most-capped international of all-time and second only to George Gregan (139) as the most-capped … Read more
Britain plans to play a bigger role in Asia after Brexit, including deploying its military to the area if necessary, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Thursday. Johnson backed the campaign to quit the EU and said the decision had given his country the opportunity to “think afresh” about its international role, while maintaining close ties … Read more
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that transgender people may not serve “in any capacity” in the US military, upending a key policy from Barack Obama’s administration and drawing swift condemnation. Announcing the major policy change on Twitter, Trump said the military should be focused on “overwhelming victory,” and not burdened with the “tremendous” medical costs … Read more
Chinese superstar Sun Yang and American sensation Katie Ledecky suffered surprise defeats at the world championship on Wednesday while the USA twice broke the mixed medley relay world record. Italy’s Gabriele Detti was the surprise winner of the men’s 800m freestyle — the event Sun had dominated for the last three world championships — as … Read more
The United States broke the world record for the mixed 4x100m medley relay at the world aquatic championships in Wednesday’s heats. The US quartet of Ryan Murphy, Kevin Cordes, Kelsei Worrell and Mallory Comerford clocked 3mins 40.28secs to break the previous record of 3:41.71 set by Great Britain two years ago in Kazan. This is … Read more
Britain’s defence secretary Wednesday made a strong push to build Australia’s next fleet of warships, saying the frigates he proposes are best placed to hunt “Russian and Chinese submarines” amid regional tensions. Australia earlier this year detailed a massive Aus$89 billion (US$70.4 billion) shipbuilding strategy, including constructing new submarines and frigates, in the nation’s largest … Read more
Britain’s Adam Peaty warned the men’s 50m breaststroke world record could fall again in a fierce battle over the sprint distance in Wednesday’s final. The British ace broke his own world record from 2015 by clocking 26.10 seconds in Tuesday’s heats, then lowered it again to 25.95sec in the evening’s semi-finals. The record is under … Read more
World-renowned indigenous singer Gurrumul has died after a “long battle with illness” aged 46, his management said Wednesday, as Australians hailed his contributions to music. Born blind, the reluctant star never gave any interviews and was painfully shy, but his music drew worldwide acclaim, despite the fact that he performed in his Gumatj dialect which … Read more
Former model Barbara Sinatra, a humanitarian activist who was Frank Sinatra’s last wife, died Tuesday in California, her foundation said. She was 90. A family spokesman said Sinatra — born Barbara Blakely — died of natural causes surrounded by family and friends at her home in Rancho Mirage. She wed Sinatra in Rancho Mirage in … Read more
Vatican finance chief Cardinal George Pell, a top advisor to Pope Francis, denied all charges of historical sexual abuse Wednesday at his first appearance in an Australian court over the allegations. The 76-year-old, the number-three figure in the Vatican, returned from Rome earlier this month to face the charges in Melbourne Magistrates Court. Details of … Read more
Vatican finance chief Cardinal George Pell arrived for his first appearance in an Australian court on historical sex abuse charges Wednesday, facing a huge media scrum ahead of the largely administrative hearing. The 76-year-old, a top advisor to Pope Francis, returned from Rome earlier this month to face multiple charges in Melbourne relating to offences … Read more
Katie Ledecky made history on Tuesday by becoming the first woman to win 12 world swimming championship gold medals, as world records were sent tumbling four times in the Budapest pool. Britain’s Adam Peaty twice lowered his own men’s 50m breaststroke record, once in the morning’s heats then again in the evening’s semi-finals. Canadian Kylie … Read more
South Africa’s has insisted memories of an inspired innings will play no part when he returns to one of his favourite venues for the third Test against England at The Oval. Five years ago at the south London ground, Amla made South Africa’s highest individual Test score of 311 not out, his marathon effort playing … Read more
Katie Ledecky will shake off any fatigue in her bid to make history on Tuesday in the 1500m freestyle final by becoming the first woman to win 12 golds at world aquatic championships. The 20-year-old freestyle expert picked up two golds on Sunday in Budapest when she won the 400m freestyle title for the third … Read more
Australian two-time Grand Slam singles champion Mervyn Rose, who went on to coach greats Margaret Court and Billie Jean King, has died, tennis officials said Tuesday. Rose, who won the Australian Open and French Open along with five Grand Slam doubles titles, was 87. “The tennis family is mourning the passing of seven-time Grand Slam … Read more
The 23-year-old Canadian superstar — who in recent years has been as known for off-stage antics as for his music — had been due to resume his “Purpose” tour on Thursday with 15 shows across North America and Asia. “Due to unforeseen circumstances, Justin Bieber will cancel the remainder of the ‘Purpose World Tour’ concerts,” … Read more
Sri Lanka announced Monday it was intensifying its war on dengue fever, with schools to shut across the island to help curb the unprecedented outbreak of the mosquito-borne virus that has claimed nearly 300 lives. The Red Cross also announced it was scaling up its emergency response to the country’s worst-ever outbreak of the disease … Read more
New India coach Ravi Shastri will Wednesday look to prove his team remains the world’s best Test side when they take on Sri Lanka in the first of three matches. Shastri, who took over the demanding role after Anil Kumble’s acrimonious exit last month, has backed India to continue the “fearless brand of cricket” that … Read more