A former Dutch MP and prominent critic of conservative Islam, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, has cancelled a speaking tour of Australia and New Zealand citing security concerns. The Somali-born author was to appear on Australian TV on Monday before starting her tour, titled “Hero of Heresy”. But she pulled out due to “a number of reasons … Read more
A terrified Australian clung to the remains of his kayak for 40 minutes but survived in one piece after a shark took a huge bite out of the boat. Gavin Kleidon’s ordeal began late Sunday as he was paddling in a leisurely fashion to Mud Island in Moreton Bay off Brisbane. Then the shark attacked … Read more
Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the Somali-born women’s advocate and leading critic of Islam, on Monday cancelled a tour of Australia and New Zealand at the last minute citing security concerns. She was due to appear on an Australian Broadcasting Corporation current affairs panel show on Monday evening before speaking engagements later this week. But organisers Think … Read more
Australia is surveying the devastation wrought by Cyclone Debbie, which has flooded vast tracts “almost the size of Texas” and left at least three dead. Debbie has now blown out over the Tasman Sea after bringing a deluge of rain down the eastern coast from its impact point in Queensland. Flood alerts remain, crops have … Read more
The Canterbury Crusaders joined the Waikato Chiefs and Western Stormers as the only unbeaten teams in Super Rugby with a smashing win over the NSW Waratahs in Sydney on Sunday. The seven-time champions powered to a bonus-point 41-22 win over the 2014 champions, scoring six tries to three for their sixth win of the campaign. … Read more
Flooded rivers were still rising Saturday in two Australian states with two women dead and four people missing after torrential rains in the wake of a powerful tropical cyclone. Queensland police warned that the Logan River, which runs through Beenleigh south of Brisbane, would not hit peak flood levels for several more hours while the … Read more
A woman’s body was found Friday and tens of thousands of people were evacuated from towns in two Australian states after torrential rain caused by a powerful tropical cyclone. Category four Cyclone Debbie hit northeastern Australia on Tuesday between Bowen and Airlie Beach in Queensland state, ripping up trees, washing boats onto land and causing … Read more
Wading through flooded areas can be dangerous anywhere in the world, but in Australia the waters may contain snakes, crocodiles and sharks as well as rubbish and sewage. One of the striking images showing the impact of category four Cyclone Debbie which smashed through northeast Australia this week was a paramedic’s photo of a large … Read more
Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao is back in talks for a possible fight with unbeaten Australian Jeff Horn, the Filipino world champion’s adviser said Friday. The announcement follows the much-publicised collapse of a $38 million bout between Pacquiao and Britain’s Amir Khan, reportedly after investors in the United Arab Emirates failed to come up with the … Read more
Britain’s Johanna Konta beat Venus Williams 6-4, 7-5 in a grueling battle Thursday to reach the WTA Miami Open final, where she will face Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark. The Australian-born 25-year-old broke Williams in the first game and played aggressively throughout the opening set. Williams fought back strongly in the second set, breaking to go … Read more
Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from towns in two Australian states as authorities warned Friday there could be deaths from severe flooding caused by ex-tropical cyclone. Category four Cyclone Debbie hit northeastern Australia on Tuesday between Bowen and Airlie Beach in Queensland state, ripping up trees, washing boats onto land and causing … Read more
The Waikato Chiefs have been told to get their act together for their Super Rugby clash with the Northern Bulls after an unconvincing win over the struggling Melbourne Rebels. Coach Dave Rennie read the riot act to the two-time champions after they needed a late burst to overcome Australia’s bottom-placed team in their last outing. … Read more
Ramiro Moyano scored a superb try as the Jaguares of Argentina continued a great start to the Super Rugby season by defeating Queensland Reds of Australia 22-8 Saturday. The winger side-stepped numerous opponents in a dazzling run from midfield before accelerating to the line at Estadio Jose Amalfitani in Buenos Aires. His try was the … Read more
You catch more flies with honey than vinegar, the famous saying goes, and apparently it also applies to the dating world. Honeypotting is the new way both women and men are finding out if their partners are faithful or leading them astray. And now a Brisbane private investigator known as Miss Honey Potter is revealing … Read more
Australian Football League chiefs were fuming Monday after the women’s grand final was forced to move from Brisbane’s Gabba ground after the surface was deemed unsafe after concerts by Adele. Brisbane Lions won the right to host the Aussie Rules decider after an undefeated trailblazing season but instead will now play Adelaide on the Gold … Read more
Roger Federer claimed a record-equalling fifth ATP Indian Wells Masters title on Sunday, continuing his career resurgence with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Stan Wawrinka. Federer, sidelined some six months after knee surgery last year, returned to win his 18th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January. With Sunday’s triumph in the all-Swiss … Read more
The table-topping Waikato Chiefs face a “pretty rigorous review” after struggling to beat the Melbourne Rebels who led a revival of the lesser lights in round four of Super Rugby. The Chiefs have 19 points out of a maximum 20 from the first four rounds, but coach Dave Rennie was not impressed with the way … Read more
Winger Courtnall Skosan scored four tries as Golden Lions of South Africa cruised to a bonus-point 44-14 win over 14-man Queensland Reds of Australia Saturday in Super Rugby. Reds and Wallabies fly-half Quade Cooper was red-carded after 56 minutes of the round 4 match for a swinging arm tackle on Lions centre Rohan Janse van … Read more
Kawasaki Frontale captain Yu Kobayashi coolly chipped home a penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage time to grab a richly deserved 1-1 draw at Guangzhou Evergrande on Tuesday in the AFC Champions League. The Japanese side laid siege to the two-time Asian champions’ goalmouth after the prolific Brazilian striker Alan put the home side … Read more
A gruelling round three of Super Rugby this weekend has proved costly for New Zealand’s backline, with five All Blacks sidelined with leg injuries. Israel Dagg, Waisake Naholo, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Seta Tamanivalu and Lima Sopoaga were all injured ahead of the arrival of the British and Irish Lions in June. The fullback cupboard is almost … Read more