Pakistan tests feature in Australian domestic cricket summer
May 14, 2023 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — The Australia men’s cricket team’s home tests in the coming summer will be crammed into an unusually narrow window in December and January.
Australia will meet Pakistan in three tests and the West Indies in two in the traditional school holiday period.
Australian scientists have begun vaccinating wild koalas against chlamydia in an ambitious field trial in New South Wales.
The aim is to test a method for protecting the beloved marsupials against a widespread disease that causes blindness, infertility and death.
Prosecutors now doubt imprisoned mother killed her children
April 26, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Prosecutors acknowledged to a government inquiry Wednesday that new scientific and genetic evidence left reasonable doubt that an Australian mother deliberately killed her four children 20 years after she was convicted of doing so.
Taiwan, Hong Kong workers believed dead in Australia crash
April 22, 2023 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — A road accident in Australia killed five people, including four foreign farm workers, after a driver allegedly failed to give way before entering onto a busy highway.
Taiwanese and Hong Kong workers were believed to be among those killed in the crash, which occurred Thursday on the border of Victoria and New South Wales states, the Australian newspaper Herald Sun reported.
Waratahs backrower Swinton banned for 7 weeks over tackle
April 18, 2023 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — New South Wales Waratahs backrower and Wallabies prospect Lachie Swinton has been banned for seven weeks for a tackle a judicial panel has described as “highly dangerous.”
The tackle on Western Force flyhalf Jake Strachan occurred in the first minute of the Waratahs Super Rugby Pacific match against the Force at Sydney on Saturday.
Hayne found guilty after 3rd trial over sexual assault
April 4, 2023 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — Former Australian National Rugby League star Jarryd Hayne has been found guilty after a third trial of sexually assaulting a woman in her home north of Sydney in 2018.
Hayne, 35, pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual intercourse without consent and faced a two-week trial over the allegations in the New South Wales District Court.
Australian soldier charged over Afghan killing freed on bail
March 28, 2023 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — A former elite soldier charged with murder for allegedly killing an unarmed man in Afghanistan was released on bail Tuesday by a magistrate who concluded he would face danger from Muslim extremists in prison.
Australia charges ex-soldier with murder over Afghan killing
March 21, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Police have charged the first Australian veteran with murder for a killing in Afghanistan three years after a war crimes investigation found that 19 Australian special forces soldiers could face charges for illegal conduct.
Millions of dead fish wash up amid heat wave in Australia
March 19, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Millions of fish have washed up dead in southeastern Australia in a die-off that authorities and scientists say is caused by depleted oxygen levels in the river after recent floods and hot weather.
McKeown sets 200-meter backstroke swimming world record
March 10, 2023 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — Three-time Olympic champion Kaylee McKeown broke the world record in the 200-meter backstroke Friday at the New South Wales State Open swim championships.
McKeown finished in 2 minutes, 03.14 seconds, taking 0.21 seconds off American swimmer Regan Smith’s mark from the 2019 world championships in Gwangju, South Korea.
The best and the rest already on show in Super Rugby
March 9, 2023 GMTWELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — After only two rounds, Super Rugby Pacific already has established a familiar pecking order. The tournament runs until June when playoff matches take place but already the top six teams stand out.
Jones hires ex-NRL star Hodgson as Australia’s defense coach
February 27, 2023 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — Eddie Jones has appointed ex-NRL star Brett Hodgson as defense coach on a two-year deal as he starts building Australia’s management structure ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
Rugby Australia announced the appointment Monday, the first since Jones returned as Wallabies head coach last month at the expense of Dave Rennie.
Australian pleads guilty to killing gay American in 1988
February 23, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — An Australian pleaded guilty on Thursday to manslaughter in the death 35 years ago of an American who fell from a Sydney clifftop that was known as a gay meeting place, with the victim’s family welcoming the turning point in their long campaign for justice.
Australian inquiry asks whether mom smothered her 4 children
February 13, 2023 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — A retired Australian judge investigating the convictions of a mother in the deaths of her four children was told Monday there is a “reasonable hypothesis” that could cast doubt on her guilt.
Wife of former US pilot complains of Australian treatment
February 13, 2023 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — The wife of a former U.S. military pilot accused by the United States of illegally training Chinese aviators said Monday her husband was being held in inhumane conditions as he fights extradition from Australia.
2 pilots walk away from Boeing 737 tanker crash in Australia
February 7, 2023 GMTPERTH, Australia (AP) — Two pilots walked away with minor injuries after a Boeing 737 jet converted for firefighting crashed in Australia, officials said Tuesday.
The twin-engine tanker owned by Canadian-based Coulson Aviation crashed in Fitzgerald River National Park in southern Western Australia state while fighting wildfires late Monday.
Pell mourned at Sydney cathedral day before funeral, protest
February 1, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Mourners paid their respects to Cardinal George Pell in a Sydney cathedral Wednesday a day before the funeral and interment of a polarizing church leader who was once the most senior Catholic convicted of sex abuse.
Police ask court to ban protest at Cardinal’s Sydney funeral
January 31, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian police plan to ask a judge to ban gay rights protesters from demonstrating outside the funeral of Cardinal George Pell in Sydney on Thursday due to public safety concerns.
Australian charged over travel to IS territory freed on bail
January 6, 2023 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — An Australian woman charged with willingly entering part of Syria that was under control of the Islamic State group was freed on bail Friday as a debate raged about the risk to the community.
Super maxi Andoo Comanche wins line honors at Sydney-Hobart
December 27, 2022 GMTHOBART, Australia (AP) — Andoo Comanche won line honors in the 77th edition of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, marking a triumphant return for the super maxi.
The 100-foot yacht crossed the River Derwent finish line just before 1 a.m.
Super maxi Andoo Comanche leads Sydney-Hobart fleet
December 26, 2022 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — Super maxi Andoo Comanche overcame a challenging start in a dramatic opening to the Sydney to Hobart race to take the lead as the fleet benefits from favorable winds on Monday.
Six hours into the race Andoo Comanche was leading from LawConnect, Black Jack and Hamilton Island Wild Oats with the four super maxis all within close proximity along the south coast of New South Wales state helped along by northerly breezes.
West Indies draw warmup match to open 2-test Australian tour
November 19, 2022 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Several West Indian batters had lackluster results as the visitors played to a draw in a three-day tour match Saturday against a combined New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory XI.
Waters again threaten Australia town flooded 2 weeks ago
November 15, 2022 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — Around 1,000 people in the Australian town of Forbes were told to evacuate their homes on Tuesday ahead of flooding while much of central New South Wales state was on high alert.
The State Emergency Service said the Lachlan River was rising faster than anticipated and people in low-lying areas of Forbes needed to evacuate by Tuesday, two weeks after the town of 10,000 was last flooded.
Australian inquiry asks whether mom smothered her 4 children
November 14, 2022 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — An Australian inquiry began investigating on Monday whether a woman convicted almost two decades ago of smothering her four children to death might be innocent.
The inquiry by retired New South Wales state Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Bathurst is the second judicial investigation into Kathleen Folbigg’s convictions in 2003 and reflects advances in genetic science that add weight to her argument that her children died of natural causes.
Sri Lankan cricketer denied bail in Australia on sex charges
November 7, 2022 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — A Sri Lankan cricketer charged with sexually assaulting a woman in Australia remained in jail Monday after a court declined his bid for bail.
Danushka Gunathilaka was arrested early Sunday at his Sydney hotel and was charged with four counts of sexual intercourse without consent.
Sri Lankan T20 World Cup player charged with rape in Sydney
November 6, 2022 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka has been charged over the sexual assault of a woman after being arrested in his Sydney hotel early Sunday.
Police said detectives began an investigation on Saturday after receiving reports that a 29-year-old woman had been sexually assaulted at a Rose Bay home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs earlier in the week.
Australian inquiry probes 40 years of gay hate killings
November 2, 2022 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A government inquiry began hearing evidence on Wednesday of unsolved deaths resulting from gay hate crimes over four decades in Australia’s most populous state where police were notoriously indifferent to such violence.
Former US pilot who worked in China arrested in Australia
October 26, 2022 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A former U.S. military pilot and flight instructor who ran an aviation consultancy in China is in custody in Australia awaiting an extradition request from his homeland on an undisclosed charge, officials said Wednesday.
Belgian’s 2019 disappearance in Australia still unexplained
October 21, 2022 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — The disappearance of a young Belgian backpacker in Australia has confounded authorities for more than three years, and his fate remained a mystery after an inquest concluded Friday.
A coroner ruled that 18-year-old Theo Hayez likely died soon after he left a nightclub in the coastal town of Byron Bay, but she couldn’t say whether it was from an accident or if he was killed by others.
Australian floods could inundate or isolate 34,000 homes
October 17, 2022 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Around 34,000 homes could be inundated or isolated in Victoria state as a flood emergency continues across parts of Australia’s southeast, an official said Monday.
Victoria is the worst-affected state with some towns experiencing the highest river peaks in decades.
Michael Hooper back with Wallabies for European tour
October 16, 2022 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — Openside flanker Michael Hooper will return from personal leave to join the Australian rugby squad for its five-match European tour but he has not been reinstated as captain.
The 30-year-old Hooper has not played since he withdrew from the squad on the eve of the Wallabies' Rugby Championship opener against Argentina in August.
Flood warnings as southeast Australia lashed by heavy rain
October 13, 2022 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Flood warnings were issued, hundreds of homes were evacuated, thousands more lost power and a man was missing as heavy rain lashed southeast Australia on Thursday.
Rivers across Australia’s most populous states, New South Wales and Victoria, and the island state of Tasmania were rising dangerously with catchments soaked by months of above-average rainfall.
Podcast leads to Australian’s conviction in wife’s murder
August 30, 2022 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — An Australian man was convicted on Tuesday of murdering his wife 40 years ago after a renewed police investigation that was triggered by a popular podcast.
Christopher Dawson, 74, faces a possible life sentence.
Vietnam War photographer Tim Page dies in Australia at 78
August 25, 2022 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Legendary Vietnam War photographer, writer and counter-culture documenter Tim Page died Wednesday at his Australian home. He was 78 years old.
The British-born, self-taught photographer died of liver cancer with friends at his bedside at his rural home at Fernmount in New South Wales state, friends posted on social media.
Australian charged with shooting at windows inside airport
August 15, 2022 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — An Australian man was charged with three weapons offenses Monday after he allegedly used a handgun inside the Canberra Airport to fire multiple shots at airport windows.
2nd Australian state bans public displays of Nazi swastikas
August 11, 2022 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — A second Australian state on Thursday banned public displays of Nazi symbols.
New South Wales, the nation’s most populous state, followed Victoria, the second most populous, which banned the public display of Nazi swastikas in June.
Australian state begins legislating to ban the swastika
August 9, 2022 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — Australia’s most populous state took a major step toward banning Nazi symbols on Tuesday when the New South Wales Parliament’s lower house passed a bill that would criminalize their display.
Cheika wants Pumas to be at least competitive with Wallabies
August 4, 2022 GMTA first home series win in 15 years.
A first home series win over Scotland in 28 years.
Following those three tests alongside the Andes almost three weeks ago, the Pumas have regathered in buoyant mood for the Rugby Championship with an even bigger goal in mind.
Australian swimming coach facing sexual assault charges
August 2, 2022 GMTA high-level Australian coach is facing 20 charges relating to the alleged sexual assault of young swimmers in the 1970s.
Dick Caine, 76, was initially charged by New South Wales state police on June 22 after being arrested at his home in Sydney.
Rugby Australia condemns verbal abuse of England coach Jones
July 18, 2022 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — Rugby Australia has denounced the behavior of a fan who verbally abused visiting coach Eddie Jones and imposed a life ban on a man who climbed onto the roof of a grandstand during England’s series-deciding win over Australia in Sydney on the weekend.
Queensland wins Game 3 22-12 to reclaim Origin series title
July 13, 2022 GMTBRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Ben Hunt charged down Nathan Cleary’s kick and sprinted 70 meters to clinch an against-the-odds State of Origin series win for Queensland with a 22-12 victory Wednesday over New South Wales in Game 3.
Flood threat moves north as Sydney area emergency eases
July 7, 2022 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — Floodwaters were receding in Sydney and its surrounding area Thursday as heavy rain threatened to inundate towns north of Australia’s largest city.
Evacuation orders and official warnings to prepare to abandon homes were given to 60,000 people by Thursday, down from 85,000 on Wednesday, New South Wales state Premier Dominic Perrottet said.
EXPLAINER: Factors behind Sydney’s recent flood emergencies
July 6, 2022 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Parts of Australia’s largest city have been inundated by four major floods since March last year, leaving weary residents questioning how many times they can rebuild.
The latest disaster follows Sydney’s wettest-ever start to a year with dams overflowing and a sodden landscape incapable of absorbing more rain that must instead run into swollen waterways.
Homes of 85,000 people at risk, but rain eases around Sydney
July 6, 2022 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — Floodwaters inundated or were threatening the homes of 85,000 people around Sydney on Wednesday as rivers started to recede and the heavy rains tracked north of Australia’s largest city.
Sydney floods burden 50,000 around Australia’s largest city
July 5, 2022 GMTRICHMOND, Australia (AP) — Hundreds of homes have been inundated in and around Australia’s largest city in a flood emergency that was causing trouble for 50,000 people, officials said Tuesday.
Emergency response teams made 100 rescues overnight of people trapped in cars on flooded roads or in inundated homes in the Sydney area, State Emergency Service manager Ashley Sullivan said.
Heavy rains, floods prompt evacuations of Sydney suburbs
July 3, 2022 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — Thousands of residents in Sydney suburbs were told to evacuate their homes on Sunday after heavy rains caused floodwaters to rise and rivers to overflow in what authorities called life-threatening emergencies.
NSW level State of Origin series after crushing win
June 26, 2022 GMTPERTH, Australia (AP) — Nathan Cleary scored 24 points and combined with debutant Matt Burton to lift New South Wales to a dominant 44-12 win over Queensland in front of a capacity 60,000 crowd at Perth to level the State of Origin series 1-1.
Australian state outlaws public displays of Nazi swastikas
June 22, 2022 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — An Australian state has become the first in the country to pass a law banning the public display of Nazi swastikas, as concerns grow about the rate at which local young people are being radicalized.
Former league star among Wallabies’ 35-man squad for England
June 12, 2022 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — Former National Rugby League star Suliasi Vunivalu is among six uncapped players in a 35-man Wallabies squad named on Sunday for a three-test home series against England.
After overcoming persistent hamstring injuries, winger Vunivalu was included after strong Super Rugby Pacific performances for the Queensland Reds.
Queensland hold on for 16-10 win in Origin series at Sydney
June 8, 2022 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — Valentine Holmes scored a try, kicked two goals and combined with fellow veteran Cameron Munster to help guide Queensland to a 16-10 win over New South Wales in the State-of-Origin series opener Wednesday in front of more than 80,500 fans in Sydney’s Olympic Park.
Australian court makes Google pay $515,000 for defamation
June 6, 2022 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — An Australian court on Monday ordered Google to pay a former politician 715,000 Australian dollars ($515,000) over two defamatory YouTube videos.
John Barilaro, the former New South Wales state deputy premier, had sued Google and comedian Jordan Shanks, also known as friendlyjordies, in the Federal Court over the videos.
ACT Brumbies fly Australian flag in Super Rugby semifinals
June 5, 2022 GMTWELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The ACT Brumbies prevented a Kiwi sweep of the Super Pacific quarterfinals with a come-from-behind win over the Wellington-based Hurricanes and now face the toughest task in the tournament — playing the top-ranked Blues in Auckland.
Element of uncertainty in Super Rugby Pacific playoffs
June 2, 2022 GMTWELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The competitiveness of Australian teams has added an element of uncertainty to Super Rugby Pacific quarterfinals.
Only two of Australia’s five franchises won matches last year in the trans-Tasman Super Rugby competition.
Slater picks Cobbo among 4 Origin rookies for Queensland
May 30, 2022 GMTBRISBANE, Australia (AP) — First-time Queensland coach Billy Slater has picked four rookies including teenage Brisbane Broncos winger Selwyn Cobbo in his debut selection for the State of Origin series against New South Wales.
Super Rugby quarterfinalists set after tight final round
May 29, 2022 GMTWELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Shock results and tight contests in the last regular-season round of Super Rugby Pacific have created a new sense of uncertainty to the quarterfinals which begin in Christchurch on Friday.
Blues seal 1st place as Super Rugby Pacific playoffs loom
May 22, 2022 GMTWELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Auckland-based Blues matched a club-record streak of 12 wins and clinched first place on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder Saturday when a dropped goal after the siren gave them a 21-19 win over the ACT Brumbies.
Waratahs beat Highlanders 32-20 in Super Rugby Pacific
May 22, 2022 GMTDUNEDIN, New Zealand (AP) — The New South Wales Waratahs wore down the 14-man Highlanders to achieve a 32-20 win which lifted them from seventh to sixth place in Super Rugby Pacific.
The Waratahs led 19-7 at halftime on Sunday and held out a brief second half rally from the Highlanders before a late try to flyhalf Tane Edmed closed out their first win in Dunedin in 14 years.
New inquiry into Australian mother convicted of 4 homicides
May 19, 2022 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — An Australian state attorney general on Wednesday declined to pardon a mother convicted almost 20 years ago of smothering her four children to death and instead ordered a new inquiry into whether there could be a medical explanation for the tragedies.
Crusaders reflect after Super Rugby Pacific form slump
May 5, 2022 GMTWELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Crusaders have grappled for the past week with the causes of a form slump which has damaged their title chances in Super Rugby Pacific.
The 12-time champions began their slide down the standings three weeks ago with a loss to the Auckland-based Blues in a match between the top-ranked teams in New Zealand.