Australia

Celine Dion to tour Australia and New Zealand this year

The show will mark Celine’s return to Australia for the first time in a decade, playing in arenas in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne.

It will also be her first visit to New Zealand in over two decades with the final stop of the tour scheduled for Auckland’s Spark Arena on Saturday 11 August.

Celine Dion has sold almost 250 million albums during her over a 30‑year career.

She has earned five Grammy Awards, two Academy Awards and seven American Music Awards.

Tickets will go on sale online from the 19th of February.

     

Australia victorious in Sydney

The victory secured a clean sweep for the host nation after Australia’s women beat New Zealand in their Cup final earlier on in the day.

It marked the men’s first Cup win since Japan in 2012 and Andy Friend’s side put on a clinical display on day three in front of an enraptured home crowd at the Allianz Stadium. 

A brace from Ben O’Donnell combined with scores from Lewis Holland, James Stannard and John Porch. 

Samoa receives Bailey bridges

The bridges were handed over by the Australian High Commissioner to Samoa, Sue Langford to the Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure- Papali'itele Unasa Nickel Lee Hang this week.

The contract to manufacture and supply Bailey bridges with spare parts as well as providing training for the Land Transport Authority and local contractors on the installation of Bailey bridges was awarded to Mabey Bridges Ltd, UK.

Australia seal 4-0 Ashes series win

While the tourists frustrated Australia in the first session at the SCG on the final day on Monday, Pat Cummins (4-39) ripped through England early in the second.

England captain Joe Root (58) was unbeaten at lunch after not resuming his innings to begin the day, but he did not come out to bat again having suffered from viral gastroenteritis.

Cummins had Jonny Bairstow (38) lbw in a huge breakthrough before bouncers removed Stuard Broad (4) and Mason Crane (2).

Marsh brothers join Waughs, Chappells

The hosts, already 3-0 ahead in the series with the urn secured, reached 578 for five at the break after England had toiled for another session at the Sydney Cricket Ground for the reward of one wicket.

It was Mitchell Marsh who departed for 101 on the delivery after he had secured his second century of the series when Tom Curran cleaned bowled him to break the 169-run partnership between the siblings.

Australia continues Ashes domination

Smith struggled to contain his glee when the coin fell his way for the first time this series, guaranteeing the hosts first use of a flat pitch as they seek to further embarrass England after reclaiming the urn in Perth.

Warner pummelled England's beleaguered attack in the morning session, scoring 83 from 94 balls as Australia raced to 102-0 at lunch.

The hosts managed just 43 runs in the middle session, when Warner benefited from a no-ball reprieve on 99.

Australia methamphetamine seizure 'worth a record A$1bn'

The haul, estimated to have a street value of A$1bn (£600m; $800m), was uncovered when police raided a dock in Western Australia, authorities said.

Police have charged the men, each of whom faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Crystal methamphetamine, also known as ice, has been described as the most damaging illicit drug in Australia.

The 1.2-tonne (2,650lb) bust was larger than the previous record seizure, made in Melbourne in April.

Vandals damage ancient dinosaur footprint in Australia

Palaeontologists first discovered the imprint of the theropod dinosaur in a tidal rock platform in Flat Rocks, Victoria in 2006.

The area is a famous dinosaur fossil area where thousands of fossil bones and teeth have been found.

Authorities believe the vandals used a hammer to chip away at the three-toed mark which is about 30cm-wide.

"It looked like somebody had taken to it with either a hammer or a rock, and had broken off sections of the toes," Parks Victoria ranger Brian Martin told the BBC.

Australia regain the urn

Seamer Josh Hazlewood finished with a five-wicket haul as England were bowled out for 218 before tea at the WACA, four years after Alastair Cook's side meekly handed back the urn at the same venue, and with the same humiliating 3-0 scoreline.

Play was delayed by three hours by damp patches on the pitch and rain squalls throughout the morning, but it was not enough to save England as they lost their last six wickets for 85 runs.

"So many different emotions are coming out right now, I'm that excited," Australia skipper Steve Smith said.

First same-sex weddings take place in Australia

Lauren Price, 31, and Amy Laker, 29, exchanged vows in Sydney, one week after the new laws came into effect.

The ceremony took place in front of 65 guests at a ceremony in Camden in Sydney's south-west.

The first same-sex weddings were expected to happen from 9 January next year, but some couples have been eligible for exemptions allowing them to wed earlier.

Ms Price and Ms Laker successfully obtained a waiver exempting them from the one-month waiting period of a wedding because their families were travelling from Wales to be there.