Australia & Pacifics

Sydney, Jan 12 (PTI) Rohit Sharma's individual brilliance was not enough to make up for a floundering top and middle order as India suffered a 34-run defeat at the hands of a resilient Australia in the first One-day International, here Saturday.

Sharma conjured up a magnificent 133 of 129 balls for his 22nd ODI hundred but eventually it only helped in reducing the defeat-margin as India ended up at 254 for nine while chasing a 289-run target.

Three of India's top four batsmen could not reach double-digit and lasted a mere 11 balls.

10 Jan 2019; DW: Police have arrested a man after suspicious packages were received by numerous foreign embassies and consulates across Australia. Affected countries included Germany, the US and UK.

The 48-year-old suspect was arrested at his home in Shepparton, in the southern state of Victoria, federal and state police said in a joint statement on Thursday.

09 Jan 2019; DW: Police and ambulances were seen at several consulates and embassies in Melbourne and Canberra. The missions of Germany, the United States, India, and several other countries are believed to have been affected.

CANBERRA, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Australia is seen as a global "free rider" on the International Energy Agency (IEA)'s oil security mechanism due to its low fuel stockpile, the Department of Energy and Environment has warned.

In a submission to the parliamentary inquiry on treaties, the department warned that Australia could be made to compensate the fuel supplies of other members of the IEA in the event of a global shortfall.

Sydney, Jan 7 (PTI) Indian cricket got its new seminal moment after talismanic Virat Kohli led the country to a maiden series victory on Australian soil, ending a 71-year wait to script a golden chapter in the game's history.

The fourth and final Test match at the SCG petered to a barren draw due to inclement weather but not before providing India with a 2-1 series win and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

It is a rare first Down Under for India since Lala Amarnath's side visited the country back in 1947-48 months after independence to face Sir Don Bradman's 'Invincibles'.

04 Jan 2019; AFP: A marathon century by Cheteshwar Pujara and a swashbuckling ton from Rishabh Pant all but ended Australia's hopes of saving the series Friday as India built a massive 622 for seven declared in the final Sydney Test.

India began the second day at 303 for four and proceeded to twist the knife against a demoralised home team that toiled in hot conditions with little joy.

Unless Australia win, India will claim a first-ever series victory Down Under since they began touring here in 1947-48. They lead 2-1.

Similar to every year, Sydney sky was lit with wonderful fireworks on new year's eve. New year's fireworks in Sydney is considered to be one of the best in the world.

26 Dec 2018; AFP: Banned Australian player Cameron Bancroft on Wednesday confirmed David Warner asked him to alter the ball during the tampering scandal in South Africa and said he went along with it "to fit in".

Bancroft was seen using sandpaper to try to rough up the ball in the Cape Town Test in March, receiving a nine-month ban from international and domestic cricket for his part in an incident that rocked the sport.

Warner and then captain Steve Smith were exiled for a year after all three were found to be involved.

24 Dec 2018; DW: Cracking noises and jammed doors in Sydney's Opal Tower triggered the evacuation of 3,000 people on Christmas Eve. The state of the new 36-story apartment skyscraper is being examined by engineers.

Residents and neighbors of Sydney's prestigious Opal Tower were left waiting Monday, not knowing whether they would be allowed back into their high-rise homes in time to celebrate Christmas.

Melbourne, Dec 24 (PTI) Australian pace spearhead Mitchell Starc has described Virat Kohli as a "fantastic captain", having shared the dressing room with the India captain while representing Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League.

Kohli's on-field heated exchanges with Australia skipper Tim Paine in the second Test turned out to be a subject of discussion with many former players, including Mitchell Johnson, criticising the batting maestro's behaviour.

However, Starc backed Kohli.