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Hello Jammu News at 11:12:00 PM 0
Roger Federer


Melbourne, Jan 28 :  Swiss great Roger Federer said that "I believe in miracles" after he saved seven match points in a five-set nail-biter against 100th-ranked Tennys Sandgren to labour into the Australian Open semi-finals on Tuesday.

The six-time champion, struggling physically, saved three match points at 4-5 in the fourth set and four more in the tie-breaker to win 6-3, 2-6, 2-6, 7-6 (10/8), 6-3 and set up a clash against either title-holder Novak Djokovic or Milos Raonic.

Federer received a rare warning for an audible obscenity before going off-court for treatment on a groin injury in the third set, but still looked hampered as he forced a fifth set against the big-serving American.

"I believe in miracles," Federer said, revealing that he thought his groin strain had ended his chances. "There could be rain, there could be all kinds of stuff.

"(I thought) just let him finish me off in style, and he didn't do that. I'm incredibly lucky tonight, today -- I don't even know what time it is."

Sandgren, achingly close to becoming the lowest-ranked player to beat Federer at the Australian Open, can count himself unlucky especially after a ball girl accidentally collided with him during the pivotal tie-breaker, which he lost.

Federer has made heavy weather of reaching his 46th Major semi-final. He was two points from defeat by John Millman in a fifth-set tie-breaker in round three, and dropped a set against 67th-ranked Marton Fucsovics in round four.

- 'Quiet little life' -

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In the women's draw Australia's world number one Ashleigh Barty dismissed two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in impressive style to reach the semis for the first time.

The unflappable Barty beat the Czech 7-6 (8/6), 6-2 and will be favourite in her semi-final against America's Sofia Kenin -- sending hopes soaring of a first home winner in 42 years.

The French Open champion, who once quit tennis to play cricket and has been steadily rising since her return, is the tournament's poster girl with her image plastered all over Melbourne.

But she said: "I'd prefer to just be sitting at home just living my quiet little life." Kenin, whose career is also on the up, made her first Grand Slam semi-final and with it will rise to at least 12 in the rankings -- making her the second-highest American behind Serena Williams.

The feisty 21-year-old was a 6-4, 6-4 winner over Ons Jabeur, halting the Tunisian's historic run which made her the first Arab woman to reach a Major quarter-final.

"She's a really tough player, I knew she's going to come out playing strong," Kenin said.

"She's had really good matches, good wins. It wasn't an easy battle -- all respect to her." Jabeur has ignited interest back home with her run to the last eight, even receiving a good-luck phone call from her president.

"I think I proved that I can be in the quarter-finals in a Grand Slam, even if I have a lot of things to improve physically and mentally," said the 25-year-old, who will now move inside the top 50.

"I proved to myself that I could do a lot of great things. I'm happy that I played this way.
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Hello Jammu News at 1:21:00 PM 0

Melbourne, Aug 24: Scott Morrison is set to become Australia's sixth prime minister in just over ten years after emerging victorious today in a bruising leadership contest for the Liberal Party, capping days of political chaos in the country.

The vote was the second challenge this week to the leadership of Malcolm Turnbull who himself assumed office by leading a party revolt in 2015.

Morrison, 50, who has been serving as the country's treasurer, defeated former home affairs minister Peter Dutton by 45 votes to 40 at the closed door leadership vote.

Morrison will lead the conservative party, which is known as the Liberal Party, in a general election expected in the coming months.

He had backed Turnbull earlier in the week, but he later emerged as a more moderate alternative to Dutton, known for his hard-line stance on immigration.

Dutton had mounted an unsuccessful leadership challenge on Tuesday.

A rift within the party escalated last weekend over an energy proposal from the prime minister, which was meant to reduce electricity prices and address climate change by cutting emissions. Dutton rallied the party's conservative wing against Turnbull.

The deputy leader Julie Bishop, who has been serving as foreign minister, also lost her position to Victorian Josh Frydenberg who defeated Greg Hunt and Steve Ciobo with an absolute majority.

Since 2007, no Australia prime minister has faced two consecutive elections.

Turnbull said on Thursday he would step down and leave the parliament following the vote, potentially cracking the government's slender one-seat majority and leading to a byelection or even a general election. (PTI)
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Hello Jammu News at 1:52:00 PM 0

Melbourne, Jul 13: Australia has released a report on its economic strategy for India recommending that India should be put into its top three export markets and made the third largest destination in Asia for the country's outward investment.

The report titled 'An India Economic Strategy to 2035' -- authored by former Australian high commissioner to India Peter Varghese -- was welcomed by Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull yesterday.

The report said it would see Australian exports to India grow from 14.9 billion dollars in 2017 to around 45 billion dollars in the next 20 year, and outward Australian investment to India rise from 10.3 billion dollars to over the 100-billion mark, reflecting a transformational expansion of the relationship.

The report noted that the opportunities, however, would not fall into the country's lap and that the government would require a sharper national focus on India, an unambiguous commitment by Australian business and a deeper understanding by both government and business of the magnitude of what is unfolding in an Indian market place which will only get more crowded.

"They will also require an approach to the investment relationship with India that markedly differs from the trajectory of Australian investment in most other Asian markets,'' the report said.

The foundations for an enhanced economic partnership with India are strong, underpinned by people-to-people ties and shared values, it said.

The report has identified ten sectors where Australia's competitive advantages match India's needs, and ten states in India where Australia should focus efforts.

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Steven Ciobo said the government commissioned this report to look beyond the immediate horizon and provide a roadmap for unlocking the opportunities that will help India and Australia grow together.

"It is about cementing India as a priority economic partner," Ciobo said, adding that Australia must continue to seek out new markets and opportunity.

The report said no single market over the next 20 years would offer more growth opportunities for Australia than India. By 2035, India will overtake China as the world's most-populous country. It is poised to become the third largest economy, after China and the United States, he added.

The trade minister said that the government will consider its response to the strategy report following consultation with Australian and Indian stakeholders.

Welcoming the strategy paper, Melbourne-based think tank Australia India Institute (AII) director Craig Jeffrey said the document outlines a confident vision for the future of economic relations between Australia and India. At the same time, it warns against complacency, urging us all to do more in pursuit of stronger ties between our two nations. (PTI)
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Hello Jammu News at 12:55:00 PM 0



MELBOURNE, May 3: Newly appointed Australia coach Justin Langer will charge his players with winning back the "respect" of the cricket world after a ball-tampering scandal left the team's reputation in ruins.
Long touted as head coach-in-waiting, Langer was named as Darren Lehmann's replacement on Thursday, his predecessor having resigned in the wake of the Cape Town scandal even though he was cleared of wrongdoing.
A gritty opening batsman who played in some of Australia's greatest-ever teams, Langer takes over a depleted side, with disgraced former captain Steve Smith and his deputy David Warner serving year-long bans in the fall-out from South Africa.
"For me, I think one of the things that's really important is we keep looking to earn respect," the 47-year-old told reporters in Melbourne on Thursday.
"To me, respect’s worth more than all the gold in the world.
"It’s not just about how we play our cricket, it’s about being good citizens and good Australians," he said.
Perth-born Langer scored more than 7,500 runs in 105 tests, including 23 centuries, before retiring with a slew of greats at the end of the 2006/07 Ashes series.
He has had success coaching Western Australia state since 2012, guiding Perth Scorchers to three domestic Twenty20 titles in the 'Big Bash', making them the most successful franchise in the tournament's short history.
Appointed coach of Australia's test, one-day and T20 teams for the next four years, Langer's first on-field assignment will be on tour against England next month for an ODI series.
One of his jobs will be to participate in a players' review aimed at improving team culture and conduct, which former players and media pundits have long criticised as boorish and out of step with public expectations.
UNCOMPROMISING TEAMS
Like his predecessor Lehmann, Langer carved out a career in some of Australia's most successful and uncompromising teams in the 1990s and early 2000s, led by captains that championed "hard, aggressive cricket" and never apologised for the use of targeted sledging to throw opponents off their games.
He felt Australia's players would need to "modify their behaviour a bit", but said the nation expected their teams to play tough as well as fair.
"The public will be disappointed if we don’t play good, hard, competitive cricket," said Langer, dressed in a dark suit and tie alongside Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland.
"How people view us, that's really none of our business.
"We know in this world everyone's got an opinion. If we go about our behaviours on and off the field really well, those outcomes will look after themselves."
Along with Smith and Warner, young opening batsman Cameron Bancroft was banned for nine months, having been caught on camera with a piece of sandpaper while out in the field during the third test in Cape Town.
Langer said he was stunned that "cricket tragics" Smith and Bancroft had been involved in the ball-tampering, but they and Warner would all be welcomed back into the side if they met "standards" once their bans were served.
A father to four daughters, he also described himself as a "hippy", as well as a mentor, to the amusement of reporters. He is also a man who meditates and spends at least one month a year growing a beard and walking around in bare feet during his down-time.
Rebuilding trust in Australia's dressing room, as well as the cricket world, will be crucial, Langer said.
"We’ll have to work on that," he said. "I would say, without being in it (at South Africa), camaraderie wasn’t as right as it needed to be.
"I've said for years if you’ve got that camaraderie, then it’s like that glue that keeps everything together, particularly when you’re under pressure," he said. REUTERS
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Hello Jammu News at 12:15:00 PM 0

* Langer named Australia head coach as expected
* Takes over depleted side after ball-tampering fall-out
* Players' review one of his first jobs 
MELBOURNE, May 3: Justin Langer has been named as Australia's head coach on a four-year contract, replacing Darren Lehmann following the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa that rocked world cricket.
Long touted as Lehmann's successor, former test opener Langer has landed the role earlier than planned after his predecessor resigned following the Cape Town scandal despite being cleared of any wrongdoing himself.
He takes over a depleted team, with captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner, the side's two top batsmen, suspended for a year for their roles in the ball-tampering.
Young opening batsman Cameron Bancroft was also banned for nine months for his part in the incident.
"Whilst Darren Lehmann was not due to complete his term until next year, we have had a succession plan in place for this role for some time," Cricket Australia (CA) CEO James Sutherland said in a media release on Thursday.
"We firmly believe Justin is the right person to lead this team and have huge confidence in what he will bring to the role."
The 47-year-old Langer scored more than 7,500 runs, including 23 centuries in 105 test matches and has enjoyed success coaching Western Australia state and the Perth Scorchers since November, 2012.
He has acted as Australia's head coach on an interim basis, in a limited-overs series in the Caribbean in 2016, and at home against Sri Lanka last year.
"There will be some significant challenges ahead for our group, but there is a wealth of talent in Australian cricket that I know will do us all proud," Langer said.
One of Langer's first jobs will be to participate in a players' review launched by CA after the ball-tampering scandal aimed at improving the culture of the team.
He will join men's test captain Tim Paine and the national women's skipper Rachael Haynes on a panel along with other former cricketers to draft a players' "charter of behaviour".
Australia's next international matches are an ODI series in England next month. REUTERS
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Hello Jammu News at 1:38:00 PM 0


Melbourne, May 2: Cardinal George Pell is expected to face two trials on sexual assault charges, an Australian court has heard.
The Vatican treasurer, 76, has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and has strenuously denied any wrongdoing.
On Tuesday, a magistrate ordered him to stand trial. The allegations relate to the 1970s and 1990s, a court heard, according to a BBC News report on Wednesday.
Cardinal Pell appeared at the County Court of Victoria on Wednesday, where prosecution and defence teams asked for the case to be split across two trials.
If a judge agrees, separate juries would hear allegations against Cardinal Pell about his time as a priest in Ballarat in the 1970s, and charges relating to when he was archbishop of Melbourne in the 1990s.
Much of the evidence given at a previous hearing was not open to the public, and remains confidential.
On Wednesday, Judge Susan Pullen said a trial date was expected to be set during an administrative hearing on 16 May.
The cardinal's lawyer, Robert Richter QC, argued for matters to proceed quickly because "my client is 76 years old [and] everyone needs to get on with their lives".
He also said one "critical witness" was now aged in his 80s, and that health was "important" for other witnesses.
The court heard that one trial could examine charges relating to a swimming pool in Ballarat, while the other could hear of an alleged incident at Melbourne St Patrick's Cathedral.
"They are of a completely different nature... and separated by 20 years," Mr Richter told the court, Fairfax Media reported.
The proposed trial arrangements would run for a total period of 10 weeks, the court heard.
Last June, Cardinal Pell was charged in the state of Victoria with allegations involving "multiple complainants".
Following a month-long preliminary hearing, a magistrate ruled that there was enough evidence for some charges to proceed to a jury.
However, half of the original charges were struck out on the basis of insufficient evidence and doubt over the reliability of testimony.
Cardinal Pell has strongly denied all accusations, saying last year: "I am innocent of these charges, they are false. The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me."
The cleric has taken a leave of absence from the Vatican to fight the charges in his home country.
In a brief statement on Tuesday, the Holy See said it had "taken note of the decision issued by judicial authorities in Australia".
"Last year, the Holy Father granted Cardinal Pell a leave of absence so he could defend himself from the accusations. The leave of absence is still in place," the statement said. UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 4:07:00 PM 0


Melbourne, Feb 24: India's Aruna Budda Reddy clinched bronze medal at the ongoing 2018 Gymnastic World Cup here on Saturday.
The 22-year-old opened India's account in the tournament as she secured a medal in women vault category with 13.649 points.
Slovakia's Tjasa Kysslef bagged gold with 13.800 points, while Australia's Emily Whitehead clinched silver with 13.699 points. UNI
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