Paul Mooney

New Zealand have picked up two medals in the ring this morning.

Black Cap spinners Mark Craig and Ish Sodhi, young pace bowlers Matt Henry and Adam Milne, all-rounder James Neesham and wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi have all been offered New Zealand cricket contracts for the first time this year.

Maria Sharapova's quest for a second Australian Open title was halted in the fourth round today when the third-seeded Russian ran out of steam against an inspired Dominika Cibulkova, who emerged with a 3-6 6-4 6-1 victory on Rod Laver Arena.

When young pilot Adam Reid saw the glider go into a spiral, he knew disaster was imminent.

Chris Boyd is still waiting for his Wellington Lions to let out a full roar.

India have held their nerve to beat England by five runs in a tense finish to a rain-disrupted Champions Trophy final at Edgbaston.

In December James Cleaveland made an unusual New Year's resolution: to do all he could to keep police in the city of Keene, New Hampshire, from issuing parking tickets.

Officials are investigating a proposal which could lead to the Pike River mine being turned into an opencast coal pit stretching into a national park.

Australia coach Robbie Deans has opted not to replace Quade Cooper in his squad for the last two tests of the Rugby Championship despite losing his first choice flyhalf to injury for the rest of the competition.

Six-year-old Outram dairy cow Nels Enigma, estimated to weigh about 700kg, walks past children at a King's High School fundraising event yesterday, which included a ‘‘moo poo'' raffle in which participants guessed which square of grass the cow would poo on first.

Dutch international striker Robin Van Persie was "desperate" to join Manchester United and wanted the challenge of "coming to the biggest club in the world", manager Alex Ferguson said.

The price of petrol is climbing again, and three companies lifted the price of 91 octane fuel by 3c a litre yesterday.

Plaudits are coming thick and fast for ''The Dark Knight Rises'', one reviewer proclaiming it to be "the biggest, best and most exciting Batman of them all".