There aren’t too many 99-year-olds who thrive on working more than five days a week. And no doubt even fewer who have been “cash mobbed” by about 100 people brandishing $5 notes. But on Saturday, Fay Morley, the owner of Sydney haberdashery shop Park Lane Haberdashery was delighted when a group of enthusiastic shoppers – […]
Police and troops to get Olympic ‘medals’
The Prime Minister said the coins are a small token of the nation’s “enormous gratitude” to them for making the games possible. All volunteers who gave up their time to help the Olympic effort are already getting souvenir batons. However, troops and police will get additional presents, after many had to step in at the […]
Inside Assange’s sanctum
Julian Assange lives in a pricey building in one of London’s most upmarket districts. But he is not staying in the lap of luxury. The once globe-trotting WikiLeaks founder is confined to several hundred square feet of space inside Ecuador’s London embassy. If he goes outside he will be arrested by British police and extradited […]
McCartney paid 1 pound ($1.57)
London Olympic organizers say former Beatle Paul McCartney and other star performers who took part in Friday’s opening ceremony essentially donated their time, receiving a mere pound ($1.57) for their performances. The nominal fee was offered to make the Olympics contracts binding, but pales in comparison to the millions big names like McCartney can command […]
Sydney artist wins $150,000 Moran prize
A dark self-portrait as a heroic figure flanked by the muses of painting and poetry has won Australia’s most lucrative portrait painting prize. Sydney artist Leslie Rice, who won the $150,000 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, said he was humbled by the win for a canvas he described as “a painting about painting, in a […]
Infamous ‘drunk’ high jumper wins gold
Ivan Ukhov has won the Olympic men’s high jump title. The Russian made headlines back in 2008 when a video was posted on YouTube showing him competing in Switzerland while drunk. He received a “strong warning” from the IAAF for his behaviour. Ukhov jumped 2.38 metres, the second-best in the world this year. America’s Erik […]
Weapon of no choice
Dent Myers has a friendly presence, rheumy eyes, a firm handshake, a long matted beard that hides his age – at first – and a pair of Colt M1911 .45s. He wears the guns, loaded and holstered, over his denim shorts as he pads about his cluttered American Civil War memorabilia shop in the town […]
Japan ukulele ensemble crowned world’s largest
More than 2,000 musicians strummed ukuleles in Yokohama on Saturday to set a new world record for the largest ever ensemble of the Hawaiian guitar. Their effort was recognized by Guinness World Records officials who listened to them play “Aloha Mahalo A Hui Ho”, a song written by Hawaiian-born former sumo wrestler Konishiki, in Yokohama, […]
‘Eric the Eel’ dreams of Olympic return
The English commentator veered from disbelief to anger and then, finally, to mirth. It was the opening heat of the men’s 100 meters freestyle swimming at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, but only one man was standing on his block: Eric Moussambani from Equatorial Guinea, a tiny, oil-rich state in west Africa. There had been […]
Hamadou the Hippo: ‘I have no technique … only strength’
In scenes redolent of Eric “the Eel” Moussambani, the swimmer from Equatorial Guinea who achieved fame by his flailing doggy paddle at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, Hamadou Djibo Issaka was greeted with a standing ovation by the 25,000-strong crowd at Eton’s Dorney Lake as he hauled his way to the finish line. With London […]