- US wants end to Israel-Hezbollah war 'as soon as possible'
- Van Dijk talking to 'right people' over Liverpool contract
- Vietnam's top leader pushes anti-corruption fight
- Arteta urges Arsenal to use Bournemouth 'pain' against Shakhtar
- Rabada fastest to 300th Test wicket, as Bangladesh all out for 106
- Stock markets mostly fall, oil jumps as China cuts rates
- France bristles at painkiller maker's sale to US fund
- Moldova narrowly votes for EU membership amid fraud claims
- Erdogan rival Gulen dies in exile at 83
- Man Utd's Ten Hag relishing Europa League clash with Mourinho
- Amnesty says migrant workers exploited at Carrefour Saudi stores
- Fethullah Gulen: ex-Erdogan ally who became public enemy number one
- Rabada takes 300th Test wicket as Bangladesh all out for 106
- Seoul demands 'immediate withdrawal' of North Korean troops in Russia
- WHO to evacuate 1,000 Gazan women, children for urgent medical care
- Israel bombs Hezbollah-linked finance group in Lebanon
- Erdogan's rival Fetullah Gulen dies in exile aged 83
- Gauff-led USA pitted with Canada at season-opening United Cup
- Cuban leader warns against unrest over nationwide blackout
- Asian markets mixed as traders digest China rate cut
- Sanofi pursues sale of painkiller after political controversy
- Trump heads to hurricane-hit N. Carolina, Harris in swing state push
- Rabada takes 300th wicket as Bangladesh stumble to 60-6 at lunch
- Alpacas, hecklers and climate warnings: King Charles visits Australia's capital
- Moldova EU vote too close to call, president blames 'foreign interference'
- Sartorially suave alpaca sneezes on King Charles
- In a first, France welcomes Russian army deserters
- Storm Oscar hits eastern Cuba as island grapples with blackout
- New Zealand basks in 'golden 48 hours' after sporting triumphs
- UN biodiversity summit opens with call for 'significant' funding
- Dodgers beat Mets to set World Series showdown with Yankees
- Liberty rally to top Lynx in overtime for WNBA title
- US, Canada warships pass through Taiwan Strait
- Asian markets fluctuate as traders digest China rate cut
- Naomi Osaka season over because of injury
- Toll from attack in India-controlled Kashmir rises to seven: reports
- Simmering Bellingham set for Dortmund reunion in Champions League
- World Cup winner Kerr thanks 'grandmas' for T20 inspiration
- Dortmund identity crisis ahead of European rematch with Real Madrid
- China's central bank cuts two key rates to boost economy
- BHP goes on trial in London over 2015 toxic Brazil mine disaster
- Pakistan passes constitutional amendments aimed at courts
- Fungi finding: mushroom hunters seek new species and recognition
- Beware: US election disinformation masked as 'breaking news'
- Celtics seek repeat, Lebron and son unite as NBA season opens
- Poston holds off Ghim for PGA Tour triumph in Las Vegas
- Unbeaten Chiefs march past 49ers, Lions hand Vikings first loss
- Moldova president blames interference for potential EU referendum loss
- King Charles to spotlight conflict, climate in Australian capital
- UN chief seeks 'significant' funding at summit to save nature
Titmus and McKeown carry Australian Olympic swim hopes in bid to topple US
Australia's formidable swim team heads for the Olympics this week headlined by two superstars of the sport in Ariarne Titmus and Kaylee McKeown as they look to snap a 68-year hoodoo against arch-rivals the United States.
The pool squad was whittled down after six intense days of trials that culminated in Brisbane on Saturday, with bettering their haul from Tokyo three years ago the immediate target.
"I'm excited, really excited, we have a great group of athletes," said head coach Rohan Taylor, who steered them to nine gold and 21 medals overall in Japan behind only the all-conquering Americans.
Australia last beat the United States on the medal table at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, but Taylor is bullish they can mount a serious challenge again.
"This team is going to give it a good shake," he told reporters.
"But the Americans, there's a reason they haven't been beaten since 1956 -- they're just extremely competent when it comes to the Olympics, this is where they step up.
"They have got the depth, they've got the numbers, they've got the experience.
"We're going to go there and do everything we can to create an environment for these (Australian) athletes, first and foremost, to do their best."
Their aspirations rest heavily on the shoulders of Titmus and McKeown, along with Mollie O'Callaghan and their relay teams.
Titmus returns to the Olympic stage as defending 200m and 400m freestyle champion, with the 800m, where she claimed silver in Japan, also on the agenda.
- Never stops -
McKeown is defending her 100m and 200m backstroke titles and world records. She will also swim the 200m medley after clocking the fastest time since the 2016 Rio Olympics last week.
The 400m free is already being touted as the "race of the century" with Titmus once again facing American great Katie Ledecky, who she upset in Tokyo, and Canadian phenomenon Summer McIntosh also in the mix.
Titmus is favourite on paper, owning the world record and clocking the second quickest time ever last week.
She is also the 200m world record holder after smashing O'Callaghan's previous mark at the trials, but is philosophical about her prospects.
"The world of swimming never stops and there's always people who are going to be swimming fast," said the 23-year-old. "You can never just expect that gold medals are going to come your way."
McKeown, 22, appears untouchable in the backstroke, boasting the top seven 100m times ever and three of the top five over 200m.
O'Callaghan is down for seven events -- three of them individual although she could drop the 100m backstroke.
She won two gold and a bronze in Tokyo as a heats swimmer in relay events, but has since become a dominant force in her own right, clinching the 100-200m freestyle double at the 2023 world championships, setting a world record in the process.
That 200m mark fell to Titmus in Brisbane with O'Callaghan, 20, admitting to being a bundle of nerves under the pressure of being world record holder.
"I can just fly under the radar (heading into Paris)," she said after the time was bettered. "I gotta look at the positive side and you know, it really takes the pressure off me."
Shayna Jack also has a heavy workload with a potential six events after making the 50m and 100m freestyle and a slew of relays on her radar.
Emma McKeon, Australia's most decorated Olympian with 11 medals, will also be in Paris, but not to defend her 50m and 100m freestyle crowns after failing to qualify.
Instead, she will focus on the 100m butterfly.
Among the men, Zac Stubblety-Cook will defend the 200m breaststroke title after losing his world record last year to China's Qin Haiyang.
Elijah Winnington in a contender in the 400 and 800m freestyle, as is Sam Short, while 2016 gold medallist Kyle Chalmers is again targeting 100m freestyle glory.
The Dolphins depart for a training camp in France this week before heading to Paris.
Y.Aukaiv--AMWN