SPORTS

Australia openers David Warner and Usman Khawaja hit unbeaten fifties as the tourists reached 135-0 on a rain-shortened Sunday in pursuit of a mammoth target of 384 runs to win the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval.

Stuart Broad made a shock announcement that he is retiring from cricket after the end of the Ashes as England took a giant stride towards levelling the series against Australia on Saturday.

England great Stuart Broad said Saturday he will retire from all cricket following the conclusion of the fifth Ashes Test against Australia at The Oval, describing his career as "a wonderful ride".

England closed in on a place in the last 16 of the Women's World Cup with a 1-0 win over Denmark on Friday but their victory was overshadowed by a potentially serious injury to key midfielder Keira Walsh.

Australia coach Tony Gustavsson was facing questions on Friday after a stunning 3-2 defeat to Nigeria left the Women's World Cup co-hosts "teetering on the edge of something deep and dark".

Rookie Ricarda Bauernfeind broke away to take the fifth stage of the Women's Tour de France on Thursday while Demi Vollering, one of the race favourites, slid down the standings after being hit with a 20-second penalty Lotte Kopecky increased her overall lead after finishing fourth, at the front of the chasing pack, because her team-mate Vollering, who started the day in second and finished in the same time, was punished for "drafting".

Ukraine's Olha Kharlan was disqualified from the world fencing championships for refusing to shake hands with her beaten Russian opponent on Thursday in a decision blasted as "absolutely shameful".

Max Verstappen will seek to extend his and Red Bull's current sequence of record-breaking invincibility at this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix ahead of spectacular Dutch homecoming next month.

Lionel Messi's impact for Inter Miami has been clear to see, with three goals and an assist in 120 minutes on the field, but his team-mates say his influence behind the scenes may be just as vital.

The British billionaire owner of Premier League side Tottenham, Joe Lewis, pleaded not guilty to insider trading charges Wednesday in a US federal court.

The buildup to the Paris Olympics entered its final year on Wednesday as International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said the preparations were well on track.

The British billionaire owner of Premier League side Tottenham, Joe Lewis, was arrested Wednesday ahead of a court appearance in New York on insider trading charges, US prosecutors said.

Australia's Mollie O'Callaghan said she was "a wreck" after breaking the women's 200m freestyle world record at swimming's world championships on Wednesday, while French superstar Leon Marchand claimed more gold.

Japan all but sealed their place in the Women's World Cup last 16 on Wednesday with Spain poised to fire a title warning and join them in the knockout rounds.

Lionel Messi's instant impact in the United States continued on Tuesday as he scored twice in Inter Miami's 4-0 victory over Atlanta United, firing his team into the knockout rounds of the Leagues Cup.

Bronny James, the eldest son of NBA superstar LeBron James, is in a stable condition after suffering a cardiac arrest during a practice with his college basketball team, the James family said on Tuesday.

Katie Ledecky won a record-extending 20th gold at swimming's world championships on Tuesday but Romanian sensation David Popovici fell flat, missing out on a medal after an "awful" performance.

Ary Borges has come a long way in a short time, achieving a feat not even Pele or Ronaldinho could manage and winning high praise from Brazilian superstar teammate Marta in the process.

Australia and New Zealand broke Women's World Cup records in the opening matches, even with a fatal shooting in Auckland prior to the start. This Women's World Cup has potential positive economic impacts in Australia and New Zealand.

Ukrainian athletes are steadfast in their condemnation of the IOC permitting Russians to compete in sports events but some are at odds with their government over the threat to boycott the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Jonas Vingegaard won his second successive Tour de France on Sunday after Jordi Meeus claimed the final stage honours on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.

American Brian Harman won the British Open by six shots on Sunday, finishing 13 under par to claim his first major title at a rainswept Hoylake.

Perennial underachievers France were held 0-0 by Jamaica to make a frustrating start to their Women's World Cup campaign on Sunday, but Sweden and the Netherlands both won by slender margins.

Champion-in-waiting Jonas Vingegaard leads the Tour de France peloton into Paris on Sunday on the final day of a storied race animated by a tense tussle with two-time former winner Tadej Pogacar.

Paris Saint-Germain have left Kylian Mbappe out of their squad for a pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea, casting further doubt on the forward's future at the French champions.

Jonas Vingegaard said he felt "euphoric" after surviving Saturday's penultimate stage of the Tour de France to virtually clinch his second successive title.

England squeezed past Haiti 1-0 as they began their Women's World Cup title bid in unconvincing fashion on Saturday, but holders the United States and former champions Japan were far more comfortable.

Lionel Messi made a Hollywood start to his career in America, scoring a last-second winner in his debut game for Inter Miami on Friday.

Mikey Musumeci has no qualms about putting his title on the line against Jarred Brooks.