Serena Williams has apologised for comments she made in a forthcoming interview in which she appeared to assign blame to a 16-year-old girl for being raped.

The stepfather of three-year-old Sean Murphy, who died in 2010 after being stuck in a washing machine, says he would not lie to protect his former partner.Sean was found in the front-loader washing machine on the afternoon of September 20, 2010, after his mother, Kerry, claimed she overslept.Ms Murphy's former partner Craig Sheppard admitted lying to police at the time about living at the house and about using a rope to lock the boy in his room. But at the inquest today, he said he loved Sean with all his heart and if he had any information that could help the coroner he would share it.

A supermarket in Adelaide is fined $200,000 for selling expired food and failing hygiene standards.

A man on parole for murder has been refused bail for allegedly stabbing and attempting to rape a woman at a Sydney bus stop last night.The alleged offence came just months after he was released from prison on parole for the murder of a teenager in 1990.NSW Attorney-General Greg Smith has asked for an urgent briefing on the case.

A bill recognising same-sex marriages overseas has been overwhelmingly voted down in the Senate, with Government and Opposition senators crossing the floor to vote.Last year the Senate voted down the bill, aimed at recognising the marriages of gay and lesbian Australians who have been wed overseas.The Coalition, which officially opposes gay marriage, labelled today's bill as a backdoor way of reigniting the debate. Ten Labor senators, including a number of ministers, voted against it and Liberal-National Senator Sue Boyce crossed the floor on the vote.

James Gandolfini, the star of hit US television show The Sopranos, has died of a heart attack in Italy, aged 51.

It has emerged that the man accused of a stabbing and attempted rape at a Sydney bus stop last night was on parole for murder. The 46-year-old was arrested last night after allegedly attacking the woman during peak hour.

The radio station at the centre of the royal prank call that led to the suicide of a nurse at a UK hospital is trying to block further investigation of its actions.The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) says Sydney radio station 2Day FM has applied to the Federal Court for an order to stop ACMA's investigation into the 2012 call.DJs Mel Grieg and Michael Christian rang the London hospital treating the Duchess of Cambridge for morning sickness last December, pretending to be the Queen and Prince Charles.Nurse Jacintha Saldhana passed the call through to the ward and, after enormous publicity about the call, took her own life.

Police in Victoria are hunting two violent sex offenders who have fled a supervision centre in western Victoria. The men have been identified as David Gregory Burns, 27 and Sean Andrew Carmody Doyle, 26. The Corrections Department was alerted after their electronic monitoring bracelets triggered an alarm.

Victoria's Police Minister says he hopes Jill Meagher's murderer Adrian Bayley "rots in hell".

Defence Minister Stephen Smith says fresh allegations of abuse in the Defence Force have surfaced, including new complaints relating to the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA)Mr Smith told Federal Parliament today that abuse is more widespread than previously thought, and the Defence Abuse Taskforce is now investigating 2,410 complaintsHe has highlighted two Defence institutions where there have been a number of complaints; ADFA and the Navy's HMAS Leeuwin training base in Fremantle.

Mal Meninga maintains he was not intoxicated and was acting responsibly when he was asked to leave a Brisbane bar on Wednesday morning.

James Gandolfini, the star of hit US television show The Sopranos, has died in Italy aged 51.

The New South Wales Health Department is urging parents to be on the lookout for symptoms of a rare virus, that has been linked to the death of a child.

The Australian dollar has fallen to its lowest level for almost two years, dipping below 93 US cents this morning after the US Federal Reserve said it was scaling back stimulus measures. The dive came as investors flocked to the safe haven of the US dollar amid fears the withdrawal of stimulus will affect the global economy. The Australian dollar was worth 94.2 US cents last night, but fell to 92.93 US cents.

The Egyptian asylum seeker at the centre of a political slanging match says he is innocent of all charges listed on his Interpol red notice.Sayed Adbel Latif was branded a "convicted jihadist terrorist" by the Federal Opposition after it emerged that he had been held in low-security detention despite being the subject of an alert from the international police service, which said he had been convicted of murder and terrorism offences in his home country.Interpol later removed the murder conviction and firearm charges from its notice on Mr Abdel Latif, but still listed him as having been convicted of belonging to a banned terrorist organisation.In a letter to The Guardian Australia, written from Villawood detention centre, Mr Abdel Latif said Interpol's decision to withdraw the most serious charges was the "first step" in proving his innocence, and said evidence used against him had been extracted by torture.

Labor frontbencher Craig Emerson says he is confident Julia Gillard will still be Prime Minister by the time she travels to Indonesia for talks with president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono next month.Last night Ms Gillard announced she would be travelling to Jakarta for annual talks with Mr Yudhoyono, who is due to step down next year.However, her plan to travel overseas follows weeks of intense speculation over the leadership and whether Kevin Rudd could take over as prime minister before the September 14 election. Last night both Ms Gillard and Mr Rudd were in attendance as politicians and media turned out in force for Canberra's annual charity Midwinter Ball.

Israel Folau is one of three debutants named in Australia's starting XV to face the British and Irish Lions at Lang Park on Saturday night.

The ANZ bank has confirmed it is considering sacking nearly 600 Melbourne staff.

The Queensland Nurses Union (QNU) says Brisbane's Wesley Hospital must explain why it kept quiet about a fatal case of legionnaires' disease two years ago.

Sydney recruit Kurt Tippett's attitude has impressed team-mates as he prepares to make his Swans debut.

Masters champion Adam Scott has set himself a gruelling home schedule by adding the Australian Open to his calendar.

Lawyers for jockey Danny Nikolic say he cannot be charged with threatening a Racing Victoria steward because he was disqualified at the time of the alleged incident.

Brian O'Driscoll will take his place in the British and Irish Lions starting XV to meet the Wallabies.

Blues interchange forward Anthony Watmough sat out the team's first genuine hit-out on Thursday, taking extra caution in his recovery from a corked thigh.

Mal Meninga maintains he was not intoxicated and was acting responsibly when he was asked to leave a Brisbane bar on Wednesday morning.

SANFL directors have agreed to let the Crows and Port Adelaide pitch the idea of entering reserves teams.

Brazil moved into the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup with a 2-0 win over Mexico in Fortaleza on Thursday morning (AEST).

Matt Reid and James Duckworth have booked their spots in the Wimbledon main draw through qualifying.

The Opals lost to 69-64 to China in the opening game of their series in Shanxi on Wednesday.

Australia confirmed its place in the 2014 men's hockey World Cup following a 5-1 thrashing of India at the Hockey World League in Rotterdam.

The return of Dan Carter and the injection of new blood headline a raft of changes to the All Blacks for the final Test against France

Two-time champion Alberto Contador will be joined by Australia's Michael Rogers in the Saxo-Tinkoff team at the Tour de France.

Australia enjoyed a mixed day at the Eastbourne International, with Bernard Tomic posting another win while Samantha Stosur has exited the tournament.

Israel Folau is one of three debutants named in Australia's starting XV to face the British and Irish Lions at Lang Park on Saturday night.

England cruised into the ICC Champions Trophy final with a seven-wicket win over South Africa at The Oval.

After the NRL's terrible week off the field, Dave Smith says a hardline stance against misbehaving players is here to stay.

Mal Meninga went from bemoaning league's off-field incidents to causing one after being asked to leave a Brisbane bar.

New manager David Moyes will begin his Manchester United career with a trip to League Cup winner Swansea.

Cricket Australia has poured cold water on suggestions that Channel Nine will have influence over team selections.