An Australian senator who a month ago provoked an angry backlash by wearing a burka in Parliament has urged politicians to ban full-face Islamic coverings in public places.

An Australian senator provoked an angry backlash from politicians by wearing a burka in Parliament on Thursday as part of her campaign for a national ban on Islamic face covers.

As I have mentioned in this column before, I’ve commandeered one of the spare bedrooms in my parents’ house as my writing room.

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

Tiger Woods won his first US Masters; Bertie Ahern was due to become taoiseach; khaki cargo pants were all the rage; and American pop brothers Hanson were about to unleash their debut single on an unsuspecting world.

As the Irish group formerly known as Lynched transition to their new moniker of Lankum, Ed Power looks at some of the other bands who’ve changed their title in mid stream

Dave Connell's charges suffered defeat in their opening UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship Elite Round fixture against Scotland, losing 2-1 courtesy of a ninety-fifth minute penalty.

Laughter is, as Joe Hanson (PhD) reminds us, weird. We scrunch up our faces and make wheezing noises, and we do it all over the world - instinctively.

Bradford 0 Reading 0

Bradford and Reading must wait to make history after the two lowest sides left in this season’s FA Cup clattered out a goalless lunchtime draw at Valley Parade.

Culture bores suggest a movie simply can’t match the sensory experience provided by the depth and breadth of a novel, Declan Burke says Fifty Shades of Grey has already put the old canard to bed.

FA Cup Fifth Round: Bradford 2 Sunderland 0: Bradford, a city whose last meaningful flirtation with the FA Cup came some 104 years ago, now stand one victory from a Wembley semi-final after a stunning 2-0 upset of Premier League Sunderland at Valley Parade.

Still got a pressie to buy or are you expecting some vouchers on Christmas Day? Richard Fitzpatrick picks the best book of the year in 10 different genres

EVERYONE needs a shower buddy, right? Fresh from escaping the clutches of their despicable employers in Horrible Bosses (2011), Nick (Jason Bateman), Kurt (Jason Sudeikis) and Dale (Charlie Arbus) set up their own company in Horrible Bosses 2 (15A). 

Wales 28 Australia 33

Michael Cheika said the "real physical business" was about to begin for Australia, after they marked the start of their European tour with a dramatic 40-36 win over the Barbarians in his first game as Wallaby coach.

The US Federal Reserve cited an improving economy as it ended its landmark bond-buying programme and pointed to gains in the jobs market – a key condition for an eventual interest rate hike.

Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano has received a late call-up to Continental Europe's team for this week's Seve Trophy after Peter Hanson pulled out with a back injury.

Robert Pattinson spent £30,000 on Kristen Stewart's birthday present - a pen.

The woman attacked by a lion at a California exotic animal park was talking to a colleague on the phone in the moments before she was killed.

Double winning Ryder Cup star Peter Hanson believes Europe could be an even stronger force under Paul McGinley than compared to victorious former captains Colin Montgomerie and Jose Maria Olazabal.

Paul Lambert insists he is still the right man to lead Aston Villa, whose season is approaching crisis point after their shock Capital One Cup semi-final exit at the hands of npower League Two side Bradford.

Aston Villa 2 Bradford City 1

Aston Villa 2 Bradford 1 (Bradford win 4-3 on aggregate)

Bradford 3 Aston Villa 1

Bradford 3 Aston Villa 1

Bradford 1 Arsenal 1 (Bradford win 3-2 on penalties)

Arguing about the housework again? It could be a sign of a deeper problem.

Rory McIlroy’s goal of ending the season as European No. 1 has received a huge boost with his five nearest rivals, including closest challenger Peter Hanson, deciding not to contest two of the last three events on this year’s schedule.

South African Louis Oosthuizen turned on the style again today to take charge of the WGC-HSBC Champions in China.

Ryder Cup Swede Peter Hanson continued his brilliant form in China today – and that was bad news for the absent Rory McIlroy.

Wigan 0 Bradford 0 (Bradford win 4-2 on penalties after extra time)

Life gets better and better for Shane Lowry.

Despite a glowing result for Irish golf, with four men inside the top 11, there was no hiding Rory McIlroy’s disappointment at finishing runner-up at the BMW Masters in Shanghai.

Peter Hanson suspects that nothing less than his top form will do if he is to stop Rory McIlroy winning for a fifth time this year in Shanghai tomorrow.

Ryder Cup team-mates Rory McIlroy and Peter Hanson allowed the chasing pack to close up with disappointing starts to the Shanghai Masters third round at Lake Malaren today.

Rory McIlroy is targeting a fifth Tour victory this season after moving into second spot at the BMW Masters in Shanghai yesterday.

The best season of Jamie Donaldson’s career could be about to get even better.

A man will appear in court today charged with the murder of Irish vet Catherine Gowing.

A 46-year-old man has been charged with the murder of Offaly woman Catherine Gowing who has been missing from her home in Wales since last Friday.

A man was charged in the UK tonight with the murder of missing Offaly woman Catherine Gowing.