Good morning Canberra and happy Friday. Slightly cooler conditions today - we're heading for a top of 33 degrees. Here's what's making headlines.

Kerr factor zero: Canberra withdraws from women's World Cup bid

Subscriber only: A soccer exclusion zone and only one rectangular venue in the capital have scuppered plans for Canberra to be a part of Australia's bid to host the women's World Cup in 2023.

Sport

Cavalry's bats take charge on opening day

Canberra Cavalry put on eight runs in two innings to blow Melbourne Aces away in their ABL season opener at The Fort last night.

Cummins, Starc lead way for Aussie quicks

Pat Cummins continued his Gabba dominance and Mitchell Starc claimed four scalps to start Australia's Test summer in style.

'He ain't heavy, he's my Brumbies brother'

Subscriber only: The Brumbies thought the coaches were doing them a favour when they rescheduled their usual fitness session. They weren't.

ACT export has Wright stuff for Shield chance

Subscriber only: Here's a story about a starry-eyed youngster who arrived as a leg-spinner before shining with the bat. Sound familiar?

Times Past

'Red Infiltration in Public Service Alleged in House', a front page headline ran on this day in 1951. This was right in the middle of the period of panic and anxiety about communism that gripped Australia and of course the United States. And so what could be worse than having a public service riddled with reds? Two members of the House of Representatives, Labor's Stan Keon and Liberal Bill Wentworth pondered what to do in a nighttime debate. READ MORE