The National Times - News around the clock from Sydney, Australia and around the world

A strong 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off Flores island in eastern Indonesia early Saturday, sending thousands running in panic after authorities issued a tsunami warning.

Teenage athlete Dennis Castillo spent 28 excruciating hours trapped under the rubble in quake-hit Venezuela, with a beam crushing her left leg as she waited to be rescued.

The London Olympics in 2012 are widely credited with being one of the best prepared and managed Summer Games in recent history and their organiser Sebastian Coe is urging LA28 organisers to work as closely with government as he did.

Venezuela on Friday freed another 131 people considered to be political prisoners, in a sign of progress in talks to reconcile the nation following Nicolas Maduro's removal by US forces.

World number one Scottie Scheffler matched the course record with a nine-under par 61 to grab a three-stroke lead after Friday's second round of the PGA St. Jude Championship.

Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal fans have no reason to worry about his future with the Premier League champions as the Gunners boss heads into the final year of his contract.

Venezuela freed dozens more political prisoners Friday, the government said, in a sign of progress in talks to reconcile the nation following Nicolas Maduro's ouster.

Mexico's Supreme Court chief justice told AFP he faces discrimination on a daily basis over his Indigenous roots.

Switzerland's Audrey Werro upstaged home favourite Keely Hodgkinson to impressively win European championships women's 800m gold in Birmingham on Friday.

It had been dubbed a race for the ages and so it proved as Audrey Werro outstripped home favourite Keely Hodgkinson to claim the European 800m title in Birmingham on Friday.

Switzerland's Audrey Werro upstaged home favourite Keely Hodgkinson to win European women's 800m gold in Birmingham on Friday.

Mexico World Cup star Raul Jimenez saved Wolves from an embarrassing start to the Championship campaign as his late penalty rescued a 2-2 draw against Blackburn in the opening game of the season on Friday.

A strengthening tropical storm named Lala is set to hit Hawaii's Big Island with hurricane force gales on Saturday, bringing dangerous winds, rainfall and heavy surf.

The Taliban government celebrates five years of ruling Afghanistan on Saturday, with the authorities hailing their country's "freedom" and security, while critics decry tightening restrictions in all areas of daily life.

Black academic Jason Arday, who resigned from the University of Cambridge last week amid a high-profile plagiarism storm that featured racism claims, was found dead Friday, the prestigious British institution confirmed.

Stock markets retreated in sparse summer trading Friday, with the uncertain outlook for the Middle East war and the US economy prompting investor caution ahead of the weekend.

Canadian winemakers have been forced to evacuate their land due to a fast-spreading wildfire that has engulfed parts of British Columbia, with some still awaiting word on whether their crops were impacted by the blaze.

New global network backbone will provide high-performance connectivity between five of the world's key financial markets; Gramercy Networks is now accepting pre-orders from financial institutions and trading firms seeking access to the network.

The man who admitted to shooting dead a US health insurance executive used a charged courtroom appearance to blame a back injury for his crimes that he said sought to make "health care work better for everyone."

Atlanta Falcons defensive end James Pearce was banned for the first eight games of the upcoming 2026 NFL season by the league on Friday following a domestic violence dispute that led to three felony charges.

Norway's Karsten Warholm stormed to a record fourth European 400m hurdles title in Birmingham on Friday.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said some 19 million eggs that were voluntarily recalled pose a reasonable risk of serious health consequences, including death.

Liverpool's decision to sell a minority stake to a consortium of financial heavy hitters including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is the latest move in the battle for supremacy between the American owners in the Premier League.

A former champion at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters was knocked out on Friday by a South American clay-courter while the tournament's 2022 finalist survived into the second round.

The chances of finding earthquake survivors in Colombia dropped significantly on Friday, four days after the 7.4-magnitude tremor struck, though rescue efforts plowed ahead as hundreds remained missing.

Cristian Romero announced Friday he was leaving Tottenham, with reports suggesting he will be joining Atletico Madrid in a 40 million euros (£34.1 million) deal.

Romania's David Popovici and Italy's Simona Quadarella added to their gold-medal hauls at the European swimming championships on Friday while French star Leon Marchand booked his ticket to the 200m butterfly final as he returns from injury.

Nine-year-old Sebastian paints a portrait of his family home, unable to comprehend that it no longer exists after the powerful quake that shattered western Colombia this week.

Luigi Mangione spoke slowly and deliberately as he admitted to shooting US health care executive Brian Thompson, in a stunning confession befitting a crime that has gripped the United States.

Every night, when summer heat and blackouts make sleep impossible at home, Cubans head for rooftops, porches and public spaces where they can catch a breeze.

San Francisco will host the 2028 Major League All-Star Game, the Midsummer Classic returning to the Giants' Oracle Park 21 years after it hosted in 2007.

World record-holder Summer McIntosh failed to qualify for the 400m freestyle final at the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, California, on Friday, slumping to the ninth-quickest time in the heats.