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

Romanian prosecutors on Wednesday questioned controversial influencer Andrew Tate, who is already awaiting trial over human trafficking and rape charges, as part of a new investigation involving minors.

Nelly Korda said on Wednesday that winning a Women's British Open at St Andrews would be a "dream come true".

Armand Duplantis picked up from where he left off at his world record-setting, gold medal-winning showing at the Paris Olympics by dominating the men's pole vault at the Lausanne Diamond League meet on Wednesday.

Divers searching for six people missing after a superyacht sank off Sicily, including UK tech tycoon Mike Lynch, on Wednesday found five bodies in the wreck, AFP journalists and reports said.

Dhananjaya de Silva and debutant fast bowler Milan Rathnayake both made fine fifties as Sri Lanka recovered from a dramatic top-order collapse on Wednesday's opening day of the first Test against England at Old Trafford.

The US jobs market was probably cooler than expected in the year through March, Labor Department data showed Wednesday, signaling weaker but still-positive growth.

Starting a visit to Poland, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday commemorated a "Good Maharaja" who hosted hundreds of Polish orphans during World War II.

Divers searching for six missing people following the sinking of a superyacht off Sicily have found four bodies, a source close to the search told AFP Wednesday.

City of Troy took another step towards equine greatness with an all-the-way success in the International Stakes at York on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva rescued his side from a top-order collapse against England with a determined fifty only to fall shortly before tea on the opening day of the first Test at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Ford announced Wednesday fresh changes to its electric vehicle lineup, including the scuttling of a planned SUV model, lifting shares despite a hefty near-term profitability hit.

President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Russia's economic and trade links with China are "yielding results" as he welcomed Chinese Premier Li Qiang to the Kremlin.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca insisted Wednesday he was not presiding over a "mess" of a squad after the London club were involved in yet more transfer activity.

A Liverpool house famous for hosting some of The Beatles' first gigs in the basement has been given a new lease of life listed on Airbnb.

Ukrainian civilians on Wednesday fled areas close to the frontline as Russian troops steadily seized more territory across the eastern Donetsk region.

Left-handers Saud Shakeel and Saim Ayub hit fighting half-centuries to help Pakistan recover to 158-4 on a rain-hit opening day of the first Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.

US and European stock markets rebounded Wednesday but Asia slipped as investors waited for a speech by US Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell at the end of the week.

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, a 2014 World Cup winner, announced his retirement from international football on Wednesday at the age of 38.

Letsile Tebogo, having basked in the "insane" celebrations in Botswana after he returned to show off the 200m gold won at the Paris Olympics, now insists he will retrain his sights to mine more sprint medals.

Israel killed a senior militant from Fatah's armed wing Wednesday in a strike on Lebanon, leading to accusations from the Palestinian movement that Israel is trying to "ignite a regional war".

Chelsea on Wednesday confirmed the signing of Portugal forward Joao Felix on a permanent transfer from Atletico Madrid, shortly after England midfielder Conor Gallagher completed a move in the opposite direction.

Chris Woakes struck twice as Sri Lanka collapsed to 80-5 at lunch on the opening day of the first Test against England at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Bangladesh left-arm paceman Shoriful Islam took two wickets in four balls to leave Pakistan struggling at 81-3 on a rain-hit opening day of the first Test in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.

Chris Woakes struck twice as Sri Lanka lost three wickets for no runs in 10 balls as they collapsed to 6-3 on the opening day of the first Test against England at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Chelsea and England midfielder Conor Gallagher has signed for Spanish side Atletico Madrid, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday.

Hundreds of thousands of video game fans and industry figures were converging Wednesday on Germany's Cologne for the sector's biggest trade show.

European stock markets rebounded on Wednesday but Asia slipped as investors had little to go on before a keenly-awaited speech by US Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell at the end of the week.

Switzerland's new instant payment system will bolster the future of cashless payments in the country, the Swiss central bank said Wednesday after the scheme went live.

The co-publisher of hit Chinese video game "Black Myth: Wukong" this week sent guidelines to foreign streamers urging them against discussing politically touchy topics like Covid-19 or feminism, players said.

Top US diplomat Antony Blinken headed home on Wednesday after failing to secure a Gaza ceasefire, warning both Israel and Hamas his plan may be the last chance to avert a broader war.

Cinema legend Alain Delon, who died at 88, will be buried on Saturday, a Catholic priest who is to officiate at the service told AFP.

UK government borrowing jumped by far more than expected in July, official figures showed Wednesday, stoking fresh anxiety for the new Labour government ahead of its first budget in just over two months.