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

European and Asian stock markets diverged Friday as traders closed out a week dominated by key central bank decisions on interest rates.

Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis both hit knocks of 102 to help Sri Lanka post 280 in their first innings before their seamers rattled Bangladesh on the opening day of the first Test in Sylhet on Friday.

There was double Swiss super-G delight at the World Cup finals in Saalbach on Friday as both Marco Odermatt and Lara Gut-Behrami finished atop the speed discipline's standings.

Kenyan government officials ignored "credible reports" that could have prevented the death of more than 400 suspected doomsday cult members, a state-funded human rights watchdog said on Friday.

Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis both hit knocks of 102 to help Sri Lanka fight back against Bangladesh and finish their innings on 280, after having faced early troubles on Friday's opening day of the first Test.

The EU is looking to "choke off" revenue Russia uses for its war on Ukraine by slapping "prohibitive tariffs" on grain and related imports into the bloc, under a plan being put to a leaders summit on Friday.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Israel Friday for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ahead of a UN Security Council vote on a US draft resolution noting the need for an "immediate" ceasefire that would allow in more aid.

German business morale rose more strongly than expected in March, a key survey showed Friday, raising hope there is "light on the horizon" for Europe's crisis-hit top economy.

Dozens of Rohingya refugees are feared dead or missing after their boat capsized off Indonesia's westernmost coast this week, the United Nations said Friday, as local rescuers called off the search despite survivor accounts many were swept away.

Russia admitted two years into its invasion of Ukraine on Friday that it was "in a state of war," as it launched a massive wave of missile and drone attacks on its neighbour's territory.

Williams driver Alex Albon will use teammate Logan Sargeant's car for the rest of the Australian Grand Prix weekend after he destroyed his chassis in a high-speed crash during practice on Friday.

Ester Ledecka, the Czech snowboarder turned speedster, won the women's super-G at the World Cup finals at Saalbach on Friday.

A top Indian opposition politician appeared in court Friday to fight his arrest in a case supporters say is aimed at sidelining challengers to Prime Minister Narendra Modi before next month's election.

German football's decision to drop Adidas as its kit supplier sparked dismay in Berlin on Friday, with the economy minister blasting the switch to US sportswear giant Nike as a lack of "patriotism".

Uganda's veteran leader, Yoweri Museveni, has appointed his son to head the country's defence forces, the East African nation's government said, capping a dizzying rise for Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

McLaren Racing chief Zak Brown will remain at the helm until at least the 2030 season after inking a new long-term deal, the Formula One team said Friday.

Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis both hit unbeaten half-centuries as Sri Lanka fought back against Bangladesh to reach 217-5 at tea Friday on the opening day of the first Test.

North Korea's home World Cup qualifier against Japan was called off on Friday, the Asian Football Confederation said, hours after announcing it would be moved to a neutral venue.

Despondent seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton bemoaned one of the "worst sessions for a long time" after changes made to his Mercedes backfired Friday in Melbourne.

Newspaper clippings, books and first-hand accounts of people who said they visited other planets are catalogued in a giant Swedish archive on paranormal phenomena, attracting the curious and researchers from around the world.

Jordie Barrett bagged two tries as the Wellington Hurricanes thumped the Melbourne Rebels 54-28 on Friday to extend their 100 percent record at the top of the Super Rugby table.

Australia and Britain said Friday that a landmark deal to develop AUKUS nuclear-powered submarines would go ahead, despite mounting fears about costs, capabilities and the possible return of Donald Trump.

Malaysia on Friday decided against hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games because of the cost, the government said, in a fresh blow to an event seen as outdated by some.

Huge donations by firms under criminal investigation or suspected of being shell companies have been funnelled to India's ruling BJP and other parties, new data showed, highlighting the backscratching ties between corporate titans and the government.

Khaled Ahmed claimed three early wickets as hosts Bangladesh steamrollered Sri Lanka's top half in the opening session of the first Test in Sylhet on Friday.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc went quickest ahead of world champion Max Verstappen in second practice at the Australian Grand Prix on Friday, with Carlos Sainz third barely two weeks after surgery.

With jaw-droppingly low prices and a seemingly endless selection of trendy clothes, Shein has taken the world by storm -- and found itself in the crosshairs of French lawmakers who want to curb the excesses of fast fashion.

A top Indian opposition politician was expected to fight his arrest in court Friday in a case supporters say is aimed at sidelining challengers to Prime Minister Narendra Modi before next month's election.

The United States, which has repeatedly blocked calls for a truce in Gaza, will submit a draft resolution to the UN Security Council Friday on the need for "an immediate ceasefire," while Russia pushes for even more explicit demands for peace.

Damian Lillard scored 13 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter and came up with two late steals as the Milwaukee Bucks bounced back from a loss to NBA leaders Boston with a 115-108 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday.

Indonesian rescuers called off the search for Rohingya refugees missing at sea after their boat capsized, despite reports from some of the survivors that dozens of people were swept away.

Paralympic swimming icon Jessica Long is gunning for more glory at the upcoming Paris Games after a traumatic journey from a Siberian orphanage to a phenomenal career in the pool.