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

At least 48 people have been killed in a crackdown on an anti-UN protest in eastern DR Congo, according to sources and official documentation reviewed by AFP on Thursday, raising a previously reported death toll.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday floated the idea of a transition back to democracy in neighbouring Niger similar to the nine-month period his country underwent in the late 1990s.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Thursday that Luis Rubiales' kiss on the mouth of Spanish women's football star Jenni Hermoso "should never have happened".

Italian sixth seed Jannik Sinner remained on course for a US Open quarter-final rematch with Carlos Alcaraz on Thursday as Grand Slam winners Aryna Sabalenka and Marketa Vondrousova advanced safely.

A disastrous European week for Scottish clubs ended with the three teams in Europa League and Conference League playoff second-leg action losing on Thursday.

Tony Finau, who just finished a US PGA Tour season where he won two titles and $5.8 million, faces lawsuits seeking 20% of his career earnings, according to a report on Thursday.

The United Nations Security Council on Thursday renewed the mandate for its peacekeeping force in Lebanon for another year after tense debate around the troops' freedom of movement.

Retired football great Ronaldinho denied involvement in an alleged cryptocurrency pyramid scheme bearing his name in testimony Thursday before a Brazilian congressional committee.

Andy Murray conceded he might "need to accept" he is no longer capable of reaching the latter stages at Grand Slams after a demoralising straight-sets loss to Grigor Dimitrov in the US Open second round.

Sha'Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles were two of a host of newly-crowned world champions to transform their winning form in Budapest into victory at the Diamond League meet in Zurich on Thursday.

Triple world champion Noah Lyles scorched to victory in a high-quality 200m at the Diamond League meet in Zurich on Thursday, insisting no one would take his "cake and crown".

John Isner brought the curtain down on his tennis career Thursday in a five-set loss to fellow American Michael Mmoh in the second round at the US Open.

Triple world champion Noah Lyles scorched to victory in a high-quality 200m at the Diamond League meet in Zurich on Thursday.

Brazilian ex-president Jair Bolsonaro and his wife opted to remain silent Thursday as they faced questioning by federal police over allegations of trying to embezzle pricey jewelry and other official gifts from foreign countries.

Borussia Dortmund announed on Friday they have signed Germany striker Niclas Fuellkrug from Werder Bremen.

Crystal Palace have signed England goalkeeper Dean Henderson from Premier League rivals Manchester United, the London club announced Thursday.

Guatemala on Thursday declared a national health emergency in the face of a dengue outbreak that has killed 22 and infected thousands so far this year.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, head of the West Africa bloc ECOWAS, on Thursday suggested a nine-month transition back to democracy for Niger's new regime in the bloc's first apparent timeline since the July coup.

Andy Murray suffered a demoralising straight-sets loss to Bulgarian 19th seed Grigor Dimitrov in the second round of the US Open on Thursday.

Italian sixth seed Jannik Sinner remained on course for a US Open quarter-final rematch with Carlos Alcaraz on Thursday as former champion Andy Murray tumbled out.

Matt Fitzpatrick boosted his hopes of playing at the Ryder Cup by grabbing a share of the lead after the opening roud of the European Masters on Thursday.

US envoy Amos Hochstein who oversaw a maritime border deal between Lebanon and Israel, countries technically still at war, said Thursday it was time to delineate their land border also.

Residents in the US state of Florida on Thursday cleaned up after rain and flooding caused by Hurricane Idalia wreaked havoc before the storm weakened and headed out to sea.

England manager Sarina Wiegman on Thursday dedicated her UEFA coach of the year prize to the Spain women's team amid the sexism scandal engulfing Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales.

Polar bears have long symbolized the dangers posed by climate change, as rising temperatures melt away the Arctic sea ice which they depend upon for survival.

The general who overthrew Gabon's 55-year Bongo dynasty will be sworn in on Monday as transitional president, the army said, as the opposition called for its candidate to be recognised as the winner of weekend elections.

A leader of the Proud Boys militia who called for a "war" to keep Donald Trump as president was sentenced to 17 years in prison Thursday, one of the longest sentences yet over the 2021 attack on the US Capitol.

The race for the Venice Film Festival's Golden Lion stepped up a gear Thursday with a widely praised biopic about sports car impresario Enzo Ferrari starring Adam Driver.

Devastating wildfires in Greece will ravage more than 150,000 hectares (370,600 acres) by the end of the summer, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis estimated Thursday, blaming the climate crisis for the disaster.

Fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana was hailed as his team's 'X-factor' after returning impressive figures of 4-32 to help Sri Lanka to a comprehensive five-wicket win over Bangladesh in the Asia Cup on Thursday.

Manchester United will face the Bayern Munich of Harry Kane in this season's Champions League while Thursday's draw for the group stage also placed Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United together.

Pope Francis departed Thursday for Mongolia, beginning the first papal visit to the vast, isolated Central Asian nation landlocked between superpowers China and Russia.