The weather bureau has issued severe thunderstorm warnings for parts of New South Wales and Queensland.

An inquiry's heard flood engineers could have omitted documents contradicting the Wivenhoe Dam operation.

ATHENS (AFP) - Thousands of protesters massed in Greece under heavy police watch on Saturday after the government approved unpopular austerity cuts to get vital rescue funds and avoid the "chaos" of a default.

MALE (AFP) - A top US diplomat has arrived in the Maldives seeking to help resolve a deepening political crisis sparked by the ousting of the Indian Ocean nation's first democratically elected president.

Sydney FC survive a late Perth Glory fightback to win a tight affair at the Sydney Football Stadium.

TAURANGA, New Zealand, Feb 11, 2012 (AFP) - - Uzbekistan wrapped up their Davis Cup Asia Oceania Group 1 tie against New Zealand on Saturday, winning the doubles in straight sets to take an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the match.

DUBAI (Reuters) - Rory McIlroy sank seven birdies to be 13 under par after the second round of the Dubai Desert Classic on Friday, two shots ahead of Martin Kaymer, who hit his first hole-in-one.

Canberra have scored a 27-18 win over a star-depleted Melbourne in a NRL trial at Albury on the NSW-Victorian border.

Collingwood's players have backed the club's decision to grant forward Andrew Krakouer personal leave on the eve of the AFL season.

LONDON (Reuters) - British police on Saturday arrested five senior members of staff at News Corporation's flagship newspaper The Sun, the company said, as part of investigations into alleged payments to police by journalists for information.