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Summer McIntosh. Photo: photosport Canada declared Summer time in the Paris Olympic pool and the country's 17-year-old sensation Summer McIntosh made it look easy while others celebrated medals won by barely a fingertip. The world record holder blew away her four-stroke rivals to win the women's 400 metres individual medley (IM) gold and add a second medal to her haul after Sunday's silver in the 400 freestyle. "It's Summer Time for Canada," declared one poolside banner at the La Defense Arena and it was no more than a statement of fact. McIntosh touched the wall a full 5.69 seconds clear of American Katie Grimes, with Emma Weyant taking bronze for the United States. Canada's first gold of the meet was followed in short order by Romania and South Africa's first, with David Popovici winn...

New Zealander Samuel Gaze and Czech Ondrej Cink pictured in action during the men's cross-country mountain bike cycling race at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Photo: DIRK WAEM / AFP During his darkest moments, the Paris Olympic Games had been Sam Gaze's light. The Rotorua mountain biker says standing on the Olympic podium was one of the guiding ambitions that motivated him when he battled mental illness during a tumultuous period from 2019 - 2021. The double world champion believed deep within himself that on Tuesday (NZ time), on Elancourt Hill course in Paris, he would complete the final act in his redemptive arc. For a brief burst there on the fourth lap of the 35.2 kilometre course, when Gaze was sitting in the bronze medal position after fighting his way back from a messy start, it ...

Huw Edwards. File picture. Photo: AFP Former BBC News presenter Huw Edwards has been charged with three counts of making indecent images of children. The offences were alleged to have taken place between 2020 and 2022 and relate to 37 images that were shared on a WhatsApp chat, according to the Metropolitan Police. The broadcaster was arrested last November and charged last month, the force revealed on Monday. He was due to appear in court in London on Wednesday. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: "Huw Edwards, 62, of Southwark, London has been charged with three counts of making indecent images of children following a Met Police investigation. "The offences, which are alleged to have taken place between December 2020 and April 2022, relate to images shared on a WhatsApp chat. "Ed...

Nicolás Maduro vowed ahead of the election to win the poll "by hook or by crook". File picture. Photo: AFP/ Juan Barreto As the electoral authorities, which Nicolás Maduro controls, announced he had won a third term in office, an instant crackle of fireworks rippled around the Venezuelan Caracas. The city soundtracked in a carefully curated way, like many things in this election. The opposition claimed instantly that they, not the president, had won. But you would not know this from watching the news here. Television screens up and down the country only showed jubilant crowds, draped in the Venezuelan flag, dancing and cheering on the president. Maduro does have some loyal supporters still, known as "Chavistas" after his mentor Hugo Chavez and the brand of socialism he created. But thei...

Butte County Sheriff Office search and rescue member Trevor Skaggs flew a helicopter and ran 2.4km to save the mother and her puppies. Photo: Butte County Sheriff Office/Facebook By Sam Cabral, BBC News A first responder ran 1.5 miles (2.4km) through a fire-ravaged part of California to rescue two dogs and their litter of puppies, police say. The animals' owner was forced to leave them behind when his truck broke down as he evacuated the area on Wednesday. Trevor Skaggs found the Rottweilers on Saturday "alive, but tired and very thirsty" - although the adult male dog did not survive. The Park Fire in northern California is one of the largest the state has ever seen. Photo: Butte County Sheriff Office/Facebook The fire has burned through more than 360,000 acres - an area slightly...