ABC News

Seven Australians in Venezuela request government help as the quake toll climbs to 1,700.

More than 5,000 people were injured in the disaster with more than 15,000 left homeless.

Rescuers continue to comb through the ruins of buildings for survivors.  

Veteran British actress Dame Penelope Keith has died aged 86.

She rose to fame in the hit 1970s UK sitcom The Good Life.

Her family said she died peacefully at home after battling cancer.

A pilot program is giving private health group Ramsay access to public hospital emergency departments to transfer privately insured patients.  

More than 2,000 patients have already been transferred in the first 12 months of the scheme.

Consumer advocates are worried patients could feel pressured and face unexpected fees in private emergency departments.  

France has recorded 1,000 excess daily deaths during the worst three days of a record-breaking heatwave in Europe.

Scientists say the extreme heat has been the worst ever recorded on the continent.

The hot weather has slowly started moving towards eastern Europe, although authorities expect the number of deaths to continue to rise.

An Australian has been arrested over a Thai teenager's murder.

Tunchanok Donhomla's body was found inside a suitcase in Pattaya.

Simon Carman was arrested at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport.

The Socceroos are through to the World Cup knockout round after a 0-0 draw with Paraguay.

Live sites across Australia were packed with supporters adorned in green and gold.

Australia next hits the pitch on 4 July, facing off against Egypt.