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

The Premier League's global appeal is built on packed stadiums and electric atmospheres but as the arms race for talent intensifies, fans are feeling the pinch.

Australia will halve a fuel tax to help motorists experiencing soaring petrol prices due to war in the Middle East, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Monday.

Oil prices rallied and stocks tumbled again Monday as the Middle East crisis escalated with the entry of Houthi rebels into the Iran war and investors grew increasingly concerned the United States would send in ground troops.

Air China restarted direct flights between Beijing and Pyongyang on Monday after a six-year hiatus, another sign isolated North Korea is gradually opening up following the resumption of train services between the capitals.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points and the NBA-best Oklahoma City Thunder beat the New York Knicks 111-100 on Sunday while the Boston Celtics clinched a playoff berth.

Australian police said Monday they shot a fugitive wanted for killing two officers, ending a seven-month manhunt for one of the country's most-wanted criminals.

Kimi Antonelli won the Japanese Grand Prix from pole ahead of McLaren's Oscar Piastri as Max Verstappen endured another miserable outing in his Red Bull.

The Philippines' sole oil refinery has secured nearly 2.5 million barrels of Russian crude out of "extreme necessity", a stock exchange filing revealed Monday, as the country seeks to replenish fast-dwindling fuel reserves.

US President Donald Trump said Sunday that the US-Israel war against Iran has achieved regime change and a deal could be reached "soon" with Tehran.

US President Donald Trump said Sunday that Moscow could send oil to Cuba despite Washington's de facto fuel blockade, as a Russian tanker was expected to deliver some much-needed crude to the crisis-hit island.

All Blacks and Canterbury Crusaders prop Tamaiti Williams was Monday ruled out of the rest of the Super Rugby season after being hospitalised with a serious back infection.

Heavy users of artificial intelligence report being overwhelmed by trying to keep up with and on top of the technology designed to make their lives easier.

Feed an Iranian news dispatch or a literary classic into some text detectors, and they return the same verdict: AI-generated. Then comes the pitch: pay to "humanize" the writing, a pattern experts say bears the hallmarks of a scam.

A gritty century from Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey helped South Australia clinch back-to-back Sheffield Shield titles Monday with a stunning 56-run comeback win over Victoria.

Defending champion Kim Hyo-joo won the LPGA Ford Championship on Sunday, seizing her second title in as many weeks as she again out-dueled American Nelly Korda.

World number two Jannik Sinner powered past Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 6-4 to win the ATP Miami Masters 1000 for a second time on Sunday, adding the title to his Indian Wells crown.

Australian police said Monday they shot dead a fugitive gunman wanted for killing two officers, ending a seven-month manhunt for one of the country's most-wanted criminals.

British police were on Sunday questioning a 36-year-old man arrested for attempted murder after a car ploughed into people on a street in a central English city, injuring seven of them.

World number two Jannik Sinner powered past Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 6-4 to win the ATP Miami Masters 1000 for a second time on Sunday, adding the title to his Indian Wells crown.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday the Latin Patriarch would get "full and immediate access" to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, after police denied him entry on Palm Sunday.

A Russian oil tanker under US sanctions is due to arrive in Cuba by Tuesday despite a de facto American fuel blockade of the energy-starved island, according to shipping data.

Airstrikes knocked out electricity to parts of Tehran and its surroundings on Sunday as a top Iranian official accused the United States of plotting a ground invasion despite publicly pushing for a negotiated deal.

Gary Woodland, who weeks ago spoke about stress issues in the wake of 2023 brain surgery, won for the first time since the 2019 US Open by capturing the PGA Houston Open on Sunday.

Marco Bezzecchi captured his fifth consecutive MotoGP victory on Sunday by winning the United States Grand Prix, reclaiming the season points lead in the process.

Desire Doue struck twice as a much-changed France beat Colombia 3-1 in a friendly in the United States on Sunday, with regular captain Kylian Mbappe limited to a late substitute appearance.

German defence giant Rheinmetall on Sunday sought to smooth over a row caused by comments from its boss comparing Ukrainian factories producing drones to "housewives" making weapons in their kitchens.

In the village of Pusztavacs in central Hungary, election posters on electricity poles remind voters of a looming poll, where nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban's future is on the line.

US soccer coach Mauricio Pochettino expects Tuesday's pre-World Cup clash with Portugal to be an even tougher assignment for the tournament co-hosts than their recent 5-2 thrashing by Belgium.

Openers Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton hit blistering half-centuries to lead Mumbai Indians to a six-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders as they opened their IPL campaign in style on Sunday.

Pakistan said on Sunday that it was ready to broker and host "meaningful talks" between the United States and Iran to bring an end to their war, outlining growing support for its peace efforts, including from the United Nations and China.

A Russian oil tanker under US sanctions is scheduled to arrive in Cuba on Monday, challenging a de facto American fuel blockade of the energy-starved island, shipping data shows.

Space adventure flick "Project Hail Mary" topped the North American box office for a second straight week with $54.5 million in ticket sales, industry estimates showed Sunday.

The UN Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) on Sunday approved the listing of 40 new species for international protection, including the snowy owl featured in the Harry Potter saga.

A humpback whale struggling in shallow waters off Germany's northern Baltic Sea coast has become stranded for a third time, experts said on Sunday, just hours after the animal had freed itself from a sandbank.

A humpback whale struggling in shallow waters off Germany's northern Baltic Sea coast has become stranded for a third time, experts said on Sunday, just hours after the animal had freed itself from a sandbank.

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said on Sunday that goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen was unlikely to go to the World Cup this summer as he continues his return from injury.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey on Sunday held talks about trying to end the war in the Middle East, as Islamabad acts as a go-between between the United States and Iran.

Tottenham parted company with coach Igor Tudor by mutual consent on Sunday after just seven games in charge as they battle to stay in the Premier League.

Belgian sprinter Jasper Philipsen won the In Flanders Fields one-day cobbled classic race in Belgium on Sunday after breakaway riders Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert were caught with a kilometre to go.