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

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Saturday said it was not "appropriate" for Irish group Kneecap to perform at Glastonbury, one of the country's biggest and most famous music festivals.

Valentin Carboni struck the winning goal in stoppage time as Inter Milan came from behind to beat Urawa Red Diamonds 2-1 on Saturday and knock the Japanese team out of the Club World Cup.

Borussia Dortmund substitutes cowered from the sun in the team's Club World Cup win over Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday, in conditions coach Niko Kovac described as like "a sauna".

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers are poised for an epic championship showdown on Sunday, the Thunder seeking to crown an historic season with a victory over a tenacious Pacers team that has stunningly forced a rare NBA Finals game seven.

Finn Russell insisted he no longer had any issues with Johnny Sexton after British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell helped ease any tensions between the duo in their quest for the common goal of a series win in Australia.

The Netherlands on Saturday officially handed back to Nigeria 119 precious ancient sculptures, stolen from the former kingdom of Benin more than 120 years ago during the colonial era.

Ivory Coast leader Alassane Ouattara's party on Saturday tapped him to run for president again, two days after the country's two main opposition parties joined forces to fight his possible candidacy.

Thousands marched on Saturday outside a French trade fair, calling for an end to war profiteering and Israel's offensive in Gaza in the latest demonstration to hit the event.

Belarus freed top opposition figure Sergei Tikhanovsky and over a dozen other political prisoners Saturday following an appeal from the White House, Minsk said, a sign of warming ties between Washington and Belarus-ally Moscow.

Russian Daniil Medvedev dispatched home favourite Alexander Zverev in three sets to reach his first final in 15 months at the ATP tournament in Halle on Saturday.

The Netherlands on Saturday officially handed back to Nigeria 119 precious ancient sculptures, stolen from the former kingdom of Benin more than 120 years ago during the colonial era.

Ollie Pope made a defiant century as England fought back despite Jasprit Bumrah's three-wicket haul and a blistering hundred from Rishabh Pant for India on Saturday's second day of the first Test at Headingley.

Jobe Bellingham netted his first Borussia Dortmund goal in a gripping 4-3 win over Mamelodi Sundowns at the Club World Cup on Saturday.

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso was sent off on his return from injury as England's summer tour preparations were dealt a blow in a dramatic 26-24 defeat to a France XV at Twickenham on Saturday.

The opening week of the first 32-team FIFA Club World Cup in the United States has been played under a political shadow, while South American sides impress and some games struggle to attract fans.

At least eight people were killed Saturday when a hot air balloon with 21 passengers caught fire in southern Brazil, said the governor of Santa Catarina state, where the incident occurred.

Jobe Bellingham netted his first Borussia Dortmund goal in a thrilling 4-3 win over Mamelodi Sundowns at the Club World Cup on Saturday.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian warned of a "more devastating" retaliation should Israel's nine-day bombing campaign continue, saying the Islamic republic would not halt its nuclear programme "under any circumstances".

Carlos Alcaraz reached the Queen's Club final for the second time as the world number two eased to a 6-4, 6-4 win over Roberto Bautista Agut on Saturday.

San Diego Padres pitcher Robert Suarez was issued a three-game suspension and an undisclosed fine by Major League Baseball for intentionally hitting Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Belarus's top jailed opposition leader Sergei Tikhanovsky was freed alongside over a dozen other political prisoners on Saturday in a surprise release hailed as a "symbol of hope".

Russian Daniil Medvedev dispatched home favourite Alexander Zverev in three sets to reach the finals of the ATP tournament in Halle on Saturday.

Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marched in London and Berlin on Saturday calling for an end to the war in Gaza, amid concerns that the Iran-Israel conflict could spark wider regional devastation.

India spearhead Jasprit Bumrah struck an early blow before England's Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope kept the tourists at bay on Saturday to leave the first Test at Headingley intriguingly poised.

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo was rewarded for guiding his side into Europe by signing a new three-year contract on Saturday.

Ill Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe will not travel to Charlotte for the team's Club World Cup match against Pachuca, a club source told AFP Saturday.

Czech world number 30 Jiri Lehecka stunned Britain's Jack Draper to reach the Queen's Club final with a 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 victory on Saturday.

Marc Marquez continued his march towards a seventh elite world title by winning Saturday's sprint race at the Italian MotoGP and extending his lead at the top of the championship.

The first Test between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka fizzled out into a damp draw on Saturday, with rain robbing the match in Galle of a proper climax.

Rishabh Pant became the third India batsman in the innings to make a hundred before England hit back with the ball on Saturday's second day of the series opener at Headingley.

Marketa Vondrousova brushed aside world number one Aryna Sabalenka in Berlin on Saturday to reach her first final since lifting the Wimbledon title two years ago.

Mexico's undisputed super middleweight world champion Canelo Alvarez promises his title bout with Terence Crawford in Las Vegas on September 13 will be one of the legend's "best".