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

Wall Street stocks mostly fell Wednesday after US inflation data exceeded expectations, while the euro strengthened on signs Russia and Ukraine could be closer to a peace agreement.

US President Donald Trump revealed Wednesday he expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia for Ukraine peace talks, in an extraordinary thaw in relations after a surprise phone call between the two leaders.

A catastrophic mistake by AC Milan's French goalkeeper Mike Maignan handed troubled Dutch side Feyenoord a precious 1-0 advantage after the first leg of the Champions League play-offs Wednesday.

Vangelis Pavlidis scored his sixth goal in this season's Champions League to give Benfica a 1-0 win away to 10-man Monaco in the first leg of their knockout phase play-off tie on Wednesday.

James Tarkowski struck in the 98th minute to salvage a 2-2 draw for Everton against Liverpool as four red cards were issued after full-time on a dramatic final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Wednesday.

Bayern Munich took a major step towards the Champions League last 16 as Michael Olise's thunderbolt and Harry Kane's clinical finish secured a 2-1 win at Celtic in the play-off round first leg on Wednesday.

James Tarkowski struck in the 98th minute to salvage a 2-2 draw for Everton against Liverpool in a dramatic final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Wednesday.

Donald Trump was appointed chairman of the Kennedy Center on Wednesday, as a new board of trustees loyal to the US president brought his aggressive rightwing, anti-"woke" stamp to Washington's premier arts venue.

US President Donald Trump committed Wednesday to announcing "reciprocal tariffs" on other countries, saying he could sign an order for them within a day, a move that could open new fronts in a trade war.

US officials said Wednesday they had secured the release of three "hostages" who had been detained in Belarus, including an American citizen, in a diplomatic success for President Donald Trump's administration.

Argentine striker Luciano Acosta, the 2023 MLS Most Valuable Player, was traded from FC Cincinnati to FC Dallas on Wednesday for $5 million, the teams announced.

Japanese pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki are expected to start for the Los Angeles Dodgers in season openers at Tokyo next month, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Wednesday.

Gustaf Nilsson shot Club Brugge to a 2-1 win over Atalanta on Wednesday with a controversial penalty in stoppage time to boost the Belgians' chances of reaching the last 16 of the Champions League.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday blamed his predecessor Joe Biden for last month's unexpected acceleration in consumer inflation, as he looked to deflect a moment of potential political peril early in his second term.

England wing Ollie Sleightholme believes a dramatic Six Nations win over France has renewed the team's faith in its own ability.

Israel on Wednesday threatened to launch a "new" war on Hamas and implement US President Donald Trump's plan to displace Palestinians from the ravaged Gaza Strip if the militants do not release hostages this weekend.

M23 fighters and Rwandan troops on Wednesday pushed further into the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, as Burundi warned Kigali it would respond if attacked.

Chevron will cut 15 to 20 percent of its workforce as part of a reorganization to save money and to position the oil giant for the long-term, the company said Wednesday.

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone Wednesday and agreed to immediately start talks to end the Ukraine war, in an extraordinary thaw in relations that could leave Kyiv out in the cold.

US President Donald Trump's planned 25-percent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports will stack on the hefty duties earlier announced on Canada and Mexico, a White House official told AFP Wednesday.

A new civil claim alleging sexual abuse against Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey was filed on Wednesday at London's High Court, the legal team representing the accuser confirmed to AFP.

Jordan's King Abdullah II was visibly uncomfortable as he sat across from US President Donald Trump and discussed the fate of over two million Palestinians in Gaza.

World heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk said Wednesday he intends to take on two more fights before heading into retirement.

When Shale Tobe heard President Donald Trump planned to impose tariffs on Canadian steel, a product that has supported his family for decades, he was in New York on holiday, "spending money down in the US."

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone Wednesday and agreed to immediately start talks to end the Ukraine war, in an extraordinary thaw in relations that could leave Kyiv out in the cold.

Jasprit Bumrah's absence from India's Champions Trophy team will be an opportunity for "world-class" Mohammed Shami and other fast bowlers, coach Gautam Gambhir said Wednesday.

Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha cracked centuries to guide Pakistan into the tri-series final with a thumping six-wicket win over South Africa in Karachi on Wednesday.

Israel on Wednesday threatened to launch a new war on Hamas that would lead to the implementation of US President Donald Trump's plan to displace all Palestinians from the territory if the militants do not release hostages this weekend.

A fire broke out Wednesday at a factory making costumes for Rio de Janeiro's carnival, injuring 21 people in a blow to the famed extravaganza starting this month in the Brazilian city.

Captain Jos Buttler on Wednesday said England can be a "dangerous team" in the upcoming Champions Trophy despite their 3-0 ODI whitewash in India.

The United States is releasing Russian cryptocurrency kingpin Alexander Vinnik as part of an exchange deal that saw Moscow free US teacher Marc Fogel a day earlier, a White House official said Wednesday.

Three-time defending Qatar Open champion Iga Swiatek scrapped her way past Czech youngster Linda Noskova on Wednesday to set up a quarter-final with last year's runner-up Elena Rybakina.