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

Excitement is soaring with the mercury in the sunny streets of the Spanish capital as Real Madrid fans await the arrival of French striker Kylian Mbappe.

Russia on Saturday said it had captured six villages in Ukraine's east during a surprise ground offensive that prompted mass evacuations, as President Volodymyr Zelensky made an urgent call for military aid.

England star James Anderson believes the "time is right" to end his Test career after revealing July's clash against the West Indies at Lord's will be his final appearance in the five-day format.

Jorge Martin cruised to his third MotoGP sprint victory of the season as he won in Le Man on Saturday to increase his championship lead.

Rafael Nadal said Saturday that he is leaning towards playing at the upcoming French Open despite being eliminated in the second round in Rome, 6-1, 6-3 by Poland's Hubert Hurkacz.

Manchester City swept to the top of the Premier League as Josko Gvardiol's double inspired a vital 4-0 victory against Fulham on Saturday.

Harry Kewell warned there was "still a long way to go" after his Yokohama F-Marinos claimed a narrow Asian Champions League final advantage over Hernan Crespo's Al Ain with a 2-1 win in Saturday's first leg in Japan.

Rafael Nadal was knocked out of the Rome Open in the second round on Saturday with a 6-1, 6-3 loss to Poland's Hubert Hurkacz.

More than 300 people were killed in flash floods that ripped through multiple Afghan provinces, the World Food Programme said on Saturday, as authorities declared a state of emergency and rushed to rescue the injured.

On a three-day visit to Nigeria to promote his Invictus Games, Prince Harry on Saturday played a seated volleyball match with army veterans, most wounded in battle against the country's Islamist insurgency.

England star James Anderson believes the "time is right" to end his Test career after revealing July's clash against the West Indies at Lord's will be his final appearance in the five-day format.

On the eve of his final home game for Paris Saint-Germain, striker Kylian Mbappe was hailed as a "club legend" on Saturday by the coach Luis Enrique.

Iraq, one of the world's biggest oil producers, aims to boost its crude reserves to more than 160 billion barrels, Oil Minister Hayan Abdel Ghani said on Saturday.

Iga Swiatek fought past Yulia Putintseva 6-3, 6-4 to reach the last 16 of the Rome Open on Saturday, as Novak Djokovic said he was "fine" to continue his tournament after being hit in the head with a water bottle.

Russia on Saturday said it had captured six villages in Ukraine's east after launching a surprise ground offensive that prompted mass evacuations.

Israeli strikes on Saturday hit parts of Gaza including Rafah where Israel expanded an evacuation order and the UN warned of "epic" disaster if an outright invasion of the crowded city occurs.

Swedish police said Saturday they had launched a probe into alleged intimidation at Eurovision after the Dutch contestant was mysteriously pulled from rehearsals on the eve of the final.

Novak Djokovic insisted on Saturday that he was "fine" and ready to play after being hit on the head by a water bottle as he signed autographs following his second-round win at the Rome Open.

Malaysia's premier football league kicked off Saturday under the shadow of heightened security after a series of attacks against players shocked the country and forced the cancellation of the season opener.

Novak Djokovic insisted he was "fine" and ready to play Sunday after being hit on the head by a water bottle as he signed autographs following his second-round win at the Rome Open.

Flash floods that have ripped through northern Afghanistan left more than 200 people dead in a single province, the United Nations said on Saturday.

Hundreds of people were evacuated from areas near the Russian border in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, the regional governor said Saturday, a day after Moscow launched a surprise ground offensive.

Israeli strikes hit Gaza on Saturday after renewed US criticism over its conduct of the war and a UN warning of "epic" disaster if an outright invasion of crowded Rafah city occurs.

The hypercolour image of a dark hill and lava flow is pretty enough -- but its high-tech artificial intelligence origins make it special.

The NBA champion Denver Nuggets roared back into their Western Conference semi-final series with Minnesota with a 117-90 victory over the Timberwolves on Friday as the Indiana Pacers clawed back a game against the New York Knicks.

Ukrainian boxing great Vasiliy Lomachenko brushed aside rival George Kambosos' taunts of sending him into "retirement" ahead of their lightweight world title fight on Sunday in Perth.

The Eurovision Song Contest final gets underway in Sweden's Malmo on Saturday with thousands of protesters expected to culminate a week of tensions surrounding Israel's participation during the Gaza war.

Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler has been golf's hottest sensation over the past two months, but he's about to face a new challenge that will test him in unprecedented ways -- fatherhood.

Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler, with four wins and a runner-up effort in his past five starts, is the clear favorite for next week's 106th PGA Championship at Valhalla.

China's inflation rate quickened last month, official data showed Saturday, as the government works to boost spending in the world's second-largest economy.

Tyrese Haliburton scored 35 points and Andrew Nembhard emerged as an unlikely hero Friday as the Indiana Pacers grabbed a gritty 111-106 victory over the New York Knicks to claw back in their NBA Eastern Conference semi-final series.

The United States issued Friday a stunning criticism of Israel's use of American weapons in the Gaza war, after Israeli forces intensified operations around the southern city of Rafah, where more than a million displaced people are sheltering.

North Korea will equip its military with a new 240mm multiple rocket launcher starting this year, state media said Saturday, adding a "significant change" for the army's artillery combat capabilities was under way.

The sun-kissed beaches and turquoise waters of Mexico's Caribbean resort of Cancun attract millions of visitors, but schoolteacher Yazmin Teran is lucky if she enjoys them a few times a year.

From film to fashion, former teen actor Zendaya has emerged as one of the few bona fide A-list superstars of her generation, thanks to a stunning recent run of hits on both the screen and the red carpet.

The most powerful solar storm in more than two decades struck Earth on Friday, triggering spectacular celestial light shows in skies from Tasmania to Britain -- and threatening possible disruptions to satellites and power grids as it persists into the weekend.

Sweden's Madelene Sagstrom shot a six under-par round of 66 in cold and wet conditions to grab a share of the lead at the LPGA Founders Cup with American Rose Zhang.

A passenger train crashed into a maintenance train in Buenos Aires on Friday, sending nearly 60 people to hospitals in the Argentine capital, including two in serious condition with head injuries, officials said.

Chris Gotterup birdied the last four holes to grab a one-stroke lead over Robert MacIntyre after Friday's second round of the inaugural PGA Tour Myrtle Beach Classic.