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

Owen Farrell's career at reigning champions Saracens ended with a 22-20 Premiership semi-final defeat by Northampton on Friday that kept Saints skipper Courtney Lawes in English club rugby for one last week.

Stock markets were mixed Friday as investors digested fresh US and eurozone inflation data that could set the tone for interest rate moves by central banks.

Ezeliya delivered Irish trainer Dermot Weld his second Epsom Oaks 43 years since Blue Wind triumphed and six years before Friday's winning jockey Chris Hayes was born.

The USA make their debut in the T20 World Cup against Canada on Saturday and vice-captain Aaron Jones says they are determined to play a 'fearless' brand of cricket.

Sebastien Ogier claimed two of the Rally Italia's four stages in Sardinia on Friday to lead Ott Tanak by 4.5 seconds.

Ukraine is set to receive a $2.2 billion payout from the IMF after successfully meeting the terms of an existing loan program, the Washington-based financial institution said Friday at the end of a five-day staff mission to the country.

Shilese Jones, a two-time world championships all-around medallist, withdrew from the US Gymnastics Championships on Friday citing injury, but hopes she can still get a shot at the Paris Olympics.

Francesco Bagnaia's perfect start to his home Italian MotoGP weekend ended on a sour note with a three-place grid penalty on Friday.

Kick-off in Scotland's Women's Euro 2025 qualifier with Israel in Glasgow on Friday was delayed for over half an hour after a demonstrator avoided security at Hampden Park and chained himself to a goalpost.

US President Joe Biden said Friday Israel had offered a new roadmap towards a permanent peace in Gaza, urging Hamas to accept the surprise deal as it was "time for this war to end."

Negotiations towards a global agreement on how to handle future pandemics seemed on course Friday to be extended for up to a year as countries try to bridge their differences.

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Julian Brandt said the German underdogs have "total belief" ahead of Saturday's Champions League final clash with Real Madrid at Wembley.

Kick-off in Scotland's Women's Euro 2025 qualifier with Israel in Glasgow on Friday was delayed for over half an hour after a demonstrator avoided security at Hampden Park and chained himself to a goalpost.

Gable Steveson, super-heavyweight freestyle wrestling champion at the Tokyo Olympics, has signed a free agent contract with the NFL Buffalo Bills, the club announced on Friday, Steveson's 24th birthday.

Esteban Ocon spoke out Friday against social media attacks directed at him following his Monaco Grand Prix opening lap crash into Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly.

President Joe Biden branded Donald Trump "reckless" Friday after the Republican lashed out in rambling, angry comments at verdicts in New York making him the first former US president to become a convicted felon.

US President Joe Biden said Friday that Israel was offering a new roadmap towards a full ceasefire in Gaza that he urged Hamas to accept, saying it's "time for this war to end".

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Friday urged members to commit to providing Ukraine at least 40 billion euros ($43 billion) a year in military aid, seeking to ensure long-term support as war with Russia grinds on.

England all-rounder Liam Livingstone believes the "extra edge" provided by fast bowlers Jofra Archer and Mark Wood will bolster the side's chance when they begin their T20 World Cup defence in Barbados next week.

The more than century-old Geneva International Motor Show will be cancelled for good following waning interest from automakers in what was once an unmissable industry event, organisers said Friday.

US President Joe Biden said Friday that Israel had offered a new roadmap towards a permanent peace in Gaza, urging Hamas to accept the surprise deal as it was "time for this war to end."

Six people were wounded in a knife attack at a far-right rally in Germany on Friday, including a prominent critic of Islam, drawing immediate condemnation from the nation's leaders.

Serial Champions League winners Real Madrid are out to dash Borussia Dortmund dreams in Saturday's Champions League final at London's Wembley Stadium.

Chile's state-owned copper giant Codelco signed a deal Friday with SQM to nearly double the private mining firm’s current extraction of lithium, a key mineral for the global switch to cleaner energy.

Seven-time Olympic swim champion Katie Ledecky says faith in anti-doping measures "is at an all-time low" after global officials allowed doping-positive Chinese swimmers to compete at the Tokyo Olympics.

Two cars and a motorcycle plunged from a partially collapsed bridge in northern Colombia Friday, killing four people and wounding three, authorities said.

South African parties on Friday jostled to set out their stalls ahead of talks on a possible coalition government, with the ruling ANC on course to lose the absolute parliamentary majority it has held for three decades.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti warned his players the Champions League final is the most "dangerous" game in football on the eve of their clash with Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.

England paceman Brydon Carse has been banned from all cricket for three months for betting violations, it was announced Friday

At the request of Baghdad, the UN Security Council unanimously decided Friday that the United Nations political mission in Iraq will leave the country at the end of 2025 after more than 20 years.

Swiss banking giant UBS on Friday completed the merger of its parent company with Credit Suisse AG as its fallen rival legally ceased to exist, more than a year after the emergency takeover.

Scotland have been left waiting on the fitness of Lyndon Dykes after the striker was carried off on a stretcher during training on Friday.