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

Tech billionaire and Tesla CEO Elon Musk met in Beijing on Sunday with China's number two official, Premier Li Qiang, who promised the country would "always" be open to foreign firms.

Former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas has been elected president of Portuguese football giants FC Porto, ending the 42-year reign of Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa.

South and Southeast Asia braced for more extreme heat on Sunday as authorities across the region issued health warnings and residents fled to parks and air-conditioned malls for relief.

Romantic Warrior made history with a third victory in the Group One QE II Cup on Sunday while the great Golden Sixty fell short on an action-packed Champions Day at Sha Tin.

Pope Francis presided over mass in St. Mark's Square in Venice on Sunday while warning of environmental damage and over-tourism, in a closely watched visit marking the ageing pontiff's first outside Rome since last year.

Diplomatic efforts increased on Sunday to reach a long sought-after truce and hostage-release deal in Gaza, as Israel carried out further air strikes and shelling on the war-battered territory.

Pakistan Sunday announced former South African opener Gary Kirsten and ex-Australian paceman Jason Gillespie as head coaches for different formats ahead of the T20 World Cup in June this year.

Tech billionaire and Tesla CEO Elon Musk was in China for talks on Sunday, making his second trip in less than a year to the world's biggest market for electric vehicles.

Yuto Katsuragawa continued Japan's recent success on the DP World Tour after shooting a final-round 63 to win the ISPS Handa Championship on home soil Sunday.

Saudi Arabia on Sunday called for regional "stability", warning of the effects of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war on global economic sentiment at the start of a summit attended by a host of Gaza mediators.

Former PGA Tour stalwart Brendan Steele captured his maiden LIV Golf title Sunday in Adelaide, keeping his cool to hold off a chasing pack led by Louis Oosthuizen and Jon Rahm to win by a shot.

Japan's Yuto Katsuragawa shot a final-round 63 to win the ISPS Handa Championship on Sunday as the Europe-based DP World Tour returned to Japan.

Pope Francis on Sunday visited a prison for women in Venice ahead of a mass in the watery city representing the 87-year-old pontiff's first trip outside Rome for seven months.

Millions of students returned to their reopened schools across Bangladesh Sunday despite a lingering heatwave that prompted a nationwide classroom shutdown order last weekend.

The US Federal Reserve is highly likely to keep interest rates unchanged later this week, as policymakers contend with a recent uptick in inflation that has sharply cut the chance of a summer start to interest rate cuts.

Ayman Chaudhary turned her love for reading into a living on TikTok, posting video snippets about books like those banned in schools in ultra-conservative parts of the United States.

The Los Angeles Lakers, fueled by 30 points from superstar LeBron James, stayed alive in the NBA playoffs on Saturday with a 119-108 victory over the Denver Nuggets.

The war in Gaza and broader Middle East tensions are expected to get top billing at a Saudi-hosted special meeting of the World Economic Forum that begins on Sunday.

Despite threats from climate change, AI-enhanced doping or competition from e-sports, the boss of the International Olympic Committee believes the future has never looked so bright for his sports movement.

Lionel Messi continued his rich vein of scoring in MLS, scoring twice as league leaders Inter Miami came from behind for a 4-1 win at the New England Revolution on Saturday.

The Moroccan city of Tangiers, which has a long history as a haven of inspiration for American jazz musicians, will host UNESCO's International Jazz Day for the first time on Tuesday.

Defending champion Hannah Green fired a one-under par 70 as the leaders struggled and joined fellow Australian Grace Kim atop the field after Saturday's third round of the LPGA Los Angeles Championship.

Piper decided she needed an abortion almost as soon as Arizona judges ruled an 1864 law banning the procedure could be enforced.

Washington's top diplomat will travel to Saudi Arabia on Sunday as the deadline approaches on a landmark -- and, analysts say, long-shot -- deal that would see the kingdom recognise Israel.

The Japanese ambassador raved about the daffodils and the glorious spring sunshine. The Australian envoy joked about beating the "Poms" at their own game. A life-sized Paddington waved and clapped.

Pope Francis will visit Venice on Sunday, his first trip outside Rome in seven months, which will be closely watched amid concerns over the 87-year-old's fragile health.

The Boston Celtics turned the tables on Miami in dominant style Saturday, routing the Heat 104-84 to take a 2-1 lead in their NBA playoff series while Oklahoma City pushed New Orleans to the brink of elimination.

Damian Lillard was listed as doubtful by the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday for their crucial NBA playoff game on Sunday, with Giannis Antetokounmpo also considered doubtful to face Indiana.

American pair Zac Blair and Patrick Fishburn led by a stroke after the third round of the PGA Tour's Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event on Saturday.

The reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs will consider leaving Arrowhead Stadium, their home since 1972, once their lease expires in 2030, Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said on Saturday.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 24 points to lead Oklahoma City in a 106-85 rout of the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday for a 3-0 stranglehold on their NBA Western Conference playoff series.

Atletico Madrid earned a vital 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday in La Liga, striking a significant blow in the race to secure Champions League football.