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

Girona moved top of La Liga despite stumbling to a 0-0 draw at bottom of the table Almeria on Sunday.

Sebastien Loeb sealed his third stage win of this year's Dakar Rally to keep his quest for a first-ever title on track after a series of near misses.

Denmark's King Frederik X acceded to the throne on Sunday, ushering in a new era after his mother Queen Margrethe abdicated, with more than 100,000 Danes turning out for the unprecedented event.

A new volcanic eruption sent flames, smoke and lava spewing out near the Icelandic fishing port of Grindavik on Sunday, only hours after villagers were evacuated to safety, authorities said.

Novak Djokovic survived a fierce test against teenager Dino Prizmic at the Australian Open Sunday as he launched his bid for a historic 25th Grand Slam, but defending women's champion Aryna Sabalenka destroyed her opponent 6-0, 6-1.

Second seed Aryna Sabalenka opened the defence of her Australian Open title in ominous fashion Sunday, blasting past German qualifier Ella Seidel for the loss of just one game.

Denmark turned a page in its history on Sunday as Queen Margrethe abdicated the throne and her son became King Frederik X, with more than 100,000 Danes turning out for the unprecedented event.

Asian Cup favourites Japan survived a scare in their tournament opener on Sunday against Vietnam before winning 4-2 in a roller-coaster clash.

Five migrants died and a sixth was in critical condition on Sunday after trying to reach Britain from northern France in freezing temperatures, the French maritime authority said.

Austrian Manuel Feller trumped the Norwegian pair of Atle Lie McGrath and Henrik Kristoffersen to claim victory in the men's World Cup slalom in Wengen on Sunday.

The Maldivian president told India Sunday to withdraw its nearly 100 troops by March 15, a day after returning from China where he signed a raft of deals.

Israeli strikes pounded southern Gaza on Sunday, the 100th day of the war on Hamas which has claimed a surging civilian death toll and ravaged the besieged Palestinian territory.

An error-strewn Novak Djokovic kickstarted his bid for an 11th Australian Open and unprecedented 25th Grand Slam crown in unconvincing fashion on Sunday, dropping a set to "incredible" teenage qualifier Dino Prizmic.

All remaining 136 prison guards and administrative workers who were seized as hostages during prison riots in Ecuador were freed on Saturday night, prison authorities said.

An error-strewn Novak Djokovic kickstarted his bid for an 11th Australian Open and unprecedented 25th Grand Slam crown in unconvincing fashion on Sunday, dropping a set to fearless teenage qualifier Dino Prizmic.

Hundreds of couples gathered in Ethiopia's capital on Sunday to take part in a traditional mass wedding ceremony, the first such event in a decade, according to the organisers and participants.

Swiss veteran Lara Gut-Behrami wrapped up a weekend trio of women's World Cup speed events at Altenmarkt-Zauchensee when she grabbed victory in Sunday's super-G.

A volcano erupted just north of the Icelandic fishing village of Grindavik early on Sunday, just hours after local residents were evacuated, authorities said.

Comoran voters cast their ballots in presidential polls on Sunday with incumbent Azali Assoumani saying he was "confident" of victory in the first round over a divided opposition which claimed irregularities in voting on the Indian Ocean archipelago.

Andrey Rublev said admitting to himself that opponent Thiago Seyboth Wild deserved to beat him helped free his mind and battle back from the brink to reach the Australian Open second round on Sunday.

Former Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki said she hoped her young children were in bed after progressing to the second round when Magda Linette retired injured on Sunday.

Four migrants died overnight and a fifth was in critical condition on Sunday after trying to reach Britain from northern France in freezing temperatures, the French maritime authority said.

Jurgen Klinsmann expects his South Korea side to reach the Asian Cup final but warned on Sunday that there will be "drama" and "nail-biters" on the way.

Norway's World Cup ski star Aleksander Aamodt Kilde is recovering after his heavy crash at Wengen with "the one and only Mikaela Shiffrin", his girlfriend, at his hospital bedside.

Denmark turns a page in its history on Sunday when Queen Margrethe abdicates and her son becomes King Frederik X, with more than 100,000 Danes expected to turn out for the unprecedented event.

Israeli strikes pounded Gaza on Sunday, the 100th day of the war sparked by the Hamas attack which has claimed a surging civilian death toll and ravaged the besieged Palestinian territory.

A day after defying Beijing's threats by electing a new president that China regards as a dangerous separatist, Taiwanese voters brushed off their sabre-rattling neighbour across the narrow strait.

President-elect Lai Ching-te may have won the top job in Taiwan's elections, but he must now chart an uneasy path on the doorstep of an increasingly assertive China.

Amanda Anisimova said she was feeling refreshed and enjoying herself after upsetting 13th-seeded Liudmila Samsonova on her return to Grand Slam tennis Sunday following a break to deal with mental health issues.

North Korea fired a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile on Sunday, Seoul's military said, days after Pyongyang staged live-fire exercises near the country's tense maritime border with South Korea.

Novak Djokovic launched his bid for Grand Slam history at the Australian Open on Sunday against an 18-year-old qualifier after fifth seed Andrey Rublev survived a huge scare to progress.

Saudi Arabia hope that the influx of foreign stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar into their club football will help the national team win their first Asian Cup in 28 years.