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

Novak Djokovic said winning Olympic gold next year is one of his main ambitions as he returns to action at the Paris Masters next week after taking time off following his record-tying 24th Grand Slam title in New York.

Kalle Rovanpera was able to take his foot off the gas in his pursuit of the world rally championship title after his main rival, Elfyn Evans, retired on Saturday from the Central European Rally, the penultimate event of the season.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said Eddie Nketiah is a "top level" striker with the ability to get even better after scoring a hat-trick in Saturday's 5-0 demolition of Sheffield United.

All-rounder Bas de Leede demanded the Netherlands be afforded "bigger nation" status after defeating Bangladesh by 87 runs at the World Cup in Kolkata on Saturday.

Israel said Saturday it was recalling its diplomatic staff from Turkey after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a fierce attack on its military operation against Hamas militants in Gaza.

A late goal by on-loan Manchester City youngster Josh Wilson-Esbrand gave Reims a 1-0 win over Lorient on Saturday as they climbed up to fourth place in Ligue 1.

Daniil Medvedev will defend his title at the ATP event in Vienna against Jannik Sinner in Sunday's final after beating Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) on Saturday.

Netherlands captain Scott Edwards led from the front as they bounced back from a record World Cup defeat by Australia with an 87-run hammering of Bangladesh.

Wayne Rooney suffered a third straight defeat since taking the hot seat at Birmingham on Saturday as Championship leaders Leicester made it 13 wins from 14 matches.

Jude Bellingham's stunning double snatched Real Madrid a 2-1 comeback victory at Barcelona in his first La Liga Clasico on Saturday.

New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra hailed the "beauty of cricket" on Saturday despite a heartbreaking five-run defeat by Australia in the World Cup.

Chelsea slumped to another damaging home defeat against Brentford on Saturday as Eddie Nketiah hit a hat-trick in a 5-0 win for unbeaten Arsenal against bottom club Sheffield United.

Police in Maine said Saturday that the man who gunned down 18 people at a bar and a bowling alley and later committed suicide, suffered serious mental health issues, but was able to buy weapons legally because he had never been forcibly committed to treatment.

Travis Head insisted Saturday he felt "no pressure" to perform before blitzing his way to a memorable century in Australia's thrilling five-run World Cup win over New Zealand.

Hat-trick hero Harry Kane scored a goal from inside his own half as Bayern Munich thrashed promoted side Darmstadt 8-0 on Manuel Neuer's return to Bundesliga action on Saturday.

Defending champions South Africa face arch-rivals New Zealand in an eagerly awaited Rugby World Cup final on Saturday with both teams in the all-southern hemisphere clash aiming for a record fourth title.

Mauricio Pochettino said Chelsea must arrest an alarming run of home results after goals from Ethan Pinnock and Bryan Mbeumo gave Brentford the bragging rights with a 2-0 win in the west London derby on Saturday.

Ghana received a fleet of 100 armoured vehicles from the European Union on Saturday as part of increased aid for border security to coastal West African nations facing spill over from the Sahel region's jihadist conflicts.

Wayne Rooney's wait for a first point as Birmingham manager will last at least another week after Southampton condemned the Blues to a third straight Championship defeat on Saturday.

India's KL Rahul hopes to have "happier memories" of Lucknow in the World Cup clash against holders England on Sunday after he suffered a serious injury at the venue on his last visit.

Lara Gut-Behrami claimed the World Cup season-opening giant slalom at Soelden on Saturday with American star Mikaela Shiffrin in sixth.

Australia captain Pat Cummins described his team's five-run win over New Zealand in the highest-scoring match in World Cup history as "awesome" on Saturday.

Israel said on Saturday its war with Hamas had "entered a new phase" as the army relentlessly pounded Gaza three weeks into a conflict sparked by the deadliest attack in the country's history.

Chelsea suffered another damaging home defeat as goals from Ethan Pinnock and Bryan Mbuemo gave Brentford the bragging rights with a 2-0 win in the west London derby on Saturday.

Five-time champions Australia edged out gallant New Zealand by just five runs in the highest-scoring World Cup game in history on Saturday.

Five-time champions Australia edged out gallant New Zealand by just five runs in a high-scoring World Cup thriller on Saturday.

A Hong Kong university has fired a professor who researches China's deadly 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown after the city denied her a visa extension.

Netherlands captain Scott Edwards made 68 as his side were held to 229 by Bangladesh in a World Cup match in Kolkata on Saturday.

Lara Gut-Behrami claimed the World Cup season-opening giant slalom at Soelden on Saturday with American star Mikaela Shiffrin in sixth.

Inter Milan fans have been banned by police from distributing tens of thousands of whistles with which they were planning a noisy return for hero turned 'traitor' Romelu Lukaku this weekend.

Rachin Ravindra hit his second century of the tournament as New Zealand attempted to chase down Australia's 388 in their World Cup clash on Saturday.

Kazakhstan said on Saturday that 32 people were killed in a fire in yet another deadly accident in a mine owned by ArcelorMittal, with over a dozen still missing, in the Central Asian country's worst disaster in years.