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

Fans of baseball's Hanshin Tigers are at fever pitch ahead of Saturday's start to the Japan Series, with the country's most passionately supported team desperate to win only their second national title.

Former Chinese premier Li Keqiang, a reform-minded bureaucrat once tipped as the country's future leader only to be eclipsed by President Xi Jinping, died Friday. He was 68.

Asian markets rose Friday after strong earnings from two tech titans provided hope for a bounce on Wall Street, while traders were also steeling themselves for key US inflation data.

Medical technology company Masimo Corp. on Thursday said a US trade commission has recommended banning imports of Apple Watch models that infringe its light technology for detecting blood oxygen levels.

Romelu Lukaku is set for possibly the most hostile reception of his career when he returns to the San Siro to face Serie A leaders Inter Milan on a bumper Sunday in which champions Napoli host AC Milan.

Lyon, seven times league champions, sit rock bottom of Ligue 1 as they prepare to play rivals Marseille at the Stade Velodrome on Sunday, with Fabio Grosso's men desperately seeking their first win.

Australians have long insisted a key problem for English sports teams is not losing but the fall-out from winning.

EU leaders have demanded "humanitarian corridors and pauses" in Israel's war against Hamas, urging aid access for civilians trapped in besieged Gaza, where the United Nations says "nowhere is safe."

Australia approved on Friday the aerial shooting of wild horses in one of the country's largest national parks, resuming a contentious practice that authorities described as "essential" to protect native wildlife.

An urgent police dragnet entered its second day late Thursday for a man accused of gunning down 18 people at a bowling alley and a bar in the US state of Maine, as President Joe Biden mourned "yet another senseless and tragic mass shooting."

Kim Cho-long escaped death by chance last October -- pulled from packed streets in South Korea's capital by a friend, as those around her were swept into an alley where 159 people later died in a crowd crush.

Residents of Mexico's hurricane-stricken resort city of Acapulco emptied shelves of looted supermarkets on Thursday and appealed for government help as they searched desperately for food and water.

When Scout Frank lost her mother, she knew she needed to keep her close -- and hit upon the perfect solution when she found she could have her ashes tattooed into her skin.

From fake street art to doctored media reports demonizing President Volodymyr Zelensky, a torrent of online disinformation seeks to erode Western support that is crucial for Kyiv's war effort against Russia.

With all eyes on Mikaela Shiffrin as the new World Cup ski season kicks off in Soelden this weekend, one of those cheering the 28-year-old American on is Austrian legend Annemarie Moser-Proell.

Defending champions South Africa and New Zealand battle it out on Saturday bidding to become the first team to win the Rugby World Cup four times.

Rugby World Cup fever is building in New Zealand with a former All Blacks captain predicting a "cracking" final against South Africa in Paris this weekend while tickets are being snapped up for a stadium screening at the country's home of rugby, Eden Park.

Bundesliga minnows Darmstadt will be out to spoil Manuel Neuer's potential return from injury when they face champions Bayern Munich on Saturday.

Defending champions South Africa expect Saturday's Rugby World Cup final against "greatest foes" New Zealand to be a "grind" as both teams eye what would be a record fourth tournament title.

Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, parried with a federal prosecutor on Thursday in high-stakes legal jousting at his criminal fraud trial that seemed to frustrate the judge.

Online retail colossus Amazon on Thursday said profit surged in the recently ended quarter on growing sales and more efficient deliveries, with its cloud business promising even better days ahead.

La Liga champions Barcelona host bitter rivals Real Madrid in the first Clasico of the season on Saturday, forced into leaning heavily on players from their feted La Masia youth academy.

Manchester City will test the strength of Manchester United's recent revival at Old Trafford this weekend, while red-hot leaders Tottenham are seeking their eighth win in 10 games.

Police on Thursday surrounded the family home of the man accused of gunning down 18 people at a bowling alley and a bar in the US state of Maine, as President Joe Biden mourned "yet another senseless and tragic mass shooting."

When Kyle Green and his partner learned a gunman had just gone on a shooting spree near their home in Lewiston, Maine, they slowly lowered the blinds and told their children it was movie night.

US chip giant Intel on Thursday said it made more money that expected in the recently ended quarter as it continued to invest in a "geographically balanced" supply chain.

Max Verstappen on Thursday called for more respectful behaviour by Formula One's new generation of fans as he prepared for the home Grand Prix of Red Bull team-mate Sergio 'Checo' Perez.

Global stocks fell Thursday as markets shrugged off strong US economic data, digesting mixed corporate earnings and monitoring ongoing turmoil in the Middle East.

China's top diplomat voiced hope Thursday for more stable relations with the United States after months of turbulence as he paid a rare trip to Washington to prepare a potential visit by President Xi Jinping.

Ottawa Senators center Shane Pinto was banned for 41 games, equal to half a season, by the National Hockey League on Thursday for activities relating to sports wagering.

Fighting in the war-torn Gaza Strip raged for a 20th day Thursday after Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli officials.

Lionel Messi was among three finalists named on Thursday for Major League Soccer's Newcomer of the Year award despite the Argentine star playing only six league matches for Inter Milan.