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

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky makes his second wartime visit to Washington on Thursday in a bid to win fresh aid to fight Russian invaders despite signs of war fatigue among US lawmakers.

Azerbaijan will hold peace talks with Armenian separatists on Thursday, after a swift military victory in the breakaway territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Turkey's central bank was expected Thursday to dramatically raise its key interest rate for the second month running following a sudden turn towards conventional economics by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Bank of England is expected to raise its key interest rate for a 15th straight time Thursday but the possibility of a pause has surfaced after a surprise dip in UK inflation.

King Charles III on Thursday follows in his mother Queen Elizabeth II's footsteps by addressing lawmakers in the French upper chamber of parliament on the second day of a visit that has seen him urge stronger ties between the countries.

The 19th Asian Games take place in the Chinese city of Hangzhou from Saturday after a delay of a year caused by China's strict zero-Covid rules.

Some of the finest competitors on the planet will be in action at the Asian Games from Saturday until October 8.

The biggest Asian Games in history, boasting about 12,000 competitors -- more than the Olympics -- will open on Saturday in the Chinese city of Hangzhou after a year's delay because of Covid.

Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad begins on Thursday his first official trip to China in almost two decades, where he will ask a longtime ally for financial support to help rebuild his devastated country.

Saudi Arabia and Israel voiced optimism Wednesday that they were moving closer to a historic normalization of ties as Iran -- their common foe -- accused the kingdom of betraying the Palestinians through the US-led effort.

Inter Miami shrugged off an injury concern over Lionel Messi to beat Toronto FC 4-0 on Wednesday with Robert Taylor scoring twice as they boosted their playoff hopes.

Italy's prime minister on Wednesday urged the United Nations to launch a "global war without mercy" against migrant smugglers, after a surge of arrivals on the island of Lampedusa.

Lionel Messi was substituted just 37 minutes into his return to action for Inter Miami against Toronto in Major League Soccer on Wednesday.

US senators voted Wednesday to confirm General Charles Brown as the country's next top military officer, one of hundreds of nominations that have been stalled by a lawmaker's protest against Pentagon abortion access policies.

Poland said Wednesday it will no longer arm Ukraine and instead focus on its own defense, as the two allies clashed at a key moment in Kyiv's fightback against invasion by Russia.

Sofia Kenin's impressive return to form claimed another scalp on Wednesday as the unseeded American upset sixth seed Jelena Ostapenko to reach the quarter-finals of the WTA 1000 Guadalajara Open.

Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana said he had let his teammates down after a howler set the tone for a 4-3 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich.

Harry Kane was among the scorers as Bayern Munich beat Manchester United 4-3 in their heavyweight Champions League clash on Wednesday, while Jude Bellingham snatched a dramatic late winner for Real Madrid and Arsenal began their campaign with a big victory.

French Foreign Minister Catherina Colonna said Wednesday that Poland's decision to ban Ukrainian grain imports was unjustified, amid rising tensions between the two eastern European countries over the dispute.

Bayern Munich forward Leroy Sane said his side needed to be calmer and more in control after a "wild" 4-3 home victory over Manchester United in the Champion League on Wednesday.

Bayern Munich forward Leroy Sane said his side needed to be calmer and more in control after a "wild" 4-3 home victory over Manchester United in the Champion League on Wednesday.

Napoli escaped Sporting Braga with a 2-1 win in their Champions League opener on Wednesday after a Sikou Niakate own goal handed the Italians the points in the final minutes.

Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu met Wednesday to smooth over months of tension, eyeing a deal to normalize Israel's ties with Saudi Arabia despite US concerns over the state of Israeli democracy.

New York authorities announced on Wednesday the return of $9 million worth of art stolen by the Nazi regime to the family of Fritz Grunbaum, an Austrian Jewish cabaret performer killed in the Holocaust.

Wall Street stocks dropped and the dollar rallied Wednesday after the Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged, but signaled it could lift them again this year.

Mikel Arteta hailed Arsenal's "beautiful" return to the Champions League as Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard inspired a 4-0 demolition of PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia's de facto leader said Wednesday that a historic normalization of relations with Israel is getting "closer," as he also warned that the kingdom will seek a nuclear weapon if foe Iran gets one first.

Harry Kane scored from the penalty spot as Bayern Munich piled more misery on struggling Manchester United with a 4-3 home win in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Napoli escaped Sporting Braga with a 2-1 win in their Champions League opener on Wednesday after a Sikou Niakate own goal handed the Italians the points in the final minutes.

Lautaro Martinez struck late to snatch last season's Champions League runners-up Inter Milan a 1-1 draw at Real Sociedad on Wednesday, denying the Spanish side a triumphant return to the competition after a decade away.

Arsenal made a dream return to the Champions League as Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard inspired a 4-0 demolition of PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday.

The US Federal Reserve voted Wednesday to hold interest rates at a 22-year high while predicting that lending rates will need to remain higher for longer to definitively cool inflation.