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

Sri Lanka on Thursday ended a heavily criticised policy that required Muslim Covid-19 victims to be buried at a remote government-designated site in the absence of their families or final religious rites.

Just as millions of people dared to hope a two-year pandemic was receding, war broke out in Ukraine, triggering a new surge of anxiety in Western Europe and fears about wider conflict -- or worse.

Sri Lanka's president sacked his energy minister on Thursday as fuel shortages left the near-bankrupt island facing its worst blackouts in 26 years and the nation's buses largely sidelined.

The United Nations' aid chief pleaded Thursday for the protection of civilians in Ukraine and for unhindered humanitarian access amid the spiralling violence, in an interview with AFP.

Ireland need to "stay calm" when they play England at Twickenham on Saturday week if they are to have a chance of winning and maintaining their Six Nations title hopes, said forwards coach Paul O'Connell.

Algerian journalist and press freedom activist Khaled Drareni had a two-year jail term reduced on appeal to a six-month suspended sentence on Thursday, a detainees' rights group said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed no let-up in his invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, even as the warring sides met for ceasefire talks and Kyiv appealed for relief supplies to reach shattered cities.

Reigning MotoGP world champion Fabio Quartararo says he is more motivated than ever ahead of the new season, with his sights now set on winning "several" riders' titles ahead of this weekend's season opener in Qatar.

Explosions, sirens, ruined homes. Olena Ostaptchenko's only point of reference for what is happening in her home town of Kharkiv is Soviet-era movies about the horrors of World War II.

UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin said Thursday he was sick of talking about a breakaway European Super League, accusing club chiefs still committed to the idea of living in a "parallel world".

Goth rocker Marilyn Manson on Wednesday filed court proceedings against ex-fiancee Evan Rachel Wood for conspiracy, fraud and defamation after the US actress accused him of raping her.

Ireland suffered a blow to their Six Nations title hopes on Thursday as prop Andrew Porter was ruled out of their final two matches due to an ankle injury.

France said Thursday it had seized a superyacht owned by Russia's oil czar Igor Sechin, following through on threats to target sanctioned oligarchs close to Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

French President Emmanuel Macron will announce later Thursday that he will seek a second term in office at elections next month, aides said, with Russia's war in Ukraine likely to eclipse the campaign but boost his chances.

Left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed and batsman Liton Das helped Bangladesh halt an eight-match losing streak in Twenty20 internationals with a resounding 61-run win over Afghanistan in Dhaka on Thursday.

One of Hong Kong's top coronavirus experts on Thursday joined a growing chorus of criticism over plans to test the entire city, saying doing so during its worst-ever outbreak would have little impact.

Lviv's imposing Art Palace buzzes from dawn to curfew with volunteers sorting through donations from Europe that are flooding into this west Ukrainian city.

The signs of Russian presence have long been visible in Turkey, from rows of tourists on Antalya beaches to the Russian battleships ploughing their way through the Bosphorus.

American Sihwan Kim roared out of the gates at the inaugural International Series Thailand on Thursday, breaking the course record to seize the first round lead with a 10-under-par 62.

England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie has been ruled out of the final two rounds of the Six Nations with a knee injury he suffered in last weekend's 23-19 win over Wales.

Formula One has removed Russia as a Grand Prix host for good due to the invasion of Ukraine, by terminating its contract with the organisers, the championship promoters announced on Thursday.

Ukraine's leader vowed Thursday that Moscow would be made to pay to rebuild his shattered country, as the warring sides readied for ceasefire talks following the fall of the first major city to Russian forces.

Pope Francis will visit the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan in July, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni announced Thursday.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has sent energy prices surging, but the oil-rich Gulf monarchies have so far resisted Western pressure to raise output, prioritising their own strategic and economic interests.

Japan plans to help residents and businesses facing difficulty due to a surge in oil prices fuelled by the Ukraine crisis with $3 billion in relief funds, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Thursday.

European stocks slid and oil flirted with $120 per barrel Thursday as conflict raged in Ukraine.

The International Olympic Committee's call for federations to bar Russian athletes due to the invasion of Ukraine has been criticised as "not justified" by the International Judo Federation.

Test cricket is the "real cricket", Virat Kohli said Thursday ahead of his 100th game for India in the five-day format, his first since stepping down as captain in January.

World champion Max Verstappen has signed a five-year contract extension with Red Bull, the Formula One team announced on Thursday.

Global satellite communications company OneWeb announced on Thursday that its board had voted to suspend all launches from Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The tech industry has long tried to align with the green movement, though its leaders are often accused of spouting nebulous slogans and making hard-to-test pledges.

Shovelling sand into bags and collecting bottles to make Molotov cocktails, volunteers in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro are preparing for an onslaught from invading Russian troops.