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

Goals from Martin Terrier, Patrik Schick and Montrell Culbreath took Bayer Leverkusen to a 3-1 win at RB Leipzig on Saturday, moving them past their hosts into third in the German Bundesliga table.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart has been fined $35,000 for making an obscene gesture toward a game official, the NBA announced Saturday.

Alexander Isak endured a bittersweet evening as the Liverpool striker scored before limping off injured in a chaotic 2-1 win over nine-man Tottenham on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola admitted Manchester City will have to improve if they want to win the Premier League title despite Erling Haaland's latest masterclass in a 3-0 victory against West Ham on Saturday.

A Syria monitor said Saturday that five Islamic State jihadist group members had been killed in US strikes overnight as Jordan confirmed it participated in the raids, after a deadly attack on American troops last weekend.

Millions of Australians will light candles and observe a minute's silence on Sunday, a week after a pair of gunmen fired into crowds at a Jewish festival on Sydney's most famous beach and killed 15 people.

Olympic gold medallist Jefferson-Lee Joseph scored a try and was sent off as Perpignan beat Clermont 26-20 to win their first game of the French Top 14 season on Saturday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that Washington had proposed the first face-to-face negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in half a year, as diplomats converged on Miami for fresh talks on ending the war.

A German woman engineer on Saturday became the first wheelchair user to blast into space, taking a brief ride on a Blue Origin flight.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Argentina's Javier Milei on Saturday openly clashed at a regional summit about the fate of Venezuela, as US President Donald Trump ratchets up the pressure on Caracas.

Erling Haaland fired Manchester City to the top of the Premier League by beating West Ham 3-0, while Chelsea fought back to salvage a 2-2 draw at Newcastle on Saturday.

Thailand nabbed a record-breaking number of gold medals as the Southeast Asian Games closed in Bangkok on Saturday, but the two-week event was overshadowed by a deadly border conflict with Cambodia.

Enzo Maresca insisted the speculation over his Chelsea future has not been a distraction after the Blues battled back to rescue a 2-2 draw against Newcastle on Saturday.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Saturday urged the European Union to show "courage" and sign a trade deal with the South American Mercosur bloc.

The Africa Cup of Nations will be staged every four years following an edition planned for 2028 in a major change to what is currently a biennial showpiece, African football chief Patrice Motsepe announced on Saturday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that Washington had proposed the first face-to-face negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in half a year, as diplomats converged on Miami for fresh talks on ending the war.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Saturday that US military action in Venezuela would spark a "humanitarian catastrophe," as he opened a summit of the South American Mercosur bloc.

Chelsea saved Enzo Maresca from more awkward questions as they fought back from two goals down to rescue a 2-2 draw against Newcastle on Saturday.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick raged against Raphinha's omission from FIFA's team of the year, labelling the world football governing body's 'The Best Men's XI' a joke on Saturday.

Franjo von Allmen got the better of Marco Odermatt to win Saturday's downhill at Val Gardena and claim his first World Cup win of the season.

Lindsey Vonn climbed atop the podium for the third time in four World Cup races this winter, finishing third in the Val d'Isere downhill on Saturday.

Indian selectors dropped Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill on Saturday from the T20 squad for the World Cup in February after a prolonged form slump.

Tens of thousands of mourners gathered in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka on Saturday for the funeral of a student leader, after two days of violent protests over his killing.

Opener Zak Crawley said the mood in the England dressing room was "flat" Saturday as they stared down the barrel of losing the Ashes within three Tests, admitting Australia were the better side.

An unrelenting Australia were four wickets from retaining the Ashes at close of play in the third Test on Saturday as England clung to a dying hope that they could chase a record 435 to save the series.

As Europe seeks to curb its dependence on China for rare earths, plans to mine the continent's biggest deposit have hit a roadblock over fears that mining operations could harm endangered beetles, mosses and mushrooms.

Hiyam Zarouri was delighted when a senior civil servant at France's prestigious culture ministry reached out to her on Linkedin offering the then jobless 25-year-old career advice.

The NBA Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder suffered just their third defeat of the season Friday, in a last-minute 112-107 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Chanting villagers parade a giant effigy through the alleys of rural Hong Kong before setting it ablaze in a once-in-a-decade ceremony to ward off bad luck and appease their ancestors.

Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua knocked out YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in their controversial Netflix-backed bout in Miami on Friday.

Kavem Hodge scored his second Test century on Saturday as the West Indies reached 381-6 at the end of the third day of the third Test at Mount Maunganui, 194 runs behind New Zealand and avoiding the follow-on.

Zak Crawley and Joe Root dug in Saturday to keep England's faint hopes alive as they chase a record 435 to win the third Test against Australia and save the Ashes.

French NBA superstar Victor Wembanyama came off the bench to score 26 points in just 21 minutes Friday, as the San Antonio Spurs crushed the Atlanta Hawks 126-98.

Kavem Hodge stood firm with 83 for the West Indies on Saturday as they moved to 310-4 at tea on day three of the third New Zealand Test at Mount Maunganui, trailing by 265 runs.

Afghans who worked alongside US troops during almost two decades of war were once promised a home in the United States to shelter them from the extremist intolerance of the Taliban.

Travis Head slammed 170 and Alex Carey hit 72 Saturday as Australia were all out for 249 to set England a record 435 to win and keep the Ashes alive.

Travis Head slammed 170 and Alex Carey 72 before Australia were all out for 349 Saturday, setting England the ominous task of scoring 435 to win the third Test and keep the Ashes alive.

US forces struck more than 70 Islamic State group targets in Syria on Friday in what President Donald Trump described as "very serious retaliation" for an attack that killed three Americans last weekend.

Australian surf lifesavers lined the shore of Sydney's Bondi Beach and fell silent Saturday to honour the 15 people shot and killed when gunmen fired into crowds at a Jewish festival by the sea.