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

Japan scored an 88th-minute equaliser as they twice fought back to rescue a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in front of 69,285 in Texas on Sunday to open their World Cup campaigns.

The United States and Iran agreed a peace deal and an "immediate and permanent" end to military operations on all fronts including Lebanon, mediator Pakistan said, in the strongest sign yet that more than three months of war in Middle East is drawing to a close.

An anti-G7 protest in Geneva began in a carnival atmosphere on Sunday before descending into violence, with building facades smashed in and police firing tear gas at masked youths.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente confirmed that Lamine Yamal is fit but will begin the European champions' World Cup opener against Cape Verde on the bench.

England international Joe Marchant scored twice and back-row forward Romain Briatte scored a hat-trick as Stade Francais hammered La Rochelle 45-5 on Saturday to storm into the French Top 14 semi-finals.

When Iran takes to the field on Monday for the first game of its World Cup, Sara Barahman will be among the thousands of protesters outside the stadium waving a very specific flag: the one used by the country before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Steven Spielberg's latest sci-fi thriller, "Disclosure Day," debuted in first place at the North American box office with $44 million in ticket sales, industry estimates showed Sunday.

Germany swept aside tiny Curacao at the World Cup on Sunday, thrashing the debutants 7-1 in Houston while the Iran team touched down in the United States.

Gina Kim and 19-year-old Yana Wilson combined to shoot an eight-under par 62 on Sunday to win the Dow Championship LPGA team event, a first title for both on the US women's tour.

Protesters in Geneva threw stones and firecrackers at the police, who responded with tear gas and water cannons during a demonstration Sunday against the G7 summit in nearby Evian.

Iranian football legend Khodadad Azizi, who played in the first World Cup meeting between Iran and the United States in 1998, has told AFP that football should promote "peace" and remain separate from politics.

American alt-pop singer and internet personality Oliver Tree was aboard one of the two helicopters that collided mid-air in Brazil, leaving six dead, a police source told AFP.

In-form England pace bowler Ollie Robinson will miss the second Test against New Zealand with a knee injury.

To the never-ending list of scarcities in Cuba comes a new addition: communion for the Catholic faithful.

Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka withdraw before the final round of the PGA Tour Canadian Open with a hand injury on Sunday, less than a week before he is due to tee off in the US Open.

Germany won their first opening match at a World Cup since lifting the trophy in 2014 as they eased to a 7-1 win against debutants Curacao in their opening Group E match in Houston on Sunday.

Experienced Fiji lock Peceli Yato scored two tries as Perpignan maintained their French Top 14 status on Sunday with a 47-24 win at second-tier promotion hopefuls Provence in their end-of-season play-off.

Tottenham defender Pedro Porro ended speculation over his future by signing a new long-term contract at the Premier League club on Sunday.

The US government's order for Anthropic to withdraw its most powerful artificial intelligence models has sparked a wave of criticism from both advocates and opponents of AI regulation.

Lionel Messi could have signed off from World Cup football on the ultimate high in 2022 but he is back and poised to become the first man to play in six tournaments.

US President Donald Trump insisted on Sunday that a deal to end the Middle East war was just "hours" away, angrily blaming Israel for delaying its signing with an airstrike on Beirut that drew threats of retaliation from Iran.

India made the perfect start to their women's T20 World Cup campaign with a 64-run win against arch rivals Pakistan on Sunday.

"You need to be happy," reads graffiti spray-painted on a ruined building swamped in trash in Cuba's capital Havana.

Formula One championship leader Kimi Antonelli was left feeling empty after his Mercedes gave up the ghost in the final stages of the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix on Sunday, forcing him to retire from second.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday he will discuss the Russian invasion and efforts to end it during a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the G7 summit in France.

Lewis Hamilton said he needed to rebuild his mind to become able to clinch his first Grand Prix victory with Ferrari on Sunday in Barcelona.

Swiss authorities and economic players breathed a sigh of relief Sunday after voters narrowly rejected a divisive anti-immigration proposal to cap the country's population, which had sparked warnings of "chaos".

Brazil's defensive frailties, lack of creativity and problems at full-back were exposed in a 1-1 draw with Morocco in their World Cup opener, raising doubts over their chances of lifting a sixth title.

Donald Trump said an Israeli strike on Beirut "should not have happened" after it triggered a strong protest from Iran, casting doubt on the US president's pledge that a peace deal would be signed Sunday.

Nestory Irankunda called it "unreal" after the 20-year-old born in a refugee camp played a pivotal role in Australia's shock 2-0 World Cup win over Turkey.

At least six people died in Brazil on Sunday after two helicopters collided in western Rio de Janeiro, firefighters said.

South Africa has repatriated 2,745 foreigners in the week after President Cyril Ramaphosa vowed tougher action against illegal immigration, the country's home affairs minister said on Sunday.

Jockey Ryan Moore completed a career full house of all the major European classics as Irish favourite Diamond Necklace powered to victory in the French Oaks (Prix de Diane) at Chantilly on Sunday.

Thousands of protesters thronged the streets of Geneva Sunday ahead of the G7 summit in Evian in neighbouring France, with police omnipresent amid fears of a repeat of the violence seen at a similar summit in 2003.

Polish outsider Kamil Majchrzak clinched his first ever ATP tennis tour title Sunday, stunning world number six Alex de Minaur 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (7/5) in a nail-biting final on the 's-Hertogenbosch grass.

Opener Cooper Connolly blazed 149 runs off 134 balls to lead Australia to a dramatic one-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the third and final one-day match in Mirpur on Sunday.

Mexican Isaac Del Toro won the Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes with a solo success on Sunday's eighth and final stage for the biggest victory of his career.

New York police said Sunday that 63 people were arrested overnight as unruly crowds flooded into the city's streets to celebrate the Knicks' first NBA championship in 53 years.

Lewis Hamilton claimed his first victory for Ferrari on Sunday at the Barcelona-Catalunya Formula One Grand Prix, ending championship leader Kimi Antonelli's five-race winning streak.