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

Prudent yet conciliatory, Pope Leo XIV has gradually imprinted his style on the leadership of the Catholic Church, finding his voice as he takes on some of the world's most pressing issues, from bloody conflicts to artificial intelligence.

Papal trips mean vast crowds, high-level diplomatic meetings and a formidable amount of behind-the-scenes preparation, from delicately balanced agendas to complex security protection for the head of the Catholic Church.

Pop star Ed Sheeran said Saturday the situation in Gaza is "unjustifiable," following a wave of criticism that he had failed to back his opening act who was booted from their tour after making pro-Palestinian comments.

He's unpopular, his war is going badly and the US economy is strained. But on the campaign trail, Donald Trump says he has found an issue to help Republicans salvage their midterm election hopes: the transgender rights row.

It took years for Tenzing Norgay to secure his place in history as the man who, alongside New Zealander Edmund Hillary, first reached the summit of Mount Everest.

German voters go to the polls Sunday in two state elections where far-right and far-left gains could send new shock waves to Berlin and rock the government of embattled Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Chanting protesters greeted concertgoers Saturday in Philadelphia ahead of pop superstar Ed Sheeran's first show since his tour plunged into turmoil ignited by his opening act's pro-Palestinian comments.

Michelle Bachelet, the former president of Chile, withdrew her candidacy for the position of United Nations secretary-general on Saturday, weeks after a straw poll showed her in second to last place among eight candidates.

Reigning Top 14 champions Toulouse squeezed past lowly Vannes 29-23 on Saturday, while seven-try Lyon took top spot with an emphatic win against Pau.

Raphinha scored a superb hat-trick to earn Barcelona a 3-1 win at Sevilla on Saturday in La Liga and preserve their 100 percent record.

Two Germans were arrested Saturday after they stuck two paintings on a wall of the hall that hosts the Mona Lisa in Paris's Louvre museum, police sources said.

Belgian star Nafissatou Thiam made a victorious return in her first completed heptathlon since clinching her third Olympic title in Paris two years ago at the Decastar meet in France on Saturday.

The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Houthis said Saturday that the Iran-backed group fired a ballistic missile at Riyadh at dawn, after a fire broke out near the Saudi capital's international airport.

Jiri Lehecka downed Learner Tien in a deciding rubber as the Czech Republic stunned the United States 3-2 in Davis Cup qualifying for a second straight year, while South Korea reached the last eight for the first time on Saturday.

France's debt mountain is growing and will this year be at its highest level since 1978 because of a soaring deficit, the country's finance ministry said Saturday.

Maximilian Beier's 70th-minute winner sealed Borussia Dortmund a 1-0 victory at Stuttgart on Saturday as they moved to the top of the early Bundesliga table.

Rory McIlroy is just two strokes off the lead going into Sunday's final day of the European Tour's flagship PGA Championship at Wentworth after finishing his third round with a spectacular eagle.

US President Donald Trump on Saturday lashed out at critics of artificial intelligence and data centers, saying he would not allow the "destruction" of the industry and announcing the creation of a new government "AI Force."

Lautaro Martinez rode to Inter Milan's rescue on Saturday as the Serie A champions fought back from two-down to force a 2-2 draw at Roma.

Hundreds of runners gathered Saturday in South Africa's Kempton Park, near Johannesburg, where the body of a 38-year-old mother was discovered earlier this month -- one of nine woman to be murdered in the district in two months.

Paris FC extended their unbeaten start to the Ligue 1 campaign, beating coach Liam Rosenior's old charges Strasbourg 2-1 on Saturday in a match marred by abusive chants towards the Englishman from visiting fans.

Black smoke and flames rose near Riyadh's international airport on Saturday, as Yemen's Houthis announced they had carried out strikes on targets in the Saudi capital and coastal oil facilities.

Lyon defeated Pau 51-25 in a clash of the early top two on Saturday to rise to the summit of the French Top 14 table, while Racing 92 charged back to beat La Rochelle.

Cuba worked Saturday to restore power after its seventh major blackout of the year, as the communist-run island grappled with woes triggered by a US fuel blockade.

Mikel Arteta said Arsenal's 3-0 defeat by Brighton was a reminder of "how tough every game" in the Premier League is as the defending champions were beaten for the first time this season.

England returned to the summit of the T20 world rankings with another thumping of Sri Lanka to complete a 3-0 series whitewash in Manchester on Saturday.

Several thousand people marched in the Swiss cities of Geneva and Lausanne on Saturday to protest government inaction in the face of global warming.

Arsenal's perfect start to their Premier League title defence came off the rails in a 3-0 trouncing by Brighton, while Tottenham remain winless after a 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa.

The White House made good Saturday on President Donald Trump's vow to deny CNN, MS NOW and Politico access to the presidential mansion as punishment for reporting what he calls "fake news."

Ecuador's Richard Carapaz has "a health issue" and has pulled out of the world cycling championships where he would have been one of the potential contenders in the road race scheduled for next Sunday.

South Korea advanced to the Davis Cup quarter-finals for the first time on Saturday after beating India 3-1, while Austria joined them in the eight-team finals with a victory over Belgium.

The end to Tottenham's Premier League goal drought came too late as Aston Villa won 3-2 in north London on Saturday to compound a miserable start for Roberto De Zerbi's men.