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

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas will visit Turkey next week for talks about the Gaza war and reconciliation efforts between Palestinian factions, the Turkish foreign minister said on Sunday.

Russian attacks killed one person in Ukraine's Kherson region on Sunday as the toll from a drone strike in the city of Odesa climbed to 10, authorities said.

The Swiss were on Sunday voting on two separate initiatives aimed at impacting pensioners' lives, at a time when the country's ageing population is facing ever-swelling living expenses.

Jos Verstappen, the father of three-time reigning Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen, has claimed that the Red Bull team will "explode" if team boss Christian Horner, recently cleared of charges of "inappropriate behaviour" towards a female employee, remains in his job.

Around 170 people were "executed" in attacks on three villages in northern Burkina Faso a week ago, a regional prosecutor said on Sunday as jihadist violence flares in the junta-ruled country.

The Israeli military has said AI helps it more accurately target militants in its five-month war against Hamas, but as Gaza deaths rise, experts are questioning how effective algorithms can really be.

Shehbaz Sharif was voted in on Sunday as Pakistan's prime minister for a second time, presiding over a shaky alliance that has shut out followers of jailed opposition leader Imran Khan.

Australia's Hannah Green drained a remarkable 30-foot birdie putt at the final hole to edge Celine Boutier of France and win the HSBC Women's World Championship by a stroke in Singapore on Sunday.

Shehbaz Sharif, set to be named Pakistan's prime minister for a second time on Sunday, has stepped to the fore as a compromise candidate suited to turbulent times.

Expensive curtains, lavish garden parties and jet-setting lifestyles: Kenya's cash-strapped government has been on a spending spree even as austerity measures take their toll on weary citizens.

King Harald of Norway was returning home from Malaysia on Sunday after falling ill on holiday and spending several days in hospital, the royal palace said.

In the Tian-Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan, villagers have made an artificial glacier to provide water for their drought-hit farms.

Australia's Alex de Minaur won his second consecutive ATP Mexican Open title on Saturday, defeating Norway's Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4 in the final at Acapulco.

Jordan Conroy scored two second-half tries to spark Ireland's fightback for a 24-14 upset of Argentina on Saturday to reach the semi-finals of the World Rugby SVNS Series at Los Angeles.

Bia Zaneratto scored twice as Brazil thrashed Argentina 5-1 on Saturday to move into the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup while Olympic champions Canada scraped past Costa Rica with a 1-0 win after extra-time.

A Damian McKenzie-inspired Waikato Chiefs reinforced their Super Rugby title credentials Sunday with a statement win over ACT Brumbies, a week after upsetting the defending champion Canterbury Crusaders.

American Ray Ford clinched the vacant WBA featherweight world title with a thrilling 12th round last-minute stoppage of Uzbekistan's Otabek Kholmatov on Saturday.

Manly Sea Eagles made a winning start as Australia's National Rugby League kicked off its season at glitzy Las Vegas Saturday in a bold bid to break into the lucrative American market.

India's navy has said it is bolstering forces on "strategically important" islands close to the Maldives, with a new base set to open just days before Male starts sending home Indian forces.

From genomic information to internet-connected cars, the United States is rethinking its data protection policies -- with further trade curbs aimed at China in the cards -- as tech like AI brings new risks.

Britain's Katie Boulter and Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk advanced to the WTA San Diego Open final with powerful semi-final triumphs on Saturday, ousting two of the top three seeds.

LeBron James became the first NBA player to reach 40,000 career regular-season points on Saturday, the 39-year-old superstar scoring nine against defending champion Denver to achieve the milestone.

Kenya's double Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge said "not every day is Christmas" after his Paris Games preparations hit a snag with a 10th-place finish at Sunday's Tokyo Marathon behind winner Benson Kipruto.

Olympic champions Canada moved into the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup but needed extra-time before beating Costa Rica 1-0 on Saturday.

Britain's Katie Boulter punched her ticket to the WTA final in San Diego on Saturday with a dominant 6-3, 6-1 victory over third-seeded American Emma Navarro.

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge hit a snag in his preparations to challenge for a third straight Olympic gold at this year's Paris Games when finished 10th in Sunday's Tokyo Marathon behind winner Benson Kipruto.

LeBron James became the first NBA player to reach 40,000 career regular-season points on Saturday, the 39-year-old superstar scoring nine against defending champion Denver to achieve the milestone.

A planned launch on Saturday of a mission to take three American astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut to the International Space Station was scrubbed due to poor weather.

Australia captain Pat Cummins heaped praise on team-mates Nathan Lyon and Cameron Green on Sunday for match-winning performances his side secured a 172-run triumph over New Zealand in the first Test.

When Kazu Hiro first started experimenting with makeup as a teenager in the 1980s, one face leapt out at him from books and magazines he saw in shops: legendary conductor Leonard Bernstein.

Undefeated season leader Argentina cruised into the quarter-finals of the World Rugby SVNS Series at Los Angeles with two pool-stage triumphs on Saturday while unbeatens Australia and Fiji also topped their groups.

Nathan Lyon spun Australia to a 172-run win over New Zealand in the first Test on Sunday, taking six wickets as the hosts collapsed to 196 all out.