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

The Alabama Supreme Court has ruled that frozen embryos outside the womb are children, drawing criticism from the leading US infertility association which called the decision a "terrifying development."

Elon Musk says the first human patient with a brain implant from his Neuralink startup is able to move a computer mouse with thought.

The fab four are back, with each member of the iconic Beatles to be immortalized in their own big screen biopic, all directed by Sam Mendes, Sony Pictures said on Tuesday.

Anti-American allies Russia and Venezuela vowed to boost cooperation in oil and gas production and the "peaceful use of nuclear energy" at a meeting of foreign ministers in Caracas Tuesday.

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez says preparing for Wednesday's Champions League last 16 tie against Napoli has proved tricky with the Italians now under new management.

Three decades after the advent of democracy, South Africa will go to the polls on May 29 for general elections and perhaps the first serious challenge to ANC rule.

Mexican businesswoman and opposition senator Xochitl Galvez, 60, threw her hat in the ring for the presidency Tuesday, setting up a two-woman race with ex-mayor Claudia Sheinbaum of the ruling party.

Ukraine said on Tuesday it was fighting off dozens of Russian attacks as Moscow claimed the recapture of a bridgehead, days after it seized a key town amid stalled Western aid deliveries to Kyiv.

Israel kept up its bombardment of the war-torn Gaza Strip on Tuesday as Washington vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that called for a ceasefire in the Palestinian territory, where concern grew about a growing humanitarian crisis.

Capital One's proposed merger with the US credit card specialist Discover has reshuffled the deck in a fast-growing sector in the United States, where cash is gradually disappearing from the landscape.

Iga Swiatek survived a gruelling affair against Sloane Stephens while Aryna Sabalenka blamed unfavourable conditions for her second round defeat to Donna Vekic in Dubai on Tuesday.

The United States will announce fresh sanctions on Russia on Friday over the death in prison of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, as a string of European governments summon Russian diplomats.

Former world number one Andy Murray ended a six-match losing run to topple qualifier Alexandre Muller 6-1, 7-6 (7/5) at the Qatar Open on Tuesday.

US cinema legend Martin Scorsese said Tuesday directors should harness technology to serve their "voice" rather than fearing it will kill their industry.

A Paraguayan court has sentenced an 87-year-old former policeman to 30 years in jail for brutal torture carried out during the country's military dictatorship, according to the ruling released on Tuesday.

An Israeli ground offensive in Rafah would turn the southern Gaza city into a "graveyard" and heighten the looming risk of famine, leaders of global humanitarian groups warned on Tuesday.

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder was fined £11,500 ($14,500) by the Football Association on Tuesday after a scathing attack on officials last month, that included taking aim at a sandwich-eating assistant referee.

Wall Street and European stocks mostly fell on Tuesday as gains made in Asia after China's central bank sprang a record cut to a benchmark lending rate to boost the nation's struggling economy failed to carry over.

The UK arm of The Body Shop cosmetics group will shut nearly half its 198 outlets, adminstrators brought in to save parts of the distressed company said Tuesday.

As the Gaza war rages and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan nears, concern has grown over potential tensions at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque compound, a past flashpoint for violence.

England assistant coach Kevin Sinfield has backed the returning Ollie Lawrence and Manu Tuilagi to bring more power to the visitors' backline when they travel to Scotland in the Six Nations on Saturday.

Wales assistant coach Rob Howley says the team will aim to create rugby chaos when they face red-hot Six Nations favourites Ireland on Saturday.

Chile will once again try to resolve the mystery of what really killed the Nobel laureate poet Pablo Neruda, who many believe was poisoned by the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, a court said Tuesday.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was absent from a London court due to illness Tuesday, as his lawyers launched a likely last UK bid to appeal against his extradition to the United States to face espionage charges.

The United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on Tuesday calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, with Israel continuing to bombard the territory as concern grew about the growing humanitarian crisis.

The United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on Tuesday that called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, even as President Joe Biden faced mounting pressure to dial back support for Israel.

An international operation led by UK and US law enforcement has severely disrupted "the world's most harmful cybercrime group", the Russian-linked ransomware specialist LockBit, officials announced Tuesday.

UN aid agencies said Tuesday that food deliveries to war-torn northern Gaza had been suspended after looting attacks and that dozens of patients in a besieged hospital remain trapped in "indescribable" conditions.

The Eiffel Tower, one of the world's top tourist attractions, remained closed for a second straight day Tuesday as staff extended a strike over the monument's financing.

Criminals have overtaken your computer network, they are threatening to leak your most sensitive secrets and your share price is tumbling. It's time to call in the negotiators.

Wall Street and European stocks mostly fell on Tuesday, as gains in Asia after China's central bank sprang a record cut to a benchmark lending rate to boost the nation's struggling economy failed to carry over.

The United States indicated it will veto a UN Security Council resolution Tuesday calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, while circulating its own proposal for an eventual truce as President Joe Biden comes under pressure to dial back support for Israel.