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

The chief of Lebanon's powerful Hezbollah movement, Hassan Nasrallah, warned Israel on Wednesday against waging war on Lebanon, a day after a strike killed Hamas's deputy leader in the southern Beirut stronghold of Hezbollah.

For the first time, scientists have identified genetic variations associated with human bisexual behavior -- and found these markers are linked to risk-taking and having more offspring when they are carried by heterosexual men.

Everton manager Sean Dyche insisted staying in the Premier League is the "be-all and end-all" but claimed his side would "respect" the FA Cup by going into the game with the right mentality.

The number of migrants arriving illegally in Spain soared by over 80 percent in 2023, with a record number landing in the Canary Islands, official figures showed Wednesday.

Mako Vunipola will still be available for England's Six Nations opener away to Italy next month despite the prop being given a four-match ban after being sent off playing for Saracens against Newcastle.

Sierra Leone on Wednesday charged former president Ernest Bai Koroma with treason and other offences for his alleged role in what authorities have called an attempted coup on November 26, authorities said.

US automaker General Motors reported Wednesday a jump in vehicle sales for 2023, citing robust demand in a year also boosted by easing supply issues.

South African batting consultant Ashwell Prince said "there was something wrong" at Newlands after an extraordinary 23 wickets fell on the first day of the second Test against India on Wednesday.

Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson believes leading former players such as Wayne Rooney often face "unrealistic" expectations when they become managers.

Global markets were rattled Wednesday as blasts in Iran that killed at least 103 fanned fears of the war between Israel and Hamas spreading further.

Antoine Dupont took part in a wet and windy first training session with the national sevens team on Wednesday with coach Jerome Daret saying he had "no worries" about the France scrum-half's ability to convert to the abbreviated game in time for this summer's Paris Olympics.

US Republicans announced impeachment proceedings Wednesday against Joe Biden's homeland security chief over the worsening border crisis, as they seek to cement immigration as a major issue in November's presidential election.

A fringe right-wing political party founded by Eurosceptic populist Nigel Farage is once again posing a headache for Britain's ruling Conservatives before this year's UK general election.

Ethiopia insisted on Wednesday that its controversial deal with the breakaway region of Somaliland broke no laws after Somalia accused its neighbour of a blatant attack on its sovereignty.

Twin bomb blasts killed at least 103 people in Iran on Wednesday, ripping through a crowd commemorating Revolutionary Guards general Qasem Soleimani four years after his death in a US strike, state media reported.

India hold a good chance of levelling the series with South Africa after 23 wickets fell on the first day of the second and final Test at Newlands on Wednesday.

Argentina's government said Wednesday that three foreigners, citizens of Syria and Lebanon, had been arrested under suspicion of planning a "terrorist act", as the country hosts a major Jewish sporting event.

South African opening batsman Dean Elgar was dismissed twice on the first day of his final Test match at Newlands on Wednesday.

Sweden on Wednesday recorded its coldest January night in 25 years, with a reading of minus 43.6 degrees Celsius in the far north as a cold snap hit the Nordics.

Fears that Israel's war in Gaza could spiral across the Middle East grew Wednesday after a drone strike killed a Hamas senior leader in Lebanon and twin explosions ripped through an Iranian crowd, claiming at least 103 lives.

Junior doctors in England on Wednesday defended a decision to start their longest consecutive strike in the seven-decade history of Britain's National Health Service (NHS).

Grand Slam semi-finalist Karen Khachanov slumped to a three-set defeat in his first singles match of the season at the Hong Kong Open on Wednesday.

Mako Vunipola will still be available for England's Six Nations opener away to Italy next month despite the prop being given a four-match ban after being sent off playing for Saracens against Newcastle.

Global stock markets mostly fell Wednesday as traders took cash off the table after a blockbuster end to 2023, with eyes now on the release this week of US Federal Reserve minutes and jobs data.

Palestinian mourners broke into sobs as they huddled around defiant family members of slain Hamas deputy Saleh al-Aruri in his village in the occupied West Bank Wednesday, a day after his death in Lebanon.

At least 103 people were killed in Iran Wednesday as two bombs in quick succession struck a crowd commemorating slain general Qasem Soleimani on the anniversary of his killing, state media reported.

Rory McIlroy says if LIV Golf was modelled like the Indian Premier League (IPL) and staged over two months then he would consider playing in it.

After landing, smoke filled the cabin and flames licked the windows, but the Japan Airlines crew got all 367 passengers safely off the aircraft in an orderly fashion -- and just in time.

Japanese rescuers struggled with heavy rain, blocked roads and aftershocks on Wednesday following a powerful earthquake that killed at least 73 people and left tens of thousands without power or running water.

Turkey on Wednesday opened the first major trial linked to the construction of buildings that crumbled in two massive February 2023 earthquakes that claimed more than 50,000 lives.

At least 73 people were killed in Iran Wednesday as two bombs in quick succession struck a crowd commemorating slain general Qasem Soleimani on the anniversary of his killing, state media reported.

Novak Djokovic suffered a frustrating fitness saga as a wrist problem led to the Serb's upset 6-4, 6-4 loss to Australia's Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals of the United Cup in Perth on Wednesday.