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

British rider Ethan Vernon of the Soudal-Quick Step team won stage one of the Tour of Romandie on Wednesday run over 170.9km from Crissier to the lake at Vallee de Joux.

Seven-times snooker world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan suffered an extraordinary collapse as he was knocked out of this year's edition by Belgium's Luca Brecel on Wednesday.

World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin has said draws for future Rugby World Cups will be better balanced following complaints about the lopsided format of this year's edition in France.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva criticised the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Wednesday, but said there was "no use now in saying who is right" in the conflict.

A large fire caused extensive damage Wednesday at the Russian cultural centre in the capital of Cyprus, which is home to thousands of Russians as well as Ukrainian refugees.

Jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny said Wednesday he could face life in prison on "terrorism" charges while another popular opposition politician went on trial in Russia's escalating clampdown on dissent.

Former Brazilian far-right president Jair Bolsonaro appeared before federal police on Wednesday to testify over anti-government riots by his supporters in January, a police source told AFP.

Britain on Wednesday blocked Microsoft's $69-billion takeover of "Call of Duty" video games giant Activision Blizzard, arguing it would harm competition in cloud gaming.

A Sudanese war crimes suspect has escaped jail amid heavy battles that have rocked the country, along with other members of the Islamist regime ousted in 2019, heightening fears for a fragile ceasefire amid new clashes Wednesday.

Simon Middleton has said "the right person will be the best person" to succeed him as England women's rugby head coach, regardless of if they are male or female.

Gang violence in crisis-torn Haiti is expanding at "an alarming rate" in areas previously considered quite safe, the UN's envoy to the country told a Security Council meeting Wednesday.

President Joe Biden greeted his South Korean counterpart Yoon Suk Yeol for a state visit Wednesday at which they will announce a beefed-up US nuclear shield for Washington's vital ally in the face of an aggressive North Korea.

France's Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne Wednesday pledged to cut unemployment and make industry greener as she sought to turn the page on months of unrest over a contentious pension reform.

Boeing reported a bigger-than-expected quarterly loss Wednesday due to persistent quality control problems with its jets, but shares rallied as it maintained key medium- and long-term targets.

Three-time Oscar winner Meryl Streep on Wednesday won Spain's top arts prize, the Princess of Asturias award, for her "unforgettable performances" in a career spanning over five decades.

World number one Iga Swiatek called for prize money equality between WTA and ATP events, saying Wednesday that women's tennis is now more consistent than men's.

The number of victims linked to a suspected starvation cult in Kenya climbed to 95 on Wednesday, a government official said, with weeping relatives anxiously awaiting news of loved ones after investigators unearthed mass graves last week.

The German government Wednesday lifted its growth forecast for this year as rebounding industrial production and slowing inflation helped Europe's top economy weather an energy crisis.

Ryan Mason said he had no doubt over his ability to take charge of Tottenham Hotspur as he promised a positive reaction to their embarrassing defeat by Newcastle.

Wall Street stocks bounced higher Wednesday thanks to blockbuster tech earnings, while fears of global recession this year weighed on other markets.

Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky by phone on Wednesday, Beijing and Kyiv said, the first call between the two leaders since the start of Russia's invasion.

A powerful Iranian cleric, a member of the Assembly of Experts that selects the country's supreme leader, has been killed in an armed attack, officials said Wednesday.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has called for the resignation of his entire cabinet as the government struggles to get legislation approved by Congress, two ministers told AFP on Wednesday.

Outside a morgue, Bethy Kahindi wailed for her missing sister, certain she was the victim of a Kenyan cult believed to have brainwashed dozens of followers into starving to death.

Britain on Wednesday blocked Microsoft's $69-billion takeover of US video game giant Activision Blizzard, arguing it would harm competition in cloud gaming.

Emma Raducanu is set to drop out of the top 100 less than two years since her shock win in the US Open after pulling out of the Madrid Open on Wednesday with a hand injury hours before her first match.

The Kremlin warned on Wednesday that Russia could widen the list of foreign companies subject to temporary asset seizures in case of the "expropriation" of Russian assets abroad.

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag expects to face a "mad" Tottenham on Thursday following Spurs' humiliating 6-1 defeat by Newcastle but has insisted no opponent can be "hungrier" than we are.

An average $55 million has been siphoned off every month from South Africa's energy firm Eskom which is battling to supply power, a former CEO told lawmakers on Wednesday.

Jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny said Wednesday he could face life in prison on "terrorism" charges while another popular opposition politician went on trial in Russia's escalating clampdown on dissent.

As the top global currency, the US dollar has enjoyed decades as the cash of choice for investors -- but it is now facing a growing challenge to that status.

The EU on Wednesday unveiled a long-awaited proposed reform of legislation governing pharmaceutical drugs to make them cheaper, prevent shortages and boost new antibiotic production.