Hewitt's son Cruz out of Australian Open qualifying at first hurdle

Melbourne (AFP) – The teenage son of former world number one Lleyton Hewitt failed to make it through Australian Open qualifying on Tuesday with Bernard Tomic and French veteran Richard Gasquet among other early casualties.

Cruz Hewitt (2nd R), son of former world number one Lleyton Hewitt (L), failed to get through Australian Open qualifying

Quake in China's Tibet kills 95 with tremors felt in Nepal, India

Beijing (AFP) – A devastating earthquake in China’s remote Tibet region killed at least 95 people and collapsed “many buildings” on Tuesday, state media reported, with tremors also felt in neighbouring Nepal’s capital Kathmandu and parts of India.

China Tibet earthquake

Sabalenka eyes Australian Open hat

Melbourne (AFP) – World number one Aryna Sabalenka is gunning for a third consecutive Australian Open crown but will face a stiff challenge from Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and last year’s runner-up Zheng Qinwen.

Hat-trick bid: Aryna Sabalenka is aiming to lift the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup awarded to the winner of the Australian Open for the third year running, after triumphs in 2024 (left) and 2023

Asian markets mostly up after tech

Hong Kong (AFP) – Most markets rose in Asia on Tuesday following another rally on Wall Street sparked by tech giants as traders try to assess Donald Trump’s tariff plans following a report he may take a more targeted approach.

Shares in Tencent sank more than seven percent in Hong Kong after it was added to a US list of 'Chinese military companies'

Blinken says US

Tokyo (AFP) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken insisted during a visit to Tokyo on Tuesday that ties with Japan were stronger than ever, days after President Joe Biden blocked Nippon Steel’s takeover of US Steel.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba alongside US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel at Ishiba's official residence in Tokyo

Ex

Sydney (AFP) – Former England captain Michael Vaughan threw his support on Tuesday behind a two-tier structure “to save” Test cricket with the ICC reportedly meeting this month to discuss the issue.

Fans turned out en masse for the Australia-India series

S. Korea investigators seek new warrant to arrest President Yoon

Seoul (AFP) – South Korean anti-graft investigators were holding on Tuesday for a new court-ordered arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose failed martial law bid threw the country into turmoil.

The residence (top) of South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol is seen in Seoul before an arrest warrant deadline passed

North Korea's Kim says new hypersonic missile will deter 'rivals'

Seoul (AFP) – North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un said it tested a new hypersonic missile this week aimed at deterring the country’s Pacific rivals, state media reported Tuesday, as Washington’s top diplomat visited the region.

This picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency shows the launch of a hypersonic missile at an undisclosed location