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Key mediator Qatar said negotiations for a Gaza truce and hostage release deal were in their "final stages" on Tuesday, adding that it was hopeful an agreement could be reached "very soon".

Barcelona president Joan Laporta defended his handling of the Dani Olmo registration issue and lashed out at enemies attacking the club in a fiery speech on Tuesday.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has flagged the "terrible consequences" of online abuse after Kai Havertz and his wife were targeted on social media following Sunday's FA Cup loss to Manchester United.

French-Iranian author and illustrator Marjane Satrapi, best known for the book and film "Persopolis", has refused the French legion d'honneur over the country's "hypocrisy" in its dealings with Iran.

Local hope Alex de Minaur said he has never felt better after getting his Australian Open off to a flying start Tuesday in the pursuit of a near-five-decade first.

Jonas Vingegaard will eye a third Tour de France title and also race the Vuelta a Espana this year, he announced Tuesday as his Visma team prepare for the new season.

Britain's finance minister Rachel Reeves is expected to address parliament Tuesday to try and regain the confidence of markets in the face of rising pressure over the country's struggling economy.

Mikel Arteta said Tuesday that Arsenal are "actively looking" to improve their squad, revealing the club are "very worried" about an injury to Gabriel Jesus, who has reportedly ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament.

A "final round" of Gaza truce talks was due to start Tuesday in Qatar, said a source briefed on the negotiations aimed at ending the Israel-Hamas war after more than 15 months.

France's new prime minister Francois Bayrou is set to give his first policy speech to a divided parliament on Tuesday, hoping to avoid a no-confidence vote that could prolong the country's rumbling political crisis.

North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles into the sea on Tuesday, according to Seoul's military, in what experts said could be a message to US President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration.

French mariner Charlie Dalin made up for the bitter disappointment of four years ago to win the round-the-world Vendee Globe race on Tuesday, crossing the finishing line off the coast of Vendee in a record time.

Daniil Medvedev faces a hefty fine after mangling his racquet and a net camera in an epic temper tantrum before battling through a five-set roller coaster to start his Australian Open on Tuesday.

Last year's runner-up Daniil Medvedev destroyed his racquet and avoided a huge shock at the Australian Open on Tuesday to join a rampant Taylor Fritz and veteran Gael Monfils in the second round.

Jasmine Paolini underlined her Australian Open title credentials with an almost flawless march into the second round on Tuesday.

TikTok on Tuesday labeled as "pure fiction" a report that China is exploring a potential sale of the video-sharing platform's US operations to billionaire Elon Musk as the firm faces an American law requiring imminent Chinese divestment.

NATO countries on the Baltic Sea met in Helsinki on Tuesday, looking to boost security following the suspected sabotage of undersea cables, widely blamed on Russia.

A "final round" of Gaza truce talks is due to start Tuesday in Qatar, said a source briefed on the negotiations aimed at ending the Israel-Hamas war after more than 15 months.

French mariner Charlie Dalin won the round-the-world Vendee Globe race on Tuesday, crossing the finishing line off the coast of Brittany in a record time.

A "crazy happy" Gael Monfils said age was just a number Tuesday after the 38-year-old Frenchman toppled young countryman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in a five-set thriller at the Australian Open.

Last year's runner-up Daniil Medvedev smashed his racquet and avoided a huge shock at the Australian Open on Tuesday before joining a rampant Taylor Fritz and veteran Gael Monfils in the second round.

Kyoto authorities announced Tuesday plans to hike lodging taxes, as Japan's ancient capital seeks to assuage grumbles from locals about too many tourists.

The Los Angeles Rams reached the second round of the NFL playoffs on Monday as the Lakers and Clippers returned to NBA action in the fire-ravaged city, all paying tribute to first responders and offering solace to fans.

US President-elect Donald Trump would have been convicted for his alleged effort to overturn the 2020 election result if he hadn't been elected four years later, said a report by then special counsel Jack Smith released early Tuesday.

A volatile Daniil Medvedev mangled his racquet in an epic temper tantrum Tuesday before battling through a five-set roller coaster to stay alive at the Australian Open.

Donald Trump's cabinet nominees go under the microscope in a frenzied week on Capitol Hill starting Tuesday, as US senators hold confirmation hearings that could make or break their political careers.

Millions of Hindu pilgrims are gathering in India to bathe in sacred waters for the six-week-long Kumbh Mela festival -- from the very old to babies, cave-dwelling monks to science teachers.

Authorities in Kyoto announced Tuesday plans for a big hike in hotel lodging taxes, as Japan's picture-perfect ancient capital seeks to assuage grumbles from locals about too many tourists.

Dubbed a "motorway for cyclists" where avid amateurs can chase Tadej Pogacar up mountains teeming with the highest concentration of professional cyclists per square mile in the world, Spain's Costa Blanca has forged a new reputation for itself in recent years.

French veteran Gael Monfils battled through a five-set thriller to topple young countryman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard at the Australian Open on Tuesday as he enjoys a late-career resurgence.

A Thai man serving a record sentence for insulting the monarchy has been hit with three more charges, a rights group told AFP on Tuesday.

The Lakers and Clippers returned to NBA action on Monday with a strong nod to the first responders battling the Los Angeles wildfires and hoping to bring "some joy" to their ravaged city.