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

Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner will set up a blockbuster Wimbledon semi-final showdown if the title rivals win their last-eight matches on Tuesday.

The United States famously is less passionate about soccer than most countries, but with President Donald Trump in charge, the world's game has turned into another diplomatic battleground.

The US capital Washington saw its worst air quality of the year over the July 4th weekend, as smoke from a massive fireworks display sent pollution soaring to levels considered very unhealthy for the entire public, data showed Monday.

England ignited their World Cup campaign with a breathless, unforgettable victory in Mexico City -- a result hailed as their greatest win on foreign soil.

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Damascus on Monday for the first visit by a Western European head of state since Syria's new authorities took power in 2024.

Tadej Pogacar said that he was just living in the moment as he wracked up his 22nd Tour de France stage victory on Monday, and reclaimed the coveted yellow jersey.

American streaming platforms Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon's Prime Video said Monday they had filed legal appeals challenging new rules requiring them to allocate 20 percent of their investments in France to animation, documentaries and live performances.

Gianni Infantino insisted on Monday that FIFA's disciplinary process was independent after widespread criticism of the bombshell decision to reprieve US World Cup star Folarin Balogun after an intervention from Donald Trump.

The EU on Monday ruled that a French draft law to ban social media for under-15s would infringe the bloc's rules if approved in its current form.

Japanese forward Rui Hachimura has agreed to a two-year NBA free agency deal worth $28 million with the Los Angeles Clippers, according to multiple reports on Monday.

A gang of masked thieves who raided a museum run by luxury brand Lalique in eastern France at the weekend made off with 27 pieces of jewellery worth an estimated 4.5 million euros ($5.1 million), prosecutors said Monday.

Fresh from winning arguably the biggest job in fashion this year -- designing Taylor Swift's wedding dress -- Dior's artistic director Jonathan Anderson returned to the Paris catwalk Monday at the start of Haute Couture Week.

The German cabinet Monday approved a budget for next year that sets out vast new outlays for defence but drew criticism for cutting spending on climate action and aid.

The Belgian Football Federation (RBFA) said on Monday it had challenged the decision to allow American striker Folarin Balogun to play in the World Cup last-16 match between Belgium and the United States.

Russia fired missiles and drones into apartment buildings in Kyiv for the second time in a week Monday, killing at least 22 people on the eve of a crucial NATO summit, Ukrainian authorities said.

Microsoft said Monday it was eliminating about 4,800 jobs -- roughly two percent of its global workforce -- in a cost-cutting move that will deliver a sweeping restructuring of its struggling Xbox gaming division.

Reigning champion Tadej Pogacar won the third stage of the Tour de France on Monday to snatch the "special" leader's yellow jersey from rival Jonas Vingegaard.

The United Nations chief called Monday for a global governance system to shape artificial intelligence for the good of humanity, warning against allowing the technology to "vibe-code" our future itself.

Jasmine Paolini ended Alexandra Eala's Wimbledon run in the last 16 on Monday, ahead of wildcard Grigor Dimitrov's clash with Arthur Fery, the final British hope still standing.

Reigning champion Tadej Pogacar won the third stage of the Tour de France on Monday to snatch the leader's yellow jersey from rival Jonas Vingegaard.

A Syrian ex-general and a former police officer were handed eight-year jail sentences by a Viennese court on Monday for torturing opponents of ousted leader Bashar al-Assad.

President Donald Trump confirmed Monday he asked FIFA boss Gianni Infantino to review the "horrible" decision to hand a red card to star US striker Folarin Balogun, but said he did not request it be overturned.

Jasmine Paolini reached her first Grand Slam quarter-final for two years, edging out rising Filipina star Alexandra Eala in a tense last 16 match at Wimbledon on Monday.

The decision to defer US star Folarin Balogun's one match World Cup suspension following President Donald Trump's phone call to FIFA chief Gianni Infantino has sparked comment from far and wide.

Italy's Flavio Cobolli reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals for a second successive year, defeating Australian fifth seed Alex De Minaur 7-5, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 on Monday.

US actor, director and producer George Clooney will receive a lifetime achievement award at this year's Venice film festival, organisers said on Monday.

British politician Nigel Farage is facing mounting pressure over alleged undeclared financial support, an uncomfortable moment for his anti-immigration Reform UK party whose soaring rise appears to have stalled.

Not for the first time a Formula One race director decided, controversially it seemed, to end a Grand Prix with a slow procession rather than a thrilling high-speed contest.

Microsoft said Monday it was eliminating about 4,800 jobs -- roughly two percent of its global workforce -- in a cost-cutting move that will deliver a sweeping restructuring of its struggling Xbox gaming division.

Major stock markets struggled for momentum Monday as a recovery for technology share prices petered out and quarterly earnings season kicks into gear.

Belgium's Elise Mertens reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the first time with a 6-4, 6-4 win against Czech 21st seed Marie Bouzkova on Monday.

Britain on Monday unveiled sanctions against seven Russian scientists and two research labs said to have helped develop chemical weapons used in two attacks.

Rennes have signed Spain under-21 striker Eliezer Mayenda from Sunderland of the Premier League.

US President Donald Trump's phone call to FIFA chief Gianni Infantino to have the red card for the co-hosts star striker Folarin Balogun reviewed is the latest instance of political interference in the World Cup.

Russia fired missiles and drones into apartment buildings in Kyiv for the second time in a week on Monday, killing at least 18 people on the eve of a crucial NATO summit, authorities said.

France's record try scorer Damian Penaud will miss the rest of the summer leg of the Nations Championship with a calf injury, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) announced on Monday.

Streaming platforms Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon's Prime Video said Monday they have filed appeals with French authorities to challenge new rules requiring them to allocate 20 percent of audiovisual content investment to animation, documentaries and live performances.

Prince Harry was set to arrive in Britain on Monday for a five-day visit expected to go ahead mostly without his wife and children after they were reportedly refused police protection.

Wildfires across southern Europe forced thousands of people to flee their homes and prompted authorities to ban spectators from Monday's Tour de France stage that was threatened by one inferno.