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

Children up to the age of 18 at schools in England will not be taught gender identity under government proposals published Thursday, amid growing concern in the UK and elsewhere about transgender issues.

Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner has signed a lease for a building project at the site of the former Yugoslav army headquarters in Belgrade that was bombed in US-led NATO strikes in 1999.

Authorities charged an alleged gunman Thursday with the attempted murder of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, saying the shooting was sparked by the election win last month of a Fico ally.

France on Thursday announced it would send additional security forces to New Caledonia after imposing a state of emergency, following three nights of clashes in its Pacific territory that have left five dead and hundreds wounded.

Rory McIlroy faced an epic morning test of emotional resilience as Thursday's first round of the PGA Championship began at Valhalla, where his most recent major win came 10 years ago.

Cole Palmer says Chelsea players "love" under-pressure manager Mauricio Pochettino and must fight for him as they target a European spot after an inconsistent season.

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann ignored the late claims of Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels and Julian Brandt when he named a largely unchanged squad for the 2024 Euros on Thursday.

Sevilla captain and record appearance-maker Jesus Navas will leave at the end of the season, the La Liga club said Thursday.

France accused Azerbaijan on Thursday of "interference" in the politics of its Pacific territory of New Caledonia, which has seen deadly riots in recent days.

Europe's major stock markets staged a modest pullback Thursday as investors cashed in profits from record-breaking rallies, shrugging off strong Asian gains and all-time Wall Street peaks that followed news of easing US inflation.

Toulouse centre Santiago Chocobares has been suspended for three weeks for a dangerous tackle in the Champions Cup semi-final against Harlequins but the Argentina international may still be free to play in the final on May 25, the EPCR said in a statement on Friday.

Far-right leader Geert Wilders told AFP Thursday it could take "years" for the Netherlands' new government to fulfil its pledge to opt-out of the EU asylum system, but vowed the nation would enforce its strictest asylum policy ever.

Andy Murray made a victorious comeback from a serious ankle injury at the ATP Challenger event in Bordeaux.

Chinese internet giant Baidu announced Thursday its slowest quarterly revenue growth in over a year, as competition between top players in the country's cutting-edge tech sector intensifies.

The EU on Thursday opened a formal investigation into Facebook and Instagram on suspicion the platforms owned by Meta are causing addictive behaviour in children.

Inter Milan will officially crown themselves champions of Italy on Sunday evening when they face Lazio before being awarded the Serie A trophy in front of an adoring San Siro crowd.

Beijingers praised Vladimir Putin's "charisma" on Thursday and expressed hopes that China would deepen ties with Moscow as the Russian leader paid a two-day visit.

The Ukrainian army said on Thursday it had partially halted a Russian advance in the northeast, where Moscow has secured its largest territorial gains in 18 months over the last week.

Asia's governing body for football voted Thursday to scrap term limits for its president and top leaders, allowing them to rule indefinitely -- scrapping reforms brought in after the scandals that rocked FIFA a decade ago.

Israel said Thursday that five of its troops were killed by friendly fire in a Gaza battle, as a rift emerged inside the war cabinet on how the Palestinian territory should be ruled in future.

US troops early Thursday anchored a long-awaited temporary pier, meant to boost aid deliveries into war-ravaged Gaza, to a beach in the besieged Palestinian territory, the US military said.

Preparing for a state banquet reflecting the self-ruled island's unique history, Taiwanese chef Wes Kuo places delicate vegetable fronds around sauces inspired by the cuisines of its five major ethnic groups.

Easyjet said Thursday that chief executive Johan Lundgren would step down at the start of 2025 after seven years piloting the no-frills airline, notably through Covid turbulence.

The newly agreed Dutch coalition government on Thursday proposed what it called the "strictest ever" asylum policy, including an opt-out from European Union rules, and vowed to examine moving its Israel embassy to Jerusalem.

German industrial giant Siemens said Thursday it will sell its electrical motors business Innomotics to private US equity firm KPS Capital Partners for 3.5 billion euros ($3.8 billion).

Son of a coal miner, Taiwan's Lai Ching-te takes the helm Monday as president of the self-ruled island, tasked with navigating the widening rift with an increasingly assertive China.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's condition has stabilised but was still "very serious", his deputy said Thursday, a day after Fico was shot multiple times in an attack the government in Bratislava decried as "political assault".

France deployed troops to New Caledonia's ports and international airport, banned TikTok and imposed a state of emergency on Thursday after three nights of clashes that have left four dead and hundreds wounded.

Wellington Hurricanes captain Brad Shields is backing teammate TJ Perenara to regain his All Blacks place after coming back this season from a ruptured Achilles.

India captain Sunil Chhetri said Thursday he will retire from international football aged 39, ending a record-breaking career for his country spanning two decades.

Episode 23 of a great African club rivalry unfolds in Tunisia on Saturday when Esperance host Egyptian visitors Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League final first leg.

It's crunch time for Donald Trump's defense team as they take another stab Thursday at Michael Cohen, the key witness in the criminal trial in which the former president is accused of fraudulently covering up his affair with a porn star to influence his first presidential bid.