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

Israeli forces struck the Gaza Strip on Friday, as the UN's top court was due to rule on a plea to halt the military offensive over accusations of "genocide".

Markets fell in Asia and Europe on Friday, tracking a sell-off on Wall Street sparked by a string of better-than-expected US data that added to worries the Federal Reserve will hold off on cutting interest rates this year.

It is one of the most dramatic storylines ever delivered at Cannes: Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof walks the red carpet Friday after fleeing a prison sentence just days before the film festival.

A massive landslide struck six villages in Papua New Guinea's highlands Friday, local officials said, with many homes believed to be buried and scores of villagers feared dead.

The El Nino weather pattern did not have "any influence" on widespread flooding that killed hundreds in East Africa this year, an expert group of scientists said Friday.

The black mushroom cloud had barely faded in Ghazni province before kids clustered around the edge of the crater created by the mine, one of the devices that kills a child every other day in Afghanistan.

Chinese warships and fighter jets surrounded Taiwan on Friday in the second day of drills that Beijing said were testing its ability to seize the self-ruled island, days after its new president was sworn in.

Home to some of the world's densest living districts and tallest skyscrapers, Hong Kong has for decades mesmerised locals and visitors alike with its famed skyline.

The top United Nations court on Friday will rule on a plea by South Africa to order a halt to the Israeli military offensive in Gaza, with Pretoria accusing Israel of "genocide".

Kylian Mbappe will bring the curtain down on his Paris Saint-Germain career on Saturday and has the chance to sign off with another trophy in the French Cup final against Lyon.

A fire ripped through an apartment complex in central Hanoi early Friday, killing 14 people and injuring three others, police said.

Ross Byrne faces "a pivotal moment" in his career when the Leinster fly-half faces Toulouse on Saturday in the Champions Cup final and can at last emerge from the shadow of Johnny Sexton, Ireland rugby great Hugo MacNeill told AFP.

Bayer Leverkusen face second-division Kaiserslautern in Saturday's German Cup final licking their wounds after a first loss in almost a year.

The Boston Celtics, fueled by 40 points from Jaylen Brown, beat Indiana 126-110 to take a 2-0 lead in the NBA Eastern Conference finals against the Pacers, who saw Tyrese Haliburton limp out early.

Markets fell in Asia on Friday, tracking a sell-off on Wall Street sparked by a string of better-than-expected US data that added to worries the Federal Reserve will hold off on cutting interest rates this year.

La Liga's final weekend offers few potential twists with Real Madrid crowned champions, the European qualifiers and relegation battle already over.

European club rugby's two most successful teams will meet in the Champions Cup final for the first time when Toulouse take on Leinster in London on Saturday.

A fire that ripped through a small apartment block in central Hanoi early Friday has killed at least 14 people and injured three others, state media said.

The world cannot look to UN peacekeepers as a way of stopping wars, whether in Gaza or other active conflict zones, the department chief told AFP, citing the famous Blue Helmets' inherent limitations.

Ukrainian opera singer Yurii Ivaskevych traded his tuxedo for military fatigues to fight the Russian invasion. When he lost his leg in a mine explosion last year, music called him again.

Maria Paez feels relieved after receiving a package of food items including eggs, ham, and yogurt from her children in Miami -- bought online and shipped to Havana.

In the rural Mexican town where opposition presidential candidate Xochitl Galvez grew up, the smiling face of her ruling party rival looks out from posters plastered around the streets.

It was 6:00 in the morning when Brazilian farmer Vernei Kunz heard the roar of water as the Forqueta river overflowed its banks and swept away most of his 5,000 pigs.

Olympic gold medallist Chelsea Hodges retired from swimming Friday aged 22 and just two months before the Paris Games, saying too many surgeries had left her with "the hips of a 60-year-old".

Record eight-time winners Lyon face holders Barcelona in a tantalising Champions League final on Saturday in Bilbao, pitting the established elite against the new women's football powerhouse.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag hopes to bolster his chances of avoiding the sack by ruining Manchester City's history bid in the FA Cup final on Saturday.

Beijing on Friday said ongoing drills encircling Taiwan were testing the military's ability to seize power over the self-ruled island, days after a new president was sworn in.

Veteran Wallabies prop Sekope Kepu announced Friday he will retire from professional rugby at the end of the current Super Rugby season, ending a glittering 19-year career.

The pace of Japanese inflation slowed in April to 2.2 percent as gas bills fell, government data showed Friday, with the figure remaining above the Bank of Japan's two percent target.

The United States was imposing new visa restrictions and reviewing relations with Georgia, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday, after it pushed forward a Russian-style "foreign influence" law that triggered mass protests.

Charley Hoffman fired five birdies in a five-under par 65 to break free atop a crowded leaderboard at the US PGA Tour Charles Schwab Challenge, where world number one Scottie Scheffler struggled.

Countries trying to thrash out a global agreement on handling future pandemics are hoping to seal the deal Friday after weeks of creeping progress in exhausting talks.