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

Sri Lanka fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana was Friday backed by coach Chris Silverwood to be the "X Factor" at the World Cup.

Japan coach Jamie Joseph said three years of preparation had gone into his team's World Cup Pool D decider against Argentina in Nantes on Sunday.

Australian rugby needs a high performance director, according to head coach Eddie Jones, but the 63-year-old on Friday ruled himself out as a potential solution to the problem.

Turkey resumed strikes against Kurdish-held northeast Syria on Friday, targeting energy infrastructure as the death toll climbed to 15 over two days, officials in the Kurds' semi-autonomous administration said.

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has called for the VAR system to be simplified, saying he "trusts the car but the driver is the problem" following the costly Liverpool goal blunder.

Runaway series leader Max Verstappen topped the times for Red Bull in Friday's opening and sole practice session at this weekend's Qatar Grand Prix, endorsing the probability that he will clinch his third consecutive title.

Mikel Arteta said title-chasing Arsenal can take confidence from their Community Shield win over Manchester City as the Gunners face the Premier League champions on Sunday.

Shanghai Masters third seed Holger Rune crashed out of the tournament in straight sets on Friday, the highest-profile of several top-20 players to be knocked out that day.

Galina Yudina, from the tiny Ukrainian village of Groza, is still reeling from the shock of Russia's missile strike that killed more than 50 people just a few dozen metres from her.

Poland and the Netherlands traded barbs and accusations Friday after Dutch police arrested two footballers from Polish club Legia Warsaw amid violent scenes during their Europa Conference League clash against AZ Alkmaar.

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou agreed Liverpool were denied a "legitimate goal" by the farcical VAR blunder that sparked calls from the Anfield club for the game to be replayed.

Reigning Giro d'Italia champion Primoz Roglic confirmed on Friday he will ride for German team Bora-Hansgrohe next season.

Denounced by a famous rival and hounded by the Nazis before being almost forgotten, Max Oppenheimer, a pioneer of expressionism and the avant garde, gets a major retrospective at Vienna's Leopold Museum from Friday.

Azerbaijan's offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh last month has upended the life of Larisa who like thousands of other children is facing up to exile and the trauma of war.

The Philippines won their first Asian Games basketball gold since 1962 while Japan defied the Hangzhou crowd to thrash North Korea 4-1 and retain their women's football crown on Friday.

Wall Street cooled Friday on hot US employment data for September amid fears the bullish jobs market showing may keep interest rates higher for longer.

Turkey's opposition chief paid his first visit Friday to a civil society leader who was jailed for life after coming under repeated attack from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

New Zealand are still "hurting" over their home Test series loss to world number one Ireland last year and are itching for revenge, All Blacks fullback Beauden Barrett said on Friday.

Erik ten Hag has no doubt that Marcus Rashford will "catch fire" soon after the Manchester United forward's disappointing start to the season.

The Philippines won their first men's Asian Games basketball gold since 1962 on Friday in a 70-60 victory over Jordan with American-born Justin Brownlee pouring in 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

Defending champions Japan beat North Korea 4-1 to win Asian Games women's football gold on Friday with the Chinese crowd in Hangzhou cheering loudly in support of their opponents.

Ireland's record run of 16 Test victories has not made them feel "invincible" and they do not believe win number 17 is a foregone conclusion against Scotland in the crucial World Cup pool match on Saturday, said livewire wing James Lowe.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka slumped out of the China Open in the women's quarter-finals with a 7-5, 6-2 defeat to Elena Rybakina on Friday in Beijing.

Pep Guardiola says Arsenal "are back" as long-term Premier League title rivals ahead of Manchester City's heavyweight clash at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Juventus and France midfielder Paul Pogba's 'B' sample has confirmed the presence of testosterone, a source close to the case told AFP on Friday.

China's Liu Huanhua produced an incredible lifetime best lift of 233kg to snatch Asian Games weightlifting gold from Olympic and world champion Akbar Djuraev in the men's 109kg class on Friday.

US employers picked up their hiring pace unexpectedly in September while unemployment held steady, government data showed on Friday, adding pressure on policymakers seeking to cool the economy.

Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel on Friday hit out at the German FA (DFB) over the national team's upcoming tour of the United States in the middle of the season.

RB Leipzig captain Willi Orban captain has extended his contract until 2027, the Bundesliga club announced on Friday.

England scrum coach Tom Harrison said on Friday his side need to "front-up" against Samoa in the Rugby World Cup this weekend.

Juventus and France midfielder Paul Pogba's 'B' sample has confirmed the presence of testosterone, a source close to the case told AFP on Friday.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti criticised elements of the Spanish media on Friday for attacking Vinicius Junior even though he was the "victim of racial abuse".