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

Ange Postecoglou told Tottenham fans to dream after his side moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League for the first time.

Lauren Hemp's first-half strike was enough for England to beat Belgium 1-0 on Friday and boost their Nations League hopes and chances of qualifying for next year's Olympic Games.

The UN General Assembly on Friday called by a large majority for an "immediate humanitarian truce" in Gaza, on the 21st day of the Israel-Hamas conflict as the Israeli army announced it was extending its ground operation into the shattered territory.

Global stocks were mixed Friday following uneven earnings as worries over the Middle Eastern conflict lifted oil prices.

Nice moved back to the top of Ligue 1 in France on Friday after Hicham Boudaoui's second-half goal secured a 1-0 win away at struggling Clermont.

Girona threw down the gauntlet to Spain's big two who meet in the Clasico on Saturday with a 1-0 win over Celta Vigo on Friday to move top of La Liga.

The armed wing of Hamas said late Friday its fighters were battling Israeli forces inside Gaza, after Israel said it would expand its ground operations against the Palestinian militant group in the territory.

Captain Owen Farrell kicked 16 points for England as clung on to beat Argentina 26-23 on Friday to claim third place in the Rugby World Cup.

Tottenham moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League as a 2-1 win at Crystal Palace on Friday continued a remarkable start under Ange Postecoglou.

Hurricane Otis caused at least 27 deaths and major damage as it battered Mexico's beachside city of Acapulco as a scale-topping category 5 storm, according to officials.

The LPGA Tour will stage a new $3.5 million event starting next year at TPC Boston, with the FM Global Championship offering the largest women's purse outside majors and Tour Championship.

President Joe Biden met China's foreign minister at the White House Friday to prepare for a possible US visit by Chinese leader Xi Jinping as the two countries try to ease tensions.

The United States said Friday it sought to degrade ammunition supplies of Iranian-linked militias with strikes in Syria but insisted it did not want to widen the Middle East conflict.

Hamas said on Friday it was "ready" for an invasion of Gaza as Israel said it was "extending" its ground operation after air strikes cut communications across the shattered Palestinian territory.

South African skipper Temba Bavuma admitted his team was lucky after pulling off a one wicket win over Pakistan in a sensational finish to their World Cup match in Chennai on Friday.

Finnish-Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard, on trial in Toronto for alleged serial rapes, categorically denied any sexual misconduct as he wrapped up several days of defense testimony on Friday.

Airlines began to evacuate tourists from Mexico's beachside city of Acapulco on Friday after a scale-topping Category 5 hurricane left a trail of destruction and at least 27 people dead, authorities said.

Pakistan team director Mickey Arthur warned against a "witch-hunt" after their World Cup dream suffered a likely fatal blow on Friday.

Spain star Jenni Hermoso scored on Friday on her return to action for her country after disgraced former Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales forcibly kissed her during the Women's World Cup medal ceremony.

US President Joe Biden met China's foreign minister for talks on Friday as the two countries seek to smooth ties ahead of a possible visit by Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

A US court sentenced a retired Colombian military officer to life in prison for his role in the assassination of Haiti's president in 2021.

Iran's foreign minister warned Friday that Lebanese and Palestinian militants had their "finger on the trigger" in anticipation of an Israeli ground offensive in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

Israel pounded northern Gaza and said it was "extending" its ground operation late Friday amid UN warnings of an "avalanche of human suffering" in the battered Palestinian territory.

Spain star Jenni Hermoso scored on Friday on her return to action for her country after disgraced former Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales forcibly kissed her during the Women's World Cup medal ceremony.

South Africa survived a late charge from Pakistan to pull off a thrilling one-wicket win and move closer to the semi-finals of the World Cup on Friday.

Israeli forces pounded the northern Gaza Strip on Friday as UN chief Antonio Guterres warned of an "avalanche of human suffering" in the battered Palestinian territory.

When Tyson Fury, arguably one of the all-time great heavyweight boxers, takes on MMA fighter Francis Ngannou in Riyadh on Saturday, the question is not just how serious a contest it will be, but rather how seriously Fury takes it.

Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, took the stand at his trial on Friday and said that while he may have made mistakes he did not commit fraud or steal from customers.

Mikel Arteta called on the Premier League to consider increasing squad sizes as the Arsenal boss revealed on Friday that Gabriel Jesus and Thomas Partey could be out of action for several weeks.

French President Emmanuel Macron called Friday for a "humanitarian truce" in the Hamas-Israel conflict to protect civilians in the Gaza Strip, which is under heavy bombardment, and to expedite the release of hostages.

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has backed calls by a fans' group for the Premier League to change the scheduling of the Blues' trip to Wolves on Christmas Eve.

Austria said Friday it doesn't plan to repeat a controversial summer campaign in which festivalgoers were offered one year's free public transport passes for a tattoo, that had drawn fierce criticism.