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

A US court on Friday began hearing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook's challenge of President Donald Trump's attempt to fire her, in a legal battle set to have major implications for the US central bank and its independence.

Elena Rybakina said her reunion with controversial coach Stefano Vukov has boosted her US Open campaign after she demolished Britain's Emma Raducanu to reach the fourth round on Friday.

European powers said Friday they were ready to drop a new sanctions push on Iran if it addresses concerns on its nuclear program over the next month, but Tehran denounced the offer as insincere.

Crystal Palace have signed Spain winger Yeremy Pino from Villarreal, the English FA Cup-holders announced Friday.

Carlos Alcaraz surged into the fourth round of the US Open on Friday as Novak Djokovic and defending women's champion Aryna Sabalenka aimed to keep their title bids on track.

Carlos Alcaraz coasted into the last 16 of the US Open on Friday with a straight-sets win despite sparking fitness concerns as he received treatment for a knee issue.

A US court on Friday began hearing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook's challenge of President Donald Trump's attempt to fire her, in a legal battle set to have major implications for the US central bank and its independence.

Philadelphia's Kyle Schwarber blasted a record-tying four home runs in a single Major League Baseball game, but regretted missing out on a rare chance to smash a fifth homer.

Sandro Tonali is fit to play in Italy's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Estonia and Israel after recovering from a shoulder injury in time to be picked in Gennaro Gattuso's first Azzurri squad on Friday.

Tottenham Hotspur on Friday signed Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig in a boost for new manager Thomas Frank.

Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina demolished Britain's Emma Raducanu to reach the fourth round of the US Open for the first time on Friday.

US banana giant Chiquita Brands will resume operations in Panama and rehire thousands of workers fired after a crippling strike, the government of the Central American country said Friday.

Rangers' under-fire boss Russell Martin insists he retains the support of his club's owners ahead of Sunday's crucial clash with Old Firm rivals Celtic.

The leaders of France and Germany on Friday vowed to step up pressure on Russia over its war against Ukraine, warning that President Vladimir Putin was showing little appetite to end Moscow's three-and-a-half year onslaught against its neighbour.

Stock markets fell Friday, Wall Street indexes retreating from record highs as a key US inflation reading accelerated, lowering the possibility of sustained interest-rate cuts in the coming months.

Perched on her neighbour's rooftop, Ghulam Bano gazes down at the remains of her home, submerged in murky, foul-smelling floodwater that has engulfed much of Pakistan's Punjab region.

The United States said Friday it will deny visas to members of the Palestinian Authority to attend next month's UN General Assembly, where France is leading a push to recognize a Palestinian state.

Spaniard Juan Ayuso powered to stage seven Vuelta a Espana victory on Friday, securing a third straight victory for Team UAE.

Pep Guardiola has still to determine the identity of his first-choice goalkeeper, with the Manchester City manager uncertain who will be between the posts when his side face Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday.

Turkey's top diplomat said Friday that Ankara had closed its ports and airspace to Israeli ships and planes, with a diplomatic source telling AFP the ban applied to "official" flights.

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo plans peace talks with the club's owner Evangelos Marinakis during the international break in a bid to heal the rift from their transfer row.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will have "played" his US counterpart Donald Trump if the Kremlin chief fails to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday.

McLaren's Lando Norris laid down the gauntlet at the Dutch Grand Prix Friday, topping both practice sessions in challenging stop-start conditions that saw a series of driver errors and disruptions.

When Cass Bargell had her large intestine removed four years ago, her surgeon was adamant she would play rugby again, even with an ostomy bag.

Jamie Vardy is in talks for a potential move to Serie A team Cremonese, a source at the promoted club confirmed to AFP on Friday.

US President Donald Trump has canceled former vice president Kamala Harris's Secret Service protection, officials said Friday, in the Republican's most high-profile move of its kind against his political rivals.

Mikel Arteta said Bukayo Saka's recurring hamstring injuries are a "big concern" after the Arsenal winger was ruled out for at least two weeks.

More than a quarter of a million people are registered as missing by the Red Cross, a figure up nearly 70 percent over five years, the organisation said Friday.

Stock markets fell on Friday, with US indexes retreating from record highs as a key US inflation reading accelerated, lowering the possibility of sustained interest rate cuts in the coming months.

England boss Thomas Tuchel has apologised to Jude Bellingham after describing the Real Madrid star's on-pitch behaviour as "repulsive".

Alejandro Garnacho has arrived at Chelsea's training ground in advance of his reported £40 million ($54 million) move from Manchester United, Blues boss Enzo Maresca said Friday.

At least 841 people have been executed in Iran since the start of the year, the UN said Friday, decrying "a systematic pattern of using the death penalty as a tool of state intimidation".

Protests erupted across several Indonesian cities on Friday in anger at the death of a motorcycle taxi driver hit by a police vehicle, as officers responded with tear gas and the president called for calm.

Ruben Amorim admitted he has thought about quitting Manchester United as the under-fire boss revealed he sometimes "hates" his players.

A fierce debate has erupted in Germany around a neo-Nazi who is set to begin a jail term in a women's prison on Friday after legally changing gender.

Crystal Palace will face Dynamo Kyiv and Strasbourg in this season's UEFA Conference League as the London club learned their fate Friday for their first ever European campaign.

Japan pledged Friday to invest $68 billion in India during a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Tokyo, as the two countries agreed to deepen security ties.

Nottingham Forest were handed a reunion with Swedish side Malmo on their long-awaited return to continental competition as Friday's draw for this season's Europa League threw up a repeat of the sides' clash in the 1979 European Cup final.

Wayne Rooney believes Ruben Amorim's remarks following Manchester United's shock League Cup loss at Grimsby prove "something is broken" at the club.