- Hong Kong top court affirms housing, inheritance rights for same-sex couples
- Philippines, China clashes trigger money-making disinformation
- Most Asian markets drop, dollar gains as Trump fires tariff warning
- England 'not quivering' ahead of New Zealand Test challenge
- Bethell to bat at three on England Test debut against New Zealand
- Trump vows big tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China
- New Zealand and England to play for Crowe-Thorpe Trophy
- Scheffler, Schauffele and McIlroy up for PGA Player of the Year
- Trump to face less internal pushback in new term: ex-commerce chief
- Extreme weather threatens Canada's hydropower future
- More than 34,000 register as candidates for Mexico judges' election
- Australia ban cycling's Richardson for life after UK defection
- Internal displacement in Africa triples in 15 years: monitor
- 'Remarkable global progress': HIV cases and deaths declining
- Social media firms raise 'serious concerns' over Australian U-16 ban
- Tiger to skip Hero World Challenge after back surgery
- MLB shifts six 2025 Rays games to avoid weather issues
- US women's keeper Naeher retiring after Europe matches
- West Ham stun Newcastle to ease pressure on Lopetegui
- Arteta calls on Arsenal to show 'ruthless' streak on Champions League travels
- Israel bids emotional farewell to rabbi killed in UAE
- Sonar image was rock formation, not Amelia Earhart plane: explorer
- Tottenham goalkeeper Vicario has ankle surgery
- Green light for Cadillac to join Formula One grid in 2026
- Israel to decide on ceasefire as US says deal 'close'
- California vows to step in if Trump kills US EV tax credit
- Special counsel asks judge to dismiss subversion case against Trump
- Ronaldo double takes Al Nassr to brink of Asian Champions League quarters
- Brazil minister says supports meat supplier 'boycott' of Carrefour
- Steelmaker ArcelorMittal to close two plants in France: unions
- Macy's says employee hid up to $154 mn in costs over 3 years
- EU grocery shoppers 'fooled' by 'maze' of food labels: audit
- Awaiting Commerzbank, Italy's UniCredit bids for Italian rival
- Alonso jokes about playing return amid Leverkusen injury woes
- G7 ministers discuss ceasefire efforts in Mideast
- Bayern need to win all remaining Champions League games, says Kane
- Indian cricketer, 13, youngest to be sold in IPL history
- Beating Man City eases pressure for Arsenal game: new Sporting coach
- Argentine court hears bid to end rape case against French rugby players
- Egypt says 17 missing after Red Sea tourist boat capsizes
- Dortmund boss calls for member vote on club's arms sponsorship deal
- Chanel family matriarch dies aged 99: company
- US boss Hayes says Chelsea stress made her 'unwell'
- China's Ding beats 'nervous' Gukesh in world chess opener
- Man City can still do 'very good things' despite slump, says Guardiola
- 'After Mazan': France unveils new measures to combat violence against women
- Scholz named party's top candidate for German elections
- Flick says Barca must eliminate mistakes after stumble
- British business group hits out at Labour's tax hikes
- German Social Democrats name Scholz as top candidate for snap polls
Son hits 50th South Korea goal in win, Australia-Saudi stalemate
Son Heung-min scored a landmark 50th goal for his country to put South Korea a step closer to the World Cup on Thursday as Australia and Saudi Arabia cancelled each other out.
Spurs and South Korean skipper Son missed last month's qualifiers with injury but celebrated his return with a first-half penalty in a 3-1 win at Kuwait.
Victory left South Korea comfortably top of Group B with four wins and a draw after five matches and on course for the 2026 World Cup in North America.
The top two teams in each of the three Asian qualifying groups will reach the showpiece in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
With this phase of qualifying approaching a halfway point, South Korea took a 10th-minute lead in Kuwait when striker Oh Se-hun rose highest to powerfully head home.
Nine minutes later it was 2-0 to the visitors after Son -- playing in his 130th game for South Korea -- won the penalty and then picked himself up to bury it with minimum fuss.
Mohammad Daham struck on the hour to halve the deficit with a delicious half-volley.
But substitute Bae Jun-ho, who had replaced Son, made the game safe for South Korea with their third 14 minutes later when he refiled in at the near post.
In Group C, Saudi Arabia had a goal disallowed in added time in a 0-0 draw against Australia in Melbourne that did neither side any favours in their bid to qualify.
In his first game back in charge following the sacking of Roberto Mancini, Herve Renard thought his visitors had snatched a late winner when Sultan Al-Ghannam fired home from just inside the box in the 93rd minute.
But the flag went up with one of his Saudi teammates offside.
"We had some good opportunities but we have to go give our opponent credit. First half we didn't play very well," said Socceroos coach Tony Popovic.
"We were not very good with the ball while they were sharp and energetic.
"We improved significantly in the second half, which is good," he added.
It left Australia and Saudi Arabia level on six points in their scrap for second place in the group.
China joined them with the same number of points after scoring in the 91st-minute for a crucial 1-0 win at Bahrain.
Zhang Yuning prodded home just minutes after Bahrain had what they thought was a winner of their own ruled out by VAR for offside.
Japan can extend their lead at the top of Group C when they meet Indonesia in Jakarta on Friday.
- Ten-man Iran hold on -
Elsewhere, Iran survived a fightback from North Korea to win 3-2 and cement their spot at the top of Group A with 13 points from a maximum 15.
Mohammad Mohebi scored twice and Mehdi Ghayedi also netted as Iran went into the break in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, cruising at 3-0 up.
Iran went down to 10 men when Shojae Khalilzadeh was sent off in the 52nd minute for bringing down Ri Jo Guk as he went through on goal.
North Korea made the extra man count to pull two goals back -- one an own goal by Inter Milan's Mehdi Taremi -- but Iran held on for a precious three points.
The Koreans are rooted to the bottom of their six-team group and yet to taste victory in the third qualifying stage.
Teams finishing third and fourth in their groups in this qualifying round go into a further phase of qualifying.
O.Salvador--PC