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

Borussia Dortmund's Gio Reyna will re-unite with United States national team coach Gregg Berhalter for the first time since their bitter public dispute after the midfielder was named in the squad for this month's friendlies.

US President Joe Biden defended his administration's plans to add to the border wall with Mexico Thursday, saying he couldn't stop the use of funds earmarked under Donald Trump's signature policy.

Senior US and Mexican officials gathered Thursday for high-level talks on tackling drug smuggling and migrant flows, amid signs of diplomatic frictions over a US plan to extend a controversial border wall.

England skipper Jos Buttler on Thursday said his team has enough "experience in the room" to bounce back from their crushing loss to New Zealand in the World Cup opener.

An attack Thursday on a Syrian military academy killed more than 100 people, a war monitor said, with state media blaming "terrorist organisations" for the drone strike in government-held Homs.

England captain Owen Farrell said on Thursday he was on the same page as fly-half George Ford after they were named to start this weekend's World Cup game against Samoa.

France said Thursday that it would start withdrawing its troops from Niger this week after a falling-out with the post-coup regime, which insists the exit be carried out in accordance with its "conditions".

Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid has pledged to play for the United States at next year's Paris Olympics, multiple media reports said Thursday.

Norway's Jon Fosse joins a select list of playwrights who have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature over the years.

New Zealand handed defending champions England a nine-wicket thrashing at the Cricket World Cup on Thursday at the start of a marathon tournament likely to dictate the event's status in the future of the sport.

Owen Farrell will start at centre as England head coach Steve Borthwick makes 14 changes for this weekend's Rugby World Cup match with Samoa, the Rugby Football Union announced on Thursday.

A Russian strike on Thursday killed at least 51 people gathered for a wake in an eastern Ukrainian village in what a UN official called a "horrifying" attack.

North Korea proclaimed themselves "world leaders" after winning a sixth Asian Games weightlifting gold on Thursday to cap their return to international competition after a four-year absence.

The United States said Thursday it would resume limited food assistance in Ethiopia, delivering to some one million refugees, but will keep most operations suspended after concerns of systematic diversion of aid.

Netherlands all-rounder Bas de Leede said his team have done their homework to try and counter star Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi in their opening World Cup match in Hyderabad on Friday.

Peter O'Mahony will become the latest Irish player to reach a landmark 100 caps for his country on Saturday when Ireland face Scotland in a match pivotal to both sides' Rugby World Cup hopes.

Azerbaijan said Thursday it was willing to attend EU-mediated talks with Armenia in Brussels, two weeks after its forces took control of the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region in a lightning offensive.

From stars to keys -- the Michelin Guide will start rating hotels in the same way as restaurants, it announced on Thursday.

China's women's basketball team staved off a spirited fightback from Japan to retain their Asian Games title on Thursday, as a silver medallist became the latest athlete to fail a doping test.

People who listen to music together often report feeling a powerful connection to each other as a result of their collective experience.

Jamie Ritchie has been passed fit and will captain Scotland in their must-win Rugby World Cup Pool B match with the world's number one ranked team Ireland on Saturday.

New Zealand's Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra hit the first centuries of the Cricket World Cup on Thursday in the opening match of the tournament against England.

Hasanboy Dusmatov gave a boxing masterclass to win Asian Games flyweight (51kg) gold Thursday and complete his collection of major titles on a memorable night in the ring for Uzbekistan.

Global trade growth will be sharply lower than forecast this year as stubborn inflation, high interest rates and the war in Ukraine pressure economies around the globe, the World Trade Organization said Thursday.

The Biden administration quietly announced plans on Thursday to add to the border wall with Mexico -- extending construction of the barrier that was a signature policy of Donald Trump.

Efforts to help millions of people in need in Sudan due to the civil war are being hampered by a lack of security and meagre international funding, the United Nations said Thursday.

Argentina have called up Lionel Messi for their upcoming South American World Cup qualifiers despite him being on the injured list at his club Inter Miami.

Real Madrid forward Vinicius was questioned on Thursday by a Spanish judge investigating the racist abuse hurled at the Brazilian international during a La Liga match in May.

Peter O'Mahony will become the latest Irish player to reach a landmark 100 caps for his country on Saturday when Ireland face Scotland in a match pivotal to both sides' Rugby World Cup hopes.

Canada saw trade rebound sharply in August, posting a surplus of Can$718 million (US$522 million) with the strongest exports in two years outpacing an uptick in imports, the government statistical agency said Thursday.

Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur hopes his team will have two wins under their belts before they face old rivals India in the eagerly-awaited World Cup blockbuster.

Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur believes there's a "bit of mystique" around his World Cup team as they make a first appearance in India for seven years.