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Johnny Sexton's career may have ended with the crushing disappointment of a Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat but he bows out as "the best captain" Ireland have ever had, former fullback Hugo MacNeill told AFP.

Asian markets sank Monday on concerns that Israel's expected ground offensive against Hamas in Gaza could spark a regional war involving Iran, with warnings that oil prices could surge, further complicating central banks' efforts to tame inflation.

Car horns in Quito blared in celebration Sunday as banana empire heir Daniel Noboa, 35, became Ecuador's youngest-ever president-elect, vowing to "restore peace" to a country ravaged by a bloody drug gang war.

In Israel's southern Negev desert, Bedouin youth gather near a car hit by a rocket from the Gaza Strip, fearing the war is coming closer to them.

Damian Lillard made a triumphant NBA pre-season debut for the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, combining well with Giannis Antetokounmpo in a 108-97 road victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

When Rabbi Israel Weiss opens the doors of the refrigerated containers holding the bodies of hundreds of victims of the Hamas attacks the smell is overwhelming, but he said that most of all, he feels the suffering.

When the national anthems blare out in Dharamsala on Tuesday ahead of South Africa's World Cup match against the Netherlands, do not be surprised if you see a number of Dutch players mouthing the words to both.

Austria's former chancellor Sebastian Kurz goes on trial this week for allegedly giving false testimony, the highest-profile figure implicated in wide-ranging corruption scandals that have rocked the EU member.

At the age of 35, Ecuador's president-elect Daniel Noboa is fulfilling the political dreams of his banana tycoon father, who failed five times to win the presidency.

Schools across France will on Monday hold a minute of silence for the teacher stabbed to death in what President Emmanuel Macron called an act of "Islamist terror".

Car horns in Quito blared in celebration Sunday as banana empire heir Daniel Noboa, 35, became violence-riddled Ecuador's youngest president-elect ever.

When Covid hit Belize, its economy nosedived: closed borders meant fisheries and farmers had no export markets, and tourism centered on the tiny Central American nation's warm waters and wonders of biodiversity came to a halt.

Car horns in Quito blazed in celebration on Sunday as a partial vote count suggested banana empire heir Daniel Noboa, 35, could become the youngest-ever president of violence-riddled Ecuador.

Scotland's serene qualification for Euro 2024 comes as a culture shock for a country used to crushing disappointment from its national team.

Any move by Israel to occupy the Gaza Strip again would be a "big mistake," US President Joe Biden said in an interview released on Sunday, as Israeli troops prepared for a ground invasion.

South Korea's Tom Kim captured his second consecutive PGA Shriners Children's Open title on Sunday, holding off Canada's Adam Hadwin down the stretch for his third career PGA title.

The San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles both saw their perfect starts to the NFL season end with upset defeats on Sunday, leaving the league without an unbeaten team after six weeks.

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi paid tribute to his team for chasing "lost causes" after they came from behind to beat France 29-28 on Saturday to book a place in the semi-finals of the World Cup.

France captain Antoine Dupont criticised the refereeing after his side crashed out of the Rugby World Cup in a 29-28 defeat to South Africa in the quarter-finals.

Defending champions South Africa edged hosts France 29-28 in a thrilling seven-try encounter on Sunday to reach next weekend’s Rugby World Cup semi-finals.

Polls closed in Ecuador Sunday with no reports of violence as both presidential candidates cast their votes in bulletproof vests just weeks after a rival was murdered.

Lionel Messi's Inter Miami will play two games in China next month as the club looks to cash in on the signing of the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner.

Spain clinched their place at Euro 2024 on Sunday after a 1-0 win away to Norway, also sending Scotland through from Group A as Turkey joined the growing ranks of qualifiers.

The San Francisco 49ers suffered their first defeat of the NFL season, ending a 15-game regular season winning streak, as Jake Moody missed a late 41-yard field goal attempt in a 19-17 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

Four years after playing a key role in South Africa winning the World Cup, Cheslin Kolbe put himself back at the top table of world rugby with an exhilarating performance at the Stade de France on Sunday.

Defending champions South Africa edged hosts France 29-28 in a thrilling encounter on Sunday to reach next weekend’s Rugby World Cup semi-finals.

Wales breathed new life into their chances of qualifying for Euro 2024 as Harry Wilson's double earned a famous 2-1 win over Croatia in Cardiff on Sunday.

Spain booked their place at Euro 2024 with a 1-0 win over Norway on Sunday, also enabling Scotland to qualify from Group A.

Polish opposition parties are tipped to win a parliamentary majority in Sunday's election that would end eight years of rule by the populist Law and Justice (PiS) party, according to exit polls.

Polish opposition parties are tipped to win a parliamentary majority in Sunday's election that would end eight years of rule by the populist Law and Justice (PiS) party, according to exit polls.

In the southern Gaza Strip, scores of people line up at bathrooms, many of them not having showered for days after Israel cut off water, electricity and food following Hamas's deadly assault.

Fears that the Israel-Hamas conflict might spread were growing Sunday, with Israeli troops poised to launch a ground offensive into Gaza, Tehran saying that if it does so "no one can guarantee control of the situation," and Washington expressing fears of possible Iranian involvement.