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

Atlanta United secured their place in the MLS playoffs with a 4-1 win over Montreal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday but D.C. United's hopes suffered a blow with a 5-3 defeat at home to the New York Red Bulls.

Concern was growing for ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh on Sunday as Azerbaijani forces tightened their grip on the breakaway region.

The climactic end of a seven-year voyage comes Sunday when a NASA capsule is due to land in the Utah desert, carrying to Earth the largest asteroid samples ever collected.

Casper Ruud put Team Europe on the board at the Laver Cup on Saturday, beating Tommy Paul 7-6 (8/6), 6-2 to halt defending champion Team World's five-match win streak to start the event.

French rapper MHD was sentenced Saturday to 12 years in prison for the 2018 murder of a young man in Paris who was rammed with a car before being set upon by a mob and stabbed.

Thousands of people gathered in a swampy Central Park for a concert urging global development aid, with Jungkook of BTS fame and Brazil's Anitta highlighting the marathon show's first half.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was fined $35,513 by the NFL for an unsportsmanlike conduct and two unnecessary roughness violations in a 26-22 loss at Pittsburgh, the league announced Saturday.

Andy Farrell said his players' "resilience" stood out for him in Ireland's hugely impressive 13-8 win over defending champions South Africa in Saturday's no-holds-barred Rugby World Cup Pool B match.

A water main break to the pipeline serving Red Bull Arena has led to Saturday's scheduled Major League Soccer match between New York City FC and Toronto FC being postponed.

French rapper MHD was sentenced Saturday to 12 years in jail for the murder in 2018 of a young man in Paris in what investigators say was a fight between rival gangs.

Ireland moved to the brink of the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals by beating reigning champions South Africa 13-8 in a low-scoring but thoroughly absorbing match at the Stade de France on Saturday.

South Africa coach Jacques Nienaber struck a defiant note after Saturday's nerve-jangling 13-8 defeat to Ireland, claiming the defending champions can still win the World Cup.

Once Marcel Maldonado had finally made it across, he broke down in tears. The Venezuelan migrant, limping on a prosthetic leg, had survived the infamous trek through the Darien jungle from Colombia and, having crossed the Tuquesa River, he was now in Panama.

Erik ten Hag believes Manchester United's 1-0 win at Burnley can prove a turning point in a troubled season as Bruno Fernandes' stunning strike snapped a three-game losing streak on Saturday.

Armenia on Saturday urged the United Nations to send a mission to ensure the safety of ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh after the territory was seized back by Azerbaijan, which promised to respect minority rights.

Ireland are on the cusp of the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals after a thrilling 13-8 victory over defending champions South Africa in a riveting Pool B match at the Stade de France on Saturday.

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez praised his side's "winning character" after a sensational 3-2 comeback to beat Celta Vigo on Saturday and move top of La Liga.

New Orleans Saints defensive end Carl Granderson, snubbed by every NFL team in the 2019 draft, has signed a four-year contract extension with the club, the team announced on Saturday.

Bruno Fernandes' stunning strike eased Manchester United's early-season crisis as a 1-0 win at Burnley on Saturday snapped a three-game losing streak.

Ireland are on the cusp of the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals after a thrilling 13-8 victory over defending champions South Africa in a riveting Pool B match at the Stade de France on Saturday.

Manchester City moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League despite having Rodri sent-off in a fiery 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday, while Manchester United snapped their losing streak by beating Burnley 1-0.

Western powers through their support for Ukraine are "de facto" fighting against Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Saturday, as Kyiv claimed fresh advances on the ground.

Ethiopia said Saturday it had begun a second round of talks with Egypt and Sudan over a controversial mega-dam built by Addis Ababa on the Nile, long a source of tensions among the three nations.

Real Madrid winger Vinicius was on Saturday named in the Brazil squad for the next set of 2026 World Cup qualifiers after being sidelined with injury.

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez praised his side's "winning character" after a sensational 3-2 comeback to beat Celta Vigo on Saturday and move top of La Liga.

After weeks of travel on dangerous roads and rugged trails, hundreds of Venezuelan migrants experienced a bittersweet moment Saturday when they reached Eagle Pass, Texas, on the US border with Mexico, only to encounter a thicket of barbed wire and armed soldiers.

Tens of thousands of people marched in France Saturday to protest police violence in demonstrations organised by the left, with clashes breaking on the margins of the Paris rally.

Professional hairdressers and makeup artists work in the shadows of celebrities to make them sparkle on sets, red carpets and magazine covers.

England captain Owen Farrell said on Saturday he had had fun on his return to action as the 2003 Rugby World Cup winners hammered Chile 71-0 to edge closer to the quarter-finals.

Robert Lewandowski's brace and Joao Cancelo's winner earned Barcelona a sensational 3-2 comeback victory over Celta Vigo on Saturday to take them top of La Liga.

Western powers through their support to Ukraine have effectively entered direct fighting against Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Saturday.

Europe boosted their hopes of an unprecedented third Solheim Cup win in a row after battling back to draw level at 8-8 with the United States on Saturday ahead of the final day's singles.