- Oil giant BP reports drop in third-quarter net profit
- World's first green energy island sails into cost storm
- Georgia to partially recount disputed votes
- Pope's commission against abuse to publish first report
- Grieving parents fight to make Bulgaria's killer roads safer
- Taiwan worries about 'transactionalist' Trump as US votes
- Cuba's Buena Vista trumpeter Manuel 'Guajiro' Mirabal dies
- Spain seeks ground-breaking law for great apes
- Japan nuclear reactor near Fukushima to restart
- Suns scorch Lakers, Celtics stay perfect
- HSBC reports $8.5 billion pre-tax profit in third quarter
- A rare rehab centre fixes victims of Ethiopia's war
- The growing scourge of plastic pollution: in numbers
- Plastics: lifesaver turned environmental threat
- Outrage as Iran executes German-Iranian Jamshid Sharmahd
- China's only woman spaceflight engineer in crew for 'dream' mission
- Ohtani, Buehler overcome injuries to lift Dodgers a win from glory
- India temple firework explosion injures over 150
- S. Korean golfer Tom Kim sorry for damaging locker after playoff loss
- Dodgers beat Yankees to reach brink of World Series crown
- Asian shares rise as markets await tech results
- Iraq opens arms to Lebanese fleeing Israeli attacks
- Bruised Japan PM scrambles for support
- Saudi 'Davos in the desert' opens with region on war footing
- Myanmar's lost generation battles trauma, addiction at jungle rehab
- 'No one heard our cries': Tigray war rape survivors recount their ordeals
- Countdown to Busan: is a plastic pollution treaty in reach?
- Japan voters say 'punished' ruling party over scandal
- UNRWA, a lifeline for Palestinians amid decades of conflict
- Cuban blackout highlights urgency of boosting renewables: experts
- 'Amazing' AI de-ages Tom Hanks in new film 'Here'
- Big guns descend on Cali for final push in UN biodiversity talks
- 'I'm not a Nazi,' Trump insists as Harris blasts vile rhetoric
- Rodri wins men's Ballon d'Or as Real Madrid boycott
- Curry to miss at least two NBA games with left ankle injury
- Hefty electric vehicle costs dent Ford profits
- COP16 chair hails biodiversity attaining 'equal footing' with climate crisis
- Aitana Bonmati wins second successive women's Ballon d'Or
- Ohtani named in Dodgers starting line-up for World Series game three
- Real Madrid boycott Ballon d'Or ceremony
- US finalizes curbs on investing in Chinese tech
- Harris blasts Trump after racist rally rhetoric
- Tens of thousands protest in Georgia over 'stolen' election
- Man Utd sack Ten Hag, reportedly set to appoint Amorim
- Bolivia says Morales falsely claimed assassination bid
- Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim set for Manchester United job: reports
- Retiring Popp signs off as Germany's first female football superstar
- Chopin waltz unearthed after 200 years
- England's Freeman keen to make 'life a misery' for All Blacks' Reece
- Serie A strugglers Genoa sign Mario Balotelli
Vela treble sparks LA, Charlotte struggle
Carlos Vela fired a superb hat-trick as Los Angeles FC opened their Major League Soccer season with victory over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday.
Mexican international Vela took his tally to 60 goals in 87 appearances for Los Angeles in a comprehensive 3-0 win for the California side.
The 32-year-old striker opened his account from the penalty spot on 29 minutes before grabbing a second six minutes later.
Jose Cifuentes' through ball found Vela in space and the forward held off the challenge from Lalas Abubakar to finish past Rapids keeper William Yarborough.
Vela added a third five minutes into the second half, cutting inside to curl home a superb shot from just inside the area on 50 minutes.
The win was the first for new LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo, the former US international who took over from former boss Bob Bradley in the close season.
"We all know what Carlos can do and he showed it again today," Cherundolo said of Vela's hat-trick.
"He worked very hard in preseason to get to where he is today. He knows to be able to play like that, he needs to put in the work and he did.
"And I'm very happy for him and the group that we're all rewarded for it."
Vela's hat-trick was the outstanding individual performance from Saturday's opening round of fixtures which saw newcomers Charlotte FC given a harsh introduction to the league.
Expansion side Charlotte celebrated wildly on 19 minutes after Argentine winger Titi Ortiz appeared to have headed the team into the lead against D.C. United at Audi Field only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
Michael Estrada then put United ahead from the penalty spot on 37 minutes before adding a second with a deflected long-range shot deep into first-half stoppage time.
Norwegian striker Ola Kamara completed the scoring on 65 minutes when a cross ricocheted off his body into the net as United claimed a 3-0 win.
Inter Miami's new campaign got off to a sluggish start with a dour 0-0 draw against Chicago in Florida.
Miami coach Phil Neville is in the process of rebuilding the David Beckham-owned club, who failed to reach the playoffs last season.
But there were few positives to take from a lacklustre opener at Fort Lauderdale's Drive Pink Stadium which finished 0-0.
Inter managed just three shots on goal and saw a penalty overturned midway through the second half when fullback DeAndre Yedlin was adjudged to have dived after a challenge from Venezuelan fullback Miguel Angel Navarro.
The game marked the MLS debut of Chicago's Swiss international Xherdan Shaqiri, who joined the club from French side Lyon earlier this month.
Elsewhere Saturday, Austin enjoyed a thumping 5-0 win over Cincinnati while Columbus Crew spanked Vancouver Whitecaps 4-0.
H.Portela--PC