Monaco Journal - News from Monaco, Monte-Carlo and the world

Philippines pole vaulter EJ Obiena cruised to gold in an Asian Games record on Saturday -- and then said he missed not having record-breaker Armand Duplantis to compete against.

Reigning Giro d'Italia champion Primoz Roglic pipped compatriot Tadej Pogacar to victory in the Giro dell'Emilia on Saturday hours after announcing he will exit Dutch team Jumbo-Visma at the end of the season.

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is in "stable" condition a day after undergoing hip surgery, and began physical therapy Saturday morning, his doctors announced.

A Rome-bound aircraft departed on Saturday from Libya's capital, restarting flights to Italy after a nearly decade-long suspension due to an EU ban, authorities in Tripoli said.

China claimed a 100m sprint double at the Asian Games on Saturday as Xie Zhenye and Ge Manqi delighted the home crowd in Hangzhou.

Jose Mourinho insisted Saturday he has no fear for his future despite Roma's floundering start to the Serie A season.

North Korean weightlifters shattered a slew of world records at the Asian Games on Saturday on their return to international competition after four years, surprising one Chinese rival whose mark was obliterated by their exploits.

The United States are fighting back against a European Ryder Cup tide as the holders lead in two of four Saturday afternoon fourballs matches in Rome.

Ollie Watkins made his case for an England call-up with a hat-trick as Aston Villa powered to a 6-1 demolition of Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.

Australia are "aware of the risk" of carrying Travis Head in their World Cup team despite an injury and hope the opener will recover soon, chief selector George Bailey said.

Veteran New Zealand hooker Dane Coles on Saturday said the All Blacks would not be getting carried away with their stunning 96-17 dismantling of Italy at the Rugby World Cup.

The flood of refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh dwindled to a trickle Saturday as Armenia said nearly the entire population of the breakaway territory had already fled after Azerbaijan seized back control.

A herd of reindeer with white, brown or grey coats climb mountains and swim between glaciers on their great migration to their winter pasture in Norway's far north.

Nearly a week after deadly clashes in Kosovo triggered one of the gravest escalations in the former breakaway province in years, the opportunity for reconciliation between ethnic Albanians and Serbs seemed as distant as ever.

Rain on Saturday played spoilsport in a high-profile World Cup warm-up between hosts India and defending champions England with the match abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Pascal Bary had to scotch rumours he was set to retire and on Sunday he can remind people his talents as a trainer are undiminished should Feed The Flame win Europe's most prestigious race the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

World number three Daniil Medvedev progressed to the quarter-finals of the China Open with a hard-fought win over Australia's Alex de Minaur in Beijing on Saturday.

Reigning Giro d'Italia champion Primoz Roglic confirmed on Saturday he will exit Dutch team Jumbo-Visma at the end of the season amid talks of a merger with Belgian outfit Soudal-Quick Step.

North Korea thrashed South Korea 4-1 in women's football while India battle Pakistan in hockey later Saturday as fierce rivalries took centre stage at the Asian Games.

The flood of refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh dwindled to a trickle Saturday as Armenia said nearly the entire population of the breakaway territory had already fled since Azerbaijan seized back control.

Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg led Europe's charge towards Ryder Cup glory on Saturday as the event's biggest ever foursomes win contributed to a 9.5-2.5 third-session lead over the shellshocked USA in Rome.

Barcelona winger Raphinha will miss up to a month with a hamstring injury, according to Spanish reports on Saturday.

North Korea's Ri Song Gum set a staggering world record Saturday as she won gold in the first weightlifting event of the Asian Games in Hangzhou, four years after her last international competition.

Duane Vermeulen was an interested onlooker in South Africa's defeat by Ireland in an epic World Cup Pool B match, sat next to Rassie Erasmus in the coaches' box for the nail-biting loss.

World number three Daniil Medvedev progressed to the quarter-finals of the China Open with a hard-fought win over Australia's Alex De Minaur in Beijing on Saturday.

Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland will play all five sessions at the Ryder Cup after being named to go out again in Saturday afternoon's fourballs as Europe bid to further crush the United States' hopes.

Europe stretched their lead over the United States to 9.5-2.5 on Saturday as Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg broke the record for the biggest foursomes win in Ryder Cup history.

World number four Jessica Pegula and Russia's Veronika Kudermetova on Saturday advanced to the final of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.

Billionaire Elon Musk on Saturday waded into German politics at a time of a heated debate on immigration across Europe, saying Berlin-funded migrant rescue operations in the Mediterranean could be seen as an "invasion" of Italy.

World number two Iga Swiatek said Saturday she felt relieved of the "baggage" of defending the top ranking and was looking to switch up her game ahead of the China Open in Beijing.

Pope Francis on Saturday elevated 21 clergymen from distant corners of the world to the rank of cardinal, saying diversity was indipensable to the future of the Catholic Church.

France's talismanic captain Antoine Dupont has rejoined the hosts' Rugby World Cup squad a week after undergoing surgery on a fractured cheekbone, the French federation (FFR) announced on Saturday.