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

Chinese President Xi Jinping will declare the Asian Games open at a glittering ceremony in Hangzhou on Saturday, kickstarting a sporting behemoth that boasts more athletes than the Olympics.

HS2, the UK's second high-speed train line after the one leading to the Channel Tunnel, has suffered spiralling costs despite the route being cut short, raising fears the project could be further derailed.

The hectic fashion season reaches its last stop in Paris on Monday, with the biggest intrigue being whether beloved brand Balmain can recover from the theft of 50 outfits last week.

The September 26, 2022 explosions that damaged the Nord Stream pipelines cut off a major route for Russian gas exports to Europe and fuelled geopolitical tensions already running high over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

India's football coach Igor Stimac has had to change his squad list seven times since first announcing it for the Hangzhou Asian Games, with a lack of available players also proving an issue for other nations.

Gang leaders who ruled a prison in Venezuela that was stormed by more than 11,000 soldiers and police had fled the country a week before the operation, a prisoners' rights group said Friday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will declare the Asian Games open at a glittering ceremony in Hangzhou on Saturday, kickstarting a sporting behemoth that boasts more athletes than the Olympics.

The Milwaukee Brewers rode a massive 12-run second inning to a 16-1 victory over the Miami Marlins on Friday that clinched a Major League Baseball playoff berth.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to watch Pope Francis process through the streets and celebrate mass in the French Mediterranean city of Marseille Saturday, where the pontiff has waded into an inflamed European debate about accepting migrants.

Second-seeded Maria Sakkari beat third-seeded Caroline Garcia 6-3, 6-0 on Friday to book a return trip to the Guadalajara WTA 1000 tournament, where she'll face first-time WTA finalist Caroline Dolehide.

With the production of plastic on the rise worldwide and creating ever more pollution, the UN environment chief warned that humanity cannot just recycle its way out of the mess, and she called for a total rethink about the way we use plastics.

US Open semi-finalist Ben Shelton and Francisco Cerundolo grabbed straight-set victories to give Team World a quick 2-0 lead Friday in their Laver Cup title defense.

US Open semi-finalist Ben Shelton got Team World off to a quick start in the 2023 Laver Cup on Friday with a 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 victory over Team Europe's Arthur Fils.

An international force for violence-plagued Haiti came closer to reality Friday after months of fruitless efforts, with the United States saying up to a dozen countries had offered support and pledged its own logistical assistance.

The US auto workers union expanded a strike against two of Detroit's "Big Three" on Friday, while President Joe Biden announced plans to join the picket line in solidarity with employees.

British comedian and actor Russell Brand on Friday spoke of an "extraordinary and distressing week" in his first public comments since rape and assault allegations were aired against him, but did not address the claims.

Inter Miami head into Sunday's Florida derby against Orlando City with their Major League Soccer playoff destiny in their own hands but without star performer Lionel Messi.

Erik ten Hag admits he does not know why Manchester United have defended so poorly throughout their dismal start to the season.

Mauricio Pochettino insists Chelsea's medical department are not to blame for the rash of injuries that have derailed the start of his reign.

Toronto billionaire Michael Andlauer says nearly a year of work to buy the NHL's Ottawa Senators was worth the effort and a reported US$950 million sales price.

Folarin Balogun missed two penalties on his first Monaco start before local rivals Nice grabbed a stoppage time winner to go top of Ligue 1 on Friday.

Serhou Guirassy scored twice to tie a Bundesliga record and propel Stuttgart to the top of the table with a 3-1 home victory over struggling Darmstadt on Friday.

The leader of Solomon Islands, who has developed close ties with China, on Friday joined Beijing in denouncing Japan's release of wastewater from Fukushima's crippled nuclear plant.

An armed group engaged in peace negotiations with the Colombian government on Friday announced an immediate cessation of all "offensive actions" after two car bombs in as many days killed two people and injured several others.

For a little under $150, you can now directly sponsor marine conservation across one square kilometer of the Pacific Ocean, through a novel scheme announced this week by the tiny island of Niue.

San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have signed multi-year contract extensions, the NFL club announced Friday, hours after winning to start the season 3-0.

Lachlan Murdoch, the heir of the sprawling media empire whose politics skew as conservative as his father Rupert's, is set to take over the family business in November, the choice of continuity.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on India Friday to cooperate with Canada and ensure "accountability" over the killing of a Sikh separatist, after Ottawa accused New Delhi of involvement.

Colombia's parliament bid a final farewell Friday to renowned artist Fernando Botero who died aged 91 last week, and whose body was flown from Europe to Bogota for a week-long homage.

An international force for violence-plagued Haiti came closer to reality Friday after months of efforts, with the United States saying up to a dozen countries have offered support and pledged its own logistical assistance.

Hollywood writers and studios were due to meet for a third consecutive day of high-level talks Friday, raising the industry's hopes that an end to the costly 144-day Writers Guild of America strike could finally be near.

Seven Caribbean countries will host matches at next year's T20 World Cup, including Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Friday.