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

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.

North Korea's Ri Song Gum set a new world record Saturday to win gold in the first weightlifting event of the Asian Games in Hangzhou, the women's 49kg class.

Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg led the charge with the biggest foursomes win in Ryder Cup history as Europe piled the pressure on a shellshocked USA on Saturday, extending a record overnight lead to 7.5-1.5.

Frankie Dettori's final season in the saddle has had many memorable moments but the Italian superstar can crown those with victory on Free Wind in Europe's most prestigious horse race the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sunday.

South Africa will have a familiar leader back at the helm when they take to the pitch in Marseille against Tonga on Sunday, Handre Pollard making his World Cup return as Springbok playmaker after a 13-month absence.

Australia head coach Eddie Jones said he will continue to protect his players even if he becomes the "fall guy" for the Wallabies' dismal Rugby World Cup campaign.

The Women's Super League (WSL) kick offs in front of huge crowds in England this weekend, with organisers bidding to exploit an explosion of interest as they target £1 billion in revenue.

Zhang Zhizhen fought back to become the first Chinese men's singles tennis champion at the Asian Games since 1994 with victory over Japan's Yosuke Watanuki on Saturday in Hangzhou.

Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg broke the record for the biggest foursomes win in Ryder Cup history with a 9 and 7 thrashing of the USA's Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka for Europe on Saturday.

India's Aditi Ashok has one hand on a women's golf Asian Games gold after a blistering round of 11-under 61 on Saturday as world number two Yin Ruoning fell out of contention with a 74.

Europe flew out of the blocks in Saturday morning's foursomes as they bid to extend their five-point lead over the United States at the Ryder Cup.

Jorge Martin cut the gap with championship leader Francesco Bagnaia to just eight points at the Japan MotoGP on Saturday with his third straight sprint victory.

Europe got off to another fast start on the second day of the Ryder Cup on Saturday, piling the pressure on the United States in the morning foursomes after racking up a record-equalling overnight lead.