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

Switzerland's central bank on Friday reported a profit of 12.6 billion Swiss francs ($15.7 billion) for the first nine months of 2025, boosted by soaring gold prices and rising stock markets.

Jannik Sinner took a step closer to reclaiming the world number one ranking with a comfortable victory over American Ben Shelton in the Paris Masters quarter-finals on Friday.

France's lower house on Friday rejected a wealth tax proposed by the left, which has threatened to bring down the government if a levy on the super-rich is not in the budget.

A French court on Friday sentenced four Bulgarians to between two and four years in prison for desecrating a Jewish memorial with red handprints last year, in what prosecutors think may have been foreign interference linked to Russia.

US oil giants ExxonMobil and Chevron reported lower earnings Friday as the decline in oil prices offset the lift from higher production.

Pace bowlers Faheem Ashraf and Salman Mirza registered their best international T20 figures to guide Pakistan to a nine-wicket win over South Africa in Lahore on Friday.

Some 2,000 trucks were stranded Friday in Belarus after Lithuania closed its border in response to recent airspace disruptions, a truckers association said.

France's lower house on Friday rejected a wealth tax proposed by the left, which has threatened to bring down the government if a levy on the super-rich is not in the budget.

Premier League chiefs have blamed the reduction of Boxing Day matches this season on the expansion of European competitions.

Alexander Bublik battled back to defeat Alex de Minaur on Friday and reach the first Masters 1000 semi-final of his career in Paris.

Selling for nearly $1,000 a cup, a cafe in Dubai is offering the world's most expensive coffee, brewed from Panamanian beans sold at a premium price.

President Donald Trump reiterated Friday that he wants testing of US nuclear weapons but again failed to clarify whether he meant live explosions in a directive that has provoked global tension, as well as some confusion.

Rachel Mosley, a Florida pre-school teacher, recently learned her family's health insurance premiums are set to nearly triple to a staggering $4,000 a month next year when US government subsidies expire.

Banned Russian athletes gained a limited victory but probably not the hoped-for 2026 Winter Olympic slots as the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) handed down two decisions on Friday.

England captain Maro Itoje has challenged his side to achieve a clean sweep of four Test wins in November as they set out on the road to the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Aryna Sabalenka says learning to control her emotions has been her biggest lesson this season and she'll be looking to channel that calmness in her bid for a maiden WTA Finals crown in Riyadh.

Thomas Frank insists he won't take risks over Cristian Romero's fitness as the Tottenham captain prepares to return against Chelsea on Saturday.

Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces said they had arrested several fighters accused of abuses during the capture of El-Fasher, with the United Nations demanding an investigation Friday into the "horrendous accounts" of atrocities emerging from the city.

G7 countries will have to use "non-market" tactics to curb China's dominance in rare earth production, the US energy secretary said Friday, calling the effort a "strategic necessity."

A new crew took off for China's space station on Friday, including the country's youngest ever astronaut and four lab mice.

Andrew has hit a new low in his inexorable fall from grace, stripped of his cherished royal titles and exiled to rural England.

Pep Guardiola is confident Manchester City will contend for the Premier League title if Rodri can rediscover his best form after returning from injury.

China held a send-off ceremony on Friday for a new crew of astronauts set to depart for its space station, including its youngest "taikonaut" and four lab mice.

After two years in exile as the Camp Nou was renovated, Barcelona will return to the stadium for a public training session on November 7, the club announced Friday.

A Turkish court on Friday sentenced 11 people, including the owner of the hotel, to life in prison over a fire at a luxury ski resort that killed 78 people including about 30 children.

Felix Auger-Aliassime cruised to a straight-sets victory over Valentin Vacherot on Friday to reach the Paris Masters semi-finals and keep his bid to qualify for the ATP Finals alive.

Australia captain Harry Wilson has rejected claims the Wallabies use illegal and dangerous breakdown tactics as they prepare to face England on Saturday.

Dutch centrist leader Rob Jetten on Friday claimed victory in a knife-edge election over far-right head Geert Wilders, saying his surprise success showed populist movements could be beaten in Europe.

The EU's commissioner for trade on Friday said China's one-year suspension on its restrictions of rare earth materials would apply to the bloc as well as the United States.

Italy's foreign minister called on the European Central Bank on Friday to reduce interest rates to weaken the euro, warning its strength was hurting his country's exporters.

France's culture minister said Friday anti-ramming devices would be set up around the Louvre by year's end, after a high-profile heist at the famed museum reignited debate over its security.

Wall Street stocks moved higher on Friday as investors welcomed strong earnings reports by Amazon and Apple.

Meta raised $30 billion in debt on Thursday, as tech giants flush with cash turn to borrowing to finance the expensive race to lead in artificial intelligence.

Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Friday she raised "serious concerns" about the South China Sea, Hong Kong and Xinjiang in a "candid" first meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Controversial online fast-fashion seller Shein will open its first bricks and mortar store in the world in Paris next week, its new landlord announced Friday.

A Turkish court on Friday sentenced 11 people, including the owner of the hotel, to life in prison over a fire at a luxury ski resort that killed 78 people including about 30 children.

Mitchell Marsh slammed a brisk 46 after Josh Hazlewood took 3-13 as Australia cruised past India by four wickets to win the second Twenty20 international on Friday.

Europe and Asian stock markets mostly fell Friday at the end of a fluctuating week as traders reacted to company earnings, central bank decisions and a tentative US-China trade truce.

Mikel Arteta warned that player welfare should be the primary concern for football's rule-makers as Arsenal's fixture pile-up threatens to put his team at risk.