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

Drums thundered and priests chanted as sumo's newest grand champion strode onto the public stage Friday in a ceremony to mark his promotion to the ancient Japanese sport's highest rank.

Deforestation in Indonesia rose in 2024 for a third year running, a local environmental NGO said Friday based on satellite image analysis and fieldwork.

Myanmar's junta extended a state of emergency by six months on Friday, four years after it seized power triggering a civil war that has claimed thousands of lives.

Sri Lanka's Dinesh Chandimal was waging a lone battle on 63 with Australia ahead by 518 runs and tightening their grip on the first Test before rain forced early lunch Friday.

Superstar Indian cricketer Virat Kohli flopped on his first domestic cricket match in more than a decade Friday to the dismay of thousands who turned out to see him play.

Screeching off East Africa's only ice rink, the skates of Kenya's Ice Lions scatter frozen chips of ice as they celebrate their first title win in the capital Nairobi.

Deforestation in Indonesia rose again last year, a local environmental NGO said Friday based on satellite image analysis and fieldwork.

New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr is the toast of her sport after winning ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year award for a stellar 2024, but says she is far from hitting her peak.

Germany's conservative opposition leader was set Friday to again seek far-right support in parliament on the flashpoint issue of immigration, after his first effort sparked widespread condemnation and street protests.

Two longstanding US city newspapers, including one immortalized in "The Sopranos," will vanish from newsstands leaving Jersey City without printed news as the media struggles against headwinds nationwide.

With less than 24 hours before President Donald Trump's deadline to impose sweeping tariffs on the three biggest US trading partners -- Canada, Mexico and China -- the global economy is bracing for impact.

Emergency workers in Japan began building a ramp Friday to try and reach a 74-year-old truck driver who has not been heard from since his vehicle was swallowed by a sinkhole this week.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Manila on Friday, urging the Philippine House of Representatives to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte.

The Thai government has ordered a crackdown on farmers flouting a ban on crop burning, as pollution in Bangkok spiked on Friday a week after toxic air forced hundreds of schools to close.

The operating profit of South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics sank almost a third in the fourth quarter owing to spending on research, the company said Friday, as analysts said it was struggling to meet demand for chips used in AI servers.

Japan saw its biggest year-on-year jump in foreign workers since records began, government data showed Friday, as the country seeks to address labour shortages exacerbated by its ageing population.

Most Asian markets edged up Friday at the end of a week beset by volatility after China's DeepSeek unveiled a groundbreaking chatbot, while sentiment was dampened after Donald Trump confirmed he hit Canada and Mexico with hefty tariffs.

Investigators on Thursday recovered the black boxes from a passenger plane whose mid-air collision with a military helicopter over Washington's Potomac river killed 67 people, as rescuers pulled victims' bodies from the freezing water.

Four years after Myanmar's military seized power in a coup, the country is in the grip of a bloody civil war that has driven many of the country's young across the border to Thailand.

Behind a blue door in a narrow London passage lies a little-known network of tunnels deep underground, once home to British spies and a secret long-distance telephone exchange.

Ireland bid to become the first team to win an unprecedented third successive Six Nations title with second favourites France getting the tournament underway at home to ailing Wales on Friday.

Sam Prendergast will be in the spotlight when Ireland begin their quest for an unprecedented third successive Six Nations title against England in Dublin on Saturday.

Scotland go into their Six Nations opener against Italy at Murrayfield on Saturday, with memories of last year's shock loss to the Azzurri still fresh in their memory.

While four French clubs secured progress to the knockout phase of the Champions League this week, another was busy firing a popular coach as Lyon parted company with Pierre Sage and lined up Paulo Fonseca as his replacement.

Spain attacker Jenni Hermoso lifted the Women's World Cup in August 2023 but her joy was curtailed in the aftermath as she unexpectedly became the leader of a stand against sexism in Spanish football.

It took champions Real Madrid time to click into gear this season but they visit Espanyol on Saturday in La Liga sitting top of the table.

Bayer Leverkusen are taking the belief gained from finishing in the top eight of the Champions League standings into the latter stages of their Bundesliga title defence.

Manchester City face the stiffest test of their recent revival when they travel to Arsenal this weekend as Bournemouth seek to take down Premier League leaders Liverpool.

The US Senate on Thursday confirmed Donald Trump's pick to lead the Interior Department, a role that oversees the nation's vast public lands and waters that are vital to the president's agenda of expanding drilling.

Intel reported a fourth-quarter loss on Tuesday, but better than expected revenue as the US chip giant continues to struggle to stake its place in the artificial intelligence revolution.

Here is a list of nominees in the major categories for the 67th annual Grammy Awards, which will be handed out on Sunday in Los Angeles.

Music's biggest stars including Beyonce and Taylor Swift will vie for top awards at Sunday's Grammys gala, a glitzy ceremony proceeding despite devastating wildfires in Los Angeles.