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

Five playoff berths are up for grabs as the NFL season concludes this weekend with the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans among those chasing places in the post-season title hunt.

The United States on Thursday added Azerbaijan to a watchlist on religious freedom, following fears for Christian heritage after the country seized back an ethnic Armenian enclave.

United States international goalkeeper Zack Steffen joined Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids from Manchester City, signing a three year contract, the Rapids said on Thursday.

US vehicle sales got a boost from strong demand in 2023, due in part to attractive offers by automakers and dealers in the face of high interest rates and stubborn inflation.

France striker Kylian Mbappe has turned his back on "several tens of millions" of euros in a bid to ease a possible move away from Paris Saint-German, a source involved in the negotiations told AFP on Thursday.

Former US president Donald Trump's businesses received at least $7.8 million from foreign governments including China during his time in the White House, a congressional report claimed Thursday.

North Korea has provided Russia with ballistic missiles and missile launchers that were used in recent attacks on Ukraine, the White House said Thursday.

Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Ricky Rubio says he is retiring from the NBA after not featuring this season while he dealt with mental health issues.

Phil Mickelson has welcomed Rory McIlroy's new softened stance towards LIV Golf and says it is time to "let go" of "hostilities" between the rival camps.

Milwaukee Bucks star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James lead the first fan voting results for next month's NBA All-Star Game in balloting revealed on Thursday.

Steve Borthwick is confident that England will head into the Six Nations with the right "foundation" after their run to the World Cup semi-finals.

Thousands of Japanese rescuers, some with sniffer dogs, on Thursday battled rubble and blocked roads as hopes faded for dozens listed as missing three days after a devastating earthquake that killed at least 84.

The Brooklyn Nets were fined $100,000 by the NBA on Friday for violating the league's new Player Participation Policy, created to help ensure top players compete in big games.

A UK anti-monarchy group on Thursday said it had made a complaint to police in London about Prince Andrew, after the release of US court documents detailing people linked to Jeffrey Epstein.

Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick says the careers of successful players are "irrelevant" when they move into management after his former team-mate Wayne Rooney was sacked by Birmingham.

An explosive interview by the son of French film legend Alain Delon sparked open warfare in his family on Thursday, with the screen legend immediately indicating he was outraged and would file a complaint over his eldest child's comments.

Russia's Belgorod region bordering Ukraine said Thursday it would keep schools closed beyond the planned end of the winter holidays following unprecedented shelling by Kyiv's forces, as Ukraine reported several killed in strikes across the country.

India's victory in the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town on Thursday broke many records, most notably becoming the shortest completed Test match in the history of the game, lasting just 624 balls.

Erik ten Hag said he held "very positive" talks with Jim Ratcliffe when the under-fire Manchester United boss met the club's new minority stakeholder this week.

India captain Rohit Sharma on Thursday told critics of sub-continent pitches to "keep their mouths shut", blasting what he believes are double standards in the sport.

Auto giant Ford sold almost two million vehicles in the United States last year, the company said Thursday, buoyed by accelerating electric vehicle sales and continued growth in internal combustion engine trucks.

The Islamic State jihadist group said Thursday that it carried out twin bombings which killed at least 84 people at a memorial ceremony in Iran for slain Revolutionary Guards general Qasem Soleimani.

European and US stock indices rebounded Thursday following a series of losses at the beginning of the year over interest rate cut angst and geopolitical uncertainty.

Dean Elgar may have bowed out of Test cricket as a losing captain but the South African said he finished what had been a "bit of a journey" with "amazing memories".

Spain generated more than half of its electricity from renewable sources such as wind and solar power in 2023 in a "historic" record, the national power grid said Thursday.

A shooting on Thursday at a high school in the midwestern US state of Iowa left "multiple gunshot victims," local authorities said, adding the incident was over but without confirming if anyone had been killed.

Brentford manager Thomas Frank said only an "unbelievable" offer would persuade the club to consider selling England striker Ivan Toney during the January transfer window.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Thursday he had pencilled in later this year for a general election, as he and his main political rival to be Britain's next leader effectively kicked off campaigning.

An interview by the son of French film legend Alain Delon to a magazine has sparked open warfare in his family, with the screen legend immediately indicating he would file a complaint over his child's comments.

Tourists travelling to visit historic French landmarks the Eiffel Tower and Normandy's Mont Saint Michel have found their doors closed for part of the past two weeks, as striking workers complain of underinvestment and too many visitors.

The German government on Thursday dropped part of its plans to cut agricultural subsidies in the face of massive protests from farmers.

US energy company APA Corporation has agreed to buy competitor Callon Petroleum in a transaction valued around $4.5 billion including debt, the firms announced Thursday, marking the latest deal in the sector.