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

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has emerged as the key negotiator and one of the most high-profile figures in the Islamic republic's leadership as it enters a new phase after the US-Israeli war.

US President Donald Trump celebrated his 80th birthday with an extraordinary display of political machismo Sunday, staging a cage fight on the White House lawn hours after announcing a peace deal with Iran.

In his early sixties, Rob Kaufman suffered a medical emergency that caused him to faint and hit his head on a wood floor, resulting in a traumatic brain injury.

Manchester United's Amad Diallo struck in the 90th minute as Ivory Coast stunned Ecuador and their huge support to edge a tight affair 1-0 in their World Cup opener on Sunday.

Jude Bellingham can be England's "X factor" at the World Cup as Thomas Tuchel's men chase a first major trophy for 60 years, Jordan Henderson said on Sunday.

Iran's coach Amir Ghalenoei said on Sunday political tensions and visa issues have damaged his side's preparations for the World Cup but insisted his players will not "pay attention to any of the hype."

Facing the might of Spain is a "dream come true" said Cape Verde coach Bubista as the African island nation prepares for its World Cup debut on Monday.

Bud Cauley won the Canadian Open on Sunday, capturing the first title of a PGA Tour career that was nearly derailed by the injuries he suffered in a 2018 car crash.

Olympic long jump gold medallist Tara Davis-Woodhall dominated her signature event and added a runner-up finish in the 100m hurdles on Sunday at the Los Angeles Grand Prix athletics meeting.

Germany thrashed World Cup debutants Curacao 7-1 on Sunday while Japan fought back to grab a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands as Iran's footballers made their long-awaited arrival in the United States.

Curacao's World Cup debut may have ended in a reality check of a 7-1 hammering by four-time champions Germany on Sunday but it "is nothing to be ashamed of" said their head coach Dick Advocaat.

Japan scored an 88th-minute equaliser as they twice fought back to rescue a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in front of 69,285 in Texas on Sunday to open their World Cup campaigns.

The United States and Iran agreed a peace deal and an "immediate and permanent" end to military operations on all fronts including Lebanon, mediator Pakistan said, in the strongest sign yet that more than three months of war in Middle East is drawing to a close.

An anti-G7 protest in Geneva began in a carnival atmosphere on Sunday before descending into violence, with building facades smashed in and police firing tear gas at masked youths.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente confirmed that Lamine Yamal is fit but will begin the European champions' World Cup opener against Cape Verde on the bench.

England international Joe Marchant scored twice and back-row forward Romain Briatte scored a hat-trick as Stade Francais hammered La Rochelle 45-5 on Saturday to storm into the French Top 14 semi-finals.

When Iran takes to the field on Monday for the first game of its World Cup, Sara Barahman will be among the thousands of protesters outside the stadium waving a very specific flag: the one used by the country before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Steven Spielberg's latest sci-fi thriller, "Disclosure Day," debuted in first place at the North American box office with $44 million in ticket sales, industry estimates showed Sunday.

Germany swept aside tiny Curacao at the World Cup on Sunday, thrashing the debutants 7-1 in Houston while the Iran team touched down in the United States.

Gina Kim and 19-year-old Yana Wilson combined to shoot an eight-under par 62 on Sunday to win the Dow Championship LPGA team event, a first title for both on the US women's tour.

Protesters in Geneva threw stones and firecrackers at the police, who responded with tear gas and water cannons during a demonstration Sunday against the G7 summit in nearby Evian.

Iranian football legend Khodadad Azizi, who played in the first World Cup meeting between Iran and the United States in 1998, has told AFP that football should promote "peace" and remain separate from politics.

American alt-pop singer and internet personality Oliver Tree was aboard one of the two helicopters that collided mid-air in Brazil, leaving six dead, a police source told AFP.

In-form England pace bowler Ollie Robinson will miss the second Test against New Zealand with a knee injury.

To the never-ending list of scarcities in Cuba comes a new addition: communion for the Catholic faithful.

Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka withdraw before the final round of the PGA Tour Canadian Open with a hand injury on Sunday, less than a week before he is due to tee off in the US Open.

Germany won their first opening match at a World Cup since lifting the trophy in 2014 as they eased to a 7-1 win against debutants Curacao in their opening Group E match in Houston on Sunday.

Experienced Fiji lock Peceli Yato scored two tries as Perpignan maintained their French Top 14 status on Sunday with a 47-24 win at second-tier promotion hopefuls Provence in their end-of-season play-off.

Tottenham defender Pedro Porro ended speculation over his future by signing a new long-term contract at the Premier League club on Sunday.

The US government's order for Anthropic to withdraw its most powerful artificial intelligence models has sparked a wave of criticism from both advocates and opponents of AI regulation.

Lionel Messi could have signed off from World Cup football on the ultimate high in 2022 but he is back and poised to become the first man to play in six tournaments.

US President Donald Trump insisted on Sunday that a deal to end the Middle East war was just "hours" away, angrily blaming Israel for delaying its signing with an airstrike on Beirut that drew threats of retaliation from Iran.