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

A US transparency advocacy group has opened a temporary exhibition in New York with only one text on display: a print-out of all the files released by the US Department of Justice -- roughly 3.5 million pages -- relating to financier and convicted sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein.

Cannes Film Festival rolls out the red carpets on Tuesday for its annual showcase in France, grappling with the dizzying speed of AI-powered disruption and the absence of major Hollywood studios.

Former India captain Rahul Dravid has been named co-owner of the Dublin Guardians in the new European T20 Premier League, starting in August, as part of an Indian consortium.

In Ukraine's southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, a three-day ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow expiring later on Monday brought little respite to residents exhausted by more than four years of Russia's invasion.

European Union foreign ministers on Monday agreed new sanctions on Israeli settlers over violence against Palestinians, as a change of government in Hungary ended months of blockage.

Like a macabre scene from one of her vivid canvases, Frida Kahlo holds Diego Rivera in her arms as he dies at the foot of a gaunt red tree, their silhouettes framed by blue curtains, at the end of an opera devoted to their tumultuous relationship.

Top-ranked defending champion Scottie Scheffler and a host of world-class rivals took their first practice rounds on Monday at Aronimink ahead of the 108th PGA Championship, which tees off Thursday.

Mexico canceled plans to shorten its school year ahead of the World Cup after widespread backlash from parents, think tanks and local authorities, a government source told AFP Monday.

GTDC appointed V.S. Hariharan, Managing Director and Group CEO of the Redington Group, to its Executive Committee (EC) to guide strategy and provide operational oversight.The EC advances the organization's mission to educate, advocate, and influence the tech industry on the evolving role of IT distribution worldwide.Mr. Hariharan leads Redington's $11.8 billion distribution and supply chain business across 40 markets.Redington continues to strengthen its role as a Technology Orchestrator, enabling seamless connections across the ecosystem to Unlock Next opportunities for partners.

The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 -- a jetliner involved in a fatal crash in November -- has been cleared to return to flight, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said Monday.

Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick, English brothers and two of the world's hottest golfers, are housemates this week as they chase a major title at the 108th PGA Championship at Aronimink.

Mathys Tel was hero and villain as Tottenham drew 1-1 at home to Leeds on Monday -- a result that leaves their Premier League future hanging in the balance.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said Monday he was "very proud" of his company's profitable early investment in OpenAI, as he took the stand in Elon Musk's blockbuster lawsuit against the leaders of the AI giant behind ChatGPT.

Indie art-imitating-life comedy series "Everyone Is Doing Great" returns for its second season Monday on Netflix after a five-year hiatus -- and at a time when independent TV is booming, its creators say.

The European Commission told AFP Monday it plans to invite Taliban officials to Brussels in the near future for talks on returning migrants to Afghanistan.

Mathys Tel was the hero and villain as Tottenham drew 1-1 at home against Leeds on Monday -- a result that leaves their Premier League future hanging in the balance.

Napoli's bid to reach next season's Champions League was still in the balance on Monday after falling to late 3-2 home defeat to Bologna.

World Cup debutants Curacao have parted company with head coach Fred Rutten just one month before the tournament kicks off, the federation confirmed on Monday.

President Donald Trump said Monday he was ready to discuss US arms sales to Taiwan during his visit this week to Beijing, as he suggested his personal chemistry with counterpart Xi Jinping would prevent a Chinese invasion of the island.

The US Supreme Court on Monday temporarily maintained mail access to the widely used abortion pill mifepristone.

A cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak left Spain's Canary Islands bound for the Netherlands on Monday, after the last passengers on board disembarked and were flown home to quarantine.

President Donald Trump warned the ceasefire in the Middle East war was on "life support" Monday after rejecting the latest counteroffer from Iran, which said its military stood ready to respond to any act of aggression.

Jannik Sinner set up a David v Goliath clash with countryman Andrea Pellegrino in the last 16 of the Italian Open after demolishing Alexei Popyrin in straight sets 6-2, 6-0 on centre court on Monday.

One of President Donald Trump's favorite metaphors is that he's got the cards -- that through the might of the United States and his own acumen he can overpower any adversary.

Delhi Capitals rode on blistering half-centuries from skipper Axar Patel and David Miller to mount a record chase and keep their qualification hopes alive following a stirring three-wicket victory over Punjab Kings on Monday.

The head of the Cannes Film Festival defended Monday making another male-dominated selection in a year when the movie "Thelma and Louise" features on the official poster.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday vowed to prove his doubters wrong and stem mounting calls for him to step down after disastrous local and regional elections for his ruling Labour party.

Delhi Capitals rode on blistering half-centuries from skipper Axar Patel and David Miller to mount a record chase and keep their qualification hopes alive following a stirring three-wicket victory over Punjab Kings on Monday.

The final evacuations from a cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak started in Spain's Canary Islands on Monday after unfavourable weather conditions unexpectedly forced it to dock.

Director Park Chan-wook told AFP on Monday that he was hugely moved to make history as the first ever South Korean head of the Cannes Film Festival jury in a further sign of his country's cultural rise.

The Nigerian military and the "bandit" gangs it is fighting killed around 100 civilians Sunday in one of the bloodiest single days of the country's conflict against armed groups, sources across the country have told AFP.

Neue Zürcher Nachrichten (NZN) interviewed Uwe Sellmer about the fintech project SNC Scandic Coin, run by the globally active SFG (Scandic Finance Group) based in Hong Kong. Unlike many cryptocurrencies, the SNC is intended to function as a regulated payment and loyalty instrument within a global network of real-world services.NZN: Digital currencies are dominating the headlines. What attracts people to the SNC Scandic Coin, and how does it differ from the speculative tokens flooding the market?Uwe Sellmer: The appeal lies in the combination of technology, regulation and real-world utility. SFG brings together companies from the media sector – with over 115 of its own daily newspapers operating across all continents – as well as finance, mobility, technology, real estate and data centres, and uses the token within this network for payments. Holders can use it to pay for services such as flights, yachts, apps and domains. The supply is capped at one billion SNC; only a small portion will be issued at launch. The proceeds go towards security, audits, infrastructure, liquidity, marketing and operations. A clear purpose and low fees set it apart from speculative coins.Neue Zürcher Nachrichten: What does the Scandic ecosystem look like, and how does the media group fit into it?Uwe Sellmer: The Scandic ECO System encompasses aviation, data technology, real estate, mobility, healthcare and other sectors. The token serves as a common means of payment, as well as an access and customer loyalty tool for these services. One partner in the network is the Legier Group, which, amongst other things, publishes daily newspapers on every continent and, together with its own news app https://apps.apple.com/de/app/legier-global-news/id6756674261 and https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pagedrop.lagier, explains the project and promotes its launch. This blend of services and media helps to combine real value with communication.Neue Zürcher Nachrichten: How do you ensure security and regulatory compliance?Uwe Sellmer: In early 2026, the smart contract was audited by CertiK https://skynet.certik.com/projects/scandic-coin. The Skynet report shows that an audit took place in March 2026, which yielded a high rating in terms of security and, consequently, trust. We have completed a full KYC verification, collaborate with regulatory authorities worldwide and have published a comprehensive white paper. CRIF, a global group specialising in credit and business information systems, analytics, outsourcing and open banking solutions, handles the KYC and anti-money laundering processes for the SNC Scandic Coin. An ESG certificate and multi-layered risk management confirm compliance.Neue Zürcher Nachrichten: Why did you choose the name “SNC Scandic Coin”?Uwe Sellmer: The letters SNC stand for S: Security / Synergy, N: Network and C: Community. They encapsulate our aim to connect different industries and build a community of users and partners. Scandinavian values such as transparency, modern design and digital literacy are reflected in our principles and underpin the fact that the SNC Scandic Coin is part of the SFG, which stands for trust and networking.Neue Zürcher Nachrichten: When and where will trading begin?Uwe Sellmer: Trading will begin shortly. The coin will initially be listed on BitMart, a regulated global exchange. In 2025, BitMart’s annual futures trading volume rose by 68 per cent, exceeding the sum of 9 trillion US dollars in the past year 2025. Agreements with other major, well-known exchanges have been signed for the SNC Scandic Coin and will launch simultaneously; their names will be announced prior to the exchange launch. Up-to-date information is available on our official channels and on the website https://www.SNCCoin.dev