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

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will call for China to abide by international rules as he delivers a major speech Thursday on America's relationship with its rival.

"We are not here by any kind of magic," said Jurgen Klopp of Liverpool's third appearance in a Champions League final in five years. "We deserve this."

The Taliban government's restrictions on women are aimed at making them "invisible" in Afghan society, a UN human rights observer said Thursday during a visit to the nation.

Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal each struck hundreds to guide Sri Lanka towards a sizeable first-innings lead in the second Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Thursday.

The darting eyes of the sullen boy sitting all alone on a slab of a destroyed Ukrainian apartment tower moved to the sound of shellfire.

Delhi authorities on Thursday ordered all sports facilities to stay open until 10:00 pm after a media report claimed that one stadium shuts early every evening -- so that an official can walk his dog.

Running around barefooted on a dust bowl of a pitch, a young indigenous Colombian began kicking a ball more than 20 years ago. Now that boy, Luis Diaz, is on the verge of becoming champion of Europe with Liverpool.

Philippine president-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr said Thursday he would uphold an international ruling against Beijing over the disputed South China Sea, insisting he would not let China trample on Manila's maritime rights.

Australia will present a more ambitious UN emissions target "very soon" and is bidding to co-host a COP summit with Pacific island neighbours, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Thursday, signalling a ground shift in climate policy.

Hundreds of Indian air travellers were stranded inside their planes after the low-cost airline SpiceJet cancelled or delayed flights due to an "attempted ransomware attack", the company has said.

Asian markets mostly fell Thursday as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang warned the world's number two economy was in some ways worse off now than during the early days of the pandemic.

Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal shared 103 in an unbroken sixth-wicket stand to give Sri Lanka a narrow first-innings lead in the second Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Thursday.

Forced to flee fighting, Lyudmyla was assured the authorities would rehouse her in a town in western Ukraine. But when she arrived, they took one look at her and turned her away.

"This is how we live, running to our cellars. Maybe we should leave," cries retired nurse Larysa Kosynets, heading for safety before Russian shells start slamming into her village near the eastern Ukraine city of Kharkiv.

Philippine president-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr said Thursday he would uphold an international ruling against Beijing over the disputed South China Sea, insisting he would not let China trample on Manila's maritime rights.

Australia's conservatives appear poised to install hardline China hawk Peter Dutton as the country's new opposition leader, after the party was swept from power at last weekend's election.

Mothers hosting playdates near cordoned-off parks, mahjong maestros huddled in streets and youngsters slugging night-time beers on barricaded sidewalks -- Beijingers are making the most of the small spaces available as China's coronavirus controls close in.

Western powers sounded the alarm Thursday over leaked plans to dramatically expand China's security and economic reach in the South Pacific, in what one regional leader called a thinly veiled effort to lock island states into "Beijing's orbit".

Pakistan's ousted prime minister Imran Khan on Thursday warned the government to stage fresh elections or face more mass protests, after leading thousands of supporters to the capital Islamabad in a showdown with his political rivals.

The death toll from four bombs that ripped through minibuses and a mosque in Afghanistan has risen to at least 16, officials said Thursday, with some of the attacks claimed by the Islamic State group.

World champion Max Verstappen heads home this weekend hoping to survive the chaos and beat arch-rival and luckless local hero Charles Leclerc again in Sunday's 79th running of the Monaco Grand Prix.

Eleven newborn babies died in a hospital fire in the western Senegalese city of Tivaouane, the president of the country said late Wednesday.

Asian markets were mixed Thursday as minutes indicating a less hawkish Fed were offset by China's premier warning that the world's number two economy was in some ways worse off now than during the early days of the pandemic.

China's premier has sounded an unusually stark warning about the world's second-largest economy, saying it must return to normal as the country's zero-Covid strategy bites into growth.

Raul Baena cut his teeth in Barcelona's youth sides alongside Sergio Busquets and was later Mauricio Pochettino's trusted lieutenant at the heart of Espanyol's midfield in La Liga.

Justin Langer has blamed "politics" for contributing to his exit as Australian cricket coach despite guiding the team to an Ashes thrashing of England and the Twenty20 World Cup crown.

Public celebrations to mark Queen Elizabeth II's record-breaking 70-year reign will take place over four days next week.

The Sun newspaper's Arthur Edwards, 81, has been photographing Queen Elizabeth II for 45 years, and describes her as an enduring source of inspiration.

"We are not here by any kind of magic," said Jurgen Klopp of Liverpool's third appearance in the a Champions League final in five years. "We deserve this."

Elizabeth II has been on the throne since she was 25, an ever-present figure for the lives of most people in Britain, as well as one of the most recognisable people around the world.

Britain brings out the bunting next week for Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee, with four days of public events to mark her 70 years on the throne.

Her draped gown colored in the image of Ukraine's flag, artist Olya Polyakova is touring the United States to raise funds for her country's war against Russia.