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

The European Central Bank said Saturday it will expand access to its euro liquidity backstop to central banks worldwide, in a move aimed at boosting the single currency's global role.

Curling's world governing body said Saturday Canada have received a verbal warning over bad language used after accusations of cheating from defending Olympic champions Sweden.

Brazilian director Karim Ainouz's surreal satire "Rosebush Pruning" premiered on Saturday at the Berlin Film Festival with one of the programme's starriest casts portraying an outrageously spoiled and dysfunctional family descending into chaos.

Cheered by a massive crowd under a sea of flags, the son of Iran's toppled monarch told a mass rally in Munich on Saturday he wants to lead the country into a democratic future.

Britain will deploy its aircraft carrier group to the North Atlantic this year in a "powerful show of force" against Russian threats in the Arctic, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Saturday.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced Russia's Vladimir Putin as a "slave to war" in a speech to the Munich Security Conference Saturday, adding that Russia's attacks had damaged every power plant in the country.

Karolina Muchova captured her first WTA 1000 crown and her first title since 2019 with an impressive 6-4, 7-5 victory over Canadian teen sensation Victoria Mboko in the Qatar Open final on Saturday.

Five European countries, including Britain, France and Germany, said Saturday that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was killed by a "rare toxin" from a dart frog and that the Russian state was the prime suspect.

Ireland coach Andy Farrell praised his side for the "unbelievable character" they showed in holding on for a nerve-wracking 20-13 win over Italy in a thrilling Six Nations match at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

Captain Aiden Markam's unbeaten 86 and 4-40 by Marco Jansen led South Africa to a seven-wicket thrashing of New Zealand on Saturday to all but book their Super Eights berth at the T20 World Cup.

Marc Guehi scored his first goal for Manchester City to seal a 2-0 win over minnows Salford in the FA Cup fourth round, while Burnley suffered an embarrassing exit against Mansfield on Saturday.

Switzerland said Saturday that Oman would host talks between the United States and Iran in Geneva next week, with Washington pushing Tehran to make a deal to limit its nuclear programme.

Harry Kane scored twice in the first half as Bayern Munich cruised to a 3-0 win at Werder Bremen on Saturday, restoring their six-point lead atop the Bundesliga table.

Ireland rebounded from an opening hammering by France to edge a gallant Italy 20-13 in their Six Nations match at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

Five European states, including Britain, France and Germany, said Saturday that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was killed by a "rare toxin" from a dart frog and that the Russian state was the prime suspect in the death.

Lucas Pinheiro Braathen hailed the "drastic" change of allegiance from Norway to Brazil for helping him to Olympic giant slalom gold in Bormio on Saturday.

Australia's Alex de Minaur Saturday cruised into the final of the Rotterdam Open, holding his nerve to overcome an error-strewn challenge from France's Ugo Humbert with a 6-4, 6-3 win.

The Eurovision Song Contest's first-ever tour, planned to celebrate its 70th anniversary, has been postponed, organisers said, citing "unforeseen challenges".

Cuba on Saturday announced the cancellation of its iconic cigar festival, amid a major energy crisis sparked by US pressure on the cash-strapped island.

The exiled son of Iran's last shah called on US President Donald Trump on Saturday to help the Iranian people, a day after the American leader said a change of power would be the "best thing".

Marco Jansen took four wickets as South Africa kept New Zealand down to 175-7 in their T20 World Cup group game in Ahmedabad on Saturday.

Brazilian Lucas Pinheiro Braathen won the men's giant slalom in Bormio on Saturday to take South America's first ever gold at a Winter Olympics, while US figure skating sensation Ilia Malinin searched for answers after a disastrous performance.

Relatives of political prisoners in Venezuela launched a hunger strike Saturday outside a prison in Caracas after 17 other detainees were freed, as talks drag on over the adoption of a promised amnesty law.

Ten-man West Ham edged into the FA Cup fifth round as Crysencio Summerville clinched a 1-0 win at third tier Burton on Saturday.

Four astronauts are set to dock at the International Space Station on Saturday for a months-long research mission, replacing a crew forced to return to Earth early over a medical issue.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav admitted Saturday that no matter how much his team tried to prepare for Sunday's T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan as "just another game", it would be much more than that.

England captain Harry Brook paid tribute to Tom Banton, who starred with the bat to guide England to a five-wicket win over Scotland on Saturday that got their T20 World Cup campaign back on track.

Brazilian showman Lucas Pinheiro Braathen bagged South America's first-ever Winter Olympic medal on Saturday, his giant slalom victory capping a dream for the self-proclaimed individualist.

About 200,000 people joined a demonstration against the Iranian government in Munich on Saturday, police said, as world leaders gathered nearby for a security conference.

"People say that there's an Olympic curse," American figure skater Ilia Malinin said after a shocking performance which saw one of the hottest favourites of the Milan-Cortina Games tumble out of the medals.

Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen held his nerve to win the men's alpine skiing giant slalom in Bormio on Saturday for South America's first ever gold in the Winter Olympics.

Tom Banton's unbeaten 63 led England to a five-wicket T20 World Cup victory over Scotland in Kolkata on Saturday that kept Harry Brook's side on course for the Super Eights.