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

US President Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran has agreed to hand over its store of enriched uranium and that the two sides were "close" to a peace deal to end the war that has engulfed the Middle East.

The European Union expects to start releasing a new 90-billion-euro loan to Ukraine in the second quarter, the bloc's economy chief told AFP on Thursday.

President Donald Trump said Thursday that the United States and Iran were "very close" to a peace deal and that he would consider going to Pakistan to sign an agreement.

UK opposition leaders Thursday called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign after the government confirmed that an associate of Jeffrey Epstein failed a background security check before becoming envoy to Washington.

Shakhtar Donetsk drew 2-2 at AZ Alkmaar on Thursday as the Ukrainian side progressed to the UEFA Conference League semi-finals with a 5-2 aggregate win.

Freiburg made history as they swept into the Europa League semi-finals for the first time with a 3-1 win against Celta Vigo on Thursday.

Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund announced Thursday the sale of its majority stake in Saudi Pro League football club Al-Hilal, where French striker Karim Benzema plays.

France's social security is to reimburse the cost of reusable menstrual cups and underwear for women under the age of 26 or battling poverty, the government said Thursday.

Tiger Woods's lawyer is fighting the demand for the golf superstar's prescription drug records, which were subpoenaed by the prosecution after Woods was charged with driving under the influence in Florida.

South African Quinton de Kock's record third century was to no avail as Prabhsimran Singh and skipper Shreyas Iyer hauled Punjab Kings back to the top of the IPL table with a commanding seven-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians on Thursday.

The top United Nations official in Sudan told AFP on Thursday that the country, facing the world's largest humanitarian crisis, has been "abandoned" as the war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) enters its fourth year.

US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a ceasefire Thursday, and said he was trying to set up the first-ever meeting between the leaders of the two countries.

The Middle East war has created an "unprecedented shock" for the region's economies with no guarantee of a quick recovery, a senior International Monetary Fund official has told AFP.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said Thursday his country was "ready" for a possible US attack on the communist island following months of mounting pressure from President Donald Trump.

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday criticised the "tyrants" ransacking the world, on a high-security visit to a "bloodstained" region of Cameroon following a war of words with US President Donald Trump.

Two sanctioned cargo vessels have crossed the Strait of Hormuz, apparently bound for Iranian ports despite Washington's blockade in the Middle East war, tracking data indicated Thursday.

Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham have been ruled eligible for the NBA's Most Valuable Player race despite not meeting the 65-game minimum to enter the running for the honor, the league said Thursday.

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Alexander Manninger, who played for Austria at Euro 2008, died on Thursday after his car was hit by a train, his former club Red Bull Salzburg said.

Hezbollah lawmaker Hussein Hajj Hassan told AFP on Thursday that the Lebanese government's decision to hold direct negotiations with Israel was a "grave error", urging Beirut to stop making concessions to Israel and the United States.

Lana Del Rey has joined an exclusive club of pop greats by voicing a new theme song for James Bond -- albeit for the fictional British superspy's video game incarnation in the upcoming "007: First Light".

With local elections due next week, West Bank Palestinians are struggling to muster enthusiasm for their first ballot since the Gaza war, discouraged by limited political choice and the difficulty of voting under Israeli occupation.

Lionel Messi has bought Catalan club Cornella and become the team's new owner, the Spanish fifth-tier side announced on Thursday.

Union Berlin coach Marie-Louise Eta said Thursday she was looking forward to questions about football rather than her pioneering role as the first female manager of a men's team in a top European league.

Near Singapore, thousands of miles from the Strait of Hormuz, ship-to-ship transfers of Iranian oil have continued during the Middle East war, helping Tehran evade sanctions and maintain trade with China.

A South African court sentenced radical left-wing opposition leader Julius Malema to five years in jail on Thursday for firing a rifle into the air at a rally eight years ago.

Liam Rosenior has warned Chelsea their bid to qualify for the Champions League is hanging in the balance ahead of Saturday's crucial clash with Manchester United.

The United States threatened Thursday to resume air strikes on Iran and maintain a naval blockade of its ports if Tehran refuses to accept a deal to end the war that has engulfed the Middle East.

Lufthansa said Thursday that it was accelerating savings plans by closing a regional subsidiary as the German aviation giant struggles with surging fuel costs due to the Iran war and a wave of labour strikes.

French drinks giant Pernod Ricard said Thursday that talks to buy Brown-Forman, the US owner of Jack Daniel's whiskey, were continuing after reports of a rival American offer by Sazerac.

Anthony Joshua has resumed training with former heavyweight rival Oleksandr Usyk as he continues preparations for a return to the ring that could culminate in a 'Battle of Britain' bout against Tyson Fury later this year.

Bayern Munich supporters have apologised after several photographers were injured when fans stormed over barriers at the end of Wednesday's home Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid.

Stock markets advanced Thursday on expectations that a Mideast ceasefire would soon let oil and gas tankers resume transmit through the Strait of Hormuz, easing inflation pressures that have upended economies worldwide.