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

Israeli forces raided Gaza's largest hospital Wednesday, targeting what they say is a Hamas command centre in tunnels beneath thousands of patients and civilians seeking refuge from intense combat.

South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma on Wednesday warned they are not up against a "Mickey Mouse team" in their World Cup semi-final against Australia amid feverish expectation of reaching their first championship match.

France has issued an international arrest warrant for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, accused of complicity in crimes against humanity over chemical attacks in 2013, a judicial source and plaintiffs in the case said Wednesday.

The World Cup semi-final between India and New Zealand in Mumbai on Wednesday was being played on a used pitch, sparking concerns the tournament hosts had tried to manipulate conditions in their favour.

Manchester City announced record-breaking revenue of £712.8 million ($888 million) for their treble-winning season on Wednesday -- far outstripping the previous mark reported by Manchester United just last month.

To reach Ukrainian soil from Russia, teacher Olena Yevdokiyenko had to lug suitcases and push her mother's wheelchair for two kilometres in the dark.

Climate protesters sang songs and held up banners on Wednesday as Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg arrived at a London court after being arrested during a demonstration against the energy industry.

Germany's top court ruled Wednesday against the government in a case centred on whether it had broken debt rules, wiping 60 billion euros from a key climate fund and further testing the unity of the ruling coalition.

Israeli forces, some wearing facemasks and firing guns into the air, raided early Wednesday Gaza's biggest hospital which was packed with thousands of Palestinian patients and displaced people, in the army's battle against Hamas.

Injured South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma on Wednesday said he is not "100 percent" and the team will decide later if he is fit enough to play in the World Cup semi-final against Australia.

The UK Supreme Court will rule Wednesday on whether a controversial government plan to send migrants to Rwanda is lawful, a decision with major political ramifications for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Negotiators for the EU's member states and lawmakers on Wednesday reached a deal on new rules to curb methane emissions which would put new reporting requirements on the coal, gas and oil industry.

Commonwealth Games officials said Wednesday that "extensive work" was under way to find a solution for the 2026 edition after the Australian state of Victoria's shock withdrawal as host in July.

The UN warned Wednesday that the number of sand and dust storms are increasing "dramatically" with Central Asia most hit by the dangerous phenomena.

India captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bat against New Zealand in the first World Cup semi-final at his Wankhede Stadium home ground in Mumbai on Wednesday with sporting royalty in the shape of Sachin Tendulkar and David Beckham looking on.

One of the world's most famous symbols of a band -- the ruby red tongue and lips of the Rolling Stones -- was inspired by the Indian goddess Kali, Mick Jagger has told Indian media.

Dubai is forging ahead with plans to replace the world's busiest airport with an even bigger one as passenger traffic recovers to outstrip pre-pandemic levels, a top official told AFP on Wednesday.

Australia skipper Pat Cummins said his players will draw on experience from previous title wins in their World Cup semi-final clash with South Africa, spurred on by Glenn Maxwell's heroics having given them "an extra leg".

The first semi-final of the 2023 World Cup between India and New Zealand in Mumbai on Wednesday will be played on a used pitch that has already staged two games during the showpiece tournament.

Israeli forces raided Gaza's largest hospital Wednesday, targeting what they say is a Hamas command centre in tunnels beneath thousands of patients and civilians seeking refuge from intense combat.

Siemens Energy reported a 4.59-billion-euro ($5-billion) annual loss Wednesday, dragged down by a crisis in its wind power unit, a day after a government-backed rescue package was unveiled for the German group.

US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping will try to stop the superpowers' rivalry spilling into conflict when they meet for the first time in a year at a high-stakes summit in San Francisco on Wednesday.

UK inflation fell more than expected in October, data showed Wednesday, easing a cost-of-living crisis and relieving pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Equities surged Wednesday and the dollar struggled after slower-than-forecast US inflation was seen as all but putting to bed any chance of another interest rate hike, even allowing traders to bet on a series of cuts in the new year.

Nikola Jokic scored 32 points as the Denver Nuggets preserved their unbeaten home record to send the Los Angeles Clippers spinning to a sixth straight defeat in the NBA's in-season tournament on Tuesday.

Pedro Sanchez will seek a new term as Spain's prime minister in parliament Wednesday, after securing the backing of Catalan separatists in exchange for a controversial amnesty.

The ancient Vietnamese city of Hue, a world heritage site popular with tourists, was underwater Wednesday after heavy rain flooded thousands of homes and blocked highways.

Indian rescuers said Wednesday they had sent medicine to 40 men trapped after the road tunnel they were building collapsed, as frantic efforts to free them entered a fourth day.

With 16 wins and a draw in 17 matches in all competitions, Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen could scarcely have had a better start to the season.

China and the United States pledged Wednesday to work more closely together to fight global warming, declaring the climate crisis the "one of the greatest challenges of our time".

US President Joe Biden said Tuesday that China has "real problems," speaking at a fundraiser in San Francisco on the eve of an eagerly awaited meeting in the US city between himself and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.

Rory McIlroy has resigned from the PGA Tour's board after admitting he had grown disenchanted with the role during the tour's acrimonious battle with Saudi-funded LIV Golf.