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

From fringe far-right leader to a "friend" of Joe Biden, Italy's Giorgia Meloni marks one year in office this weekend having confounded expectations.

A Taiwanese couple decked out in a tux and gown embrace in front of a mountain of trash in an unorthodox wedding photo -- one the environment-conscious bride hopes will discourage her guests from generating unnecesary garbage.

Jose Altuve smashed a three-run home run in the ninth inning to deliver defending champion Houston a dramatic 5-4 comeback victory over Texas on Friday in the Major League Baseball playoffs.

Women writers are taking the Chinese science fiction scene by storm, with their increasing prominence one of the genre's most noticeable trends, according to participants at a major convention in Chengdu this week.

Three-time Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif will return home on Saturday after four years of self-imposed exile, primed to make a political comeback ahead of elections.

Hamas released two American hostages held in Gaza on Friday, offering a "sliver of hope" to desperate families, as Israel pounded the densely-populated territory where millions are still awaiting promised aid deliveries.

At first glance, the spotted lanternfly looks like an elegant butterfly, speckled with black spots on white wings with a splash of bright red.

When a dozen Latin American presidents and foreign ministers meet on Sunday in Mexico, they'll face a huge task: finding a solution to migration flows roiling two continents as people make their way to the United States.

Spain's Jorge Martin will start on pole for the Australian MotoGP after blasting to a new lap record in qualifying Saturday, with world championship rival Francesco Bagnaia third on the grid.

Hurricane Norma on Friday once again strengthened to a Category 3 storm as it approaches a tourist hotspot on Mexico's Pacific coast.

A superb second-half chip from Julian Brandt sent Borussia Dortmund to the top of the Bundesliga table with a 1-0 home win over Werder Bremen on Friday.

New Zealand head coach Ian Foster said he would sit down with some popcorn to enjoy seeing who his side will face in the Rugby World Cup final after they thrashed Argentina on Friday.

Argentina head coach Michael Cheika said he and his players were "hurting" after their 44-6 Rugby World Cup semi-final pummelling by New Zealand, but insisted "they will be ready" for next Friday's third-placed play-off.

President Joe Biden requested urgent military aid for Ukraine and Israel in a massive $106 billion security package Friday, but he faces a tough battle to get it through a paralyzed US Congress.

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag says England left-back Luke Shaw will not return from injury until after the next international break in mid-November.

Was Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza hit by Israeli fire? Or did it become the victim of a misfired Palestinian rocket? How many civilians were killed?

Pep Guardiola has denied tipping Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi to be his successor at Manchester City.

Global stock markets slid Friday on worries that an expected ground invasion of Gaza by Israel would spark a wider conflict in the Middle East.

The US budget deficit for the past year widened to $1.7 trillion, government data showed on Friday, in a development that could add pressure on President Joe Biden as he seeks reelection in 2024.

Three people died in Scotland and England and families were trapped in flooded homes Friday as Storm Babet moved east after pounding Ireland and headed for Scandinavia.

New Zealand fly-half Richie Mo'unga exorcised the ghosts of the 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final defeat by England with a commanding performance in the one-sided 44-6 thrashing of Argentina on Saturday.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday said Qatar had played a key role in the release by Palestinian militant group Hamas of two American hostages held since its attack against Israel on October 7, adding he was confident of further releases.

Will Jordan scored a hat-trick of tries as New Zealand outclassed Argentina 44-6 on Friday to set up a Rugby World Cup final against the winner of the second semi-final between England and defending champions South Africa.

Israel confirmed on Friday that Hamas had released two Americans among more than 200 hostages abducted earlier this month as it kept up its unrelenting bombing of Gaza in response to the Islamists' unprecedented attacks across the border.

A superb second-half chip from Julian Brandt sent Borussia Dortmund to the top of the Bundeslia table with a 1-0 home win over Werder Bremen on Friday.

US comedian Jon Stewart's talk show on Apple TV+ has reportedly been canceled after just two series due to clashes between its host and the company over topics such as China and artificial intelligence.

A damaging, weeks-long Republican leadership crisis deepened further Friday, leaving the paralyzed US legislature unable to perform even basic functions like funding the government and addressing growing national security concerns.

Meta and Google have pulled out of the Web Summit, one of the tech sector's biggest annual events, after the organizer criticized Israel's actions following the Hamas attacks, the companies said on Friday.

Relatives of some of the 200 people taken hostage by Islamist group Hamas in its October 7 assault in Israel urged the Red Cross Friday for help, saying more had to be done to free them.

Opener David Warner revealed he did not see the dropped catch which allowed him to go on and make a sensational 163 in Australia's 62-run win over Pakistan in the World Cup at Bengaluru on Friday.

Newly-crowned three-time world champion Max Verstappen picked up in the heat of Texas where he left off in Qatar as he topped the times in Friday’s sole practice session at this weekend’s United States Grand Prix.

Republicans dropped conservative hard-liner Jim Jordan as their nominee to lead the US House of Representatives in a secret ballot Friday after he failed to secure victory on the floor for the third time.