Il Messaggiere - News from Rome, Modena, Reggio, Italy and the world

Max Verstappen took pole position for the Italian Grand Prix on Saturday, the reigning Formula One champion giving himself a chance at Monza of slowing McLaren's domination.

Stade Francais, who finished last season one point above the Top 14 relegation places, kicked off the French club rugby season on Saturday by romping to a 47-24 victory over promoted Montauban.

Emily Tuttosi scored two tries on her Exeter club home ground as Canada eventually overpowered Scotland 40-19 in the Women's Rugby World Cup on Saturday.

Marc Marquez continued his winning streak with a Catalunya MotoGP Sprint victory on Saturday after his brother Alex Marquez crashed out in the lead.

Postal traffic to the United States plunged more than 80 percent following Washington's imposition of new tariffs, with 88 operators worldwide fully or partially suspending services, the Universal Postal Union said Saturday.

Marcus Trescothick accepts a struggling England one-day international side must "climb those rankings" if they are to secure their place at the 2027 World Cup.

In a first for the Vatican, more than a thousand LGBTQ Catholics and their supporters are this weekend holding a pilgrimage, in what they are promoting as an important sign of diversity in the Church.

Cycling team Israel-Premier Tech removed their name from their kit at the Vuelta a Espana on Saturday after pro-Palestine protests aimed at them during the race.

Turkey's main opposition party has announced it will hold an extraordinary congress on September 21 after a court ousted its Istanbul leadership on graft allegations, a party source confirmed to AFP on Saturday.

An Israeli strike flattened a high-rise in Gaza City on Saturday -- the second in as many days -- after the military warned people to flee south to a "humanitarian zone" ahead of a planned offensive to capture the area.

Lando Norris was fastest in Saturday's practice at the Italian Grand Prix where he will try to to pull closer to championship leader Oscar Piastri.

Thousands of mourners paid homage Saturday to Italian fashion legend Giorgio Armani, who died this week aged 91, as his coffin was put on public display in Milan.

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said Ardie Savea's reputation as a player who "makes the big plays" was enhanced by his heroics in their 24-17 Rugby Championship win over South Africa on Saturday.

Alex Marquez swept to a first pole of the 2025 season in qualifying for the Catalunya MotoGP on Saturday, smashing the lap record in front of an adoring home crowd.

More than 300 South Koreans were among 475 people arrested by US immigration officials in a raid on a Hyundai-LG battery plant being built in the southern US state of Georgia, the foreign minister in Seoul said on Saturday.

Thailand's next prime minister on Saturday pledged to make good on his promise to lead the fractured interim government to new polls.

Pierre Gasly has signed a contract extension with Alpine until the end of the 2028 Formula One season, the French team announced on Saturday.

New Zealand scored two early tries and kept an error-prone South Africa at bay to win a rugged arm-wrestle 24-17 Saturday and stay top of the Rugby Championship.

The Israeli army told Gaza City residents to flee to a "humanitarian zone" in the south on Saturday ahead of a planned offensive to capture the territory's largest urban centre.

Thousands of mourners began paying homage on Saturday to Italian fashion giant Giorgio Armani, following his death aged 91.

Australia rallied from 14 points down and scored a try in the 86th minute to edge Argentina 28-24 in a breathless Rugby Championship Test on Saturday, taming a side that stunned the All Blacks a fortnight ago.

Chilean left-wing presidential candidate Jeannette Jara is a card-carrying communist, but you won't see the hammer and sickle at her campaign events.

Reigning champion Jannik Sinner expects another "special" occasion when he plays Carlos Alcaraz for the men's US Open title after the Italian reached his fifth successive Grand Slam final on Friday.

Justin Herbert out-dueled Patrick Mahomes to lead the Los Angeles Chargers to a 27-21 upset of the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL in Sao Paulo on Friday.

A suspected "large shark" mauled a surfer to death in a rare fatal attack off a Sydney beach on Saturday, Australian police and rescuers said, leading to a string of beach closures.

Carlos Alcaraz overpowered Novak Djokovic in straight sets on Friday to set up a blockbuster US Open final showdown against world number one and defending champion Jannik Sinner.

The Venice Film Festival wraps up Saturday with an awards ceremony during which the prestigious Golden Lion for best film will be handed out.

Reigning champion Jannik Sinner will play Carlos Alcaraz for the US Open title after the Italian beat Canadian 25th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in four sets on Friday.

Formula One star Daniel Ricciardo ruled out any return to the sport on Saturday after the eight-time grand prix winner was named global ambassador for Ford Racing.

For Hollywood stars Matthew McConaughey and Jamie Lee Curtis, making an action film about the deadliest wildfire in California history hits close to home.

Japan on Saturday heralded the coming-of-age of Prince Hisahito with an elaborate ceremony at the Imperial Palace, where a succession crisis is brewing.

A heart-wrenching docudrama about the Gaza war, a wrestling-themed love story starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and a darkly satirical South Korean thriller are among 21 films vying for the top prize at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday.

Australian police offered Aus$1 million Saturday for the arrest of a gunman who allegedly killed two police officers, as a vast manhunt entered its 12 day without any sightings.

Andry Hernandez jumped through hoops to claim asylum in the United States, hopeful of beginning a new life with an American man he met on Instagram -- only to be doomed by an innocent pair of wrist tattoos that landed him in a brutal El Salvador prison.

The US Open, the last Grand Slam of the tennis calendar, has become a coveted money-making opportunity for the world's top brands, in everything from banking to ice cream, generating hundreds of millions of dollars.

Thousands of mourners from the fashion world and beyond are expected to pay homage on Saturday to Italian fashion giant Giorgio Armani, following his death aged 91.

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro on Friday called for dialogue with Washington, hours after President Donald Trump threatened to shoot down Venezuelan military jets if they pose a danger to US forces.

Australia posted a US$659,000 reward Saturday for the arrest of a gunman on the run for a 12th day after allegedly killing two police officers.

Gabriela Dabrowski won her second US Open women's doubles title alongside Erin Routliffe on Friday, the culmination of a "wild ride" that began with a breast cancer diagnosis last year.