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

The chirping of birds echoed through a packed lecture hall in Hong Kong, though there wasn't a feather in sight.

Irish rap group Kneecap, one of whose members faces a British terror charge for allegedly supporting Hezbollah, are to perform outside Paris on Sunday, despite objections from French Jewish groups and government officials.

Armed with colourful oars, rowers pack into long boats in western Indonesia, paddling furiously in front of race crowds swelled by the viral success of a young boy famous for his dancing at the front of the traditional vessels.

Los Angeles FC's South Korean superstar Son Heung-min and Vancouver's prized German import Thomas Mueller grabbed their first Major League Soccer goals on Saturday.

Fast bowler Lance Morris was Sunday ruled out for 12 months due to back surgery, denying him the chance to be part of Australia's squad for the Ashes series later this year.

Los Angeles FC's South Korean superstar Son Heung-min grabbed his first Major League Soccer goal on Saturday, burying a first-half free kick in a 1-1 draw with FC Dallas.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's push to slash consumption taxes on everyday goods could deliver billions of dollars in annual relief and boost demand in an economy bracing for painful US tariffs, experts say.

People in an Indonesian village watched as a tower of loudspeakers mounted on a truck rumbled through their usually serene home, blasting a thumping bass loud enough to crack windows.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen the test-firing of two new air defence missiles, state media said Sunday, after Pyongyang accused Seoul of fomenting tensions on the border.

Defending champions Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka are chasing rare repeat US Open triumphs as the final Grand Slam of the season gets under way in New York on Sunday.

Civil servants, housewives and retirees alike lined up in Venezuela's capital Caracas on Saturday as thousands volunteered to join the country's militia in case there is a US invasion.

Elon Musk's SpaceX is gearing up for the next test of its Starship megarocket on Sunday, after a string of recent failures that has prompted some observers to question its viability.

Outside supermarkets or in festival crowds, millions are now having their features scanned by real-time facial-recognition systems in the UK -- the only European country to deploy the technology on a large scale.

Canadian Brooke Henderson holed out from a bunker for an eagle at the 17th hole on the way to a six-under par 65 and a share of the 54-hole lead alongside Minjee Lee in the LPGA Canadian Women's Open.

Hungary's Marton Fucsovics steadied after a late lapse to capture his third ATP title on Saturday, holding off Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) in the final of the hardcourt tournament in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Tommy Fleetwood, chasing an elusive first PGA Tour title and a $10 million top prize, bounced back from a late double bogey to remain tied for the lead at the Tour Championship on Saturday alongside Patrick Cantlay.

An inspired Argentina played with greater discipline to upset New Zealand 29-23 in a bruising Rugby Championship Test Saturday and record their first ever home win over the All Blacks.

France made a winning start to their Women's Rugby World Cup campaign as they ground out a 24-0 victory over Italy in Exeter on Saturday.

Barcelona fought back from two goals down at newly-promoted Levante to win 3-2 on Saturday, while Atletico Madrid dropped more points from a winning position.

Carlos Alcaraz is hoping to end Jannik Sinner's dominance of hardcourt Grand Slam events as the two rivals prepare to do battle again at the US Open.

Iga Swiatek insisted Saturday she does not see herself as favorite for the US Open despite an impressive run of recent form that has left her as the player to beat according to oddsmakers.

Kevin De Bruyne scored on his Napoli debut on Saturday as the Serie A champions kicked off their title defence with a straightforward 2-0 win at promoted Sassuolo, while Luka Modric and AC Milan fell to a shock 2-1 home defeat to Cremonese.

South Africa are back in contention to defend their Rugby Championship title, coach Rassie Erasmus said after the Springboks beat Australia 30-22 at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

Romanian veteran Sorana Cirstea captured her first WTA title in more than four years on Saturday, beating American Ann Li 6-2, 6-4 to lift the trophy in Cleveland.

Nigeria's airforce said it had killed more than 35 jihadists in raids Saturday on militant fighters that had gathered near the Nigeria–Cameroon border following an attempted attack on ground troops.

Sri Lanka's jailed former president was rushed to intensive care at a state hospital on Saturday, a day after being charged with misusing government funds for foreign travel.

Russia on Saturday said its forces had taken two villages in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region, increasing the military pressure as world leaders struggle to broker an end to the conflict.

Atletico Madrid dropped more points from a winning position in La Liga as their opening home match of the season ended in a 1-1 draw with newly-promoted Elche on Saturday.

Julia Schell needed just 22 minutes to score a remarkable six tries as Canada launched their Women's Rugby World Cup campaign with a 65-7 thrashing of Fiji in York on Saturday.

Viktor Gyokeres scored his first two Arsenal goals as the Gunners gave Leeds a harsh lesson in the step-up to the Premier League with a 5-0 win at the Emirates.

Bayer Leverkusen let a one-goal lead slip to lose 2-1 at home to Hoffenheim in new coach Erik ten Hag's Bundesliga debut on Saturday.

A new-look Manchester City showed familiar frailties as Tottenham strolled to a 2-0 win at the Etihad on Saturday, while Viktor Gyokeres scored his first Arsenal goals in a 5-0 hammering of Leeds.

Viktor Gyokeres scored his first two Arsenal goals as the Gunners gave Leeds a harsh lesson in the step up to the Premier League with a 5-0 win at the Emirates.

Kevin De Bruyne scored on his Napoli debut on Saturday as the Serie A champions kicked off their title defence with a straightforward 2-0 win at promoted Sassuolo.

South Korea fired warning shots at North Korean soldiers that briefly crossed the heavily fortified border earlier this week, Seoul said Saturday after Pyongyang accused it of risking "uncontrollable" tensions.

Francesca McGhie's superb hat-trick helped Scotland launch their Women's Rugby World Cup campaign with a convincing 38-8 bonus-point win over Wales in Salford on Saturday.

Venus Williams said Saturday she is relishing the prospect of her record-extending 25th US Open appearance, saying the experience of playing in her home Grand Slam never gets old.

A fourth Portuguese firefighter died of injuries sustained battling a wildfire Saturday as Spain slowly got the upper hand over fires that have scorched vast swathes of territory.

South Africa bounced back from defeat a week ago with fly-half Handre Pollard producing a masterly kicking performance in a 30-22 win over Australia in their Rugby Championship match at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.