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

Packed with missile tests, propaganda hailing the great leaders and tirades against the United States, North Korea's top newspaper was long considered so incendiary that South Korea banned its citizens from reading it.

Markets made a bright start to 2026 on Friday but volumes were thin with Tokyo and Shanghai still closed as investors awaited fresh direction from Wall Street.

Seamer Matthew Potts and spinner Shoaib Bashir were included in a 12-man England squad Friday for the fifth Ashes Test against Australia as the tourists look to finish the series on a high.

Sebastian Baez and Solana Sierra led Argentina to an unassailable 2-0 lead over Spain on Friday to begin the ATP-WTA United Cup and clinch only the nation's second win from seven ties played at the mixed-team event.

Tour Down Under champions Jhonatan Narvaez and Noemi Ruegg will be back to defend their titles at the season-opening UCI World Tour race, officials said Friday, heading a stellar field that also boasts Tour de France queen stage winner Ben O'Connor.

Teenagers Eleonore and Elisa started the year with a frantic search for friends who have been missing since a deadly fire tore through a bar in a neighbouring Swiss town.

Teenagers Eleonore and Elisa started the year with a frantic search for friends who have been missing since a deadly fire tore through a bar in a neighbouring Swiss town.

Asian markets made a bright start to 2026 on Friday but volumes were thin with Tokyo and Shanghai still closed as investors awaited fresh direction from Wall Street.

Norman Powell scored a game-high 36 points and the Miami Heat took their fourth consecutive NBA victory with a 118-112 triumph at Eastern Conference leader Detroit on Thursday.

Investigators raced on Friday to identify the victims of a fire that ripped through a bar in the Swiss Alps town of Crans-Montana, turning a New Year's celebration into one of the country's worst tragedies.

With captain Achraf Hakimi hardly featuring during the Africa Cup of Nations group stage as he recovers from injury, Ayoub El Kaabi has emerged as the hero of the tournament so far for the host country.

The transfer window for Premier League clubs is open with sides ready to splash out to win the title, secure a place in next season's Champions League or just survive in the lucrative English top flight.

President Nicolas Maduro Thursday dodged a question about an alleged US attack on a dock in Venezuela but said he was open to cooperation with Washington after weeks of American military pressure.

Seven-time major singles champion Venus Williams was handed a wildcard to the Australian Open aged 45 on Friday, becoming the oldest woman ever to play at the season-opening Grand Slam.

US President Donald Trump blamed aspirin for large bruises on his hand and denied falling asleep while attending public meetings in an interview with The Wall Street Journal published Thursday.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's wardrobe is more than a statement of style; it has become known as a canvass for her political message of advancing women's and Indigenous rights.

For years, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia projected geopolitical and economic power across the Gulf and beyond, seemingly in tandem.

Former Australian Test batsman Damien Martyn is showing "positive signs" after being hospitalised in an induced coma with meningitis, ex-teammate Adam Gilchrist said.

The North Korean leader's daughter Kim Ju Ae has made her first visit to a mausoleum housing her grandfather and great-grandfather, state media images showed Friday, further solidifying her place as her father's successor.

The deadly fire that ripped through a crowded bar in the Swiss ski resort town of Crans-Montana raises numerous questions.

Dozens were killed and over 100 injured when a fire ripped through a crowded bar in the luxury Swiss ski resort town of Crans-Montana early Thursday as young revellers rang in the New Year.

Usman Khawaja said Friday he will retire from international cricket after the fifth and Ashes clash against England, leaving a legacy as Australia's first Muslim Test cricketer while lashing out at perceived "racial stereotyping" during his 15-year career.

30 former NFL star players from different NFL Teams will autograph on-site up to 3,000 The Dream Bowl memorabilia items such as helmets, footballs, jerseys, and live-autographs by Notable Live.Autographed memorabilia items will be anchored by Prova & Sumerian technologies and digital twins will be tokenized with Data Vault.Digital tokens anchored to real The Dream Bowl autographed memorabilia items will be awarded [by lottery] to holders of the original Dream Bowl Meme Coin token (the "Dream Bowl Meme Coin I") and, following the distribution date of the Dream Bowl Meme Coin II tokens to certain record holders of Datavault AI securities as of January 7, 2026 (the "Dream Bowl Meme Coin II" and together with the Dream Bowl Meme Coin I, the "Dream Bowl Meme Coins"), to holders of the Dream Bowl Meme Coin II, throughout 2026 with an average of 10 winners selected every business day.Dream Bowl Meme Coins memorabilia digital tokens will be traded on Datavault AI's forthcoming International NIL Exchange and [lottery] winners can decide to trade or take physical possession of The Dream Bowl autographed memorabilia items won by them.

Thomas Frank said the "boring Tottenham" taunts from his own club's fans were understandable after they were held to a dour 0-0 draw by Brentford on Thursday.

Pep Guardiola admitted Manchester City paid the price for their sloppy finishing in a 0-0 draw against Sunderland that dealt a major blow to their title hopes on Thursday.

Hundreds gathered in silence in the freezing night in Crans-Montana on Thursday evening, laying flowers and lighting candles to remember those killed and injured in a horrific blaze as they celebrated the New Year.

Victor Wembanyama will miss San Antonio's NBA game on Friday at Indiana after suffering a hyper-extended left knee in a Spurs victory over New York, according to multiple reports on Thursday.

Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro left a hospital Thursday to return to prison and resume serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup.

Manchester City trail Arsenal by four points at the top of the Premier League after failing to end Sunderland's unbeaten home record in a 0-0 draw on Thursday, while Liverpool were also held by Leeds.

Manchester City's Premier League title challenge suffered a major setback as they were held to a 0-0 draw against Sunderland on Thursday.

Australia's Usman Khawaja said Friday he will retire from international cricket after the fifth and final Ashes Test in Sydney, drawing the curtain on an illustrious 15-year career.

San Francisco will try to secure a home-field playoff edge into the Super Bowl as two top seeds and two playoff berths will be decided on the final weekend of the NFL campaign.

Zohran Mamdani promised Thursday to show left-wing politics can succeed as he took over as New York mayor for a term sure to see him cross swords with US President Donald Trump.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot said his side's dominance of possession counts for little without "special moments" of individual brilliance after a toothless display in drawing 0-0 at home to Leeds.

Liverpool lacked the firepower to break down a much-changed Leeds in a 0-0 draw at Anfield that wasted a chance to solidify their place in the Premier League top four.

Around 40 people were killed and over 100 injured when a fire ripped through a crowded bar in the luxury Swiss ski resort town of Crans-Montana as young revellers rang in the new year, police said Thursday.

K-pop megastars BTS will release a new album in March ahead of a world tour, the group announced on Thursday.

Protesters and security forces clashed in three Iranian cities on Thursday, with six people reported killed, the first deaths since the cost-of-living demonstrations broke out.

Nigeria on Thursday launched a new tax regime that officials said will expand the tax base, ease the tax burden on low-income earners and small businesses, and streamline collection and administration.