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

Cycling's Vuelta a Espana organisers cut the route of the race's 21st and final stage by eight kilometres (five miles) on Saturday, with large pro-Palestinian protests expected for the Madrid finale.

Raphael Collignon stunned world number eight Alex De Minaur on Saturday for the biggest win of his career as Belgium took a 2-0 lead over Australia in their Davis Cup second round qualifier.

Nepal's newly appointed interim prime minister began work on Saturday by visiting young protesters wounded in the deadly anti-corruption rallies that ousted her predecessor.

Olympic champion Julien Alfred cruised through the women's 100 metres heats with the fastest time at the world athletics championships on Saturday, with in-form American Melissa Jefferson-Wooden qualifying third quickest.

An "emotional" South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus said Saturday the death of two former Springboks this week cast a shadow over their record-breaking defeat of the All Blacks.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick lashed out at the Spanish national team on Saturday after Lamine Yamal was ruled out of his team's La Liga clash against Valencia.

A dominant South Africa inflicted a record defeat on New Zealand on Saturday, powering to a 43-10 win in a complete performance to reclaim the number one world ranking.

Marco Bezzecchi claimed pole position for the San Marino MotoGP on Saturday as the flying Marquez brothers were denied a one-two in the final seconds of qualifying.

A dominant South Africa inflicted a record defeat on New Zealand on Saturday, powering to a 43-10 win in a complete performance to reclaim the number one world ranking.

Raphael Collignon stunned world number eight Alex De Minaur on Saturday for the biggest win of his career as Belgium took a 2-0 lead over Australia in their Davis Cup second round qualifier.

Grieving families of those killed in Nepal's anti-corruption demonstrations say they hope the deaths will not be in vain, as the protesters' choice of interim prime minister took charge Saturday.

Santiago Carreras landed 23 points with the boot to drive Argentina past Australia 28-26 Saturday as the resilient Pumas hung on to avenge a last-gasp defeat a week ago.

Nepal's capital on Saturday took a step back towards normality after deadly anti-corruption protests, as daily life returned with a curfew eased and an interim prime minister sworn into office.

On a meadow in southeastern Austria near the border with Slovenia, Josef Hadler is working his tractor to mow several acres of land in a bid to better preserve the plot's biodiversity.

Children across Italy are returning to classrooms after a traditional three months off school -- the longest summer holiday in Europe.

Undisputed super middleweight world champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and American challenger Terence Crawford faced off for one last time before their blockbuster bout at a raucous ceremonial weigh-in on Friday.

Japanese fans soaked up the atmosphere on Saturday's opening day of the world athletics championships in Tokyo, four years after being shut out of the same stadium for the pandemic-troubled Olympics.

Pace bowling great Wasim Akram has urged Pakistan and India's cricketers to ignore the noise and enjoy the game when they meet in a highly charged Asia Cup T20 match on Sunday.

An economist who champions the welfare state and nationalizations has emerged as libertarian, budget-slashing President Javier Milei's political nemesis in Argentina.

Take one very large shark, a boat (we're gonna need a bigger one of those) and a movie that ran way over budget and you've got all the ingredients of a career-making film for one of Hollywood's most successful directors.

Germany, France, Argentina and Austria all edged closer to the Davis Cup finals on Friday taking 2-0 leads in their second-round qualifiers.

Oleh Doroshchuk has a chance of a medal at the world championships but the Ukrainian high jumper told AFP he finds the war still raging in his country with Russia is an "overwhelming weight".

The widow of prominent right-wing activist Charlie Kirk pledged Friday to carry on her husband's work, after US authorities announced his alleged assassin had finally been captured.

Canada's Evan Dunfee and Spain's Maria Perez claimed the opening golds on offer at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo with respective victories in the men and women's 35km race walking events on Saturday.

Ben Griffin led the charge of US Ryder Cup players at the PGA Procore Championship on Friday, firing a six-under par 66 to seize a three-shot lead over Russell Henley and amateur Jackson Koivun.

Nadeen Ayoub, the first Palestinian to compete in Miss Universe, will step onto the stage at the height of one of the most harrowing periods in her people's history, determined to show they are more than headlines of war.

Jakob Ingebrigtsen might have hoped it would be third time lucky in his quest for a 1500 metres world title in Tokyo but he arrives rusty having been laid low by an achilles injury this season.

Russia said Friday that peace talks with Kyiv were on "pause" as President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin still wanted to capture the whole of Ukraine.

Thailand's Chanettee Wannasaen fired a four-under par 68 to hold her two-stroke lead after Friday's second round of the LPGA Queen City Championship.

The Fitch agency downgraded France's credit rating on Friday, as President Emmanuel Macron struggles with political instability and disagreements on how to put the country's strained public finances in order.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill said Friday he is focusing on football amid reports the NFL has launched an investigation into domestic violence allegations against him.

With more than five tonnes of rice, tomato concentrate, cooking oil and onions, Nigerian chef Hilda Baci attempted on Friday to conjure up the biggest rice jollof ever made.

Brazilian ex-president Jair Bolsonaro has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for plotting a coup.

The Fitch agency downgraded France's credit rating on Friday, as President Emmanuel Macron struggles with political instability and disagreements on how to put the country's strained public finances in order.

Israeli military operations killed 50 people in Gaza on Friday, the territory's civil defence agency said, as the army stepped up its attacks on Gaza City.

Marseille warmed up for a trip to Real Madrid in the Champions League by cruising to a 4-0 win at home to 10-man Lorient in Ligue 1 on Friday, with Mason Greenwood's early penalty setting them on the way.

Alex Grimaldo scored a free-kick in each half as Bayer Leverkusen survived two red cards to beat Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1 at home on Friday in new coach Kasper Hjulmand's debut.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers hit out at "cowardly" briefing to the media from a reported club insider on Friday as fans of the Scottish champions plan to ramp up protests against the club's board this weekend.

Phil Salt hit the highest score and quickest century by an England batsman in a T20 international as the hosts hammered South Africa by 146 runs to level their three-match series at 1-1 during a record-breaking evening at Old Trafford on Friday.