Forty-nine-year-old Meloni has been Italy's prime minister since October 22, 2022.
Carlos Alcaraz overcame early struggles with his tweaked serve and tricky Tokyo conditions to beat Alex Michelsen in three sets and keep his Japan Open title defence alive.
George Russell secured pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix with a dominant performance, setting a lap time significantly faster than his rivals. His Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli crashed out during qualifying, paving the way for Russell's 12th career pole. Other top contenders like Max Verstappen faced issues, while several drivers incurred grid penalties, setting the stage for a potentially unpredictable race on the challenging Baku street circuit.
Lionel Messi's final appearance for Argentina marks the end of a two-decade international career. Initially unknown to Argentine football authorities and facing skepticism, Messi's bond with his home country strengthened over time, culminating in World Cup glory. This retrospective explores his challenging journey from a Barcelona prodigy to an undisputed national icon.
Brazilian coach Carlo Ancelotti praised India's organised defence and counter-attacking efforts despite Brazil's 4-0 victory in a friendly match. Ancelotti noted the game became easier for Brazil after their first goal and highlighted the match as a test for younger players in Brazil's rebuilding phase. India's coach Khalid Jamil defended goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and stressed the importance of high-level matches for the Indian team.
Four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel drove Michael Schumacher's legendary Ferrari F2002 at Monza, paying an emotional tribute to his childhood idol.
Organisers of the Asian Games in Nagoya are actively addressing complaints regarding athlete accommodation, including issues with bed sizes in container huts and cabin sizes on the newly docked cruise ship, Costa Serena, which will house 4,000 participants.
Air India has been issued a show-cause notice by the ministry of civil aviation after three Italian nationals travelled from Amritsar to Delhi and then to Munich without obtaining mandatory departure immigration clearance, highlighting a 'serious security and immigration-related lapse'.
The Italian Open quarter-final between Luciano Darderi and Rafael Jodar was temporarily suspended due to smoke from fireworks at the nearby Stadio Olimpico, impacting visibility and the electronic line-calling system.
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli is pushing thoughts of the Formula One championship to the back of his mind, despite a commanding 66-point lead over teammate George Russell, preferring to focus on winning races.
Zinedine Zidane's France were held to a 1-1 draw by Italy in their Nations League match at the Stade de France. Michael Olise opened the scoring for France, but Alessandro Bastoni equalised for Italy. The match also saw France reduced to 10 men late in the game. In another Group A1 fixture, Belgium secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Turkey.
The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games are grappling with significant accommodation issues, including male and female athletes being allocated shared rooms and long waiting times for credential activation, forcing even the host Japan team to seek alternative arrangements.
Brazil's head coach Carlo Ancelotti praised India's defensive organisation and counter-attacking efforts despite his team's 4-0 victory in a friendly match in Kolkata. Ancelotti highlighted India's ability to create difficult moments for Brazil and used the match as an opportunity to assess young Brazilian talent, expressing satisfaction with their performance during the international window.
India is set to host five-time world champions Brazil in a historic invitational football friendly in Kolkata. The match, while offering invaluable exposure for the Indian team, has also drawn criticism over its cost and the decision to withdraw from the FIFA ASEAN Cup. The event carries political significance and marks a key step in Brazil's rebuilding process.
Five-time world champions Brazil are set to play India in an invitational friendly at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium, marking their first-ever international meeting. The match, while a spectacle for Indian fans, has drawn criticism regarding its cost and impact on Indian football development, with former captain Bhaichung Bhutia questioning its value over long-term investment. For Brazil, it's part of a rebuilding process, while India aims to gain invaluable experience against a top-tier team.
French Formula One driver Pierre Gasly secured his first career pole position at the Italian Grand Prix, driving for Alpine. He upset favourites like George Russell and Max Verstappen with a stunning final lap, marking a significant achievement for both Gasly and his team at the historic Monza circuit.
Ferrari is set to commemorate Michael Schumacher's first Italian Grand Prix win and his decade with the team (1996-2006) at this weekend's Monza GP.
Team Europe's Carlos Alcaraz saved two match points to defeat Taylor Fritz, while Team World's Alex de Minaur stunned Alexander Zverev on day two of the Laver Cup. Learner Tien also secured a win for Team World, but Team Europe ended Saturday with a 7-5 lead after additional victories by Zverev/Ruud.
Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic defeated Novak Djokovic in the second round of the Italian Open, marking Djokovic's first opening match loss at the tournament in 19 appearances.
George Russell secured a hard-fought victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, fending off a late charge from Max Verstappen after two safety car periods disrupted his comfortable lead. The win marks Russell's third of the season and significantly narrows the championship gap to teammate Kimi Antonelli. Isack Hadjar also celebrated a podium finish, while several other drivers faced incidents.
Jannik Sinner equalled Novak Djokovic's all-time record of 31 Masters 1000 wins in a row after defeating Andrea Pellegrino at the Italian Open.
Juventus secured a 2-0 victory over Atalanta, while AC Milan dominated Lecce with a 3-0 win in recent Serie A matches. Napoli, however, were held to a 1-1 draw by Fiorentina.
India's Asian Games contingent faces accommodation issues at Costa Serena, as athletes report cramped rooms and long delays amid organisational chaos.
Lewis Hamilton arrived at the Italian Grand Prix in his Ferrari F40, which coincidentally has 'number 44' stamped on its engine, as Ferrari introduces an engine upgrade for their home race, aiming to close the gap on championship leader Kimi Antonelli.
Top seed Alexander Zverev defeated Alejandro Tabilo 6-2 7-6(2) 6-2 to advance to the fourth round of the U.S. Open. After a dip in form during the second set, Zverev regained control to secure his victory and set up a clash with Luciano Darderi.
The Indian men's chess team defeated Italy 3-1, with Nihal Sarin and D Gukesh securing key wins. The women's team also achieved a dominant 3.5-0.5 victory against Greece, maintaining their strong position in the 46th Chess Olympiad.
Sorana Cirstea defeated Aryna Sabalenka in their third-round clash at the Italian Open.
Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu stated that no decision has been made regarding allowing Delhi and Mumbai airport operators to own and run airlines, as the government is carefully considering the implications of relaxing cross-ownership restrictions, including potential conflicts of interest and the need for more airlines.
Indian athletes, including wushu and table tennis players, faced initial check-in difficulties upon arrival for the Asian Games in Nagoya. While some wushu players and coaches reportedly had issues with room allocation on the designated cruise ship, officials stated the problems were resolved. The Games' accommodation plan involves a mix of cruise ships, container rooms, and hotels, with some contingents already raising concerns about the quality and availability of lodging.
Iga Swiatek showcased her dominance at the Italian Open, defeating Jessica Pegula in straight sets to advance to the semi-finals.
India's Pranavi Urs finished Tied-9 after the rain-affected first round of the La Sella Open golf tournament in Spain, carding a 3-under score. Italian Anna Zanusso leads the field, while other Indian golfers like Diksha Dagar, Avani Prashanth, Vani Kapoor, and Hitaashee Bakshi also competed, with varying results.
Elina Svitolina of Ukraine defeated Coco Gauff in the Italian Open final, signalling her ambitions for the upcoming French Open.
Italian football is experiencing a significant crisis following the failure of its clubs in European competitions and the national team's continued absence from the World Cup.
The UEFA Champions League group stage commenced with contrasting fortunes for debutants Como and Sabah. Italian side Como secured a dominant 4-1 victory over RB Leipzig, celebrating their first-ever qualification in style at their upgraded home stadium. In contrast, Azerbaijani champions Sabah faced a challenging debut, suffering a 4-0 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Jannik Sinner was two games away from the Italian Open final when heavy rain suspended his semi-final match against Daniil Medvedev, with Sinner leading 6-2, 5-7, 4-2.
Kimi Antonelli claimed his eighth victory of the season at the Madrid Grand Prix, extending his Formula One championship lead to 81 points. The Italian driver benefited from a timely Virtual Safety Car deployment and a problematic pitstop for pole-sitter Lando Norris, who had been leading comfortably. Max Verstappen finished second, with Norris recovering to secure third place after the unfortunate incident.
UEFA vice-president Laura McAllister stated that UEFA is actively seeking a credible challenger to FIFA President Gianni Infantino for the upcoming March election, emphasising the need for a candidate capable of uniting football's confederations and delivering lasting governance reform, rather than merely installing a European figurehead.
Americans Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Kenny Bednarek secured double sprint gold at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, each winning the 100m and 200m titles and a $300,000 jackpot. Jefferson-Wooden's 200m time of 21.47 seconds made her the third fastest woman in history, while Bednarek, known as "Kung Fu Kenny," dominated the men's 200m. The event, designed for television, drew sellout crowds and featured other star athletes like Gianmarco Tamberi and Mondo Duplantis, with World Athletics president Sebastian Coe noting its potential for future Olympic and World Championship elements.
Danish FA President Jesper Moller has renewed calls for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to step down, citing FIFA's refusal to answer 'critical questions' regarding its abandoned proposal to sell commercial stakes in tournaments.
Indian athletes at the Asian Games in Nagoya are facing significant accommodation challenges, including cramped rooms on a cruise ship and long waits for check-in. The host nation's athletes are also affected, with complaints about shared rooms and general mismanagement. Organisers have opted against a traditional Athletes Village, leading to athletes travelling long distances for training, further exacerbating the logistical issues ahead of the mega-event.
