Italy

Robinho given prison sentence in Italy for 2013 sexual assault

The sentence relates to an alleged incident of group sexual assault on a 22-year-old woman involving five other men who were at a Milanese nightclub on January 22, 2013, during the 33-year-old's time playing for AC Milan in Serie A.

Agent and lawyer Marisa Alija Ramos posted on Instagram to state Robinho denies the charges after pleading not guilty on behalf of her client, who did not attend the court hearings in northern Italy.

Kiribati President meets jailed seamen in Italy

A government statement said Mr Maamau extended warm greetings, provided counseling and heard of the needs of the men who are in three different prisons in Italy.

He told the former seamen with the company Hamburg Sud, to be obedient, patient and strong while serving their sentences.

Italy 0 Sweden 0 (0-1 agg)

Not since the 1958 tournament, coincidentally held in Sweden, have the Azzurri not been at football's showpiece event, but defeat in Solna in the first leg proved their undoing and surely signals the end of Gian Piero Ventura's disappointing reign as coach.

It was a far more industrious effort from the four-time world champions at San Siro than the drab effort produced in the first leg, and visiting goalkeeper Robin Olsen was at his best to keep Italy at bay at the end of a busy first half.

World Cup without Italy would be a 'disaster', says Low

Italy host Sweden in the second leg on Monday at San Siro, looking to overturn the narrow defeat in Solna in attempt to reach a 15th consecutive finals.

Coach Ventura is under immense pressure and will almost certainly lose his job should Italy fail, while some are even expecting him to be sacked regardless of Monday's result, with Carlo Ancelotti waiting in the wings.

Fiji book RLWC finals with Italy thrashing

The two nations had never met before Friday and they made up for lost time, producing a match that had everything a rugby league fan could ask for. 

Breathtaking tries, wonderful individual performances, huge hits and three controversial sin-bins were just some of the highlights of the fiery clash that for a long time was a lot closer than the scoreboard suggests. 

Needing to win by 46 to progress to the quarter-finals, it was always going to be a tough ask for the Italians and they did not help their cause in the early stages. 

Stylish Irish cruise past Azzurri

Having scored just 14 points at the 2013 World Cup, the Irish matched that tally inside 20 minutes and then kicked on in the second half after the Azzurri had threatened a comeback with tries either side of the interval. 

Tonga top Italy in World Cup warm-up

All eyes were on forwards Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita, both playing their first match for Tonga since turning their backs on New Zealand and Australia, but the duo only played the first 20 minutes of the match.

Italy 5 Liechtenstein 0: Insigne and Belotti shine in easy win

Giampiero Ventura's men rarely had to get out of first gear against Liechtenstein, who lost their 10th consecutive World Cup qualifying match despite holding firm for 35 minutes in Udine.

Insigne broke the deadlock for the hosts with his third international goal, smashing a superb volley in off the post after creating a chance for himself out of nothing.

The Napoli forward then set up the second goal for Italy shortly after half-time as reported Manchester United and AC Milan target Belotti timed his run on to the throughball to bend a clinical finish past Peter Jehle.

Plot to kidnap dead Ferrari boss foiled

Ferrari, founder of the company that produces some of the world's fastest and most expensive cars, died in 1988 at the age of 90 after making the company's prancing horse logo an internationally recognised brand.

RNZ reports Police in Sardinia say they suspect a gang had planned to demand a ransom from the Ferrari family or company after spiriting away the body.

They gave no further details about the plot but said it was discovered during an investigation into arms and drug trafficking that led to a number of arrests.

Libya the epicentre of migrant child abuse

A new report shows nearly 26,000 mostly-unaccompanied children made the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean, double the previous year.

In it, Unicef said many children suffer from violence and sexual abuse at the hands of smugglers and traffickers.

But they rarely report their abuse, for fear of arrest and deportation.

The agency also said there is not enough food, water and medical care in Libya's detention centres.