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ATP Finals 2023 results: Novak Djokovic beats Jannik Sinner to win title

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Novak Djokovic secured his record seventh ATP Finals title with a commanding victory over Jannik Sinner, avenging his earlier loss in the group stage. The 36-year-old Serbian’s 6-3, 6-3 win in Turin, Italy, marked another milestone in a remarkable season where he set records in rankings and titles. Djokovic expressed that it was one of the best seasons of his life, especially significant to crown it against the hometown hero, Jannik.

Before the singles final, British success was celebrated in the doubles as Joe Salisbury and his American partner Rajeev Ram retained their title. They claimed victory in straight sets against Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos.

In the singles final, Djokovic took control early with a break and dominated, dropping only two points on his serve in the flawless opening set. Despite Sinner’s efforts, Djokovic secured another break in the second set, sealing his victory with a double fault from Sinner on the first match point. This win marked Djokovic’s seventh ATP Finals title, surpassing Roger Federer’s six.

Djokovic reflected on his tactical adjustments from the group stage and described the week as phenomenal. He acknowledged the need to step up his game against younger challengers like Sinner and attributed his success to a brilliant performance, winning an impressive 91% of first-serve points.

Djokovic’s victory in the ATP Finals added to his list of achievements in a record-setting year. He surpassed Federer for titles won at the ATP Finals, secured the year-end men’s world number one position for a record eighth time, and spent a record 400 weeks at the top of the singles rankings. This year, Djokovic won three of the four Grand Slam singles titles, overtaking Rafael Nadal’s men’s tally and tying Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24. The victory in Turin set the stage for Djokovic’s pursuit of a 25th major at the upcoming Australian Open in January. Despite the tour season ending, Djokovic continued his playing season at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, Spain, where he led Serbia in the quarter-final against Great Britain.

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Andrea Giambruno: Meloni’s ex-partner dropped as TV host over lewd remarks

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Andrea Giambruno, former partner of Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, has been removed from his position as host of a national TV show following the leakage of off-air sexist comments to another program.

The TV company, Mediaset, has stated that Giambruno will retain an editorial role on the show. Meloni recently announced her separation from Giambruno after a recording of his conversation, which was broadcast on a satirical TV show, prompted controversy.

Mediaset, owned by the family of late Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, has replaced Giambruno’s role with journalist Manuela Boselli. There have been speculations in Italian media about the impact of this incident on the tensions within the Meloni government.

However, both the Berlusconi family and Forza Italia have denied any involvement in the leak. Meloni, known for her adherence to traditional Catholic family values, has emphasized the importance of a mother and father in a child’s life.

Antonio Ricci, director of the show that aired the recording, had earlier suggested that the incident might eventually benefit Meloni. Reports indicate that Giambruno had often joked about his relationship with the prime minister, and further embarrassing recordings could potentially emerge, according to sources.

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Italy PM Giorgia Meloni splits from partner after off-air lewd TV remarks

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni recently confirmed her separation from her long-time partner, Andrea Giambruno, following the broadcast of off-air comments made by Giambruno on a TV show. The announcement was made on social media, where Meloni acknowledged the divergence of their paths and expressed gratitude for their time together and for their daughter, Ginevra.

Giambruno, a TV host, faced backlash after his off-air remarks were aired on a satirical program. The comments included flirtatious remarks to a female colleague and explicit references to group sex, causing controversy. Notably, Giambruno previously stirred controversy with remarks about a gang-rape case, implying that certain precautions could have prevented the incident. Meloni defended him then, claiming his words were misinterpreted, and requested not to be held responsible for his comments as he was simply doing his job as a journalist.

Meloni, known for her adherence to traditional Catholic family values and her opposition to same-sex parenting, received support from her allies following the announcement of her separation. Matteo Salvini, her deputy, and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani both offered their support publicly. The network Mediaset, where Giambruno works, was formerly owned by the late Silvio Berlusconi, who was criticized for perpetuating a culture of sexism and machismo in Italian television.

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UEFA Confirms UK and Ireland as Hosts for Euro 2028 Tournament

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In an announcement by UEFA, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland have been confirmed as the hosts for the 2028 European Championship. This joint bid became the sole contender after Turkey withdrew to concentrate on a joint bid with Italy for Euro 2032, which was also approved.

The choice of the UK and Ireland for Euro 2028 followed their decision to step away from being Europe’s preferred candidate for the 2030 World Cup. Key venues for Euro 2028 are expected to include London’s Wembley Stadium, which is slated to host the final, and Cardiff’s Principality Stadium for the opening match.

While England has hosted major football tournaments before, this marks the first time that the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Wales will host such an event. Matches are planned at various stadiums, including Glasgow’s Hampden Park and Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.

With this decision, Europe continues its tradition of sharing hosting duties, ensuring football’s reach and impact across the continent.

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Venice tourist bus plunges from bridge, killing 21

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A tragic incident occurred near Venice as an electric bus, carrying 39 people, crashed off a flyover, resulting in the death of at least 21 individuals, including several children. The bus broke through a barrier and plunged nearly 15 meters (50 feet) near railway tracks in Mestre, connected to Venice by a bridge. The casualties included five Ukrainians, one German, and the Italian driver.

Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro described the scene as a “huge tragedy” and “apocalyptic.” CCTV footage showed the bus passing another vehicle before toppling off the road. Three children, including a baby, were among the fatalities, and the toll may rise, according to Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi. Fifteen people were injured, some seriously, including Ukrainians, Austrians, Spaniards, and other foreign tourists.

The bus, an electric vehicle, was rented to transport tourists from Venice to a campsite in the Marghera district. The cause of the accident remains unclear, with investigators examining security camera footage. The experienced 40-year-old driver may have become ill, leading to the tragic crash. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed condolences to the victims’ families.

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Community Devastated as Beloved Bear is Fatally Shot in Italian Town

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A beloved female bear, known as Amarena, was tragically shot and killed on the outskirts of a central Italian town, reportedly due to a man’s fear. Amarena had gained popularity after she was captured on video earlier in the week, wandering in the town of San Sebastiano Dei Marsi with her two cubs.

Local authorities and residents were shocked by the incident, as there had been no prior history of bears posing a threat in the Abruzzo region. Amarena’s death has sparked outrage and calls for the protection of her cubs, who remain in the wild.

Amarena was one of the approximately 60 critically endangered Marsican bears native to central Italy and residing in the Abruzzo National Park. While she had caused some minor damage to crops and livestock in the past, the killing was deemed unjustified, as she had not posed a danger to humans.

The man responsible for the shooting claimed it was an impulsive, instinctive act driven by fear, as he found the bear on his property. Concerns had arisen locally due to the video of Amarena and her cubs circulating on social media, leading to an influx of sightseers.

This incident contrasts sharply with a fatal bear attack in Trentino-Adige last April, involving a different bear named JJ4, which was part of a repopulation program in the Alps.

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Italy Rape Remarks Lead to Criticism of Meloni’s Partner Andrea Giambruno

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Italian TV presenter Andrea Giambruno, who is in a relationship with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has faced criticism for seemingly suggesting that young women could avoid rape by not getting drunk. Giambruno made these comments in the context of recent gang rape incidents in Italy, including one involving seven men accused of gang-raping a teenager in Sicily and another where six youths allegedly raped two young cousins in Caivano near Naples.

Giambruno later clarified that his comments were taken out of context and accused his detractors of exploiting his words unfairly. He explained that he had condemned the abhorrent acts as carried out by “beasts.”

Prime Minister Meloni, despite not commenting publicly on the matter, announced her intention to visit Caivano as a show of solidarity with the victims and the community. This decision followed a plea from the mother of one of the girls who was attacked, expressing concerns for her family’s safety after the incident.

Critics, including parliamentary inquiry head Martina Semenzato and politician Chiara Gribaudo, strongly denounced Giambruno’s remarks as victim-blaming and stressed that the blame should always be on the perpetrators, not the victims. Influential figure Chiara Ferragni used her social media platform to highlight that the problem lay with the actions of men, not wolves.

Despite the controversy, Giambruno’s partner, Prime Minister Meloni, proceeded with her visit to Caivano. However, this move was met with resistance and threats due to dissatisfaction with the government’s decision to phase out a minimum income benefit. Nevertheless, Meloni reaffirmed her commitment to fighting organized crime and ensuring security and a better future for the nation’s children.

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Italy Settles Tab for Tourists’ Dine and Dash in Albania

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Italy’s government has taken a remarkable diplomatic step by covering the restaurant expenses of four Italian tourists who engaged in a dine and dash episode in Albania. This incident, which gained attention in both nations, led Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama to discuss the matter with his Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni, during her visit to Albania. In response, Meloni instructed her ambassador to personally settle the bill for these tourists, as recounted by Edi Rama in an interview with La Stampa.

Confirming the action, Italy’s embassy in Albania issued a statement, acknowledging the payment of the bill, estimated to be around €80 (£68), on behalf of its citizens. The embassy emphasized Italy’s adherence to regulations and the expectation that such incidents would not recur.

Francesco Lollobrigida, Italy’s agriculture minister and Giorgia Meloni’s brother-in-law, was also part of the Albanian trip. He expressed that taking responsibility for the bill was a matter of national pride, asserting that the actions of a few dishonest individuals should not tarnish the reputation of a nation of honorable people.

The exact date of the dine and dash event remains unclear, but surveillance footage depicting the group exiting the restaurant and disappearing into the night has gained substantial traction on social media platforms. The owner of the restaurant conveyed to Albania’s Report TV that this was the first instance of customers departing without settling their bill. Interestingly, the four Italian tourists had even expressed their appreciation for the quality of the food before leaving the establishment.

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US returns haul of stolen artefacts to Italy

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Over 250 ancient artifacts, which had been stolen and sold to US museums and collectors in the 1990s, have been repatriated by the United States to Italy.

The art division of Italy’s police force identified the looted items, which include pottery, paintings, and sculptures dating back as far as 3,000 years. Some mosaics are valued at tens of millions of euros. The pieces hail from various historical periods such as the Villanovan age, Etruscan civilization, Magna Graecia, and Imperial Rome.

Most of the artifacts were pilfered in the 1990s and eventually circulated through dealers. While some were believed to have been offered to the Menil Collection in Texas, the museum denied having them in their possession. The artifacts were voluntarily returned by the owner after authorities linked them to illegal archaeological site excavations.

Furthermore, around 145 of the retrieved pieces originated from the bankruptcy case of Robin Symes, an English antiques dealer involved in an illegal trading network. Italy’s ongoing efforts to locate and recover stolen antiquities led to this successful repatriation, following a similar return of stolen art from New York in 2022.

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Infant and Mother Among Six Fatalities as Migrant Boats Capsize near Italian Shore

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Six individuals, including a mother and her baby, have tragically lost their lives as three migrant vessels sank in the Mediterranean Sea.

One vessel sank off Tunisia’s Kerkennah Islands, resulting in four confirmed deaths, while 51 people are feared missing.

Another heartbreaking incident occurred near the Italian island of Lampedusa, where a mother and her one-year-old baby perished. Over 30 individuals are unaccounted for after two boats sank.

The victims, hailing from the Ivory Coast, were discovered by coastguards. The boats departing from the Tunisian city of Sfax were carrying 48 and 42 people, respectively, bound for Lampedusa.

The Kerkennah Islands incident involved passengers primarily from sub-Saharan Africa, according to Tunisian authorities.

Tunisian officials also found the remains of 10 migrants on a beach near Sfax, likely due to a storm that possibly caused their boat to sink.

Sfax is recognized as a common departure point for migrants aspiring to reach Europe for better prospects.

Italy’s coastguard rescued 57 migrants from the sunken vessels located southwest of Lampedusa. The UN’s migration agency reported over 30 missing individuals initially.

The tragedies come after a fatal boat accident in Greece in June that resulted in numerous deaths and missing persons.

Subsequent to the recent events, Italian authorities, along with patrol boats and charitable organizations, have rescued around 2,000 more migrants arriving on Lampedusa.

However, rescue operations are hampered by adverse weather conditions and substandard boat quality. In some instances, boats’ engines are stolen mid-journey by traffickers for reuse.

NGOs have criticized Italy’s far-right government for passing laws that force rescue ships to use distant ports, increasing costs and reducing effective patrolling.

The Italian interior ministry reported a significant rise in sea migration figures this year, reaching 92,000 compared to 42,600 in the same period last year.

Since March, crossing attempts from Sfax to Lampedusa have surged due to Tunisian President Kais Saied’s accusations against sub-Saharan migrants.

The Central Mediterranean crossing from North Africa to Europe remains a deadly route, with over 1,800 lives lost, though the actual toll is suspected to be higher, says the International Organization for Migration.

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