Italy began their opening game of the men's Olympic ice hockey tournament with a bang, and certainly did not end it with a whimper despite losing 5-2 to Sweden on Wednesday, as they sent the fans home happy after many had come more in hope than in belief.

Italy’s conservative government led by Premier Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday has approved a bill introducing new measures aimed at fighting illegal immigration, including a so-called “naval blockade” fo

Opposition parties condemn security laws as ‘violation of the constitutional right to demonstrate’

By Giselda Vagnoni MILAN, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Journalists at Italian state broadcaster RAI have called a one-day byline strike for Friday, escalating a standoff with management over a gaffe-strewn commentary at the opening of the Winter Olympics.

Italy has put in place a massive security operation for the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics ahead of Friday's opening ceremony.

The first 20 minutes were played in fairly benign conditions, and that was the period when Italy ultimately won the game. The Azzurri were setting the agenda in defence, putting in dominant hits and defending with an intensity that was sorely lacking in Scotland's contact work.

Ms. Meloni’s conservative government has focused on law and order since taking office in October 2022. A security decree passed in June 2025 created more than a dozen new crimes, including protest activity in prisons and migrant centers, and made some kinds of demonstrations punishable with up to two years in prison.

Italy has stopped Scotland’s last-gasp charge to hang on for a precious Six Nations win by 18-15 in a rain-soaked Rome.

There were times when Team Sweden looked nervous. Times where it looked like it was on the same level as a team with no NHL players. And times where a stunning upset to Team Italy looked possible. But being the team full of NHL players it is,