MILAN -- Speedskater Francesca Lollobrigida won host Italy's first gold medal of the Milan Cortina Games on Saturday, taking the women's 3,000 meters in an Olympics-record time. With fans rising to their feet and roaring for her as she competed on her 35th birthday, Lollobrigida finished in 3 minutes, 54.28 seconds, more than two seconds ahead of runner-up Ragne Wiklund of Norway.
Weather alerts were lifted for 13 counties yesterday, but emergency services stressed that the flooding threat will not ease for a number of days. The levels of the Rivers Liffey, Slaney, Nore, Suir, Barrow and Blackwater remain high, with pressure mounting on ESB to sanction releases from major reservoirs including Poulaphouca, which are near capacity and potentially adding to the flooding challenge.
Before the campaign was all but officially interrupted by two deadly and destructive storms, some conservative figures in the country had staged a rare display of apparent unity by declaring their support for Seguro in an attempt to head off the possibility of a far-right presidency. Others, including Portugal's centre-right prime minister, Luis Montenegro, have refused to throw their weight behind the socialist.
The EU-India comprehensive framework of cooperation on mobility' aims to facilitate the mobility of skilled workers, young professionals and seasonal workers in shortage sectors while promoting research and innovation, the Commission says. As migration policy is national competence, it will only apply to interested EU Member States. The mobility deal includes provisions to support skills development and compare skills and qualification frameworks especially in critical tech areas.
Fierce fighting continues on the front line between Russian and Ukrainian forces despite the frigid winter temperatures, said Ukraine's Commander in Chief Oleksandr Syrskii, who stated the front line now stretches about 1,200km (750 miles) in length along eastern and southern parts of Ukraine. Increasing technological improvements in drone warfare on both sides of the conflict mean that the so-called kill zone where troops are in greatest danger on the front line is now up to 20km (12 miles) deep, Syrskii told reporters.
Emma Raducanu missed the chance to win her first title since her US Open triumph in 2021 after losing in straight sets to home favourite Sorana Cirstea in the Transylvania Open final. Raducanu, the top seed, appeared to be feeling the effects of her marathon semi-final win against Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova on Friday, falling to Cirstea 6-0, 6-2 in little over an hour in Cluj. Romanian Cirstea, 35 and in her final year on the Tour, sealed the fourth WTA title of her 20-year career.
I suppose every part of me, I wasn't well, I was physically drained, I had lost loads of weight, I wasn't sleeping, and it crept up on me very quickly. I'd had some kind of virally things, but didn't think they were significant until I was hit with this. I suppose it was like a bolt from the blue, where I was knocked sideways and couldn't keep going.
Russian missiles and drones struck Ukrainian power plants and electricity networks overnight on February 7, triggering rolling blackouts and renewing pressure on a grid already battered by weeks of attacks, Ukrainian authorities said. Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said that the government has instituted emergency nationwide power shutdowns of the electricity grid across the country. Kyiv also requested emergency assistance from Poland after Russia hit the Burshtynska and Dobrotvirska power plants in western Ukraine overnight.
As tensions simmer between the European Union and the U.S. over the Trump administration's trade policies and its play for Greenland, we've been hearing about the EU's economic "bazooka." What is it? AILSA CHANG, HOST: Things are quite tense right now between the U.S. and the European Union. Sources of that tension include the Trump administration's trade policies and its play for Greenland, which, in turn, has led to talk about the EU's anticoercion mechanism, also known as its economic bazooka.
LATEST: More homes and businesses at risk as flood threat to peak this morning Series of Status Orange and Yellow warnings in place Coast Guard has asked public to stay away from waterways and exposed coastal areas Some schools may close today as flooding may affect transport The threat of flooding is set to peak this morning, with road networks expected to bear the brunt of the deluge. However, damage to residential and commercial properties is also likely, emergency services have warned.
London Underground Brands have been playing with the signage on London's tube network for many years but recent examples have proved intrusive and annoying. Ben Kay examines what's gone wrong Creative Review A Century Ago: What To Call The Northern Line? Londonist Mainline / Overground Rail journeys on Southern, Thameslink and the Gatwick Express remain severely disrupted following an early morning derailment and a signal failure in south-east London. BBC News
According to data from the European Research Council (ERC), applications from the United States for its starting, consolidator and advanced grants to individual researchers - each worth up to €2.5 million (US$5.3 million) over five years - rose by 120% in its most recent round of calls, compared to an overall rise in applications of 17% (see Choosing Europe below).
The theme of this week's Power Rankings is, for any reason, who is the "top" player from each NHL team that isn't on an Olympic roster going to Milan. How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors sends in a 1-32 poll based on the games through Wednesday. Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to the previous edition, published Jan. 29. Points percentages are through Thursday's games.
Hundreds of protesters have gathered in Milan to reject the presence of United States immigration agents in the city before the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina Winter Games. The student-led demonstration on Friday featured banners reading ICE should be in my drinks, not my city in reaction to the reported presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials providing security for the US delegation at the games.
Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate obtained the final approval he needed for his music on Friday, allowing the Spanish figure skater to perform his short program set to a medley from the animated comedy from Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment when the men's competition begins at the Milan Cortina Games on Tuesday night. Sabate had been performing the fan-favorite program all season, thinking he had the proper approval through a system called ClicknClear to use four cuts of music Minions.
Lt Gen Vladimir Alekseyev was shot several times by an unidentified assailant in Moscow, Investigative Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko said in a statement. She said that Alekseyev was hospitalised. Petrenko didn't say who could be behind the attack Alekseyev has served as the first deputy head of Russia's military intelligence since 2011. AFP noted that several high-ranking military officials have been killed since Moscow launched its full-scale offensive on Ukraine in February 2022.
