Olympic flame begins its weather-hit journey to Milan-Cortina 2026

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in India for discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking their first meeting since the onset of the Ukraine conflict. The talks aim to enhance economic ties, particularly in defense and energy sectors, amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions.

A restrictive sex education bill in Italy, backed by Georgia Meloni's far-right government, aims to combat what it terms 'gender ideology' in schools, sparking significant public outcry. Critics argue that the legislation is an attempt to limit comprehensive sex education, which is currently not mandatory in Italy despite evidence of its benefits in preventing violence against women and girls.

The Olympic torch has commenced its journey to Milan and Cortina for the 2026 Winter Games, traveling across Italy and involving approximately 10,000 torchbearers, culminating in the Opening Ceremony on February 6. NBC News' Claudio Lavanga reported on the significance of this tradition from Rome.

Pope Leo has emphasized the critical role of European nations, particularly Italy, in mediating peace talks aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, amidst stalled negotiations between Russia and the US. The pontiff's remarks come as tensions escalate, with Russian President Vladimir Putin accusing Europe of obstructing peace efforts.

Italy's ruling lawmakers are proposing an amendment to declare the Bank of Italy's $300 billion gold reserves as state property, raising concerns about potential violations of EU regulations. This initiative reflects a renewed political interest in utilizing gold reserves to alleviate public debt, prompting Italy to seek guidance from the Bank of Italy and the European Central Bank (ECB), which has previously cautioned against limiting central bank autonomy over gold.