By Pearl Josephine Nazare MILAN, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Speed skating's team pursuit reaches fever pitch at the Winter Olympics on Tuesday, with Italy buoyed by their form on home ice in the men's event while Canada prepare to defend their women's title in a day of back-to-back semi-finals and finals.

Host Italy, a power in women’s curling the past several years, was a surprising 0-5 before Monday. Despite playing without the hammer, the Italians built an early 3-0 lead when skip Stefania Constantini knocked the U.S. out of the button and put three stones in scoring position with her last throw.

Italian star Federica Brignone collected her second gold medal of the 2026 Olympics, adding a giant slalom win to her victory in the super-G.

NAPLES, Italy, Feb 17 (Reuters) - A fire gutted the interior of the historic wood-framed Teatro Sannazaro in a wealthy neighbourhood of the Italian city of Naples on Tuesday, officials said. The fire is believed to have started in an apartment block in the Chiaia district,

"You can have a slow life everywhere if you have money enough kkkk," commented one social-media user on the post.

Captain Michele Lamaro eloquently sums up how the perception around Italy has changed after they fall short in their bid for back-to-back Six Nations wins.

Mikaela Shiffrin enters the Olympic slalom still chasing her first medal at Milan Cortina. The 30-year-old finished fourth in the combined and 11th in the giant slalom earlier in the Games.

The chief of the U.S. Ski Team says Lindsey Vonn is preparing to return to the United States a week after crashing in the Olympic downhill.