MIAMI -- The first leg of the Sunshine Double in the desert at Indian Wells, California, was plagued by bizarre events – biblical rainstorms, a swarm of bees that interrupted play for two hours, and the defeat of #1 Novak Djokovic by Luca Nardi, a low-ranked Italian qualifier. Things figured to be more predictable at the Miami Open, the second leg of the Sunshine Double. But the scenario turned truly surreal. With no excuse of injury, Djokovic withdrew from the tournament and fired his coach, Goran Ivanisevic, who had led him to multiple Grand Slam titles in the past six years.

 ROME – A woman, 49, was stabbed to death by her husband, 45, in Cologno al Serio, Bergamo, police said. This marks the twelfth femicide of the year in Italy, averaging one woman killed every week. 

 ROME – A 4.1 magnitude earthquake struck Friuli Venezia Giulia late on Wednesday night, the INGV seismic surveillance centre said.

 The epicentre was five kilometres south west of Socchieve, Udine, with an estimated depth of 12 kilometres. According to data from the INGV, the strongest tremors were felt in nearby villages of Ampezzo and Ovaro. 

 ROME – Hundreds of female students and staff at the University of Turin have spoken out about “systematic” violence and harassment they have suffered, after interrupting a meeting held by the university dean on gender violence.

 Activists from the Mai più Zitt3 movement, which strives for women to be protected at the university, interrupted the dean, accusing him of not doing enough to help women on campus.

 The university currently only has one anti-violence centre, located in the main hall of the main campus, which has been criticised as not private enough for victims.