International IDEA

Former Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi told CNN that while he opposes Giorgia Meloni politically and considers her a rival, she poses no threat to democracy. 'The idea there is a risk of fascism in Italy is absolutely fake news,' he said. His comments stand out because Renzi sits on the political left, yet he publicly pushed back against claims that Meloni's government endangers Italian democracy.

South African cricket is exploring removable or exchangeable pitches as a way to handle an increasingly crowded international schedule. The idea would allow venues to swap playing surfaces quickly, letting grounds host more matches across formats without wearing out a single square. Details on trials, costs or a timeline remain limited.

A widely shared historical essay argues that a 12th-century military catastrophe had lasting consequences for the world's financial system. The piece connects the defeat of crusader forces to changes in how money was moved and lent, crediting military orders such as the Knights Templar with pioneering early international banking. Readers are drawn to the idea that a battlefield loss helped shape modern finance.