By Trevor Stynes and Amy Tennery MILAN, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Hosts Italy reached the quarter-finals of the Olympic women's ice hockey tournament with a 3-2 victory over Japan on Monday while the U.S. collected their third win in Milan and Germany snatched a 2-1 overtime win over France.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has lashed out at “enemies of Italy” for damaging the country’s image, after the Winter Olympic Games’ first full day of competition was marred by acts of railway sabotage and separate clashes between police and protesters.

Italy has stopped Scotland’s last-gasp charge to hang on for a precious Six Nations win by 18-15 in a rain-soaked Rome.

By Aadi Nair CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Champions Italy edged the United States 7-6 in a nail-biting finale to the mixed doubles round-robin stage at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics on Monday,

Critics say the new measures, which allow for suspects to be preventively detained, further erode civil liberties in Giorgia Meloni’s Italy.

MILAN (AP) — After raving about his young players, goaltending and defender Caroline Harvey’s driving speed in a 5-0 win over Switzerland on Monday, U.S. coach John Wroblewski was quickly reminded of the next challenge ahead for his women’s hockey team at the Milan Cortina Games.

The first 20 minutes were played in fairly benign conditions, and that was the period when Italy ultimately won the game. The Azzurri were setting the agenda in defence, putting in dominant hits and defending with an intensity that was sorely lacking in Scotland's contact work.

Team USA faced off against Italy in the last round robin match of mixed doubles curling. Their next opponent? Italy, again. (AP Photo)