Italy

Italy special forces board Turkish vessel after alert over unidentified passengers

ROME, June 10 (Reuters) - A Turkish cargo vessel that Italian special forces boarded after the crew detected a group of unidentified people on board is now sitting off the southern city…

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Italy forces board Turkish cargo vessel to ‘liberate’ crew

ROME, June 9 (Reuters) - Italian special forces boarded a Turkish cargo vessel on Friday after the crew detected a group of unidentified people onboard, some of them armed, Rome's defence ministry…

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UPDATED: Italy says it can’t approve ESM treaty without deal on new EU budget rules

ROME, June 9 (Reuters) - Italy is unwilling to ratify the reform of the euro zone bailout fund without first knowing how European budget rules will change, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said…

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Italy struggling to meet reform policy targets agreed for EU for post-COVID funds

By Giuseppe Fonte ROME (Reuters) - Italy is struggling to meet some important reform and investment targets agreed with European Union in return for post-COVID funds, a government report said,…

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Italy could abandon coal by 2024

MILAN (Reuters) - Italy could shut down its coal-fired power stations in 2024, a year earlier than planned, if gas prices remain at current low levels, Environment Minister Gilberto Pichetto…

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Italy to see stronger 2023 growth on firm domestic demand

The Italian economy will grow by 1.2% this year, national statistics bureau ISTAT said on Tuesday, raising a previous projection of 0.4% made in December on the back of a…

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Salvini insists League not joining EPP

Deputy Premier and Transport and Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini dismissed talk of his League party joining the centre-right European People's Party (EPP), saying such a move "is not on the…

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25 arrested in Italy, Belgium and Germany in raids linked to the ‘Ndrangheta

ROME, June 5 (Reuters) - Authorities have arrested 25 people in Italy, Belgium and Germany in pan-European raids linked to an alleged drug- trafficking ring run by the 'Ndrangheta mafia,…

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Italy accuses European Commission of fanning domestic conflict

The Italian government accused the European Commission late Friday of intervening in a domestic political issue that has "no basis in reality," signaling a major escalation of a row over…

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German rescue ship defies Italy over migrant disembarkation rules

ROME, June 2 (Reuters) - German charity Mare*Go said on Friday it had challenged migrant disembarkation rules introduced by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing administration as part of its…

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Florence wants to ban Airbnb rentals apartments from city centre

By Federica Urso and Federico Maccioni ROME, (Reuters) - Florence wants to ban residential properties in its historic centre from being used for short-term rentals by platforms such as Airbnb…

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Italian senator reads AI-generated speech in parliament ‘to stir debate’

ROME, June 1 (Reuters) - An Italian senator has surprised his colleagues by reading out in parliament a speech drafted by a chatbot, saying afterwards that he pulled the stunt…

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Italy approves bill to set up $1.1 billion fund for strategic firms

Fund aims to ease procurement of critical raw materials Can invest in listed non-financial companies, draft shows Rome seeks at least 500 mln euros from private investors By Giuseppe Fonte…

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Italy police arrest 40 ‘Ndrangheta mafia suspects for drug smuggling via Chinese money brokers

MILAN, (Reuters) - Italian police arrested 40 people on Tuesday in a new crackdown targeting the 'Ndrangheta mafia, with suspects accused of drugs trafficking with counterparts in Latin America using…

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Around 15 million Italians expected to travel over June 2 holiday weekend

Around 15 million Italian people will be taking trips over the upcoming long weekend created by the Republic Day national holiday on Friday, hoteliers' association Federalberghi said on Monday. It…

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Venice canal patch mysteriously turns fluorescent green near Rialto Bridge

(Reuters) - The waters in Venice's main canal turned fluorescent green on Sunday in the area near the Rialto bridge and authorities are seeking to trace the cause, Italy's fire…

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UPDATED: Four dead after tourist boat capsizes on Italy’s Lake Maggiore

MILAN, May 29 (Reuters) - Four people died late on Sunday after a tourist boat capsized on Lake Maggiore in northern Italy due to a sudden whirlwind, the fire brigade…

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Italy PM says good ties with China possible without Belt and Road

MILAN, May 28 (Reuters) - Good relations with China are possible even without being part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) deal, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in…

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Charity vessel rescues almost 600 migrants off Italy

ROME (Reuters) - A vessel operated by the charity Doctors without Borders (MSF) rescued nearly 600 migrants sailing on an overcrowded boat which was in distress off the island of…

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EU to give Italy 6 bn to reduce exposure to natural disasters – von der Leyen

The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday the EU-funded post-Covid National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) includes six billion euros of funding to reduce Italy's exposure…

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Italy’s central bank sees sharp rise in rents amid student housing protests

By Federico Maccioni and Alvise Armellini MILAN/ROME (Reuters) - Italy is experiencing a surge in rent prices, the country's central bank said, against the backdrop of growing student protests over…

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Italy’s Industry Ministry reports ‘heavy’ cyberattack

MILAN, May 26 (Reuters) - The Italian Industry Ministry's web portal and applications were hit by a "heavy cyberattack" on Friday and were out of order, it said. Technicians were…

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Italy arrests raiders of ancient art, recovers 3,500 items

ROME, May 24 (Reuters) - Sixteen people were arrested and more than 3,500 artefacts were recovered as Italian police broke up what they called a ruthless network of archaeological looters…

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Italy approves $2.2 billion relief package for flood-hit areas

Italy approved an emergency relief package worth more than 2 billion euros ($2.2 billion) to help flood-hit areas in the northern region of Emilia-Romagna, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on…

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Sicily’s Catania airport reopens after Mount Etna ash disruption

ROME, May 22 (Reuters) - Catania airport has reopened after being forced to suspend flights on Sunday when nearby Mount Etna spewed volcanic ash onto its runways, the airport operator…

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Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Italy’s Unipol join forces to help Italians hit by flooding

MILAN (Reuters) - Elon Musk's SpaceX and Unipol Gruppo agreed to join forces to help people hit by flooding in northern Italy connect to the Internet, facilitating rescue operations, the…

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Italy’s Meloni vows support for flood-hit Emilia-Romagna

ROME (Reuters) -Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni pledged to support the recovery of flood-hit areas of northern Italy on Sunday after returning early from the G7 summit in Japan to see…

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Mount Etna eruption halts flights to Sicily’s Catania airport

ROME (Reuters) - Flights serving the eastern Sicilian city of Catania were halted on Sunday after an eruption from nearby Mount Etna spewed volcanic ash onto its runways, airport authorities…

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Photo Story: Protest during the ‘Wish for a Baby’ fertility fair in Milan

Protest by Fratelli d'Italia, Lega and feminist associations in defense of the family on the occasion of 'Wish for a Baby', the event dedicated to fertility, in Milan, Italy, 20…

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Italy’s Meloni to leave Japan G7 a day early to tackle floods crisis at home

HIROSHIMA/ROME, May 20 (Reuters) - Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is set to leave the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Hiroshima a day earlier than scheduled to lead the…

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Number of evacuees from floods in Italy rises to 15,000

The number of people who have had to leave their homes because of the flooding in Emilia-Romagna has risen to over 15,000 the regional government said on Friday. It said…

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Berlusconi says his ‘nightmare is over’ after 6-week hospital stay

Ex-Italian PM treated for lung infection linked to leukaemia Political allies welcome him back MILAN, (Reuters) - Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi smiled from a car as he left…

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Exceptional weather becomes the new norm in exposed Italy

By Crispian Balmer and Francesca Piscioneri Italy sees five-fold jump in extreme weather events Ministers say climate change behind wave of disasters Poor planning, unregulated building make things worse ROME…

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UPDATED: Berlusconi discharged from hospital after 45 days

MILAN, May 19 (Reuters) - Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was discharged from Milan's San Raffaele hospital on Friday, more than 40 days after his admission to treat a…

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Springsteen draws criticism for not cancelling Italy gig after deadly floods

ROME (Reuters) - U.S. rock legend Bruce Springsteen came under criticism in Italy for going ahead with a concert in Ferrara on Thursday evening after the northern Emilia-Romagna region was…

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New activity reported on Etna volcano

Fresh explosive activity was reported at Etna's New Mouth crater as Europe's tallest active volcano blew its stack once again. Explosive activity from the Bocca Nuova crater was observed from…

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UPDATED: Emilia-Romagna flood death toll climbs to 14

The death toll from this week's deadly flooding in Emilia Romagna has climbed to 14 after the police recovered the body of a man in his 70s in Faenza early…

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Italian retailers, financial firms revamp talks to cut card payment fees

By Giuseppe Fonte and Valentina Za Parties working on latest scheme in push to cut fees Deal would allow Italy to drop threat of levy on small payments Italy lags…

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UPDATED: Italy to declare state of calamity in Emilia Romagna

A state of calamity will be declared for Emilia Romagna at next Tuesday's cabinet meeting on the flooding emergency that has left nine people dead in the northern region, Environment…

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Mild earthquake rattles Catania, Sicily

An earthquake of magnitude 3.2 was registered at 3:22 am in north-eastern Sicily, in the province of Catania. According to data from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (Ingv),…

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UPDATED: Emilia Romagna hit by severe rains and floods; F1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix cancelled

ROME, May 17 (Reuters) - At least three people died and thousands were evacuated from their homes as devastating floods hit Italy's northern Emilia-Romagna region, authorities said on Wednesday, warning…

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Italy and EU allies “have the numbers” to car vehicle emission rules, Salvini says

Italy's transport minister said on Tuesday that Italy and its allies in the European Union can block the Euro 7 regulation which tightens vehicle emission limits for pollutants including nitrogen oxides and…

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Italy allocates funds to shield workers from AI replacement threat

ROME, May 15 (Reuters) - Italy on Monday earmarked 30 million euros ($33 million) to improve the skills of unemployed people as well as those workers whose jobs could be most at…

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Ukraine’s Zelenskiy visits Italy

. May 13 (Reuters) - Italy's leaders promised full military and financial backing for Ukraine and reiterated support for its EU membership bid as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited Rome on Saturday for…

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Photo Story: Pope Francis and Italian Prime Minister attend Birth rate discussion

Pope Francis (R) and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni share a light moment as they attend a Conciliation auditorium event discussing the 'General state of the birth rate', in Rome,…

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Italy’s birth crisis is shrinking school classes

By Angelo Amante ROME (Reuters) - Italy's school population will shrink by one million in the coming decade because of the plunging birth rate and continuing brain drain, the education…

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UPDATED: Explosion in Milan street injures one, foul play ruled out

By Giancarlo Navach MILAN, May 11 (Reuters) - A van transporting oxygen gas canisters exploded in a Milan street on Thursday, injuring one person and setting nearby cars and motorbikes…

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Italian PM Meloni: No decision yet on quitting China deal

ROME, (Reuters) - The Italian government has not yet taken a decision on whether to leave the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) deal with China and is reviewing its options,…

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Italy arrests 29 for smuggling migrants from Greece, Turkey

ROME, (Reuters) - Italian police on Wednesday arrested 29 people on charges of belonging to a criminal group smuggling migrants by boat from Turkey and Greece, a statement said. Italy…

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Italian banks see 14 bln euro drop in deposits in March

MILAN, May 10 (Reuters) - Italian savers shifted 14.3 billion euros ($15.7 billion) out of deposits with domestic banks in March, while lenders continued to shrink credit to businesses and…

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Italian court refuses to extradite former EU lawmaker’s accountant to Belgium

MILAN, (Reuters) - An Italian court on Tuesday refused to hand over to Belgian authorities the tax consultant of a former EU lawmaker at the centre of a cash-for-influence corruption…

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Sources say Italy open to selling down MPS stake on market if terms, buyers are right

Italy considers market placements to cut MPS stake - sources Any buyers would need to be aligned with national interest ECB sees merger with stronger peer as best option for…

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Photo Story: The redesigned Italian Air Force Museum at Vigna di Valle

Various aircraft are on display at the Italian Air Force Museum at Vigna di Valle, on Lake Bracciano, near Rome. The museum, operated by the Italian Air Force's 'Aeronautica Militare,'…

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Italy must learn to live with drought-inducing weather -minister

Drought is not a one-off crisis, Italy minister says Italy needs to do much more to adapt to new weather Country must not be "ideological" about climate change By Crispian…

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Italy’s government calls crisis meeting over surging pasta prices

MILAN, May 4 (Reuters) - Italy's Industry Minister Adolfo Urso called on for a crisis meeting over prices for pasta, the country's favourite staple, after they jumped by more than…

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Photo Story: More than 30 migrants rescued in Italy

Migrants pictured after they were rescued in Lampedusa, Italy, 06 May 2023. More than 30 migrants, were rescued by the NGO ship Nadir and three fishing boats, and then transferred…

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Woman dies after migrant boat capsizes off Lampedusa

A woman from Guinea drowned in waters off Lampedusa on Friday after the boat she was travelling on capsized. Another 46 people also on board were rescued by finance police…

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