Italy

West Nile Virus Death Toll in Italy Rises to 20

The death toll from West Nile Virus outbreaks in Lazio, Campania, Piedmont, Calabria and Lombardy has risen to 20, health authorities said. An 83-year-old man died in Caserta, the eighth…

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Italian Government Approves Plans for Long-Awaited Bridge to Sicily

Italy's Council of Ministers has formally approved a €13.5 billion state-funded infrastructure project to construct what would be the world’s longest suspension bridge, connecting mainland Italy to the island of…

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British tourist billed for Italian mountain rescue

A British hiker has been charged more than €14,000 (£12,000) by the Italian mountain rescue service after ignoring danger warnings in the Dolomites. The man, aged 60, had to be…

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Italy arrests 13 people in nationwide raids against Chinese mafia groups

Italian police arrested 13 people following a nationwide sweep against Chinese mafia groups, on charges including involvement in crimes such as drug dealing, sex trafficking and aggravated robbery. Raids were…

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Russia Labels Mattarella a ‘Russophobe’; Italy Summons Ambassador in Protest

The Russian Foreign Ministry has published a list accusing several Western leaders of using "hate speech" against Russia, naming Italian President Sergio Mattarella for remarks comparing Moscow’s war in Ukraine…

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Italy’s working age population set to shrink by one fifth

Italy's working age population is set to shrink by more than a fifth over the next 25 years, national statistics agency Istat said, highlighting the country's severe demographic challenges. Italy…

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Messina Strait Bridge Project Advances as Final Plans Sent for Government Approval

Stretto di Messina, the company responsible for overseeing the construction of a bridge across the Strait of Messina to link Sicily with mainland Italy, announced on Tuesday that its board…

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Sister of Sicilian Mafia boss freed, sparking fears of criminal resurgence

The sister of Matteo Messina Denaro, once Italy’s most feared mafia fugitive, has been released from prison and returned to her hometown of Castelvetrano, Sicily — raising concerns that she…

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Early recognition of Palestine could be ‘counterproductive,’ Italy’s Meloni says

Recognizing the state of Palestine before it has been established could be “counterproductive,” Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said. “I am very much in favor of the state of Palestine,…

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Wildfires Rage Across Mediterranean as Heatwave Fuels Widespread Evacuations

Wildfires fueled by scorching heat and strong winds swept through large swaths of southern Europe over the weekend, forcing thousands to evacuate from coastal resorts, mountain villages, and farmland across…

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Meloni Lands Coveted Time Cover Spotlight

Premier Giorgia Meloni has appeared on the cover of Time magazine, with the influential biweekly dedicating the lead article of its latest edition to her. Authored by Massimo Calabresi, the…

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UPDATED: 20 cases of West Nile Virus in Lazio

The Lazio regional government said Thursday that people in the region that Rome belongs to currently have West Nile Virus after 12 new cases were detected. It said all of…

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Italy to add 15,000 prison places to ease overcrowding

Italy's government has pledged to expand prison capacity by up 15,000 places and facilitate the transfer of inmates with addiction problems to treatment centres to tackle a long-standing overcrowding crisis.…

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Blazing Heat Sparks Dozens of Wildfires Across Sicily

Sicily is engulfed in soaring temperatures and widespread fires, prompting emergency alerts from the Civil Protection and intense mobilization of firefighting teams across the region. Temperatures climbed well above 40 °C…

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Only 16% of Italians would fight for their country, survey shows

Almost a third of Italians believe the country will be directly involved in a war within five years, but only 16% of those of fighting age would be willing to…

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Italy on alert after West Nile Virus Death Reported in Lazio

Health authorities in Italy's Lazio region have reported the first death of the year linked to the West Nile virus, marking a renewed public health concern as mosquito-borne illnesses rise…

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Italy may release up 10,000 people from prison to ease overcrowding

Italy may release up to around 10,000 people from prison, or about 15% of the total population of inmates, to ease overcrowding, the Justice Ministry has announced. Some 10,105 prisoners…

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Portofino tightens tourist rules with dress code and alcohol ban in summer crackdown

Authorities in the exclusive Italian Ligurian resort town of Portofino have extended a sweeping summer ordinance that imposes restrictions on tourist behavior, including a ban on public drinking and a…

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Meredith Kercher’s Murderer Confronts Fresh Charges of Sexual Assault

The man convicted of the murder of British student Meredith Kercher has been charged with sexual assault against an ex-girlfriend. Rudy Guede, 38, was the only person who was definitively…

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Conference commits over 10 bln euros to Ukraine rebuilding, Italy says

Participants in a Rome conference on the economic recovery of Ukraine have pledged over 10 billion euros ($11.7 billion) to help the war-torn country, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said…

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‘Ndrangheta associates arrested for drug trafficking and violence

Europol has supported Italian law enforcement in dealing a heavy blow to the ‘Ndrangheta criminal organisation. In an action day conducted on 8 July 2025 across Italy, Spain and Albania,…

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Italy braces for more heat and storms after deadly weekend

Italy was bracing for more extreme weather on Tuesday after a woman was killed by a falling tree near Milan as violent storms swept across the north over the weekend,…

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One dies in violent storm pounding Milan

One person was killed by a falling tree near Milan, local firefighters said on Sunday, as a powerful storm battered the northern Italian city after days of high temperatures. The…

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Over 20 injured in gas explosion at Rome petrol station

A powerful gas explosion at a petrol station in northeastern Rome on Friday injured at least 21 people, including police officers and rescue workers who had responded to a reported…

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Sicily to Host First F-35 Pilot Training Centre Outside US: Italy’s Defence Minister

Sicily will become the first location outside the United States to train F-35 fighter jet pilots, Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto announced on Wednesday. Speaking during a visit to the…

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Italy to issue half million non-EU work visas over next three years

Italy will issue nearly 500,000 new work visas for non-EU nationals from 2026 to 2028, a cabinet statement said, as part of a strategy to expand legal immigration channels in…

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Italian authorities halt outdoor work as Europe swelters under record-breaking heat

As Europe swelters under record-breaking heat, with temperatures exceeding 40°C from France to Greece, Italian authorities are taking steps to protect outdoor workers from heat-related illnesses. In Lombardy, regional president…

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45 Years On, Italy’s Mattarella Urges Ongoing Search for Truth on Ustica Disaster

Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Friday called for renewed efforts to uncover the full truth behind the 1980 Ustica air disaster, urging the cooperation of friendly nations as Italy marks…

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Europe scorched by early heatwave as Italy swelters

Europe is sweltering under an intense early summer heatwave that has sent temperatures soaring to record levels, disrupted daily life, and raised fresh warnings about the continent’s vulnerability to climate…

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Gift shops and fast food banned in Bergamo Alta in Italy

Fast-food outlets and sex shops are among the commercial activities banned from Bergamo Alta in an ordinance from the local government in the Lombardy town concerning its historic and picturesque…

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Italy’s immigration and emigration both soaring, stats agency says

The numbers of Italians leaving their country and of foreigners moving in have soared to the highest in a decade, official data showed on Friday, fuelling national concerns about brain…

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Greece arrests US man with Malta link over mother and child deaths in Rome park

Italian police arrested a U.S. citizen on Friday in connection with the death of a woman and her baby daughter whose naked bodies were found in a park in central…

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Low turnout sinks Italian citizenship, labor referendums, strengthens Meloni’s government

Low voter turnout on Monday sank Italian opposition referendum proposals to ease citizenship laws and tighten job protection rules, with senior figures in the coalition of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni…

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Italians vote on easing citizenship requirements, reversing labour reform

Italians will start voting on Sunday in a two-day referendum on whether to ease citizenship laws and reverse a decade-old liberalisation of the labour market, but the vote may fail…

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Earthquake damages part of Pompeii site in southern Italy

A minor earthquake in southern Italy has caused the partial collapse of a wall and a portion of a vault at the Pompeii archaeological site, authorities said. The quake with…

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Mafia boss Giovanni Brusca completely free

Mafia boss Giovanni Brusca, one of Italy's most notorious mobsters, is completely free after serving the four years of probation imposed on him following his release from jail in 2021.Among…

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Italy cracks down on protests, squatters and cannabis

Italy's upper house of parliament on Wednesday gave final approval to a wide-ranging security decree that targets public protests, pickpockets and squatters, and outlaws so-called "legal" cannabis. The measures, spearheaded…

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Etna eruption over, monitoring continues says INGV

Monday's spectacular Mount Etna eruption that featured prominently on news bulletins around the world is over, but monitoring of Europe's biggest active volcano is continuing the National Institute of Geophysics…

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UPDATED: Mount Etna Erupts; No Immediate Threat to Population

Italian authorities have issued a statement after Mount Etna erupted. Etna is located in Sicily and is the highest active volcano in Europe. Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology…

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Italy Passes Landmark Animal Welfare Law: Harsh Penalties for Abuse, Puppy Trafficking, and Animal Violence

In a sweeping reform of animal protection legislation, Italy has enacted a new law introducing stringent penalties for violence against animals, including significant prison terms and fines for crimes such…

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Italian activists face trial for migrant sea rescue in legal first

A Sicilian judge has ordered six members of an Italian charity ship to stand trial on accusations of aiding illegal immigration, the first time crew members of a rescue vessel…

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U.S. Elevates Travel Advisory for Italy Amid Terrorism Concerns

The U.S. Department of State has elevated its travel advisory for Italy to Level 2, urging American travelers to "exercise increased caution" due to potential terrorist threats. This adjustment, issued…

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’Ndrangheta eyes major public contracts, anti-Mafia body warns

The ’Ndrangheta mafia has shown growing interest in controlling major public works and managing local government funds, particularly in sectors such as hospital administrations and waste collection services, according to…

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Italy Sees Sharp Rise in Graduate Emigration Amid Demographic Decline

Italy has experienced a significant exodus of young, educated professionals over the past decade, with approximately 97,000 graduates leaving the country, according to the national statistics agency ISTAT. In 2024…

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Italy Plans to Begin Work on Messina Bridge by End of Summer, Pending Government Approval

Construction of the long-debated bridge over the Strait of Messina, designed to connect Sicily to mainland Italy, could begin by the end of summer, Transport Minister and Deputy Premier Matteo…

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Some 66 million people to holiday in Italy this summer

This summer, 65.8 million people are expected to holiday in Italy, generating an estimated 267.4 million overnight stays, according to a study by the Demoskopika Institute, obtained in advance by…

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EU lawmakers probe rule of law in Meloni’s Italy

Rule-of-law watchdogs in the European Parliament are taking a close look at how Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government has affected democracy in Italy. Behind closed doors Wednesday, lawmakers will quiz…

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Earthquake Strikes Campi Flegrei: Strong Tremors Rattle Naples Region

A 4.4-magnitude earthquake struck the Campi Flegrei area at 12:07 p.m. today, according to Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV). The epicenter was located offshore, just west of…

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Italy Advocates for EU-Wide Ban on Mobile Phones in Schools

In a decisive move aimed at reinforcing traditional educational values, Italian Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara announced plans to propose a European Union-wide ban on mobile phone usage for students up…

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Thunderstorms lash Italy

After Storm Hans battered northern Italy in the runup to Easter, severe weather continued to lash much of the country this week. Since Tuesday, the conditions have triggered potent showers…

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Italy’s demographic crisis worsens as births hit record low

Italy's demographic crisis deepened in 2024 as the number of births hit a new record low, emigration accelerated and the population continued to shrink, national statistics bureau ISTAT said. Italy's…

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Venice’s €5 tourist fee returns – and will double for last-minute day-trippers

Venice’s entrance fee will resume from Friday, with the main novelty this year being that last-minute day-trippers will pay double. Last year, as part of an experiment aimed at dissuading…

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President Mattarella in Stable Condition Following Planned Pacemaker Surgery

Italian President Sergio Mattarella is in stable condition and recovering well following a scheduled surgical procedure to implant a pacemaker, sources confirmed on Wednesday. The operation was performed without complications…

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Italian police disrupt migrant smuggling ring, 15 Egyptians arrested

Italian police said they had dismantled a migrant smuggling network, leading to the arrests in several countries of 15 Egyptians involved in using sailboats for dangerous illegal sea crossings from…

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King Charles to begin Italy tour with Queen Camilla

The King and Queen will fly into Rome later for their state visit to Italy, despite the recent concerns about his health. The trip comes just a week and a…

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Italy Sees Massive Youth Emigration, With Significant Loss of Graduates

Over one million people emigrated from Italy between 2013 and 2022, with young professionals making up a significant portion of the exodus, according to Istat President Francesco Maria Chelli. Speaking…

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Italy’s Meloni says U.S. tariffs would hit Italian producers hard

The introduction of new U.S. tariffs would hit Italian producers hard, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in Rome on Wednesday, adding that every effort should be made to avoid a…

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