Europe: increasing number of mosquito-borne diseases
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has warned that Europe is entering a ‘new normal’ of longer and more intense mosquito-borne disease transmission. Rising temperatures, extended summers, milder winters, and…
Venice: Jeff Bezos forced by protesters to change wedding plans
Protesters in Venice have claimed an ‘enormous victory’ after forcing US billionaire Jeff Bezos and guests to move their wedding celebration away from the city centre. The three‑day event, featuring A‑list guests like…
Vatican: Pope Francis suffering from pneumonia
After being admitted to hospital on 14 February, Pope Francis has developed pneumonia in both lungs, and his condition remains ‘complex’. The 88-year-old pontiff has been battling a respiratory infection for over a…
Italy: PM being investigated by ICC for releasing Libyan suspect
Giorgia Meloni has revealed she is under judicial investigation after her government released Libyan police officer Osama Elmasry Njeem, wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity, including murder,…
Italy: social media tourists overwhelm ski resort
A surge of ten thousand unexpected day-trippers overwhelmed the Italian ski resort of Roccaraso after viral social media posts promoted the area’s heavy snowfall. Influencer Rita De Crescenzo’s videos encouraged budget tour companies…
EU: von der Leyen calls for tougher migrant deportations
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has suggested that the EU could learn from Italy’s controversial new policy of processing migrants offshore in Albania. She has proposed new legislation to increase deportations,…
Central Europe: Storm Boris causes widespread devastation
Central Europe has been severely affected by Storm Boris, bringing heavy rain and snow and causing flooding across Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Austria, with at least 24 reported deaths. In Poland,…
Italy: Indian ‘fixer’ faces indictment for exploiting hundreds
An Indian ‘fixer’, Tara Chand Tanwar, is likely to face indictment for a long history of criminal activity. One example concerns Sandeep, from Rajasthan, who was working in Italy but lost his job…
Italy: controversial outsourcing to Albania delayed
Government-aligned Italian MEPs are defending a plan to detain migrant arrivals in Albania, despite NGOs calling it ‘cruel’. Two Italian-funded migrant reception centres in Albania, part of a five-year agreement, face delays and…
USA / Italy: sixteen mafia leaders arrested
On 7 November, sixteen alleged leaders and associates of the Gambino crime family were arrested in the US and Italy. The charges against them include racketeering, extortion, witness retaliation, conspiracy and fraud. Another…
