An Italian junior culture minister has resigned amid accusations of laundering stolen goods, which he denies. Vittorio Sgarbi made the announcement before beginning a lecture in Milan, saying he was quitting “to avoid a conflict of interest”. Prosecutors are investigating allegations Mr Sgarbi, a renowned art critic, stole and modified a 17th-Century painting. “The Capture…
A leading Italian mafia boss who escaped a Sardinian prison using bed sheets has been recaptured in France. Marco Raduano, who was on Europol’s list of Europe’s most wanted criminals, was arrested in Corsica, officials in France and Italy confirmed. He had been serving a 24-year-sentence for drug trafficking and other crimes, according to Europol….
Italy has summoned Hungary’s ambassador after images of an Italian woman in shackles appearing at a Budapest court sparked public and political outrage. Ilaria Salis, a 39-year-old primary school teacher from Monza, near Milan, appeared in court on 29 January with restraints on her hands and feet. She is accused of taking part in violent…
Albania’s constitutional court has approved a controversial agreement to send asylum seekers in Italy to Albania. Under the agreement, the Italian government will build two centres in northern Albania to process36,000 people hoping to reach Italy each year. The deal will now have to be ratified by the Albanian parliament. However, it is likely to…
One person has been killed in an attack by masked gunmen on a Catholic church in Istanbul. Local media also reported several injuries. The shooting happened at the church of Santa Maria during Sunday morning mass at around 11:40 local time (08:40 GMT). Turkey’s interior minister has condemned the “vile attack” and said an investigation…
Italy has been gripped by a vigilante who calls himself “Fleximan” and has made it his mission to tear down as many speed cameras as possible. Fleximan has already claimed at least 15 successful strikes, and a special police task force and four different prosecutors’ offices are now investigating the attacks. The anonymous vandal began…
An Italian junior culture minister has been accused of possessing and exhibiting a stolen 17th Century painting, which he denies. The latest allegations to hit a member of Italy’s government centre on Vittorio Sgarbi, a renowned art critic. Mr Sgarbi has been put under investigation for laundering stolen goods after including the painting in a…
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is being urged to ban neo-fascist groups after hundreds of men were seen giving fascist salutes during a rally in Rome on Sunday night. They were taking part in an annual commemoration for three far-right activists who were killed in the 1970s, allegedly by far-left militants. But a video shared…
A shot that lightly wounded a man at a New Year’s Eve party has prompted an angry political response after it emerged it was fired from a gun owned by an Italian far-right MP. Emanuele Pozzolo, a member of Prime Minister Georgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party, admitted bringing the gun but denied firing the…
Venice is to ban loudspeakers and tourist groups of more than 25 people, in a bid to ease the impact of mass tourism on the Italian city. The new rules will come into effect from June, the city said in a statement. The use of loudspeakers have been banned as they can “generate confusion and…