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Italy

The latest breaking news and stories on Italy, a country in southern Europe known as a parliamentary republic, and the world’s eighth largest economy. Also covering Italy’s relationship with China and Europe, plus commentary and updates on Italy’s economy, politics, society and social issues.

Capital

Rome

Head of State

President Sergio Mattarella

Head of Government

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

Solar panels on a residential building in Matanzas, Cuba. Photo: AFP

US, Israel war on Iran

China is poised to reap rewards as energy shock heats up the race for renewables

The US war on Iran may have inadvertently triggered a global transition that will favour Beijing’s green leadership, analysts predict.

1 hour agovideocam

Art

Singapore’s Amanda Heng on making feminist art in a country that wasn’t ready for it

2 hours ago

China exports

Flood of small parcels from China pushes Belgian airport to limit

25 Apr 2026 - 3:00PM

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong police arrest 9 over HK$1.7 million in fake travel insurance claims

Syndicate allegedly faked overseas accidents with forged documents to claim payouts from insurers without ever leaving the city.

23 Apr 2026 - 5:11PM

Nine suspects have been held after Hong Kong police uncovered a scheme involving bogus overseas accident claims and forged documents. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Singapore

Man convicted of trafficking Singaporean Tinder date for Dubai sex work

Achraf Arjaouy targeted the victim by pretending to be a wealthy pilot from Qatar who wished to marry her.

23 Apr 2026 - 2:15PM

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump envoy seeks to replace Iran with Italy in World Cup, report says

The plan is an attempt to mend ties with Italian PM Meloni, after she and Trump fell out over his attacks against Pope Leo.

23 Apr 2026 - 6:09AM

Weddings

Meet Claudia Doumit, who just married her The Boys co-star Jack Quaid

The Scandal and New Girl actress wed the actor – whose parents are Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid – in a star-studded ceremony in her native Australia.

22 Apr 2026 - 6:00PM

The Boys co-stars Jack Quaid and Claudia Doumit have tied the knot. Photo: @jack_quaid/Instagram

Food and Drinks

Who makes the best panettone in the world? Ask this Taiwanese baker

Giovanna Chen Shih-chieh shares her journey to leading a team of Taiwanese bakers to victory in the 2025 Panettone World Championship.

21 Apr 2026 - 12:15PM

Japan

‘Dragon Ball’ diplomacy: Japan’s Takaichi builds rapport with personal touches

Japan’s first female prime minister uses expressive gestures, thoughtful gifts and music to connect with foreign leaders.

20 Apr 2026 - 10:40AMvideocam

Ukraine war

Inside Ukraine’s desperate race to track cultural artefacts looted by Russia

Russia has moved to formalise control over seized collections by adding 77 Ukrainian museums in occupied regions into its national catalogue.

18 Apr 2026 - 4:01PMvideocam

A Ukrainian artifact is 3D scanned in The Archa III (Ark Project) truck on March 24 in Prague, Czech Republic.Prague’s National Museum will send the truck with equipment across Ukraine to help preserve the country’s cultural heritage. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong tourism

Tourism Board invited 1,730 influencers with 1.6 billion followers over 2 years

Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau says influencers’ itineraries were tailored to their markets and audiences.

18 Apr 2026 - 7:33PM

TikTok star Khaby Lame was among those who visited Hong Kong as part of the promotion push. Photo: AP

Japan

Japan ditches decades of arm export curbs as US reliability wavers

From drones for Ukraine to warships for Australia, ‘peace-loving’ Japan is fast pivoting towards arming the world.

18 Apr 2026 - 9:00AM

US, Israel war on Iran

Iran war: France and UK to lead ‘defensive’ force for Strait of Hormuz

Trump, meanwhile, says he received a Nato offer to help secure the key waterway but told the alliance to ‘STAY AWAY’.

18 Apr 2026 - 1:35AM

US, Israel war on Iran

Europe tests ‘third way’ on Hormuz without the US, Israel and Iran. Will it work?

Coalition of more than 30 nations to meet in Paris for a summit to find a ‘credible proposal’ to restore shipping through the strait.

17 Apr 2026 - 12:26PMvideocam

Some 34 per cent of the global oil trade passed through the Strait of Hormuz last year. Photo: Reuters

European Union

EU unveils age-check app amid efforts to better protect children online

The app will allow users to prove their age when accessing online platforms and is ‘completely anonymous’ to ensure data cannot be tracked.

15 Apr 2026 - 8:15PM

An illustration shows an EU flag and smartphone with social media app icons displayed. Photo: Reuters

China energy security

Which countries are most vulnerable as US imposes Persian Gulf blockade?

Nomura says more than 90 per cent of the crude oil imported by Japan and the Philippines comes from the Middle East.

15 Apr 2026 - 8:00AM

Art

Stunned Frenchman wins US$1 million Picasso with US$117 raffle ticket

Sales engineer Ari Hodara wondered if it was a hoax when he got a call after the draw at Christie’s auction house in Paris.

15 Apr 2026 - 3:44AM

Fashion

Designer Filippo Sorcinelli on dressing the last three popes – interview

Also a perfumer and organist, Sorcinelli says his work for Popes Benedict, Francis and now Leo is ultimately inspired by his Catholic faith.

24 Apr 2026 - 10:16AM

Italian designer Filippo Sorcinelli has dressed the last three popes. Photo: Handout

Donald Trump

‘I’m shocked by her’: Trump turns on Italy’s Meloni in clash over pope

US president accuses European ally of lacking ‘courage’ after she denounced his attacks on the pope and refused to join the Iran war effort.

15 Apr 2026 - 1:50PMvideocam

Education in Hong Kong

Hong Kong school hits back at filmmaker in row over Italian festival screening

Supervisor of Ying Wa Girls’ School says principal did not lie in negotiations over showing To My Nineteen-Year-Old Self at coming festival.

13 Apr 2026 - 6:29PM

Japan

‘Not a reliable ally’: Japan eyes Nato as Trump erodes faith in US guarantees

Tokyo and the transatlantic security alliance have a shared problem: what happens if the US walks away?

13 Apr 2026 - 9:16AM

Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte stands in front of Japanese and Nato flags during a visit to Tokyo in April last year. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong society

Controversial Hong Kong documentary pulled from Italian film festival

Distributor Golden Scene says To My Nineteen-Year-Old Self will not feature at Far East Film Festival in Udine.

12 Apr 2026 - 8:10PM

The documentary’s planned screening has met with a backlash. Photo: Golden Scene

Hong Kong society

Filmmaker accuses school of ‘blatantly lying’ in row over documentary screening

Mabel Cheung says she’s shocked after Ying Wa Girls’ School said it had not authorised festival screening of her film To My Nineteen-Year-Old Self.

10 Apr 2026 - 5:08PM

Cartier

The Cartier Women’s Initiative just celebrated 20 years

Amal Clooney spoke on the opening panel to urge action on women’s rights, while female entrepreneurs among the 2026 fellows shared their experiences and advice.

8 Apr 2026 - 3:16PM

History

Mussolini’s summer villa on Italian coast to be a cultural space

Italian seaside town pays US$1.3 million to prevent property from becoming a site for far-right sympathisers.

8 Apr 2026 - 11:39AM

Villa Mussolini on Italy’s Adriatic coast. Photo: Comune di Riccione via dpa

US, Israel war on Iran

What is the war on Iran teaching China about the United States’ resilience?

Washington is providing a real-time laboratory of modern warfare and Beijing is paying close attention to the lessons.

8 Apr 2026 - 11:10AMvideocam

Middle East

Abducted US journalist released by Iraqi armed group, Rubio says

Iran-backed militia frees Shelly Kittleson with a warning that the move ‘will not be repeated’.

8 Apr 2026 - 10:25AM

Nato

Opinion | In denying Trump airspace, Europe has drawn a line for Nato

Growing European defiance to US demands raises a critical question: is Nato a club of equals or a mechanism for enforcing one nation’s agenda?

7 Apr 2026 - 8:07PMvideocam

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Italy

China is poised to reap rewards as energy shock heats up the race for renewables

The US war on Iran may have inadvertently triggered a global transition that will favour Beijing’s green leadership, analysts predict.

Singapore’s Amanda Heng on making feminist art in a country that wasn’t ready for it

Flood of small parcels from China pushes Belgian airport to limit

Hong Kong police arrest 9 over HK$1.7 million in fake travel insurance claims

Syndicate allegedly faked overseas accidents with forged documents to claim payouts from insurers without ever leaving the city.

Man convicted of trafficking Singaporean Tinder date for Dubai sex work

Achraf Arjaouy targeted the victim by pretending to be a wealthy pilot from Qatar who wished to marry her.

Trump envoy seeks to replace Iran with Italy in World Cup, report says

The plan is an attempt to mend ties with Italian PM Meloni, after she and Trump fell out over his attacks against Pope Leo.

Meet Claudia Doumit, who just married her The Boys co-star Jack Quaid

The Scandal and New Girl actress wed the actor – whose parents are Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid – in a star-studded ceremony in her native Australia.

Who makes the best panettone in the world? Ask this Taiwanese baker

Giovanna Chen Shih-chieh shares her journey to leading a team of Taiwanese bakers to victory in the 2025 Panettone World Championship.

‘Dragon Ball’ diplomacy: Japan’s Takaichi builds rapport with personal touches

Japan’s first female prime minister uses expressive gestures, thoughtful gifts and music to connect with foreign leaders.

Inside Ukraine’s desperate race to track cultural artefacts looted by Russia

Russia has moved to formalise control over seized collections by adding 77 Ukrainian museums in occupied regions into its national catalogue.

Tourism Board invited 1,730 influencers with 1.6 billion followers over 2 years

Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau says influencers’ itineraries were tailored to their markets and audiences.

Japan ditches decades of arm export curbs as US reliability wavers

From drones for Ukraine to warships for Australia, ‘peace-loving’ Japan is fast pivoting towards arming the world.

Iran war: France and UK to lead ‘defensive’ force for Strait of Hormuz

Trump, meanwhile, says he received a Nato offer to help secure the key waterway but told the alliance to ‘STAY AWAY’.

Europe tests ‘third way’ on Hormuz without the US, Israel and Iran. Will it work?

Coalition of more than 30 nations to meet in Paris for a summit to find a ‘credible proposal’ to restore shipping through the strait.

EU unveils age-check app amid efforts to better protect children online

The app will allow users to prove their age when accessing online platforms and is ‘completely anonymous’ to ensure data cannot be tracked.

Which countries are most vulnerable as US imposes Persian Gulf blockade?

Nomura says more than 90 per cent of the crude oil imported by Japan and the Philippines comes from the Middle East.

Stunned Frenchman wins US$1 million Picasso with US$117 raffle ticket

Sales engineer Ari Hodara wondered if it was a hoax when he got a call after the draw at Christie’s auction house in Paris.

Designer Filippo Sorcinelli on dressing the last three popes – interview

Also a perfumer and organist, Sorcinelli says his work for Popes Benedict, Francis and now Leo is ultimately inspired by his Catholic faith.

‘I’m shocked by her’: Trump turns on Italy’s Meloni in clash over pope

US president accuses European ally of lacking ‘courage’ after she denounced his attacks on the pope and refused to join the Iran war effort.

Hong Kong school hits back at filmmaker in row over Italian festival screening

Supervisor of Ying Wa Girls’ School says principal did not lie in negotiations over showing To My Nineteen-Year-Old Self at coming festival.

‘Not a reliable ally’: Japan eyes Nato as Trump erodes faith in US guarantees

Tokyo and the transatlantic security alliance have a shared problem: what happens if the US walks away?

Controversial Hong Kong documentary pulled from Italian film festival

Distributor Golden Scene says To My Nineteen-Year-Old Self will not feature at Far East Film Festival in Udine.

Filmmaker accuses school of ‘blatantly lying’ in row over documentary screening

Mabel Cheung says she’s shocked after Ying Wa Girls’ School said it had not authorised festival screening of her film To My Nineteen-Year-Old Self.

The Cartier Women’s Initiative just celebrated 20 years

Amal Clooney spoke on the opening panel to urge action on women’s rights, while female entrepreneurs among the 2026 fellows shared their experiences and advice.

Mussolini’s summer villa on Italian coast to be a cultural space

Italian seaside town pays US$1.3 million to prevent property from becoming a site for far-right sympathisers.

What is the war on Iran teaching China about the United States’ resilience?

Washington is providing a real-time laboratory of modern warfare and Beijing is paying close attention to the lessons.

Abducted US journalist released by Iraqi armed group, Rubio says

Iran-backed militia frees Shelly Kittleson with a warning that the move ‘will not be repeated’.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | In denying Trump airspace, Europe has drawn a line for Nato

Growing European defiance to US demands raises a critical question: is Nato a club of equals or a mechanism for enforcing one nation’s agenda?

Opinion | In denying Trump airspace, Europe has drawn a line for Nato