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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

Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo preaches friendship to nearly 1 million at Holy Year youth festival

32 million young Catholics from around the world are expected to take part in the pilgrimage to Italy’s capital for the jubilee celebration.

6 minutes ago

Hong Kong economy

Editorial | Kai Tak football fest a win for Hong Kong as host of elite sporting events

2 Aug 2025 - 6:45AM

Malaysia

Malaysian parents back curbs on ‘brain rot’ excess of social media

31 Jul 2025 - 3:59PM

Israel-Gaza war

Freedom Flotilla ship carrying aid to Gaza intercepted by Israel

‘Handala’ was the second ship operated by the group that Israel prevented from delivering aid to Gaza, where experts have warned of famine.

27 Jul 2025 - 5:18PM

Pro-Palestine supporters wave and cheer for the Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, on July 20. Photo: dpa

Celebrity style

Meet Chinese-American fashion designer Kim Shui, who dresses Twice and Dua Lipa

The young fashion designer says she draws inspiration from Rome’s fabrics, art and architecture; she has since gone on to collaborate with brands from Fitbit to Samsung.

27 Jul 2025 - 9:00AM

Fame and celebrity

Meet Natalie Kuckenburg, the new fiancée of Vampire Diaries star Paul Wesley

The Star Trek: Strange New Worlds actor popped the question at Belmond Hotel Caruso on the Amalfi Coast in Italy, and this will be his third marriage after Torrey DeVitto and Inés de Ramon.

25 Jul 2025 - 7:00AM

India

Fake ambassador arrested in India for running embassy of imaginary micronations

Police say he posed as a diplomat for fictional countries to exploit jobseekers and launder money through shell firms.

24 Jul 2025 - 3:27PMvideocam

The man behind the operation, Harshvardhan Jain, allegedly posed as a ‘Baron’ and the ambassador of Westarctica. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong society

Explainer | How to get the best kick out of the coming Hong Kong Football Festival

Score tickets to see Liverpool, AC Milan, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Kai Tak Stadium, buy merchandise and enjoy related activities.

24 Jul 2025 - 12:52AM

Food and Drinks

Craving a cup of Italian coffee in Venice? Your barista may be Chinese

Cafes run by Chinese migrants have become a common sight in Italy, but behind each cup of coffee is a bittersweet story of cultural identity.

23 Jul 2025 - 9:00AM

Israel-Gaza war

25 Western nations condemn Israel over ‘inhumane killing’ of civilians in Gaza

Countries say suffering of Palestinians reaches new depths, but Israel says statement is ‘disconnected from reality’.

22 Jul 2025 - 4:22PM

Smoke and flames rise from a residential building hit by an Israeli strike, in Gaza City on Monday. Photo: Reuters

Style Edit

Style Edit: Gucci unveils bold designs and iconic classics in Paris

The Italian luxury brand reveals all at a showcase event in its Avenue Montaigne flagship, blending heritage with bold innovations, and introducing its exciting new venture alongside another Italian icon.

21 Jul 2025 - 10:00AM

For 2025, streamlined silhouettes and geometric splendour are central to new high jewellery designs in the Labirinti Gucci line, the maison’s celebration of Italian gardens. Photo: Handout

Pope Leo XIV

Pope visits observatory, calls Buzz Aldrin to mark 1969 US moon landing

The American pontiff spoke with the famed Apollo 11 astronaut, reflecting on human ingenuity and the ‘mystery and greatness of Creation’.

21 Jul 2025 - 3:18PM

Aviation accidents

Felix Baumgartner, famed for skydive from edge of space, dies in crash in Italy

Austrian extreme sportsman lost control of his paraglider and crashed into a swimming pool.

18 Jul 2025 - 2:41PM

Israel-Gaza war

Israeli strike on Gaza’s only Catholic church kills 2, cathedral official says

The Israeli Defence Forces said they are reviewing the incident and regret any damage, while Pope Leo said he was ‘deeply saddened’ by the attack.

17 Jul 2025 - 11:37PM

Worshippers walk outside after Christmas Eve mass at the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Family in Gaza City. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said an Israeli strike killed two people at the church. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong housing

Letters | Home sweet home? More like investment sweet investment in Hong Kong

Readers discuss the city’s world-topping property prices, care for low vision, and what Napoleon’s wallpaper had to do with his death.

17 Jul 2025 - 11:30AM

A view of residential buildings on Hong Kong Island in 2023. Hong Kong remains the world’s most expensive city to buy a home and ranks as the seventh priciest rental market. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Tourism

Where to visit in Italy’s beautiful ‘Little Finland’ of 300 lakes

Forget crowded Lake Garda, check out these other more tranquil yet also stunning lakes in northern Italy’s Trentino province.

16 Jul 2025 - 4:15AM

Ukraine war

Trump secretly urged Ukraine to hit deep inside Russia: report

Trump urged Ukraine to carry out deeper strikes into Russian territory and asked President Zelensky if US long-range weapons could be used to target Moscow.

15 Jul 2025 - 8:20PM

Wimbledon

Sinner beats 2-time defending champion Alcaraz to win first Wimbledon title

The number one-ranked Italian earned his fourth grand slam title overall, beating the Spaniard 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

14 Jul 2025 - 3:24AM

Italy’s Jannik Sinner celebrates after victory against Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz at the end of their Wimbledon men’s final in London on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Israel-Gaza war

US sanctions UN human rights expert critical of Israel’s war in Gaza

Francesca Albanese, who has called Israel’s Gaza war ‘genocidal’, dismisses US sanctions as ‘mafia style intimidation’.

10 Jul 2025 - 1:58PM

My Take

Opinion | It’s time for business to stop profiting from Israel’s ‘economy of genocide’

A UN report has exposed dozens of corporations making money from the atrocities being committed across Palestinian territories.

10 Jul 2025 - 9:00AM

Animals

Outrage in Italy: who killed heroic bloodhound Bruno?

Hero dog Bruno’s brutal killing sparks probe and new animal law. Trainer suspects foul play due to dog fighting activism.

9 Jul 2025 - 2:25AM

An Italian sniffer dog was killed after eating sausages filled with nails that were thrown into his kennel, his trainer has said. Photo: Handout

US-China relations

Chinese man fights US extradition in Italy, claims mistaken identity in Covid hack

Xu Zewei faces US charges for allegedly attempting to hack a Covid-19 vaccine project, but asserts his innocence, citing a stolen phone and common surname.

8 Jul 2025 - 11:05PM

Facing US extradition, a Chinese man in Italy claims mistaken identity in a case over a Covid-19 vaccine hack. Photo: Shutterstock

Aviation

Man sucked into plane engine at Italy’s Bergamo airport; flights suspended

The man was neither a passenger, nor a member of airport staff.

8 Jul 2025 - 9:42PM

Ukraine war

Ukraine plans to expand drone production with allies after war, Zelensky says

Cooperation would take place with all countries that can help with investments, individual parts and production facilities, Zelensky said.

8 Jul 2025 - 5:55AMvideocam

China-EU relations

‘Pessimistic’: Ukraine war, trade expected to mar progress at China-EU summit

Ambassadors to China welcome dialogue at July 24-25 gathering but say they have little expectation of big progress.

7 Jul 2025 - 8:56PMvideocam

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (right) and European Council President Antonio Costa will attend a China-EU summit on July 24-25. Diplomats from both sides have expressed doubt that there will be substantial progress on big issues. Photo: EPA

Fashion

Diego Della Valle, CEO of Tod’s Group, on the virtues of ‘Made in Italy’

The fashion mogul joined the family company 50 years ago and has since joined the board of LVMH too; but despite current headwinds in the industry, his focus remains on delivering timeless appeal.

7 Jul 2025 - 7:00PM

Diego Della Valle at the Tod’s autumn/winter 2025/2026 women’s show in Milan in February 2025. Photo: Handout

Food and Drinks

The many uses of saffron, the world’s most expensive spice

Producing 1 kilogram of saffron requires up to 200,000 crocuses to be harvested, but Bardia Ilbeiggi from Vancouver’s Delara says adding it to your guest’s dishes shows you care.

6 Jul 2025 - 2:00PM

Malaysia

Malaysia’s Anwar ends Europe tour on a high note with US$20 billion Airbus deal

Malaysia Airlines and Air Asia sign deals to buy as many as 90 Airbus aircraft as part of their expansion plans.

5 Jul 2025 - 11:41AM

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