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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

IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Ceralume. Photo: Handout

Timepieces

Full-lume watches are the new flex, from heritage brands to indie upstarts

Luminescence was a stand-out trend at this year’s Watches and Wonders – here’s how makers are using innovative materials to light up horology.

11 minutes ago

European Union

Spain to start Italy border controls amid Ceuta migrant row

5 hours ago

Russia

Russian drone factory boss badly injured in car blast that killed driver

6 Aug 2026 - 2:20PM

Offbeat

Lost US$1.15 million lottery ticket dug out of trash by Italian binmen

The winner had discarded the stub, not realising that she had won the big jackpot.

5 Aug 2026 - 4:03AM

A rubbish collection worker gets in his truck in Rome in January 2018. Photo illustration: AFP

Spain

Death toll from migrant rush into Spanish enclave of Ceuta reaches 72

More bodies recovered near shoreline following mass movement of 50,000 people across Moroccan border.

3 Aug 2026 - 11:19AM

Icons and Influencers

Style according to … Italian designer Alessandra Rich

The designer is obsessed with Alfred Hitchcock’s films and draws inspiration for her feminine designs from Grace Kelly and Ingrid Bergman.

1 Aug 2026 - 4:00PM

Spain

France, Italy tighten borders after 60,000 migrants enter Spain’s Ceuta

France is increasing its border police presence fivefold while Italy has suspended its Schengen agreement with Spain.

1 Aug 2026 - 11:54AM

Spain

Italy halts EU Schengen free-travel pact with Spain over Ceuta migrant crisis

Over 50,000 people had rushed into Spanish territory from Morocco, sparking concern over border security.

1 Aug 2026 - 1:42AM

Obituaries

Franco Baresi, the ‘Johan Cruyff of defenders’, dies aged 66

Iconic captain spent entire 20-year career with AC Milan, and earned his place among the game’s all-time greats.

31 Jul 2026 - 3:45PM

China economy

Opinion | Can the West really decouple from China?

Instead of trying to ‘catch up’, Western economies should focus on boosting resilience in key sectors without disrupting global supply chains.

30 Jul 2026 - 8:30PMvideocam

A worker responsible for electrode technology development near a mixing container for battery production at a factory in Bavaria, Germany, on October 26, 2023. Photo: dpa

Hong Kong sports

On This Day | Windsurfer wins Hong Kong’s first Olympic gold in 1996 – SCMP archive

On this day 30 years ago, Hong Kong won its first Olympic gold. It would take almost exactly 25 years to win another one.

29 Jul 2026 - 2:15PM

Lee Lai-shan raises her fist in triumph after winning a gold medal in the Olympic women’s windsurfing competition on July 29, 1996. Photo: David Wong

The Philippines

EU’s US$17 million maritime aid for Manila targets ‘fault lines’

Analysts say the European Union considers Manila ‘the most important’ partner for its Indo-Pacific strategy.

29 Jul 2026 - 3:58PMvideocam

United States

As I see it | America declares international law for thee but not for me

While the US is seeking to dismantle the International Criminal Court, it has signed a statement upholding the Hague tribunal’s South China Sea ruling.

28 Jul 2026 - 8:30PM

Extreme weather

France and Spain race to curb wildfires before new heatwave arrives

Authorities have evacuated about 220,000 people, including tourists, in France, while in Spain around 100,000 have been told to seek shelter.

28 Jul 2026 - 5:42AM

A forest fire rages in Saint-Jean-d’Illac near Bordeaux, France as the country is battered by heatwaves sparking wildfires. Photo: AFP

China-EU relations

Why did China put a Polish university on its European dual-use export blacklist?

Wroclaw University of Science and Technology placed on export control list alongside defence firms as China hits back at latest EU sanctions.

27 Jul 2026 - 12:14AMvideocam

Wroclaw University of Science and Technology says it has not received any official notification from Beijing. Photo: Shutterstock

Nordic nations

European heatwaves drive summer tourists to cooler north

The concept of ‘coolcations’ – holidays in a cooler clime – has been gathering pace in recent years and appears to have exploded in 2026.

26 Jul 2026 - 12:54PM

Japan

Japan, UK, Italy eye Japanese factory to build fighter jet

The three nations launched the programme in 2022 to deploy the fighter jet from 2035, amid an increasingly tense global security environment.

25 Jul 2026 - 10:30PM

China-EU relations

China adds 14 EU entities to export control list, hitting back at sanctions

Ministry of Commerce action follows a new round of EU sanctions on Russia that affected 14 firms from mainland China and Hong Kong.

24 Jul 2026 - 7:40PMvideocam

The flags of the European Union and China in Berlin. Photo: Photothek via Getty Images

Extreme weather

Heatwave-fuelled wildfires rage in southern France, Italy and Spain

Thousands flee homes and campsites as firefighters battle dozens of active blazes.

23 Jul 2026 - 11:36AM

Volleyball

Italy and Brazil sweep into last 4 of Women’s Volleyball Nations League Finals

Defending champions and team from South America brush aside Netherlands and Japan, and will face each other for place in title clash.

23 Jul 2026 - 12:21AM

Defence

Canada becomes first observer to British-Italian-Japanese GCAP fighter project

Ottawa gains front-row insight into the next-gen combat jet as it seeks to diversify ties amid Washington tensions.

22 Jul 2026 - 6:00PMvideocam

Defence ministers (fromleft) David McGuinty (Canada), Wes Streeting (Britain), Guido Crosetto (Italy) and Shinjiro Koizumi (Japan) discuss the Global Combat Air Programme at Wellington Barracks in London on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

SCMP Highlights

Xiaomi’s focus on new SUVs, BYD’s 15,000km-driving range cars: 7 EV reads

From CATL shares forecast to grow 50 per cent to the effects of China’s EV tax break ending, here are seven EV stories you may have missed.

22 Jul 2026 - 4:03PM

The fleet of BYD Denza Z9GT cars travelling from Rome to Hong Kong in Istanbul on June 23. Photo: Handout

New Openings

Hong Kong’s hottest new openings, from homestyle Italian at Ninetta to meat-centric Marrow

Discover the city’s latest dining delights: from Santa Nata’s authentic Portuguese egg tarts and the finest Wagyu at Tanaka, to cosy trattoria Ninetta and meaty pop-up Marrow.

22 Jul 2026 - 8:00AM

Art

Wallace Chan’s ‘Vessels of Other Worlds’ exhibition arrives in Shanghai

The 70-year-old artist, who crafted what was once the world’s most expensive diamond necklace for Chow Tai Fook, is presenting titanium titans in his latest exhibition.

20 Jul 2026 - 2:17PM

Style Edit

Style Edit: Bulgari’s Eclettica blends Roman elegance with artistic expression

The Italian house’s high jewellery collection fuses art, architecture and Roman heritage into bold and expressive designs.

20 Jul 2026 - 10:00AM

Bulgari’s Eclettica high jewellery collection comprises more than 150 one-of-a-kind creations. Photo: Eva Wang

Diplomacy

Trump envoy met with protests in Venice as he arrives on superyacht

US Ambassador Tilman Fertitta, a billionaire businessman, arrived amid strained ties between the president and Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni.

18 Jul 2026 - 5:26AM

US Ambassador Tilman Fertitta’s superyacht is docked in Venice on Friday. Photo: AP

Fashion

Italian police raid luxury brands over exploitation of Chinese workers

Earlier operations have revealed numerous cases of poor work conditions in the supply chains for the country’s leading fashion houses.

17 Jul 2026 - 5:08AM

Crime

Ex-Italian highway chief jailed for 12 years over Genoa bridge disaster

Giovanni Castellucci was convicted of vehicle homicide and negligence after a bridge in Genoa collapsed in 2018, killing 43 people.

16 Jul 2026 - 9:47PM

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Italy

Full-lume watches are the new flex, from heritage brands to indie upstarts

Luminescence was a stand-out trend at this year’s Watches and Wonders – here’s how makers are using innovative materials to light up horology.

Spain to start Italy border controls amid Ceuta migrant row

Russian drone factory boss badly injured in car blast that killed driver

Lost US$1.15 million lottery ticket dug out of trash by Italian binmen

The winner had discarded the stub, not realising that she had won the big jackpot.

Death toll from migrant rush into Spanish enclave of Ceuta reaches 72

More bodies recovered near shoreline following mass movement of 50,000 people across Moroccan border.

Style according to … Italian designer Alessandra Rich

The designer is obsessed with Alfred Hitchcock’s films and draws inspiration for her feminine designs from Grace Kelly and Ingrid Bergman.

France, Italy tighten borders after 60,000 migrants enter Spain’s Ceuta

France is increasing its border police presence fivefold while Italy has suspended its Schengen agreement with Spain.

Italy halts EU Schengen free-travel pact with Spain over Ceuta migrant crisis

Over 50,000 people had rushed into Spanish territory from Morocco, sparking concern over border security.

Franco Baresi, the ‘Johan Cruyff of defenders’, dies aged 66

Iconic captain spent entire 20-year career with AC Milan, and earned his place among the game’s all-time greats.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Can the West really decouple from China?

Instead of trying to ‘catch up’, Western economies should focus on boosting resilience in key sectors without disrupting global supply chains.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}On This Day | Windsurfer wins Hong Kong’s first Olympic gold in 1996 – SCMP archive

On this day 30 years ago, Hong Kong won its first Olympic gold. It would take almost exactly 25 years to win another one.

EU’s US$17 million maritime aid for Manila targets ‘fault lines’

Analysts say the European Union considers Manila ‘the most important’ partner for its Indo-Pacific strategy.

As I see it | America declares international law for thee but not for me

While the US is seeking to dismantle the International Criminal Court, it has signed a statement upholding the Hague tribunal’s South China Sea ruling.

France and Spain race to curb wildfires before new heatwave arrives

Authorities have evacuated about 220,000 people, including tourists, in France, while in Spain around 100,000 have been told to seek shelter.

Why did China put a Polish university on its European dual-use export blacklist?

Wroclaw University of Science and Technology placed on export control list alongside defence firms as China hits back at latest EU sanctions.

European heatwaves drive summer tourists to cooler north

The concept of ‘coolcations’ – holidays in a cooler clime – has been gathering pace in recent years and appears to have exploded in 2026.

Japan, UK, Italy eye Japanese factory to build fighter jet

The three nations launched the programme in 2022 to deploy the fighter jet from 2035, amid an increasingly tense global security environment.

China adds 14 EU entities to export control list, hitting back at sanctions

Ministry of Commerce action follows a new round of EU sanctions on Russia that affected 14 firms from mainland China and Hong Kong.

Heatwave-fuelled wildfires rage in southern France, Italy and Spain

Thousands flee homes and campsites as firefighters battle dozens of active blazes.

Italy and Brazil sweep into last 4 of Women’s Volleyball Nations League Finals

Defending champions and team from South America brush aside Netherlands and Japan, and will face each other for place in title clash.

Canada becomes first observer to British-Italian-Japanese GCAP fighter project

Ottawa gains front-row insight into the next-gen combat jet as it seeks to diversify ties amid Washington tensions.

Xiaomi’s focus on new SUVs, BYD’s 15,000km-driving range cars: 7 EV reads

From CATL shares forecast to grow 50 per cent to the effects of China’s EV tax break ending, here are seven EV stories you may have missed.

Hong Kong’s hottest new openings, from homestyle Italian at Ninetta to meat-centric Marrow

Discover the city’s latest dining delights: from Santa Nata’s authentic Portuguese egg tarts and the finest Wagyu at Tanaka, to cosy trattoria Ninetta and meaty pop-up Marrow.

Wallace Chan’s ‘Vessels of Other Worlds’ exhibition arrives in Shanghai

The 70-year-old artist, who crafted what was once the world’s most expensive diamond necklace for Chow Tai Fook, is presenting titanium titans in his latest exhibition.

Style Edit: Bulgari’s Eclettica blends Roman elegance with artistic expression

The Italian house’s high jewellery collection fuses art, architecture and Roman heritage into bold and expressive designs.

Trump envoy met with protests in Venice as he arrives on superyacht

US Ambassador Tilman Fertitta, a billionaire businessman, arrived amid strained ties between the president and Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni.

Italian police raid luxury brands over exploitation of Chinese workers

Earlier operations have revealed numerous cases of poor work conditions in the supply chains for the country’s leading fashion houses.

Ex-Italian highway chief jailed for 12 years over Genoa bridge disaster

Giovanni Castellucci was convicted of vehicle homicide and negligence after a bridge in Genoa collapsed in 2018, killing 43 people.

Opinion | Can the West really decouple from China?

On This Day | Windsurfer wins Hong Kong’s first Olympic gold in 1996 – SCMP archive