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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

Carabinieri paramilitary police stand on patrol outside the Colosseum in Rome on Wednesday. Photo: via AP

Tourism

Italy’s Colosseum closes after worker dies in accident

The incident comes less ‌than a year ‌after the death of a worker trapped under the rubble of a collapsed medieval tower near the Colosseum.

23 Sep 2026 - 7:09PM

China-Africa relations

Djibouti base upgrade may give PLA eyes on foreign military in Middle East

21 Sep 2026 - 9:16PMvideocam

Art

Fan Ho’s poetic photos of mid-20th century Hong Kong show in an unlikely place

21 Sep 2026 - 5:20PM

Style Edit

Style Edit: Zegna brings an Alpine-inspired retail vision to Hong Kong

Natural materials and curved interiors frame the Italian maison’s expanded menswear offering, from tailoring and leisurewear to footwear and fragrances.

21 Sep 2026 - 10:00AM

Zegna has opened a new negozio, or store, inside Hong Kong’s Harbour City. Photo: Handout

Giorgia Meloni

Meloni pushes for burka ban in Italy’s schools, cap on foreign students

Italian prime minister tells party rally that foreigners must ‘respect our rules’ under proposed integration package.

21 Sep 2026 - 11:41AM

ICBMs

Opinion | Why cities have the responsibility to demand nuclear disarmament

As cities are the main targets of nuclear weapons, they have a responsibility to speak out and encourage efforts to eliminate them.

18 Sep 2026 - 9:39PMvideocam

Hong Kong

As I see it | Why mainland Chinese despise the British – but Hongkongers don’t

Whereas Hong Kong people experienced a milder form of colonialism, mainland Chinese were subjected to the extremes of Western imperialism.

18 Sep 2026 - 4:30PM

Heritage statues on Shamian Island in 2010. The district in Guangzhou was once controlled by the British and the French. Photo: Edward Wong

Indonesia

Pride or practicality? Indonesia welcomes first aircraft carrier

Jakarta has approved US$450 million for the aircraft carrier programme but some lawmakers warn the final bill could be higher.

18 Sep 2026 - 3:36PM

Style Edit

Style Edit: Loro Piana’s baby cashmere and summer-to-autumn layers

Rare raw materials and exacting craftsmanship inform the maison’s approach to exceptional fibres and its fall/winter 2026-27 Back to School collection.

18 Sep 2026 - 10:00AM

Japan

Video | Cruise ship arrives in Japan to house Asian Games athletes

Brought in to try and ease complaints, the ship will house about 4,000 guests during the event.

16 Sep 2026 - 6:36PM

People gather near the Italian cruise ship Costa Serena, which will serve as a floating temporary athletes' village for 4,000 to 5,000 participants during the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, after it docked at the port of Nagoya, Japan, September 15, 2026. REUTERS/Edgar Su

02:37

Get to Know

Who are Baywatch star Brooks Nader’s parents, Holland and Breaux?

The Sports Illustrated model has hit back at criticism over her Sardinia family holiday, saying her financier father was ‘half-blind’ and didn’t care.

16 Sep 2026 - 6:00PM

Brooks Nader has found herself in the spotlight after a family holiday in Sardinia with parents Holland and Breaux. Photos: @brooksnader; @hnader/Instagram

New Openings

Hong Kong’s hottest new openings, from Sugar Daddy’s creamy pastries to Japanese-Chiuchow fusion fare at Chiu San

Discover Hong Kong’s freshest F&B openings: Italian pastries at Sugar Daddy, Lingnan fine dining at The Canton Library, Japanese-Chiuchow fusion at Chiu San and whimsical heritage ice cream at Teemtonefai.

18 Sep 2026 - 10:00AM

Style Edit

Style Edit: Furla’s fall/winter 2026 collection and new Macau boutique

Blending Italian elegance with rich seasonal hues, designs like the Ginevra, Tonie and Iride take centre stage at Furla’s store inside The Venetian Macao.

15 Sep 2026 - 10:00AM

Israel-Gaza war

Israeli army chief orders legal review of award-winning Gaza war film

Israeli-made Gaza documentary makes waves after winning the Venice special jury prize.

15 Sep 2026 - 11:32AM

Directors Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham pose with the Special Jury Prize for 'NAZA' at the 83rd Venice Film Festival. Photo: AFP

China-EU relations

Beijing lodges diplomatic protests over Taiwan official’s visit to Italy

European Parliament official says conference attendance by Hsiao Bi-khim was kept confidential to safeguard her participation.

11 Sep 2026 - 7:27PMvideocam

Beijing has made “serious representations against Italy and the European Union” over a visit by Taiwan’s Hsiao Bi-khim to an international forum on Ventotene Island. Photo: Shutterstock

Obituaries

Emma Bonino, Italy’s activist politician, dies aged 78

Bonino was a passionate advocate for social justice and gender equality who deliberately courted controversy to advance her many causes.

11 Sep 2026 - 5:30PM

Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

On This Day | Deanie Ip scores first best actress win for Hong Kong in Venice – SCMP archive

Ip’s portrayal of an ageing domestic servant in Ann Hui’s film won her the prestigious Volpi Cup, the first for a Hongkonger.

11 Sep 2026 - 3:30PM

Israel-Gaza war

Israeli film on AI-backed Gaza killings gets 25-minute ovation

Oscar-winning directors premiere ‘NAZA’, featuring military whistle-blowers detailing automated target selection.

11 Sep 2026 - 1:32PM

A Israeli missile strikes a target in Gaza City’s Al Shati refugee camp on September 9 following an evacuation warning. Photo: APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

China-Japan relations

In Focus | How Tokyo is widening regional defence ties to complicate Beijing’s Taiwan calculus

Tokyo is strengthening partnerships across the Indo-Pacific and beyond, possibly bolstering its ability to withstand a prolonged armed conflict.

10 Sep 2026 - 12:39AMvideocam

Jewellery

Bulgari celebrates a love affair with colours at Shanghai exhibition

The immersive show, designed by Sanaa and Formafantasma, also features two installations by Chinese artists Liang Manqi and Zhang Ding.

7 Sep 2026 - 11:26AM

New Openings

Hong Kong hottest new openings, from Italian eatery Il Presidente to Fujian cuisine hotspot Quan

Discover Hong Kong’s freshest F&B openings: divine Italian at Il Presidente, Parisian-inspired Bistrot’s Suzette, tempting Japanese treats at Truffle Donut and contemporary Chinese fare at Quan.

6 Sep 2026 - 8:00AM

Hamachi crudo at Il Presidente. Photo: courtesy Il Presidente

Beauty

4 perfumes that capture the spirit of a destination

These heady, atmospheric eaux de parfum evoke destinations around the globe, from Taormina in Sicily to Mumbai, Cairo and Marrakech.

5 Sep 2026 - 4:00AM

Tom Ford Taormina Orange: a citrus woody fragrance designed to evoke “the blood orange groves, crisp winds and dramatic sea vistas of Sicily”. Photo: Handout

China shipbuilding

‘Breakthrough’: Chinese shipyard set to take orders from Nordic cruise operator

Chinese shipyard Waigaoqiao signs MOU with Nordic cruise operator, marking another advance for the rising shipbuilding powerhouse, analysts say.

4 Sep 2026 - 8:30PM

Science

2,000-year-old Roman concrete may offer clues on how Pyramid of Giza was built

Insights into how the ancient concrete grows denser could help create a low-carbon modern version and explain how the Great Pyramid endured.

4 Sep 2026 - 2:53PMvideocam

US military

US looks to warship designs from Japan, South Korea and Turkey, reports say

It comes after Trump signed a memorandum calling for foreign shipbuilding capacity and investment as US industry struggles to meet demand.

3 Sep 2026 - 6:00PM

Japan’s Mogami-class frigate is said to be among designs being considered by the US. Photo: Kyodo

2026 China-Nepal flash floods

Opinion | Nepal-China floods highlight a growing front of the climate change crisis

Rising sea levels, extreme weather and drought all remain concerns, but destabilised ice and snow at high altitudes is increasingly a threat.

2 Sep 2026 - 5:30AMvideocam

Residents sit beside debris as they salvage belongings following flash floods at Devighat in Nepal’s Nuwakot district on August 31. Photo: AFP

Indonesia

Indonesia-US joint military drills with allies kick off with 4,700 soldiers

The exercises, which have been held for nearly two decades, will include special forces infiltration training and cyberdefence drills.

31 Aug 2026 - 3:01PM

Chinese culture

Being Chinese | A Chinese-American bride says yes to a lucky red dress

The cheongsam I wore to my wedding tea ceremony wasn’t just another outfit. It was my way of celebrating my father and my heritage.

30 Aug 2026 - 9:30AM

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Italy

Italy’s Colosseum closes after worker dies in accident

The incident comes less ‌than a year ‌after the death of a worker trapped under the rubble of a collapsed medieval tower near the Colosseum.

Djibouti base upgrade may give PLA eyes on foreign military in Middle East

Fan Ho’s poetic photos of mid-20th century Hong Kong show in an unlikely place

Style Edit: Zegna brings an Alpine-inspired retail vision to Hong Kong

Natural materials and curved interiors frame the Italian maison’s expanded menswear offering, from tailoring and leisurewear to footwear and fragrances.

Meloni pushes for burka ban in Italy’s schools, cap on foreign students

Italian prime minister tells party rally that foreigners must ‘respect our rules’ under proposed integration package.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Why cities have the responsibility to demand nuclear disarmament

As cities are the main targets of nuclear weapons, they have a responsibility to speak out and encourage efforts to eliminate them.

As I see it | Why mainland Chinese despise the British – but Hongkongers don’t

Whereas Hong Kong people experienced a milder form of colonialism, mainland Chinese were subjected to the extremes of Western imperialism.

Pride or practicality? Indonesia welcomes first aircraft carrier

Jakarta has approved US$450 million for the aircraft carrier programme but some lawmakers warn the final bill could be higher.

Style Edit: Loro Piana’s baby cashmere and summer-to-autumn layers

Rare raw materials and exacting craftsmanship inform the maison’s approach to exceptional fibres and its fall/winter 2026-27 Back to School collection.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Video | Cruise ship arrives in Japan to house Asian Games athletes

Brought in to try and ease complaints, the ship will house about 4,000 guests during the event.

Who are Baywatch star Brooks Nader’s parents, Holland and Breaux?

The Sports Illustrated model has hit back at criticism over her Sardinia family holiday, saying her financier father was ‘half-blind’ and didn’t care.

Hong Kong’s hottest new openings, from Sugar Daddy’s creamy pastries to Japanese-Chiuchow fusion fare at Chiu San

Discover Hong Kong’s freshest F&B openings: Italian pastries at Sugar Daddy, Lingnan fine dining at The Canton Library, Japanese-Chiuchow fusion at Chiu San and whimsical heritage ice cream at Teemtonefai.

Style Edit: Furla’s fall/winter 2026 collection and new Macau boutique

Blending Italian elegance with rich seasonal hues, designs like the Ginevra, Tonie and Iride take centre stage at Furla’s store inside The Venetian Macao.

Israeli army chief orders legal review of award-winning Gaza war film

Israeli-made Gaza documentary makes waves after winning the Venice special jury prize.

Beijing lodges diplomatic protests over Taiwan official’s visit to Italy

European Parliament official says conference attendance by Hsiao Bi-khim was kept confidential to safeguard her participation.

Emma Bonino, Italy’s activist politician, dies aged 78

Bonino was a passionate advocate for social justice and gender equality who deliberately courted controversy to advance her many causes.

On This Day | Deanie Ip scores first best actress win for Hong Kong in Venice – SCMP archive

Ip’s portrayal of an ageing domestic servant in Ann Hui’s film won her the prestigious Volpi Cup, the first for a Hongkonger.

Israeli film on AI-backed Gaza killings gets 25-minute ovation

Oscar-winning directors premiere ‘NAZA’, featuring military whistle-blowers detailing automated target selection.

In Focus | How Tokyo is widening regional defence ties to complicate Beijing’s Taiwan calculus

Tokyo is strengthening partnerships across the Indo-Pacific and beyond, possibly bolstering its ability to withstand a prolonged armed conflict.

Bulgari celebrates a love affair with colours at Shanghai exhibition

The immersive show, designed by Sanaa and Formafantasma, also features two installations by Chinese artists Liang Manqi and Zhang Ding.

Hong Kong hottest new openings, from Italian eatery Il Presidente to Fujian cuisine hotspot Quan

Discover Hong Kong’s freshest F&B openings: divine Italian at Il Presidente, Parisian-inspired Bistrot’s Suzette, tempting Japanese treats at Truffle Donut and contemporary Chinese fare at Quan.

4 perfumes that capture the spirit of a destination

These heady, atmospheric eaux de parfum evoke destinations around the globe, from Taormina in Sicily to Mumbai, Cairo and Marrakech.

‘Breakthrough’: Chinese shipyard set to take orders from Nordic cruise operator

Chinese shipyard Waigaoqiao signs MOU with Nordic cruise operator, marking another advance for the rising shipbuilding powerhouse, analysts say.

2,000-year-old Roman concrete may offer clues on how Pyramid of Giza was built

Insights into how the ancient concrete grows denser could help create a low-carbon modern version and explain how the Great Pyramid endured.

US looks to warship designs from Japan, South Korea and Turkey, reports say

It comes after Trump signed a memorandum calling for foreign shipbuilding capacity and investment as US industry struggles to meet demand.

Opinion | Nepal-China floods highlight a growing front of the climate change crisis

Rising sea levels, extreme weather and drought all remain concerns, but destabilised ice and snow at high altitudes is increasingly a threat.

Indonesia-US joint military drills with allies kick off with 4,700 soldiers

The exercises, which have been held for nearly two decades, will include special forces infiltration training and cyberdefence drills.

Being Chinese | A Chinese-American bride says yes to a lucky red dress

The cheongsam I wore to my wedding tea ceremony wasn’t just another outfit. It was my way of celebrating my father and my heritage.

Opinion | Why cities have the responsibility to demand nuclear disarmament

Video | Cruise ship arrives in Japan to house Asian Games athletes