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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

Tourism

The Instagram effect: an Italian village is paying the price for being too pretty

Santa Maddalena, a photogenic village in the Italian Dolomites, has to endure hordes of unruly visitors showing up just to take a photo.

4 hours ago

South Korea

South Korea to observe first, decide later on Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’

18 Feb 2026 - 4:45PMvideocam

Tourism

In Milan, you can adopt a centuries-old statue and give it a new life

17 Feb 2026 - 7:15PM

2026 Olympic Winter Games

‘I have to be worried’: Ukraine’s Olympic sign bearer was a Russian woman

Disguised in dark glasses and a silver puffer jacket, Anastasia Kucherova says she wept silently as Ukraine got a standing ovation.

17 Feb 2026 - 2:01PM

Anastasia Kucherova and Ukraine’s flag bearer Yelyzaveta Sydorko (centre) lead the country’s contingent at the opening ceremony. Photo: Reuters

Consumer protection in Hong Kong

Hong Kong watchdog finds fragrance allergens in Gucci, Bvlgari perfumes

Consumer Council warns perfumes containing excessive fragrance chemicals may lead to ‘cocktail effect’, increasing health risks.

16 Feb 2026 - 7:40PM

Munich Security Conference

In Munich, US urges ‘collective strength’ among allies to deter China

Washington and its Indo-Pacific and European allies emphasise need for cooperation to counter Beijing’s military build-up.

16 Feb 2026 - 6:00AM

My Take

My Take | China and the UN are not the problem in Ukraine and Palestine – the West is

Europe and America’s warmongering and genocide-enabling are at the roots of the world’s most dangerous geopolitical flashpoints.

15 Feb 2026 - 10:34PM

UN Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese. Photo: AFP

Cambodia

Opinion | Cambodia’s scam factory survivors find no escape in freedom

A government crackdown freed thousands, but with no passports or support, survivors have simply traded captivity for destitution.

15 Feb 2026 - 12:00PM

2026 Olympic Winter Games

Video | Hong Kong alpine skier competes in 2026 Winter Olympics

The 21-year-old alpine skier is among six athletes competing in Italy as part of Hong Kong’s largest Winter Olympics delegation in history.

13 Feb 2026 - 5:23PM

European Union

China cuts EU dairy tariffs, easing trade tensions after EV dispute

EU called Beijing’s tariffs ‘unwarranted’, and mulls WTO action, but China cutting some duties signals possible improvement in ties.

12 Feb 2026 - 10:54PMvideocam

China slashes EU dairy tariffs easing trade tensions. Photo: Reuters

China-EU relations

EU seeks independence, survival amid China-US economic dominance

European leaders meet to address the bloc’s economic woes, reliance on China and US, and shielding key industries from protectionist policies.

12 Feb 2026 - 6:05PMvideocam

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addresses a debate on the urgent action required to boost EU competitiveness, deepen the single market and reduce the cost of living, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

2026 Olympic Winter Games

Meet Alex Hall, Team USA freestyle skier at the 2026 Winter Olympics

The Switzerland-raised gold medallist, who’s in a long-term relationship with a fellow skier, says he’s prioritising fun over defending his title.

11 Feb 2026 - 6:00PM

US-China relations

Trump’s ‘vacillating’ China policy causing confidence crisis in allies: report

‘Sweeping destruction – rather than careful reforms and policy corrections – is the order of the day’, Munich Security Report 2026 says.

10 Feb 2026 - 10:47PMvideocam

2026 Olympic Winter Games

Meet Breezy Johnson, who won the US’ first gold medal at the Winter Olympics

The ski racer, who came out as bisexual in 2022, has made a stellar comeback following injury and a drug-testing-related suspension.

10 Feb 2026 - 6:00PM

Breezy Johnson has won gold for the US in the women’s Alpine skiing downhill race at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. Photo: EPA

Science

US transformers are ageing. Why renewable energy could make things worse

Team in China finds that high renewable energy integration could make power transformers age nearly a quarter faster.

9 Feb 2026 - 2:00PMvideocam

High levels of wind and solar energy increase bidirectional power flow switching, causing additional stress on transformers, a study has found. Photo: Xinhua

2026 Olympic Winter Games

Trump blasts US Olympic skier, calling him a ‘real loser’

US president’s attack on Hunter Hess came after the Olympian spoke out about the current situation in the United States.

9 Feb 2026 - 3:10PM

Donald Trump

Leaders invited to Trump’s Board of Peace meeting in US. Who’s going?

Argentina’s Javier Milei and Hungary’s Viktor Orban confirm attendance after invitations go out.

9 Feb 2026 - 11:57AM

Food and Drinks

How to make Winter Olympics special beetroot-filled ravioli from Cortina

Winter Olympic co-host Cortina is famous for the ravioli dish casunziei. Michelin-star Ristorante Tivoli’s Gianluca Belli shares a recipe.

7 Feb 2026 - 7:15PM

The ravioli dish Casunziei is a signature from Winter Olympics co-host Cortina D’Ampezzo, a town in the Veneto region of Italy. Photo: AP

China-EU relations

Chinese sports brands set sights on European expansion at 2026 Winter Olympics

The Games have become a test case for firms seeking to raise their global profile, highlighting rising ambitions and challenges.

7 Feb 2026 - 4:00PM

Fashion

How Moncler’s Remo Ruffini transformed the brand into a luxury powerhouse

Known for its A-list collaborations, the brand has worked with everyone from A$AP Rocky and Pharrell Williams, to Jonathan Anderson and Rick Owens.

7 Feb 2026 - 6:00AM

IOC

Milano Cortina Winter Olympics kicks off with unique opening ceremony

Italy’s president declares the Games open, as protests and politics intrude.

7 Feb 2026 - 2:28PM

Rings form the Olympic emblem during the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the San Siro stadium in Milan on Friday. Photo: AFP

Rare earths

From China chokehold to US stockpile, Europe looks for least bad rare earth bet

The EU industry chief secured a ‘commitment’ in Washington for a memorandum on critical minerals, but anxiety is growing.

5 Feb 2026 - 6:00PMvideocam

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (centre left) shakes hands with Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski at a meeting on critical minerals in Washington on Wednesday. Photo: AP

Art

Goldfish plastic bags and laundry: Hong Kong’s everyday life on show in Venice

Hong Kong artists Angel Hui and Kingsley Ng turn the ubiquitous plastic bag for pet fish and metal windows into art for the Venice Biennale.

5 Feb 2026 - 5:15PM

2026 Olympic Winter Games

Video | Dancing robot feature at China House for 2026 Winter Olympics

A dancing robot is star attraction at China’s hospitality house in Milan for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

5 Feb 2026 - 4:52PM

Art

Church angel resembling Italy’s prime minister painted over after outcry

Restorer admits styling the angel on Giorgia Meloni before erasing the face.

5 Feb 2026 - 1:23PM

The painted church angel that resembled Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Photo: AFP

United States

US ‘Today’ show host appeals to mother’s kidnapper for proof of life

Savannah Guthrie’s emotional appeal came three days after her elderly mother went missing from her home.

5 Feb 2026 - 2:59PM

Savannah Guthrie and her two siblings posted a tearful video on Wednesday. Photo: Savannah Guthrie via Instagram

Photography

Milan’s most stylish: a photographer’s view of the city’s best dressed

Shots of Miuccia Prada, Luciano Barbera and the late Giorgio Armani and Franca Sozzani vie with those of ordinary people in The Sartorialist’s coffee-table book for Taschen.

5 Feb 2026 - 6:00AM

Alibaba

From chatbots to replays: Alibaba rolls out AI suite for 2026 Winter Olympics

Alibaba Cloud has unveiled AI assistants for the 2026 Winter Olympics, integrating its Qwen model into Games operations.

5 Feb 2026 - 2:06AM

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Italy

The Instagram effect: an Italian village is paying the price for being too pretty

Santa Maddalena, a photogenic village in the Italian Dolomites, has to endure hordes of unruly visitors showing up just to take a photo.

South Korea to observe first, decide later on Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’

In Milan, you can adopt a centuries-old statue and give it a new life

‘I have to be worried’: Ukraine’s Olympic sign bearer was a Russian woman

Disguised in dark glasses and a silver puffer jacket, Anastasia Kucherova says she wept silently as Ukraine got a standing ovation.

Hong Kong watchdog finds fragrance allergens in Gucci, Bvlgari perfumes

Consumer Council warns perfumes containing excessive fragrance chemicals may lead to ‘cocktail effect’, increasing health risks.

In Munich, US urges ‘collective strength’ among allies to deter China

Washington and its Indo-Pacific and European allies emphasise need for cooperation to counter Beijing’s military build-up.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}My Take | China and the UN are not the problem in Ukraine and Palestine – the West is

Europe and America’s warmongering and genocide-enabling are at the roots of the world’s most dangerous geopolitical flashpoints.

Opinion | Cambodia’s scam factory survivors find no escape in freedom

A government crackdown freed thousands, but with no passports or support, survivors have simply traded captivity for destitution.

.css-rcruog{color:#C79A00;}Video | Hong Kong alpine skier competes in 2026 Winter Olympics

The 21-year-old alpine skier is among six athletes competing in Italy as part of Hong Kong’s largest Winter Olympics delegation in history.

China cuts EU dairy tariffs, easing trade tensions after EV dispute

EU called Beijing’s tariffs ‘unwarranted’, and mulls WTO action, but China cutting some duties signals possible improvement in ties.

EU seeks independence, survival amid China-US economic dominance

European leaders meet to address the bloc’s economic woes, reliance on China and US, and shielding key industries from protectionist policies.

Meet Alex Hall, Team USA freestyle skier at the 2026 Winter Olympics

The Switzerland-raised gold medallist, who’s in a long-term relationship with a fellow skier, says he’s prioritising fun over defending his title.

Trump’s ‘vacillating’ China policy causing confidence crisis in allies: report

‘Sweeping destruction – rather than careful reforms and policy corrections – is the order of the day’, Munich Security Report 2026 says.

Meet Breezy Johnson, who won the US’ first gold medal at the Winter Olympics

The ski racer, who came out as bisexual in 2022, has made a stellar comeback following injury and a drug-testing-related suspension.

US transformers are ageing. Why renewable energy could make things worse

Team in China finds that high renewable energy integration could make power transformers age nearly a quarter faster.

Trump blasts US Olympic skier, calling him a ‘real loser’

US president’s attack on Hunter Hess came after the Olympian spoke out about the current situation in the United States.

Leaders invited to Trump’s Board of Peace meeting in US. Who’s going?

Argentina’s Javier Milei and Hungary’s Viktor Orban confirm attendance after invitations go out.

How to make Winter Olympics special beetroot-filled ravioli from Cortina

Winter Olympic co-host Cortina is famous for the ravioli dish casunziei. Michelin-star Ristorante Tivoli’s Gianluca Belli shares a recipe.

Chinese sports brands set sights on European expansion at 2026 Winter Olympics

The Games have become a test case for firms seeking to raise their global profile, highlighting rising ambitions and challenges.

How Moncler’s Remo Ruffini transformed the brand into a luxury powerhouse

Known for its A-list collaborations, the brand has worked with everyone from A$AP Rocky and Pharrell Williams, to Jonathan Anderson and Rick Owens.

Milano Cortina Winter Olympics kicks off with unique opening ceremony

Italy’s president declares the Games open, as protests and politics intrude.

From China chokehold to US stockpile, Europe looks for least bad rare earth bet

The EU industry chief secured a ‘commitment’ in Washington for a memorandum on critical minerals, but anxiety is growing.

Goldfish plastic bags and laundry: Hong Kong’s everyday life on show in Venice

Hong Kong artists Angel Hui and Kingsley Ng turn the ubiquitous plastic bag for pet fish and metal windows into art for the Venice Biennale.

Video | Dancing robot feature at China House for 2026 Winter Olympics

A dancing robot is star attraction at China’s hospitality house in Milan for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Church angel resembling Italy’s prime minister painted over after outcry

Restorer admits styling the angel on Giorgia Meloni before erasing the face.

US ‘Today’ show host appeals to mother’s kidnapper for proof of life

Savannah Guthrie’s emotional appeal came three days after her elderly mother went missing from her home.

Milan’s most stylish: a photographer’s view of the city’s best dressed

Shots of Miuccia Prada, Luciano Barbera and the late Giorgio Armani and Franca Sozzani vie with those of ordinary people in The Sartorialist’s coffee-table book for Taschen.

From chatbots to replays: Alibaba rolls out AI suite for 2026 Winter Olympics

Alibaba Cloud has unveiled AI assistants for the 2026 Winter Olympics, integrating its Qwen model into Games operations.

My Take | China and the UN are not the problem in Ukraine and Palestine – the West is

Video | Hong Kong alpine skier competes in 2026 Winter Olympics