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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

A speedboat moves in the waters of the Indian Ocean on Monday near where a team located the bodies of four Italian scuba divers who died while exploring underwater caves. Photo: Reuters

Maldives

Bodies of 2 Italian divers recovered from ‘well inside’ Maldives underwater cave

The bodies of all four missing divers were found ‘pretty much together’ deep inside the third segment of an underwater cave.

19 May 2026 - 5:46PM

India

India links up with UAE, Europe on Modi’s grand tour

18 May 2026 - 6:21PM

Art

Once an Indonesian guerrilla fighter, she’s now a ‘quantum ghost’ in Venice

18 May 2026 - 4:15PM

Style Edit

Style Edit: Brunello Cucinelli’s Mediterranea high summer capsule collection

Shell motifs, Zabaione Yellow and broderie anglaise define a sun-drenched women’s and men’s collection for high summer 2026.

18 May 2026 - 10:06AM

Brunello Cucinelli has launched its high summer 2026 capsule collection, Mediterranea. Photo: Handout

Giorgia Meloni

Meloni meets victims of Italy car-ramming attack

Italy’s prime minister rushes to Modena following a horrific vehicle assault that left several people seriously injured.

18 May 2026 - 11:22AM

France

‘It’s nasty’: Swatch-Audemars Piguet watch hype ignites global shopping chaos

From New York to Milan, buyers push and shove each other to get their hands on the ‘Royal Pop’ timepieces.

19 May 2026 - 5:13PMvideocam

Crime

8 injured as man rams car into crowd in Italy’s Modena

The fleeing driver was stopped by some pedestrians, one of whom he attacked with a knife, before being arrested.

17 May 2026 - 4:06AM

A damaged car is seen after an incident in Modena, Italy, on Saturday. Photo: Lapresse via AP

Maldives

Maldivian military diver dies in search of bodies of 4 Italian divers

The group of Italian divers is believed to have died while exploring a cave at a depth of about 50 metres (160 feet) in Vaavu Atoll despite the Maldives’ 30-metre diving limit.

16 May 2026 - 11:24PM

Electric & new energy vehicles

Peugeot, Jeep take on Chinese rivals with new models using local EV tech

Peugeot and Jeep are following in the footsteps of Hyundai Motor’s Ioniq to regain lost ground in mainland China.

15 May 2026 - 10:20PM

Maldives

Search for missing Italian divers continues in Maldives cave

Italy says five of its citizens have drowned, including a marine biology professor, her daughter and two young researchers.

15 May 2026 - 8:28PM

A man sits under a tree during rain in Malé in the Maldives on Friday, as rescue teams continued to search for the bodies of a group of Italians who died while diving. Photo: AFP

The Philippines

Western powers ramp up support for Philippines’ Luzon economic hub

Eight more countries will invest in the project as they accelerate regional trade diversification in sectors ranging from AI to energy.

15 May 2026 - 7:07PMvideocam

Containers at the Manila North Harbour Port in Manila, Philippines. Development of the Luzon Economic Corridor will involve eight more countries. Photo: AP

Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese EV makers hunt for idled plants in Europe as they expand global influence

BYD, the world’s largest electric car maker, says it is in talks with Stellantis about using European marques’ idled assembly facilities.

15 May 2026 - 5:50PMvideocam

Japan

Why Japan’s ruling party is pushing for 5% military spending

The ruling party is expected to debate raising outlays to as much as 5 per cent of GDP, in line with that of many Nato members.

15 May 2026 - 4:46PMvideocam

Style Edit

Style Edit: Emmanuel Perrin, Panerai CEO, on its watches’ maritime heritage

The brand has long worked with the Italian Navy – resulting in ‘big, tough, functional watches’ that appeal to Sylvester Stallone and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.

14 May 2026 - 12:24PM

Food and Drinks

Dish in Focus: Pasta mista at Dieci

At Dieci, chef Paolo Olivieri turns a peasant dish from Italy into an elevated favourite, mixing fusilli, casarecce, broken spaghetti and more.

14 May 2026 - 12:00PM

Pasta mista at Hong Kong’s Dieci restaurant is an elevated take on an Italian peasant dish. Photo: Handout

United States

FBI Director Kash Patel denies drinking allegations in testy Senate hearing

Patel clashes with Democrats over leadership allegations and ‘party’ trips while touting major crime-fighting wins.

13 May 2026 - 2:57PM

US-China relations

Opinion | China shouldn’t view a tired US as signifying a Europe ready to pivot

As fractures within the US’ network of alliances deepen, China’s strategic window opens a little wider, with some key caveats.

10 May 2026 - 8:30PM

US, Israel war on Iran

Iran responds to US proposal, as Qatari tanker crosses Strait of Hormuz

The response, sent via Pakistan, focuses on ending the war on all fronts, especially Lebanon, and on the safety of shipping in the waterway.

11 May 2026 - 12:19AMvideocam

An Iranian walks past an anti-US and Israel mural in a street in Tehran on Friday. Photo: EPA

Art

5 exhibitions across the globe celebrating women who shaped art and culture

From Björk’s grief-tinged ‘Echolalia’ to Marina Abramović making history in Venice, these shows shine a light on women who shaped contemporary culture.

9 May 2026 - 8:00AM

US, Israel war on Iran

New Israel-Lebanon talks to try to curb Hezbollah influence in region: Rubio

Marco Rubio says Washington is also awaiting Iran’s response to a new US proposal to end the conflict in the region.

9 May 2026 - 4:56AM

Pope Leo XIV

Rubio meets Pope Leo at Vatican to defuse tensions with Trump

The meeting comes amid the US president’s repeated attacks on the pontiff over the Iran war and nuclear weapons.

7 May 2026 - 10:04PMvideocam

Pope Leo (centre) meets US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican on Thursday. Photo: EPA/Vatican Media

Religion

Pope to inaugurate Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia in June trip to Spain

He will also visit a migrant reception centre in the Canary Islands.

6 May 2026 - 11:02PM

Pope Leo waves during his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City on Wednesday. Photo: EPA

Donald Trump

‘He’s endangering a lot of Catholics’: Trump takes another shot at pope

US president’s latest criticism threatens to derail Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s high-stakes mission to Rome.

6 May 2026 - 6:17PMvideocam

Giorgia Meloni

Italy PM Meloni warns over AI deepfakes after false photos of her circulate

The prime minister posted an example of a fake image appearing to show her sitting on her bed in her underwear.

6 May 2026 - 1:03PM

Germany

Germany jails mother for locking up daughter for 7 years

The girl, who is now 11 years old, was locked up for about seven years before being freed in September 2022.

5 May 2026 - 4:47AMvideocam

The courthouse in North Rhine-Westphalia, Siegen where the verdict is announced in the trial against the mother who kept her child hidden and completely cut off from the outside world for seven years. Photo: dpa

Aviation accidents

United Airlines jet hits light pole, truck while landing at US airport

FAA and airline are investigating after flight from Italy strikes a pole on the New Jersey Turnpike, damages delivery truck.

4 May 2026 - 2:07PM

Newark Liberty International Airport. Photo: AP

Style Edit

Style Edit: Bulgari updates its Octo Finissimo and Serpenti models for 2026

At Watches and Wonders, Bulgari introduced smaller Octo Finissimos and a limited edition of the Octo Finissimo Ultra Tourbillon Platinum, among other stand-outs.

4 May 2026 - 10:48AM

Marco Rubio

Rubio to visit Rome, meet Pope Leo who has clashed with Trump

US secretary of state also seeks a meeting with Italy’s Meloni, whom Trump has also turned against.

4 May 2026 - 8:49PMvideocam

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Italy

Bodies of 2 Italian divers recovered from ‘well inside’ Maldives underwater cave

The bodies of all four missing divers were found ‘pretty much together’ deep inside the third segment of an underwater cave.

India links up with UAE, Europe on Modi’s grand tour

Once an Indonesian guerrilla fighter, she’s now a ‘quantum ghost’ in Venice

Style Edit: Brunello Cucinelli’s Mediterranea high summer capsule collection

Shell motifs, Zabaione Yellow and broderie anglaise define a sun-drenched women’s and men’s collection for high summer 2026.

Meloni meets victims of Italy car-ramming attack

Italy’s prime minister rushes to Modena following a horrific vehicle assault that left several people seriously injured.

‘It’s nasty’: Swatch-Audemars Piguet watch hype ignites global shopping chaos

From New York to Milan, buyers push and shove each other to get their hands on the ‘Royal Pop’ timepieces.

8 injured as man rams car into crowd in Italy’s Modena

The fleeing driver was stopped by some pedestrians, one of whom he attacked with a knife, before being arrested.

Maldivian military diver dies in search of bodies of 4 Italian divers

The group of Italian divers is believed to have died while exploring a cave at a depth of about 50 metres (160 feet) in Vaavu Atoll despite the Maldives’ 30-metre diving limit.

Peugeot, Jeep take on Chinese rivals with new models using local EV tech

Peugeot and Jeep are following in the footsteps of Hyundai Motor’s Ioniq to regain lost ground in mainland China.

Search for missing Italian divers continues in Maldives cave

Italy says five of its citizens have drowned, including a marine biology professor, her daughter and two young researchers.

Western powers ramp up support for Philippines’ Luzon economic hub

Eight more countries will invest in the project as they accelerate regional trade diversification in sectors ranging from AI to energy.

Chinese EV makers hunt for idled plants in Europe as they expand global influence

BYD, the world’s largest electric car maker, says it is in talks with Stellantis about using European marques’ idled assembly facilities.

Why Japan’s ruling party is pushing for 5% military spending

The ruling party is expected to debate raising outlays to as much as 5 per cent of GDP, in line with that of many Nato members.

Style Edit: Emmanuel Perrin, Panerai CEO, on its watches’ maritime heritage

The brand has long worked with the Italian Navy – resulting in ‘big, tough, functional watches’ that appeal to Sylvester Stallone and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.

Dish in Focus: Pasta mista at Dieci

At Dieci, chef Paolo Olivieri turns a peasant dish from Italy into an elevated favourite, mixing fusilli, casarecce, broken spaghetti and more.

FBI Director Kash Patel denies drinking allegations in testy Senate hearing

Patel clashes with Democrats over leadership allegations and ‘party’ trips while touting major crime-fighting wins.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | China shouldn’t view a tired US as signifying a Europe ready to pivot

As fractures within the US’ network of alliances deepen, China’s strategic window opens a little wider, with some key caveats.

Iran responds to US proposal, as Qatari tanker crosses Strait of Hormuz

The response, sent via Pakistan, focuses on ending the war on all fronts, especially Lebanon, and on the safety of shipping in the waterway.

5 exhibitions across the globe celebrating women who shaped art and culture

From Björk’s grief-tinged ‘Echolalia’ to Marina Abramović making history in Venice, these shows shine a light on women who shaped contemporary culture.

New Israel-Lebanon talks to try to curb Hezbollah influence in region: Rubio

Marco Rubio says Washington is also awaiting Iran’s response to a new US proposal to end the conflict in the region.

Rubio meets Pope Leo at Vatican to defuse tensions with Trump

The meeting comes amid the US president’s repeated attacks on the pontiff over the Iran war and nuclear weapons.

Pope to inaugurate Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia in June trip to Spain

He will also visit a migrant reception centre in the Canary Islands.

‘He’s endangering a lot of Catholics’: Trump takes another shot at pope

US president’s latest criticism threatens to derail Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s high-stakes mission to Rome.

Italy PM Meloni warns over AI deepfakes after false photos of her circulate

The prime minister posted an example of a fake image appearing to show her sitting on her bed in her underwear.

Germany jails mother for locking up daughter for 7 years

The girl, who is now 11 years old, was locked up for about seven years before being freed in September 2022.

United Airlines jet hits light pole, truck while landing at US airport

FAA and airline are investigating after flight from Italy strikes a pole on the New Jersey Turnpike, damages delivery truck.

Style Edit: Bulgari updates its Octo Finissimo and Serpenti models for 2026

At Watches and Wonders, Bulgari introduced smaller Octo Finissimos and a limited edition of the Octo Finissimo Ultra Tourbillon Platinum, among other stand-outs.

Rubio to visit Rome, meet Pope Leo who has clashed with Trump

US secretary of state also seeks a meeting with Italy’s Meloni, whom Trump has also turned against.

Opinion | China shouldn’t view a tired US as signifying a Europe ready to pivot