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Red two-seater named after Emperor Haile Selassie’s daughter abandoned in 1936 after Italy invaded countryAlmost nine decades after it was stolen by Benito Mussolini’s fascist regime, the Italian government has officially returned Ethiopia’s first plane.The official handover of the aircraft, named Tsehay in honour of the princess daughter of Emperor Haile Selassie, was celebrated on Tuesday by the Ethiopian prime minister, Abiy Ahmed. Continue...

Hungarian ambassador summoned amid national uproar at treatment of Ilaria Salis, accused of attacking neo-NazisItaly’s government has said that authorities in Hungary went “too far” in putting in chains an Italian woman who is awaiting trial for allegedly attacking neo-Nazis.Italian ministers summoned Budapest’s ambassador in protest on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Cecilie Hollberg sparks outrage in remarks about capital city of Tuscan region being ‘crushed by tourism’Mass tourism has turned Florence into a “prostitute”, one of the city museum’s directors has said, sparking outrage from politicians including Italy’s culture minister.“Once a city becomes a prostitute, it is difficult for it to become a virgin again,” Cecilie Hollberg, director of the Galleria dell’Accademia, which houses Michelangelo’s...

Moussa Faki welcomes Giorgia Meloni’s plan to strengthen relations but says ‘we are not beggars’The chair of the African Union Commission has said “we are not beggars” as the Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, outlined a plan aimed at helping African countries to prosper in return for curbing illegal immigration.Speaking at the much anticipated Italy-Africa summit in Rome, Moussa Faki welcomed Italy’s overtures for...

Boat drivers from former Soviet republics often have very little experience and no idea what they are doing is illegal, say NGOsPeople smugglers are increasingly recruiting people from former Soviet republics in central Asia to pilot boats carrying migrants from Turkey to Italy, say NGOs and lawyers.The migrants are taken by sea from Turkey to Italy, often using sailing boats, as an alternative to...

Italian prime minister hoping to position country at forefront of European cooperation in exchange for curbing illegal migrationSenior EU figures, including the European Parliament president, Roberta Metsola, are in Rome today for the Italy-Africa summit.Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, has welcomed leaders in Rome for today’s discussions at the Italy-Africa summit. Continue reading...

Scheme to help African economies aimed at curbing illegal migration from continentThe Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, is poised to announce her grand plan for Italy in Africa as she strives to position her country at the forefront of European cooperation on the African continent in return for curbing illegal migration.The so-called Mattei plan, named after Enrico Mattei, the founder of the oil company...

Judge to determine whether agreement criticised by human rights groups violates constitutionA court in Albania is due to rule on whether a deal with Italy’s far-right government would violate the constitution by allowing Albanian territory to be used for reception centres for people seeking to enter the EU by sea.The agreement, announced in November by the Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, would result initially...

University of Sassari research suggests change in habits might expose animals to more predatorsGlobal heating is pushing mountain goats into a more nocturnal lifestyle that could expose them to more predators, scientists have found.A team of researchers at the University of Sassari, in Sardinia, used GPS collars equipped with motion sensors to track the activity of the Alpine ibex, a species of mountain goat,...

With a fraud investigation into Chiara Ferragni under way, she and fellow social media stars are under sharp scrutinyChiara Ferragni amassed a fortune through incessant selfie-taking as part of a marketing strategy that included imparting pearls of wisdom to her millions of online followers on how to be “effortlessly cool”.But now the influencer – one of Italy’s most powerful – is struggling to maintain...

Rev Franco Reverberi is accused of crimes against humanity during country’s military dictatorship in the 1970s and 1980sItaly’s justice minister has refused Argentina’s request to extradite a priest accused of crimes against humanity during the country’s military dictatorship in the 1970s and 1980s.The Rev Franco Reverberi, 86, who served as military chaplain during Argentina’s 1976-1983 military regime, faces charges related to the alleged murder...

Lt Col Carlos Luis Malatto fled Argentina in 2011 and will be tried in Rome for premeditated killing of eight people in last military dictatorshipA judge in Rome has ordered Lt Col Carlos Luis Malatto, a former Argentine army officer accused of murder and forced disappearances during Argentina’s 1976-83 military dictatorship, to stand trial in Italy for the premeditated killing of eight people.The former...

Maurizio Patriciello has had police protection since a bombing near his church in Caivano, Naples, but he vows to keep fighting crimeFather Maurizio Patriciello is running late. “I’m waiting for my bodyguards,” he says by text message.He is neither a celebrity nor a politician but a parish priest in Caivano, a desolate, crime-ridden town on the outskirts of Naples. He has been living under...

Man taken to hospital with bullet wound after incident involving pistol owned by Emanuele PozzoloItalian opposition leaders are demanding “clarity” from the prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, after a gun owned by an MP from her far-right Brothers of Italy party was accidentally fired at a New Year’s Eve gathering.Emanuele Pozzolo confirmed that the pistol belonged to him but denied firing the bullet, which grazed...

Move aims to reduce pressure of thousands of daily visitors to Italian city and protect residentsVenice is to limit the size of tourist groups in an attempt to reduce the pressure of thousands of visitors crowding its squares, bridges and narrow walkways each day.From June, groups visiting the Italian canal city will be limited to 25 people, or roughly half the capacity of a...