<p>Former Italian Prime Minister Giuliano Amato said on Tuesday (September 5) that French President Emmanuel Macron must explain if his country was to blame for the Italian air disaster that killed 81 people more than 40 years ago.</p>

<p>In the past, Italian judges have said that it was likely that a missile downed the DC-9 civilian aircraft near the island of Ustica on June 27, 1980. They were however unable to identify who was responsible for the incident which remains a mystery.</p>

<p>Amato was speaking with La Repubblica newspaper. He said he believed the aircraft, which belonged to now-defunct domestic airline Itavia, was possibly shot down accidentally by a French jet during a botched attempt by US, France and NATO to kill former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi while he was flying over Italy.</p>

<p>"I ask Macron to look into the matter. If he shows that the allegation is unfounded, so much the better. If it is true, he should apologise," Amato, 85, told a news conference on Tuesday.</p>

<p>A French diplomatic source told Reuters that France had always cooperated with Italy on Ustica, particularly in the context of judicial investigations, and was "of course ready" to work again with Rome if asked.</p>

<p>Amato twice served as Italian PM. He said he raised the issue again because at his age: "You start to ask yourself if there is something useful still to be done, some unfinished business that can be resolved."</p>

<p>Amato said that it would be easy for Macron to respond as he belongs to a different generation of French politicians. Macron was two years old when the tragedy took place.</p>

<p>Amato said he had not spoken to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in recent days. Meloni said over&nbsp;the weekend that Amato should show any new evidence he had to support his theory.</p>

<p>The former premier, a socialist politician who has also held various ministerial posts and led Italy's Constitutional Court, has conceded he has no new evidence or hard proof.</p>

<p>Francesco Cossiga, former Italian president, was prime minister when the plane was shot down and crashed into the sea killing all on board. He made similar accusations in 2008.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Former Italian Prime Minister Giuliano Amato said on Tuesday (September 5) that French President Emmanuel Macron must explain if his country was to blame for the Italian air disaster that killed 81 people more than 40 years ago.

Former Italian Prime Minister Giuliano Amato said on Tuesday (September 5) that French President Emmanuel Macron must explain if his country was to blame for the Italian air disaster that killed 81 people more than 40 years ago. In the past, Italian judges have said that it was likely that a missile downed the DC-9 civilian aircraft near the island of Ustica on June 27, 1980. They were however unable to identify who was responsible for the incident which remains a mystery. Amato was speaking with La Repubblica newspaper. He said he believed the aircraft, which belonged to now-defunct domestic airline Itavia, was possibly shot down accidentally by a French jet during a botched attempt by US, France and NATO to kill former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi while he was flying over Italy. "I ask Macron to look into the matter. If he shows that the allegation is unfounded, so much the better. If it is true, he should apologise," Amato, 85, told a news conference on Tuesday. A French diplomatic source told Reuters that France had always cooperated with Italy on Ustica, particularly in the context of judicial investigations, and was "of course ready" to work again with Rome if asked. Amato twice served as Italian PM. He said he raised the issue again because at his age: "You start to ask yourself if there is something useful still to be done, some unfinished business that can be resolved." Amato said that it would be easy for Macron to respond as he belongs to a different generation of French politicians. Macron was two years old when the tragedy took place. Amato said he had not spoken to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in recent days. Meloni said over the weekend that Amato should show any new evidence he had to support his theory. The former premier, a socialist politician who has also held various ministerial posts and led Italy's Constitutional Court, has conceded he has no new evidence or hard proof. Francesco Cossiga, former Italian president, was prime minister when the plane was shot down and crashed into the sea killing all on board. He made similar accusations in 2008. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Ex-Italian PM insists on clarification from Macron on 1980 mystery plane crash

<p><strong>F1 2023 Italian Grand Prix Live streaming:&nbsp;</strong>Formula 1 is back with its 15th round for the season Italien Grand Prix. The final race is scheduled to be held at Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Italy. The circuit length of the track is 5.793km with 53 laps. The series began on September 1, 2023, with two practice matches for the day. One additional practice match and qualifying match will be played on September 2 and then comes the final race on Sunday, September 3.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Here’s everything you need to know about F1 2023 Italian Grand Prix</h2>

<h2>When is the F1 2023 Italian Grand Prix final race scheduled?- Date</h2>

<p>The final race of the F1 2023 Italian Grand Prix will be held on Sunday, September 3 2023.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>When will the F1 2023 Italian Grand Prix final race start?- Time</h2>

<p>The F1 2023 Italian Grand Prix final race will begin at 6:30 pm IST.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Where will the F1 2023 Italian Grand Prix final race be held? Place</h2>

<p>The F1 2023 Italian Grand Prix final race is set to be held at Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Italy</p>

<h2>F1 2023 Italian Grand Prix Live-streaming details</h2>

<h2>Where to watch F1 2023 Italian Grand Prix final race&nbsp;live in India</h2>

<p>Unlike last season, India is not broadcasting the 15th season of the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix race on television. The race is not streaming on any third-party OTT platform well.&nbsp;<br />
For fans to enjoy the race, Formula 1 is promoting its own OTT video platform named F1 TV in India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Indian fans can live-stream the F1 final race of the 2023 Italian Grand Prix after purchasing a subscription of <strong>F1 TV Pro.</strong> The subscription is currently priced at $29.99 or Rs. 2477 INR.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Live-streaming details of other countries</h2>

<p><strong>Italy:</strong> Sky Italia<br />
<strong>Africa: </strong>SuperSport<br />
<strong>France:</strong> Canal+<br />
<strong>Honk Kong:</strong> beIN SPORTS<br />
<strong>USA: ESPN:</strong>&nbsp;ESPN Deportes</p>

<h2>F1 2023 Italian Grand Prix 15th Season Full Schedule according to IST</h2>

<p><strong>September 1, Friday</strong><br />
Practice 1: 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm<br />
Practice 2: 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>September 2, Saturday</strong><br />
Practice 3: 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm&nbsp;<br />
Qualifying Race: 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>September 3, Sunday&nbsp;</strong><br />
Final Race: 6:30 pm</p>

<p><em>With inputs from agencies</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>


F1 2023 Italian Grand Prix Live streaming: Formula 1 is back with its 15th round for the season Italien Grand Prix. The final race is scheduled to be held at Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Italy.

F1 2023 Italian Grand Prix Live streaming: Formula 1 is back with its 15th round for the season Italien Grand Prix. The final race is scheduled to be held at Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Italy. The circuit length of the track is 5.793km with 53 laps. The series began on September 1, 2023, with two practice matches for the day. One additional practice match and qualifying match will be played on September 2 and then comes the final race on Sunday, September 3. Here’s everything you need to know about F1 2023 Italian Grand Prix When is the F1 2023 Italian Grand Prix final race scheduled?- Date The final race of the F1 2023 Italian Grand Prix will be held on Sunday, September 3 2023. When will the F1 2023 Italian Grand Prix final race start?- Time The F1 2023 Italian Grand Prix final race will begin at 6:30 pm IST. Where will the F1 2023 Italian Grand Prix final race be held? Place The F1 2023 Italian Grand Prix final race is set to be held at Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Italy F1 2023 Italian Grand Prix Live-streaming details Where to watch F1 2023 Italian Grand Prix final race live in India Unlike last season, India is not broadcasting the 15th season of the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix race on television. The race is not streaming on any third-party OTT platform well. For fans to enjoy the race, Formula 1 is promoting its own OTT video platform named F1 TV in India. Indian fans can live-stream the F1 final race of the 2023 Italian Grand Prix after purchasing a subscription of F1 TV Pro. The subscription is currently priced at $29.99 or Rs. 2477 INR. Live-streaming details of other countries Italy: Sky Italia Africa: SuperSport France: Canal+ Honk Kong: beIN SPORTS USA: ESPN: ESPN Deportes F1 2023 Italian Grand Prix 15th Season Full Schedule according to IST September 1, Friday Practice 1: 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm Practice 2: 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm September 2, Saturday Practice 3: 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm Qualifying Race: 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm September 3, Sunday Final Race: 6:30 pm With inputs from agencies

F1 2023 Italian Grand Prix Live streaming: Date, India Time, venue, live all you need to know about Italian GP

<p>Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's partner Andrea Giambruno, a journalist, suggested that women could avoid sexual assaults if they do not get too drunk. The country's opposition parties have asked Meloni to clarify and distance herself from Giambruno's comments.</p>

<p>“If you go dancing you are fully entitled to get drunk, but if you avoid getting drunk and losing consciousness, perhaps you’d also avoid getting into trouble, because then you’ll find the wolf,” Andrea Giambruno was heard saying on his show on Rete 4 channel.</p>

<p>Giambruno was hosting a show in the wake of a recent high-profile gang rape case near Naples and in Palermo.</p>

<p>Giambruno is father to a seven-year-old with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;11-year-old fought for abortion after being raped by stepfather</strong></p>

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<p>Giambruno did not cross-question the editor of&nbsp;Libero newspaper, Pietro Senaldi, when he reportedly said: “If you want to avoid rape, above all don’t lose consciousness, keep your wits about you.”</p>

<p>While both men condemned the alleged rapists, describing them as 'wolves', they came under fire both on and off social media. Giambruno was accused of blaming the survivor for a sexual assault.</p>

<p>Cecilia D’Elia, a senator of the&nbsp;opposition's Democratic party (PD) and vice-president of the commission of inquiry into femicide, was quoted as saying by The Guardian: "They just can’t help but blame women. Don’t go out alone, don’t go where it’s dark, don’t dress provocatively. All this is no longer acceptable."</p>

<p>"If a girl drinks too much, she can expect a headache, not a rape," she added and called on Meloni to distance herself from her partner’s comments.</p>

<p>“Giambruno’s words are unacceptable and shameful and they represent a male-dominated and retrograde culture,"&nbsp;the opposition Five Star Movement party (M5S) said in an official statement&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Did nothing wrong: Giambruno</strong></h2>

<p>Responding to the row that erupted after his show, Giambruno said: "If I had said something wrong, I would have apologised, but that’s not the case and there will never be a day when a politician tells me what to say."</p>

<p>"I said rape is an abominable act. I took the liberty of telling young people not to go out on purpose to get drunk and do drugs. I advised them to be careful because, unfortunately, the bad guys are always out there. I never said that men are entitled to rape drunk women."</p>

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Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's partner Andrea Giambruno, a journalist, suggested that women could avoid sexual assaults if they do not get too drunk. The country's opposition parties have asked Meloni to clarify and distance herself from Giambruno's comments.

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's partner Andrea Giambruno, a journalist, suggested that women could avoid sexual assaults if they do not get too drunk. The country's opposition parties have asked Meloni to clarify and distance herself from Giambruno's comments. “If you go dancing you are fully entitled to get drunk, but if you avoid getting drunk and losing consciousness, perhaps you’d also avoid getting into trouble, because then you’ll find the wolf,” Andrea Giambruno was heard saying on his show on Rete 4 channel. Giambruno was hosting a show in the wake of a recent high-profile gang rape case near Naples and in Palermo. Giambruno is father to a seven-year-old with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Also watch | 11-year-old fought for abortion after being raped by stepfather × Giambruno did not cross-question the editor of Libero newspaper, Pietro Senaldi, when he reportedly said: “If you want to avoid rape, above all don’t lose consciousness, keep your wits about you.” While both men condemned the alleged rapists, describing them as 'wolves', they came under fire both on and off social media. Giambruno was accused of blaming the survivor for a sexual assault. Cecilia D’Elia, a senator of the opposition's Democratic party (PD) and vice-president of the commission of inquiry into femicide, was quoted as saying by The Guardian: "They just can’t help but blame women. Don’t go out alone, don’t go where it’s dark, don’t dress provocatively. All this is no longer acceptable." "If a girl drinks too much, she can expect a headache, not a rape," she added and called on Meloni to distance herself from her partner’s comments. “Giambruno’s words are unacceptable and shameful and they represent a male-dominated and retrograde culture," the opposition Five Star Movement party (M5S) said in an official statement Did nothing wrong: Giambruno Responding to the row that erupted after his show, Giambruno said: "If I had said something wrong, I would have apologised, but that’s not the case and there will never be a day when a politician tells me what to say." "I said rape is an abominable act. I took the liberty of telling young people not to go out on purpose to get drunk and do drugs. I advised them to be careful because, unfortunately, the bad guys are always out there. I never said that men are entitled to rape drunk women." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Italy's PM Giorgia Meloni's partner accused of blaming survivor for rape

After claiming on television that young Italian women who go out late and get drunk expose themselves to rape, Giorgia Meloni's partner has drawn criticism. The accusation of victim blaming against Andrea Giambruno, a television host who has kept a low profile ever since Meloni was elected prime minister last autumn, made the front pages of major Italian newspapers on Wednesday.

Giorgia Meloni’s partner under fire for saying women who go out and get drunk are vulnerable to rape

<p>A train hit and killed five Italian railway workers near Turin, the state railway Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI) said on Thursday (August 31). The nation woke up with the news, expressing shock and outrage over the incident.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Local reports have mentioned that the workers were replacing some track outside the station of Brandizzo, on the line connecting Milan and Turin, when they were run over by a train transporting wagons. The train was reportedly travelling at 160 kilometres per hour when it struck the maintenance workers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>RFI, the company that manages Italy's rail network, expressed "great sorrow" and offered its condolences and closeness to the families of the dead workers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The company also confirmed that the maintenance workers employed by an external contractor lost their lives after a train "not in commercial service" hit them. It also added that investigations were underway into the incident.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-numbers-show-huge-spike-in-patient-deaths-while-on-nhs-waitlist-630889">Numbers show huge spike in patient deaths while on NHS waitlist</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>According to the fire service, "five workers were killed by a passing train" and two others were injured. Local reports have also suggested that those who escaped, including the foreman, were physically unharmed but under observation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Italian news agencies reported that the train driver, one of two people in the engine cab, was unharmed but in shock, as it emerged that the dead men were said to have been dragged for several metres.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Pyongyang simulates 'tactical nuclear strike' on South Korea&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/hawaiin-family-in-west-maui-puts-up-a-sign-asking-tourists-to-stay-out-of-neighbourhood-630871">Hawaiian family in West Maui puts up a sign asking tourists to ‘stay out of neighbourhood’</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<h2><strong>'Terrible tragedy'&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Paolo Bodoni, who is the mayor of Brandizzo, said an emergency worker had described to him a "chilling scene, with human remains across 300 metres".&nbsp;</p>

<p>He told the AGI news agency that "it's a huge tragedy" and it "cannot be excluded that there could have been a communication error". Bodoni said that it would be a matter for investigation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed "deepest condolences" to the families of those who had died. She also said that she was closely following the case, "with the hope of shedding light on what happened as soon as possible".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Matteo Salvini, the leader of the far-right League party and the deputy premier and transport minister, called it a "terrible tragedy".</p>

<p>He said, "The rule is that works on the tracks can begin when it is confirmed that there are no trains on the line."&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
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A train hit and killed five Italian railway workers near Turin, the state railway Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI) said on Thursday (August 31). The nation woke up with the news, expressing shock and outrage over the incident.

A train hit and killed five Italian railway workers near Turin, the state railway Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI) said on Thursday (August 31). The nation woke up with the news, expressing shock and outrage over the incident. Local reports have mentioned that the workers were replacing some track outside the station of Brandizzo, on the line connecting Milan and Turin, when they were run over by a train transporting wagons. The train was reportedly travelling at 160 kilometres per hour when it struck the maintenance workers. RFI, the company that manages Italy's rail network, expressed "great sorrow" and offered its condolences and closeness to the families of the dead workers. The company also confirmed that the maintenance workers employed by an external contractor lost their lives after a train "not in commercial service" hit them. It also added that investigations were underway into the incident. Also read: Numbers show huge spike in patient deaths while on NHS waitlist According to the fire service, "five workers were killed by a passing train" and two others were injured. Local reports have also suggested that those who escaped, including the foreman, were physically unharmed but under observation. Italian news agencies reported that the train driver, one of two people in the engine cab, was unharmed but in shock, as it emerged that the dead men were said to have been dragged for several metres. Watch: Pyongyang simulates 'tactical nuclear strike' on South Korea × Also read: Hawaiian family in West Maui puts up a sign asking tourists to ‘stay out of neighbourhood’ 'Terrible tragedy' Paolo Bodoni, who is the mayor of Brandizzo, said an emergency worker had described to him a "chilling scene, with human remains across 300 metres". He told the AGI news agency that "it's a huge tragedy" and it "cannot be excluded that there could have been a communication error". Bodoni said that it would be a matter for investigation. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed "deepest condolences" to the families of those who had died. She also said that she was closely following the case, "with the hope of shedding light on what happened as soon as possible". Matteo Salvini, the leader of the far-right League party and the deputy premier and transport minister, called it a "terrible tragedy". He said, "The rule is that works on the tracks can begin when it is confirmed that there are no trains on the line." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Speeding train kills 5 railway track maintenance workers near Turin in north Italy

In pics | In these countries, people don't exercise or stick to healthy diets, yet they live longer

Italy is battling weather extremes on all ends. Days after facing intense heatwaves and experiencing record-high temperatures, flash floods and landslides are now battering the European nation.

Italy witnesses major drop in mercury post intense heatwaves

<p>An Italian man is being hailed as a hero and miracle worker after he saved a toddler by catching her after she fell from the fifth floor of a building in central Turin on Saturday (August 26).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mattia Aguzzi, the 37-year-old banker, was on his way to a bread shop, alongside his girlfriend in the morning when he heard a commotion, with a man yelling for help from the apartment.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I went out with my girlfriend to buy bread and we heard screams from a building that caught our attention,"&nbsp;Aguzzi was quoted as saying by Sky24.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I heard a man scream when he saw the little girl leaning out on the ledge. The little girl kept leaning more and more and climbed over the ledge, she held on only with two arms and her legs were in the air,” he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-2-year-old-kid-stops-breathing-on-airplane-miracle-follows-next-629828"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;India: 2-year-old kid stops breathing on airplane, miracle follows next</strong></a></p>

<p>Aguzzi, acting on his instinct, started shouting&nbsp;so as to catch the attention of the three-year-old. However, owing to the distance, the baby didn't hear him as Aguzzi&nbsp;started preparing for, perhaps, the most dangerous scenario - catching the baby mid-air.&nbsp;</p>

<p data-analytics-observe="off" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/paragraph_14226BAA-7F61-BC76-89A1-37A49B01A819@published">“I started yelling at her to stay still and to go back inside but she didn’t hear. When I saw her fall I stepped in the way, closed my eyes and hoped that everything was going to be for the best, I blocked her by cushioning the blow and we were both fell to the ground,” he said.</p>

<p data-analytics-observe="off" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/paragraph_34EC1779-AE65-7EC4-97CB-37A49B027432@published">“Initially I didn’t feel any sign of life, then the baby started crying and I breathed a sigh of relief,” added Aguzzi.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/myanmar-passengers-help-woman-deliver-baby-girl-mid-flight-629381"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Myanmar: Passengers help woman deliver baby girl mid-flight</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Meloni commends Aguzzi&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p data-analytics-observe="off" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/paragraph_34EC1779-AE65-7EC4-97CB-37A49B027432@published">The news&nbsp;of&nbsp;Aguzzi's heroics instantly went viral on social media as Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to officially recognise the banker.&nbsp;</p>

<p data-analytics-observe="off" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/paragraph_34EC1779-AE65-7EC4-97CB-37A49B027432@published">“The story of a little girl who fell from a fith floor balcony in a building in Turin could have turned into tragedy. But thanks to the promptness of Mattia Aguzzi, who saw her fall and grabbed her in the air, her life is saved. Much honor and gratitude to this young hero,” she wrote on X on Sunday.</p>

<p data-analytics-observe="off" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/paragraph_34EC1779-AE65-7EC4-97CB-37A49B027432@published">Despite being swarmed by a plethora of well-wishes,&nbsp;Aguzzi continues to maintain he isn't a hero.&nbsp;</p>

<p data-analytics-observe="off" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/paragraph_34EC1779-AE65-7EC4-97CB-37A49B027432@published">“Don’t call me a hero. I did everything so naturally. I didn’t think of anything and tried to do what had to be done,” said Aguzzi.&nbsp;</p>

<p data-analytics-observe="off" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/paragraph_34EC1779-AE65-7EC4-97CB-37A49B027432@published">The banker also saw the funny side of things when he said: "And in any case now they won’t tell me anymore that it’s better if I lose a little weight. It went well. What more could we want? Destiny put us there. Chance, fate. As far as I know, we’re all fine. And this, believe me, is the most beautiful thing.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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An Italian man is being hailed as a hero and miracle worker after he saved a toddler by catching her after she fell from the fifth floor of a building in central Turin on Saturday (August 26).

An Italian man is being hailed as a hero and miracle worker after he saved a toddler by catching her after she fell from the fifth floor of a building in central Turin on Saturday (August 26). Mattia Aguzzi, the 37-year-old banker, was on his way to a bread shop, alongside his girlfriend in the morning when he heard a commotion, with a man yelling for help from the apartment. “I went out with my girlfriend to buy bread and we heard screams from a building that caught our attention," Aguzzi was quoted as saying by Sky24. “I heard a man scream when he saw the little girl leaning out on the ledge. The little girl kept leaning more and more and climbed over the ledge, she held on only with two arms and her legs were in the air,” he said. Also read | India: 2-year-old kid stops breathing on airplane, miracle follows next Aguzzi, acting on his instinct, started shouting so as to catch the attention of the three-year-old. However, owing to the distance, the baby didn't hear him as Aguzzi started preparing for, perhaps, the most dangerous scenario - catching the baby mid-air. “I started yelling at her to stay still and to go back inside but she didn’t hear. When I saw her fall I stepped in the way, closed my eyes and hoped that everything was going to be for the best, I blocked her by cushioning the blow and we were both fell to the ground,” he said. “Initially I didn’t feel any sign of life, then the baby started crying and I breathed a sigh of relief,” added Aguzzi. Watch | Myanmar: Passengers help woman deliver baby girl mid-flight × Meloni commends Aguzzi The news of Aguzzi's heroics instantly went viral on social media as Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to officially recognise the banker. “The story of a little girl who fell from a fith floor balcony in a building in Turin could have turned into tragedy. But thanks to the promptness of Mattia Aguzzi, who saw her fall and grabbed her in the air, her life is saved. Much honor and gratitude to this young hero,” she wrote on X on Sunday. Despite being swarmed by a plethora of well-wishes, Aguzzi continues to maintain he isn't a hero. “Don’t call me a hero. I did everything so naturally. I didn’t think of anything and tried to do what had to be done,” said Aguzzi. The banker also saw the funny side of things when he said: "And in any case now they won’t tell me anymore that it’s better if I lose a little weight. It went well. What more could we want? Destiny put us there. Chance, fate. As far as I know, we’re all fine. And this, believe me, is the most beautiful thing.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Italian man saves the day by catching toddler falling from fifth floor balcony

<p>Italy’s northern city of Milan registered the highest average daily temperature for the past 260 years, on Wednesday, amid a heatwave that began in mid-August and peaked earlier this week, said the regional environmental protection agency (ARPA), on Friday (August 25).&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Milano Brera weather station recorded an average of 33 degrees Celsius in Milan, on Wednesday (August 23), which is the highest since they began the record keeping back in 1763.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The city’s previous record was 32.8 degrees Celsius, recorded on August 11, 2003.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-scientists-say-july-was-worlds-hottest-on-record-623622">EU scientists say July was world's hottest on record</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>What did the ARPA say?</strong></h2>

<p>The Italian city also recorded the highest minimum temperature on Thursday (August 24) at 28.9 degrees Celsius, said the ARPA. Notably, the Italian capital Rome registered a record peak of 41.8 degrees Celsius, last month.</p>

<p>This comes as much of southern Europe, including Italy, is witnessing soaring temperatures that are fuelling wildfires, prompting governments to issue <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-earth-day-temperature-rising-in-europe-15700-deaths-due-to-heatwave-in-2022-says-un-585320">health warnings</a> and disrupting the holiday season for many tourists.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/what-is-the-cerberus-heatwave-which-is-boiling-europe-616230">What is the Cerberus heatwave which is boiling Europe?</a></strong></p>

<p>According to the ARPA, August 23 and 24 were the hottest days of the summer across the whole of the Lombardy region which surrounds Milan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The agency also noted that “intense and abnormal” temperatures also hit the Italian Alps.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Thunderstorms ahead</strong></h2>

<p>The region might experience some respite since the heatwave is about to end, said the ARPA. It also noted that heavy thunderstorms in the upcoming days will cause the temperatures to plunge to 10-15 degrees Celsius.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/death-toll-rises-as-europe-suffers-third-heatwave-628346">Death toll rises as Europe suffers third heatwave</a></strong></p>

<p>According to the agency, the first thunderstorms could arrive by the afternoon of August 26 in the Italian Alps and western high plains and warned that it could be “very intense” due to medium-large hail and strong gusts of wind.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is driving these high temperatures?</strong></h2>

<p>Last month, scientists confirmed what many speculated that this weather phenomenon would be <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-deadly-heatwaves-across-europe-us-would-be-virtually-impossible-without-climate-change-619402">“virtually impossible”</a> without human-induced climate change. From record-breaking temperatures in the United States to life-threatening wildfires burning parts of Europe, this summer wreaked havoc across parts of the world.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“European and North American temperatures would have been virtually impossible without the effects of climate change,” said Izidine Pinto of the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, one of the authors of the study.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
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Italy’s northern city of Milan registered the highest average daily temperature for the past 260 years, on Wednesday, amid a heatwave that began in mid-August and peaked earlier this week, said the regional environmental protection agency (ARPA), on Friday (August 25).

Italy’s northern city of Milan registered the highest average daily temperature for the past 260 years, on Wednesday, amid a heatwave that began in mid-August and peaked earlier this week, said the regional environmental protection agency (ARPA), on Friday (August 25). The Milano Brera weather station recorded an average of 33 degrees Celsius in Milan, on Wednesday (August 23), which is the highest since they began the record keeping back in 1763. The city’s previous record was 32.8 degrees Celsius, recorded on August 11, 2003. ALSO READ | EU scientists say July was world's hottest on record What did the ARPA say? The Italian city also recorded the highest minimum temperature on Thursday (August 24) at 28.9 degrees Celsius, said the ARPA. Notably, the Italian capital Rome registered a record peak of 41.8 degrees Celsius, last month. This comes as much of southern Europe, including Italy, is witnessing soaring temperatures that are fuelling wildfires, prompting governments to issue health warnings and disrupting the holiday season for many tourists. ALSO READ | What is the Cerberus heatwave which is boiling Europe? According to the ARPA, August 23 and 24 were the hottest days of the summer across the whole of the Lombardy region which surrounds Milan. The agency also noted that “intense and abnormal” temperatures also hit the Italian Alps. Thunderstorms ahead The region might experience some respite since the heatwave is about to end, said the ARPA. It also noted that heavy thunderstorms in the upcoming days will cause the temperatures to plunge to 10-15 degrees Celsius. ALSO WATCH | Death toll rises as Europe suffers third heatwave According to the agency, the first thunderstorms could arrive by the afternoon of August 26 in the Italian Alps and western high plains and warned that it could be “very intense” due to medium-large hail and strong gusts of wind. What is driving these high temperatures? Last month, scientists confirmed what many speculated that this weather phenomenon would be “virtually impossible” without human-induced climate change. From record-breaking temperatures in the United States to life-threatening wildfires burning parts of Europe, this summer wreaked havoc across parts of the world. “European and North American temperatures would have been virtually impossible without the effects of climate change,” said Izidine Pinto of the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, one of the authors of the study. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Italy: Milan records its hottest day in more than 250 years

<p>A video of a woman who stepped into Rome's iconic tourist attraction, Trevi Fountain, to fill her water bottle has been doing rounds on social media and has taken the internet by storm.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Donning a blue shirt, and white pants, and sporting a baseball cap, the woman stunned the onlookers as she walked over a row of rocks with an empty plastic bottle and filled it up under one of the fountain's waterfalls.</p>

<p>The clip, which was filmed last month on July 18 by an onlooker Lex Jones, who witnessed the bizarre incident, shows how the woman casually makes her way out of the 18th-century landmark before a guard confronts her.</p>

<p>“There were signs all over saying that’s not allowed,” Jones told newswire Storyful. “I was just like, wow, this is crazy so I started videoing it.”&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/appetizing-attire-donair-sandwich-costume-up-for-auction-fetches-whopping-11900-626060">Appetizing Attire: Donair sandwich costume up for auction fetches whopping $11,900</a></p>

<p>“The woman kept trying to explain her side to the guard and didn’t really understand why she was in trouble,” Storyful quoted Jones.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This tourist really walked across the Trevi Fountain to go fill up her water bottle.…🤦‍♂️<br />
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(via Lex Jones - storyful) <a href="https://t.co/9vxxZsmgCL">pic.twitter.com/9vxxZsmgCL</a></p>
— Growing Up Italian (@GrowingUpItalia) <a href="https://twitter.com/GrowingUpItalia/status/1691857613636468815?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>It is not yet clear if the woman was fined or detained.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This incident comes after a tourist was captured swimming in Trevi Fountain last month, as per Italian daily Corriere Della Serra reports.</p>

<p>The outlet said that the onlookers clapped and cheered for him.</p>

<h2><strong>Tourist captured carving name of fiancee into</strong><strong>&nbsp;Colosseum</strong></h2>

<p>In another bizarre incident, a tourist, who was later identified as Ivan Dimitrov (27) from England, was seen carving his and his fiancee's names on the walls of the Colosseum using a key.</p>

<p>Dimitrov said that he was unaware of the antiquity of the ancient monument and then handed a letter of apology to Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri.</p>

<p>“Through these lines, I would like to address my heartfelt and honest apologies to the Italians and to the whole world for the damage caused to an asset which, in fact, is the heritage of all humanity,” he stated in the letter.</p>

<p>Italy’s Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano said, “I consider it very serious, unworthy and a sign of great incivility that a tourist defaces one of the most famous places in the world, a historical heritage (site) such as the Colosseum, to carve the name of his fiancée.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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A video of a woman who stepped into Rome's iconic tourist attraction, Trevi Fountain, to fill her water bottle has been doing rounds on social media and has taken the internet by storm.

A video of a woman who stepped into Rome's iconic tourist attraction, Trevi Fountain, to fill her water bottle has been doing rounds on social media and has taken the internet by storm. Donning a blue shirt, and white pants, and sporting a baseball cap, the woman stunned the onlookers as she walked over a row of rocks with an empty plastic bottle and filled it up under one of the fountain's waterfalls. The clip, which was filmed last month on July 18 by an onlooker Lex Jones, who witnessed the bizarre incident, shows how the woman casually makes her way out of the 18th-century landmark before a guard confronts her. “There were signs all over saying that’s not allowed,” Jones told newswire Storyful. “I was just like, wow, this is crazy so I started videoing it.” Also read: Appetizing Attire: Donair sandwich costume up for auction fetches whopping $11,900 “The woman kept trying to explain her side to the guard and didn’t really understand why she was in trouble,” Storyful quoted Jones. This tourist really walked across the Trevi Fountain to go fill up her water bottle.…🤦‍♂️ (via Lex Jones - storyful) pic.twitter.com/9vxxZsmgCL — Growing Up Italian (@GrowingUpItalia) August 16, 2023 × It is not yet clear if the woman was fined or detained. This incident comes after a tourist was captured swimming in Trevi Fountain last month, as per Italian daily Corriere Della Serra reports. The outlet said that the onlookers clapped and cheered for him. Tourist captured carving name of fiancee into Colosseum In another bizarre incident, a tourist, who was later identified as Ivan Dimitrov (27) from England, was seen carving his and his fiancee's names on the walls of the Colosseum using a key. Dimitrov said that he was unaware of the antiquity of the ancient monument and then handed a letter of apology to Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri. “Through these lines, I would like to address my heartfelt and honest apologies to the Italians and to the whole world for the damage caused to an asset which, in fact, is the heritage of all humanity,” he stated in the letter. Italy’s Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano said, “I consider it very serious, unworthy and a sign of great incivility that a tourist defaces one of the most famous places in the world, a historical heritage (site) such as the Colosseum, to carve the name of his fiancée.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

WATCH | Woman climbs into Rome’s historic Trevi Fountain to fill water bottle

<p>BJ Barone and Frankie Nelson, a Canadian same-sex couple, became parents to their son Milo through surrogacy in 2014. A heartwarming photo of their joyous moment with their newborn gained widespread attention. In 2016, Italy's far-right political party, Brothers of Italy (Fratelli d'Italia), used the photo of Barone, Nelson, and their son in an anti-surrogacy campaign without obtaining their consent. This unauthorised usage sparked a legal action by the couple.</p>

<p>Italian LGBT law firm Gay Lex took up the case and sued Brothers of Italy for the improper and offensive use of the couple's image.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/from-ew-to-yum-new-york-chef-promotes-eating-creepy-crawlies-as-sustainable-delicacies-625500">From 'ew' to 'yum': New York chef promotes eating creepy crawlies as sustainable delicacies</a></p>

<p>The court ruled in favour of Barone and Nelson, ordering the party to pay €10,000 (£8,600) to each of them as compensation for the violation.</p>

<h2><strong>Party's response and appeal</strong></h2>

<p>Brothers of Italy announced its intention to appeal the decision, indicating the party's unwillingness to accept the ruling. The party traces its origins back to the Italian Social Movement, which emerged from the remnants of Mussolini's Fascist Party after World War Two.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-five-killed-seven-missing-after-migrant-boat-capsizes-off-tunisian-coast-625496">At least five killed, seven missing after migrant boat capsizes off Tunisian coast</a></p>

<p>The party has positioned itself as a right-wing force in Italian politics.</p>

<h2><strong>Controversial actions and leadership</strong></h2>

<p>Under the leadership of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the country has witnessed a right-wing government that is widely considered the most right-leaning since World War Two.</p>

<p>The party's decisions, including instructing Milan's city council to halt the registration of children with same-sex parents, have sparked public protests.</p>

<h2><strong>Couple's reaction&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>BJ Barone and Frankie Nelson expressed their satisfaction with the court's decision. They noted that the victory was not only personal but also a significant win for the LGBTQ+ community in Italy and globally.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | India: Chandrayaan-3 craft completes 30 days in space</strong></p>

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<p>"This is a small win for us, but it is a huge victory for the LGBTQ+ community in Italy and abroad. To us, our birth photo represents everything what we stand for; family, acceptance and unconditional love," the couple told a UK media outlet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"This victory against the Fratelli and the Prime Minister allows us to reclaim our photo, and show the world that family is about love," the couple added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The photo, taken by Lindsay Foster, faced unauthorised use beyond Italy as well.</p>

<p>Independent Irish politician Mary Fitzgibbons also employed the image without permission in 2016 to promote her stance against surrogacy for same-sex parents.</p>

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BJ Barone and Frankie Nelson, a Canadian same-sex couple, became parents to their son Milo through surrogacy in 2014. A heartwarming photo of their joyous moment with their newborn gained widespread attention.

BJ Barone and Frankie Nelson, a Canadian same-sex couple, became parents to their son Milo through surrogacy in 2014. A heartwarming photo of their joyous moment with their newborn gained widespread attention. In 2016, Italy's far-right political party, Brothers of Italy (Fratelli d'Italia), used the photo of Barone, Nelson, and their son in an anti-surrogacy campaign without obtaining their consent. This unauthorised usage sparked a legal action by the couple. Italian LGBT law firm Gay Lex took up the case and sued Brothers of Italy for the improper and offensive use of the couple's image. Also Read | From 'ew' to 'yum': New York chef promotes eating creepy crawlies as sustainable delicacies The court ruled in favour of Barone and Nelson, ordering the party to pay €10,000 (£8,600) to each of them as compensation for the violation. Party's response and appeal Brothers of Italy announced its intention to appeal the decision, indicating the party's unwillingness to accept the ruling. The party traces its origins back to the Italian Social Movement, which emerged from the remnants of Mussolini's Fascist Party after World War Two. Also Read | At least five killed, seven missing after migrant boat capsizes off Tunisian coast The party has positioned itself as a right-wing force in Italian politics. Controversial actions and leadership Under the leadership of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the country has witnessed a right-wing government that is widely considered the most right-leaning since World War Two. The party's decisions, including instructing Milan's city council to halt the registration of children with same-sex parents, have sparked public protests. Couple's reaction BJ Barone and Frankie Nelson expressed their satisfaction with the court's decision. They noted that the victory was not only personal but also a significant win for the LGBTQ+ community in Italy and globally. WATCH | India: Chandrayaan-3 craft completes 30 days in space × "This is a small win for us, but it is a huge victory for the LGBTQ+ community in Italy and abroad. To us, our birth photo represents everything what we stand for; family, acceptance and unconditional love," the couple told a UK media outlet. "This victory against the Fratelli and the Prime Minister allows us to reclaim our photo, and show the world that family is about love," the couple added. The photo, taken by Lindsay Foster, faced unauthorised use beyond Italy as well. Independent Irish politician Mary Fitzgibbons also employed the image without permission in 2016 to promote her stance against surrogacy for same-sex parents. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Legal victory for same-sex couple against Italy's far-right party

On August 14, Italy commemorated the accident that killed 43 people when the Morandi bridge in Genoa, Italy's northwest city, collapsed five years ago.

Italy marks Genoa bridge disaster in shadow of political crisis

<p>Italian banks Wednesday bounced back from the previous day's losses after the government limited a windfall tax to 0.1 percent of assets.</p>

<p>The sector had shed around $10 billion Tuesday on an initial announcement of a plan by the far-right government of Giorgia Meloni to take 40 percent of "surplus profits" before the finance ministry stepped in to clarify and "preserve the stability of banking institutions" and calm a market storm.</p>

<p>Shares in major banks had plunged Tuesday after deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini told reporters the tax would be levied on profits the banks had netted in the wake of the European Central Bank's recent interest rate hikes.</p>

<p>Following the initial announcement, Intesa Sanpaolo lost 8.6 percent and Unicredit 5.9 percent of their share price while Monte dei Paschi di Siena, Bper Banca and Banco Bpm gave up 10.8, 10.9 and 9 percent respectively, as the sector shed $9.5 billion in market cap value according to an estimate by Radiocor financial news agency.</p>

<p>Wednesday saw the sector bounce back strongly on the Milan bourse, with Intesa Sanpaolo adding 2.3 percent, rival UniCredit 4.4 percent and Banco BPM 5.4 at the close.</p>

<p>Meloni's ministers had agreed the shock initial move at a cabinet meeting late Monday, vowing to invest the funds raised into helping households and businesses struggling with the cost of borrowing after ECB rate rises boosted banks' profits but hiked costs for borrowers.</p>

<p>Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told Tuesday's Corriere della Sera newspaper the levy would "only last one year" while adding Rome's view was the ECB was "mistaken in raising interest rates, and this is the inevitable consequence".</p>

<p>Sector profits have been on the rise with Intesa Sanpaolo having seen its net profit jump 80 percent to 4.2 billion euros in the first half of the year, while UniCredit posted a half-yearly net profit of 4.4 billion euros.</p>

<p>Spain's left-wing government introduced a similar tax on banks scheduled for 2023 and 2024, drawing criticism from the ECB.</p>

<p>Prime Minister Meloni's government is out to raise funds for the draft budget for 2024, after a surprise 0.3 percent decline in gross domestic product (GDP) in the second quarter of 2023.</p>

<p>In unveiling the measure, Meloni said in a Facebook post that "we decided to intervene with the only instrument at the government's disposal -- fiscality."</p>

<p>The Italian employers' association Unimpresa for its part said banks were paying out an average 0.32 percent on 669 billion euros of deposits while charging 4.25 percent on 1.3 trillion of household lending.</p>

<p>With the subsequent strict limiting of the windfall tax the impact is due to cost banks around 2.5 billion euros, analysts with Jefferies calculate -- around half the initial total forecast.</p>

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Italian banks Wednesday bounced back from the previous day's losses after the government limited a windfall tax to 0.1 percent of assets. The sector had shed around $10 billion Tuesday on an initial announcement of a plan by the far-right government of Giorgia Meloni to take 40 percent of "surplus profits" before the finance ministry stepped in to clarify and "preserve the stability of banking institutions" and calm a market storm.

Italian banks Wednesday bounced back from the previous day's losses after the government limited a windfall tax to 0.1 percent of assets. The sector had shed around $10 billion Tuesday on an initial announcement of a plan by the far-right government of Giorgia Meloni to take 40 percent of "surplus profits" before the finance ministry stepped in to clarify and "preserve the stability of banking institutions" and calm a market storm. Shares in major banks had plunged Tuesday after deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini told reporters the tax would be levied on profits the banks had netted in the wake of the European Central Bank's recent interest rate hikes. Following the initial announcement, Intesa Sanpaolo lost 8.6 percent and Unicredit 5.9 percent of their share price while Monte dei Paschi di Siena, Bper Banca and Banco Bpm gave up 10.8, 10.9 and 9 percent respectively, as the sector shed $9.5 billion in market cap value according to an estimate by Radiocor financial news agency. Wednesday saw the sector bounce back strongly on the Milan bourse, with Intesa Sanpaolo adding 2.3 percent, rival UniCredit 4.4 percent and Banco BPM 5.4 at the close. Meloni's ministers had agreed the shock initial move at a cabinet meeting late Monday, vowing to invest the funds raised into helping households and businesses struggling with the cost of borrowing after ECB rate rises boosted banks' profits but hiked costs for borrowers. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told Tuesday's Corriere della Sera newspaper the levy would "only last one year" while adding Rome's view was the ECB was "mistaken in raising interest rates, and this is the inevitable consequence". Sector profits have been on the rise with Intesa Sanpaolo having seen its net profit jump 80 percent to 4.2 billion euros in the first half of the year, while UniCredit posted a half-yearly net profit of 4.4 billion euros. Spain's left-wing government introduced a similar tax on banks scheduled for 2023 and 2024, drawing criticism from the ECB. Prime Minister Meloni's government is out to raise funds for the draft budget for 2024, after a surprise 0.3 percent decline in gross domestic product (GDP) in the second quarter of 2023. In unveiling the measure, Meloni said in a Facebook post that "we decided to intervene with the only instrument at the government's disposal -- fiscality." The Italian employers' association Unimpresa for its part said banks were paying out an average 0.32 percent on 669 billion euros of deposits while charging 4.25 percent on 1.3 trillion of household lending. With the subsequent strict limiting of the windfall tax the impact is due to cost banks around 2.5 billion euros, analysts with Jefferies calculate -- around half the initial total forecast. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Italian banks recover lost ground as Rome limits windfall tax

<p>In a significant step towards combating illicit art trade, New York authorities have taken measures to return stolen antiquities valued at almost $3.5 million to Italy.</p>

<p>This move aims to reshape the city's image as a prominent global hub for the illegal trade of artworks.</p>

<p>The repatriation ceremony carried out in collaboration with Italian officials, saw the handover of 42 remarkable artefacts, some of which are over 2,500 years old, as reported by Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Concerted effort for cultural preservation</strong></h2>

<p>The restitution event was officiated by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who highlighted the ongoing efforts to reverse the destructive impact of well-established networks engaged in smuggling antiquities out of Italy.</p>

<p>Bragg emphasised the successful repatriation of more than 200 artefacts since his assumption of office in 2022, signalling the commitment to rectifying past wrongs.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-to-help-greece-reclaim-historical-artefacts-from-uk-reports-british-media-592664"><strong>&nbsp;</strong>India to help Greece reclaim historical artefacts from UK, reports British media</a></p>

<p>Vincenzo Molinese, commander of Italy's Carabinieri Art Squad, lauded the collaboration between the United States and Italy, which was pivotal in achieving this accomplishment.</p>

<p>The joint effort showcases the dedication of both nations to safeguard&nbsp;cultural heritage.</p>

<h2><strong>A glimpse into the history</strong></h2>

<p>Among the valuable items returned was a vase originating from Apulia in southern Italy, tracing its origins back to 335 BC.</p>

<p>This ancient artefact was pilfered from a burial site and subsequently smuggled abroad by Giacomo Medici, a notorious dealer in Italian antiquities.</p>

<p>The vase, once used to mix water and wine, was intercepted in July while in possession of a private collector in New York, following its journey through London.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: UK secretly ships stolen artefacts to Cambodia</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>A renewed focus on restitution</strong></h2>

<p>Since 2017, New York authorities have been actively involved in repatriating stolen artefacts, many of which were looted from approximately 20 countries during the 1970s to 1990s.</p>

<p>The recovered items span various historical periods and regions, including ancient Greece, the Roman and Byzantine empires, Iraq, China, India, and Southeast Asia.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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In a significant step towards combating illicit art trade, New York authorities have taken measures to return stolen antiquities valued at almost $3.5 million to Italy.

In a significant step towards combating illicit art trade, New York authorities have taken measures to return stolen antiquities valued at almost $3.5 million to Italy. This move aims to reshape the city's image as a prominent global hub for the illegal trade of artworks. The repatriation ceremony carried out in collaboration with Italian officials, saw the handover of 42 remarkable artefacts, some of which are over 2,500 years old, as reported by Reuters. Concerted effort for cultural preservation The restitution event was officiated by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who highlighted the ongoing efforts to reverse the destructive impact of well-established networks engaged in smuggling antiquities out of Italy. Bragg emphasised the successful repatriation of more than 200 artefacts since his assumption of office in 2022, signalling the commitment to rectifying past wrongs. Also read | India to help Greece reclaim historical artefacts from UK, reports British media Vincenzo Molinese, commander of Italy's Carabinieri Art Squad, lauded the collaboration between the United States and Italy, which was pivotal in achieving this accomplishment. The joint effort showcases the dedication of both nations to safeguard cultural heritage. A glimpse into the history Among the valuable items returned was a vase originating from Apulia in southern Italy, tracing its origins back to 335 BC. This ancient artefact was pilfered from a burial site and subsequently smuggled abroad by Giacomo Medici, a notorious dealer in Italian antiquities. The vase, once used to mix water and wine, was intercepted in July while in possession of a private collector in New York, following its journey through London. Also watch | Gravitas: UK secretly ships stolen artefacts to Cambodia A renewed focus on restitution Since 2017, New York authorities have been actively involved in repatriating stolen artefacts, many of which were looted from approximately 20 countries during the 1970s to 1990s. The recovered items span various historical periods and regions, including ancient Greece, the Roman and Byzantine empires, Iraq, China, India, and Southeast Asia. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

New York returns stolen artefacts worth $3.5mn to Italy in effort to combat illicit art trade

<p>A shipwreck in the central Mediterranean has claimed the lives of at least 41 migrants, the survivors who have just reached the Italian island of Lampedusa, told local media on Wednesday (Aug 9).</p>

<p>As per Ansa news agency reports, four people who survived the disaster last week told rescuers that they were on board a boat that was carrying nearly 45 people, including three children.</p>

<p>The boat set off last Thursday morning from Tunisia's Sfax, which is a hot spot in the migration crisis. However, after a few hours, it capsized and sank, the survivors were quoted as saying.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Southern Spain bakes as third heatwave of year strikes</strong></p>

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<p>The survivors, three men and a woman from Ivory Coast and Guinea said they were rescued by a cargo ship and then transferred onto an Italian coast guard vessel.</p>

<p>The coast guard had reported two shipwrecks on Sunday (Aug 6)&nbsp;saying that nearly 30 people were missing after the incident. It is not yet clear if this incident reported by the news agency Ansa, citing accounts from survivors, is linked to one of those.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-moscow-mayor-says-military-shoots-down-two-drones-headed-for-capital-623672">Russia: Moscow mayor says military shot down two drones headed for capital</a></p>

<p>The coast guard had also said that they had recovered 57 survivors and two bodies, amid media reports that at least one of the sunken boats had set off from Sfax on Thursday.</p>

<p>On Monday (Aug 7), Tunisian authorities said that they had recovered 11 bodies from a shipwreck near Sfax on Sunday, further adding that 44 migrants were still missing from the incident.</p>

<p>As per interior ministry data, which was last updated on Monday, Italy, so far this year, has witnessed around 93,700 migrant arrivals by sea, as compared to 44,700 which was recorded in the same period in the year 2022.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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A shipwreck in the central Mediterranean has claimed the lives of at least 41 migrants, the survivors who have just reached the Italian island of Lampedusa, told local media on Wednesday (Aug 9).

A shipwreck in the central Mediterranean has claimed the lives of at least 41 migrants, the survivors who have just reached the Italian island of Lampedusa, told local media on Wednesday (Aug 9). As per Ansa news agency reports, four people who survived the disaster last week told rescuers that they were on board a boat that was carrying nearly 45 people, including three children. The boat set off last Thursday morning from Tunisia's Sfax, which is a hot spot in the migration crisis. However, after a few hours, it capsized and sank, the survivors were quoted as saying. WATCH | Southern Spain bakes as third heatwave of year strikes The survivors, three men and a woman from Ivory Coast and Guinea said they were rescued by a cargo ship and then transferred onto an Italian coast guard vessel. The coast guard had reported two shipwrecks on Sunday (Aug 6) saying that nearly 30 people were missing after the incident. It is not yet clear if this incident reported by the news agency Ansa, citing accounts from survivors, is linked to one of those. Also read: Russia: Moscow mayor says military shot down two drones headed for capital The coast guard had also said that they had recovered 57 survivors and two bodies, amid media reports that at least one of the sunken boats had set off from Sfax on Thursday. On Monday (Aug 7), Tunisian authorities said that they had recovered 11 bodies from a shipwreck near Sfax on Sunday, further adding that 44 migrants were still missing from the incident. As per interior ministry data, which was last updated on Monday, Italy, so far this year, has witnessed around 93,700 migrant arrivals by sea, as compared to 44,700 which was recorded in the same period in the year 2022. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Migrant shipwreck in central Mediterranean claims lives of 41

Italy is offering free taxi rides for partygoers to cut down on drunk driving and road tragedies. Will the pilot project be a success or will it unnecessarily reward alcoholics? Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Gravitas: Italy's new solution for drunk driving

<p>At least 16 migrants have lost their lives in shipwrecks off the coasts of Tunisia and Western Sahara, said the officials, on Monday (August 7). This comes amid a spike in the number of Europe-bound central Mediterranean migrant crossings from North Africa which is said to be the world’s deadliest, according to the United Nations.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Death toll in Tunisia migrant wreck rises to 11, 42 missing</strong></h2>

<p>Tunisian authorities said that they recovered seven more bodies believed to be of migrants who drowned in a shipwreck off Tunisia, raising the death toll to 11. They also said that only two out of the previously reported 44 people missing were rescued.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This comes a day after a judicial official, as per Reuters, said the migrants aboard the boat, which sank off the country’s Kerkennah island near the port of Sfax, were from sub-Saharan African countries.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-30-migrants-feared-dead-as-dinghy-carrying-60-people-sinks-off-morocco-coast-607117">Over 30 migrants feared dead as dinghy carrying 60 people sinks off Morocco coast</a></strong></p>

<p>From the beginning of this year to July 20, the Tunisian coast guard recovered an unprecedented number of 901 bodies of drowned migrants off its coast, according to the country’s interior ministry. Additionally, 34,290 migrants had been rescued or intercepted, most of them coming from sub-Saharan African countries, as per Tunisian officials.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Local court spokesman Faouzi Masmoudi told AFP that coastguard units were searching for more survivors.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Shipwreck off Western Sahara</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Officials in Morocco said that they found the bodies of five migrants, all from Senegal,&nbsp;reported AFP. They also managed to rescue 189 people after their boat capsized off Western Sahara.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A military source told Morocco’s state-owned MAP news agency, that the five bodies as well as 11 migrants in “critical condition” were transferred to a hospital in Dakhla, the disputed Western Sahara’s second city on the Atlantic coast.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/italy-at-least-two-dead-30-missing-after-migrant-shipwrecks-off-lampedusa-622845">Italy: At least two dead, 30 missing after two shipwrecks off Lampedusa</a></strong></p>

<p>The media report, citing the source, also said that the boat had embarked from “a country located south of the kingdom” and was headed towards Spain’s Canary Islands. However, it was discovered off the coast of Guerguart, just north of Mauritania and was in a “difficult situation,” as per the media report.</p>

<p>The migrants who were rescued, including at least one woman, were taken to Dakhla on Sunday and handed over to Moroccan authorities, said the Moroccan news agency citing the source.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Deadliest migration route</strong></h2>

<p>The North African coast has become a major gateway for illegal migrants and asylum seekers from several parts of the continent to embark on what has been called the world’s deadliest Mediterranean migrant crossing route in the hopes of a better life in Europe, often on rickety boats which are prone to accidents.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
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At least 16 migrants have lost their lives in shipwrecks off the coasts of Tunisia and Western Sahara, said the officials, on Monday (August 7). This comes amid a spike in the number of Europe-bound central Mediterranean migrant crossings from North Africa which is said to be the world’s deadliest, according to the United Nations.

At least 16 migrants have lost their lives in shipwrecks off the coasts of Tunisia and Western Sahara, said the officials, on Monday (August 7). This comes amid a spike in the number of Europe-bound central Mediterranean migrant crossings from North Africa which is said to be the world’s deadliest, according to the United Nations. Death toll in Tunisia migrant wreck rises to 11, 42 missing Tunisian authorities said that they recovered seven more bodies believed to be of migrants who drowned in a shipwreck off Tunisia, raising the death toll to 11. They also said that only two out of the previously reported 44 people missing were rescued. This comes a day after a judicial official, as per Reuters, said the migrants aboard the boat, which sank off the country’s Kerkennah island near the port of Sfax, were from sub-Saharan African countries. ALSO READ | Over 30 migrants feared dead as dinghy carrying 60 people sinks off Morocco coast From the beginning of this year to July 20, the Tunisian coast guard recovered an unprecedented number of 901 bodies of drowned migrants off its coast, according to the country’s interior ministry. Additionally, 34,290 migrants had been rescued or intercepted, most of them coming from sub-Saharan African countries, as per Tunisian officials. Local court spokesman Faouzi Masmoudi told AFP that coastguard units were searching for more survivors. Shipwreck off Western Sahara Officials in Morocco said that they found the bodies of five migrants, all from Senegal, reported AFP. They also managed to rescue 189 people after their boat capsized off Western Sahara. A military source told Morocco’s state-owned MAP news agency, that the five bodies as well as 11 migrants in “critical condition” were transferred to a hospital in Dakhla, the disputed Western Sahara’s second city on the Atlantic coast. ALSO READ | Italy: At least two dead, 30 missing after two shipwrecks off Lampedusa The media report, citing the source, also said that the boat had embarked from “a country located south of the kingdom” and was headed towards Spain’s Canary Islands. However, it was discovered off the coast of Guerguart, just north of Mauritania and was in a “difficult situation,” as per the media report. The migrants who were rescued, including at least one woman, were taken to Dakhla on Sunday and handed over to Moroccan authorities, said the Moroccan news agency citing the source. Deadliest migration route The North African coast has become a major gateway for illegal migrants and asylum seekers from several parts of the continent to embark on what has been called the world’s deadliest Mediterranean migrant crossing route in the hopes of a better life in Europe, often on rickety boats which are prone to accidents. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

At least 16 dead, dozens missing after migrant shipwrecks off Tunisia and Western Sahara

<p>A tragedy struck an unfortunate Italian man as he was crushed to death under thousands of huge wheels of cheese. Each wheel of this cheese weighed about 40 kg each, The Guardian reported citing firefighters.</p>

<p>Giacomo Chiapparini, 77, was buried under the giant cheese wheels after a shelf broke in his warehouse. The warehouse was in the northern Lombardy region. The unfortunate incident took place on Sunday (August 8). When the warehouse shelf broke, it created the a domino effect. As a result, thousands of wheels came down on Chiapparini, according to firefighter Antonio Dusi who was speaking with AFP. &nbsp;</p>

<p>It has been reported that rescuers "had to move the cheeses and the shelves by hand"</p>

<p>It took "12 hours" to find Chiapparini who was buried under all that cheese.</p>

<p>The warehouse is located in a small town of Romano di Lombardia near Bergamo. The warehouse contained 25,000 wheels of grana padano. It a type of hard cheese that resembles parmesan and is very popular in Italy.</p>

<p>When the tragedy struck, Chiapparini was checking the ripening wheels. These cheese wheels were stored on metal shelves. The highest of these shelves stood at 10 metres (33 feet).</p>

<p>Bortolo Ghislotti, a friend and neighbour of Chiapparini, told NBC that Chiapparini and his son Tiziano (50) went to the cheese warehouse after getting alarm signal from a machine that &nbsp;that cleans the cheese wheels from the mold.</p>

<p>“These machines clean and rotate the wheels, so when they find them even slightly out of place, they send a warning,” Ghislotti said. “It’s a common problem. So Giacomo and his son went there to adjust the wheels.”</p>

<p>Ghislotti said after the father-son duo fixed the problem, the son left the warehouse. After that, Chiapparini re-started the machine. It has been reported that everything fell on him just seconds later.</p>

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A tragedy struck an unfortunate Italian man as he was crushed to death under thousands of huge wheels of cheese. Each wheel of this cheese weighed about 40 kg each, The Guardian reported citing firefighters.

A tragedy struck an unfortunate Italian man as he was crushed to death under thousands of huge wheels of cheese. Each wheel of this cheese weighed about 40 kg each, The Guardian reported citing firefighters. Giacomo Chiapparini, 77, was buried under the giant cheese wheels after a shelf broke in his warehouse. The warehouse was in the northern Lombardy region. The unfortunate incident took place on Sunday (August 8). When the warehouse shelf broke, it created the a domino effect. As a result, thousands of wheels came down on Chiapparini, according to firefighter Antonio Dusi who was speaking with AFP. It has been reported that rescuers "had to move the cheeses and the shelves by hand" It took "12 hours" to find Chiapparini who was buried under all that cheese. The warehouse is located in a small town of Romano di Lombardia near Bergamo. The warehouse contained 25,000 wheels of grana padano. It a type of hard cheese that resembles parmesan and is very popular in Italy. When the tragedy struck, Chiapparini was checking the ripening wheels. These cheese wheels were stored on metal shelves. The highest of these shelves stood at 10 metres (33 feet). Bortolo Ghislotti, a friend and neighbour of Chiapparini, told NBC that Chiapparini and his son Tiziano (50) went to the cheese warehouse after getting alarm signal from a machine that that cleans the cheese wheels from the mold. “These machines clean and rotate the wheels, so when they find them even slightly out of place, they send a warning,” Ghislotti said. “It’s a common problem. So Giacomo and his son went there to adjust the wheels.” Ghislotti said after the father-son duo fixed the problem, the son left the warehouse. After that, Chiapparini re-started the machine. It has been reported that everything fell on him just seconds later. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Italian man crushed to death after giant cheese wheels fall on him

<p>Shares in Italian banks plunged early Tuesday after the country's right-wing cabinet approved a surprise 40 per cent windfall tax on "surplus profits" generated by the rise in interest rates.</p>

<p>From Intesa Sanpaolo to Unicredit and Monte dei Paschi di Siena, banks lost between six and eight per cent in early morning trading in Milan on the news of the tax, adopted by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's ministers late Monday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The government was "using part of the banks' billion-dollar profits to help families and businesses affected by rising interest rates", Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said on X, formerly known as Twitter.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He told reporters in Rome after the cabinet meeting that the tax would be levied on banks' "surplus profits" generated by the European Central Bank's interest rate hikes.</p>

<p>The rate hike by the ECB -- the central bank for the 20 countries that use the euro, including Italy -- has boosted banks' profits but increased the cost of money for households and businesses, he said.</p>

<p>Meloni is also using the tax to raise funds for the draft budget for 2024, in part to counter a surprise 0.3 per cent decline in gross domestic product (GDP) in the second quarter of 2023.</p>

<p>Italian banks, like their European counterparts, saw their net interest income soar in the wake of the rise in interest rates.</p>

<p>Italy's biggest bank Intesa Sanpaolo saw its net profit jump 80 per cent to 4.2 billion euros in the first half, while its rival UniCredit posted a half-yearly net profit of 4.4 billion euros.</p>

<p>Spain's left-wing government has also introduced a similar tax on banks scheduled for 2023 and 2024, drawing criticism from the ECB.</p>

<p>Salvini described the Italian cabinet's move as "common sense", but Francesco Galietti, from the Policy Sonar consultancy, said it was a "hugely controversial tax".</p>

<p>Parliament now has two months to convert the cabinet's decree into law, during which time it can be significantly changed.<br />
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Shares in Italian banks plunged early Tuesday after the country's right-wing cabinet approved a surprise 40 per cent windfall tax on "surplus profits" generated by the rise in interest rates.

Shares in Italian banks plunged early Tuesday after the country's right-wing cabinet approved a surprise 40 per cent windfall tax on "surplus profits" generated by the rise in interest rates. From Intesa Sanpaolo to Unicredit and Monte dei Paschi di Siena, banks lost between six and eight per cent in early morning trading in Milan on the news of the tax, adopted by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's ministers late Monday. The government was "using part of the banks' billion-dollar profits to help families and businesses affected by rising interest rates", Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said on X, formerly known as Twitter. He told reporters in Rome after the cabinet meeting that the tax would be levied on banks' "surplus profits" generated by the European Central Bank's interest rate hikes. The rate hike by the ECB -- the central bank for the 20 countries that use the euro, including Italy -- has boosted banks' profits but increased the cost of money for households and businesses, he said. Meloni is also using the tax to raise funds for the draft budget for 2024, in part to counter a surprise 0.3 per cent decline in gross domestic product (GDP) in the second quarter of 2023. Italian banks, like their European counterparts, saw their net interest income soar in the wake of the rise in interest rates. Italy's biggest bank Intesa Sanpaolo saw its net profit jump 80 per cent to 4.2 billion euros in the first half, while its rival UniCredit posted a half-yearly net profit of 4.4 billion euros. Spain's left-wing government has also introduced a similar tax on banks scheduled for 2023 and 2024, drawing criticism from the ECB. Salvini described the Italian cabinet's move as "common sense", but Francesco Galietti, from the Policy Sonar consultancy, said it was a "hugely controversial tax". Parliament now has two months to convert the cabinet's decree into law, during which time it can be significantly changed. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Italy govt shocks with 40 per cent windfall tax on banking sector, leading to share plunge

<p>Italy is in the midst of testing a programme to offer free taxi rides for party-goers in a bid to curb incidents of drunk driving and deadly accidents. This is part of an initiative commissioned by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Matteo Salvini, the pilot project for which will run until mid-September.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>About the initiative</strong></h2>

<p>So far, the pilot programme has only been launched at six nightclubs around the country, from Puglia in the south to Tuscany and Veneto in the north. In line with the scheme, if a person appears too drunk when they exit the venue, they will be subjected to an alcohol test.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Based on the test, if the person’s blood alcohol level is deemed above the legal limit, a taxi will be called to take them home and it will be paid for by the government, with funding for the scheme being provided by the transport ministry.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The announcement was also made on the Italian lawmaker’s X, formerly known as Twitter, account, where he wrote, “Free taxis at the end of the night for those who have drunk too much,” and called it a “practical initiative”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The initiative is “aimed at preventing danger and tragedy on the roads”, adding that fines and drink-driving laws were not enough to combat the problem.<br />
<br />
He added, “The idea, born after meetings at the ministry on road safety with influencers and content creators, provides for the payment of transport to those who, undergoing the alcohol test at the exit of the discos, exceed the limit set for getting behind the wheel.”</p>

<p>“To stop the slaughter (on the roads), we need to involve everyone in terms of prevention,” said Salvini, on X, last week.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>A somewhat welcomed step</strong></h2>

<p>According to local media reports, the initiative was welcomed and largely well-received. “I think it’s a good idea because there are so many accidents. People go out dancing and they drink. This experiment could finally contain the problem,” a young man named Marco told the newspaper Il Gazzettino, outside the nightclub near the town of Jesolo.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the scheme has also been criticised by social media users, while responding to the lawmaker’s post on X. Some people on the microblogging app said that the scheme “rewards” excessive alcohol consumption.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I’m so happy that people can now get wasted on alcohol without consequences and the state will pay for their transport,” said another person, on social media.<br />
<br />
While others appeared to resent that their taxes would contribute to such an initiative.&nbsp;“Knowing that the taxes I pay end up like this really makes me sick!” said another critic, on X.&nbsp;<br />
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Italy is in the midst of testing a programme to offer free taxi rides for party-goers in a bid to curb incidents of drunk driving and deadly accidents. This is part of an initiative commissioned by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Matteo Salvini, the pilot project for which will run until mid-September.

Italy is in the midst of testing a programme to offer free taxi rides for party-goers in a bid to curb incidents of drunk driving and deadly accidents. This is part of an initiative commissioned by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Matteo Salvini, the pilot project for which will run until mid-September. About the initiative So far, the pilot programme has only been launched at six nightclubs around the country, from Puglia in the south to Tuscany and Veneto in the north. In line with the scheme, if a person appears too drunk when they exit the venue, they will be subjected to an alcohol test. Based on the test, if the person’s blood alcohol level is deemed above the legal limit, a taxi will be called to take them home and it will be paid for by the government, with funding for the scheme being provided by the transport ministry. The announcement was also made on the Italian lawmaker’s X, formerly known as Twitter, account, where he wrote, “Free taxis at the end of the night for those who have drunk too much,” and called it a “practical initiative”. The initiative is “aimed at preventing danger and tragedy on the roads”, adding that fines and drink-driving laws were not enough to combat the problem. He added, “The idea, born after meetings at the ministry on road safety with influencers and content creators, provides for the payment of transport to those who, undergoing the alcohol test at the exit of the discos, exceed the limit set for getting behind the wheel.” “To stop the slaughter (on the roads), we need to involve everyone in terms of prevention,” said Salvini, on X, last week. A somewhat welcomed step According to local media reports, the initiative was welcomed and largely well-received. “I think it’s a good idea because there are so many accidents. People go out dancing and they drink. This experiment could finally contain the problem,” a young man named Marco told the newspaper Il Gazzettino, outside the nightclub near the town of Jesolo. However, the scheme has also been criticised by social media users, while responding to the lawmaker’s post on X. Some people on the microblogging app said that the scheme “rewards” excessive alcohol consumption. “I’m so happy that people can now get wasted on alcohol without consequences and the state will pay for their transport,” said another person, on social media. While others appeared to resent that their taxes would contribute to such an initiative. “Knowing that the taxes I pay end up like this really makes me sick!” said another critic, on X. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Too drunk to drive back home? Italian government will offer a free taxi ride

Six nightclubs in Italy have signed up for the experimental program for drunk drivers. The transport ministry of Italy is putting up trial procedures to give free cab rides to drivers who test positive for alcohol after leaving nightclubs. On Thursday, Matteo Salvini, the deputy prime minister and minister of transport, proposed a trial program to "prevent the increasingly frequent carnage" on the nation's highways on the weekends.

Italy: Government to offer free rides back from home from night clubs

<p>The Italian coastguard, on Sunday (August 6) said that it recovered two bodies and rescued 57 people off the southern island of Lampedusa after two shipwrecks. Meanwhile, the United Nations’ migration agency citing survivors’ testimony said that as many as 30 migrants are missing.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What do we know about the shipwrecks?</strong></h2>

<p>A report by Ansa news agency, citing survivors’ accounts, said that two migrant boats had set off from the Tunisian city of Sfax’s port and sank on Saturday on their way to Europe. According to the media report, one of the boats was carrying 48 people and the second 42.</p>

<p>The two victims were identified as a woman from Ivory Coast and her one-year-old child, as per Ansa. The Italian coastguard said that the survivors were found 46 kilometres south-west of Lampedusa.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per local media reports, at least 20 migrants had been stuck since Friday on a cliff after their boat crashed against rocks upon arrival in Lampedusa, however, the coastguard was unable to reach them via sea or helicopter.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NGO group Open Arms took to X, formerly known as Twitter, and said they were able to finally begin disembarking 195 rescued sea migrants in the southern Italian port of Brindisi after more than two days of sailing in rough seas.</p>

<p>This comes as the Italian government has adopted a policy that effectively assigns far-away ports to charity ships rather than letting them disembark rescued migrants in nearer Lampedusa or Sicily, in a bid to spread arrivals across the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The decision has since been criticised by NGOs who said that it increases their navigation costs, prolongs the misery of survivors, and reduces the amount of time charity ships can patrol the areas where shipwrecks are more common, reported Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per reports, over 2,000 people arrived in Lampedusa in the last few days after being rescued at sea by Italian patrol boats and NGO groups.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>IOM about those missing</strong></h2>

<p>The UN agency, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), said around 28 people were reported lost at sea by survivors on one boat, while three were reported missing from the second after both rickety iron boats went down in stormy weather on Saturday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Cultural mediators with the IOM believed there were “at least 30 people missing” after speaking to the survivors, press officer Flavio Di Giacomo told AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Italy opens investigation into shipwrecks</strong></h2>

<p>The shipwrecks have since prompted Italian authorities in Agrigento, on the nearby island of Sicily to launch an investigation. Agrigento’s chief of police Emanuele Ricifari, said that the traffickers would have known rough seas were forecast&nbsp;in the region.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Whoever allowed them, or forced them, to leave with this sea is an unscrupulous criminal lunatic,” he told the reporters, as quoted by AFP. He added, “Rough seas are forecast for the next few days. Let’s hope they stop. It's sending them to slaughter with this sea.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
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The Italian coastguard, on Sunday (August 6) said that it recovered two bodies and rescued 57 people off the southern island of Lampedusa after two shipwrecks. Meanwhile, the United Nations’ migration agency citing survivors’ testimony said that as many as 30 migrants are missing.

The Italian coastguard, on Sunday (August 6) said that it recovered two bodies and rescued 57 people off the southern island of Lampedusa after two shipwrecks. Meanwhile, the United Nations’ migration agency citing survivors’ testimony said that as many as 30 migrants are missing. What do we know about the shipwrecks? A report by Ansa news agency, citing survivors’ accounts, said that two migrant boats had set off from the Tunisian city of Sfax’s port and sank on Saturday on their way to Europe. According to the media report, one of the boats was carrying 48 people and the second 42. The two victims were identified as a woman from Ivory Coast and her one-year-old child, as per Ansa. The Italian coastguard said that the survivors were found 46 kilometres south-west of Lampedusa. As per local media reports, at least 20 migrants had been stuck since Friday on a cliff after their boat crashed against rocks upon arrival in Lampedusa, however, the coastguard was unable to reach them via sea or helicopter. NGO group Open Arms took to X, formerly known as Twitter, and said they were able to finally begin disembarking 195 rescued sea migrants in the southern Italian port of Brindisi after more than two days of sailing in rough seas. This comes as the Italian government has adopted a policy that effectively assigns far-away ports to charity ships rather than letting them disembark rescued migrants in nearer Lampedusa or Sicily, in a bid to spread arrivals across the country. The decision has since been criticised by NGOs who said that it increases their navigation costs, prolongs the misery of survivors, and reduces the amount of time charity ships can patrol the areas where shipwrecks are more common, reported Reuters. As per reports, over 2,000 people arrived in Lampedusa in the last few days after being rescued at sea by Italian patrol boats and NGO groups. IOM about those missing The UN agency, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), said around 28 people were reported lost at sea by survivors on one boat, while three were reported missing from the second after both rickety iron boats went down in stormy weather on Saturday. Cultural mediators with the IOM believed there were “at least 30 people missing” after speaking to the survivors, press officer Flavio Di Giacomo told AFP. Italy opens investigation into shipwrecks The shipwrecks have since prompted Italian authorities in Agrigento, on the nearby island of Sicily to launch an investigation. Agrigento’s chief of police Emanuele Ricifari, said that the traffickers would have known rough seas were forecast in the region. “Whoever allowed them, or forced them, to leave with this sea is an unscrupulous criminal lunatic,” he told the reporters, as quoted by AFP. He added, “Rough seas are forecast for the next few days. Let’s hope they stop. It's sending them to slaughter with this sea.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Italy: At least two dead, 30 missing after two shipwrecks off Lampedusa

The president of the publishing house that brought out the Harry Potter books died in a speedboat crash in Italy on Thursday. 45-year-old Adrienne Vaughan, who served as the chief of Bloomsbury USA that published the novels, was holidaying with her husband and two children on the Amalfi Coast in Italy.

Harry Potter publishing house chief dies in boat crash in Italy

<p>A freak boat accident off the coast of Italy caused the death of ‘Harry Potter’ publishing house president Adrienne Vaughan in front of her children and husband.</p>

<p>The accident occurred on Thursday (Aug 3) off Amalfi Coast when the whole family aboard a speeding boat crashed into a sailing ship, which was carrying 85 people celebrating a wedding.</p>

<p>Bloomsbury USA publishing house chief Adrienne Vaughan, 44, whose company is best known for the “Harry Potter” book, died on the spot, her husband sustained injuries. While both of their kids — daughter Leanna, 14, and son Mason, 11 — remained unharmed, they were treated for traumatic shock.</p>

<p>"Adrienne Vaughan was a leader of dazzling talent and infectious passion and had a deep commitment to authors and readers," said the association's board chair, Julia Reidhead, and its president and CEO, Maria A&nbsp;Pallante, in a joint statement.</p>

<p>"Most of all she was an extraordinary human being, and those of us who had the opportunity to work with her will be forever fortunate."</p>

<h2><strong>Impact knocked&nbsp;Adrienne into water</strong></h2>

<p>According to Italian state TV, the crash knocked Adrienne into the water, where she landed between the hulls of the two vessels, and was struck fatally by the motorboat's propeller. &nbsp;</p>

<p>“She didn’t have an arm and the nape of her neck was white, as if no blood was flowing,” Pietro Iuzzolino, a bartender on the sailing ship “Tortuga”, told the Italian newspaper Corriere del Mezzogiorno. “It was terrible.”</p>

<h2><strong>Boat's driver was drunk</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>The driver of the speed boat, the 30-year-man old whose name has not been revealed, was also injured in the crash, and reportedly failed toxicology tests after the crash, suggesting that he was drunk at the time of the accident, Italian news agency ANSA reported.</p>

<p>“We got the impression he was drunk,” Iuzzolino, who saw the speedboat driver vomiting after the crash, was quoted as saying.</p>

<p>After the collision, Adrienne was taken to a pier where first responders tried desperately to save her life in an ambulance.&nbsp;</p>

<p>When her condition deteriorated, an air ambulance was also called to the area.&nbsp;But by the time it arrived around 7 pm (local time), she was declared dead.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
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A freak boat accident off the coast of Italy caused the death of ‘Harry Potter’ publishing house president Adrienne Vaughan in front of her children and husband.

A freak boat accident off the coast of Italy caused the death of ‘Harry Potter’ publishing house president Adrienne Vaughan in front of her children and husband. The accident occurred on Thursday (Aug 3) off Amalfi Coast when the whole family aboard a speeding boat crashed into a sailing ship, which was carrying 85 people celebrating a wedding. Bloomsbury USA publishing house chief Adrienne Vaughan, 44, whose company is best known for the “Harry Potter” book, died on the spot, her husband sustained injuries. While both of their kids — daughter Leanna, 14, and son Mason, 11 — remained unharmed, they were treated for traumatic shock. "Adrienne Vaughan was a leader of dazzling talent and infectious passion and had a deep commitment to authors and readers," said the association's board chair, Julia Reidhead, and its president and CEO, Maria A Pallante, in a joint statement. "Most of all she was an extraordinary human being, and those of us who had the opportunity to work with her will be forever fortunate." Impact knocked Adrienne into water According to Italian state TV, the crash knocked Adrienne into the water, where she landed between the hulls of the two vessels, and was struck fatally by the motorboat's propeller. “She didn’t have an arm and the nape of her neck was white, as if no blood was flowing,” Pietro Iuzzolino, a bartender on the sailing ship “Tortuga”, told the Italian newspaper Corriere del Mezzogiorno. “It was terrible.” Boat's driver was drunk The driver of the speed boat, the 30-year-man old whose name has not been revealed, was also injured in the crash, and reportedly failed toxicology tests after the crash, suggesting that he was drunk at the time of the accident, Italian news agency ANSA reported. “We got the impression he was drunk,” Iuzzolino, who saw the speedboat driver vomiting after the crash, was quoted as saying. After the collision, Adrienne was taken to a pier where first responders tried desperately to save her life in an ambulance. When her condition deteriorated, an air ambulance was also called to the area. But by the time it arrived around 7 pm (local time), she was declared dead. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

‘Harry Potter’ publishing house president killed in front of family while holidaying in Italy

<p>Italian&nbsp;Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her sister Arianna Meloni have both embarked on legal action this week, with the former targeting British rock band Placebo and the latter taking on a newspaper cartoonist.</p>

<p>The defamation suits have ignited a storm of controversy, shedding light on the intersection of politics, artistic expression, and freedom of speech in Italy, as reported by AFP.</p>

<p>Giorgia Meloni&nbsp;has launched a lawsuit against Brian Molko, the lead vocalist of the renowned rock band Placebo.</p>

<p>The legal action comes in response to Molko's scathing comments during a performance in Italy in July, where he branded Meloni as "racist," "fascist," and a "piece of shit."</p>

<p>Simultaneously, Arianna Meloni, Giorgia's older sister and a potential candidate in the upcoming European parliament elections, has taken legal measures against a left-wing Fatto Quotidiano daily cartoonist, Mario Natangelo.</p>

<p>The basis of this suit is Natangelo's cartoon that depicts Arianna Meloni in a compromising situation with a Black man.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/italy-german-tourists-blamed-for-damaging-19th-century-statue-while-taking-photos-622360">Italy: German tourists blamed for damaging 19th-century statue while taking photos</a></p>

<h2><strong>Artistic expression and political controversy collide</strong></h2>

<p>Mario Natangelo's cartoon has stirred significant controversy due to its depiction of Arianna Meloni in bed with a Black man, accompanied by a dialogue that touches on the sensitive issue of Italy's migrant policies.</p>

<p>The cartoon elicits a response from Arianna Meloni, implying her husband's active stance against "ethnic replacement."</p>

<p>The portrayal draws from controversial remarks made by Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida, a close ally of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who previously voiced concerns about the "ethnic replacement" of Italians by migrants.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Italy: Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suspends social welfare programme</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>The deepening legal landscape</strong></h2>

<p>Giorgia Meloni's legal pursuits extend beyond the Placebo frontman, encompassing famed anti-mafia reporter Roberto Saviano.</p>

<p>This particular defamation case has triggered alarm among press freedom watchdogs, who fear that such legal actions could have chilling effects on journalistic endeavours and the broader realm of free expression.</p>

<p>The Brothers of Italy party, rooted in the post-fascist movement established by supporters of dictator Benito Mussolini after World War II, finds itself at the centre&nbsp;of this controversy.</p>

<p>Giorgia Meloni's political platform encompasses pledges to address Italy's declining birth rate and to tighten controls on sea arrivals, an issue of paramount concern in the nation's ongoing migration debate.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her sister Arianna Meloni have both embarked on legal action this week, with the former targeting British rock band Placebo and the latter taking on a newspaper cartoonist.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her sister Arianna Meloni have both embarked on legal action this week, with the former targeting British rock band Placebo and the latter taking on a newspaper cartoonist. The defamation suits have ignited a storm of controversy, shedding light on the intersection of politics, artistic expression, and freedom of speech in Italy, as reported by AFP. Giorgia Meloni has launched a lawsuit against Brian Molko, the lead vocalist of the renowned rock band Placebo. The legal action comes in response to Molko's scathing comments during a performance in Italy in July, where he branded Meloni as "racist," "fascist," and a "piece of shit." Simultaneously, Arianna Meloni, Giorgia's older sister and a potential candidate in the upcoming European parliament elections, has taken legal measures against a left-wing Fatto Quotidiano daily cartoonist, Mario Natangelo. The basis of this suit is Natangelo's cartoon that depicts Arianna Meloni in a compromising situation with a Black man. Also read | Italy: German tourists blamed for damaging 19th-century statue while taking photos Artistic expression and political controversy collide Mario Natangelo's cartoon has stirred significant controversy due to its depiction of Arianna Meloni in bed with a Black man, accompanied by a dialogue that touches on the sensitive issue of Italy's migrant policies. The cartoon elicits a response from Arianna Meloni, implying her husband's active stance against "ethnic replacement." The portrayal draws from controversial remarks made by Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida, a close ally of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who previously voiced concerns about the "ethnic replacement" of Italians by migrants. Also watch | Italy: Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suspends social welfare programme The deepening legal landscape Giorgia Meloni's legal pursuits extend beyond the Placebo frontman, encompassing famed anti-mafia reporter Roberto Saviano. This particular defamation case has triggered alarm among press freedom watchdogs, who fear that such legal actions could have chilling effects on journalistic endeavours and the broader realm of free expression. The Brothers of Italy party, rooted in the post-fascist movement established by supporters of dictator Benito Mussolini after World War II, finds itself at the centre of this controversy. Giorgia Meloni's political platform encompasses pledges to address Italy's declining birth rate and to tighten controls on sea arrivals, an issue of paramount concern in the nation's ongoing migration debate. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni files lawsuit against famous rock band singer over 'fascist, racist' remark

<p>A group of 17 young tourists from Germany is being blamed for causing significant damage to a 19th-century Italian fountain statue.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Surveillance footage clearly shows the group pushing over the statue, named "Domina," while they were taking photos.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Statue valued at $218k</strong></h2>

<p>The statue, known to be around 150 years old and valued at $218,000, was located within the grounds of Villa Alceo, which the tourists had rented.</p>

<p>Bruno Golferini, the manager of Villa Alceo, expressed his dismay, saying, "Sadly, there are these ignorant people who do these kind of things.”</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas: How Italy is tackling the AI threat</strong></p>

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<p>The unfortunate event occurred when a couple of tourists decided to embrace the statue inside the fountain. One of the tourists then used a stick to push the statue, causing it to topple over.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Golferini has filed a complaint against all 17 tourists, who have since departed from Italy. Law enforcement is currently investigating the incident based on the surveillance footage.</p>

<h2><strong>Can the statue be repaired?</strong></h2>

<p>Repairing the statue poses a challenge due to damage sustained by various tiles within the fountain. Efforts to identify the tourists and obtain surveillance video footage from the villa are still ongoing.</p>

<p>Local authorities have been vocal about the incident, with Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini and Councilor for Culture Francesca Caruso both condemning the actions of the group. Caruso emphasised that those who cause harm to artistic and cultural treasures must be held accountable financially.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/italy-made-improvised-atrocious-decision-of-joining-chinas-belt-and-road-initiative-says-defence-minister-620868"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Italy made `improvised, wicked` decision of joining China`s Belt and Road Initiative, says defence minister</strong></a></p>

<p>This occurrence adds to a series of incidents involving vandalism across Europe during the summer, including accusations of defacement of the Roman Colosseum and a Canadian teenager carving his name into a historic Japanese temple.</p>

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A group of 17 young tourists from Germany is being blamed for causing significant damage to a 19th-century Italian fountain statue. Surveillance footage clearly shows the group pushing over the statue, named "Domina," while they were taking photos.

A group of 17 young tourists from Germany is being blamed for causing significant damage to a 19th-century Italian fountain statue. Surveillance footage clearly shows the group pushing over the statue, named "Domina," while they were taking photos. Statue valued at $218k The statue, known to be around 150 years old and valued at $218,000, was located within the grounds of Villa Alceo, which the tourists had rented. Bruno Golferini, the manager of Villa Alceo, expressed his dismay, saying, "Sadly, there are these ignorant people who do these kind of things.” Watch: Gravitas: How Italy is tackling the AI threat × The unfortunate event occurred when a couple of tourists decided to embrace the statue inside the fountain. One of the tourists then used a stick to push the statue, causing it to topple over. Golferini has filed a complaint against all 17 tourists, who have since departed from Italy. Law enforcement is currently investigating the incident based on the surveillance footage. Can the statue be repaired? Repairing the statue poses a challenge due to damage sustained by various tiles within the fountain. Efforts to identify the tourists and obtain surveillance video footage from the villa are still ongoing. Local authorities have been vocal about the incident, with Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini and Councilor for Culture Francesca Caruso both condemning the actions of the group. Caruso emphasised that those who cause harm to artistic and cultural treasures must be held accountable financially. Also read: Italy made `improvised, wicked` decision of joining China`s Belt and Road Initiative, says defence minister This occurrence adds to a series of incidents involving vandalism across Europe during the summer, including accusations of defacement of the Roman Colosseum and a Canadian teenager carving his name into a historic Japanese temple. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Italy: German tourists blamed for damaging 19th-century statue while taking photos

The right-wing government of Giorgia Meloni is terminating benefits for thousands of families and individuals who are declared "fit to work." In late July, an SMS alerting them of the sudden termination of the benefits they had been receiving for the previous four years was sent to around 169,000 households throughout Italy.

Italy: Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suspends social welfare programme

<p>A remarkable Italian sniffer dog named Elio displayed exceptional detection skills, alerting its handlers to the presence of a staggering over $1 million in cash&nbsp;concealed within the luggage of a passenger.</p>

<p>The incident occurred during a routine police patrol and checking of&nbsp;buses near the city of Florence, Italy. This extraordinary canine's keen sense of smell led to the discovery of a significant amount of cash, prompting further investigation into the mysterious circumstances surrounding the money's origin, reported the BBC.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>The canine detective's discovery</strong></h2>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Watch moment police dog sniffs out €1m hidden cash. An Italian police dog named ‘Elio’ has thwarted a cash smuggling attempt by sniffing out over €1,075,600 (£925,000) stashed in two suitcases while on patrol at a bus station near Florence. <a href="https://t.co/yEKTZ7bWVi">pic.twitter.com/yEKTZ7bWVi</a></p>
— CryptoCloud (@CryptoCloud_k) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoCloud_k/status/1686701737405542400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Elio, a black Labrador renowned for its olfactory prowess, was engaged in a routine police operation and checking buses in Scandicci, a small town in northern Italy.</p>

<p>The operation aimed to ensure public safety and enforce regulations. During this routine check, Elio exhibited an unusual level of excitement, enthusiastically wagging its tail on the presence of two suitcases.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-police-official-fired-for-releasing-k-9-dog-on-unarmed-black-man-informs-department-619788">US: Police official fired for releasing K-9 dog on unarmed Black man, informs department</a></p>

<p>These bags belonged to a passenger of Chinese descent, who was travelling from Catania in Sicily to Aosta, a city located near the northern border with France.</p>

<p>Prompted by Elio's fervent response, the police officers decided to delve further into the matter. Upon inspecting the passenger's luggage, they uncovered an astonishing sight – massive stacks of cash amounting to over a million euros. The unexpected discovery left authorities baffled, as the Chinese citizen was unable to provide any satisfactory explanation for the origin of the substantial sum.</p>

<h2><strong>Legal conundrum and seizure of funds</strong></h2>

<p>With no clear account of the money's source, the Chinese national found herself in a perplexing legal situation. Despite being a legal resident in Italy, she was temporarily detained by the authorities. Furthermore, the sizeable sum of money was seized by the police due to the lack of a plausible explanation for its presence. This event serves as a stark reminder of the complexities surrounding financial regulations and the obligations of individuals to account for significant amounts of cash in their possession.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;US: Black man mauled by police canine in Ohio</strong></p>

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<p>Recognising the gravity of the situation, the Florence prosecution office initiated a thorough investigation into the incident.</p>

<p>The goal is to unravel the enigma of the mysterious funds and ascertain whether they are linked to any illicit activities. The outcome of this investigation could potentially shed light on broader issues related to money laundering, cross-border financial movements, and potential criminal networks.</p>

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A remarkable Italian sniffer dog named Elio displayed exceptional detection skills, alerting its handlers to the presence of a staggering over $1 million in cash concealed within the luggage of a passenger.

A remarkable Italian sniffer dog named Elio displayed exceptional detection skills, alerting its handlers to the presence of a staggering over $1 million in cash concealed within the luggage of a passenger. The incident occurred during a routine police patrol and checking of buses near the city of Florence, Italy. This extraordinary canine's keen sense of smell led to the discovery of a significant amount of cash, prompting further investigation into the mysterious circumstances surrounding the money's origin, reported the BBC. The canine detective's discovery Watch moment police dog sniffs out €1m hidden cash. An Italian police dog named ‘Elio’ has thwarted a cash smuggling attempt by sniffing out over €1,075,600 (£925,000) stashed in two suitcases while on patrol at a bus station near Florence. pic.twitter.com/yEKTZ7bWVi — CryptoCloud (@CryptoCloud_k) August 2, 2023 × Elio, a black Labrador renowned for its olfactory prowess, was engaged in a routine police operation and checking buses in Scandicci, a small town in northern Italy. The operation aimed to ensure public safety and enforce regulations. During this routine check, Elio exhibited an unusual level of excitement, enthusiastically wagging its tail on the presence of two suitcases. Also read | US: Police official fired for releasing K-9 dog on unarmed Black man, informs department These bags belonged to a passenger of Chinese descent, who was travelling from Catania in Sicily to Aosta, a city located near the northern border with France. Prompted by Elio's fervent response, the police officers decided to delve further into the matter. Upon inspecting the passenger's luggage, they uncovered an astonishing sight – massive stacks of cash amounting to over a million euros. The unexpected discovery left authorities baffled, as the Chinese citizen was unable to provide any satisfactory explanation for the origin of the substantial sum. Legal conundrum and seizure of funds With no clear account of the money's source, the Chinese national found herself in a perplexing legal situation. Despite being a legal resident in Italy, she was temporarily detained by the authorities. Furthermore, the sizeable sum of money was seized by the police due to the lack of a plausible explanation for its presence. This event serves as a stark reminder of the complexities surrounding financial regulations and the obligations of individuals to account for significant amounts of cash in their possession. Also watch | US: Black man mauled by police canine in Ohio Recognising the gravity of the situation, the Florence prosecution office initiated a thorough investigation into the incident. The goal is to unravel the enigma of the mysterious funds and ascertain whether they are linked to any illicit activities. The outcome of this investigation could potentially shed light on broader issues related to money laundering, cross-border financial movements, and potential criminal networks. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Viral moment: Italian police dog sniffs out $1 million cash during routine bus check. Watch

<p>As Italy seeks ways to exit China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), its Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said the country made an "improvised and wicked" decision of joining the project which contributed very little to accelerate Italian exports.</p>

<p>Four years ago, Italy had joined the BRI under a previous government and became the very first and only major Western country to have signed up for the initiative.</p>

<p>Crosetto is part of an administration that is considering how to break out of the agreement.</p>

<p>The BRI scheme anticipates revamping the old Silk Road to link China with Asia, Europe and beyond with large infrastructure spending.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Critics consider it as a tool for China to outstretch its geopolitical and economic influence.</p>

<p class="paragraph inline-placeholder" data-analytics-observe="off" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/paragraph_183AD2E4-759D-82F9-6310-A6AF462C0CDF@published">Crosetto said, “The choice to join the Silk Road was an improvised and wicked act, made by the government of Giuseppe Conte, which led to a double negative result."</p>

<p class="paragraph inline-placeholder" data-analytics-observe="off" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/paragraph_D6AE8452-9DDE-3EF6-276C-A6D5406B9948@published">“We have exported a load of oranges to China, they have tripled their exports to Italy in three years," Crosetto told the Corriere della Sera newspaper in an interview published on Sunday. "The most ridiculous thing then was that Paris, without signing any treaties, in those days sold planes to Beijing for tens of billions."</p>

<p>"The issue today is: how to walk back (from the BRI) without damaging relations (with Beijing). Because it is true that China is a competitor, but it is also a partner," the defence minister added.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explosion-in-pakistan-claims-the-lives-of-at-least-43-620814">Deadly bomb blast in Pakistan kills at least 44, Pak PM calls it attack against country's democratic system</a></p>

<h2><strong>Italian PM says government still deliberating on BRI&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>On Thursday, after a meeting with United States President Joe Biden at the White House, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said her government was still deliberating on the BRI and announced a trip to Beijing in the near future.</p>

<p>"We'll take a decision before December," Meloni told US broadcaster Fox News in an interview aired on Sunday.</p>

<p>She further said that the issue required discussions with the Chinese government and within the Italian parliament.</p>

<p>Meloni further laid emphasis on her view that it is a "paradox" that while Italy is part of the BRI, it is not the G7 country with the biggest trade with China.</p>

<p>She said that this shows how it is possible to have good relations with Beijing without the Belt and Road.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><br />
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As Italy seeks ways to exit China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), its Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said the country made an "improvised and wicked" decision of joining the project which contributed very little to accelerate Italian exports.

As Italy seeks ways to exit China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), its Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said the country made an "improvised and wicked" decision of joining the project which contributed very little to accelerate Italian exports. Four years ago, Italy had joined the BRI under a previous government and became the very first and only major Western country to have signed up for the initiative. Crosetto is part of an administration that is considering how to break out of the agreement. The BRI scheme anticipates revamping the old Silk Road to link China with Asia, Europe and beyond with large infrastructure spending. Critics consider it as a tool for China to outstretch its geopolitical and economic influence. Crosetto said, “The choice to join the Silk Road was an improvised and wicked act, made by the government of Giuseppe Conte, which led to a double negative result." “We have exported a load of oranges to China, they have tripled their exports to Italy in three years," Crosetto told the Corriere della Sera newspaper in an interview published on Sunday. "The most ridiculous thing then was that Paris, without signing any treaties, in those days sold planes to Beijing for tens of billions." "The issue today is: how to walk back (from the BRI) without damaging relations (with Beijing). Because it is true that China is a competitor, but it is also a partner," the defence minister added. Also read: Deadly bomb blast in Pakistan kills at least 44, Pak PM calls it attack against country's democratic system Italian PM says government still deliberating on BRI On Thursday, after a meeting with United States President Joe Biden at the White House, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said her government was still deliberating on the BRI and announced a trip to Beijing in the near future. "We'll take a decision before December," Meloni told US broadcaster Fox News in an interview aired on Sunday. She further said that the issue required discussions with the Chinese government and within the Italian parliament. Meloni further laid emphasis on her view that it is a "paradox" that while Italy is part of the BRI, it is not the G7 country with the biggest trade with China. She said that this shows how it is possible to have good relations with Beijing without the Belt and Road. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Italy made 'improvised, wicked' decision of joining China's Belt and Road Initiative, says defence minister

<p>An elephant was seen strolling down a highway in the southern Italian region of Calabria&nbsp;this week&nbsp;near the Eurospin supermarket, leaving locals baffled. It was later reported that the elephant escaped a local circus and has since been returned.</p>

<h2><strong>Elephant spotted on streets in southern Italy</strong></h2>

<p>The mighty creature was seen stomping his way down the SS18 road in the town of Amantea, Cosenza province, according to local media reports. In the video, it seems as though the elephant is heading towards a local supermarket called Eurospin, a popular supermarket in Italy.</p>

<p>In the brief clip, the driver can be heard laughing looking at the bizarre scene unfolding and saying: “He is going for a stroll! An elephant at the Eurospin!” The video has since garnered over 26,000 views&nbsp;on X, formerly known as Twitter.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="it">Intanto in Calabria un Elefante gira indisturbato per le vie del paese dirigendosi verso L’Eurospin <a href="https://t.co/HEoUB3v9nQ">pic.twitter.com/HEoUB3v9nQ</a></p>
— Soqquadro (@gicarestik2) <a href="https://twitter.com/gicarestik2/status/1684617836835082240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2><strong>About the incident</strong></h2>

<p>According to local media reports, the animal, who was seen wandering through the Italian streets, had escaped from a nearby circus and due to the manager’s timely intervention was later taken back.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The elephant was found in the supermarket parking lot where the circus boss intervened, ending his day of “freedom”, apparently without any major injuries to the people as well as the elephant.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Some local websites also reported that the elephant may have reached the store after being drawn there by the smells. Notably, elephants have a keen sense of smell and can detect sources of water up to 19 kilometres away.&nbsp;</p>

<p>No damage was reported to people or to the elephant, according to the local media. Meanwhile, the officials contacted by the BBC avoided “addressing the elephant in the room and were unable to confirm the story.”</p>

<p>Many have denounced the use of animals in circuses on social media, a practice which has been banned in most countries. However, in Italy, a law was introduced&nbsp;last year&nbsp;to reportedly phase out the use of animals in circuses.&nbsp;<br />
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An elephant was seen strolling down a highway in the southern Italian region of Calabria this week near the Eurospin supermarket, leaving locals baffled. It was later reported that the elephant escaped a local circus and has since been returned.

An elephant was seen strolling down a highway in the southern Italian region of Calabria this week near the Eurospin supermarket, leaving locals baffled. It was later reported that the elephant escaped a local circus and has since been returned. Elephant spotted on streets in southern Italy The mighty creature was seen stomping his way down the SS18 road in the town of Amantea, Cosenza province, according to local media reports. In the video, it seems as though the elephant is heading towards a local supermarket called Eurospin, a popular supermarket in Italy. In the brief clip, the driver can be heard laughing looking at the bizarre scene unfolding and saying: “He is going for a stroll! An elephant at the Eurospin!” The video has since garnered over 26,000 views on X, formerly known as Twitter. Intanto in Calabria un Elefante gira indisturbato per le vie del paese dirigendosi verso L’Eurospin pic.twitter.com/HEoUB3v9nQ — Soqquadro (@gicarestik2) July 27, 2023 × About the incident According to local media reports, the animal, who was seen wandering through the Italian streets, had escaped from a nearby circus and due to the manager’s timely intervention was later taken back. The elephant was found in the supermarket parking lot where the circus boss intervened, ending his day of “freedom”, apparently without any major injuries to the people as well as the elephant. Some local websites also reported that the elephant may have reached the store after being drawn there by the smells. Notably, elephants have a keen sense of smell and can detect sources of water up to 19 kilometres away. No damage was reported to people or to the elephant, according to the local media. Meanwhile, the officials contacted by the BBC avoided “addressing the elephant in the room and were unable to confirm the story.” Many have denounced the use of animals in circuses on social media, a practice which has been banned in most countries. However, in Italy, a law was introduced last year to reportedly phase out the use of animals in circuses. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

WATCH | Elephant spotted outside Italian supermarket after escaping from circus

Sweden overcame a sluggish start to put five past Italy in group G Route at Wellington Stadium in New Zealand. The Swedes locked their sport in the round of 16 the ongoing FIFA Women's World Cup. Italy had a pretty dominant start with multiple shots and a goal in the first few minutes.

Sweden book round of 16th berth with a 5-0 victory over Italy

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