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Italy

The latest breaking news and stories on Italy, a country in southern Europe known as a parliamentary republic, and the world’s eighth largest economy. Also covering Italy’s relationship with China and Europe, plus commentary and updates on Italy’s economy, politics, society and social issues.

Capital

Rome

Head of State

President Sergio Mattarella

Head of Government

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

Hermès’ new collections for the home at Milan Design Week 2026. Photo: Handout

Style Edit

Style Edit: Marble, horsehair and bojagi – Hermès brings craft home

From a marble table by Barber Osgerby to cashmere throws in the bojagi tradition, the maison’s latest offerings are a study in craft.

28 Apr 2026 - 10:00AM

Artificial intelligence

Archaeologists use AI to reconstruct Pompeii victim’s face and final moments

28 Apr 2026 - 12:14PM

China GDP

Guangdong’s rule as China’s GDP king faces an unprecedented threat to the crown

27 Apr 2026 - 8:30PMvideocam

Style Edit

Style Edit: Poly MGM Museum’s new ‘Silk Roads Beyond Borders’ treasures

New Italian and Persian treasures make their Asia debut, expanding the museum’s Silk Road narrative with rare works that illuminate centuries of East-West exchange.

29 Apr 2026 - 3:54PM

Michele Marieschi’s Ca’ Foscari and Palazzo Balbi on the Grand Canal (c.1738-1740). Photo: Fotostudio Rapuzzi

Crime

Italy extradites Chinese national wanted by US for alleged hacking

Xu Zewei was arrested in Milan in 2025 at ⁠the request of US authorities.

27 Apr 2026 - 4:43PM

US, Israel war on Iran

China is poised to reap rewards as energy shock heats up the race for renewables

The US war on Iran may have inadvertently triggered a global transition that will favour Beijing’s green leadership, analysts predict.

26 Apr 2026 - 8:00PMvideocam

Art

Singapore’s Amanda Heng on making feminist art in a country that wasn’t ready for it

Amanda Heng talks about engaging with the public through art since the 1980s and why her installation at Venice Biennale is all about rest.

26 Apr 2026 - 7:15PM

Amanda Heng at Art SG 2026. The Singaporean artist will represent her country at the 2026 Venice Biennale in May. Photo: Instagram/stpi_singapore

China exports

Flood of small parcels from China pushes Belgian airport to limit

Belgium’s top customs official says main problem is that many products do not meet EU standards.

25 Apr 2026 - 3:00PM

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong police arrest 9 over HK$1.7 million in fake travel insurance claims

Syndicate allegedly faked overseas accidents with forged documents to claim payouts from insurers without ever leaving the city.

23 Apr 2026 - 5:11PM

Singapore

Man convicted of trafficking Singaporean Tinder date for Dubai sex work

Achraf Arjaouy targeted the victim by pretending to be a wealthy pilot from Qatar who wished to marry her.

23 Apr 2026 - 2:15PM

A Singapore court has convicted an Italian man of human trafficking for deceiving his Tinder date into performing sex work in Dubai. Photo: Dreamstime/TNS

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump envoy seeks to replace Iran with Italy in World Cup, report says

The plan is an attempt to mend ties with Italian PM Meloni, after she and Trump fell out over his attacks against Pope Leo.

23 Apr 2026 - 6:09AM

US President Donald Trump greets Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during a summit in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, in October 2025. Photo: AP

Weddings

Meet Claudia Doumit, who just married her The Boys co-star Jack Quaid

The Scandal and New Girl actress wed the actor – whose parents are Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid – in a star-studded ceremony in her native Australia.

22 Apr 2026 - 6:00PM

Food and Drinks

Who makes the best panettone in the world? Ask this Taiwanese baker

Giovanna Chen Shih-chieh shares her journey to leading a team of Taiwanese bakers to victory in the 2025 Panettone World Championship.

21 Apr 2026 - 12:15PM

Japan

‘Dragon Ball’ diplomacy: Japan’s Takaichi builds rapport with personal touches

Japan’s first female prime minister uses expressive gestures, thoughtful gifts and music to connect with foreign leaders.

20 Apr 2026 - 10:40AMvideocam

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (right) and French President Emmanuel Macron strike the “Kamehameha” pose from the “Dragon Ball” manga after a joint press conference at the State Guest House in Tokyo on April 1. Photo: Kyodo

Ukraine war

Inside Ukraine’s desperate race to track cultural artefacts looted by Russia

Russia has moved to formalise control over seized collections by adding 77 Ukrainian museums in occupied regions into its national catalogue.

18 Apr 2026 - 4:01PMvideocam

A Ukrainian artifact is 3D scanned in The Archa III (Ark Project) truck on March 24 in Prague, Czech Republic.Prague’s National Museum will send the truck with equipment across Ukraine to help preserve the country’s cultural heritage. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong tourism

Tourism Board invited 1,730 influencers with 1.6 billion followers over 2 years

Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau says influencers’ itineraries were tailored to their markets and audiences.

18 Apr 2026 - 7:33PM

Japan

Japan ditches decades of arm export curbs as US reliability wavers

From drones for Ukraine to warships for Australia, ‘peace-loving’ Japan is fast pivoting towards arming the world.

18 Apr 2026 - 9:00AM

US, Israel war on Iran

Iran war: France and UK to lead ‘defensive’ force for Strait of Hormuz

Trump, meanwhile, says he received a Nato offer to help secure the key waterway but told the alliance to ‘STAY AWAY’.

18 Apr 2026 - 1:35AM

A vessel is seen at the Strait of Hormuz, off the coast of Oman’s Musandam province, on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

US, Israel war on Iran

Europe tests ‘third way’ on Hormuz without the US, Israel and Iran. Will it work?

Coalition of more than 30 nations to meet in Paris for a summit to find a ‘credible proposal’ to restore shipping through the strait.

17 Apr 2026 - 12:26PMvideocam

European Union

EU unveils age-check app amid efforts to better protect children online

The app will allow users to prove their age when accessing online platforms and is ‘completely anonymous’ to ensure data cannot be tracked.

15 Apr 2026 - 8:15PM

China energy security

Which countries are most vulnerable as US imposes Persian Gulf blockade?

Nomura says more than 90 per cent of the crude oil imported by Japan and the Philippines comes from the Middle East.

15 Apr 2026 - 8:00AM

A customer at a petrol station in London on Monday. Photo: EPA

Art

Stunned Frenchman wins US$1 million Picasso with US$117 raffle ticket

Sales engineer Ari Hodara wondered if it was a hoax when he got a call after the draw at Christie’s auction house in Paris.

15 Apr 2026 - 3:44AM

Charity founder Peri Cochin speaks on the phone with the raffle winner in Paris, France, on Tuesday. Photo: EPA

Fashion

Designer Filippo Sorcinelli on dressing the last three popes – interview

Also a perfumer and organist, Sorcinelli says his work for Popes Benedict, Francis and now Leo is ultimately inspired by his Catholic faith.

24 Apr 2026 - 10:16AM

Donald Trump

‘I’m shocked by her’: Trump turns on Italy’s Meloni in clash over pope

US president accuses European ally of lacking ‘courage’ after she denounced his attacks on the pope and refused to join the Iran war effort.

15 Apr 2026 - 1:50PMvideocam

Education in Hong Kong

Hong Kong school hits back at filmmaker in row over Italian festival screening

Supervisor of Ying Wa Girls’ School says principal did not lie in negotiations over showing To My Nineteen-Year-Old Self at coming festival.

13 Apr 2026 - 6:29PM

The documentary, commissioned by the school, tracks the lives of six students over the course of a decade from 2011. Photo: Jelly Tse

Japan

‘Not a reliable ally’: Japan eyes Nato as Trump erodes faith in US guarantees

Tokyo and the transatlantic security alliance have a shared problem: what happens if the US walks away?

13 Apr 2026 - 9:16AM

Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte stands in front of Japanese and Nato flags during a visit to Tokyo in April last year. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong society

Controversial Hong Kong documentary pulled from Italian film festival

Distributor Golden Scene says To My Nineteen-Year-Old Self will not feature at Far East Film Festival in Udine.

12 Apr 2026 - 8:10PM

Hong Kong society

Filmmaker accuses school of ‘blatantly lying’ in row over documentary screening

Mabel Cheung says she’s shocked after Ying Wa Girls’ School said it had not authorised festival screening of her film To My Nineteen-Year-Old Self.

10 Apr 2026 - 5:08PM

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