Italy

Culture news

Venice 2024 review: 'April' - a raw portrait of the female experience

A storm-soaked exploration of a female ob-gyn who conducts illegal abortions for women in rural Georgia. It's one of the toughest - but most impactful watches of this year's Venice Film Festival.

06/09/2024

Culture news

Documentary sympathetic to Russian soldiers sparks anger in Venice

Russian-Canadian filmmaker Anastasia Trofimova has defended her film 'Russians at War' as an "attempt to see through the fog of war".

06/09/2024

Europe

Italy's Commissioner pick Fitto might face a rocky road to approval

Many agree that if Brothers of Italy's Fitto is given the executive vice-president portfolio in charge of the economy and post-pandemic recovery, this would be a significant victory for Rome.

06/09/2024

Europe

Man swept away as heavy rain batters northern Italy

Scientists warn that the climate crisis is increasing the frequency of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, droughts, downbursts and flooding in Europe and around the globe.

06/09/2024

Europe

Italian minister apologises to wife, PM and staff over affair scandal

After revelations of his affair with a social media influencer, whom he nominated for a senior advisor role, Italian minister apologised to his wife, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the government, and his colleagues for the embarrassment he caused.

05/09/2024

Culture news

Lady Gaga joins Joaquin Phoenix at Venice world premiere of 'Joker 2'

Five years after 'Joker' won the top prize at the festival, Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga joined director Todd Phillips for the world premiere of sequel 'Joker: Folie à Deux' in Venice.

05/09/2024

Europe

One person missing and bridges collapse as storms hit northern Italy

The heavy rain has also caused widespread disruption and damage in Milan where a courthouse has been flooded.

05/09/2024

Culture news

2,000-year-old battering ram from Roman battle discovered in the Med

Researchers have discovered a bronze battering ram off the coast of Sicily in Italy.

05/09/2024

Culture news

Venice 2024 review: 'Joker: Folie À Deux' - Don't send in the clown

The sequel to 2019’s 'Joker' is the buzziest title of this year’s Venice Film Festival. This time, Lady Gaga joins director Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix for a follow-up that isn’t a straightforward psychological thriller but a semi-jukebox musical. Bold gambit. Shame it doesn't pay off.

05/09/2024

Europe

'We are making history,' Italy PM Meloni tells her Brothers of Italy

The far-right party met to review achievements and prepare for EU-mandated budgetary adjustments amid controversy surrounding Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano.

05/09/2024

Europe

WATCH: Birds of prey protect Pompeii against pigeons

Ten birds of prey protect the Roman ruins of Pompeii from pesky pigeons that pose a risk to the archaeological excavations.

05/09/2024

Europe

Lightning strike partially damages Rome’s ancient Constantine Arch

Tourists visiting the site Wednesday found some stray fragments, which they turned over to park workers due to concerns they might have fallen from the arch.

04/09/2024

Culture news

Daniel Craig premieres erotic Luca Guadagnino drama 'Queer' in Venice

Showbiz power couple Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz brought glamour to the red carpet at the premiere of one of the Venice Film festival's most hotly anticipated movies, Luca Guadagnino's 'Queer'.

04/09/2024

Food and Drink

Carbonara in a can sparks revulsion among 'Made in Italy' food fans

Heinz has released its latest product — spaghetti carbonara in a can. Cue Italy going ballistic over the announcement.

04/09/2024

Lifestyle

All the best celebrity looks at the Venice Film Festival so far

With stars like Angelina Jolie, Jenna Ortega, Monica Bellucci, and Cate Blanchett attending, this year's Venice Film Festival has been exceptionally glamorous.

03/09/2024

Culture news

Venice 2024 review: 'Babygirl' - Nicole Kidman shines in BDSM drama

Already the most talked about film in this year's Competition, Nicole Kidman stars as a woman willing to risk it all for a torrid affair that allows her deepest desires to finally surface.

31/08/2024

Culture news

Angelina Jolie arrives for Venice Film Festival 'Maria' press talk

Angelina Jolie boated to the Venice Film Festival press conference of Pablo Larraín's 'Maria' in which she stars as the legendary soprano Maria Callas.

29/08/2024

Culture news

Venice 2024 review: 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' - Is the juice back?

Tim Burton returns with the second sequel of his career, which follows a string of duds. Does the once master of all things oddball reclaim his quirky throne?

29/08/2024

Italy

Italian olive oil production suffers from extreme heat and drought

Italy's Puglia region is facing high levels of heat and drought, causing water scarcity that is having negative consequences for the region's production of olive oil.

29/08/2024

Climate

Italy issues health warning as temperatures set to hit 39C

More high temperatures come after Italy was battered by heavy rain and intense thunderstorms.

28/08/2024

Culture news

Cast and crew of "Beetlejuice" sequel arrive at Venice Film Festival

Director Tim Burton arrived in Venice with his "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" cast - including Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder and Jenna Ortega - for the movie's press conference.

28/08/2024

Travel News

Why you should avoid mosquito bites in Europe amid virus outbreak

Five people have died this year from the deadly West Nile virus in Spain.

28/08/2024

Italy

Tajani’s support for citizenship reform shakes up Italian government

The centre-right Forza Italia leader has reignited political debate by supporting "ius scholae," which would allow children of residents to acquire Italian citizenship after completing formal education in the country.

28/08/2024

Culture news

Meet the sprinter set to become the first transgender Paralympian

Despite facing controversy and claims of unfair advantage, Petrillo is set to compete in the T12 classification for visually impaired athletes in Paris.

28/08/2024

Europe

Crew of 'unsinkable' superyacht Bayesian questioned in Sicily

The investigation into the sinking of the superyacht Bayesian, which sank last Monday off Sicily's coast, is widening to include the crew.

27/08/2024

Travel News

Mafia-themed souvenirs banned by Sicilian town mayor

The ban comes as Agrigento readies itself to be Italy’s capital of culture next year and aims to shine the spotlight on its cultural riches rather than Mafia heritage.

26/08/2024