Matteo Salvini

Thousands of protesters gathered in Bologna in northern Italy ahead of a regional vote on Jan 26 as Salvini hopes to topple the Five-Star Movement.

They call themselves the sardines and have taken to the streets of Italy in mass protests. We find out who they are and where they are heading.

They have no party symbols, mottos or flags. They are mainly young people, and in only a month they have filled Italy's major squares to protest against far-right leader Matteo Salvini.

Tens of thousands turn out for anti-Salvini 'sardine' protest

Italy's new government may be poised to end Matteo Salvini's hardline stance on migrants.

A new ruling coalition is being prepared in Italy after the 5 Star Movement approved a pact with their former political foes, the Democratic Party. In an online poll yesterday, nearly 80 per cent of the 5 Star's grassroots members voted in favour of forming a new coalition with their leftist rivals.

Out of the government, but not out of the picture: The far-right League Party's charismatic leader Matteo Salvini has been the dominant figure in Italian politics in recent months, but he may be more powerful still in the opposition.

A failure to reach a consensus improves Matteo Salvini's chances of getting his wish of new elections.

Italy's president has extended the time envisaged for a new government to be formed.

Italy's firebrand interior minister could be pushed out of government

Almost 100 migrants from Spanish charity ship Open Arms finally disembarked on the Italian island of Lampedusa after nearly three weeks at sea.

Médecins Sans Frontières says of the 103 children under the age of 18 now onboard, only 11 of them are accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Michele Sodano and Lia Quartapelle

It wasn't just his "irresponsible", "reckless" and "alarming" behaviour as a politician that earned Matteo Salvini the ire of Giuseppe Conte in his resignation speech Tuesday.

Italy's president, Sergio Mattarella, is beginning two days of consultations with political parties in the hope of finding a majority for a new government.

Migrants have been jumping from Open Arms and attempting to swim ashore and scuffles have broken out as the vessel remains barred from Italy.

EU welcomes six European countries accepting migrants from Open Arms ship, calls situation in Mediterranean 'untenable'

The European Commission welcomed the news that six member states are going to take some migrants from the Open Arms rescue ship.

Italian Prime Minister Giseuppe Conte says six EU countries have offered to take the stranded Open Rescue migrants as the head of the charity aiding them says the shipneeds an emergency medical evacuation.

The League has presented a no-confidence motion in the government but the Senate rejected its request for it to be debated on Wednesday, and instead decided that Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte should address the upper house over the crisis on August 20.

Lega Nord party leader Matteo Salvini is waging an unofficial election campaign from the beach, according to some political commentators in Italy.