Italy's Supreme Court has definitively acquitted Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini in the high-profile Open Arms case. The ruling concludes a five-year legal battle stemming from his 2019 decision as Interior Minister to block a migrant rescue ship from docking, where he faced charges of kidnapping and dereliction of duty.
Italy's Ministry of University, under Minister Anna Maria Bernini, is reforming medical school admissions for the 2025-2026 academic year. The traditional entrance exam is replaced by an 'open semester' followed by national selection exams, aiming for greater fairness and to address the national doctor shortage.
Italy has announced a voluntary contribution of €385,000 to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons' (OPCW) Trust Fund for Syria Missions. This funding, formalized on December 12, 2025, reinforces Italy's commitment to chemical weapons elimination efforts and supports the OPCW's technical activities in Syria.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni delivered the closing address at the Atreju 2025 festival in Rome on Sunday, December 14, defending her government's achievements and calling for Europe to bolster its defense capabilities amidst shifting global dynamics. The event, organized by her Fratelli d'Italia party, drew over 100,000 attendees.
A magnitude ML 2.8 earthquake occurred on December 13, 2025, off the Costa Calabra nord-occidentale (Cosenza) in Italy, at a depth of 211 km. The event, localized by INGV-Roma, caused no reported damage or injuries.
The Milan Prosecutor's Office has launched a preliminary inquiry into San Raffaele Hospital, Italy, following critical issues in its intensive care unit between December 5-7, 2025. The investigation, currently without specific charges or suspects, focuses on alleged shortcomings of external nursing staff and led to the resignation of the hospital's sole administrator.
Amazon has agreed to pay €510 million to Italy's tax agency to resolve a tax dispute, bringing the total settlement to €723 million with related entities. However, Milan prosecutors will continue a criminal investigation into alleged tax evasion, focusing on €1.2 billion in unpaid VAT from 2019-2021.
Italian cooking and its associated rituals have officially been inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The designation, announced on December 10, 2025, in New Delhi, recognizes the profound cultural, social, and intergenerational significance of Italy's culinary traditions, highlighting conviviality and the transmission of knowledge.
Italy has fallen to 52nd position in the 2024 Corruption Perception Index, losing ten places from its previous ranking. The report, released by Transparency International, indicates a decline in the nation's anti-corruption efforts, marking its first significant setback since 2012.
Italy's largest trade union, CGIL, has called a nationwide general strike for December 12, 2025, to protest the government's proposed 2026 budget. The action is expected to cause significant disruptions across public and private sectors, particularly impacting transport and public services, as unions demand better social spending and renewed labor contracts.
Italy's fencing prowess was on full display as its women's foil team clinched gold in Busan and the men's foil team triumphed in Fukuoka. These victories solidify Italy's position at the top of the world rankings for both disciplines as the 2025 season concludes.
A 41-year-old Albanian inmate, Taulant Toma, known for previous escapes, has broken out of Milan's high-security Opera Prison. He reportedly sawed through cell bars and scaled down with knotted sheets. Authorities have launched a manhunt for Toma, who was serving a sentence until 2048. The incident has drawn criticism regarding prison conditions and security.
I Santi Ortopedie Nola secured the Coppa Italia Men's Sitting Volleyball title today in Siderno, Calabria, defeating Scuola di Pallavolo Fermana 3-0. Player Vittorio Pasciari was recognized as the Most Valuable Player for his exceptional performance.
A 41-year-old Albanian inmate, Toma Taulant, known for multiple escapes, has fled the Milan Opera Reclusion House. He reportedly sawed through cell bars and scaled down with knotted sheets in a dramatic overnight escape, prompting a large-scale manhunt across Italy.
The Olympic flame for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Games was lit in a preliminary cauldron at Italy's Quirinale Presidential Palace on December 5, 2025, following its arrival from Greece. This event marks the start of a 63-day torch relay across Italy, leading up to the Games' opening on February 6, 2026.
Former EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has resigned as rector of the College of Europe following her detention and formal notification of accusations in a fraud investigation by Belgian police. The probe, led by the European Public Prosecutor's Office, centers on alleged procurement fraud, corruption, conflict of interest, and violation of professional secrecy related to an EU-funded diplomatic training program.
The Italian city of Gorizia and its Slovenian counterpart, Nova Gorica, have officially commenced their year as the European Capital of Culture 2025. Under the slogan 'GO! Borderless', this marks the first time two cities from different nations share the prestigious title, symbolizing unity and cultural exchange across historical divides.
Italy's ruling coalition, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's party, is pushing to declare the nation's 2,452 metric tonnes of gold reserves, valued at approximately $300 billion, as property of the Italian people. This move has sparked concerns regarding central bank independence and potential government sell-offs, drawing scrutiny from the European Central Bank.
Italian port unions Filt-CGIL, Fit-CISL, and Uiltrasporti, alongside employer associations Ancip, Assiterminal, Assologistica, and Uniport, staged a nationwide mobilization in Rome on December 1, 2025. They are pressing the government to activate a long-awaited early-retirement fund, agreed upon five years ago, which remains inactive due to a missing inter-ministerial decree.
Milan's public transport provider ATM experienced a scheduled four-hour strike on Sunday, November 30, 2025. Despite the industrial action, affecting bus, tram, and metro services from 8:45 AM to 12:45 PM, ATM reported that all underground trains, trams, buses, and trolleybuses were running, minimizing disruption for commuters.
