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AC Milan has struggled to keep the pace in Serie A. AC Milan photo: Shutterstock

Berlusconi to sell AC Milan to Chinese: reports

AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi could sell the club to a group with direct links to the Chinese government in a move that would see both Milan giants come under Asian ownership, reports in Italy said on Thursday. READ

The accident happened in Italy's Trentino-Alto Adige region. Trentino-Alto Adige photo: Shutterstock

German tourist dies in Italy selfie fall

A German tourist has fallen to his death while trying to take a photograph of himself in the Italian mountains, according to national media reports. READ

The easyJet flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Rome. Photo: Christopher Doyle

easyJet forced to land in Rome over sandwich row

An easyJet flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Rome earlier this week after a passenger allegedly punched a stewardess in a spat over a sandwich. READ

Silvio Berlusconi's party will join up with that of Matteo Salvini (R). Photos: Jim Watson/AFP and Marco Bertorello/AFP (R)

Berlusconi and Salvini parties join forces

Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia party has joined forces with the Northern League, led by Matteo Salvini, in an attempt to win right-wing seats in May’s regional elections. READ

The Local List

The "scoppio del carro" in Florence. Photo: Florence Easter photo: Shutterstock

Ten Italian Easter traditions

The clocks have gone forward and the supermarket aisles are piled high with huge chocolate eggs. It must be time for Easter. But how do Italians celebrate? READ

A rescue team at the scene in the French Alps. Photo: AFP

Italian reported dead in French avalanche

An Italian and two Austrians are reported to have died in a massive avalanche that hit the French Alps on Wednesday afternoon - according to a report from Austrian broadcaster ORF. READ

The new anti-corruption measures specifically focus on crimes made against the public administration. Corruption photo: Shutterstock

Italy's Senate backs anti-corruption bill

Senators on Wednesday gave its backing to an anti-corruption bill, set to tighten controls on fraud in public administration following a wave of scandals. READ

Ex-mafia boss Domenico Rancadore has had his sentence dropped. Photo: Justin Tallis/AFP

Extradition of ex-mafia boss from UK dropped

A Sicilian former mafia boss who faced extradition to Italy after living in Britain for more than two decades has had his sentence dropped, his lawyer said on Wednesday. READ

Silvia Fassetta, one of the founders of The Green Place, an animal refuge near the spa town of Nepi. Photo: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP

Is Easter lamb falling off the Italian menu?

What could be more redolent of Easter than a sizzling piece of suckling lamb studded with slivers of garlic, crowned with sprigs of rosemary and roasted to a deep, golden hue? READ

"We are a better footballing team, I feel, than Italy are," said Wayne Rooney. Wayne Rooney photo: Shutterstock

England have the edge over Italy: Rooney

Manchester United star Wayne Rooney believes a new-look England proved they have the edge over Italy based on the evidence of their 1-1 draw in Turin on Tuesday. READ

Features

Italy produces Europe's most reckless drivers, according to a survey by the French motorway operator, Vinci. Photo: Italy traffic photo: Shutterstock

Why are Italians such crazy drivers?

The Italians may have given the world Ferrari, but surveys rate them as some of Europe's scariest drivers. The problem? A blatant disregard for the rules, the locals tell us. READ 9 comments

Soldiers in Benghazi, eastern Libya, in February 2015. Photo: Abdullah Doma/AFP

Why Libya is ringing alarm bells in Italy

As Rome rings alarm bells over the deteriorating situation in Libya, The Local investigates the ramifications of a conflict across the Mediterranean. READ

The Local List

Bond, played by Roger Moore, in a gondola in Moonraker. Screengrab: Adrien Malbosc/YouTube

James Bond's best Italian moments

From a car chase along the Sardinian coast to a high-speed gondola chase in Venice, Italy has provided the backdrop for some of the most exciting James Bond scenes to date. As filming wraps on Spectre - the latest 007 film - we take a look at Bond’s best Italian moments. READ

Plans are underway to bring an Islamic University to Lecce, in Puglia. Photo: Lecce photo: Shutterstock

How Islamic college plan has split Italian town

Plans to build an Islamic university for 5,000 students in a small town in Italy's heel will help change attitudes towards Muslims, organizers say. But many locals are afraid that it will change the character of Lecce - and are asking who's paying for it. READ

The Local List

In Italian a blind date is an "appuntamento al buio" (literally a date in the dark). Blind date photo:Shutterstock

Ten phrases to arm you for your Italian date

Just like English, the Italian language has some interesting expressions when it comes to love and dating. We’ve put together a list of ten of phrases – just in time for Valentine’s Day. READ

More News

The deal followed months of negotiations between the Vatican and Rome. Vatican photo: Shutterstock

Vatican and Italy unite against tax evaders

The Vatican said on Wednesday it had signed an agreement to share financial information with Italy in a bid to stamp out tax evasion within the once-secretive city state. READ

The new-look Egyptian Museum hosts artefacts dating back to 4000 BC. Photo: Egyptian Museum

Turin's Egyptian Museum unveils €50m revamp

Turin's Egyptian Museum on Wednesday unveiled its €50 million revamp, marking the successful end of a five-year project which aims to boost the city’s cultural integration efforts. READ

Word on the street

'I don’t see signs of a turn in the economy'

Figures published by the national statistics agency, Istat, on Monday said Italians were feeling more upbeat about the economy. But those we spoke to begged to differ. READ

April Fools' Day

In our April Fools' we had American pizza makers claim they make the best pizza. Pizza photo: Shutterstock

April Fool! The Local's day in gags

No, you weren’t going crazy when you scrolled through The Local this morning. Today, our network temporarily lost its marbles for April Fools' Day. So, as the clock strikes 12pm, it’s time for The Local to fess up and reveal which of our stories were red herrings. READ

The practice of exorcism is recognized under canon law. Bible photo: Shutterstock

Rome university runs exorcism course

A Rome university will this month run an exorcism course, teaching religious and secular students how to rid people of their demons. READ

The woman's body was found hanging from a tree in Prati, Rome. Photo: Jeffrey Nunes

Woman found hanging from tree in Rome

The body of a woman has been found hanging from a tree in Rome in what is believed to be a suicide. READ

Prosecutors in Taranto say toxic emissions have caused at least 400 deaths. Photo: Alfonso di Vincenzo/AFP

Italy's steel workers risk cancer or hunger

In the impoverished city of Taranto, work that has provoked cancer is preferable to starving. READ

Mela the cat arrived in Sweden on Saturday. Photo: Minna Lind

Swedes rescue Syrian refugee's cat in Sicily

A Syrian refugee will be granted her wish this Easter after staff at a Swedish animal shelter rescued her long lost cat from quarantine in Sicily. READ

England's midfielder Andros Townsend (R) shoots to score a goal during the friendly football match against Italy in Turin. Photo: Gabriel Buoys/AFP

Townsend steals show in Italy-England draw

Tottenham winger Andros Townsend came off the bench to steal the limelight from club-mate Harry Kane with a late leveller in a 1-1 draw against Italy in Turin on Tuesday. READ

Pietro Boselli is a London-based academic and model. Screenshot: Instagram/Pietro Boselli

Is this Italian the world's hottest maths tutor?

An Italian academic at University College London has been dubbed the world’s hottest maths teacher, being picked up by one of the UK's top modelling agencies. READ 2 comments

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From our other editions:

April Fool's Day

In Austria we had you fooled that the government had proposed a hike in sales tax for garden gnomes. Photo: Shutterstock

April Fool! The Local's day in gags

April Fools' Day

Were you fooled into believing that Switzerland was bringing back the bicycle infantry in the Swiss Army? Photo: Rasbak/Wikimedia Commons

April Fool: The Local's collection of gags

No, you weren’t going crazy when you scrolled through The Local this morning. Today, our network temporarily lost its marbles for April Fools' Day. Now it’s time for The Local to fess up and reveal which of our stories were red herrings. READ

Alps Plane Crash

Photo: DPA

Germanwings captain's compassion goes viral

A Facebook post describing how a Germanwings pilot personally reassured his passengers of their safety on a flight on Wednesday has received over quarter of a million likes. READ

April Fools' Day

In Denmark we had you fooled that the country was introducing English as an official language. Photo: Claus Fisker/Scanpix

April Fool! The Local's day in gags

April Fools' Day

In Spain we had you fooled that Benidorm had banned full English breakfasts.

April Fool! The Local's day in gags

France is home to 300,000 foreign students. Photo: Simone Ramella/Flickr

Studying in France: what you need to know

France is one of the most popular study destinations in the world, with nearly 300,000 foreign students. Relatively low tuition fees and the chance to live in France are certainly appealing, but France’s confusing higher education system can be frustrating to navigate. READ

April Fools' Day

In Norway we had you fooled that reindeer had become 'Norway's new salmon'. Photo: M.prinke/Flickr

April Fool! The Local's day in gags

Dancing protestors oppose the dance permits on the streets of Stockholm in 2012. Photo: Lars Pehrson/SvD/TT

Sweden keeps ban on spontaneous dancing

Spontaneous dancing remains outlawed in Sweden except in venues with special “dance licences” after a majority in parliament voted down a move to free the feet. READ