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Pope Francis prays during a mass on December 24 at St Peters Basilica in the Vatican. Photo: Vincenzo Pinto/AFP

Pope calls on Christians to reject consumerism

Pope Francis ushered in Christmas by urging the faithful to reject the materialism that pervades the gift-giving season, and to embrace "simple, balanced" values, as violence subdued festivities in the Holy Land.

Photo: Mic445/Flickr

Italy’s best (and weirdest) hangover cures

Has the stress and socializing of the festive season taken its toll? If you've found yourself struck down with the mother of all hangovers, don’t worry. There’s hope – in the form of Italy’s unique hangover remedies.

An Italian court decided a lesbian woman can adopt her partners biological child. Photo: Claudio Reyes/AFP

Italy court OKs landmark gay adoption case

An Italian appeals court has upheld the right of a lesbian woman to adopt her partner's biological child, a gay rights group said on Wednesday, in a landmark case for the Catholic country as it considers granting rights to same-sex couples.

Italy's northern city of Milan is limiting traffic over the next three days to combat smog choking the city. Photo: Andrea Squatrito/Flickr

Milan limits daytime traffic to battle smog

Drivers in Milan will face a limit on daytime travel three days next week as the northern Italian city tries to bring air pollution down from dangerous levels.

Italy's President Sergio Mattarella has reduced the sentences for two ex-CIA spies.Photo: Fethi Belaid/AFP

Italy grants ex-CIA spies partial pardon

Italy's President Sergio Mattarella on Wednesday reduced the sentences of two former CIA agents, including a station chief, over the kidnapping and extraordinary rendition of an Egyptian imam in 2003.

Porn star wants to teach sexual education to Italy's children.

Porn star offers to teach sex in Italy's schools

Porn star Rocco Siffredi, known as the 'Italian stallion', has launched a petition demanding sex education become mandatory in Italy's schools and offered himself up as a teacher.

Italian uni researcher held on terror charges

Environment

Smokers will be fined up to €300 for throwing their cigarette buts on the ground.

Italy to fine smokers €300 for tossing cigarettes

Smokers beware: new 'green economy' laws approved by the Italian parliament on Tuesday will see those caught flicking their cigarette butts on the ground slapped with fines.

A 45-year-old university researcher in Palermo has been arrested on terror charges. Photo: Polizia dello Stato

Italian uni researcher held on terror charges

Italian police said on Wednesday they had detained a researcher working at the University of Palermo on terror charges.

Italy expels 67 people for terrorism in 2015

The stolen cone. Photo: Gelateria In Antartide/Facebook

50kg ice cream cone stolen in late night heist

A gelateria in Trieste is on the lookout for the thief who made off with a 50kg ice cream cone on Tuesday morning.

Video

Champion skier Marcel Hirscher was almost taken out by a falling drone in Italy. Photo: Screengrab/YouTube

Falling drone 'almost kills' ski champ in Italy

Austrian skier Marcel Hirscher was furious on Tuesday after a camera drone dropped from the sky mid-race, missing him by centimeters.

Italy soccer star to stand trial for mafia ties

Features

The 'ghost tram' stops faithfully at each stop. Photo: Screengrab/YouTube

Italy's €320m ghost tram can't carry passengers

The southern Italian city of Palermo has just spent millions of euros on a tram that can't actually pick up any passengers. Here's why.

The Local List

It's surprisingly easy to take on new habits in Italy. Photo: Pierro Fissore/Flickr

Quirky Italian habits that won't work back home

Some Italian habits are easy to acquire, difficult to lose and likely to annoy your friends and family if you take them back home.

The Local List

Italy's parched river Po in July this year. Photo: Giuseppe Cacace/AFP

How climate change will devastate Italy

As world leaders meet in Paris in an effort to stop man-made climate change reaching the point of no return, The Local looks at ways it is already affecting Italy and what the country can expect if it continues unabated.

What's on in December

Photo: George Rex

Ten things to do in Italy in December

If you're short of ideas for what to do in Italy in December, we've gathered a list of ten events that are well worth checking out, especially now that the Christmas season is almost upon us.

Muslim girls hold posters with the slogan 'Not in my name' at a Turin rally in memory of the victims of the Paris attacks. Photo: Marco Bertorello/AFP

'Italy's Muslims must unite against terrorism'

Italy's Muslim community must stand up to terrorists and build bridges with Italian society at large after the recent terror attacks in Paris if it wants to avoid a backlash, the head of Italy's Muslim Union has told The Local.

More news

Photo: Annie Roi/Flickr

How to survive an Italian Christmas Party

Being invited to a Christmas party is a sure sign you're settling in to your adopted country. But be careful - festive gatherings can be a minefield for foreigners unaware of Italian social etiquette, so read our survival guide to transform yourself into the perfect guest.

A suspected mafioso has been arrested in connection with the murder of a judge in Turin in 1983. Photo: Raffaele Esposito/AFP

Suspect found 32 years after Italy judge murder

A suspected accomplice in the murder of an anti-mafia judge was arrested Tuesday 32 years after the killing thanks to a sting operation combining an anonymous letter with wiretaps, Italian media reported on Tuesday.

Italy's Interior Minister Angelino Alfano told reporters the country's intelligence services had been on high alert since the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris in January. Photo: Vincenzo Pinto/AFP

Italy expels 67 people for terrorism in 2015

A total of 259 people were arrested on terror charges in Italy in 2015, with 67 of them being expelled from the country as a result.

The Italian coastguard rescued 650 migrants off the coast of Libya on Tuesday. Photo: Marcello Paternostro/AFP

One dead, 650 rescued in Med: Italy coastguard

More than 650 people have been plucked to safety in the Mediterranean and one body recovered, the Italian coastguard said on Tuesday, as migrants continue to attempt the perilous crossing to Europe despite the winter weather.

A herbal tea on sale in Italy has been pulled from the shelves after a bus driver tested positive for cocaine after drinking a cup. Photo Ruta and Zinas/Flickr

Cocaine tea sold in Italian shops for years

Police in Italy have been ordered to seize a herbal tea from Peru that has been on general sale in the country for years after it was discovered that the tea contained cocaine.

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From our other editions

Photo: Damüls - Faschina Tourismus

Inexorable spread of Silent Night

When "Silent Night" was born in Austria almost 200 years ago, those present had little idea that the Christmas carol would one day be sung the world over, including this year by Miley Cyrus and some Swedish goats.

The Banque Cantonal du Valais is one of the latest banks to settle under the Swiss Bank Program. Photo: Banque Cantonal du Valais

Swiss bank tax evasion fines to US reach $1 bn

US officials have settlements with four more Swiss banks to lift the total fines in the two-year disclosure program to more than $1 billion from 75 banks.

US Air Force B-52 strategic bombers pictured in 1957. Image: USAF/Wikimedia Commons

US planned East Berlin's 'systematic destruction'

The US Air Force planned to drop 91 atomic bombs in and around East Berlin in the event of the Cold War turning hot, documents released on Wednesday showed.

Aarhus University. Photo: IK's World Trip/Flickr

Deported African cleaner blitzes Danish uni exams

An international student at Aarhus University passed three exams in one day, all with the highest possible grade, after finding out he is to be deported from the country.

Christmas 2015

A shocked looking Ngame appears on TV Photo: AFP

African migrant saved from sinking boat wins big in Spanish lottery

A 35-year Senegalese man who was saved by the Spanish coastguard after making a perilous journey from Africa is celebrating his win of €400,000 in the Christmas lottery.