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Photo: Filippo Monteforte/AFP

Charred ferry searched for dead passengers

The inquiry in to the fate of the burned-out Norman Atlantic ferry which was towed into the southern Italian port of Brindisi Friday, has begun with the prosecutor fearing that more bodies may be found onboard.READ

Q&A

Blue Sky M, the Moldovan-flagged freighter saved from running aground by the Italian coastguard on Wednesday, had docked at the Turkish port of Korfez in October before sailing for Rijeka, Croatia. Ph

Why migrant smugglers are using 'ghost ships'

People traffickers have dramatically raised the stakes by using freighters to carry hundreds of migrants to Europe at a time, then jumping ship as the vessels steam towards shore. READ 10 comments

Migrants are seen at a first aid center set up at the Gallipoli fitness center, on December 31st, after arriving in Italy aboard the Moldovan-flagged ship Blue SKy M. Photo: Nunzio Giove/AFP

Traffickers made over $1m on one 'ghost ship'

People smugglers likely raked in more than $1.0 million from the hundreds of desperate migrants crammed into just one of the "ghost ships" abandoned off the coast of Italy this week, the International Organization for Migration said on Friday. READ 3 comments

The doctor was treated at Rome's Spallanzani hospital. Photo: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP

Italian doctor cured of Ebola to leave hospital

UPDATED: An Italian doctor who caught Ebola in Sierra Leone has recovered from the disease and his antibodies are being sent back to west Africa to help combat the disease. READ

The EU has vowed to fight people smugglers' new tactic of abandoning "ghost ships" full of migrants off European coasts. Nunzio Giove/AFP

EU vows to fight migrant 'ghost ship' tactic

The EU vowed on Friday to fight people smugglers' new tactic of abandoning "ghost ships" full of migrants off European coasts. READ 6 comments

835 Rome police officers who were due to work on New Year's Eve called in sick. Photo: Denis Bocquet

Outcry after Rome police call in sick on NYE

The Italian government is threatening to take disciplinary action against Rome municipal police after just one in five showed up for work on New Year’s Eve. READ

Some of the biggest names in Italian fashion, including Salvatore Ferragamo, posted positive revenue growth in 2014. Salvatore Ferragamo photo: Shutterstock

Italy's luxury brands defy economic crisis

Italy’s luxury brands defied the country’s economic downturn to record impressive growth in 2014, according to the latest research by a Milan consultancy firm. READ

The girl died after accidentally shooting herself with her father's gun at the family home in Pregasina, near Riva Del Garda. Photo: Henning Leweke

Girl dies after shooting herself with dad's gun

A northern Italian town is in mourning after an 11-year-old girl appeared to have accidentally shot herself dead with her father’s pistol on Thursday. READ

Venice was awash with water in 2014. Venice photo: Shutterstock

2014 'worst on record' for Venice high tides

High tides are nothing new in Venice and tourists are often seen donning waterproofs and carrying their umbrellas when the high water overflows onto the charming alleys surrounding its historic sites. READ

Borrowing rates in Italy fell to fresh historic lows on Friday as investors eyed possible new anti-deflation measures from the ECB. Euros photo Shutterstock

Italy bond yields hit fresh historic lows

Borrowing rates in France, Spain and Italy fell to fresh historic lows on Friday in thin holiday trading, as investors eyed possible new anti-deflation measures from the European Central Bank. READ

Features

JobTalk Italy

David Geisser has also authored a cookbook filled with popes' favourite recipes. Photo: David Geisser

Life as an elite Vatican Swiss Guard

Despite being better known today for their colourful uniforms than their reputation as fearless warriors, the Swiss Guards have been a powerful symbol of the Vatican for centuries. The Local speaks to David Geisser, one of the latest recruits, about a career protecting popes. READ

Quiz

Italian history: Shutterstock

Test your Italian history with The Local's quiz

Italy is home to some of the world’s most iconic monuments and is the birthplace of a long list of artists, inventors and composers...but how well do you know its history? READ

The Local List

Tourists in Italy: Shutterstock

Top ten: Travel warnings for Italy

Many of us tend to leave our brains at home when heading abroad on holiday, and with that in mind governments issue travel warnings. From volcanoes to thieves distracting tourists with pizza, here are some of the most striking — and bizarre — warnings about Italy. READ

The Local List

German novelist Thomas Mann was struck by the "flattering and suspect beauty" of the city of Venice.Venice photo: Shutterstock

Top ten: Famous quotes about Italy

Italy has been a source of inspiration for many a traveller over the centuries. From Lord Byron to George Clooney, here are ten quotes about the country from some of the peninsula’s most famous visitors.READ

Opinion - Working in Italy

Italy came ninth in a survey ranking the most desirable places in the world to work. Italy worker:Shutterstock

Is Italy a desirable place for foreigners to work?

Italy was ranked the ninth most desirable place in the world to work in a survey this week, but some foreigners who live and work here beg to differ. READ

More News

The Norman Atlantic, which was disabled after catching fire Sunday en route between Greece and Italy, has arrived in the port of Brindisi.Photo: Filippo Monteforte

Fire tragedy ferry arrives in Brindisi

The Italian-owned ferry in which at least 13 people died in a dramatic fire in stormy Mediterranean seas was towed into the Italian port of Brindisi on Friday as investigators try to determine if there are any more bodies on board. READ

Migrants are seen at a first aid center set up at the Gallipoli fitness center, on December 31st, after arriving in Italy aboard the Moldovan-flagged ship Blue SKy M. Photo: Nunzio Giove/AFP

Italy mounts rescue for 'drifting' migrant ship

UPDATED: The Italian navy took control of a drifting cargo ship filled with 450 migrants drifting off the coast of Calabria on Friday. READ

The two women were kidnapped in northern Aleppo in August. Photo: Ahmed Deeb/AFP

'Kidnapped Italians in Syria' appear in video

Two women identifying themselves as Italian aid workers kidnapped in Syria have appeared in a video urging their government to seek their release. READ

Italy kicks off 2015 with two public holidays in January. 2015 photo: Shutterstock

Italy's public holidays in 2015

Italy's 11 public holidays may seem generous, but those working a Monday to Friday week will miss out on four days off in 2015. READ

Photo: Ben Gabbe/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Italian bubbly producers enjoy bumper New Year

Italy's bubbly producers ended the year on a sparkling note as a record number of people opted for prosecco to toast the New Year.READ

Photo: Eric Piermont/AFP

Italy's Finmeccanica in Russia helicopter deal

Russian oil giant Rosneft said Wednesday it has reached a deal with Italian group Finmeccanica to produce 160 helicopters in Russia. READ 2 comments

Gallipoli harbour. Photo: Tango7174/Wikimedia

Migrants from 'drifting' ship arrive in Italy

Some 700 illegal migrants rescued from a ship near the Greek island of Corfu arrived in Italy on Wednesday, after their boat was intercepted while "drifting" towards the coast. READ 2 comments

What will 2015 hold for Italy? 2015 photo: Shutterstock

The Local's aspirations for Italy in 2015

With widespread corruption, soaring unemployment and an economy in tatters, it's been another turbulent year for Italy. But The Local is positive that fortunes can be reversed. Here are our aspirations for the year ahead. READ 2 comments

Italian ferry disaster

Three Italians were among those who died after an Italian-owned ferry caught fire. Photo: Kris Aria/AFP

Three Italians among fire-hit ferry dead

Three Italians are among the ten passengers who died after the Norman Atlantic ferry caught fire early on Sunday morning, Italy's Coast Guard said on Tuesday. READ

Portofino, Liguria. Photo: Jill Bellobuono

Top ten photos of Italy by The Local's readers

Since the summer, many of you have kindly contributed your photos of Italy to the "picture of the day" feature on The Local Italy's Facebook page. As 2014 winds down, we've rounded up ten of the best. READ

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From our other editions:

Photo: HaberJournal.at

Pig's head hung on Mosque door in Vienna

In a barbaric affront to Muslim sensibilities, part of a pig's head and some pork tripe was attached to the door of a Mosque in Vienna's 21st district on Christmas day. READ

Snow hit much of Switzerland over the weekend including the city of Lausanne. Photo: OVT/L Ryser

Winter’s arrival brings Swiss travel chaos

After unseasonably mild weather in the run-up to Christmas, frigid temperatures and heavy snow hit Switzerland over the weekend causing chaos on the roads, rails and at airports. READ

News Feature

Sprechen Sie Deutsch, Frau Bullock? Photo: DPA

Eight celebs you didn't know spoke German

Is your New Year's Resolution to improve your German? It's a tricky language, but keep trying and you could be making small talk with these Hollywood stars and world leaders who also secretly speak a bit (or a lot) of German. READ

2015 got off to a very tragic start in several locations in Denmark. Photo: Bax Lindhardt/Scanpix

At least four Danes die in New Year's celebrations

Two firework malfunctions and two car accidents resulted in a total of four deaths on New Year's Eve, all of them in northern Jutland. READ

VIDEO

Screen grab: JM Madiedo/University of Huelva/YouTube

Christmas fireball lights up Spanish skies

A slow-moving meteoroid provided a dramatic spectacle as it streaked more than 1,200 kilometres (745 miles) across Spain during the new king's Christmas Eve speech. READ

Many things will change in France next year. And you're likely to be affected. Photo: Shutterstock

What changed in France on January 1st?

As France has just rung in the new year, The Local offers readers a glimpse of what changes came into force on January 1, 2015, from energy bills and ticket prices to welfare benefits and wages. READ

Picture of people working out: Shutterstock

Hearty Norwegians hit the gym at Christmas

Norwegians have a reputation for being fitness freaks - and many plan to keep up their good habits over Christmas, a new survey shows, with one in five planning to hit the gym. READ

Photo: TT

Refugees protest rural Sweden relocation

Some 40 asylum-seekers refused to leave the bus when they arrived at their destination in rural northern Sweden, demanding that they be taken back to Malmö or "some big city". READ