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A Libyan coastguard boat carrying around 500 mostly African migrants arrive at the port in the city of Misrata on May 3rd, 2015. Photo: Mahmud Turkia/AFP

Italian navy finds migrant disaster boat

The Italian navy announced Thursday it had located the sunken wreck of a migrant boat in which 700 people are feared to have died last month. READ

Fiumicino blaze

An employee block the access to Terminal 3 at Rome's Fiumicino international airport. Photo: Tiziana Fabi/AFP

Chaos after fire in Rome airport terminal

UPDATED: Dozens of flights were cancelled and thousands of passengers had their travel plans wrecked Thursday after a fierce fire partially destroyed a terminal at the city's Fiumicino airport. READ

The mafia network reportedly had its base in a New York restaurant: Photo: New York photo: Shutterstock

Italy and FBI bust mafia network in NYC pizzeria

The Italian police and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) joined forces to crackdown on suspected mafia members operating on both sides of the Atlantic. READ

Italy's unemployment rate will fall slightly this year. Photo: AFP

Italy's jobless rate set for slight dip in 2015: Istat

Italy’s unemployment rate is forecast to fall slightly this year as the country edges its way out of recession, Istat, the national statistics agency, said on Thursday. READ

Italy's culture lures tourists. Florence photo: Shutterstock

Italy among Europe's leaders for tourism

With its picturesque towns, monuments and scenery, Italy ranks eighth in the world, and sixth in Europe, for travel and tourism competitiveness, according to a new report from the Geneva-based World Economic Forum. READ

A police car burning during the violence. Photo: DPA

Italian faces charges over Blockupy violence

Prosecutors in Frankfurt confirmed on Wednesday they are pressing charges against a 23-year-old Italian in relation to violence which broke out at anti-austerity protests in March. READ

Migrant crisis

Photo: Marina Militare/AFP

UN urged not to allow migrant boat 'bombing'

Italy's Red Cross president on Wednesday spoke out against European plans to destroy migrant boats used by smugglers in the Mediterranean, as the United Nations weighed whether to endorse the military campaign. READ

Video

Cristoforetti demonstrates how astronauts wash in the International Space Station bathroom. Photo: European Space Agency/YouTube

How to stay clean while floating in space

Ever wondered how you wash, shampoo your hair or even clip your nails in space? All these questions are answered in a virtual tour of the International Space Station bathroom by Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti. READ

A demonstrator throws a smoke bomb to police in downtown Milan, during a demonstration against the Universal Exposition Expo Milano 2015. Photo: AFP

Rolex issues slap on the wrist for Italian PM

Rolex has accused Matteo Renzi of damaging its brand after the Italian Prime Minister described protestors who ran amok in Milan last week as spoilt brats with a penchant for the Swiss company's luxury watches. READ

Ahli Al-Khalil football club's coach, Italian Stefano Cusin (C) leads a training session. Photo: Hazem Bader/AFP

Palestinian club thrives under Italian coach

A Palestinian football club from the southern West Bank is hoping that the turnaround led by a new coach from Italy could see it reaching a top pan-Asian championship. READ

Features

Italy in World War II

On the fringes of resistance. Photo: Istituto per la Storia della Resistenza e Storia Contemporanea

Forgotten resistance: Italian freedom fighters

Most people are acquainted with at least the basic facts about the French Resistance. There are copious popular books, plays and films, and of course, the much-loved BBC comedy ‘Allo 'Allo. But few are quite so well versed on another resistance movement that played out in Europe towards the end of World War II. READ

Italian economy

Italy's economy is on the path to growth. Italy economy photo: Shutterstock

Five reasons why Italy is on the up

Italy’s economy is finally showing signs of recovery after falling back into recession last summer. With the help of Christian Shultz, a senior economist at Berenberg Economics, The Local has put together some of the reasons why. READ

The Local List

Calcata was deserted on Benito Mussolini’s orders in the 1930s when it was mistakenly declared unsafe. Photo: Alessandro Bonvini

Ten must-see places within reach of Rome

Rome has a lot to offer, but if you're looking for variety or simply want a break away from the city, there's a treasure trove of towns within easy reach. READ

According to figures from Istat, the national statistics agency, 8.2 million Italians aged 11 and over drink excessive amounts of alcohol. Drinking photo: Shutter

Are Italians becoming boozier than the Brits?

Italians are usually admired for their ability to drink alcohol in moderation, but statistics published late last week revealed that more people are binge-drinking, with some blaming the change on the British and American influence. Anna Pujol Mazzini investigates. READ

Second World War: 70 years

Photo: Angela Giuffrida

Revealed: the Italians who worship Mussolini

He muzzled the press, sent Jews to death camps and led Italy to defeat. So why do some Italians openly idolize Mussolini 70 years after his death, asks Angela Giuffrida. READ

More News

British General Election

Brits in Italy want to keep Nigel Farage's Ukip out of government . Photo: Ben Stanstall/AFP

Brits in Italy want to vote to keep Ukip out

With uncertainty reigning over the outcome of the UK’s national election on May 7th, The Local spoke to British people living in Italy to get their views on the vote. READ

Migrant crisis

Rescued migrants wait to disembark off the Italian Guardia Costiera vessel Fiorillo at the Sicilian harbour of Catania, on April 24th, 2015. Photo: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP

More migrants arrive as backlash gathers force

Italy's financial and customs police said on Wednesday they had rescued 98 starving migrants who had been drifting in the Mediterranean for two days without food or water. READ

Many Italians are reportedly being treated like slaves on Italian farms. Man fruit-picking on a farm in Australia: Shutterstock

Italians 'exploited' on Australian farms

Many young Italians who travel to Australia on temporary working holiday visas are reported to be working in “slave-like” conditions on the country’s farms. READ

Migrant crisis

One of six makeshift boats filled with migrants spotted by an Italian Navy ship near Lampedusa, on February 5th, 2014. Photo: Italian Navy/AFP

'EU must protect rights of deported migrants'

The EU border control agency Frontex must do more to protect the rights of thousands of deported migrants, the EU ombudsman said on Wednesday amid a surge of people landing on Europe's southern shores. READ

The pair will deliver the love letter by gondola. Gondolier photo: Shutterstock

Love-letter pair plot epic Venice gondola ride

An Italian swimming champion and an Austrian rowing enthusiast have set themselves the unusual task of rowing hundreds of kilometres down the River Po in a gondola to deliver a letter on behalf of a love-struck friend. READ

Migrant crisis

Italian naval officers stand in front of rescued migrants onboard the Italian Navy vessel Bettica. Photo: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP

Italian navy chief shuns Australian migrant policy

An Italian navy chief on Tuesday poured cold water on suggestions Europe should adopt Australia's policy of turning back migrant boats to end the current crisis in the Mediterranean. READ

Migrant crisis

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini will brief the 15-member council on Monday. Photo: Emanuel Dunand/AFP

UN Security Council to meet on migrant crisis

The UN Security Council will hold a special meeting next week to discuss ways to address the crisis sparked by a relentless wave of thousands of Mediterranean boat migrants, diplomats said on Tuesday. READ

Champions League

Juventus' forward Carlos Tevez celebrates after scoring a penalty during the Champions League semi-final first leg match against Real Madrid. Photo: Olivier Morin/AFP

Tevez strike gives Juve win over Real Madrid

Alvaro Morata and Carlos Tevez struck a goal apiece as Juventus boosted their Champions League final chances with a 2-1 win over Real Madrid in their first leg semi-final on Tuesday. READ

Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana (L): John Stillwell/AFP; Francesca Marina (R): Marina Militare

Italians welcome 'royal baby' born on boat

They are worlds apart socially and economically, but the arrival of Princess Charlotte in the UK and the birth of a migrant baby during a perilous sea crossing in the Mediterranean have both melted Italian hearts. READ

Italy is the 12th best place in the world to be a mother. Photo: Shutterstock

Italy ranks 12th best place to be a mother

Italy is the 12th best place in the world to be a mother, according to Save the Children’s annual scorecard, ahead of Switzerland, Singapore, the UK and the US. READ

Read older articles »

From our other editions:

Photo: Saatchi + Saatchi

Magazine printed with HIV+ blood ink

An Austrian magazine has used ink infused with the blood of three HIV+ people to print a special edition of their current issue. READ

Photo: Commune de St. Gingolphe /Facebook

More rain renews flood and landslide risks

UPDATED: Many parts of western Switzerland remained on alert as weather forecasters called for additional rain on Tuesday, heightening the risk of more flooding and transportation disruptions. READ

Photo: DPA

Germany braces for longest-ever rail strike

German train drivers found themselves under fire from industry and the government on Monday after announcing their longest walkout in the history of rail operator Deutsche Bahn. READ

The Danish Way

The author contends that Danes are less likely to drop 'A-bombs' on each other. Photo: Colourbox

What Americans can learn from humble Danes

The Local's new opinion columnist Jessica Alexander writes that her fellow Americans would benefit from taking a lesson in humility from the Danes. READ

The Local list

Photo of Union Jack and Spanish flag: Shutterstock

The ten greatest things about Spain (in the UK)

As a long time Spanish resident in the UK, director of Modern Languages at Northumbria University Dr Carlos Solares reveals some of the Spain-UK links you never knew existed. READ

Photo: Shutterstock

Trial after Frenchman dies downing 56 shots

The owner of a bar in France will stand trial on Monday charged with “manslaughter” over the death of one his patrons, who died breaking the bar’s record for the number of shots downed in one evening. It comes as France moves to get tough on binge drinking. READ

Lofoten's Unstad beach. Photo: Spesialsnorre/Flickr

Norway's extreme surfers brave Lofoten

The water is icy cold and it's windy, but the intrepid group dives in: far from California's sunny beaches, die-hard surfers flock to Norway's idyllic Lofoten Islands to catch the Arctic's cool waves. READ

The Baltic Sea, as seen from Lithuania. Photo: TT

Russian warships disrupt Swedish cable laying

Russian naval ships have repeatedly disrupted cable-laying work between Sweden and Lithuania in the past few months, prompting diplomatic protests from both countries affected. READ

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