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European heatwave claims over 1,300 lives as Italy swelters under red alert
WHO reports excess deaths since June 21 as record temperatures grip southern regions and strain health services
The World Health Organisation has recorded more than 1,300 excess deaths across Europe linked to the ongoing heatwave, with Italy among the hardest-hit nations.
Francesca Lazzari · NATIONAL
Italian MEP challenges government transparency at Albania migrant facility
Delegation reportedly denied access to cells at offshore detention centre where six detainees have attempted suicide
An Italian Member of the European Parliament has questioned whether the Italian government is concealing conditions at an offshore migrant detention centre in Albania after a delegation was barred from inspecting certain areas.
Concetta Vassallo · INTERNATIONAL
EU's €3 parcel levy reshapes Piedmont's e-commerce as tariff takes effect
July 1 duty on low-value imports threatens cross-border sales for small manufacturers and logistics hubs
The European Union's new €3 duty on parcels under €150 entering the bloc, effective today, threatens to disrupt supply chains and export volumes for Piedmont's small and mid-sized e-commerce businesses.
Lorenzo Ferraris · ECONOMY
AI unlocks Herculaneum's secrets as scientists read charred scrolls without opening them
A University of Kentucky team has fully deciphered an ancient papyrus for the first time, revealing philosophical texts buried nearly 2,000 years ago
Researchers have recovered texts on ethics, theology and human behaviour from carbonized scrolls buried by Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D., using artificial intelligence to read them without physical damage.
Rosaria Esposito · SCIENCE
Regional dispatches
Rome placed on red alert as deadly heatwave grips Lazio
Extreme temperatures drive spike in excess deaths across Italy as 22 cities face highest heat warnings
Rome and 21 other Italian cities have been placed under red heat alerts as a record-breaking heatwave kills hundreds across Europe, with older residents facing the greatest risk.
Davide Ruspoli
Italian MEP questions access denial at Albania migrant detention centre
Delegation blocked from inspecting cells at offshore facility where six have attempted suicide; government transparency questioned.
An Italian MEP has questioned whether the Italian government is trying to hide conditions at an offshore migrant detention centre in Albania after a delegation was denied access to cells.
Sergio Madrussan
Liguria's port faces heat stress as Europe's extreme temperatures test infrastructure
Record temperatures across the continent strain port operations and logistics networks as the heatwave extends into July
The Port of Genoa and Liguria's shipping logistics network are contending with operational stress as Europe's record heatwave continues into early July, complicating cargo handling and energy demands.
Marina Doria
Emilia's dairy belt faces critical heat stress as heatwave peaks
Record temperatures threaten milk production in Italy's food heartland as cooling costs spike
As Europe's heatwave intensifies, Emilia-Romagna's dairy farms confront soaring temperatures and energy demands that threaten the region's Parmigiano and milk supply.
Giulia Benati
Warp knitting reshapes Marche's shoe districts as performance tech accelerates
New textile innovation drives footwear makers toward faster prototyping and sustainability as global brands adopt advanced knit methods.
Warp knitting technology is accelerating product development in athletic footwear, with implications for Marche's shoe and leather districts as manufacturers adopt performance textiles.
Elena Marcheggiani
EU's €3 parcel duty tests Marche's e-commerce sellers as tariff takes effect
Small manufacturers and traders in the region face new friction on cross-border shipments as Brussels moves to curb low-value imports.
The European Union's €3 duty on small parcels entering the bloc from Wednesday will reshape cross-border commerce for Marche's small manufacturers and e-commerce traders already operating on thin margins.
Elena Marcheggiani
Abruzzo's elderly face mounting heat peril as heatwave extends into July
Record temperatures strain the region's ageing population and healthcare systems as relief forecast for Wednesday proves temporary.
Abruzzo, home to Italy's oldest population, faces compounded vulnerability as a sustained European heatwave drives excess deaths across the continent and raises hospital admissions.
Marco Di Sante
Italian MEP questions government transparency at Albania migrant centre
Delegation reports restricted access to offshore detention facility where six detainees have attempted suicide
An Italian MEP has questioned whether the government is trying to hide conditions at an offshore migrant detention centre in Albania after a delegation was denied access to cells.
Francesca Lazzari
Stellantis installs new blanking press at Warren stamping plant
Carmaker expands US facility capacity
Stellantis has announced a new blanking press installation at its Warren stamping plant, according to Automotive World.
Lorenzo Ferraris
IHG Pushes Past 50 Properties in Italy as Milan Leads Growth
Four new signings bring international chain closer to critical mass in market long dominated by local operators
IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed four new properties across Italy, surpassing 50 open and pipeline hotels as the world's largest hotel operator accelerates its footprint in a market traditionally resistant to international consolidation.
Beatrice Comolli
Versace CEO Emmanuel Gintzburger Steps Down After Three Years
Leadership exit signals instability at Italian luxury house as sector faces margin pressure and succession challenges
Emmanuel Gintzburger has resigned as CEO of Versace after three years leading the Milan-based luxury fashion house, marking another leadership disruption at a storied Italian brand navigating ownership complexity and competitive headwinds.
Beatrice Comolli
Alpine heat and wildfire risk test Trentino's summer resilience
Record temperatures grip the region as authorities warn of forest fire danger across the high peaks.
The deadly heatwave sweeping Italy and the Balkans has reached the Alps, placing Trentino-Alto Adige under extreme heat stress and raising wildfire fears across the mountain region.
Klara Hofer
Small nations' climate action matters, guardian argues, as Sardinia confronts Mediterranean heat stress
Global emissions debate extends to island communities facing acute climate vulnerability despite negligible contribution to carbon problem
As the Guardian examines whether smaller countries' climate efforts carry weight, Sardinia's experience of intensifying drought and heat reveals why island regions cannot afford to wait for global consensus.
Gavino Sanna
Tarot's artistic journey from 15th-century Italy to modern divination
A new exhibition traces how playing cards became tools of mysticism and art
A new exhibition follows tarot cards from their origins in 15th-century Italy through their evolution into symbols of the occult and artistic practice.
Eleonora Vanzetti
UK-France migration pact set to end; Mediterranean pressure likely to follow
October expiry of 'one in, one out' agreement signals wider European shift in border management
The UK-France agreement allowing forced returns of asylum seekers is due to expire in October, according to French reports, potentially reshaping pressure on southern European migration routes.
Saverio Gallo
Basilicata's farms brace as European heatwave deepens July outlook
Record temperatures and water scarcity threaten the region's already fragile agricultural base
As Europe records more than 1,300 heat-related deaths since late June, Basilicata's agricultural sector faces acute stress from sustained high temperatures and dwindling water reserves heading into July.
Pietro Lasorsa
Air tourism boom strains Sicily's rental market as summer season peaks
Study finds southern Europe faces rent increases up to €250 yearly as visitors flood Mediterranean destinations
A new study commissioned by Transport & Environment reveals that booming air tourism is driving housing affordability crises across southern Europe, with Sicily among the hardest-hit regions.
Concetta Vassallo
Opinion
The heatwave as national mirror
As Italy swelters under record temperatures, the world's coverage reveals something deeper: a country struggling to protect its people and its inheritance at once.
Editorial Board
What the world sees when Italy looks away
An MEP's blocked visit to an Albanian migrant centre raises a question the international press keeps asking: what is a democracy hiding when it denies observers access?
Editorial Board