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Venice Considers Raising Tourist Entry Fee to $34

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Venice is considering extending its tourist entry fee and increasing the daily charge to as much as €30 ($34) from 2027, according to city government official Michele Zuin. The current fee ranges from €5 to €10 and applies only to day-trippers on selected days.

Zuin said the existing charge may no longer be enough to discourage overcrowding, while noting that the proposed 2027 rate would need to be discussed and approved with the Italian government. He also said officials had discussed a possible €50 fee but could settle on a maximum of €30.

Venice introduced the entry fee in 2024 as a measure to manage overtourism. In 2026, it operated on selected days between April and July and generated more than €5.2 million from nearly 680,000 tickets. The scheme is designed to encourage visitors to avoid the city’s busiest periods.

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Pope Leo Heads to France as Church Faces Fallout From Abuse Crisis

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Pope Leo will travel to France on Friday for a four-day, three-city visit, marking the first formal papal visit to the country in nearly 20 years. The trip comes five years after a major French report on child sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, which found that about 330,000 children had been abused by clergy and lay Church officials over seven decades.

During his visit, Leo is expected to meet seven survivors of abuse in Lourdes and address the Church’s response to the scandal. He will also celebrate an outdoor Mass near Paris, where around 600,000 people have registered, and visit the restored Notre-Dame Cathedral.

The first US-born pope is also expected to discuss artificial intelligence, Europe’s future and peace. His itinerary includes meetings with French leaders, an address at UNESCO and a speech in Metz focused on Europe’s roots, peace and unity. The visit to Lourdes will also draw attention to allegations surrounding priest and artist Marko Rupnik, whose mosaics at the sanctuary have been ordered covered during the pope’s visit.

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Salvini Calls League Congress as Party Faces Internal Tensions

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Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and League leader Matteo Salvini has called for an extraordinary party congress in October, as he faces internal criticism and declining support. Salvini announced the move at the League’s annual rally in Pontida, saying the party needed to remain united.

The League has faced pressure from figures advocating a renewed focus on its traditional northern roots. Lombardy Governor Attilio Fontana said on Monday that internal members would continue to present their views at the congress. The party has yet to clarify whether Salvini’s leadership itself will be put to a vote or whether members will only decide on the party’s political direction.

Italy is scheduled to hold national elections in the second half of 2027. Reuters reported that analysts see the decision to hold an early congress as an effort to strengthen Salvini’s position ahead of the election, while also noting that it has prompted speculation about whether the country could face an earlier vote.

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Southport Killer Charged Over Alleged Prison Attack

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Axel Rudakubana, who was jailed for the 2024 murders of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event in Southport, appeared in a London court on Monday over allegations that he attacked prison staff.

Prosecutors allege that Rudakubana threw boiling water mixed with sugar at a prison officer at Belmarsh prison in May 2025. He also faces charges relating to two alleged assaults on emergency workers and possession of an offensive weapon after stone fragments were reportedly found in his prison cell.

Rudakubana, now 20, appeared by video link from Broadmoor high-security psychiatric hospital and was not asked to enter a plea. He was sentenced to a minimum of 52 years in prison after admitting the Southport killings and will next appear at London’s Old Bailey on October 19.

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Italy Plans School Veil Ban and Cap on Foreign Students

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Italy is preparing measures that would ban face coverings such as burqas and niqabs in schools and introduce a limit on the number of foreign students in each class, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on September 20. She said the proposals would be presented to the Cabinet.

Meloni also said parents of foreign students facing serious difficulties integrating into the Italian school system would be required to learn Italian. She argued that schools need to support language learning and integration, while saying students should attend school with their faces uncovered. The government has not yet specified the proposed maximum number of foreign students per class.

According to Fondazione ISMU, students with non-Italian citizenship accounted for an estimated 11.6% of Italy’s school population in 2023/24, or about 930,000 students. The proposed measures would still need to go through the Italian legislative process before becoming law.

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Man, 82, Dies After Beach Fight Over Sunlounger in Greece

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An 82-year-old man has died after a fight with a 76-year-old man over a sunlounger at Vouliagmeni beach near Athens, Greece. Local media reported that a disagreement over the use of the loungers escalated into a violent altercation involving several people.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene, with shouting reportedly heard across the beach. The 76-year-old man was arrested, while a 21-year-old woman who was with him was detained and later released. Witnesses said she had injuries to her face.

The 82-year-old man collapsed during the fight and received CPR, with a defibrillator reportedly used before an ambulance arrived. He was taken to hospital but later died. Authorities are investigating the circumstances of the confrontation and the cause of his death.

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Brigitte Bardot’s Belongings Head to Auction

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Nearly 300 personal belongings of late French actress Brigitte Bardot are being auctioned in Paris, with proceeds benefiting her animal charity. The sale includes items from her homes in Saint-Tropez and Paris, offering fans a glimpse into the private life of the iconic actress, who died in December at the age of 91.

Among the highlights are two pairs of Repetto ballet flats, diamond jewellery, her Peugeot bicycle, classical guitars and the Olivetti typewriter she used to write her correspondence and autobiography. Everyday possessions including kitchenware, Le Creuset pans, perfume, cigarette lighters and religious statues are also part of the nearly 300 lots.

Bardot, who rose to fame as an actress and model in the 1950s, became a major symbol of modern femininity before dedicating much of her later life to animal rights. The auction also features portraits of the star and belongings connected to her love of animals, including dog collars and cuddly toys. Most lots have starting prices below €100, though the auction house expects strong interest from collectors and fans.

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Greenland, Denmark Say US Deal Will Not Affect Sovereignty

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Denmark and Greenland said a new security agreement with the United States will not compromise Greenland’s sovereignty or its right to self-determination. The agreement, reached by the US, Denmark and Greenland, would allow a larger US military presence on the Arctic island while restricting rival countries from establishing military bases or making sensitive investments there.

The full details of the agreement have not yet been made public, including the extent of the planned US military presence and any arrangements involving foreign policy or natural resources. The deal is expected to be signed during the United Nations General Assembly next week. Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the agreement recognises the territory’s sovereignty and the Greenlandic people’s right to self-determination.

The agreement follows months of tension after US President Donald Trump called for greater American control over Greenland. NATO has welcomed the deal, saying it could support security and cooperation in the Arctic and North Atlantic. The United States already has military access to Greenland under an existing defence agreement with Denmark.

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AfD Surge Raises Concerns Among Immigrants in Eastern Germany

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The rise of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in eastern states is causing some immigrants to question whether they still feel welcome. Migrants interviewed by Reuters in Rostock and Schwerin described increasing anti-immigrant abuse, ranging from hostile remarks to demands that they return to their home countries.

The concerns come ahead of Sunday’s state election in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where polls suggest the AfD could emerge as the largest party. The party has called for tighter immigration restrictions and has used the term “remigration” in its political messaging. Some migrants said they would consider leaving the region if hostility toward foreigners continues to increase.

The issue also has economic implications for the ageing eastern German states. Around 50,000 people with a migration background work in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, while economists warn that the region will need more skilled workers because of low birth rates and an ageing population. Many migrants who have built lives in Germany say they hope to remain despite the changing political climate.

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Berlin Housing Crisis Dominates City Election

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Berlin’s severe housing shortage and rapidly rising rents have become the biggest concerns for voters ahead of the September 20 state election. Around 85% of households in the German capital are renters, while advertised rents have nearly doubled since 2014. The city is projected to need around 211,000 additional homes by 2040.

The debate has also focused on Tempelhofer Feld, the former airport turned public park. Some parties support limited housing development on parts of the site, while others want to preserve the open space and build homes elsewhere. Nearly two-thirds of Berlin voters backed keeping the area largely free from development in a 2014 referendum.

Berlin’s strong economic growth and expanding population have added pressure to the housing market. Thousands of people recently protested against high rents, while businesses including nightclubs have also reported difficulties coping with rising costs. The election is being closely watched as another test for Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s national government.

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