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Nine Arrested in Italy for Allegedly Raising Millions for Hamas

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Italian authorities have arrested nine people accused of raising around €7 million over more than two years, allegedly funneling the funds to Hamas. The money, reportedly collected under the guise of humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians, was instead sent to the militant group through a “complex fundraising system,” according to a police statement. More than €8 million in assets were seized as part of the investigation.

The operation was carried out jointly by Italy’s counter-terror and financial police. The probe, which began after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack in southern Israel, identified suspicious financial transactions linked to the suspects. Investigators said the fundraising network was headquartered in Genoa with branches in Milan, and that over 71% of donations intended for Gaza civilians were diverted to Hamas’s military wing and support for families of suicide bombers or detained terrorists.

Among the arrested is Mohammad Hannoun, president of the Palestinian Association in Italy, who denied close ties to Hamas but acknowledged supporting the Palestinian cause. Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi praised the police effort while emphasizing the presumption of innocence at this stage of the investigation. Hannoun maintained that his support is for the “legitimate resistance of the Palestinian people” and not for terrorist activities.

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EU Scrambles to Secure Italy’s Support for Mercosur Trade Deal Amid Growing Opposition

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The European Union and Germany are making an urgent push to persuade Italy to support a long-delayed free trade agreement with South America’s Mercosur bloc, warning the deal could collapse if it is not signed soon. The pact, negotiated over 25 years, would be the EU’s largest trade agreement in terms of tariff reductions, but faces resistance from several member states, according to a senior EU lawmaker.

While Germany, Spain and Nordic countries back the agreement, arguing it would boost exports hit by U.S. tariffs and reduce reliance on China for key raw materials, opposition is mounting elsewhere. France and Poland have raised strong objections, citing concerns that cheap agricultural imports—particularly beef—could harm European farmers. With Poland firmly opposed and France seeking delays, attention has shifted to Italy as the decisive swing vote.

European Parliament trade committee chair Bernd Lange said the deal would fail without Italy’s backing, noting high-level talks involving Italy’s prime minister, Germany’s chancellor and the European Commission president. Although Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hopes to sign the deal in Brazil this weekend, approval from EU governments is still required. Lawmakers warn that if the agreement is not finalised this year, Mercosur countries may abandon negotiations and seek partnerships elsewhere.

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EU Backs Down on 2035 Combustion Engine Ban Amid Carmaker Pushback

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The European Commission is poised to ease its 2035 ban on new combustion-engine cars, allowing up to 10% of sales to include non-electric options like plug-in hybrids and range extenders using CO2-neutral biofuels or synthetic fuels. This reversal follows intense lobbying from Germany, Italy, and Europe’s auto sector, including giants like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Volkswagen, and Stellantis, as they grapple with competition from Tesla and Chinese EVs. The proposal requires approval from EU governments and the European Parliament.

This marks the EU’s biggest retreat from its aggressive green policies in recent years, with carmakers also urging relaxed 2030 CO2 targets and fines. The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has described the situation as “high noon” for the industry. However, EV advocates warn that diluting the 100% zero-emissions goal to 90% could erode investments and hand more market dominance to China.

To counterbalance, the Commission plans incentives for EVs in corporate fleets—which drive 60% of new car sales—potentially with local content rules and tax breaks for small EVs. Credits toward CO2 targets may also reward sustainable practices like low-carbon steel production, though the auto sector prefers incentives over mandates.

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Italian Police Request Governance Records from 13 Fashion Brands

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Italian police visited the headquarters of 13 major fashion brands, including Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Prada, and Gucci, requesting documents on governance and supply-chain controls. The action is part of an investigation into alleged worker abuse at subcontractors, although none of the companies are under formal investigation or subject to court-appointed administration, judicial documents show.

The brands were linked to the probe after garments and subcontracting records connected to them were found in Chinese-owned workshops previously investigated in Milan. Authorities aim to assess the companies’ involvement in labour exploitation and whether their compliance systems adequately prevent such abuses. Companies will have the opportunity to address any issues internally before prosecutors consider further measures.

The move comes amid broader efforts by the Italian government to safeguard the reputation of “Made in Italy” fashion. Industry Minister Adolfo Urso recently proposed a bill for legal certification of fashion supply chains, allowing brands to pre-emptively prove compliance and protect Italy’s luxury sector, which accounts for more than half of global luxury goods production.

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Italian Mayor Apologises After Pavarotti Statue Is Accidentally Encased in Ice Rink

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A mayor in the Italian town of Pesaro has apologised to Luciano Pavarotti’s family after the late opera legend’s statue was unintentionally left knee-deep inside a Christmas ice rink. The temporary rink, built in the town’s central piazza, encircled the bronze statue with ice and clear plexiglass walls. Pavarotti’s widow, Nicoletta Mantovani, criticised the setup as an act that “ridiculed” her husband, expressing anger and disappointment at the council’s decision.

Mayor Andrea Biancani admitted the council had “made a mistake” and said he never intended to cause offence. Before the rink opened on 29 November, he even posted a playful edited image of the statue playing ice hockey, using the hashtag #DaiUnCinqueAPavarotti (“Give Pavarotti a high-five”). Mantovani, however, condemned the installation as “poorly executed” and “absurd,” noting that it disrespected the memory of a man who helped elevate Italy’s profile worldwide.

The statue, unveiled in April 2024, honours Pavarotti’s close connection to Pesaro, where he owned a villa and was an honorary citizen. Despite the backlash, the mayor said neither the sculpture nor the rink can be moved at this point but promised that such an incident would not happen again. Pavarotti, one of history’s most celebrated tenors, performed globally with the Three Tenors and famously sang “Nessun Dorma” during the 1990 World Cup. He died in 2007, leaving behind four daughters from two marriages.

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Italian Court Blocks Sicily Bridge Plan, Government Vows to Push Ahead

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An Italian court has ruled that the proposed 3,666-metre suspension bridge linking Sicily to mainland Italy violates EU environmental and tender regulations, casting a major setback for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s flagship infrastructure project. The Court of Auditors said the government failed to justify overriding environmental concerns involving coastal and marine ecosystems in Sicily and Calabria.

The project—debated for over 50 years—has long divided the country, with supporters arguing it would boost the economy and strengthen transport routes, including for NATO forces. Critics, however, warn of environmental risks, high costs, and seismic dangers. The judges also pointed out major discrepancies in project financing, noting that the new estimated cost of €13.5 billion is more than triple the original projection, potentially requiring a fresh tender under EU rules.

Despite the ruling, the government insists it remains committed to the bridge. Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini, a key backer, said the concerns can be addressed, while the Eurolink consortium selected to build the bridge expressed confidence in the project’s future. If clarifications fail, the government may attempt to override the objections through a cabinet vote, a move that could ignite further legal battles.

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Italy Passes Landmark Law Defining Femicide as a Crime

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Italy has unanimously approved a landmark law defining femicide—the murder of a woman motivated by gender—as a distinct crime punishable by life imprisonment. The vote took place on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, marking a symbolic moment after years of public pressure. The brutal 2023 killing of 22-year-old Giulia Cecchettin by her ex-boyfriend reignited national outrage and accelerated political action.

The new law, introduced by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, will ensure that gender-motivated killings are officially classified and studied. Judges and experts who helped draft the legislation argue it will expose the deeper roots of such crimes—power, control and societal patriarchy—rather than framing them as acts of jealousy or passion. Italy now joins a small group of EU countries, including Cyprus, Malta, and Croatia, that recognise femicide within their criminal codes.

However, the law has faced criticism from some legal scholars who argue its definitions may be difficult to prove in court, and from activists who warn that legislation alone is not enough. Families of victims, including Giulia’s father, emphasise the need for early emotional education to dismantle stereotypes and prevent future violence. Despite differing opinions, the unanimous vote reflects a rare moment of political unity in Italy as the country confronts the persistent issue of violence against women.

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Italy Launches Probe into Alleged ‘Sniper Safaris’ Targeting Civilians in Bosnian War

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Italian prosecutors in Milan have launched an investigation into shocking allegations that wealthy tourists from Italy and other countries paid to shoot at civilians during the Bosnian war in the early 1990s. The so-called “sniper safaris” allegedly took place in the besieged city of Sarajevo, where participants reportedly paid varying amounts to target men, women, and even children from Serb-controlled positions overlooking the city.

The complaint was filed by Italian journalist and novelist Ezio Gavazzeni, who uncovered testimonies from Bosnian intelligence officers claiming that these “human hunts” were discovered in late 1993 and stopped months later after Italy’s military intelligence service, Sismi, was informed. Gavazzeni’s findings, supported by accounts from Sarajevo’s former mayor and evidence seen in the 2022 documentary Sarajevo Safari, suggest that individuals from several countries — including Italy, the US, and Russia — were involved.

Authorities in Milan, led by counter-terrorism prosecutor Alessandro Gobbis, are now examining the evidence under charges of murder. The investigation seeks to confirm whether Italian nationals participated in these paid killing sprees that took place during the brutal four-year siege of Sarajevo, which claimed over 11,000 civilian lives. Gavazzeni condemned the alleged acts as the “indifference of evil,” underscoring the moral depravity of those who treated a war zone as a hunting ground.

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Worker Dies After Collapse of Medieval Tower Near Rome’s Colosseum

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A Romanian worker has died after being trapped for hours under the rubble following the partial collapse of the medieval Torre dei Conti near the Colosseum in Rome. Emergency services rescued the man late on Monday and rushed him to hospital in serious condition, but he later succumbed to his injuries. Another Romanian worker sustained serious but non-life-threatening head injuries, while two others suffered minor injuries. Fortunately, no firefighters were harmed during the rescue operations.

The 29-metre-high Torre dei Conti, which was undergoing restoration to be converted into a museum and conference space, partially crumbled twice on Monday — first at around 10:30 GMT and again about 90 minutes later. Video footage captured clouds of dust and falling masonry as firefighters worked with aerial ladders to stabilize the structure. Authorities have since seized the construction site to investigate the cause of the collapse, local media reported.

Built in the early 13th century by Pope Innocent III for his family, the Torre dei Conti once stood twice its current height before being reduced due to earthquake damage in the 14th and 17th centuries. The tower, located along the historic Via dei Fori Imperiali, had been closed to the public since 2006 and was undergoing a four-year EU-funded renovation project expected to conclude next year. The collapse has left the building standing but with significant internal damage.

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Italy Probes Spyware Attack Targeting WhatsApp Users, Including Activist and Journalist

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The Italian government announced an investigation into a “particularly serious” spyware incident targeting seven mobile phone users on WhatsApp. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office denied any involvement and directed the National Cybersecurity Agency to probe the matter after reports that a journalist and a migrant rescue activist were affected.

Luca Casarini, co-founder of the Mediterranea Saving Humans charity, revealed he received a spyware alert from WhatsApp the same day Meta accused surveillance firm Paragon Solutions of targeting 90 users across several countries. Italian journalist Francesco Cancellato, editor of Fanpage, also confirmed receiving a similar alert. Both victims expressed concern about the breach, with Casarini calling it a “violation of democracy.”

Meta linked the sophisticated “zero-click” hacking method to Paragon, reportedly owned by AE Industrial Partners, and issued a cease-and-desist letter. Spyware cases were also detected in Belgium, Greece, Germany, and other EU nations. The Italian cybersecurity agency has yet to receive information on the identities of those targeted.

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