Italian prime minister, leading government since 2022
Trump has delivered a July Fourth speech on the National Mall after a heat wave and a thunderstorm evacuation. He has urged Congress to pass voting restrictions, warned of a communist threat at home, and touted past American achievements amid a largely partisan event.
European leaders rally around Giorgia Meloni after Donald Trump claims she begged for a photo at the G7. Meloni rejects the allegation as Italy’s credibility with the US faces strain, while EU partners push to present a united front amid the broader transatlantic fray.
Israel and Lebanon have held direct talks in Washington for the first time in 43 years, aiming to disarm Hezbollah and establish peaceful relations. Despite a US-Iran ceasefire, Israel has refused to withdraw troops from southern Lebanon and continues strikes. Hezbollah and Iran reject negotiations without a ceasefire, while Lebanon demands an end to hostilities first.
Pope Leo XIV has been outspoken in his call for peace during his African tour, despite criticism from Donald Trump. The pope remains committed to condemning war and promoting dialogue, while Trump has branded him weak on foreign policy and crime. The visit highlights tensions between the Vatican and US leadership.
EU foreign ministers have requested discussion of suspending the 1995 EU‑Israel Association Agreement after Spain, Ireland and Slovenia have formally asked for the issue to be placed on the agenda. Member states remain divided: Germany and Italy are opposing suspension while France, Belgium and others are pushing targeted measures, and public pressure has surged following Israel's policies in Gaza, the West Bank and a new death‑penalty law.
President Trump has publicly criticized Pope Leo XIV for opposing the Iran war and has posted an AI-generated image depicting himself as a healer, which has sparked widespread backlash from religious and political figures. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions over US foreign policy and religious symbolism.
As of April 17, 2026, US President Donald Trump has publicly criticized Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for refusing to support US-led efforts against Iran, accusing her of lacking courage and dismissing her condemnation of his attacks on Pope Leo XIV. Italy has responded by emphasizing national dignity and suspending a defense cooperation agreement with Israel amid rising tensions.
Trump has unleashed a fresh attack on Pope Leo XIV, calling him “WEAK” on crime while Leo continues his African tour, urging peace and dialogue. The exchange follows Trump’s deletion of an AI-generated image of himself as a doctor and a string of partisan reactions from U.S. and Vatican allies.
A photo of an IDF soldier smashing a Jesus statue in Lebanon has sparked international outrage. Israeli officials condemn the act, but it highlights ongoing tensions over Israel's conduct in the region and its treatment of Christian communities. The incident prompts criticism from European leaders and US allies.
Amnesty International's annual report criticizes US, Russia, and Israel for rejecting multilateral norms and escalating conflicts. It highlights abuses in Gaza, Ukraine, and Iran, and warns that leaders' actions are emboldening global predators, undermining decades of international law.
U.S. special envoy Paolo Zampolli has told the Financial Times he has suggested Italy replace Iran at the 2026 World Cup; Italian sports minister Andrea Abodi and other officials have said reinstating Italy is not possible or appropriate. Iran and FIFA have said Iran is preparing to play its scheduled group matches in the United States in June.
Iran's football federation has said it will participate in the 2026 World Cup but has presented 10 conditions for attending, including guaranteed visas, respect for its flag and anthem, and higher security. FIFA has reaffirmed Iran will play its group matches in the United States; visa and border disputes have caused recent friction.
A leaked Pentagon email has revealed that US defence planners have been weighing options to punish NATO allies that refused basing and overflight rights for the US-Israeli campaign against Iran, including suspending Spain from NATO and reassessing US support for the Falkland Islands. European leaders are publicly dismissing the email as unofficial.
Despite economic and geopolitical challenges, Milan's design scene remains vibrant. The Milan Furniture Fair and Fuorisalone attract thousands of exhibitors and visitors, showcasing innovative designs. Meanwhile, Vienna's Klima Biennale features environmental art addressing climate change, reflecting a global focus on sustainability.
Israeli forces have maintained control of parts of southern Lebanon amid ongoing conflict with Hezbollah. Despite a recent ceasefire, displacement persists, and destruction of villages continues. The family of Naddaf has been barred from returning home, and tensions remain high in the border region.
La Fenice Foundation has decided to cancel all future collaborations with Beatrice Venezi after her public statements and opposition from staff and audiences. The decision follows protests and a strike over her appointment as music director, which was opposed due to concerns over experience and political connections. The move aims to address tensions and misunderstandings.
Romania's pro‑European coalition has collapsed after the Social Democrats (PSD) joined the far‑right AUR to pass a no‑confidence motion that has removed Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan. The motion has received 281 votes in the 464‑seat parliament; PNL, USR and UDMR deputies have abstained from voting.
The Venice Biennale is reopening Russia’s pavilion for the first time since 2022 amid protests and a mass jury resignation over entries from states facing ICC charges. The international jury has resigned, and the festival is facing scrutiny from the EU and Italy as debates over artistic neutrality and politics intensify.
The United States is considering reducing forces in Germany and has threatened to withdraw troops from Italy and Spain after criticizing those allies over the Iran war. European partners have pushed back, with Spain and Italy denying basing rights were used for Iran-related strikes.
Pope Leo has pushed back after President Trump accused him of endorsing Irans nuclear armament, saying the Church has opposed nuclear weapons for years and asking worshippers to pray for governments to abandon violence. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has met and pledged to improve VaticanUS relations while stressing dialogue on Middle East and hemisphere issues.
The Vatican has hosted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Rome for talks with Pope Leo XIV and senior officials, as tensions with Washington persist after Trump’s criticism of the pontiff. The discussions cover topics of mutual interest in the Western Hemisphere and broader world issues, with potential efforts to thaw relations between the US, the Vatican, and Italy.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has shared a warning about AI-generated deepfake images that circulated this week, including one depicting her in lingerie. She says several fake photos are circulating and has urged verification before sharing. She notes deepfakes can deceive voters and stresses support for those who can defend themselves.
Spain has moved to shield international justice amid US sanctions on ICC officials, urging the EU to expand the Blocking Statute to defend the ICC and UN actions in Gaza. Prime minister Pedro Sánchez has also called for measures within the EU-Israel framework and signed a declaration on South Africa’s genocide case at the ICJ.
The Venice Biennale has been marked by ongoing protests and geopolitical controversy. Pussy Riot and Femen have disrupted the Russian pavilion, while EU funding concerns and sanctions scrutiny persist. The event, with 99 participating nations, continues despite tensions surrounding Russia’s return and Israel’s status, and organizers have postponed the awards ceremony.
European leaders are pushing back on Trump’s urging to withdraw from NATO while calling for stronger European defense. Germany faces pressure as France promotes national defense autonomy, and a recent survey shows waning trust in U.S. leadership among European publics. The debate centers on how Europe should defend itself with or without full U.S. backing.
President Trump has been informally polling aides and guests about whether Vice President JD Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio should lead the Republican ticket in 2028 and has repeatedly mused that a Vance–Rubio ticket would be a "dream team." Both officials have been taking higher-profile roles: Vance is expanding his foreign policy and Midwest campaigning, while Rubio is engaging in diplomacy and public briefings.
The US Treasury has listed UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese under an "International Criminal Court-related Designation Removal" after a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking earlier sanctions. The Trump administration has appealed and the State Department has said it intends to restore her designation if the court reverses the injunction.
A political declaration from the Council of Europe’s 46 member states clarifies rights and limits on asylum enforcement, potentially enabling third-country hubs and faster deportations. The document is non-binding but signals a shift in how Articles 3 and 8 of the ECHR may be applied in practice.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said he would not advise his children to study or work in the United States given the current social climate, signaling growing skepticism about the US as a destination for talent. Merz says Germany still offers strong opportunities and urges a measured, national approach to foreign policy in light of U.S. volatility.
A non-binding Chișinău declaration has been adopted by all 46 members of the Council of Europe, endorsing the use of third-country return hubs and other measures to deter irregular migration. The move is forecast to press courts to apply rights laws more restrictively in asylum and immigration cases while sparking political battles among EU states.
A 31-year-old Italian man of Moroccan descent has been detained after driving into pedestrians in Modena, injuring several people. Investigators are examining motives while noting no confirmed terrorist link; authorities cite possible mental-health factors and social distress. Four remain in critical condition; the driver was stopped by bystanders and police.
The Royal Exchange’s 50th anniversary season has a central question of home. Rory Mullarkey’s play, staged in James Macdonald’s production, traverses Manchester’s history from 19th‑century poverty to 1996 city life, united by a post‑IRA bomb moment; it suggests future hope amid fragile identities.
Helle Lyng Svendsen has been locked out of Meta platforms after challenging Narendra Modi on press questions during a joint Oslo appearance with Norway’s prime minister. Modi has not held solo press conferences since 2014; Nordic leaders are meeting India to deepen trade and energy ties amid global pressures.
Israel has intercepted the Global Sumud flotilla in international waters and detained about 430 activists. National security minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir has posted footage showing bound activists kneeling while he taunts them; the video has provoked condemnation from multiple governments, Israeli ministers and rights groups, and rapid deportations of the detainees.
Since late May, the EU and several Western allies have imposed travel bans, asset freezes and targeted national sanctions on Israeli settlers, settler organisations and some far-right ministers over record settlement expansion and rising settler violence in the West Bank. Britain, France, Canada, Norway, Australia, New Zealand and others are coordinating measures to disrupt financing for extremist settler groups.
Canada has pressed Israel for an independent investigation into the mistreatment of activists aboard a Gaza-bound flotilla. Ottawa has also reaffirmed its opposition to Israeli settlement expansion and West Bank violence, amid reports of abuse and detentions in international waters.
Italian prosecutors have opened an investigation into National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir on suspicion of torture and kidnapping after he posted a video mocking bound flotilla activists detained by Israeli forces on May 18. France and other European states have opened or signalled probes, banned Ben‑Gvir and are weighing EU sanctions.
EU leaders are advancing talks with six Western Balkan states at a Montenegro summit to demonstrate real progress toward possible EU membership, with Montenegro and Albania leading the way while Ukraine and Moldova push for steps like associate membership. The talks come amid debate over how to handle enlargement and security implications in the region.
The Italian coastguard has recovered bodies after a boat packed with refugees capsized near Malta. A fishing boat has rescued about 48 people, with the vessel believed to have departed from Libya. EU talks on asylum returns and new rules are unfolding as rescue operations continue amid ongoing crossings that have claimed many lives this year.
Surveillance video shows a van being doused with petrol and set ablaze in Amendolara, Calabria. Four migrant farm workers—Afghans and a Pakistani national—have died; two suspects have been detained. Survivors say wages were withheld after a day of strawberry picking.
The rich are trimming in-flight luxuries and adopting simpler cabins to cut costs and avoid conspicuous consumption. Aviation insiders say owners are streamlining crew and services while private-charter markets push for speed and efficiency. In contrast, critics note enduring excess among some peers.
Commercial traffic has resumed through the Strait of Hormuz since a US–Iran memorandum, but volumes have stayed far below prewar levels. Ship trackers report partial recoveries, 'dark' sailings with transponders off, continued use of routes close to Iran and Oman, and large backlogs as insurers and shippers wait for demining and clear rules.
EU member states have approved a migration pact that empowers deportation hubs in third countries and tighter border controls; critics warn this could undermine asylum rights while proponents say it will speed removals and deter irregular migration.
At Evian-les-Bains, G7 leaders press Trump to help break deadlock over Ukraine while eyeing renewed sanctions on Russia and pursuing a broader Iran endgame. Zelenskyy attends sessions on Ukraine; Macron seeks consensus and European autonomy amid tensions over U.S. engagement and Iran diplomacy.
Across Rome, tens of thousands have protested migration policy as a far-right plan to push hardline measures advances to parliament. Demonstrations featured anti- and pro-migration marches, with police deployed to keep groups apart. The debate ties to a 50,000-signature petition and to Italy's broader migration strategy.
Following Viktor Orbán’s defeat, Budapest Pride is going ahead with a largely peaceful march under heavy security. Organisers say the event signals hope for LGBTQ+ rights, while rights groups urge continued vigilance against lingering stigma and policy barriers.
G7 leaders have pledged tougher sanctions and stepped-up industrial support for Ukraine after meetings in Evian, but U.S.-led mediation has stalled while President Trump has shifted focus to the Middle East. Russia has accused the U.S. of abandoning neutral mediation, and Russian strikes and Ukrainian long-range drone attacks have recently hit Russian infrastructure and Kyiv's historic Lavra monastery.
In the wake of a U.S.-Iran memorandum aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Western allies are positioning assets to demine and escort ships. France and Britain have led efforts, with others signaling readiness. The deal’s terms remain unclear as coalition partners weigh conditions and timing against ongoing tensions in the region.
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni has called President Donald Trump’s claim that she “begged” for a G7 photo “completely made up.” Foreign minister Antonio Tajani has cancelled a planned US visit and senior Italian ministers have denounced the remarks, deepening a rift that has been growing since April over the Iran war and other disputes.
Britain’s path with Europe has evolved a decade after the referendum. EU leaders say re-entry could happen, but only with exemptions and no four freedoms compromise; UK public opinion shows shifting, while the bloc signals a cautious, conditional path back.