Giorgia Meloni is experiencing her lowest point since being elected in 2022. The defeat at the polls of her controversial reform of the judiciary, which More than 54% of Italians rejected the proposal in a constitutional referendum held this Sunday and Monday.This has caused an earthquake in the hitherto stable Italian government.

With more than 53.5% of the votes, Italy rejected a controversial justice reform promoted by the government of Giorgia MeloniThe referendum, held this Sunday and Monday, was intended to amend several articles of the Constitution, but it has ended up becoming a plebiscite on the Prime Minister's performance, resulting in her first major defeat at the polls since her election in 2022. "BK_SLT_LNA~" promised: to push through a judicial reform that was written in our electoral program. "We defended it to the very end, and then we left the choice in the hands of the citizens," Meloni stated in a video posted on social media, acknowledging the initiative's failure. The separation of the careers of judges and prosecutors was one of the most controversial issues introduced by the reform. The technicalities of the first weeks of the campaign gave way to mutual attacks between the government, the opposition, and the judiciary, which largely opposed a reform it feared would jeopardize the independence of the judiciary. "If the reform is not approved, we will find ourselves with even more negligent judges advancing in their careers and even more surreal decisions affecting the lives of citizens." "Illegal immigrants, rapists, pedophiles, and drug traffickers released from prison will sow chaos without any legal consequences," the victim went so far as to say, justifying a constitutional reform that included the creation of a court exclusively to judge the professional or ethical misconduct of judges.

Italians return to the polls this Sunday and Monday to vote in a referendum on a controversial judicial reform promoted by the government of Giorgia Meloni. The reform aims to amend several articles of the Constitution to eliminate ideological bias within the judiciary and guarantee its impartiality. The opposition, however, argues that the reform will subject the judiciary to the executive branch and jeopardize the separation of powers. The separation of the careers of judges and prosecutors is one of the key points of this rather technical reform, which has become a plebiscite on the prime minister's leadership, despite Meloni's efforts to distance her political future from the election results. "We are not voting for Meloni, we are voting for justice. Even those who disagree with this government should consider the merits of a reform that seeks to improve the functioning of the system," she asserted this week.

Six million euros. That was the sum stored in the safe of an armored van that was robbed last week on the highway connecting the cities of Brindisi and Lecce in southern Italy. A heist straight out of a movie, in which a gang of thieves used machine guns and explosives against the police before fleeing. Italian authorities They suspect from the beginning that the shadow of the mafia is hiding behind the gang.The armored van had left the headquarters in Brindisi and was heading to the Bank of Italy branch in Lecce when the robbers stopped it, posing as law enforcement officers with fake police cars and flashing blue lights. In the same incident, the criminals rammed and set fire to a van and a truck to block the Carabinieri – the Italian military police – and disrupt traffic on the highway. This highway has already been the site of other similar robberies, such as the one in 2024 when a gang of thieves stole almost three million euros.

In his crusade against irregular immigration, The Italian government built a very expensive detention center in Albania to deport undocumented immigrants. Intercepted in the Mediterranean Sea, the practically empty vessel began a war against rescue NGOs and limited the recognition of the right to international protection, among other measures. Now, the government led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is going a step further and proposing to block ships and expedite the summary deportations of migrants, even in countries other than their countries of origin.

Children, the elderly, and pregnant women became the preferred target of tourist groups, mostly wealthy and influential Europeans. who paid huge sums of money to have them shot with rifles from the hills surrounding Sarajevo, the city besieged during the Balkan War between 1992 and 1996The Milan prosecutor's office opened an investigation in November and on Monday summoned the first Italian suspect in these "human safaris" to testify. He denied any involvement.

Former European Central Bank president Mario Draghi has never hesitated to call things by their name. "With these, let's call them what they are, dictators with whom we have to collaborate, we must be honest when expressing differing viewpoints, but we must cooperate." On that occasion, he was referring to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. as a result of the sexist protocol imposed by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen During an official visit, the Italian Prime Minister's candor cost Rome a diplomatic incident with Ankara, one of its main trading partners, although things didn't escalate. Five years have passed since that episode, and Draghi is no longer at the head of the Italian government or the ECB, but with the benefit of hindsight, that statement could have been made today if, instead of the President of Turkey, the target of his criticism were a certain leader of a Western country. "We are facing the United States, which, at least in its current position, emphasizes the costs it has borne, ignoring the advantages it has gained. It imposes tariffs on Europe, threatens our territorial interests, and makes it clear, for the first time, that it believes European political fragmentation benefits its interests," he warned.

Italy will install metal detectors in schools to prevent students from bringing knives into the classroom after an 18-year-old boy killed a classmate with a kitchen knife at a high school in the northern region of La Spezia. The first pilot tests began on Friday at the entrance to the Einaudi Chiodo High School, where Youssef Abanoub, 18, was fatally stabbed two weeks ago by a classmate, Zouhair Atif, 19. Police officers with canine units and handheld metal detectors scanned the backpacks of all students outside the school gates. The violent death of Youssef Abanoub sparked a broad debate in Italy about youth violence and led the La Spezia police headquarters' provincial public order and security committee to decide to implement stricter security measures. The proposal was presented last week by Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara and confirmed this Thursday by the Interior Ministry through a circular sent to schools. "We need to restore parental authority and for everyone to understand that a parent's role cannot be delegated to a mobile phone," the minister declared in an interview, in which he warned of the rise in violence among young Italians. "Metal detectors in schools will be a useful tool; they are not repressive in any way, especially since those who don't carry knives have nothing to fear," Valditara asserted, responding to those who criticize a supposed "militarization" of Italian schools. Deterrent effect

According to the Italian government, the aim is to prevent the increasing use of bladed weapons by students through a system designed to have a deterrent effect. The measure can be adopted at the request of school principals, but law enforcement, with full "respect for school autonomy," may conduct surprise checks at schools "if there are specific concerns about the commission of crimes or ongoing judicial investigations in this area," the circular states. The document emphasizes that "the commission of serious acts of violence among young people, the discovery of weapons or other objects capable of causing harm in or around schools, as well as the presence of drug trafficking and consumption in areas frequented by schools, have highlighted the marginalization and illegality that permeate the social fabric of schools, requiring a coordinated institutional response." Increase in complaints

Despite warnings from institutions, Italy has one of the lowest rates of juvenile delinquency in Europe. However, according to a recent study by the NGO Save the Children, between 2019 and 2024, the number of minors reported for possession of weapons—from knives to brass knuckles or even stun guns—rose from 778 to 1,946. The first school to implement this measure was Marie Curie in Ponticelli, a troubled neighborhood on the outskirts of Naples. "Three or four times a year, police officers check students at the entrance to see if they are carrying concealed weapons or drugs," explains the principal, Valeria Pirone. The decision was made after a student stabbed another two years ago. After speaking with the students, Pirone understood the magnitude of a worrying phenomenon that, she says, "the school couldn't fight alone." In an interview in the newspaper The RepublicThe headmistress acknowledges that, at first, the students were afraid, but now they accept the checks calmly because they feel safer. "If this measure deters even one student from carrying a knife in their pocket, it will have been worth adopting. But it's sad to have to do it with a dead body on the floor," she concludes.

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Italy is preparing for the Winter Olympics, to be held from February 6 to 22 in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezo, and many international delegations have already arrived in the country. Milan is being fortified to ensure maximum security for the athletes in the coming weeks. But what no one expected is that, along with the extensive police deployment surrounding both cities, there will also be members of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), just as these agents are under scrutiny for recent raids against immigrants and the violence of their operations. have cost the lives of two US citizensRenee Good and Alex Pretti, on the streets of Minneapolis.

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Pope Leo XIV will visit Barcelona in the coming months, or at least that is what the Spanish Church is already taking for granted. This was confirmed by Cardinal José Cobo, Archbishop of Madrid, after meeting this Friday morning at the Vatican with the number two official in the Secretariat of State of the Holy See, Venezuelan Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra. Also present at the meeting were the president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE), Luis Argüello, the Archbishop of Barcelona, ​​Joan Josep Omella, and the Archbishop of the Canary Islands, José Mazuelos. "Will there be a trip? Yes, at least that is the Pope's interest," the Madrid cardinal acknowledged in Rome. The Spanish bishops traveled to the Vatican to discuss the possibility of the Pope visiting Spain this year. The leadership of the CEE presented its proposal, which must now be studied and approved by the Holy See. Although the agenda is still being reviewed, the Spanish bishops assume the trip will culminate with the Pope's visit to the Sagrada Família in June. The Cardinal of Madrid explained that the initiative came directly from the Pope, who has spoken with each bishop, and now the Spanish episcopate awaits instructions from Leo XIV to set in motion the enormous organizational machinery and then extend official invitations to Spanish authorities. The Spanish archbishop confirmed that negotiations have also taken place with the Spanish government, although official invitations have not yet been sent. The city of Barcelona is thus emerging as a key location for the Pope's trip to Spain in the coming months, which would also include a visit by Leo XIV to Madrid and the Canary Islands. "Madrid, Barcelona, ​​and the Canary Islands are the three proposed locations. It's a first draft that must be submitted to the Holy Father so he can then refine it with any notes he deems necessary," Cobo insisted to the media.

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Everything is in place for Pope Leo XIV to visit Spain in 2026. Official sources from the Archdiocese of Madrid have confirmed to ARA that the Archbishop of Madrid, José Cobo, and the Archbishop of Barcelona, Joan Josep Omella, will hold a meeting next Friday, January 9, at the Secretariat of State. The President of the Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE), the Archbishop of Valladolid, Luis Argüello, is also expected to participate in this meeting, as confirmed by CEE sources, who refer to it as a meeting with the Conference's leadership. The Spanish cardinals will arrive in Rome two days before this meeting to participate in the gathering of cardinals from around the world convened by Pope Leo XIV on January 7 and 8. The objective will be to reflect on the future of the Church and the challenges of the Pope's pontificate. Cobo, Omella, and Argüello will then remain in the Vatican for another day to participate in this "summit" regarding the Pope's future visit to Spain. The leading hypothesis is that the Pope will visit Madrid and Barcelona in June, to mark the centenary of the death of architect Antoni Gaudí, although it is not ruled out that the pontiff—whose mother has Spanish origins—could extend his visit to other Spanish cities, such as Santiago de Compostela (whose eighth centenary will be celebrated in 2026), Valladolid, or Alba de Tormes, where the remains of Saint Teresa of Ávila rest. Pending official confirmation from the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV, who holds American and Peruvian citizenship, already expressed to the Spanish journalists accompanying him on his first trip to Turkey and Lebanon in late 2025 his desire to visit the land of his ancestors. "He can have more than just hope," confessed the pontiff, who speaks perfect Spanish and has traveled to Spain on numerous occasions as Superior General of the Order of Saint Augustine. Before becoming Pope, Robert Prevost visited Madrid, Málaga, Seville, Bilbao, Valladolid, León, and Ávila. And after being appointed Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in 2024, he returned to Ávila to visit the birthplace of Saint Teresa of Ávila, where he signed the guestbook. During the Mass inaugurating his pontificate, celebrated on May 18, the King and Queen of Spain, Felipe VI and Letizia, conveyed to the Pope their desire to see him in the country soon. The formal invitation came later through the president of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa., whom Prevost received at the Vatican on October 1, and the mayor of Madrid, José Luis Almeida, who held a private audience with the Pope in December.

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With over 2,450 tons of gold, Italy holds the third-largest gold reserves in the world, behind only the United States and Germany. In the current uncertain international climate, where geopolitical crises increasingly influence markets, this metal remains a safe-haven asset par excellence; a wild card that would allow the country to weather a period of instability. But to whom does this treasure, held by its central bank, belong? This is the question that has divided Italian politicians and experts for weeks, after the government of Giorgia Meloni pushed through an amendment during negotiations on next year's budget law. This amendment explicitly states that the gold reserves deposited in Bankitalia—which have a market value of 5-0—are no longer valid. of the Italian people."

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From London to Brussels, and from the EU capital to Rome. In just 24 hours. Volodymyr Zelensky has traveled 1,800 kilometers to discuss and amend with his European allies The peace plan for Ukraine promoted by US President Donald Trump is running out of time. According to the Financial TimesZelensky has told his European counterparts that on Saturday he was pressured—even more so—by Washington: in a two-hour call, Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy negotiating peace in Ukraine, and Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law, urged him to make a quick decision, which should be "before Na." The Ukrainian president's response was that he needed time to consult the peace plan with European allies, the report notes. Financial Times

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Around 13 million Italians were eligible to vote in regional elections held in Veneto, Campania, and Apulia, which ended without surprises and were marked by low voter turnout. The right-wing coalition governing the country, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, won as expected in the Veneto region—a historical stronghold of Matteo Salvini's League—while the center-right retained power in the southern regions of Campania and Apulia. Polling stations opened on Sunday and closed at 3:00 PM on Monday. While final results are still pending, initial counts confirm the victory of right-wing candidate Alberto Stefani in Veneto, the region of Venice, with over 62% of the vote. Stefani thus succeeds the outgoing president, Luca Zaia, one of the barons of Salvini's party, who was ineligible to run again because he had exceeded the limit of two consecutive terms as head of the regional government. The new governor faced the progressive candidate, Giovanni Manildo, who obtained around 30% of the vote, according to the first results.

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In the early hours of July 2, 1994, Italian judge Paolo Adinolfi said goodbye to his wife and two children with a "I'll be back later, see you for lunch" and left home. However, that midday, no one sat down at the table. The 52-year-old judge parked his BMW in front of the Church of San Valentino in northern Rome and disappeared without a trace. Since then, his family has not heard from him again. Thirty-one years later, Italian police are searching for his remains in the basement of the former mansion of Enrico Nicoletti, considered the "treasurer" of the "Banda della Magliana," a now-defunct mafia that took hold in Rome between the 1970s and 1980s. Financial and canine units have been excavating the cellars of this residence, now the Casa del Jazz, a well-known concert hall, for days. The mansion, surrounded by a garden of over 25,000 square meters and near the Baths of Caracalla, had been seized from the Mafia. A week after excavations began eight months ago, investigators discovered a 500-meter underground tunnel and a hidden shaft beneath the current recording studio, equipped with ground-penetrating radar, thanks to the identification of an access door to the tunnel. According to several local media outlets, two underground chambers were identified during the investigation in an area adjacent to the house. However, Italian authorities are maintaining absolute secrecy. The reopening of the case comes after a complaint filed with the Public Prosecutor's Office by former judge Guglielmo Muntoni, who has never stopped searching for clues about Adinolfi's disappearance. "We will not stop until we get to the bottom of this and clear the tunnel," Muntoni declared this week. The former magistrate had suspected for 29 years that Adinolfi's body might be found beneath the House of Jazz.

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The first Italian Navy ship with 16 immigrants on board It arrived at the Albanian port of Shengjin on October 16th of last year.Thus began the application of the so-called Italy-Albania protocol. the agreement signed a year earlier by Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, along with her Albanian counterpart, the socialist Edi Rama, with whom Rome hoped to outsource the management of migration flows. With a budget of over 650 million euros, the plan consisted of sending male migrants without the right to asylum, rescued in the Mediterranean, to the Balkan country, inspired by the proposal of former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, which he unsuccessfully attempted. deport undocumented immigrants from the United Kingdom to Rwanda

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Thirty years ago, the Italian Military Intelligence Service (SISMI) discovered something disturbing: hundreds of people were traveling to Sarajevo, the city besieged from 1992 to 1996 during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the aim of murdering civilians, including women and childrenIn perfectly organized groups, war tourists fired rifles in a kind of macabre 'human safari'.

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Giorgia Meloni explains in her autobiography—just published in the United States and promoted on social media by Donald Trump—that her political activism began in the 1990s, when corruption was devastating Italy's traditional political parties. Around the same time, a multimillionaire Milanese businessman named Silvio Berlusconi announced his entry into the political arena, ushering in nearly three decades of instability and scandal.

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Empty sun loungers and closed umbrellas. This has been the picture of this summer in Italy. Exorbitant prices and the fall in purchasing power have forced many families to cut back on their summer vacations, and almost half of Italians (49.2%) have stayed home in July and August. With the season over, the numbers aren't adding up for tour operators.

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More than four months have passed since the white smoke from the Sistine Chapel announced the election of a new pope, and even today, few in the Vatican dare to draw a more or less accurate profile of Leo XIV. American journalist Elise Ann Allen, Rome correspondent for the Catholic newspaper I creak, he does it in the book Leo XIV: citizen of the world, missionary of the 21st century, which includes the first interview with Robert Prevost since his election to the Chair of Sant Pere.

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