February
01.02.2025
•
Saturday
•

Day Courts Returned Migrants While Money Moved Mountains

⌨
The Court of Appeal's ruling against migrant detention in Albania materialized as 43 migrants returned to Bari by ship, marking a significant setback to Meloni's migration policy. Government officials expressed "sconcerto" while insisting the program would continue.

Hamas released three Israeli hostages - Bibas, Calderon, and Siegel - though Bibas's wife and children remained in captivity. Trump's new tariffs against Canada, Mexico and China took effect, with warnings of EU targets to follow, prompting concerns from Minister Giorgetti.

By evening, UniCredit's move to acquire 4-5% of Generali dominated financial coverage, suggesting major shifts in Italy's financial landscape. Meanwhile, Arianna Meloni's framing of her sister as "our Frodo" at FdI's direction meeting indicated attempts to reinforce party unity amid judicial challenges to government policies.
02.02.2025
•
Sunday
•

Day Three Giants Answered Tariffs While Judges Broke Albanian Wall

⌨
The morning began with China, Canada, and Mexico announcing retaliatory measures against Trump's new tariffs, with Canada preparing $100 billion in countermeasures starting Tuesday. The EU positioned itself for response while Italy attempted to mediate.

The Albanian migrant crisis deepened as judges ordered 43 migrants returned to Italy, undermining Meloni's flagship policy. Government attempts to craft "legally unassailable" deportation procedures indicated recognition of the policy's vulnerability.

By afternoon, Trump escalated tensions by suggesting Canada become the "51st state" to avoid tariffs. The capture of Salvatore Sinagra's alleged attacker in Lanzarote and severe flooding in Messina occupied domestic coverage.

Evening brought UniCredit's confirmation of acquiring 4.1% in Generali, while Enrico Giovannini's rejection of common EU debt for arms procurement signaled growing resistance to military spending increases.
03.02.2025
•
Monday
•

Day Trump Traded Tariffs For Troops

⌨
Trump's morning announcement of EU tariffs triggered market turbulence, with Asian exchanges falling sharply and cryptocurrencies losing value. Ukrainian forces launched their largest drone operation of the war, striking refineries in Volgograd and Astrakhan.

By midday, ArBat militia founder Armen Sarkisyan was killed in a Moscow high-rise explosion, while Von der Leyen accelerated her India visit in response to Trump's threats. The Almasri case evolved as a torture victim filed charges against Meloni's government.

Evening negotiations saw Trump suspend tariffs on Mexico for one month in exchange for 10,000 troops at the border, followed by similar arrangements with Canada. His demands for Ukrainian rare earth minerals in exchange for continued military aid emerged as markets closed, while opposition parties threatened to block parliamentary proceedings unless Meloni testified about Almasri.
04.02.2025
•
Tuesday
•

Day China Answered Tariffs While Bullets Struck Swedish School

⌨
China responded to Trump's tariffs with 15% duties on US coal and gas, 10% on crude oil, launched an investigation into Google, and blacklisted Calvin Klein. Trump suspended Northern tariffs for Mexico and Canada in exchange for border control commitments, while maintaining pressure on the EU.

The Almasri case intensified as UN documents from December 2024 surfaced, detailing human rights violations. Opposition demands for televised ministerial briefings succeeded partially, with Senate-only coverage approved. The political discourse shifted from denying knowledge to claiming strategic necessity.

A shooting at Risbergska Campus in Örebro, Sweden left ten dead and fifteen wounded. Netanyahu's visit to Trump resulted in $1 billion arms deal and controversial statements about Palestinian displacement. Zelensky indicated readiness for direct talks with Putin.
05.02.2025
•
Wednesday
•

Day Ministers Faced Gaza Riviera While Almasri Papers Unfolded

⌨
Trump's statements about transforming Gaza into a "Middle East Riviera" under US control dominated morning coverage, with Hamas and multiple countries rejecting the proposal as "racist." The plan included permanent Palestinian displacement, linking to earlier statements about rare earth minerals deals with Ukraine.

The Almasri case reached Parliament, with Minister Nordio defending his actions by criticizing the International Criminal Court's documentation. His claims about procedural errors and translation issues shifted the narrative from previous days' focus on strategic necessity to administrative technicalities. Opposition leaders Schlein and Conte attacked Meloni's absence from the briefing, while Nordio maintained his position about document invalidity through the afternoon session.

Iran's ambassador announced readiness to host the Pope in Tehran, suggesting diplomatic movements beneath the surface of regional tensions.
06.02.2025
•
Thursday
•

Day Spies Left While Judges Knocked

⌨
The morning began with the death of Lorenzo Rovagnati in a helicopter crash at his family estate. By noon, the Paragon cybersecurity crisis emerged, with revelations about surveillance of journalists leading to the company's withdrawal from Italy.

The Almasri case intensified as a formal complaint reached The Hague, creating a diplomatic confrontation. Minister Tajani's response evolved from dismissing the court's authority to demanding an investigation into the ICC itself, while the EU defended the court's independence. This escalation follows previous days' shift from administrative defense to direct confrontation.

Trump's statement about transforming Gaza into US territory after the war received coverage in Italian media, connecting to previous day's discussions about Palestinian displacement. The arms export transparency law debate continued in parallel, with critics linking it to broader regional tensions.
07.02.2025
•
Friday
•

Day Rome Broke From Brussels While Earth Shook

⌨
The morning began with Trump's executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court, creating an immediate split between Italy and other EU members. While 79 countries signed against Trump's sanctions, Italy notably abstained, marking its first major break from EU consensus on international justice.

By afternoon, tensions escalated between Rome's intelligence services and prosecutors, with DIS filing a formal complaint against Prosecutor Lo Voi for allegedly leaking classified information. This development connected to the ongoing Paragon surveillance controversy and Almasri case.

A significant earthquake (magnitude 4.8) near the Aeolian Islands disrupted the news cycle, while Hamas prepared to release three named hostages. The evening saw Meloni attempting to defuse internal coalition tensions over leaked FdI chat messages mocking Salvini, while maintaining support for Trump's ICC position despite EU criticism.
08.02.2025
•
Saturday
•

Day Three Hostages Walked Through Hamas Theater

⌨
The morning began with intensifying tensions between intelligence services and Rome's prosecutor Lo Voi over leaked classified information, continuing the previous day's institutional conflict. By mid-morning, attention shifted to Gaza as Hamas staged a public presentation of three released Israeli hostages - Sharabi, Ben Ami, and Levy - with extensive media coverage of their physical condition.

In the afternoon, the vandalization of the Basovizza foiba memorial with pro-Yugoslav slogans prompted responses from President Mattarella and PM Meloni. The European far-right summit in Rome saw Salvini aligning with Trump's positions while distancing from Brussels. By evening, the government shifted toward reconciliation with magistrates, as Meloni accepted new ANM president Parodi's request for dialogue, marking a departure from the confrontational stance of previous days.

The Crosetto voice scam targeting prominent Italian business families emerged as a significant cybersecurity concern, with multiple victims filing formal complaints.
09.02.2025
•
Sunday
•

Day Trump Claims Putin Called While Pope Gasps For Air

⌨
The morning headlines focused on Trump's claim of a phone conversation with Putin about ending the Ukraine war, though the Kremlin neither confirmed nor denied it. By afternoon, the EU demanded inclusion in any peace negotiations, marking growing tension between Trump's unilateral approach and European interests.

Two parallel crises emerged: Pope Francis interrupted his homily due to respiratory difficulties, while Defense Minister Crosetto prepared legal action against an AI-powered voice fraud scheme targeting Italian business elites. The Paragon spyware controversy continued with government sources confirming its ongoing use despite public concern.

Von der Leyen's announcement of Baltic states' electrical grid separation from Russia aligned with Italy's push for European strategic autonomy. The new ANM president Parodi maintained the planned judges' strike while signaling openness to dialogue with Meloni's government.
10.02.2025
•
Monday
•

Day Trump's Gaza Purchase Froze Peace

⌨
Trump's morning statement about purchasing Gaza and preventing Palestinian return triggered immediate consequences. Hamas suspended the planned hostage release, though later kept "the door open" for negotiations. This development connected to previous days' Trump-Putin dialogue claims and shifting international alignments.

The Italian political sphere focused on two parallel institutional conflicts: the Perugia prosecutors opening an investigation into DIS classified information leaks, continuing the previous days' tension between intelligence services and judiciary, and Minister Santanchè's no-confidence vote, marked by conspicuous absences of coalition partners. While Meloni maintained alignment with Trump's international positions, internal coalition stress emerged over Salvini's push for tax amnesty.

The Day of Remembrance for foibe victims became another theater of institutional tension, with vandalism reports and competing narratives between right and left-wing sources dominating coverage.
11.02.2025
•
Tuesday
•

Day Prison Guards Were Given License To Massacre

⌨
A major anti-mafia operation in Palermo resulted in 183 arrests, revealing Cosa Nostra's use of encrypted phones to coordinate from prison. By midday, leaked documents exposed Russian prison protocols instructing guards to torture Ukrainian prisoners without consequences, coinciding with Zelensky's unexpected proposal to exchange territories with Russia, specifically offering the Kursk region.

Tuscany became Italy's first region to approve assisted suicide legislation, requiring response within 47 days. The evening saw Pope Francis make an unprecedented video appearance at the Sanremo Festival, promoting music as an instrument of peace - a stark contrast to the day's revelations about systematic torture.

Netanyahu and Trump both issued ultimatums regarding Hamas hostages, threatening renewed warfare by Saturday, continuing the escalation pattern from previous days following Trump's Gaza purchase proposal.
12.02.2025
•
Wednesday
•

Day Phone Calls Moved Mountains While Sanremo Wept

⌨
The morning began with confirmation of Russian hacker Vinnik's release, part of the Fogel prisoner exchange, evolving into reports of direct Trump-Putin phone negotiations on Ukraine. The Pentagon's declaration that Ukraine's NATO membership was "unrealistic" and borders "unrecoverable" marked a significant shift in US positioning.

Industrial production data showed a 7.1% December decline, marking 23 consecutive months of decrease. The Milleproroghe decree maintained vehicle scrapping incentives while removing tax concordat measures. President Mattarella's speech at Perugia's University for Foreigners emphasized Italy's openness, contrasting with growing migration policy tensions.

The evening's Sanremo Festival coverage revealed emotional performances, with Damiano David's Dalla tribute and Michielin's tears dominating headlines, while Lucano's final conviction in Cassation Court closed a chapter in Italy's migration narrative.
13.02.2025
•
Thursday
•

Day Afghan Terror Met Sanremo's Song

⌨
Trump's direct negotiations with Putin regarding Ukraine revealed Moscow's terms: excluding Kiev from NATO and maintaining occupied territories. European markets responded positively while EU leaders rejected "rushed compromises." By afternoon, attention shifted to Munich, where a 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker, who entered Italy through Calabria in 2016, rammed his vehicle into a union rally, leaving one dead and 28 injured, including children.

The Parliament elected four Constitutional Court judges after months of deadlock, while the Privacy Guarantor warned Il Fatto about publishing classified intelligence communications regarding La Russa Jr.'s case. The evening belonged to Sanremo's third night, with Duran Duran's return after 40 years becoming a cultural moment, joined by Victoria from Måneskin, while Carlo Conti's hosting garnered comparison to Amadeus's previous festival leadership.
14.02.2025
•
Friday
•

Day Moscow Branded Mattarella Blasphemer

⌨
Moscow's sharp reaction to President Mattarella's Marseille University speech comparing Russia to the Third Reich dominated morning coverage, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova terming it "blasphemous inventions." Prime Minister Meloni characterized the response as an insult to Italy while Quirinale maintained Mattarella's serenity.

By midday, US Vice President Vance's Munich Security Conference speech criticized European migration policies and freedom of speech limitations, while expressing support for Germany's AfD party. Trump's announcement of direct Ukraine-Russia negotiations sparked EU concerns about exclusion from peace talks.

Evening coverage shifted to Pope Francis's hospitalization at Gemelli for bronchitis treatment, requiring several days' stay. The suspension of Italy's contract with Paragon spyware services emerged as a parallel security development, while Sanremo Festival's cover night performances provided cultural counterpoint to political tensions.
15.02.2025
•
Saturday
•

Day Singers Danced While Europe Slipped Away

⌨
Three Israeli hostages were released in Khan Younis through Red Cross mediation, while Moscow continued its diplomatic offensive against Mattarella over his Nazi comparison. US officials headed to Riyadh for Russia-Ukraine talks, with EU notably excluded, prompting Crosetto's warning about Europe's potential "deflagration" and need for Meloni's mediation.

Tennis player Sinner's three-month doping suspension agreement with WADA dominated afternoon coverage, while a Syrian resident's knife attack in Villach, Austria, killing a 14-year-old, triggered security concerns. Pope Francis's condition required cancellation of Sunday's Angelus.

Evening coverage centered on Sanremo Festival's finale, with Conti, Marcuzzi, and Cattelan hosting, while US-Russia negotiations proceeded without EU participation, marking a shift in diplomatic dynamics that began with Trump's direct engagement earlier in the week.
16.02.2025
•
Sunday
•

Day Europe Gathered While Olly Sang

⌨
The Sanremo Festival concluded with Olly's victory, causing controversy due to Giorgia's exclusion from the top five. The festival's final night achieved 72.7% viewership share under Carlo Conti's direction.

By morning, attention shifted to Europe's diplomatic response to its exclusion from US-Russia negotiations, as Macron convened an emergency summit in Paris with leaders from seven nations, including Meloni. The move follows Trump's initiative for direct Ukraine-Russia talks in Riyadh.

Netanyahu's warning about "unleashing hell" if hostages aren't returned accompanied news of Hamas releasing three more captives. A magnitude 3.9 earthquake in Naples' Campi Flegrei area marked the afternoon, while evening coverage focused on US aims for a Ukraine ceasefire by Easter, despite excluding European partners from negotiations.
17.02.2025
•
Monday
•

Day Europe Watched Riyadh From Paris

⌨
Moscow's diplomatic threats against Mattarella materialized into cyber attacks on Italian infrastructure, targeting transportation and banking systems. By morning, European leaders gathered in Paris for an emergency summit on Ukraine, while Trump announced imminent US-Russia talks in Riyadh.

The Vatican reported Pope Francis's condition had deteriorated, requiring extended hospitalization for a complex polymicrobial respiratory infection. Meanwhile, Scholz explicitly opposed discussions of European troop deployment in Ukraine, contradicting London's openness to peacekeeping forces.

By evening, the summit concluded with a split between Macron's push for military presence and German-Italian opposition. Starmer emphasized US guarantees as crucial for peace, while Tusk insisted on Kiev's involvement in all negotiations. The parallel diplomatic tracks - Paris's reactive summit and Riyadh's exclusive talks - highlighted Europe's diminishing role in Ukraine negotiations.
18.02.2025
•
Tuesday
•

Day Russia Brought Kiev To Saudi Table

⌨
The US-Russia talks in Riyadh dominated Italian media coverage, with Moscow showing unprecedented flexibility by accepting potential EU membership for Ukraine. By midday, Senator Rubio called for EU inclusion in negotiations, while Putin expressed willingness to meet Zelensky. Draghi's address to the European Parliament demanded unified action and 800 billion euros in common debt investment.

Pro-Russian hackers continued attacks on Italian infrastructure, targeting the Made in Italy Ministry and Financial Police in apparent retaliation against Mattarella. Zelensky's cancellation of his Riyadh visit prompted Lavrov's dismissive response, while Il Fatto revealed Trump's proposed peace terms involving Ukrainian resource concessions.

The Vatican's announcement of Pope Francis's bilateral pneumonia requiring complex treatment shifted evening coverage, as European leaders prepared for Macron's new summit attempting to maintain EU relevance in peace negotiations.
19.02.2025
•
Wednesday
•

Day Pope Rose While Peace Talks Burned

⌨
Pope Francis's bilateral pneumonia dominated morning coverage, with reports of stable condition evolving into news of him sitting in an armchair, culminating in Meloni's 20-minute visit reporting him alert and joking. Vatican bulletins indicated slight improvement in inflammatory markers.

The diplomatic sphere witnessed escalating rhetoric between Trump and Zelensky, with Trump labeling the Ukrainian leader "an unelected dictator and mediocre comedian" after Zelensky accused him of living in "Russian disinformation." Putin joined the discourse from Riyadh, dismissing Kiev's concerns as "hysteria" while expressing openness to negotiations. By evening, Musk entered the fray, demanding Ukrainian elections.

The morning's US-Russia dialogue in Riyadh, following yesterday's breakthrough, shifted to public antagonism by nightfall, with Moscow and Washington appearing to coordinate pressure on Kiev.
20.02.2025
•
Thursday
•

Day Ukraine's Shield Cracked

⌨
The morning brought Trump's sustained attack on Zelensky's legitimacy, calling him "an unelected dictator," while signaling openness to Moscow's negotiating position. By noon, Washington blocked the UN resolution condemning Russian aggression and advised Kiev to "lower its tone," marking a dramatic shift in US support.

Hamas staged a theatrical display of hostage coffins in Gaza, including the Bibas family, before transferring them to the Red Cross. Netanyahu vowed retribution while Herzog expressed remorse.

The evening saw Tel Aviv facing a coordinated bomb threat with five devices discovered on buses, three detonating without casualties. Domestically, Delmastro's eight-month conviction for the Cospito case revelations prompted opposition calls for resignation, which Meloni rejected as "political justice."
21.02.2025
•
Friday
•

Day Pope's Shield Cracked While Kiev Sought Shelter

⌨
The morning brought Delmastro's conviction aftermath, with ANM expressing concern over government attacks on judicial independence. By noon, reports emerged of Putin planning to declare victory over Ukraine on February 24th, while Trump's team floated plans for Zelensky's potential exile in France.

Chinese scientists' discovery of a new bat coronavirus capable of human transmission briefly captured media attention, before focus shifted to the Pope's deteriorating condition. Evening medical bulletins revealed Francis faces sepsis risk despite breathing independently, with doctors abandoning earlier optimism for a more grave prognosis.

The night concluded with an attack at Berlin's Holocaust Memorial, while Apple yielded to Trump's pressure by redirecting Mexican investments to the US. The day's coverage reflected the continued erosion of Ukraine's diplomatic position, with Meloni attempting to maintain support while US stance shifts toward compromise.
22.02.2025
•
Saturday
•

Day Pope Fought For Breath

⌨
The morning brought the return of Shiri Bibas's body and release of five Israeli hostages, with Hamas staging a controversial display at Nuseirat where Omer Shem Tov kissed his captors. Israel delayed the release of Palestinian prisoners in response.

By afternoon, focus shifted to Mulhouse, France, where a terror-flagged assailant killed one and wounded several while shouting "Allah Akbar." Macron labeled it Islamic terrorism.

The evening saw Pope Francis's condition deteriorate significantly, with Vatican sources confirming a severe respiratory crisis requiring oxygen support and blood transfusions. This marked a sharp decline from yesterday's cautious optimism.

Throughout the day, Trump's threats to cut Ukraine's Starlink access unless Zelensky agreed to rare earth minerals deals highlighted the continued erosion of Western support, following patterns from previous days.
23.02.2025
•
Sunday
•

Day Death Knocked at Three Doors

⌨
Pope Francis's condition deteriorated at dawn with a respiratory crisis requiring blood transfusions and high-flow oxygen. By morning, Vatican sources confirmed his stability while maintaining oxygen support. Early afternoon brought news of kidney insufficiency.

In parallel, Ukraine's position shifted dramatically as Zelensky offered his resignation in exchange for NATO membership, seeking security guarantees from Trump before any meeting with Putin. This follows previous days' erosion of Western support.

Evening brought German election results showing CDU victory at 29%, but more significantly AfD's surge to 19.5%, doubling their previous result. The massive 84% turnout and AfD's immediate demand for government participation marked a shift in European politics, with Trump praising the results as "a great day for Germany."
24.02.2025
•
Monday
•

Day German Right Rose While US Stepped Back

⌨
The German federal election brought CDU victory with 28.6%, but AfD's surge to 20.8% dominated coverage. By afternoon, Merz announced plans for CDU-SPD coalition talks, aiming for Easter government formation, while Habeck resigned from Green leadership.

At the UN, unprecedented US opposition to its own Ukraine resolution, modified by European amendments, signaled further Western support erosion. Trump's praise for Meloni and announcement of upcoming Zelensky meeting coincided with Putin suggesting openness to European peacekeepers.

Pope Francis's condition showed improvement through the day, with Vatican sources reporting reduced asthmatic crises while maintaining oxygen support. Evening prayer vigils began at St. Peter's Square, marking institutional preparation for potential deterioration.
25.02.2025
•
Tuesday
•

Day US Shield Left Ukraine For Rare Earth

⌨
The US joined Russia in opposing Ukraine's UN resolution, marking a shift in Western alignment. By morning, Trump's statement about EU peacekeepers and Putin's openness to the proposal revealed the underlying rare earth minerals negotiations.

Pope Francis's condition remained critical though stable, with Vatican sources reporting successful rest periods between oxygen treatments. His meeting with Cardinal Parolin suggested institutional continuity planning.

Minister Santanchè survived a no-confidence vote with 206 votes against 134, while Tajani clarified Italy's position on Ukraine deployment - only under UN mandate. The evening brought confirmation of a US-Ukraine minerals agreement, with Zelensky scheduled to meet Trump, suggesting the previous days' German election results accelerated Western strategic realignment.
26.02.2025
•
Wednesday
•

Day Rare Earth Opened Path To Peace

⌨
Morning papers reported on Ukraine-US rare earth minerals negotiations, with Trump setting conditions for Zelensky's visit. By noon, Russia's Lavrov opposed EU peacekeeping proposals while Crosetto questioned troop deployment mechanisms. The afternoon brought confirmation of Zelensky's Friday Washington visit, as Trump announced 25% EU tariffs.

Pope Francis's condition evolved from "stable" in morning bulletins to "improved" by evening, with kidney function normalizing. The Vatican's measured communication pattern suggested institutional preparation for various scenarios.

The Molise corruption investigation involving President Roberti and 47 others emerged as a significant domestic story. Minister Santanchè's parliamentary defense, focusing on fashion choices rather than substance, continued from previous day's coverage. The Milan stock exchange reached 39,000 points, its highest since 2007.
27.02.2025
•
Thursday
•

Day Hackman's Death Mixed With Monoxide

⌨
The morning began with Hamas releasing four hostage bodies while Trump threatened 25% EU tariffs. By noon, emerging details about Gene Hackman's death shifted from initial reports to possible carbon monoxide poisoning, with bodies found in separate rooms. The narrative evolved throughout the day as police investigated garage connections.

Pope Francis continued oxygen therapy while showing improvement, though Vatican maintained reserved prognosis. Magistrates' strike reached 80% participation, prompting government concessions on reforms. Lombardy's healthcare rankings sparked institutional conflict between Governor Fontana and the Health Ministry.

Former football manager Zeman's hospitalization for cerebral ischemia and a suspected terror attack in Haifa with 13 injuries marked the afternoon. Evening brought confirmation of US-Ukraine rare earth minerals agreement details, while European markets declined on Trump's tariff threats.
28.02.2025
•
Friday
•

Day Twenty Minutes Shattered Peace Path

⌨
The rare earth minerals agreement, positioned as a path to Ukrainian-Russian peace talks, collapsed during a dramatic 20-minute White House meeting. Trump expelled Zelensky after accusing him of "playing with World War III," marking a public break in Western unity. The confrontation triggered immediate European responses, with Meloni calling for an urgent US-EU summit.

Pope Francis faced a new respiratory crisis, with Vatican sources reporting bronchospasm and mechanical ventilation needs. The afternoon bulletin indicated 24-48 hours would be needed to evaluate potential deterioration.

Macron announced reciprocal EU tariffs on US steel and aluminum in response to Trump's trade threats, while Dombrovskis warned of potential 7% global GDP impact. The markets responded with Tokyo recording its largest monthly decline since 2022.

By evening, Republican voices joined Trump in demanding Zelensky's removal, while reports emerged of potential US military aid suspension.
Italy Live Headlines