Culture

Who are the "Maranza"? A TikTok-Born Phenomenon Spreading Across Italy

24-02-2025 - They move in groups, have a recognizable clothing style, and display an arrogant attitude. These young people roam cities and suburbs with the aim of bothering tourists, passersby, and peers on the...

Italy's Top Red Wines Revealed: Gentleman Magazine's 2025 Ranking

06-03-2025 - FLORENCE, ITALY • The prestigious British magazine Gentleman has released its annual list of Italy's 100 best red wines, with Bolgheri Sassicaia 2021 from Tenuta San Guido in Tuscany claiming the...

TikTok Introduces Mandatory Guided Meditation for Teens to Boost Mental Wellbeing

16-05-2025 - TECHNOLOGY • TikTok is rolling out a new "Meditation in sleep hours" feature, set to be enabled by default for all users under 18. This guided meditation exercise aims to improve adolescents' sleep...

Alan Turing's Personal Archive, Including Enigma Code-Breaking Work, Auctioned in UK

18-06-2025 - A collection of rare scientific documents penned by the celebrated mathematician Alan Turing has been sold at auction in Lichfield, UK, for a record-breaking £465,400 (€544,400). These documents...

Pope Francis Receiving Hundreds of Letters Weekly at Gemelli Hospital

14-03-2025 - ROME, ITALY • Poste Italiane reports a significant increase in mail volume directed to the Vatican, with hundreds of letters, drawings, and well wishes arriving weekly for Pope Francis during his...

Cocaine Advances, Crack and Ketamine on the Rise: More Drugs in the EU

14-06-2025 - BRUSSELS • The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) annual report sounds an alarm bell. The Fentanyl problem persists, and Italy sees an increase in drug...

Royal Visit: King Charles and Queen Camilla in Rome for State Engagements and Colosseum Tour

08-04-2025 - ROME, ITALY • King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived in Italy on Monday for a state visit, meeting with President Sergio Mattarella and later touring the Colosseum with renowned historian...

North Macedonia: Thousands Demand Justice After Deadly Nightclub Fire

25-03-2025 - SKOPJE, NORTH MACEDONIA • Thousands of protestors in North Macedonia have taken to the streets, demanding justice after a nightclub fire in Kočani claimed 59 lives and injured dozens more....

Will Europe's Retreat from AI Liability Rules Leave Victims Uncompensated?

04-03-2025 - BRUSSELS, BELGIUM • The EU was hailed for its groundbreaking AI Act, the world's first comprehensive legislation to regulate artificial intelligence. However, concerns are mounting that the...

Rome: Rain of Roses at the Pantheon for Pentecost

08-06-2025 - ANCIENT TRADITION • A evocative and traditional "rain of roses" surprised worshippers and tourists at the Pantheon in Rome on Pentecost Sunday. Thousands of petals fell from the dome's oculus,...

Al Pacino Becomes First Hollywood Celebrity to Meet Pope Leo XIV

17-06-2025 - Al Pacino has made history as the first major Hollywood celebrity to have an official audience with the newly elected Pope Leo XIV.The renowned actor, known for his roles in The Godfather and...

Jeff Bezos's Wedding: Dates and VIP Guests Revealed for Venetian Festivities

20-06-2025 - The countdown has begun for the wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, set to be Venice's event of the year. In just one week, the American magnate and Amazon founder, alongside the U.S....

115-Year-Old British Great-Grandmother Becomes World's Oldest Person

01-05-2025 - SURREY, UK • Ethel Caterham, a 115-year-old British great-grandmother, has officially become the world's oldest living person. Residing in a Surrey care home, she received a personal letter from...

Brescia: Visitor Trips and Tears 16th-Century Moretto Painting

08-02-2025 - In an unfortunate incident at the Renaissance exhibition in the Santa Giulia complex in Brescia, Italy, a visitor tripped and inadvertently tore an oil on canvas painting by Moretto. The artwork, a...

Europe Sees Rise in MDMA and Cocaine Use, Cannabis Consumption Declines

19-03-2025 - BRUSSELS • A new study analyzing wastewater reveals an increase in MDMA, cocaine, and amphetamine use across Europe in 2024, while cannabis consumption has decreased. The report, conducted by the...

Netherlands Sees 10 Percent Rise in Euthanasia Cases in 2024

24-03-2025 - BRUSSELS, BELGIUM • New reports indicate a significant increase in euthanasia deaths in the Netherlands, with cases involving psychiatric conditions quintupling since 2022. While experts attribute...

Aboard the Amerigo Vespucci: Italy's Floating Ambassador Sailing the Mediterranean and the World's Ports

29-05-2025 - CIVITAVECCHIA, ITALY • After twenty months and thirty countries visited, the majestic Italian Navy training ship, the Amerigo Vespucci, returns to Italy for a Mediterranean Tour. Commander Giuseppe...

Frederick Forsyth Dies, "The Day of the Jackal" Author Was 86

09-06-2025 - OBITUARY • The celebrated British writer Frederick Forsyth, master of the political thriller and author of bestsellers like "The Day of the Jackal," has passed away at the age of 86 after a short...

Brawl at Geolier Concert in Germany Leaves Three Italians Injured: Police Investigate as Attempted Murder

17-05-2025 - FRANKFURT, GERMANY • German police have launched an investigation into attempted murder after a violent altercation outside a Geolier concert in Frankfurt on May 2nd left three young men injured....

France Hit by Coordinated Prison Riots: Fires, Gunfire Reported

15-04-2025 - PARIS, FRANCE • A wave of coordinated disturbances, including vehicle fires and automatic gunfire, has struck multiple prisons across France, including facilities in Toulon, Aix-en-Provence, and...

France: Porn Sites Go on "Strike" Against Age Verification Law, Minister Says "All the Better"

03-06-2025 - PARIS • Online porn giants like Pornhub and YouPorn have announced they will cease operations in France starting June 3, 2025. Their parent company, Aylo, is protesting the new age verification...

Will the European Union Ban Phones in Schools? New Proposals for Youth Digital Wellbeing

12-05-2025 -

Pope Francis's Death: What Happens Next in the Vatican

21-04-2025 - VATICAN CITY • "Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, in his residence at Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican," the Vatican announced in a statement published on X. With...

The Pope and Washington: Balancing Faith and Geopolitics

13-05-2025 - VATICAN CITY • Pope Leo XIV finds himself under immediate scrutiny. Early reactions to his pontificate, particularly from conservative Catholic circles in the United States, reveal a mix of hopes...