In this edition

• Explosion at munitions factory south of Rome prompts safety scrutiny

  A powerful explosion tore through a munitions factory south of Rome on Thursday, raising fresh concerns about safety in Italy's defence supply chain.

  Giulia Benati · 420 words

• Eight arrested over far-left plot against Lyon-Turin line

  Eight people were charged with criminal conspiracy in Paris as France and Italy exchanged intelligence on an alleged ultra-left plot against the Lyon-Turin train line.

  Giulia Benati · 460 words

Recent headlines from this bureau

• Explosion at munitions factory south of Rome prompts safety scrutiny
• Eight arrested over far-left plot against Lyon-Turin line
• Europe's latest heatwave puts 92 million under 35C alert
• EU curbs on 'forever chemicals' in food packaging kick in
• Roman shipwreck with 500 amphorae found off Sicily
• Chinese EV sales surge to record high in Europe, testing Italy's Motor Valley
• Wildfire Near Lake Garda Forces Evacuations as Heatwave Strains Italy
• Hugo Cocktail Takes Aim at Aperol in UK Summer of Spritz

Geography & climate

Humid continental; foggy winters, hot summers, flood-prone rivers.

The Po plain along the ancient Via Emilia, the Apennine ridge, the Adriatic Riviera at Rimini.

Economy & culture

Food (Parmigiano, prosciutto, balsamico), supercars (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Ducati), packaging machinery, cooperatives.

Italy's oldest university, a cooperative and left civic tradition, Fellini's Rimini, food as identity.