Stories from Italy

An arrest warrant has been issued for a former director following the disappearance and discovery of a girl's body. Investigators are working to determine if the girl arrived at the discovery site alone or accompanied by someone.

The body of a 22-year-old woman, identified as Lisa Jr, was found in a ravine in Cecci, Pavia province. Signs of violence were reportedly found on the body, though investigators have not ruled out other possibilities.

Eighteen wolves were found dead in the Da Bruzzo National Park, spanning the Lazio and Molise regions of Italy. Some journalistic sources report the death toll may be as high as 21 wolves.

Annual loss of purchasing power in Italy is estimated to reach over 3,000 euros for a teacher. Despite this decline, net foreign demand showed growth. Investments increased by 0.9%, driven by residential sectors. Projections suggest Italy's annual GDP growth for 2026 could reach 0.3% if current cyclical variations remain neutral. Italy's composite business confidence indicator recorded its second consecutive decline in March. The cyclical variation for the four quarters of 2026 was 0.3%, while the average for the December-February quarter was 0.4%. Construction production saw a 0.5% seasonal increase in February following three months of decline. However, the moving quarterly dynamic remains negative at -1%. Exports fell by 2.2% and imports decreased by 4.2% during the January-February period. The data covers five sectors: pharmaceuticals, transport, metallurgy, food, and wood.

Italian Economy Minister Giorgetti requested flexibility from Brussels regarding Italy's public accounts. The minister noted that the European stability pact must be evaluated based on actual results. Giorgetti stated that this is not an ordinary phase for financial planning. Italian Minister Giorgetti is expected to address the Council of Ministers on Thursday regarding fiscal priorities and potential tax cuts. Marco Grimaldi of Alleanza Verdesinistra commented on the difficulty of managing the economy given the 200 billion euro impact from Europe. The discussion follows recent debates regarding defense spending and competing national priorities. Italy has requested flexibility regarding the EU stability pact, according to a report by Giuseppe Colombo in Repubblica. The request specifically mentions funds related to FESA.

Italy recorded a positive net migration of 435,000 people. The increase is attributed to improvements in relations with foreign countries and the foreign-born population. Data was released by the ISTAT agency regarding 2024 and 2025 figures.

An experiment involving carbon capture through the use of CO2 in Taranto has received funding from CTP and international investment funds. The project was previously reported three years ago. The source noted the importance of hydrogen capture in this context.

A group of 28-year-old researchers from Lecco conducted their first experiment in Gela to capture CO2 and convert it into calcium carbonate. The process involves dissolving the carbonate in water to help reduce ocean acidification caused by climate change.

Mayor Fabrizio Stantonio reported that the municipality of Avasso is managed by only one municipal employee. Stantonio has been in office since 2014 and also serves as the president of the province of Lodi.

Istat, the Corte dei Conti, and Banca d'Italia have confirmed Italy's failure to exit the EU infringement procedure. The national deficit stands at 3.1% of GDP. High public debt remains a primary concern, having grown to 137% of GDP last year with projections exceeding 100% for the current year. The Superbonus program is cited as a contributing factor to these fiscal issues. The Italian Chamber of Deputies acknowledged that the Superbonus scheme contributed to the 2025 deficit exceeding 3%. Officials noted that fundamental issues for Italian public accounts include high debt levels near 140 percent of GDP and low economic growth. The discussion occurred during a hearing on the budget document. The source characterized certain labor decrees as propaganda while wages and pensions decline due to inflation.