Italy

Italy is grappling with a renewed debate over national spending priorities following a new analysis from the Bank of Italy confirming that arms production negatively impacts the country's economy and job market. This comes as the government allocates nine billion euros to F-35 fighter jets and missile defense systems, prompting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani to highlight a stark choice between continued rearmament and increased social spending. The nation is also preparing a new package of support for Kyiv.

In other significant domestic news, Lombardy has recorded its first assisted suicide managed by the public health service, marking a notable development in end-of-life care for Domenico Zuccarella. Law enforcement is also active, with a 19-year-old detained in Imperia following a sexual violence case, and a prominent 'Ndrangheta boss, Domenico Papalia, has died. Separately, prosecutors are investigating the Ex-Ilva case for alleged fraudulent bankruptcy, while a decades-long wait for a nursery school in Palermo's Sperone district continues.

Internationally, Italian media is closely watching reports of a potential escalation in the Ukraine conflict, with former Ukrainian minister Fedorov suggesting Russia is preparing for intensified actions and claims that the CIA warned President Putin against attacking NATO countries. Devastating floods in Tibet and Nepal, resulting in hundreds missing and a rising death toll, are also being covered.