https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Italy in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed After standardising chargers for mobile phones, from Tuesday new computers sold in EU countries must also use the USB-C charging point, as the latest phase of EU anti-waste legislation comes into force. https://www.thelocal.it/20260428/eu-anti-waste-law-new-laptops-sold-in-europe-must-now-use-usb-c-chargers Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:16:33 +0200 eu-anti-waste-law-new-laptops-sold-in-europe-must-now-use-usb-c-chargers Environmental pollution is linked to several mental health disorders in Europe, the European Environment Agency (EEA) has warned, arguing that enforcing legislation would result in Europeans being both less depressed and less anxious. https://www.thelocal.it/20260305/pollution-exposure-in-europe-linked-to-mental-health-problems Thu, 05 Mar 2026 14:10:55 +0100 pollution-exposure-in-europe-linked-to-mental-health-problems As the winter holidays draw to an end, you may be preparing to take down the Christmas tree and decorations in your Italian home. But how can you dispose of your ‘albero’ the right way? https://www.thelocal.it/20250102/how-to-properly-dispose-of-your-christmas-tree-in-italy Thu, 02 Jan 2025 17:43:34 +0100 how-to-properly-dispose-of-your-christmas-tree-in-italy Environmental campaign group Greenpeace has slammed the fact that budget flights between destinations in Europe are still often significantly cheaper than travelling by train. https://www.thelocal.it/20250822/unfair-budget-flights-in-europe-up-to-26-times-cheaper-than-train-routes Fri, 22 Aug 2025 18:32:46 +0200 unfair-budget-flights-in-europe-up-to-26-times-cheaper-than-train-routes Wildfires have so far ravaged more than one million hectares of land in European Union countries this year, a record since recording began in 2006, according to AFP analysis of official data. https://www.thelocal.it/20250822/record-eu-wildfires-burnt-more-than-1mn-hectares-in-2025 Fri, 22 Aug 2025 10:56:46 +0200 record-eu-wildfires-burnt-more-than-1mn-hectares-in-2025 Managers of a now-defunct chemical plant in northern Italy were handed jail terms of up to 17 years on Thursday for contaminating water used by hundreds of thousands of people with "forever chemicals". https://www.thelocal.it/20250627/italian-chemical-plant-executives-convicted-in-historic-water-pollution-trial Fri, 27 Jun 2025 11:32:57 +0200 italian-chemical-plant-executives-convicted-in-historic-water-pollution-trial Europe has thousands of incredible swimming spots around its beaches, lakes and rivers, but which countries have the cleanest and dirtiest waters? https://www.thelocal.it/20250621/revealed-where-in-europe-has-the-cleanest-and-dirtiest-swimming-spots Sat, 21 Jun 2025 11:12:22 +0200 revealed-where-in-europe-has-the-cleanest-and-dirtiest-swimming-spots Strict limits on the circulation of older diesel cars are set to come into force in four northern Italian regions in October as part of contested plans to curb emissions and improve air quality. https://www.thelocal.it/20250611/four-italian-regions-to-introduce-ban-on-old-diesel-cars-from-october Wed, 11 Jun 2025 15:33:29 +0200 four-italian-regions-to-introduce-ban-on-old-diesel-cars-from-october The British government has introduced temporary restrictions on travellers from European countries from bringing meat and dairy produce – even in sandwiches – into the country. https://www.thelocal.it/20250415/travellers-from-europe-banned-from-taking-meat-and-dairy-products-into-uk Tue, 15 Apr 2025 18:33:18 +0200 travellers-from-europe-banned-from-taking-meat-and-dairy-products-into-uk "Alarming" levels of microplastic have been found in major rivers across Europe according to scientists in 14 studies published simultaneously Monday. https://www.thelocal.it/20250407/europes-great-rivers-hit-by-alarming-microplastic-pollution Mon, 07 Apr 2025 15:53:21 +0200 europes-great-rivers-hit-by-alarming-microplastic-pollution Managers of a chemical plant accused of knowingly contaminating the water of hundreds of thousands of people are on trial in Italy's Veneto region in one of Europe's biggest environmental disaster lawsuits. https://www.thelocal.it/20250213/were-terrified-of-tap-water-families-seek-justice-in-italys-forever-chemicals-trial Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:44:54 +0100 were-terrified-of-tap-water-families-seek-justice-in-italys-forever-chemicals-trial A new report from environmental watchdog Legambiente has revealed the Italian cities with the worst levels of air pollution. Is yours on the list? https://www.thelocal.it/20250205/revealed-do-you-live-in-one-of-italys-most-polluted-cities Wed, 05 Feb 2025 17:28:40 +0100 revealed-do-you-live-in-one-of-italys-most-polluted-cities The European Court of Human Rights found on Thursday that Italy failed to deal with the burying and dumping of toxic waste by organised criminal groups in the southern Campania region, giving Rome two years to fix the situation. https://www.thelocal.it/20250130/european-rights-court-condemns-italy-over-toxic-waste-dumping-by-mafia Thu, 30 Jan 2025 12:54:38 +0100 european-rights-court-condemns-italy-over-toxic-waste-dumping-by-mafia The European Court of Human Rights on Thursday ruled that Italy failed to protect nearly three million people living in a region plagued by toxic waste dumped by the mafia, giving the government two years to fix the situation. https://www.thelocal.it/20250130/mafia-waste-victims-seek-justice-in-italys-land-of-fires Thu, 30 Jan 2025 10:37:01 +0100 mafia-waste-victims-seek-justice-in-italys-land-of-fires Smoking outdoors will be almost entirely banned in Milan from January 1st, 2025 under efforts to improve air quality and clamp down on second-hand smoke, city authorities said. https://www.thelocal.it/20241218/milan-to-ban-smoking-outdoors-with-smokers-facing-steep-fines-if-caught Wed, 18 Dec 2024 10:20:04 +0100 milan-to-ban-smoking-outdoors-with-smokers-facing-steep-fines-if-caught EU countries gave a definitive green light on Friday to hefty additional tariffs on electric cars made in China, despite warnings that it will spark a damaging trade war with Beijing. https://www.thelocal.it/20241004/explained-why-the-eu-and-china-could-be-heading-for-a-major-trade-war Fri, 04 Oct 2024 17:08:37 +0200 explained-why-the-eu-and-china-could-be-heading-for-a-major-trade-war Italy is due to regain its spot as the world's largest wine producer in 2024 as France's vineyards are hit by unfavourable weather, according to figures from each country's agricultural authorities. https://www.thelocal.it/20240918/italy-seen-overtaking-france-as-worlds-largest-wine-producer Wed, 18 Sep 2024 18:24:22 +0200 italy-seen-overtaking-france-as-worlds-largest-wine-producer Most of Italy’s coastline is in the hands of concessions who operate exclusive clubs or charge for access to the beach. A recent ruling has stirred up protest on both sides, leading to some beach clubs shutting down on Friday morning. https://www.thelocal.it/20240809/italys-beach-club-operators-strike-amid-battle-for-access-to-the-sea Fri, 09 Aug 2024 17:21:23 +0200 italys-beach-club-operators-strike-amid-battle-for-access-to-the-sea A bear who attacked a French tourist in Italy's northern Trentino region earlier this month has been put down, local authorities said on Tuesday. https://www.thelocal.it/20240730/bear-culled-after-attacking-tourist-in-northern-italy Tue, 30 Jul 2024 14:19:53 +0200 bear-culled-after-attacking-tourist-in-northern-italy As climate change causes rising temperatures across the Mediterranean Sea, an invasive predator is wreaking havoc for fishermen and holidaymakers off the coast of Sicily. https://www.thelocal.it/20240729/bearded-fireworm-stalks-shallows-as-mediterranean-warms Mon, 29 Jul 2024 13:35:09 +0200 bearded-fireworm-stalks-shallows-as-mediterranean-warms