The United States has declared that it will impose new sanctions on Iran's missile and drone programs following an attack on Israel, expecting allies and partners to take similar actions. Tehran has responded by stating it will use an unprecedented weapon.

The article discusses the conflicting energy policies in Germany and Italy, where governments are promoting the use of lignite and fossil fuels, respectively, as transition fuels. In Germany, the Swedish energy company Vattenfall is planning to expand lignite mining, which is causing the destruction of villages and is at odds with the country's goal to be a leader in renewable energy. Despite Germany's 'Energiewende' strategy, it is still the EU's largest emitter of greenhouse gases. The EU has set emission reduction targets, but the effectiveness of its Emissions Trading System (ETS) is questioned due to low carbon prices. In Italy, despite its potential for renewable energy, the government under Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is pushing for oil and gas exploration, which is seen as a short-term economic fix rather than a sustainable energy strategy. The article highlights the challenges of transitioning to renewable energy amidst economic pressures and industry resistance.

Alasdair Fraser reports from Amatrice, Italy, the epicentre of the earthquake that occurred in August. The report is part of a special programme on Eòrpa, focusing on the aftermath of the disaster. The narrative suggests that the Italian government is being blamed for the extensive damage due to insufficient funding for the reinforcement of vulnerable buildings and issues related to contracts. The report highlights the concerns of the local population and the perceived negligence of the government in disaster preparedness and response.

The Atmospheric Physics Group at the University of Trento, led by Professor Dino Zardi, has achieved a significant goal in urban meteorology through the Com4Cast experiment, which uses simulations to study heat islands in cities. The phenomenon, where metropolitan areas are warmer than rural zones, has implications for thermal comfort, energy consumption in buildings, and urban air quality management. The project, presented on March 17 in Trento, revealed that even in smaller cities like Trento and Rovereto, temperature differences between urban and rural areas can exceed 5°C at night. The research highlights the correlation between high population density and increased heat island intensity, and suggests that detailed forecasts and architectural solutions like green roofs or facades can mitigate global warming effects.

The article, written by Elena Roda, discusses the situation of Syrian residents in the Golan Heights, a territory under Israeli control since 1967. These residents are unable to join the protests against Syrian President Bashar Assad due to travel restrictions. They express their support for the Arab Spring and the Syrian uprising through other means, such as social media and local activism. The article highlights the division among the Golan Heights' Syrian community, with younger, educated residents supporting the uprising, while older, working-class residents show some support for Assad. The Golan Heights residents, despite enjoying certain freedoms like freedom of speech, aspire to be part of a democratic Syria. The article also touches on the role of the Golan Heights as a symbol of resistance and the complex feelings of watching the Syrian conflict from afar.