Cardinal Angelo Becciu, a former high-ranking Vatican official, has been convicted of embezzlement and sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison in the Vatican's largest financial corruption scandal. The trial, which lasted over two years, involved ten defendants and nearly 50 charges, including embezzlement, corruption, and fraud, centered around a luxury property deal in London. Becciu, who served as the pope's chief of staff from 2011 to 2018, was absolved of several charges but found guilty of others. The trial highlighted the Vatican's financial mismanagement and is seen as part of Pope Francis' efforts to address these issues. Becciu's lawyer announced plans to appeal the verdict. The scandal was initially uncovered by Italian journalist Massimiliano Coccia, leading to Becciu's dismissal by Pope Francis in 2020.

In one of Italy's largest mafia trials, over 200 members of the 'Ndrangheta crime group have been sentenced to a total of more than 2,200 years in prison. The trial, which began in January 2021, involved 338 defendants and covered charges such as murder, corruption, drug trafficking, money laundering, and extortion. High-profile figures, including politicians and clan bosses, were among those convicted. The 'Ndrangheta, originating in the 18th century, is now a global criminal organization controlling a significant portion of Europe's cocaine trade. The trial took place in a specially constructed bunker courtroom, and the chief prosecutor, Nicola Gratteri, has been under police protection due to his anti-mafia efforts. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has praised Italy's tactics in combating organized crime.

Milan's city council has reversed its decision to ban ice cream sales after midnight following widespread criticism. The proposed ban aimed to protect residents' tranquility but faced backlash for potentially harming cultural practices and tourism. Security councillor Marco Granelli announced that the focus would shift to regulating alcohol and drinks instead. The decision was praised by the Italian Federation of Businesses, which criticized the initial proposal as absurd and harmful to tourism. This is not the first time Milan has attempted such a ban, with a similar effort in 2013 also failing due to public opposition.

The article follows the story of Giuseppe Misuraca, who was adopted from an orphanage in Ukraine's Donbas region at the age of three by a Sicilian family. Despite living in Italy his entire life, Giuseppe feels '100% Ukrainian' and is now returning to Ukraine for the first time in 25 years to fight against Russian forces. He applied to be a foreign fighter and is ready to join the Ukrainian army. The article also mentions Dorin Bzovi, a driver who has been transporting people and essential goods between Italy and Ukraine since the war began. Two other women from Italy are also mentioned, who are traveling to Ukraine to offer help, with one ready to take up arms if necessary. Ukrainian border officials report that 215,000 citizens have returned to fight, with about 80% being men aged 18 to 60.

Approximately 200 passengers were trapped for at least 40 minutes inside the Cornelia station of Rome's Metro A during an Atac strike. The station gates were closed by staff participating in the labor action without notifying the operational center. Rome's Municipal Transport apologized to customers and is investigating the incident, with disciplinary measures announced by Transport Councilor Eugenio Patanè. Surreal photos and videos circulated on Twitter, and Mayor Roberto Gualtieri expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to citizens, emphasizing the importance of strikes for worker safety.

The Twitter account of Italy's Ministry of Ecological Transition, led by Roberto Cingolani, was hacked, with the profile displaying a new picture, username, likes to Elon Musk's posts, and a series of tweets in English promoting the cryptocurrency Ethereum. The incident is reminiscent of a cyber attack on the ministry a few months prior.

A declassified U.S. intelligence report alleges that since 2014, Russia has secretly transferred at least $300 million to influence political parties and politicians in over 20 countries, targeting nationalists, anti-Europeans, and far-right groups. The revelation has stirred controversy in Italy ahead of elections, with political figures like Adolfo Urso of FdI stating Italy is not involved, while others demand transparency. The Democratic Party's Lia Quartapelle and leader Enrico Letta, along with other politicians like Carlo Calenda and Luigi di Maio, have called for clarity and investigation into potential Russian interference in Italian politics.

Giuseppe Conte's superbonus, which promised to renovate Italian homes at no cost, has been criticized by figures like Mario Draghi and Daniele Franco for tripling costs and being one of the largest scams in the Republic. The Court of Auditors and the International Monetary Fund also opposed it for being distortive and risky. The Revenue Agency reported over five billion euros in fraud, with the Guardia di Finanza intercepting conversations highlighting the state's vulnerability to scams. Similarly, the citizen's income measure, another symbol of the Five Star Movement, has seen 288 million euros in frauds uncovered by the Guardia di Finanza and INPS from January 2021 to May 2022.

Coraggio Italia, a center-right political party, has released an animated campaign video aimed at young voters, featuring a song by Dj Matrix, known for his work on the Euro 2020 football championship. The video, which has gone viral on social media, showcases a young man dreaming of space travel and achieving his goals, symbolizing the party's political manifesto. Despite criticism on social media for its childlike content, the party defends the video as a serious political message. Luigi Brugnaro, the mayor of Venice and president of Coraggio Italia, emphasizes the party's focus on policies for families and new generations.

The latest Ipsos poll for Corriere shows the Brothers of Italy party surpassing 25%, leading the Democratic Party by 5 points ahead of the September 25 elections. The center-right coalition, led by Giorgia Meloni, is significantly ahead of Enrico Letta's front, with 46.6% against 27.2%. The Lega party is at 12.5%, Forza Italia at 8%, and other parties follow with lower percentages. The center-right is projected to win 370 seats out of 600 in both chambers of parliament. Voter abstention is at a record high of 33.4%. Demos' analysis for Repubblica confirms these trends, with slight differences. Mario Draghi is the only leader whose approval rating has increased, and economic support for families is the most agreed-upon political proposal among Italians. Skepticism about the stability of both coalitions is high, and distrust in politics remains at 79%.

The Movimento 5 Stelle (M5S) party is blocking the conversion into law of the second Aid Decree, worth 17 billion euros, due to disagreements over the superbonus policy. This has caused the postponement of the third Aid Decree, intended to address the energy cost increase for Italian families. Political opponents criticize M5S for their behavior, with accusations of electioneering. The government is now limited to evaluating available resources, leaving the decision to commit them to Parliament.

The article discusses the situation in Siret, Romania, where one of the most significant refugee camps has been set up to assist Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war. It is estimated that 380,000 Ukrainians have crossed the border here since the conflict began. The journalist, Giorgia Orlandi, reports that an average of 6,000 Ukrainian citizens cross the Siret border daily. The article highlights the efforts of NGOs such as Open Hands Charity and Adra Romania in providing food, hygiene products, and transportation to the refugees. The article also mentions the visit of the French Interior Minister and the appreciation expressed by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris for Romania's solidarity and efforts in welcoming Ukrainian citizens.