Deborah Cater

Teacher stabbed at Rome school. Image shows ambulance from 2011 in Rome. sv1ambo, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Rome teacher recovering after pupil attack at Centocelle school

September 18, 2026September 18, 2026Deborah CaterLeave a Comment

The 66-year-old literature teacher, in her final year before retirement, is in shock but not in a life-threatening condition. A 13-year-old pupil has been identified as the attacker.

rainwater streaming down the protective casing over Caravaggio's Bacchus

No damage to Uffizi paintings after Florence storm leak

September 18, 2026September 18, 2026Deborah CaterLeave a Comment

A skylight leak at the Uffizi sent water splashing onto the case protecting Caravaggio’s Bacchus during Thursday’s flash flood, but inspections confirm the works themselves came through unscathed.

Robero Mancini returns for second stint as Italy national coach. Mehr News Agency, CC BY 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Mancini names over 70 players in first squad call-up

September 18, 2026September 18, 2026Deborah CaterLeave a Comment

The returning coach, Roberto Mancini, has cast a wide net ahead of a demanding run of four Nations League fixtures in eleven days.

Italy's public debt drops Public debt burden

Giorgetti: Italy’s debt burden rising at “alarming rate”

September 18, 2026September 18, 2026Deborah CaterLeave a Comment

Speaking from Dublin, the economy minister points to global shocks and rising borrowing costs as Italy’s public debt burden grows alarmingly.

Car tax to be abolished in 2027 for small and medium-sized cars and motorcycles. Image credit: Franck Michel's photo, licensed as CC BY 2.0 via Flickr

Government to scrap road tax for 14.5 million vehicles from 2027

September 18, 2026September 18, 2026Deborah CaterLeave a Comment

Rome moves to axe the hated bollo auto (road tax) for all motorcycles and over 70% of all cars on the road ahead of elections. It is part of a wider package to shore up household spending power.

Emperor Trajan's baths. By Rabax63 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=77975629

Trajan’s Baths open to the public on Rome’s Oppian Hill

September 9, 2026September 9, 2026Deborah CaterLeave a Comment

The ruins of Emperor Trajan’s Baths have opened to visitors on Rome’s Oppian Hill. A restored underground gallery on the Oppian Hill reveals the largest mosaic ever found in the city and a fresco using perspective seven centuries before Brunelleschi.

Giovanni Brusca claims mafia wanted to blame left for bombing campaign MartinezEsc21, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Mafia considered blaming the Left for 1992-93 bombing campaign

September 9, 2026September 9, 2026Deborah CaterLeave a Comment

Former Cosa Nostra boss tells Milan court the Sicilian Mafia considered pinning its bombing campaign on the political Left as a favour to Silvio Berlusconi. He claims a veiled threat of further attacks was sent if he failed to help.

AfD Saxony Anhlat. Image credit: Facebook

Italian politicians split sharply over AfD Saxony-Anhalt win

September 9, 2026September 9, 2026Deborah CaterLeave a Comment

Deputy premiers Tajani and Salvini take opposing views on the regional election victory in Germany of far-right party AfD. Opposition figures warn of a wider European reckoning.

balsamic vinegar acetaia di giorgio Modena Image credit: Acetaia di Giorgio

Balsamic vinegar of Modena

September 6, 2026September 6, 2026Deborah CaterLeave a Comment

We look at the history of balsamic vinegar and how a centuries-old Este court tradition became one of Italy’s most fiercely protected culinary exports.