Italian Parliament

Italy's parliament has approved a plan to return to nuclear energy, decades after the country abandoned atomic power in referendums following the 1987 Chernobyl disaster. The move is part of a broader push in Europe to reconsider nuclear power as a low-carbon energy source amid energy security concerns and climate goals.

Students and school workers rallied outside Italy's parliament in Rome on Friday to protest a government decree that would cap foreign pupils at 30% per class and restrict face coverings in schools. Demonstrators say the rules stigmatise migrant students and undermine integration. The measures, backed by the Meloni government, have sparked a heated national debate over classroom composition and inclusion in Italian schools.

David Sassoli, the Italian politician who served as President of the European Parliament until his death in January 2022, is again among the most searched topics in Italy. Renewed attention comes as Italian politicians, including PD leader Elly Schlein, call for a leap forward in European integration by abandoning unanimity rules, reviving discussion of Sassoli's pro-European legacy.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government won Senate approval for legislation enabling a revival of nuclear power, four decades after Italy abandoned it. The bill passed 81 votes to 51, with seven abstentions. Observers say it marks a decisive step toward restarting nuclear energy in Italy, with debate expected over reactors, safety and timelines.