Tourists Flock to Mount Etna as Eruptions Intensify, Ignoring Safety Warnings

Italian authorities have uncovered a secret workshop in Rome that was reportedly producing counterfeit paintings by renowned artists, including Pablo Picasso and Rembrandt. The operation, discovered by prosecutors and Italy's cultural heritage protection squad, led to the seizure of 71 canvases — some complete and others in progress — along with numerous art supplies and falsified authenticity certificates. According to officials, they believe an art restorer played a pivotal role in orchestrating this elaborate forgery scheme. The investigation began after monitoring online art sales, where law enforcement came across numerous paintings bearing questionable signatures of 19th and 20th-century artists. Beyond Picasso and Rembrandt, the fraud extended to works attributed to lesser-known figures like Mario Puccini, Giacomo Balla, and Belgian artist Anna De Weert. This discovery comes on the heels of a broader crackdown on a Europe-wide forgery network that included forgeries of works by contemporary artists such as Banksy and Andy Warhol. The precise duration of the scam and its financial implications remain unclear.

Italy's national union for journalists has initiated legal action against Giorgia Meloni’s government following claims it improperly utilized spyware to hack the phones of critics rather than criminals. This complaint, submitted to prosecutors in Rome on Wednesday, comes after revelations in late January that several political activists and journalists, including Francesco Cancellato, had their mobile devices targeted by unauthorized parties using Paragon’s Graphite spyware, known for military applications. According to the Guardian, the government has not clarified its position since the allegations surfaced. Lorenzo Fontana, the president of the Italian parliament, has restricted discussions in parliament regarding these claims, asserting prior information has been disclosed and further details are classified. Meloni's office has denied that any government entities were involved in the alleged surveillance. Critics, including former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, have condemned the government's avoidance of oversight as a threat to democracy. Legal experts caution that the use of such spyware against citizens violates constitutional protections. The ongoing investigation seeks to determine accountability and the scope of spying on dissenting voices in Italy.

Pope Francis, 88, has been diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia, raising significant health concerns, according to reports from the Vatican. The pontiff is currently receiving treatment at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, where worried believers have gathered to pray, sing, and light candles for his recovery. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni indicated that the Pope had a "calm night," woke up, and had breakfast on Wednesday, attempting to reassure the public amid rising anxieties about his condition. However, this statement echoes similar updates made over the past five days as the Pope remained hospitalized. Previously, Bruni had conveyed that the pontiff was in "good spirits," reading newspapers, and handling paperwork, despite the severe nature of his illness. Notably, on Tuesday, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of a Canadian bishop implicated in a sexual abuse scandal, demonstrating his engagement with church matters despite his health issues. The Vatican reportedly aims to depict the Pope as capable of fulfilling his duties even while undergoing treatment, in light of increasing apprehensions regarding his well-being.