Etna eruption intensifies, Aviation Color Code raised to Red

"Strombolian activity at Mount Etna’s Voragine Crater increased rapidly during the early hours
following a sharp increase in volcanic tremor. The eruption generated an ash plume reaching 7 km (23 000 feet) above sea level, prompting Etna Observatory to raise the Aviation Color Code to Red." W

4.7-Magnitude Earthquake in Pozzuoli, Italy! Landslides, Collapsed Buildings and Evacuations

"In the evening a 4.7-magnitude earthquake struck Pozzuoli, near Naples, in southern Italy.

The Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) confirmed that the epicenter was located between Pozzuoli and Quarto, near the Solfatara crater. 

The earthquake was recorded as the strongest tremor in the region in the last 40 years. At least 26 people were injured, and approximately 300 people were evacuated from their homes. A power outage affecting 100,000 households occurred due to damage to a high-voltage power line, and the Port of Pozzuoli and some railway lines were closed for safety reasons." DT

Italy shuts down effort linked to Gaza flotilla group to track Jewish, Israeli tourists

"Italian authorities shut down an anonymous online effort that asked the public to report the locations of Israeli tourists, Italian Jews and businesses believed to have ties to Zionism,

drawing condemnation from senior government officials and Jewish leaders who compared the initiative to fascist-era persecution.
The form was removed following the intervention of Gen. Pasquale Angelosanto, Italy’s national coordinator for the fight against antisemitism, according to Italian and Israeli media reports. It said the information collected would be received by the Global Sumud Movement, an activist network associated with flotilla efforts to reach the Gaza Strip, and would remain confidential. Respondents were asked to provide sources so the reports could be verified and used to coordinate unspecified "initiatives." msn

Tourists at luxury resort are now stranded after fire that killed reality TV star

"An enormous fire at a Dominican Republic resort that killed one Italian reality TV star has also left nearly 1,700 other tourists stranded, after the deadly blaze reduced their passports and other important documents to ashes.
The fire erupted on Friday at the Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham in Bayahibe, a $350-a-night resort popular with Western tourists, many of whom were evacuated.
Francesca Valentino, a 46-year-old Italian woman, was killed.
When the fire at Viva Dominicus Beach broke out, the resort was operating at 84 percent capacity." msn

Italian Woman Beheaded as Attacker Recites Passages From a Book. Yeah, THAT Book.

"And so in Italy recently, a woman was beheaded, in accord with commands found in the holy book of a rapidly growing segment of Italy’s population, and in case anyone remained determined to miss the point of what he had done (as many European authorities are), the perpetrator helpfully quoted from that book in justification of his actions. Welcome to the new Europe.

The Italian-language Firenze Today reported Friday that Issam Chlih, “a 29-year-old homeless Moroccan national,” is “the sole suspect in the murder of Silke Sauer,” who was “a 44-year-old German woman found decapitated near an abandoned farmhouse in the park of the former CNR site in Scandicci.” CNR is the National Research Council, an Italian government agency devoted to scientific and technological exploration.
Preliminary Investigations Judge (GIP) Roberta Di Maria ordered Chlih detained “due to the risk that Chlih might flee or reoffend.”
Issam Chlih, however, is not your average hardened criminal or garden-variety recidivist. This is clear from the details of what happened on the fateful night in which Chlih beheaded Silke Sauer. “According to the Carabinieri's reconstruction,” Firenze Today notes, “Issam Chlih and Silke Sauer were together on the evening and had stopped at a bar in Florence near the Leopolda station. Witnesses reported that Chlih shouted incoherent phrases and harassed customers. Police arrived at the scene after the bar manager called the emergency number (112).”
Early in the morning of the following day, however, “they returned to Scandicci by tram. Video surveillance cameras captured them walking toward the abandoned farmhouse. They reportedly began arguing right near the building.” It was at this point that “other homeless individuals present in the park at the former CNR site reportedly heard screaming and a male voice reciting verses from the Qur'an, shouting that the devil had taken possession of the woman. Immediately afterward, a female voice—presumably Silke Sauer’s—was heard shouting ‘stop’ in Italian.”
Issam Chlih did not stop. And “the following day, in a state of agitation, Chlih reportedly drove away anyone approaching the dog park adjacent to the farmhouse. Passersby called emergency services, and the twenty-nine-year-old was admitted to Torregalli Hospital. The next day Silke’s body was discovered.”
How could something like this have happened? Well, that ain’t exactly rocket science. What Qur'an verses could Issam Chlih have been reciting? These are good candidates: “When you meet the unbelievers, strike the necks...” (47:4) And: “When your Lord inspired the angels, I am with you. So make those who believe stand firm. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Then strike the necks and strike their fingertips.” (8:12)." PJM

5.5 Earthquake - 12 km west of Cremona, Provincia di Cremona, Lombardy, Italy

"A strong magnitude 5.5 earthquake hit 12.4 km (8 mi) away from Cremona, Lombardy, Italy, shortly after midnight at 12.14 am local time (Europe/Rome GMT +2). The quake had a great depth of 747 km (464 mi) and was felt by many near the epicenter.: VD

6.2 Earthquake - 41 km west of Cosenza, Provincia di Cosenza, Calabria, Italy

"A very strong magnitude 6.2 earthquake hit 41 km (25 mi) away from Cosenza, Calabria,

Italy, late in the evening at 11.12 pm local time (Europe/Rome GMT +1). The quake had a moderate depth of 243 km (151 mi) and was felt over a large region.
According to preliminary estimates the quake might have been felt by over 16.7 million people across Italy. For most people (87%), the quake might only have felt as barely noticeable or weak shaking if at all (intensities I-III). Approx. 2,100,000 people were in areas with light shaking (intensity IV), the highest intensity this quake likely produced over inhabited areas." VD

UK, France reject NATO plan to increase military aid to Ukraine

"The United Kingdom, France, and other NATO states have blocked a plan under which each

member would contribute 0.25% of their GDP to military aid for Ukraine.
Rutte did not name the members blocking the proposal, but a NATO source told the Telegraph that the opponents were the U.K., France, Canada, Italy, and Spain. "They’re not very enthusiastic about the idea," the source said.
The news comes on the heels of the U.K.'s surprise easing of Russian oil sanctions, dealing a further blow to London's image as one of Ukraine's most steadfast partners." KI

M4.4 earthquake triggers seismic swarm at Italy’s Campi Flegrei caldera

"A shallow M4.4 earthquake struck the Campi Flegrei caldera west of Naples, Italy....
beginning a seismic swarm that ended after 12 earthquakes. The main shock was felt across the Naples area, prompting local checks and precautionary closures. Officials at the Municipality of Naples ordered precautionary school closures in the Bagnoli-Fuorigrotta “Red Zone” while inspections are carried out on public and private buildings." W

Convicted Italian killer fled justice to join Putin’s army — ends up behind bars

"Gianni Cenni, 52, had a long criminal history before joining Russian forces.
According to reports cited by O2, he was convicted of murder in 1999 after killing a security guard in Milan and served around a decade in prison.

Years later, in 2022, he was accused of sexually assaulting a seven-year-old girl and was convicted the following year.
Cenni fled Italy and reportedly moved through Finland and Spain before eventually arriving in Russia.
There, he worked in an Italian restaurant in the city of Samara and is said to have married a Russian woman.
He later signed a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry and was sent to fight in Ukraine.
In early 2025, Cenni was captured by Ukrainian forces near Kupiansk.
According to Italy’s ANSA news agency, he returned to Italy on March 25.
Upon landing at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport, Cenni was immediately detained by Italian authorities.
He is expected to serve a sentence of seven years and two months." Dagenses

6.0 Earthquake - Provincia di Campobasso, 36 km southwest of Naples, Napoli, Campania, Italy

"A very strong magnitude 6.0 earthquake hit 36 km (22 mi) away from Naples, Campania, Italy, shortly after midnight at 12.03 am local time (Europe/Rome GMT +1). The quake had a great depth of 382 km (237 mi) and was felt over a large region." VD

24 combat planes left Spain to attack Iran while Sánchez boasted of 'no to war'

"From February 27 to March 5, there were 35 war-related movements at the two naval bases. They are the origin or stopover for aircraft operating in the Middle East.
"We could use their base if we wanted to. We could simply fly there and use it. No one is going to tell us not to use it." The words that Donald Trump uttered alongside an unflappable Friedrich Merz last Wednesday at the White House seemed like just another provocation from the U.S. president, however, they held some truth. Although the government insisted from day one that the United States does not use the Rota and Morón bases for the attack on Iran, the reality is that these two enclaves are essential and strategic in the offensive. They are needed as a gateway to the Mediterranean, and they are being used. Also in this war against Iran.

There were no fewer than 40 flight movements to and from Morón and Rota. These include five landings and take-offs of a Beech aircraft that used the two bases in Andalusia and Torrejón for round trips to/from Morocco. Particularly noteworthy are 24 combat aircraft take-offs - some aircraft on multiple missions - to operate in the attacks on Iran with a prior stopover in Germany and Italy.
Over the 7 monitored days, there are repeated flights of strategic transport aircraft - the C-17 Globemaster, C-130 Hercules, and C-5 Super Galaxy - along with several KC-135 Stratotanker tanker aircraft. The activity pattern shows clear peaks on three days - February 27, March 1, and March 5 - with up to eight daily movements, indicating a relatively intense logistical bridge activation. The reason? The United States' strategy to be able to use the Spanish bases without directly exploiting them." msn

UK urges Western Europe to arm Ukraine instead of talk to Russia

"Western Europe must increase support for Ukraine rather than restart direct talks with Russia,

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told Politico on Thursday.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have previously argued it is time to negotiate directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin. They are reportedly concerned EU interests will be sidelined in US-mediated Ukraine peace talks and are pushing to create a special diplomatic envoy role for the bloc to engage Russia.
In the interview, Cooper said she sees no sign that “Putin actually wants peace” and urged more weapons for Ukraine and continued sanctions on Russia. Western Europe must “put increased pressure, economic pressure, and also through the military support to Ukraine, that military pressure on Russia as well,” she added." RT

Strong explosive activity at Etna opens new vent feeding lava flow toward Valle del Bove, Italy

"Etna’s eruptive activity intensified rapidly between December 24 and 27, 2025, culminating in short-lived lava fountains about 200 m (650 feet) high and a new lava flow from the upper Voragine crater toward the Valle del Bove. INGV Etna Observatory (OE) raised the Aviation Color Code to Red as tremor and infrasound amplitudes reached very high levels." W

Naples and Pozzuoli RATTLED again by the Super Volcano Campi Flegrei amidst ongoing Earthquake Swarm

"A sharp, circular fault has been discovered beneath Campi Flegrei, one of the world’s most
closely watched volcanoes, following a major seismic study powered by artificial intelligence. Researchers say the hidden structure, invisible until now, brings into focus long-suspected zones of underground stress and could help explain the uptick in local earthquake activity." msn

Two dead, widespread damage reported after heavy rainfall hits Brazzano di Cormons, Italy

"Extreme rainfall triggered widespread flooding and a fatal landslide in northern Italy destroying homes in Brazzano di Cormons and causing extensive damage across the Gorizia area. Reports from local authorities and media indicate that some areas near the landslide zone recorded rainfall accumulations of up to 300 mm (11.8 inches), while regional monitoring stations recorded 152 mm (6 inches) in 6 hours between Palmanova and Gorizia." W

Western aid feeding Ukrainian corruption – Italian deputy PM

"Western assistance to Kiev risks ending up in the pockets of corrupt Ukrainian officials,

Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has warned, citing a major scandal that recently shook Ukraine’s government. He also argued against further military aid, warning that the EU was on “the path of death.”
Salvini spoke as the Italian government approved its 12th package of military support for Ukraine and promised electrical generators for the coming winter. The decision coincided with a major scandal in Kiev over an alleged $100 million energy graft scheme involving Timur Mindich, a close associate and former business partner of Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky." RT

German mountaineers reported dead after an avalanche near Vertainspitze mountain, Italy

"At least 5 people were reported dead after an avalanche in the Ortler area near the Vertainspitze mountain, sweeping up two groups of German mountaineers during their ascent.
The first group, which consisted of three people, got swept away by the snow rushing downhill and were later found dead, the National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps (CNSAS) reported." W

World leaders throw their weight behind the Gaza ceasefire deal

"The U.S. and Egyptian presidents are chairing a gathering of world leaders dubbed “the Summit for Peace” to support ending the two-year

war in Gaza after a breakthrough ceasefire deal.
Leaders from Turkey, Jordan, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, the United Nations and European Union also have all said they will attend.
The summit in the Egyptian Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh comes on the same day that Hamas is to release its 20 remaining living Israeli hostages and Israel is to free hundreds of Palestinians from its prisons, crucial steps after a ceasefire began." 

AP

Statue of ‘Fascist’ Pope John Paul II Defaced by Pro-Palestine Protesters in Rome

"Members of a pro-Palestine protest in Rome reportedly defaced a statue honoring the late
Pope John Paul II with graffiti that described him as a “fascist”.
The statue of Pope John Paul II in the Piazza Cinquecento outside of Rome’s Termini railway station was spray-painted with the communist hammer and sickle symbol and the words “fascist shit”. Meanwhile, a keffiyeh headdress was wrapped around the statue’s neck." Breitbart