Ex-European Central Bank President Mario Draghi has formed a new cabinet in Italy comprising of technocrats and politicians from parties ranging from the social democrat Demorcatic party (PD) to the far-right Lega Nord (LN)

Trade unionists and students took part in a general strike demanding safety and rights at their workplaces and educational institutions. The protesting workers also sought an end to layoffs and dismissals and guaranteed wages for the unemployed

Faulty COVID-19 infection estimates from Lombardy showing a higher rate of infections had prompted the Italian government to designate it as a ‘Red Zone’ and impose stricter lockdown measures, resulting in huge revenue losses 

Giulio Regeni, a 28-year-old Ph.D. student at Cambridge University, was kidnapped on January 25, 2016 from Cairo. His body was found a few days later with torture marks. He had been working on Egyptian trade unions for his dissertation 

A vote of confidence was triggered by former prime minister Matteo Renzi, the leader of the centrist  Italia Viva party, when he withdrew support to the incumbent Democratic Party-Five Star Movement-led government in Italy 

Leftist organizations in Italy have condemned the government’s lack of planning when it comes to the education sector and its bowing to the interests of corporates

On December 30, an Italian court convicted three No TAV activists, including Fabiola De Costanzo, for their role in an agitation in 2012. The No TAV movement is opposed to the construction of the Turin-Lyon high speed Railway project

Major parliamentary parties in Italy, including the ruling Democratic Party, have refused to extend the ban on evictions which was imposed in the backdrop of the COVID-19 crisis. Evictions are set to resume on January 1

The local councils of Granarolo in Bologna and San Giuliano Terme in Pisa have passed motions denouncing the controversial anti-communist resolution passed by the European Parliament last year which equates communism to Nazi-fascism

Youth across the country have been organizing demonstrations highlighting the lack of enough facilities for students as the number of COVID-19 cases has surged in recent times

The proposal to reduce the number of members of both of houses of parliament was opposed by the left parties which said it would decrease democratic representation

Willy Monteiro Duarte was killed while trying to help his friend who was caught in an altercation with a group of people in Colleferro in Rome. Many believe the killing of the 21-year old black youth to be of a racist nature