Italy
On September 22, Italy was gripped by a general strike that lasted from midnight to 11:00 PM, affecting transport, schools, government agencies, and ports. Up to 100,000 protesters gathered in Rome, and in Milan, participants burned the American flag.
Port workers in Italy are on strike, blocking the ports of Genoa, Livorno, and Trieste to prevent the transport of weapons to Israel. In Milan, a pro-Palestinian protest escalated into clashes with police, who used tear gas.
Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL spacecraft's main engine shut down earlier than expected during two burns needed to raise the spacecraft's orbit. This will prevent it from delivering approximately 5,000 kg of cargo and experimental materials to the International Space Station as planned.
The head of the CCD, Andriy Kovalenko, stated that European armies are not ready for a modern technological war with Russia, as they are poorly acquainted with the realities of drone warfare. He noted that Moscow uses Europeans' fear of war to exert pressure, and also supports pro-Russian politicians in Europe.
This summer, climate change caused 16,500 deaths in European cities, more than three times the projected statistics. The study covered 854 urban areas where temperatures were 3.6°C higher.
The asteroid 2025 FA22, measuring between 130 and 290 meters, will fly past Earth at a distance of 835,000 kilometers. Its flyby can be observed live, although scientists previously believed it could collide with the planet in 2089.
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto stated that the country is not equipped to repel a potential military attack due to decades of underinvestment in defense. Italy plans to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, but the creation of an autonomous air defense system is not possible before 2031.
The German Foreign Ministry confirmed the tightening of visa rules for Russians, increasing the fee to 80 euros and extending the processing time. Germany insists on uniform restrictions for Russians throughout the Schengen area, despite the lack of a unified position in the EU.
Spain has joined the countries threatening to boycott Eurovision-2026 if Israel is allowed to participate. This is the first country from the "Big Five" to put forward such a condition, which could influence the organizers' decision.
The Ukrainian volleyball team is currently third in their group at the 2025 World Championship with three points. To advance to the playoffs, the Ukrainians need to defeat the reigning world champions, the Italian national team.
The defense of a Ukrainian man suspected of coordinating attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipelines in 2022 plans to appeal. The man, identified as Serhiy K., was arrested in Italy on a European warrant.
An Italian court has ruled to extradite to Germany a suspect in the case of the Nord Stream explosions in September 2022. The suspect denies the charges, and the Ukrainian's lawyer plans to appeal the decision.
Greece, Italy, France, Hungary, and Spain blocked the EU decision to restrict visas for Russian citizens. Greece vetoed this decision for the first time since 2022, citing economic benefits from Russian tourists.
On September 16, the first round of the 2025/2026 Champions League begins, where for the first time since the 2005/2006 season there are no Ukrainian clubs. However, Ukrainian footballers will play as part of European teams, including Trubin, Sudakov, Lunin, and Zabarnyi.
This summer, severe weather conditions in Europe caused short-term economic losses of at least €43 billion. By 2029, these losses are expected to increase to €126 billion.
Poland shows the fastest GDP growth among 26 EU countries, with a projected growth of 3. 3% in 2026. Since 2017, the country's economy has grown by 93%, and the zloty has become the most successful currency among emerging markets.
In Ukraine, there are 23 pharmacies per 100,000 population, while in OECD countries there are 28. The cancellation of marketing agreements negatively affected the development of the pharmacy network, especially in rural areas.
The European Union is considering tightening restrictions on tourist visas for Russian citizens and imposing restrictions on the movement of Russian diplomats within the bloc.
The Ukrainian women's beach soccer team took third place in the Euroleague-2025 Superfinal, defeating Poland in a penalty shootout. Ukrainian athletes beat Italy but lost to Spain and Portugal.
The event concluded the 2025 World Meeting on Human Fraternity and included unusual drone choreography depicting the face of Pope Francis.
Russian troops shelled the city of Marhanets, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, injuring six people: four women aged 37 to 74, and two boys aged 13 and 18. The occupiers also attacked Nikopol district, Nikopol, and the villages of Myrove, Marhanets, and Pokrovsk rural communities.
In southern Ukraine, Russians continue shelling, which resulted in the death of one civilian and injuries to 14 people in Kherson and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Dozens of residential buildings, enterprises, and infrastructure facilities were damaged.
Head of the Kyiv City Military Administration Tymur Tkachenko and Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak, along with security advisors from Germany, Britain, France, and Italy, honored the memory of 22 victims, including 4 children, of a Russian missile strike in Kyiv's Darnytskyi district. Tkachenko emphasized that Western partners must see what kind of terrorists Ukraine is confronting.
The EU is preparing to tighten restrictions on issuing visas to citizens of Russia and other "hostile" countries by the end of the year. New recommendations from the European Commission, to be published in December, will include stricter criteria for the entry of Russians.
President Zelenskyy met with advisors to the leaders of Britain, Germany, France, and Italy. Security guarantees, Ukraine's experience for NATO, and joint interception of Russian targets were discussed.
Statements about an excessive number of pharmacies in Ukraine do not correspond to reality. Studies show that their number per 100,000 population is less than or comparable to European figures.
Ryanair plans to cancel another million seats on summer flights to Spain due to a conflict with operator Aena over increased fees. This will add to the 2 million seats already canceled in the winter schedule.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Great Britain for the new sanctions package aimed at Russia's shadow fleet and its military suppliers. He emphasized that this step is a strong blow to Moscow's ability to wage war and called on other partners to increase pressure.
Giorgio Armani's will provides for the gradual sale of a controlling stake or an initial public offering. The document instructs the heirs to sell 15% of the shares within 18 months, and then another 30-54.9% within three to five years, prioritizing LVMH, L'Oreal, or EssilorLuxottica.
Germany calls for stricter rules for obtaining Schengen visas for Russian citizens, especially for tourist and shopping trips. This is a proposal within the framework of discussing a new package of sanctions against Russia.