A study led by Dr. Pasquale Paolisso at Sant’Andrea Hospital of Rome’s Sapienza University found higher levels of microplastic and nanoplastic particles in the blood of heart attack patients than in healthy people and other heart disease patients. Published recently in the European Heart Journal, the research examined samples from arteries supplying blood to the heart in 61 participants.

The group included people who had experienced heart attacks, people with chronic heart disease but no heart attack, and people whose arteries showed no signs of disease. Microplastic and nanoplastic particles were detected in 84 percent of heart attack patients, compared with 40 percent of chronic heart disease patients and 32 percent of participants with healthy arteries.

Researchers said smoking and regular exposure to air pollution may significantly increase the risk of higher blood microplastic levels. Senior author Dr. Emanuele Barbato said the findings do not establish that microplastics directly cause heart attacks, but indicate a strong relationship among environmental pollution, blood microplastics and heart disease. An editorial commentator described plastic pollution as a potentially underestimated cardiovascular risk.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ Toronto-Rome-Dhaka flight BG306 was grounded at Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy, after a fault was detected in its pressurization system. The 256 passengers were allowed to leave the aircraft after about seven hours. Airline sources said the problem was found during a technical inspection after the plane landed in Rome, and the flight cannot depart until repairs and required safety checks are completed.

Passengers were disembarked at about 2:30 p.m. local time, but visa complications prevented their immediate transfer to hotels. Food allocated for passengers on the aircraft was supplied on the ground. One stranded passenger said they had remained inside the aircraft for a long time before being taken off around 8:30 p.m. Bangladesh time, when hotel-transfer arrangements began. The passenger also complained of insufficient assistance from airport authorities.

Biman said it is arranging to send engineers and necessary parts from Dhaka to Rome for further inspection and repairs. It has arranged accommodation, food and other support for BG306 passengers in Rome, but said the departure time for Dhaka remains uncertain. BG305, the Dhaka-Rome-Toronto service operated by the same aircraft, will also be delayed, with a new departure time set for 1 p.m. on August 8.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ BG306 flight from Toronto to Dhaka was held for more than seven hours at Rome Fiumicino Airport in Italy after an unexpected technical fault. The problem emerged at about 7:20 a.m. local time on Friday during a routine refuelling stop. Passengers said 260 people were still aboard the aircraft while it remained at the airport.

The flight departed Toronto at about 5 p.m. local time on Thursday for Dhaka, with a scheduled refuelling stop in Italy. After landing in Rome, passengers were told that the aircraft had developed a technical problem requiring repairs. As of 1:30 p.m. local time, the flight was still at the airport, and authorities could not confirm when it would resume its journey.

Biman said technical inspections and corrective work were under way to protect passenger safety and security. BG306 will leave Rome for Dhaka after the fault is fully resolved and required safety checks are completed. The airline said BG305, operating the Dhaka-Rome-Toronto route with the same aircraft, would also be delayed. Accommodation, meals and other necessary support were arranged for BG306 passengers in Rome.

Italy issued its highest-level red heat alert for 25 cities on Monday as the country faced its fourth heatwave of the summer. The alert is the largest number of cities placed under the warning simultaneously this summer. According to local newspaper Corriere della Sera, the Health Ministry increased the number of alerted cities from 23 on Sunday to 25 on Monday.

Only Reggio Calabria and Messina were outside the red-alert list, although yellow alerts remained in force there. The Po Valley and central Italy were identified as the areas most affected, while temperatures in inland areas and Sardinia could exceed 40 degrees Celsius. Terni province in central Italy reached 41 degrees Celsius on Sunday.

Some parts of central and northern Italy could see night-time temperatures remain above 25 degrees Celsius, described by meteorologists as “super-tropical nights.” Experts cited the African anticyclone and unusually warm Mediterranean waters, with sea-surface temperatures at or above 30 degrees Celsius across broad areas. Authorities also issued orange wildfire alerts for Sicily and Emilia-Romagna, while yellow alerts warned of possible heavy rain in Apennine areas and inland Sicily.

Italian football legend Franco Baresi has died at the age of 66, his former club AC Milan confirmed in a statement reported on July 31, 2026. The club did not disclose a specific cause of death. Baresi had surgery in August 2025 to remove a lung tumour and had faced health struggles afterward.

AC Milan expressed deep sorrow on social media, saying Baresi’s principles and integrity would remain embedded in the club’s DNA, alongside the legacy of his retired number 6 shirt. Born in Lombardy in May 1960, Baresi joined Milan’s youth team in 1974 and made his first-team debut in 1978 before turning 18. He became captain at 22.

Baresi spent his entire 20-year club career with Milan, playing 719 official matches before retiring in 1997. Under his leadership, Milan won 19 trophies, including six Serie A titles and three European Cups. He made 81 appearances and scored once for Italy between 1979 and 1994, winning the 1982 World Cup and captaining the 1994 World Cup runners-up.

Andrea Pirlo has withdrawn from contention to become Italy’s national football team coach after controversy over his commercial relationship with Russian betting company Funbet. The former 2006 World Cup winner announced the decision on Instagram before any formal appointment, following political and ethical questions surrounding the association.

The Italian Football Federation had considered Pirlo its leading candidate after Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola indicated they were unavailable. Pirlo became Funbet’s global brand ambassador while coaching in the United Arab Emirates, and his recent appearance at a company event in Moscow renewed the controversy. The relationship drew criticism from political circles and part of the football administration in the context of the war in Ukraine.

Pirlo said his involvement with Funbet was entirely commercial and carried no political position or message. He said leading the national team would have been a great honour, but withdrew in the interests of his personal dignity and Italian football. His departure has renewed uncertainty over Italy’s coaching search, with Roberto Mancini and Antonio Conte reportedly being discussed as possible candidates.

Italy is close to appointing 2006 World Cup winner Andrea Pirlo as national team head coach after Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti declined approaches, according to Italian journalist Matteo Moretto. An official announcement could come within days if all details are completed. Pirlo would replace Gennaro Gattuso in the role.

Italy technical director Paolo Maldini and special adviser Leonardo acknowledged that Ancelotti was contacted first for the national-team position, followed by Guardiola. Both coaches rejected the offer for personal and professional reasons. Italy then turned to Pirlo, the 47-year-old former midfielder who is currently in charge of United FC in the United Arab Emirates Pro League.

Reports say Pirlo could sign a contract running through the 2030 World Cup, with an annual salary of about €1.5 million. No difficulty is expected in ending his current club contract to accept Italy’s offer. Pirlo won the Coppa Italia in his first season as Juventus coach, but did not achieve the expected success at Fatih Karagumruk or Sampdoria.

Pep Guardiola has rejected an offer to become coach of Italy’s national football team, dealing a fresh setback to the Italian Football Federation’s search for a new manager. The Spanish coach chose to prioritize time with his family and does not plan to take charge of a national team or club at present, according to a report published on July 24, 2026.

Italy turned to Guardiola after seeking leading coaches to rebuild following its failure to qualify for the World Cup. Technical director Paolo Maldini had publicly said the federation contacted both Carlo Ancelotti and Guardiola. Ancelotti, who is in charge of Brazil, wanted to remain in that role, shifting Italy’s focus toward Guardiola.

Italian news agency ANSA reported on Friday that Guardiola informed Italian officials of his decision. After 10 consecutive years managing Manchester City, he wants a temporary break from football for personal life and family time. Andrea Pirlo, Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini are being considered as alternatives, Italian media reported. Maldini said the federation wants the best candidate aligned with a long-term plan rather than making a rushed appointment.

Former Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola is in preliminary discussions to become the next head coach of Italy’s national football team, Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Giovanni Malagò confirmed on July 22, 2026. Guardiola, who stepped down from Manchester City in May after a decade of success, is being considered to fill the vacancy left by Gennaro Gattuso’s resignation in April.

Italy’s coaching position has remained open since the team failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time, creating a period of stagnation in Italian football. To overcome this crisis, the federation is reportedly willing to make financial exceptions to secure a high-profile manager like Guardiola. However, it remains uncertain whether the deal will ultimately be finalized.

Other candidates under consideration include Euro 2020-winning coach Roberto Mancini and former midfielder Andrea Pirlo. If appointed, Guardiola would become only the third foreign coach in Italy’s football history. Despite never coaching in Italy, he previously played for Brescia and Roma and speaks fluent Italian.

The Italian Football Federation is reportedly making a strong push to appoint Pep Guardiola as the new head coach of the national team. Federation president Giovanni Malagò confirmed holding talks with the Spanish tactician and stated that Italy has the financial capacity to hire him. According to Sky in Italy, technical director Paolo Maldini and adviser Leonardo met Guardiola in Barcelona for three days to discuss a master plan to rebuild the four-time world champions.

If the 55-year-old accepts, he would become Italy’s second foreign coach and the first since the 1960s. Guardiola, who played in Serie A for Brescia and Roma between 2001 and 2003, is fluent in Italian. Other candidates reportedly include Roberto Mancini and Andrea Pirlo. Italy’s football program is in crisis after failing to qualify for three consecutive World Cups, most recently losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 2026 playoff semifinals, which led to Gennaro Gattuso’s resignation.

The new coach’s main goal will be to restore Italy’s footballing pride and prepare the team for the 2028 European Championship. Italy’s next match is scheduled for September 25 in Rome against Belgium in the Nations League.

Italian authorities have arrested 539 people in a large-scale police operation targeting youth and juvenile crime across 44 provinces, according to national media reports on Monday. Another 954 individuals have been charged. Among those arrested, 47 are minors. Police identified 973 social media profiles promoting hate, violence, and attacks on law enforcement, as well as the use of firearms and knives. Two accounts have been referred to judicial authorities for possible closure.

During the operation, police verified the identities of about 188,000 people, including more than 19,000 minors, focusing on areas known for drug trafficking and nightlife activities. Officers seized over 700 kilograms of narcotics, including cocaine, cannabinoids, ketamine, and various synthetic drugs. Searches were conducted at 1,182 locations, such as shelters for unaccompanied minors, gaming arcades, and commercial establishments.

Authorities also confiscated €307,000 in cash, 49 firearms, ammunition, and numerous bladed weapons. Police issued 506 administrative fines, mostly for drug use and selling alcohol to minors.

Protests erupted in Venice during Italy’s traditional Redentore festival following the arrival of US Ambassador Tilman Fertitta’s $450 million mega yacht ‘Boardwalk’. Around 300 demonstrators clashed with riot police on Friday evening, carrying placards reading “Venice is not for sale” and chanting anti-Trump slogans. Tensions rose as protesters tried to approach the yacht, prompting police intervention. Some threw inflatable toys at officers while criticizing the US administration through megaphones.

Fertitta, a close ally and donor of US President Donald Trump, described his private yacht tour of Italian coastal cities as part of a “coastal diplomacy” initiative marking the United States’ 250th anniversary. Many Venice residents opposed the visit, arguing that the city is increasingly turning into a luxury destination for billionaires while ordinary citizens face declining housing and public services.

Local anger intensified when the 117-meter yacht blocked traditional views of the festival’s fireworks. A labor union leader called the incident shameful and inconsistent with environmental and social sustainability. The US embassy declined to comment, while Italy’s foreign ministry said the ambassador’s program was proceeding successfully.

In June 2026, around 2,800 migrants arrived in Italy by sea, bringing the total since the start of the year to 14,388. Among them, Bangladeshi nationals formed the largest group, followed by migrants from Somalia and other African countries. From Asia, Pakistanis ranked second after Bangladeshis. According to Italy’s Interior Ministry, the data was recorded up to the morning of July 7 and may undergo minor revisions after verification.

The number of sea arrivals in 2026 has dropped significantly compared with the same periods in 2025 and 2024. Between January 1 and July 7, 2026, Italy received 14,623 migrants, about 53 percent fewer than in 2025 and 45 percent fewer than in 2024. Monthly figures also show lower arrivals each month from January to June 2026 compared with the previous two years.

Bangladeshis accounted for 4,314 arrivals, roughly one-third of the total. Somalia followed with 1,702, then Sudan, Pakistan, Algeria, Egypt, Eritrea, Tunisia, Mali, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Iran, South Sudan, and Guinea. Another 1,163 migrants from various countries remain under identification.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has rejected claims that Italy played a major role in the United States’ military operation against Iran. She stated that Italy did not participate in the conflict and that its military bases were only used for logistical purposes. Her remarks came after NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told Fox News that nearly 500 US aircraft had flown from Italian bases as part of the ‘Epic Fury’ operation.

Speaking to reporters during a France-Italy summit in southern France, Meloni described Rutte’s comments as exaggerated and oversimplified, saying he had failed to distinguish between different types of authorized flights. She added that if Italy had truly joined the war, US President Donald Trump would not have repeatedly expressed frustration over Italy’s lack of support.

The exchange comes amid diplomatic tension between Italy and the United States over the Iran issue. Earlier, Trump accused Italy of insufficient support for the operation, prompting Italy’s foreign minister to cancel a planned visit to Washington after calling Trump’s remarks serious and offensive.

Italian police have launched a manhunt for Bangladeshi national Shahadat Hossain, identified as the prime suspect in the killing of a Bangladeshi couple and their young daughter in Rome. The attack occurred around 9 p.m. local time on Friday in the Aurelio area near Via Montiglio Park. The victims were Kamal Uddin Babul, his wife Arju, and their five-year-old daughter Arisha. Their 18-year-old son Ayon was seriously injured and is being treated in hospital. Authorities have released Shahadat’s photo and urged the public to share any information about his whereabouts.

According to local reports, the killings stemmed from a long-standing personal dispute involving Shahadat and Arju. The families had previously lived in Bangladesh, where tensions over their relationship reportedly began. Kamal later moved his family to Italy, while Shahadat relocated to the United Kingdom before eventually arriving in Italy. On the night of the incident, the two sides met to resolve their differences, but the meeting turned violent.

Italian investigators believe a sharp weapon was used in the attack. Police in Rome continue to search for Shahadat, while the victims’ home village in Noakhali, Bangladesh, remains in mourning.