Unions in Italy have called a general strike across the public and private sectors on Friday, with marches planned in Rome, Milan and about 50 other towns over the cost of living and military spending, NBC News reports.
Protesters were also expected to blockade ports including Genoa, Livorno and Trieste. Recent demonstrations have turned violent: masked groups looted shops in Milan earlier this month, police used tear gas and water cannon, and protesters stormed the Colosseum in Rome last Saturday. Farmers and lorry drivers in the south have blocked roads and ports over fuel prices that have climbed since the war in Iran.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government has introduced tougher penalties for rioters, including making parents financially liable for children's vandalism, and says 500 soldiers will support police in Milan until the end of 2026. Similar unrest has spread in France, Spain and Portugal.
Source: NBC News
Photo: View west along Duomo roof, Milan by Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Illustrative image of Milan.
