The Italian Justice Ministry has announced that the country may release around 10,000 people from prison to ease overcrowding.
Some 10,105 prisoners are “potentially eligible” for alternative punishment like house arrest or probation, the ministry stated on Tuesday.
To be eligible for this option, inmates must have convictions that are final and no longer subject to appeal, have less than two years of their sentence remaining and have no serious disciplinary violations in the past 12 months.
The ministry also added that individuals serving time for major crimes such as terrorism, organised criminal activity, rape, migrant trafficking and kidnapping would be excluded.
According to the World Prison Brief database, Italy ranks among one of the worst in Europe for prison overcrowding, operating at roughly 122% capacity.
Only Cyprus, France, and Türkiye have higher scores in Europe, according to the database.
The situation of prisoners in Italy has drawn concern due to a rise in suicides and complaints over high summer temperatures in prisons lacking air conditioning.
However, granting early release to prisoners remains a politically sensitive issue and the Italian Justice Ministry stressed that the process would not be immediate.
A task force has been established to coordinate with prisons and parole judges on individual cases that will meet weekly. They are expected to deliver a report by September.
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Two people were killed and around 40 injured when a tram derailed in central Milan on Friday (27 February), a spokesperson for the local fire service said.
Switzerland said on Wednesday (25 February) it would make a one-off payment of 50,000 Swiss francs ($56,000) to each severely injured survivor and to the bereaved families of those killed in the New Year bar fire at the ski resort of Crans-Montana.
Day 14 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics delivered high-flying finals and emotional podium celebrations. From the halfpipe in Livigno to the hockey rink in Milan, athletes continued their push for medals as the Games continued.
Ukraine’s National Paralympic Committee has announced it will boycott the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics in Verona on 6 March, citing the International Paralympic Committee’s decision to allow some Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags.
Tensions in the region remained high on Tuesday (10 March), as the United States and Iran exchanged increasingly sharp warnings, including threats over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
Iranian civilian and military officials have pledged their obedience to the new leader, Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei, with President Masoud Pezeshkian saying his leadership “will herald a new era of dignity and authority for the Iranian nation.”.
Kazakhstan has evacuated more than 7,300 citizens from the Middle East since regional tensions escalated, using both air and land routes to bring nationals home while closely monitoring political developments and potential economic effects linked to rising oil prices.
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U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, has addressed the U.N. Security Council, saying the world must consider how effective its engagement with the Taliban-run country is as millions face hunger.
British MPs have rejected a proposal to introduce an Australia-style ban on social media for under-16s, opting instead to give ministers flexible powers to impose restrictions on platforms.
Australia has granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women footballers who sought asylum, fearing persecution after refusing to sing their national anthem at an Asia Cup match.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 10th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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