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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced today that Italy will send air defenses to support Gulf states currently under attack from Iran.In a statement, Meloni said, "Italy, like the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, intends to send aid to the Gulf countries".She said the support comes not just because "they are friendly nations but because there are tens of thousands of Italians there", along with "around 2,000 Italian soldiers that must be protect."Meloni revealed that authorizations ​are in place for the United States to use its bases in Italy for operations that do not include bombing, noting that any change to this would require the approval of the government and parliament.

Qatar’s passionate fans created a raucous atmosphere at Mansour Muftah Pitch at Aspire, urging their team forward from start to finish, but Italy held firm to claim a hard-fought 1-0 victory in their opening match of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025.A fine first-half strike from Samuele Inacio — who finished coolly after a precise through ball from Benit Borasio — proved decisive for the Azzurrini.The young Maroons battled bravely to level the score, showing greater attacking intent after the break. Omar al-Marzouki came close with a powerful shot that was cleared off the line in the 50th minute, while Issa Walid narrowly missed an equaliser with a late effort in the 87th. Despite Qatar’s spirited second-half display, Italy’s disciplined defence ensured all three points stayed with the European side.Qatar's next match is against South Africa on Thursday, while their last group tie is against Bolivia on Sunday.In another Group A match, South Africa beat Bolivia 3-1. Goals from Emile Witbooi, Neo Bohloko and Shaun Els earned 10-player South Africa a superb win. Bafana Bafana were dealt a significant blow when Sive Pama was sent off midway through the first half, but Witbooi soon fired them in front before Bohloko added a second from close range. Bolivia pulled one back through Jesus Maraude's Panenka-style penalty, but Shaun Els’ late breakaway effort put the result beyond doubt.Meanwhile, Japan and Tunisia collected impressive wins while both Argentina and Portugal rallied for hard-fought victories.In Group B, Japan opened a sixth straight U-17 World Cup with 2-0 victory over Morocco. The Asian giants looked to have opened the scoring in the first half when Anthony Motosuna headed home, but he was adjudged to have fouled goalkeeper Chouaib Bellaarouch.They wouldn't be denied for long, though, as Hiroto Asada drove through the heart of the Morocco backline and set up Taiga Seguchi, who unleashed a terrific first-time effort into the far corner. Minato Yoshida thought he'd netted a second soon after, only for play to be pulled back for handball. They would eventually make the game safe in the dying embers, with Daigo Hirashima rifling in from just inside the box.Portugal overcame a sluggish start to thrash New Caledonia 6-1. New Caledonia jumped out to a shock lead when a video review led to a penalty, and Ezekiel Wamowe converted the spot-kick. But Anisio Cabral spearheaded the comeback, equalising via a header and then giving his side the lead early in the second half with an easy finish. Stevan Manuel, Mateus Mide, Mauro Furtado and Jose Neto tacked on goals as well to complete the scoring.In Group C, ten-player Costa Rica claimed a hard-fought 1-1 draw against United Arab Emirates. The game sparked into life just after the half-hour, as Isaac Badilla was sent off for a last-player tackle on Faysal Mohammed.UAE made use of their numerical advantage shortly after the break, as Mayed Adel bundled home a corner. That lead lasted barely three minutes, though, with Yerlan Sosa's centre causing chaos in the UAE box, allowing Nick Bennette to lace home from just beyond the penalty spot.In another Group C match, Senegal and Croatia played out a goalless draw. The Europeans dominated the first half and ought to have taken the lead deep into it. Patrik Horvat saw his shot from the edge of the area parried by Vincent Gomis straight to Jona Benkotic, who cleared the crossbar with the goal gaping. Both pushed in the second period, but neither side could find the breakthrough.In Group D, Argentina squeezed past Belgium 3-2 in an early contender for match of the tournament. Diego Placente's men hit the front through a neat Ramiro Tulian finish, only for Arthur De Kimpe to strike back with a rasping drive.A well-worked Stan Naert goal then gave the Belgians the lead on the hour mark, as Ali Camara squared for the forward to tap in. The game was turned on its head inside four crazy minutes, though, with Facundo Jainikoski netting before fellow substitute Felipe Esquivel drilled in another fine goal. Belgium sub Rene Mitongo then passed up two great chances to level, allowing the South Americans to collect all three points.Tunisia delivered a commanding performance to cruise past Fiji 6-0. The North Africans hit their stride beginning at the half-hour mark, with Wassim Slama beating the goalkeeper at the near post with a clever shot and then a superb strike from Fedi Tayechi.Slama got his second by pouncing on a rebound, followed by a powerful right-footed finish from Anisse Saidi. Saifedin Haj Abdallah made it five with a composed curler from inside the area and Tayechi put on the finishing touches with a strike in the waning minutes.What they said..."When we were one man down, we still kept pushing each other. It’s all about teamwork. For me, it’s a dream come true to be here. I always wanted to reach this stage, and I am chasing my dreams."-Kamohelo Mareletse, South Africa midfielder and player of the match"The team did very well, we managed to hold on despite being a man down and we're ready to keep competing. The next match will be a close contest against Senegal, but we'll compete well".-Nick Bennette, Costa Rica goalscorer"As we expected, it was a tough match where we knew that a single goal could greatly influence the outcome. We managed to score the opener and then add another, which allowed us to control the game in a good way."-Nozomi Hiroyama, Japan coach"The players need to stop thinking about this defeat, even though it's a tough one. We'll make amends against Portugal. We have confidence in these players; they are capable of getting through this group."-Nabi Baha, Morocco coach"We knew it was going to be the most difficult match in the group because Belgium play very well, as well as being physically and technically outstanding. I'm happy for the team because they showed character on two occasions to come back from behind and win."-Diego Placente, Argentina head coach"We had a lot of opportunities and the lack of efficiency made us get to half-time with the game tied. But we kept calm to start strong in the second half and it didn't take long for us to be in front."-Bino Macaes, Portugal coach

300,000 people marched in Rome, organisers sayPro-flotilla protests particularly widespread in ItalyMore protests expected on Saturday Hundreds of thousands of Italians took to the streets across the country on Friday, as part of a day-long general strike called by unions in support of an aid flotilla carrying food to Gaza that was intercepted by Israel this week. "After what I saw with the flotilla, I thought I couldn't just stand by and do nothing. It's the first time I go to these kind of demonstrations," Mario Mascetti, a protester in Rome, told Reuters. The CGIL and USB trade unions staged demonstrations in more than 100 cities. In the capital, crowds marched from the central Piazza Vittorio towards the main train station, holding union and Palestinian flags, as well as banners. The strike caused delays and cancellations across Italy's rail network, with more limited disruptions at airports. Metro lines continued operating in both Rome and Milan. Motorways or ring roads were blocked by protesters around several cities including Rome, Milan, Bologna and Trento, with police firing tear gas outside Milan to disperse stone-throwing demonstrators. The Tuscan port of Livorno was closed by protests. "This is not just any strike. We're here today to defend brotherhood among individuals, among peoples, to put humanity back at the centre, to say no to genocide, to a policy of rearmament," CGIL leader Maurizio Landini said. Some 300,000 people took part in the Rome march, according to the organisers. They estimated crowds of more than 100,000 in Milan, 50,000 in Naples, 25,000 in Venice and a total of 150,000 in various cities in Sicily. Authorities have not confirmed the figures. Italy's right-wing government has criticised the strike, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggesting that people skipping work for Gaza was just an excuse to have a longer weekend break. Protests in solidarity with the humanitarian convoy that was trying to break Israel's naval blockade have sprung up all over Europe and other parts of the world, but have been particularly widespread in Italy. Mattia Diletti, a sociologist at Rome's Sapienza University, said the Palestinian cause had always resonated in Italy, both amongst its centrist Catholic and leftist political traditions. "Italy has always been a very political country, characterised by this (pro-Palestinian) element," he said. The national strike watchdog said on Thursday that the unions had broken rules by not giving enough advance notice for the strike, but the CGIL and USB went ahead anyway, attracting more criticism from the government. "If today those who strike illegally cause billions of euros worth of damage to the Italian economy ... then sanctions must be proportionate to the damage caused," Transport Minister Matteo Salvini said. Pro-Palestinian protests were due to continue on Saturday with a mass rally in Rome, capping off several days of demonstrations that have sometimes turned violent and sparked clashes with police. On Thursday night, tens of thousands of people marched peacefully from Rome's Colosseum, while in Turin a conference centre was vandalised and in Milan a statue outside the Duomo cathedral was daubed with red paint and graffiti.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met with Prime Minister of the Italian Republic Giorgia Meloni and her accompanying delegation on Tuesday at the seat of the Permanent Mission of Qatar to the United Nations, on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Discussions during the meeting dealt with cooperation between the two countries and means to develop them in various fields.They also discussed key regional and international issues of common interest, particularly the latest developments in the Gaza Strip.The Italian prime minister expressed her country's solidarity with and support for Qatar, stressing that the Israeli attack constitutes a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms.The meeting was attended by HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani and a number of members of the official delegation accompanying His Highness the Amir.