Italian Constitutional Court Rules Single Individuals Can Adopt Children Abroad
On Friday, Italy’s Constitutional Court ruled that the law prohibiting single individuals from adopting children abroad is unconstitutional. The case did not concern domestic adoptions, which remain restricted except in exceptional cases. The Court found that the 1983 law’s exclusion of singles from adopting foreign minors violated Articles 2 and 117 of the Constitution, limiting the potential for an individual to provide a stable and harmonious environment for a child. While singles are now considered eligible to adopt, their suitability will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the court. The ruling emphasizes the importance of considering the adult’s desire to become a parent, while maintaining that the child’s best interests remain the priority. The Court noted that the ban on single-parent adoptions could harm children’s chances of being adopted, especially as adoption requests continue to decline.
Antitrust Opens Investigation into RFI and Ferrovie dello Stato for Alleged Market Abuse
On Friday, Italy’s Antitrust Authority (AGCM) announced the launch of an investigation into RFI, the company managing Italy’s railway network, and its parent group Ferrovie dello Stato for potential “abuse of dominant position” under EU competition regulations. The inquiry follows allegations that RFI has hindered the access of SNCF Voyages Italia, a subsidiary of the French railway group SNCF, to Italy’s high-speed rail infrastructure. SNCF plans to operate high-speed trains in Italy starting in 2026 and claims that RFI delayed or obstructed the approval of routes crucial for competition with Trenitalia, Ferrovie dello Stato’s high-speed service. The investigation was triggered after SNCF filed a complaint last June, accusing RFI of intentionally delaying procedures for assigning high-speed routes. On Thursday, Antitrust officials, alongside the Guardia di Finanza, conducted inspections at RFI, Ferrovie dello Stato, Trenitalia, and Italo’s offices, seeking relevant information for the investigation.
Rai Board Approves New Appointments for Key News Departments
The Rai board of directors has approved the appointment of new directors for several of its major news outlets, including TGR, TG3, RaiNews, RaiSport, and Giornale Radio. The decisions were approved by four directors aligned with the government majority, including CEO Giampaolo Rossi, while the two opposition-appointed directors and the employee-elected director voted against the changes. Pierluca Terzulli, backed by the Democratic Party, has been confirmed as director of TG3, a position he assumed in October 2024 after Mario Orfeo moved to Repubblica. Roberto Pacchetti, close to the League, will lead TGR, while Federico Zurzolo, considered aligned with Forza Italia, will replace Paolo Petrecca at RaiNews. Petrecca, seen as close to Fratelli d’Italia, will take over as director of RaiSport, and Nicola Rao’s appointment to Giornale Radio was also supported by Fratelli d’Italia.
388 Residents Evacuated in Campi Flegrei After Earthquake Inspections
Following inspections by firemen to assess the stability of buildings after recent earthquakes in the Campi Flegrei area, 388 residents in the municipalities of Naples, Bacoli, and Pozzuoli have received eviction orders due to the risk of collapse. The orders, which affect 163 families, are technically 34 in number. Fifty individuals have been accommodated in local hotels, while the others have found alternative housing solutions. The Campi Flegrei area, a large volcanic system, experiences both bradisism (land subsidence and uplift over decades) and frequent earthquakes. While these quakes are typically of low magnitude, their proximity to the surface can cause significant damage.
Italian Teacher Suspended Over OnlyFans Profile
A kindergarten teacher in the province of Treviso has been suspended without pay by her school following accusations of unethical conduct after it was discovered she had an OnlyFans profile, a platform for explicit content in exchange for money. The teacher, Elena Maraga, 29, explained that her private profile was linked to her public Instagram account and accessed by a parent through social media. While some parents criticized her, others defended her, and the school decided to suspend her temporarily. Maraga argues that her personal life should not affect her professional role and claims that there was nothing in her contract prohibiting such content. In response, Italy’s Ministry of Education announced plans to update the public sector behavior code, specifically addressing teachers’ conduct on social media. The Italian Federation of Private Kindergartens also plans to vote on a new ethical code for educators’ social media use.
