E-Scooter Rentals Drop 30% Amid Helmet Mandate in Italy
In the first month of the mandatory helmet law for e-scooter users, rentals have plummeted by 30% compared to the same period last year, prompting many rental companies to reconsider their operations in Italy, one of the few countries enforcing such regulations. The helmet requirement, part of safety measures introduced by the government in November, also mandates registration plates and liability insurance for e-scooters, although implementation details for these regulations are still pending. Rental companies face challenges in managing helmet logistics, as seen in Florence, where RideMovi has struggled with helmet thefts and damage. Andrea Giaretta, general manager of Dott, notes that the decline in e-scooter usage is particularly concerning in smaller cities with less tourism. Giaretta criticizes the government’s approach, highlighting inconsistencies in the law that treats e-scooters like bicycles while imposing stricter regulations on them. The rental decline could lead to an estimated loss of about 1,000 jobs, potentially impacting traffic and parking dynamics in urban areas.
Over 62,000 Fraudulent Recipients of Citizenship Income Identified in Italy
According to a report by Corriere della Sera based on data from the Guardia di Finanza, over 62,000 individuals unlawfully received the citizenship income—financial support for the unemployed—amounting to 665 million euros from 2019 to 2023, before the program was abolished by Giorgia Meloni’s government. The findings stem from investigations across Italy, initiated through identified risk indicators, resulting in nearly 76,000 interventions that pinpointed 62,215 suspected fraudsters. The report highlights the involvement of some tax assistance centers and patronage organizations in falsifying application data, including links to organized crime and numerous non-residents. Notably, a significant case in 2021 led to the arrest of 16 individuals who fraudulently claimed citizenship income by submitting applications on behalf of nearly 10,000 non-existent Romanian residents, ultimately defrauding the state of 21.5 million euros.
Bologna Sees Significant Drop in Traffic Accidents Following Speed Limit Introduction
In 2024, Bologna reported a 13.1% decrease in traffic accidents compared to the previous two years, marking the first year in over 33 years without pedestrian fatalities. This positive outcome follows the implementation of a 30 km/h speed limit on most city streets, a decision made by the center-left administration despite initial criticism over potential traffic delays. The city recorded 371 fewer accidents and 269 fewer injuries, with total fatalities dropping to 10, down from previous years. Additionally, severe incidents (red code) decreased by 31%, while incidents involving cyclists rose slightly due to a 10% increase in bicycle usage. The city attributes these improvements to the new speed limits, although further studies are needed to confirm the correlation between the limits and the reduction in accidents.
Trump Signs Sweeping Executive Orders on First Day as President
Hours after being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump took immediate action by signing a series of executive orders that have far-reaching implications. Among his decisions, Trump granted clemency to 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol Hill riots, withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement and the World Health Organization, and declared a national energy emergency. He addressed immigration by ordering the military to “seal” the southern border with Mexico and designating drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, while also blocking asylum requests from individuals at the border. Additionally, Trump emphasized the existence of only two genders, delayed enforcement of a TikTok ban, and established a new advisory body, the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), to cut government costs, with plans for Elon Musk to lead it. He also mandated that federal employees return to the office and aimed to end “government censorship.”
Former Costa Concordia Captain Seeks Parole After Shipwreck Conviction
Former Costa Concordia captain Francesco Schettino has applied for semi-liberty, with a hearing scheduled for March 4 at the Surveillance Court in Rome. In 2017, he was definitively sentenced to 16 years in prison for his role in the tragic shipwreck that occurred on January 12-13, 2012, off the coast of Giglio Island, which resulted in 32 deaths among the 4,229 passengers and crew aboard. The disaster was attributed to Schettino’s misjudgment during a maneuver known as the “inchino,” which involved steering the ship too close to shore. Currently, Schettino enjoys 45 days of leave per year for good behavior and previously worked in prison on digitizing historical judicial documents.
