US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to complete nationwide body-camera rollout by late August

ROME: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is facing growing dissatisfaction among young voters as the country moves closer to a national election expected next year. Recent opinion polls indicate that voters aged 18 to 34 are increasingly moving away from Meloni’s right-wing coalition and towards opposition parties. Analysts say the shift could become significant if young Italians turn out in large numbers at the 2027 election. Lorenzo Pregliasco, head of polling agency Youtrend, said younger voters were clearly showing greater support for the centre-left. Meloni’s coalition, which includes her Brothers of Italy party, Matteo Salvini’s League and Antonio Tajani’s Forza Italia, now has less than 30% support among voters under 35. The opposition bloc, led by the Democratic Party, the 5-Star Movement and the Left-Green Alliance, commands close to half of the support among the same age group. The situation marks a major change from 2023, when Meloni’s party alone enjoyed support among young voters comparable to the combined backing now received by her coalition. Analysts attribute much of the discontent to Italy’s economic difficulties and limited opportunities for younger people. Critics argue that the government has failed to introduce major economic reforms capable of improving employment prospects and reversing the country’s long-standing youth unemployment problem. Eurostat data shows that Italy has the lowest employment rate among people aged 15 to 24 in the 21-member eurozone. The country also spends less on education than most of its European partners. The economic challenges have encouraged many young Italians to seek opportunities abroad. According to Bank of Italy data cited in the analysis, young graduates in Germany earn substantially more than their Italian counterparts. Meloni’s approval rating among voters under 35 stands at around 25%, compared with approximately 35% among the wider population. Political scientist Lorenzo De Sio of Rome’s Luiss University said the lack of movement on economic policy was a major source of frustration among young voters. Meloni is also facing competition from the far right. National Future, a party formed earlier this year by former army general Roberto Vannacci, has already gained around 7% support in some polls. The party has attracted middle-aged men but is also gaining attention among some young urban voters opposed to immigration. The government’s law-and-order policies have further contributed to tensions with sections of the younger population. Measures targeting rave parties, cannabis production, street protests, squatters and juvenile crime have drawn criticism from youth groups. A nationwide student protest known as “No Meloni Day” brought thousands of demonstrators onto the streets last year. Protesters criticised security measures, education spending and Meloni’s position on the Gaza conflict. The government has also proposed changes to rules governing criminal responsibility for minors. Under the proposed legislation, people aged 14 to 17 who commit crimes could be treated as fully responsible unless it is established that they did not understand the consequences of their actions. Youth dissatisfaction has previously been difficult to measure because turnout among younger Italians is traditionally low. Many young voters have tended to stay away from elections rather than support opposition parties. That pattern changed during a March referendum on a judicial reform backed by Meloni. Around 67% of voters under 35 participated, and 60% of them rejected the proposed reform. The result demonstrated the potential influence of young voters when they participate in large numbers.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper have discussed efforts to contain escalating tensions in the Middle East, with the two sides also reviewing defence cooperation and regional security. According to Saudi state media, the meeting focused on developments across the region and measures aimed at reducing tensions. Officials also discussed ways to strengthen security and stability amid the continuing US-Iran conflict and growing concerns over maritime traffic. The talks came as Saudi Arabia announced progress toward activating a multinational defensive maritime alliance. Representatives from 39 countries attended the alliance’s latest planning meeting in Jeddah, while 13 countries have joined the initiative. Saudi authorities described the meeting as an important step toward putting the maritime alliance into operation. The initiative comes as security concerns continue to grow around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy routes. Tensions around the strategic waterway have intensified during the US-Iran conflict. Disruptions to shipping have raised concerns about global supplies of oil and liquefied natural gas, while diplomatic efforts to secure freedom of navigation remain uncertain. US Vice President JD Vance has said that keeping energy prices affordable for American consumers is currently Washington’s top priority in the conflict. Vance said the administration wanted to maintain lower oil and gas prices while also ensuring that Iran could not acquire a nuclear weapon. His remarks came as the prolonged conflict continued to affect energy markets and increase pressure on the US economy. Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that Washington was preparing unprecedented economic measures against Tehran. He said the United States would combine intensified economic pressure with restrictions linked to Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also said Washington had the military capability to maintain its naval blockade of Iran for an extended period. He said American ships could be rotated to sustain the operation. The confrontation has severely affected Iran’s economy and disrupted its access to international trade. Tehran, meanwhile, has sought to use the Strait of Hormuz as leverage in negotiations with Washington. Iran has demanded the removal of economic sanctions and the release of frozen assets as part of conditions for restoring normal maritime traffic. Commercial traffic through the Strait has fallen sharply since the conflict began. The decline has heightened fears that a prolonged disruption could further affect global energy supplies. Two vessels linked to Abu Dhabi National Oil Company were reportedly attacked while passing through the waterway, prompting condemnation from the UAE. The situation has also kept oil markets volatile. Although crude prices declined recently amid concerns over weaker demand and rising US inventories, renewed attacks and threats of further escalation have continued to unsettle investors. The International Energy Agency has revised its forecast for global oil supply, projecting a larger decline than previously expected. Economists have warned that a prolonged conflict could weaken global economic growth and increase the risk of recession in some regions. US President Donald Trump has faced growing domestic pressure over the conflict, particularly as higher fuel costs weigh on American consumers. Washington has continued imposing sanctions on Iran, while efforts to bring Tehran back to negotiations have so far produced limited results.