FLORENCE – A serial pest has attacked Serbian performance artist Marina Abramovic at an exhibition of her work, police sources said on Monday.

 Ms Abramovic, who has been in Florence celebrating her 50-year career, was struck on the head with a wooden-framed painting - believed to be the work of the attacker - as she was leaving Palazzo Strozzi. 

 A 51 year-old Czech national with a history of similar stunts, was arrested on the spot. 

ROME – Antitrust, Italy's competition authority, has opened an inquiry into Ryanair’s new policy of charging passengers to take hand luggage onto the plane.

 According to the watchdog, hand luggage is “an essential element of transport” and should therefore be included in the price of a ticket.

 Ryanair’s policy, taking effect on Nov. 1, will see customers charged to take a 10kg bag on the plane, a cost of €9 if purchased during the initial flight booking.

ROME – As Britain prepares to leave the European Union, four out of five Italians residing in the UK talk positively about their experience regardless of Brexit, a polling agency said on Wednesday.

 According to a survey conducted by Swg commissioned by the British Embassy, half of all Italians have travelled to the United Kingdom at least once in a lifetime, and 86 per cent said they would go back. 47 per cent of Italians oppose Britain’s exit from the bloc compared to a 37 per cent who endorse it.

ROME - Late summer 2018. Weeds have conquered patches of the bicycle lane along Via della Magliana. The bicycle lane is elevated and offers splendid views on the Tiber. At regular distances stand wooden banks. There is even a kiosk. Yet, everything is overgrown. The lane gradually edges away from the city. After a stretch under a noisy, congested motorway bridge, high reeds pop up on both sides of the lane. The sudden tranquillity is only interrupted by birds singing from trees. At the right, the river flows quietly.