Coronavirus digest: Rome imposes night curfew

The shutdown was initiated over fears of the rapid spread of the omicron variant. Meanwhile, Germany's health minister has ruled out a lockdown before Christmas. Follow DW for the latest.

In this edition we head to the Italian capital Rome, which has long attracted the cream of French artists. The prestigious setting of the Villa Medici is home to the Academy of France, and each year a select group of contemporary artists receive a fellowship, allowing them to work on their dream project in a uniquely cossetted setting. Our reporters Luke Brown and Xavier Chemisseur were lucky enough to get a sneak peek of what the artists-in-residence have been working on.

The president has warned against "racial and religious disharmony." Police have received orders to use live ammunition against protesters deemed to be participating in violence.

Italians poured into the streets and squares of Rome in massive numbers on Wednesday as the A.S. Roma soccer team defeated Feyenoord to win the Europa conference league final.

In the southern French city of Nîmes, the passion for Ancient Rome is more alive than ever. For the past decade, the city has been holding the Great Roman Games show every spring. Legionaries, centurions and gladiators invade the city and bring its incredible Roman monuments back to life: in particular the arena, where the Great Games are organised. Thousands of people, young and old alike, turn out to be transported back to the Rome of Julius Caesar.

Giorgia Meloni, whose far-right Brothers of Italy triumphed in Sunday’s general election, has succeeded in channelling both the aspirations of conservative voters and resentment of Mario Draghi’s unelected government, without fully renouncing her party’s neo-fascist roots.

We look at reactions from the European and world papers after Italy elected its first far-right leader. We also look at British reactions to the plummeting of the pound.

Also, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month we take you to Nigeria, where many women see a cancer diagnosis as a death sentence. And Nnenna Okore, who uses bioplastics and waste to send a message of ecology through her work, is showcased in Paris.

A curfew is in place in Chad as the government suspends seven opposition parties. On Thursday, at least 50 protesters were killed during clashes with police as people demonstrated against interim leader Déby extending his term by two years.

In a Facebook post, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni revealed that one of the victims who died in the shooting was her friend.

The election in September of the far-right Giorgia Meloni as Italian premier has sent shockwaves around Europe, not least in Brussels.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for her financial and military support for Ukraine. Germany has announced billions in new military aid to Ukraine. DW has the latest.