Smoke, Water Cannons: Meloni Under Fire As Italy Rocked By Fresh Protests; Riot Police Battle Crowd

Italy has been rocked by fresh protests as thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across 50 cities, with violent clashes erupting in Rome during a nationwide general strike. Dramatic footage shows riot police deploying water cannons against angry crowds as smoke filled the streets of the Italian capital. Tensions escalated in Rome's Trastevere district, where protesters attempted to break through police cordons near the Italian parliament. The demonstrations, organised by grassroots trade union USB, brought together students, workers, farmers and housing activists demanding relief from rising living costs, better wages and greater investment in public services.