Italy on verge of new government 

Italy’s far-right leader Giorgia Meloni and her coalition allies held talks on forming a government on Friday with President Sergio Mattarella. 

If all agree, a Meloni-led coalition could come to power this weekend, a month after the elections. 

Ex-PM Silvio Berlusconi is set to join the talks, despite the chaos caused by his leaked pro-Putin remarks. Ms Meloni has vowed to play a key part in Nato. 

“Italy with us in government will never be the weak link in the West,” she said, in an attempt to calm concerns about her future foreign policy.