Italian trucker blockades disrupt supermarkets and ports in the south

Trucker blockades in Italy over the rising cost of living are disrupting supermarket supplies, roads, and ports, particularly in the south, leaving shelves empty of fresh goods. The protests, focused in Calabria and Apulia, target high diesel prices, tolls, and delayed state aid. Blockades on highways A1 and A30 caused long traffic jams, while refineries and port access were also blocked, leaving some gas stations without fuel. In Sicily, blockades were temporarily lifted after talks with Transport Minister Matteo Salvini. Farmers have joined the movement demanding full tax exemption on agricultural diesel, which the government has promised to discuss. The unrest stems from "carovita" (rising living costs), with September inflation at 4.2% and stagnant wages below the European average. Student protests and weekend riots in northern cities have also occurred, as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government approaches the 2027 elections.