Italian truckers strike over fuel costs, block Rome-Naples highway

Italian truck drivers are on strike, blocking traffic on the A1 highway between Rome and Naples to protest rising fuel prices and demand government support for the transport sector. The disruptions have caused supply shortages in some stores and supermarkets. The fuel price increase is linked to Middle East tensions affecting global oil and gas prices. The Italian government announced financial support, including 480 million euros in tax benefits and additional funds, which helped lift blockades in Sicily and parts of Apulia, though protests continue in some regions. Authorities are considering automatic tariff adjustments tied to diesel costs, a model used in Spain, though consumers fear higher goods prices. Diesel at highway stations reached 2.292 euros per liter, while Brent oil hit 111 dollars per barrel, a five-month high.