There were also protests in Italy over the weekend over the rising cost of living, with clashes between police and protesters in Milan and roads blocked by lorry drivers in southern Italy.

Italian police clashed with protesters who threw stones and looted shops in Milan on Sunday during demonstrations over the rising cost of living, as lorry drivers blocked roads across southern Italy in protest at soaring fuel prices linked to the war in Iran, Lorenzo Tondo is reporting from Palermo.

We are asking the government to urgently convene a meeting with industry associations. Otherwise, we will consider a nationwide strike.

The situation is very concerning because the excessive price increases affecting the haulage industry have created a highly tense situation among transport companies, leading to spontaneous protests in some areas of the country.