Italy’s conservative government on Thursday has approved a school decree limiting classrooms to 30% of students with insufficient Italian-language skills and banning full-face Islamic veils, including burqas and niqabs.

Italy's Premier Giorgia Meloni suffered election setbacks in two regions as the opposition Democratic party won a tight race in the central Umbria region and deepened its control of the traditional left-leaning stronghold of Emilia-Romagna.

Far-right leader Giorgia Meloni’s is gathering momentum in her push to become Italy’s first female premier.