"Italian Junior Culture Minister Resigns Amid Stolen Art Scandal"
Italian junior culture minister Vittorio Sgarbi, under investigation for allegedly possessing a stolen 17th-century painting, has resigned amidst a separate antitrust investigation. Sgarbi denies the allegations and claims the painting he presented is the original, while the stolen one is a 19th-century copy. He has also faced criticism for accepting lucrative fees for cultural event appearances and making controversial remarks. Sgarbi's resignation comes ahead of a scheduled no-confidence vote and marks the first resignation from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's far-right government.