Il Bel Paese visto da fuori

“Mr Trump is likely to have his share of gripes with Italy, which does two things he considers reprehensible. The first is to ship too many posh loafers (among other things) America’s way; Italy is the EU’s second-biggest goods exporter to America after Germany, and buys comparatively little from there. The second is to scrimp […]

“In a mild jab at France and Germany, Italian premier Giorgia Meloni last month contrasted her government’s “extraordinary” stability with “the political turbulence that several large European nations are facing”. This offered Italy “a precious card to play”, boosting its influence over EU affairs, she said”. Fonte: Financial Times Autore: Tony Barber Link: Meloni’s European […]

“Italy is evaluating the use of Musk’s space-based telecommunications system to provide secure communications between the government, Italian diplomats and defence officials operating in sensitive areas across the Mediterranean”. Fonte: Reuters Link: How Elon Musk’s Space X is looking to gain ground in Italy

“It’s a common complaint that Rome’s churches are overwhelming: There are too many, they look too much alike, their gilt and marble often speak more to the eye than the soul. During the Jubilee year of 2025, when some 30 million Catholic pilgrims are expected to flock to the Eternal City in search of spiritual […]

“On a hill overlooking the city of Palermo, in Sicily, sits a lesser-known gem of Italian art: the cathedral of Monreale. Built in the 12th century under Norman rule, it boasts Italy’s largest Byzantine-style mosaics, second in the world only to those of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Now, this Unesco World Heritage site has undergone […]

“Inside a souvenir shop in Assisi, the face of a boy with thick black curly hair smiles out from wall tapestries, fridge magnets and key rings, outshining the flying cherubim, snow globes and other religious trinkets that cram the shelves”. Fonte: The Guardian Autore: Angela Giuffrida Link: Assisi braces for visitor influx as Jubilee year […]

“A sequence of takeover bids by UniCredit, Italy’s second-largest bank, has unleashed a financial war in the north of Italy, dividing Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni’s coalition and prompting it to consider the controversial use of executive powers to get its way”. Fonte: Politico Autore: Ben Munster, Carlo Martuscelli and Francesca Micheletti Link: Why an Italian […]

“Italian crime bosses and the far-right are tapping into the muscle and money-spinning activities of hardline ‘ultra’ soccer fans in several Italian cities, with mobsters even seeking to take control of some smaller clubs, according to Italy’s leading anti-mafia prosecutor”. Fonte: Reuters Autore: Emilio Parodi e Elvira Pollina Link: Mafia infiltration of soccer ‘ultras’ spreads […]

“Italy’s growth rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic is petering out much faster than expected as structural weaknesses resurface, raising risks for the fragile public finances of the euro zone’s third largest economy”. Fonte: Reuters Autore: Gavin Jones Link: Italy’s growth bubble bursts to reveal fragile outlook