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Italy

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Italy. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Rome

Head of State

President Sergio Mattarella

Head of Government

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

last updated:

29 November, 2024

Amanda Knox talks to reporters outside her mother’s home in Seattle, Washington, in March 2015. Photo: AP

Crime

Italy’s top court upholds Amanda Knox slander conviction

The decision marks the final act of a legal drama that began with the murder of her British flatmate Meredith Kercher in 2007.

24 Jan 2025 - 5:41AM

War and conflict

ICC seeks answers after Italy frees Libyan war crimes suspect

23 Jan 2025 - 3:05PM

Luxury travel

‘Escapism and magic’: why more tourists are booking luxury train journeys

23 Jan 2025 - 5:10AM

Donald Trump’s 2025 inauguration

With Trump’s inauguration, US-China rivalry opens new and uncertain chapter

Whether and how the mercurial president-elect delivers on his various pledges on trade with Beijing and other issues will be anyone’s guess.

20 Jan 2025 - 4:13PMvideocam

A conductor attends a rehearsal in front of the US Capitol in Washington ahead of Donald Trump’s January 20 presidential inauguration. Photo: Reuters

US-China relations

US ‘TikTok refugees’ spark global rush of sign-ups to China’s RedNote platform

The Shanghai-based app is topping the charts as the No 1 free-to-use platform in more countries, from Britain and Italy to Canada.

18 Jan 2025 - 12:07AMvideocam

Fashion

Satoshi Kuwata is bridging cultures with his award-winning brand Setchu

With influences from Japan, Milan and Savile Row, the 2023 LVMH Prize winner is attracting international interest – as well as from fashion insiders like Dover Street Market’s Adrian Joffe.

17 Jan 2025 - 1:00PM

Greater Bay Area

Editorial | Hong Kong should market Greater Bay Area to the world

As the region’s superconnector, city is best placed to explain the incredible opportunities available in the development zone.

17 Jan 2025 - 6:15AM

Sylvia Wu, a partner in PwC’s tax and business advisory service, speaks during an SCMP China Conference panel session on attracting global capital to the Greater Bay Area. Photo: Nora Tam

Architecture and design

No need to ask, it’s a smooth calculator

Few office devices can be as desirable as the Divisumma 18, designed in 1972 by Mario Bellini for Olivetti.

17 Jan 2025 - 2:00PM

Fame and celebrity

Meet Flavio Briatore – F1 mogul and the man dubbed ‘Italy’s Donald Trump’

Briatore appears to be rekindling his relationship with his 3-decades-younger former Wonderbra model ex-wife, hosted the Italian version of The Apprentice, and has been in trouble with the law.

13 Jan 2025 - 8:15PM

Fashion

Photographer behind Benetton’s shock ads Oliviero Toscani dies

As artistic director of Benetton, Olivieiro Toscani helped make it one of the world’s leading fashion chains with his controversial imagery.

13 Jan 2025 - 4:45PM

An Oliviero Toscani photograph used in a 1996 advert for the Benetton fashion chain to make a point about race. Toscani has died in Italy at the age of 82. Photo: AP

Iran

Italy releases Iranian wanted by US in deadly drone attack on troops

Iranian Mohammad Abedini was arrested in Italy last month at the behest of the US for supplying parts for drone used in 2024 attack.

13 Jan 2025 - 2:45PM

This satellite photo shows a military base known as Tower 22 in northeastern Jordan, where the 2024 drone attack occurred. File photo: Planet Labs PBC via AP

Climate change

Outside In | The industry is in crisis, but wine lovers should hold their panic

The future looks dire with consumption pivoting away, especially in China and France, and grape growers worldwide hit by climate change, but the wine sector is a long-term sector.

10 Jan 2025 - 6:34PMvideocam

Pope Francis

Pope Francis names Italian sister as first woman to lead major Vatican office

The appointment signals significant advancement in women’s leadership within the Catholic Church.

6 Jan 2025 - 9:18PM

Asia travel

Italy’s bee buzzes off to India after failing EU emissions standards

Piaggio Apé 3-wheeler is slow but carries a big load. A feature of Italian life for 75 years, it will now be built in India.

14 Jan 2025 - 1:09PM

A Piaggio Apé three-wheeler van in Rome, Italy. Photo: Universal Images Group via Getty Images

SpaceX

Italy plans US$1.5 billion SpaceX telecoms security services deal

The negotiations moved forward after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited president-elect Donald Trump in Florida on Saturday.

6 Jan 2025 - 9:32AM

A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 21 Starlink satellites lifted off from Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on December 31, 2024. Photo: SpaceX/TNS

Donald Trump

Italy’s Meloni boosts ties with Trump in surprise visit to Florida

Italian PM was latest in a string of world leaders who have visited Trump in the run-up to his inauguration as US president.

6 Jan 2025 - 6:35AM

Food and Drinks

5 ‘restaurants with rooms’ worth the trip, from L’Enclume to Hiša Franko

Ever wished you could go straight to bed after a delicious restaurant meal? Now you can: Sweden’s Vyn, India’s Naar and Italy’s Venissa all boast private rooms on par with luxury hotels.

5 Jan 2025 - 8:00AM

Smoking and vaping

Milan cracks down on outdoor smoking in Italy’s toughest ban

Italy’s second-largest city imposes an almost complete ban on smoking in public, with fines of up to US$250 for violations.

1 Jan 2025 - 12:53PM

As of January 1, people may only smoke in public spaces in Milan if they are at least 10 metres away from other people. File photo: Shutterstock

Pope Francis

Pope opens Holy Door for Catholic Jubilee at Rome prison: ‘do not lose hope’

The opening of the Holy Door at the prison was the first since the start of the Jubilee year tradition in 1300.

26 Dec 2024 - 5:30PM

Pope Francis

On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis appeals for courage to better the world

The pontiff opened the Catholic Holy Year, which happens only every 25 years and is expected to bring 32 million tourists to Rome.

25 Dec 2024 - 4:24AM

China-EU relations

How friendly will Europe’s right wing be to Trump on China? It’s complicated

Leaders like Viktor Orban of Hungary and Giorgia Meloni of Italy embrace US president-elect but may not hold with his entire agenda.

24 Dec 2024 - 11:45PMvideocam

Tourism

Rome’s famous Trevi Fountain reopens to limited crowds

To avoid overcrowding, the monument will be limited to 400 visitors at a time.

23 Dec 2024 - 12:08PM

The Trevi Fountain reopens to the public after maintenance work, in Rome, Italy on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

Pope Francis

Pope Francis tells Vatican staff off for gossiping in annual Christmas message

Francis’ message this year revisited a theme he has often warned about: gossiping and speaking ill of people behind their backs.

21 Dec 2024 - 11:10PMvideocam

Europe’s refugee crisis

Italian deputy PM Salvini acquitted of migrant kidnapping charges

The right-wing leader had blocked a boat carrying over 100 asylum seekers from docking as part of a policy to curb irregular arrivals.

21 Dec 2024 - 5:25AM

CK Hutchison

CK Hutchison’s Wind Tre unit faces Italian tax probe in €3.4 billion asset sale

The alleged evaded taxes would amount to about €132 million for 2022 on the sale of mobile phone towers, according to a document.

20 Dec 2024 - 11:59AM

Italy’s finance police is investigating Wind Tre, the country’s third-biggest phone company, for alleged tax evasion. Photo: Shutterstock

Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks end week lower as traders look for catalysts

Tencent advances 2.7 per cent on move to introduce a gifting tool on its WeChat platform; chipmaker SMIC jumps 8.2 per cent.

20 Dec 2024 - 5:24PM

Women walk past by a display showing the Shanghai stock market index outside a brokerage in Beijing. Photo: AP Photo

Wellness

Are blue zones a scam?

The secret to longevity seems to be bad data and record-keeping, finds a new study.

16 Dec 2024 - 6:15PM

Japan

Japan, UK, Italy to develop next-generation fighter jet

The aircraft is due to enter service in 2035 and is expected to be in service until 2070.

13 Dec 2024 - 10:33PMvideocam

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