Rome Times

Venice Film Festival Highlights Resurgence in Italian Cinema

The 83rd Venice International Film Festival has drawn major studios and independent filmmakers as Italy’s audiovisual sector seeks a stronger position within the changing global streaming and distribution market.

Italy Debates Electoral Law Changes Aimed at Voter Choice and Government Stability

Italian lawmakers are considering changes to the national electoral system as parliament weighs stronger voter preferences against mechanisms intended to produce more stable governing majorities.

Benetton Family Launches Investment Platform for Digital Infrastructure and Sustainable Assets

The Benetton family has created a new investment vehicle targeting digital infrastructure, real estate and sustainable technology as it diversifies beyond traditional infrastructure holdings.

Italy’s Green Mortgages Rise to 12% of New Property Lending

Energy-efficient mortgages now account for 12% of new home lending in Italy as borrowers and banks adjust to stricter European Union rules on building emissions.

Italy Says Sovereign Green Bonds Have Generated €20 Billion in Economic Activity

The Economy Ministry says infrastructure financed through Italian sovereign green bonds has generated €20 billion in economic activity while supporting renewable energy and climate-resilient public works.

Fixed Living Costs Consume 42% of Italian Household Budgets

Housing, energy, healthcare and other mandatory expenses now absorb 42% of household income in Italy, leaving consumers with less money for discretionary spending.

Ryanair Cuts Winter Flights in Italy, Blaming Aviation Taxes and Fuel Costs

Ryanair has announced significant reductions to its Italian winter schedule, citing municipal aviation taxes and higher fuel costs and raising concerns for smaller destinations reliant on low-cost international flights.

Italy Warns of Foreign Disinformation Campaigns Targeting European Democracies

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani says hostile foreign state actors are using coordinated digital disinformation networks to influence public opinion and destabilise political institutions across Europe.

Italian Cybersecurity Spending Rises 12% as Companies Respond to Growing Digital Threats

Large Italian businesses and public bodies increased cybersecurity investment by 12% as organisations respond to more sophisticated threats and tighter European Union digital resilience requirements.

Trenitalia Begins Frecciarossa High-Speed Rail Tests in Germany and Austria

Italy’s state railway operator has started technical testing of Frecciarossa trains on German and Austrian networks as it prepares to expand international high-speed passenger services.

Italian Tourism Sets August Record With 97 Million Overnight Stays

Italy recorded 97 million overnight stays in August as strong international demand, particularly from North American and European visitors, offset weaker spending by domestic tourists.

Five Northern Italian Regions Propose Unified Manufacturing District

Lombardy, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Piedmont and Friuli-Venezia Giulia are seeking closer integration of industrial supply chains, logistics and export promotion to strengthen Northern Italy’s manufacturing competitiveness.

Italy’s Economic Indicator Points to Rebound in Manufacturing and Services

The Bank of Italy’s Euro-coin indicator rose sharply, suggesting stronger momentum across manufacturing and services despite continued pressure from energy costs and geopolitical uncertainty in Europe.

Jindal Renews Interest in Acquiring and Modernising Italy’s Former Ilva Steelworks

Indian industrial group Jindal has reiterated its interest in buying the Taranto steel complex, offering a possible route to preserve thousands of jobs and maintain major domestic steel production.

Stellantis Vehicle Registrations Rise 6.2% in Italy as Chinese EV Competition Intensifies

Stellantis recorded a 6.2% increase in Italian vehicle registrations in August, maintaining its domestic position as aggressively priced Chinese electric vehicles put growing pressure on European manufacturers.

Italy Issues Urgent Blood Donation Appeal as Southern Hospitals Face Shortages

The Health Ministry has called for immediate blood donations as shortages across Lazio, Campania and Sicily threaten delays to surgical procedures and emergency medical treatment.

Italy Considers Cutting Income Tax Rate to 33% for Middle-Income Households

The Economy Ministry is examining a budget proposal that would reduce the main income tax rate to 33% for households earning up to €60,000, with the government aiming to support consumer spending.

Italian Unemployment Falls to 5.8% as Labour Market Remains Resilient

Bank of Italy data show unemployment has fallen to 5.8%, supported by hiring in manufacturing, tourism and services despite high interest rates and broader economic pressures.

Italy’s AI Market Jumps 50% to More Than €1.8 Billion

Corporate investment in artificial intelligence across Italy rose 50% over the past year to exceed €1.8 billion, although researchers warn that shortages of specialised technology workers could constrain wider adoption.

Meloni Government Becomes Longest-Serving Administration in Italian Republic’s History

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s coalition has completed 1,413 consecutive days in office, giving Italy an unusually long period of political continuity as the government pursues constitutional reforms and European Union fiscal negotiations.

Italian Authorities Monitor Back-to-School Costs as Household Expenses Rise

Official data showed that prices for school materials and textbooks increased at a slightly slower rate than overall inflation, offering limited relief to families facing broader cost-of-living pressures.

Wrong-Way Driver Travels 50 Kilometres on Italy’s A1 Motorway

Police stopped an impaired motorist after a 50-kilometre wrong-way journey on the A1 motorway, prompting calls for improved detection technology and safety barriers around toll areas.

Italian Clubs Learn Opponents Under Expanded Champions League Format

Inter Milan and other Italian teams received their European fixtures under the expanded UEFA Champions League format, setting up a new season of international matches with implications for broadcasting and sponsorship revenues.

Elly Schlein Strengthens Control of Italy’s Democratic Party Ahead of Autumn Meetings

Opposition leader Elly Schlein consolidated support within the Democratic Party ahead of major autumn policy conferences as the party prepares to challenge Italy’s governing coalition.

George Clooney Receives Venice Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award

The Venice International Film Festival presented George Clooney with its Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, recognising the American actor and director’s career in cinema.

Mediterranean Games Lift Visitor Numbers at Taranto Archaeological Museum

The National Archaeological Museum of Taranto reported a sharp increase in international visitors and ticket revenue during the Mediterranean Games, raising the cultural profile of the southern Italian city.

Gianmarco Tamberi Wins High Jump Gold at Mediterranean Games in Taranto

Italian Olympic champion Gianmarco Tamberi won the high jump at the Mediterranean Games as Taranto recorded strong sports-tourism activity linked to the international event.

Taranto Prosecutors Investigate Attempted Assault at Mediterranean Games Village

Prosecutors opened a criminal investigation into an attempted sexual assault at the Mediterranean Games athletes’ village, leading authorities to increase police deployments around sporting venues.

Football Violence in Milan Prompts Arrests and Security Review

Police arrested several people after clashes between AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain supporters left a French national seriously injured, prompting a wider review of security measures in Milan.

Hospital Workers Protest Dismissal of Union Leader at Milan’s San Raffaele

Healthcare workers and national unions staged protests at San Raffaele Hospital after the dismissal of a senior union representative, intensifying debate over labour rights in Italy’s healthcare sector.

Moto Guzzi Expands Lake Como Factory to Increase Motorcycle Production

Moto Guzzi unveiled a major redevelopment of its historic Mandello del Lario headquarters, expanding production capacity as the Italian motorcycle maker seeks to strengthen international exports.

Hydrogeological Instability Raises Prospect of Full Evacuation of Quinis

Authorities in Friuli-Venezia Giulia are considering relocating the entire town of Quinis as severe ground subsidence damages homes and causes the historic bell tower to tilt dangerously.

Italian Authorities Investigate Theft of Four Antonello da Messina Masterpieces

Cultural authorities and the Carabinieri art squad launched an international investigation after four Renaissance works by Antonello da Messina were stolen from a museum in Messina during the Ferragosto holiday.

Monviso Landslide Triggers New Alpine Safety Assessments

A large rock and debris collapse on Monviso in the Cottian Alps prompted geological reviews of surrounding high-altitude routes and infrastructure amid growing concern over mountain instability.

September Heatwave Strains Italy’s Power Grid and Retail Activity

Temperatures reached as much as seven degrees Celsius above seasonal averages across Italy, contributing to regional power outages and reducing foot traffic in major commercial districts.

Campi Flegrei Evacuees Protest Delays in Housing and Reconstruction Support

Hundreds of residents displaced from the seismically active Campi Flegrei area near Naples protested against delays in reconstruction funding, housing assistance and longer-term safety measures.

Italy’s Supreme Court Upholds 20-Year Sentence for Cutro Shipwreck Smuggler

Italy’s Court of Cassation confirmed a 20-year prison sentence for one of the main smugglers convicted over the deadly Cutro shipwreck, reinforcing penalties against criminal networks operating Mediterranean migration routes.

EU Ban on Brazilian Beef Disrupts Italian Bresaola Supply Chains

European restrictions on Brazilian beef over antibiotic compliance concerns are disrupting supplies for Italian cured-meat producers, including manufacturers of certified Valtellina bresaola.

Veneto Approves Medically Assisted Dying Rules in Challenge to National Government

Veneto approved a regional framework governing medically assisted dying, opening a political and legal dispute with Italy’s conservative national government over regional authority and end-of-life policy.

Wildfires Force Evacuations Around Taormina as Extreme Heat Grips Sicily

Emergency crews carried out evacuations around the Sicilian resort of Taormina as wildfires driven by intense late-summer heat reached residential areas and threatened tourism infrastructure.

Sicilian Agriculture Faces Severe Losses After Five Years of Drought

Farming groups in the Gela area of Sicily warned of widespread agricultural losses after a prolonged drought, compounded by administrative problems that have left three local reservoirs without full authorisation and in poor condition.

Eni Signs Development Agreement for Venezuela’s Junín 5 Oil Field

Italian energy group Eni signed an extraction agreement covering Venezuela’s Junín 5 oil field, expanding its international hydrocarbon operations as Europe seeks more diversified energy supplies.

Russian Sabotage Suspect Entered EU on Italian Schengen Visa, German Authorities Say

German intelligence said a suspect in the Leipzig drone-bombing case entered the European Union using an Italian-issued Schengen visa despite never travelling through Italy, prompting a security and diplomatic review in Rome.