Rome Times

Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics Preparations Accelerate Ahead of Two Thousand Twenty-Six Games

Officials overseeing the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics reported continued progress on transport infrastructure and competition venues as construction efforts intensify before the opening of the Games.

Italian Financial Police Crack Down on Organized Crime Infiltration of Public Contracts

Guardia di Finanza and anti-mafia prosecutors arrested dozens of suspects and seized more than one hundred million euros in assets as part of a broad operation targeting money laundering and organized crime linked to public infrastructur...

Venice Considers Expanding Tourist Entry Fee After Early Results Show Lower Congestion

Preliminary findings suggest Venice's five-euro day visitor charge helped smooth tourist flows through the historic centre, encouraging city officials to consider making the reservation system permanent.

Telecom Italia Advances Restructuring After Fixed-Line Network Sale

Telecom Italia outlined a strategy centred on cloud services, cybersecurity and mobile connectivity after completing the sale of its fixed-line network, marking a new phase in the company's transformation.

Leonardo Wins New European Defence Contracts for Helicopters and Surveillance Systems

Italian aerospace and defence group Leonardo secured new international contracts to supply military helicopters and border surveillance technologies, reinforcing its position in Europe's expanding defence industry.

Italian Construction Slows as Superbonus Tax Incentive Ends

New economic data showed residential renovation activity has declined sharply following the phase-out of Italy's Superbonus tax credit programme, reducing construction demand while easing pressure on public finances.

Italy Reports Shift in Mediterranean Migration Routes Following North Africa Agreements

The Ministry of the Interior said migration patterns affecting Sicily and Lampedusa are changing after Italy's recent agreements with Tunisia and Libya, highlighting the evolving impact of regional cooperation on border management.

Italy Speeds Up Recovery Fund Spending on Southern High-Speed Rail Projects

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport approved faster deployment of European Union recovery funding for high-speed rail links connecting Naples, Bari and Sicily as part of efforts to narrow the economic gap between northern and so...

ITA Airways and Lufthansa Deepen Integration After European Commission Approval

ITA Airways has begun aligning flight schedules and loyalty programmes with Lufthansa as both carriers advance the final stage of their integration following European Commission antitrust clearance.

Eni Expands Mediterranean Energy Projects to Strengthen Italy's Regional Hub Ambitions

State-backed energy company Eni accelerated natural gas and renewable energy developments across the Mediterranean, supporting Italy's strategy to reinforce its role as a key energy gateway between North Africa and the European Union.

Intesa Sanpaolo and UniCredit Increase Investment in Artificial Intelligence and Digital Banking

Italy's largest banks announced new investments worth hundreds of millions of euros to expand artificial intelligence capabilities, strengthen digital banking services and grow wealth management operations following strong profitability.

Italian Luxury Brands Maintain Revenue Growth Despite Softer European Consumer Spending

Major luxury fashion groups based in Milan reported resilient second-quarter performance, supported by demand from international high-end shoppers and continued expansion across Asian and Middle Eastern markets.

Italy's Economy Grows Zero Point Four Percent in the Second Quarter on Strong Tourism and Services

Confcommercio said continued strength in tourism and the services sector supported economic expansion in the second quarter, offsetting weak manufacturing activity and keeping Italy on course for roughly one percent annual growth.

Bank of Italy Raises Inflation Forecast to Three Point One Percent as Energy Prices Climb

The Bank of Italy revised its inflation outlook upward, warning that higher energy costs linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are expected to push consumer price growth to three point one percent this year despite broadly s...

Italian Centre-Left Alliance Splits Over Ukraine Military Aid and European Defence Spending

Disagreements between the Democratic Party and the Five Star Movement widened after former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte criticized European defence spending and military support for Ukraine, complicating efforts to build a united opposi...

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Suffers Rare Parliamentary Defeat on Electoral Reform Amendment

Italy's governing coalition lost a government-backed electoral reform amendment by a single vote in a secret ballot, exposing internal divisions within the centre-right alliance and triggering accusations of disloyalty among coalition la...

The Ten World Cup Finals That Defined Football History

From Pelé’s emergence in Sweden and Uruguay’s shock at the Maracanã to Zidane’s final act and Messi’s triumph in Qatar, these matches set the standard awaiting Argentina and Spain in the 2026 final.

Smartphones Are Getting More Expensive, Sales Are Collapsing, and Even Apple Admits: "Prices Will Rise"

Surging memory prices, soaring demand for artificial intelligence hardware and supply chain disruptions are driving smartphone prices higher while analysts forecast the steepest annual market contraction on record.

Telecom Italia Advances Network Separation to Cut Debt and Expand Fibre Infrastructure

Telecom Italia is continuing the separation of its fixed-line network as part of a broader restructuring aimed at reducing debt and accelerating nationwide fibre-optic deployment.

Italian Regions Accelerate Recovery Fund Projects Ahead of EU Deadlines

Local governments are speeding up investment in broadband networks, sustainable transport and water infrastructure to meet implementation targets tied to European Union recovery funding.

Italian Banks Maintain Strong Capital Position Amid Changing Interest Rate Environment

Major lenders including Intesa Sanpaolo and UniCredit continue to report solid capital levels and healthy earnings while maintaining lending to businesses despite shifting European Central Bank policy.

Italy Reopens Restored House of the Charred Furniture at Herculaneum

The Ministry of Culture has reopened the ancient House of the Charred Furniture after three decades of restoration, adding another landmark to one of Italy's most significant archaeological sites.

Italy's Tourism Industry Regains Momentum Ahead of Peak Summer Season

Tourism authorities said international visitor spending recovered during May and June after earlier weakness linked to Middle Eastern tensions, supporting expectations for a strong summer season.

Italian Retail Group Sees Economy Supported by Tourism and Consumer Spending

Confcommercio estimates Italy's economy grew by zero point four percent in the second quarter, supported by resilient household spending, stronger vehicle sales and continued demand for tourism and hospitality.

Eni Expands Gas Projects Across Africa and the Mediterranean to Strengthen Energy Security

Italian energy group Eni is accelerating offshore exploration and liquefied natural gas partnerships across North Africa and the Mediterranean as Italy seeks to reduce supply risks linked to geopolitical tensions.

Italy Introduces Final Framework for Expanded Renewable Energy Support

Energy developers are preparing for faster deployment of wind and solar projects after the publication of the FER-X decree, which establishes the country's latest subsidy framework for renewable electricity.

Italy and Stellantis Continue Talks on Long-Term Domestic Vehicle Production

The Italian government remains in negotiations with Stellantis to secure future manufacturing commitments and protect skilled automotive jobs during the industry's transition toward electric vehicles.

Italy Rejects Calls for Snap Election After Coalition Suffers Parliamentary Setback

The government dismissed opposition demands for an early election after the ruling coalition lost a secret parliamentary vote on electoral reform, insisting the defeat does not threaten its overall stability.

European Commission Warns Italy's Public Debt Will Continue Rising Despite Steady Growth

The European Commission forecasts Italy's economy will expand by around zero point five percent this year, supported by Recovery and Resilience Plan investments, while the public debt ratio is projected to climb to one hundred and thirty...

Bank of Italy Raises Inflation Forecast as Middle East Tensions Push Up Energy Costs

The Bank of Italy expects inflation to reach three point one percent this year as higher energy prices linked to Middle Eastern instability feed into consumer costs, before easing back toward the European Central Bank's two percent targe...

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Approves New Security Measures Expanding Police Powers

Italy's Council of Ministers approved new domestic security legislation granting provincial police chiefs broader detention powers while preventing convicted offenders from seeking civil compensation for injuries sustained while committi...

Italian Competition Authority Fines Companies for Unauthorized Olympic Marketing

Italy's antitrust regulator imposed €2.5 million in fines on six companies for using Olympic branding without authorization ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games, reinforcing protections for official event intellectual property.

Italy Rolls Out Digital Healthcare Reforms to Reduce Waiting Times

The Ministry of Health has introduced new digital scheduling and telemedicine measures aimed at shortening specialist waiting lists and reducing disparities in healthcare access across the country.

Venice Refines Tourist Entry Fee to Manage Peak Visitor Numbers

Venice has formally expanded its day-trip entry fee system following pilot programmes, using the revenue to support city maintenance while managing growing tourism pressures.

Italy's Pharmaceutical Industry Extends Lead in European Medicine Production

Industry data show pharmaceutical manufacturing continues to outperform traditional heavy industry in export value, reinforcing Italy's position as the European Union's largest producer of medicines and attracting new foreign investment.

Italy Advances Strait of Messina Bridge Through Environmental Review

The government said the proposed bridge linking Sicily with mainland Italy is moving through final environmental assessment stages, keeping momentum behind one of the country's largest infrastructure projects.

Milan Stock Exchange Sees Revival in Mid-Cap Public Listings

A growing number of medium-sized industrial, technology and luxury companies are seeking listings on the Milan stock exchange, reflecting healthy investor demand and broader financing options beyond bank lending.

Luxury Fashion Exports Remain Resilient Despite Softer Chinese Demand

Italian luxury manufacturers continued to post solid export performance by offsetting weaker sales in China with stronger demand from the United States and Europe, reinforcing the sector's importance to the national economy.

Italian Wine Exports Recover in North American Markets

Industry groups reported a rebound in wine exports to the United States and Canada during the first half of the year, supported by demand for premium sparkling wines and targeted marketing campaigns.

Italy and Albania Expand Migrant Processing Operations During Peak Summer Arrivals

Jointly managed migrant processing centres in Italy and Albania are increasing operations to cope with higher Mediterranean arrivals, putting the government's border management strategy through a critical operational test.

Sicily Receives Emergency Support as Drought Threatens Agriculture

The Italian government and regional authorities are rolling out financial assistance and water conservation measures to protect citrus, olive and wine production from prolonged drought in southern Italy.

Major Data Centre Investments Position Milan as an Emerging Artificial Intelligence Hub

Global technology companies and Italian telecommunications providers are expanding data centre capacity around Milan to meet growing demand for artificial intelligence computing and cloud services.

Italy Expands Mattei Plan with New Energy and Infrastructure Projects Across North Africa

The government is accelerating investment under the Mattei Plan by funding renewable energy, agriculture and infrastructure projects across North Africa to strengthen regional supply chains and support long-term economic cooperation.