Rome Times

Signa Founder’s Detention Extended as Fraud Investigation Continues to Affect Northern Italian Property Assets

Austrian prosecutors have prolonged the custody of René Benko as they investigate the collapse of the Signa property empire, which has had repercussions for luxury retail and hospitality assets across northern Italy and the Alpine region.

Italy’s Defence Spending Expected to Remain Below NATO’s 2% Target Through 2027

European Commission projections indicate that Italian defence expenditure will rise only modestly to around 1.4 percent of GDP, constrained by fiscal rules and domestic spending commitments.

Rome Revives Historic Grand Prix Event to Promote Italian Culture and Tourism

Italy’s foreign ministry hosted a preview of the upcoming Grand Prix Storico di Roma, using the capital’s motor racing heritage to attract international visitors and strengthen cultural diplomacy.

Maserati Marks One Hundred Years of the Trident Logo During the Historic 1000 Miglia Race

The luxury carmaker unveiled a customised Tributo model and displayed historic race cars in Modena to celebrate a century of Italian automotive design and engineering.

Milan Fashion Week Expands Public Events as Menswear Industry Prepares for Spring and Summer Collections

Organisers confirmed a broad schedule combining runway shows with cultural programmes, reinforcing Milan’s status as a global centre for men’s fashion.

Italian Luxury Executives Meet in Milan to Address Slowing Demand and Pricing Pressures

Senior leaders from Prada Group, Brunello Cucinelli and Armani gathered at the RLC Fashion Summit to reassess growth strategies and preserve the exclusivity of Italian luxury brands amid changing global consumer demand.

Lewis Hamilton Claims First Grand Prix Victory for Ferrari in Barcelona

The seven-time Formula One champion secured his first win for Scuderia Ferrari at the Spanish Grand Prix, ending the team’s lengthy victory drought and sparking celebrations among Italian motorsport fans.

Italy Invests Nearly €2 Billion to Upgrade Water Networks and Combat Chronic Drought

Using European recovery funds, national authorities have begun modernising drinking water and wastewater systems to reduce leakage and improve water security for more than two million residents in vulnerable southern regions.

European Environment Agency Warns Italy Faces Growing Risks From Drought and Coastal Flooding

A new assessment said Italy is particularly exposed to climate-related economic risks and called for urgent measures to safeguard agricultural production and tourism infrastructure.

Stellantis Develops Low-Cost Electric Vehicle to Protect Fiat and Other Italian Brands

The automotive group is accelerating development of an affordable compact electric car aimed at defending market share against aggressively priced Asian competitors entering Europe.

Eni’s Plenitude Unit Nears Six Gigawatts of Renewable Capacity in Green Energy Push

Eni said renewable generation capacity at its Plenitude division increased 41 percent from a year earlier, keeping the company on course to reach 15 gigawatts of clean power capacity by 2030.

Italian Banks Prepare for European Central Bank Rate Cuts With Strong Capital Buffers

Executives at Italy’s leading lenders said diversified revenue streams and well-provisioned balance sheets should help preserve profitability as the European Central Bank moves toward a more accommodative monetary stance.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani Unveils Export Drive for Southern Italian Businesses

The government has launched a new initiative in Apulia to help manufacturers and agricultural producers in southern Italy access international markets through state-backed financing and deeper integration into global supply chains.

Webuild Reaches Key Construction Milestones on Sicily’s Messina-Catania Rail Expansion

Italian infrastructure company Webuild completed the Scaletta tunnel and began drilling at Letojanni, advancing a major railway project intended to improve passenger transport and commercial logistics across eastern Sicily.

Italy Commits More Than €10 Billion in European Funds to Small Business Innovation

The Ministry of Economy and Finance said 76,000 Italian small and medium-sized enterprises have received research and development support through the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform to help address the country’s long-standing ...

Giorgia Meloni Calls on NATO to Prioritise Artificial Intelligence and Drone Capabilities

Ahead of the NATO summit, the Italian prime minister urged allies to shift defence investment toward cyber systems, satellites and unmanned technologies rather than focusing solely on traditional heavy armour.

Italy Accelerates Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Through Expanded European Supercomputing Access

The IT4LIA Artificial Intelligence Factory has broadened access to European supercomputing resources for startups and public institutions, strengthening Italy’s domestic computing capabilities ahead of the AI CONF summit in Milan.

Eni and Petronas Create Southeast Asia’s Largest Independent Energy Company

Italian energy group Eni and Malaysia’s Petronas have established Searah, a 50-50 joint venture combining 19 offshore gas assets and expected to support around $20 billion in investment.

UniCredit and Major Italian Banks Report Strong First-Quarter Profits Despite Economic Uncertainty

Italy’s leading lenders exceeded market expectations, with UniCredit posting a 17 percent increase in profit to €3.1 billion, underscoring the resilience of the domestic banking sector during a period of slower growth.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Offers Italian Naval Support to Help Reopen the Strait of Hormuz

Speaking at the Group of Seven summit, Giorgia Meloni welcomed the diplomatic breakthrough between the United States and Iran and said Italy would contribute naval assets to safeguard shipping routes if parliament grants approval.

Italy’s Public Debt Ratio Set to Rise to 138% of GDP as Superbonus Costs Continue to Weigh

The European Commission expects Italy’s debt-to-GDP ratio to climb to 138 percent in 2026, citing the lingering fiscal impact of housing renovation tax credits and persistently weak productivity growth.

Intesa Sanpaolo Launches $35 Billion Bid for Monte dei Paschi, Intensifying Battle for Italy’s Banking Sector

Intesa Sanpaolo has proposed a stock-and-cash acquisition of Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, countering Banco BPM’s merger approach and setting up a new round of consolidation that could create the eurozone’s second-largest lender.

Italian Retailers Expect Gradual Recovery as Energy Price Pressures Ease

Analysts anticipate a slow improvement in household purchasing power as oil and natural gas prices stabilise, providing relief for consumer-facing sectors including food and beverage businesses.

Italian Machinery Exporters Offset Weak German Demand Through Market Diversification

Manufacturers of specialised industrial equipment in northern Italy have maintained healthy revenues by expanding sales to Asian and Middle Eastern markets as European industrial activity softens.

Italy's Labour Market Remains Resilient Despite Slowing Economic Growth

Hiring across tourism, luxury retail and construction sectors has continued to support employment, helping keep unemployment at 5.5% even as the broader economy loses momentum.

Rome Launches Summer Cultural Festival to Ease Pressure on Historic Tourist Areas

The Estate Romana programme is transforming archaeological sites and public parks into evening performance venues in an effort to disperse visitors and reduce congestion in the city's heritage districts.

Italy Retains Top Spot in Men's Volleyball Rankings After Defeating the United States

The Italian national team secured a dramatic tie-break victory over the United States in Canada, preserving its position as the world's highest-ranked men's volleyball side.

Prada Concludes New York Cultural Showcase to Strengthen Presence in North America

The Italian luxury group wrapped up the latest edition of Prada Mode at New York's Hotel Chelsea, using collaborations with film and gaming creators to deepen engagement with affluent consumers.

Genoa to Host European Summit on Accessible and Technology-Enabled Tourism

The Ligurian city will welcome tourism organisations and technology innovators seeking to establish new European standards for sustainable and digitally integrated travel experiences.

Ferrari Tribute to Mille Miglia Ends After Cross-Country Celebration of Italian Motoring Heritage

Hundreds of classic and modern Ferrari vehicles completed the 1,900-kilometre route through Rome and other Italian cities, concluding one of the country's most prominent automotive events.

Former General Roberto Vannacci Launches New Political Movement on Italy's Right

European Parliament member Roberto Vannacci formally launched the Futuro Nazionale party in Rome, seeking support from nationalist voters and introducing a new challenge to Italy's governing conservative coalition.

Ferrari Wins Third Consecutive Le Mans 24 Hours Endurance Race

Ferrari secured its third successive overall victory at the iconic French endurance event, with the number 83 Hypercar operated by AF Corse reinforcing the Italian manufacturer's prominence in global motorsport.

Fitch Affirms Intesa Sanpaolo's Rating Despite Monte dei Paschi Takeover Bid

Credit rating agencies maintained an A-minus rating with a stable outlook for Italy's largest bank, expressing confidence in its planned acquisition strategy and proposed branch divestments to satisfy antitrust requirements.

Italy and Japan Deepen Technology and Security Cooperation During Rome Summit

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hosted Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Rome to expand collaboration in trade, defence and advanced technologies as Italy seeks stronger partnerships beyond the Euro-Atlantic region.

Eni Invests €55 Million in Southern Italy Battery Manufacturing Project

The energy company acquired a 30% stake in a Seri Industrial Group subsidiary to create an integrated platform in Caserta producing lithium iron phosphate battery cells for commercial vehicles and energy storage systems.

Italy's Tourism Industry Set for Fastest Summer Aviation Growth Among Mediterranean Destinations

Air travel data indicate that available seats to Italian destinations will rise by nearly 9% this summer, outpacing Spain and Greece as arrivals from North America and Asia reach record levels.

Stellantis Confirms €5 Billion Investment Plan for Italian Operations Through 2030

The automotive group pledged extensive research and development spending and said no Italian factories would close, although labour unions criticised the absence of firm commitments on future production volumes at key manufacturing sites.

Eni and Petronas Launch $20 Billion Energy Venture to Expand Production Across Asia

Italian energy group Eni and Malaysia's Petronas have established Searah, a 50-50 joint venture expected to exceed 500,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day and significantly broaden Eni's presence in Indo-Pacific gas markets.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Calls for Greater European Defence Autonomy Ahead of NATO Summit

Addressing parliament before upcoming European Council and NATO meetings, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni rejected rigid spending targets and urged European partners to place greater emphasis on strengthening domestic defence industries.

Italy Welcomes US-Iran Peace Agreement and Supports Reopening of the Strait of Hormuz

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni joined the leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom in endorsing a diplomatic memorandum between the United States and Iran, with European governments preparing for the resumption of commercial ship...

Italian Statistics Bureau Cuts 2026 Growth Forecast to 0.7% as Energy Costs and Global Tensions Weigh on Economy

Italy's national statistics agency ISTAT lowered its economic growth outlook, citing the effects of geopolitical tensions and elevated energy prices, while projecting unemployment to remain at 5.5% amid a slowing but resilient labour mar...

Italy Launches Major Investment Programme to Restore Historic and Archaeological Sites

The Ministry of Culture announced a multi-million-euro conservation initiative to restore neglected heritage assets and support the sustainable management of rising international cultural tourism.