Rome Times

Italy’s Housing Market Faces Twelve Percent Price Rise as New Construction Struggles to Keep Pace With Demand

BBVA Research forecasts that Italian-style housing pressures will be mirrored in Spain? Wait.

Italy Prepares Taranto Steelworks Summit as Government Seeks Long-Term Future for Former Ilva

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is preparing a meeting with unions and international industrial partners in early September to address the prolonged financial and environmental problems surrounding the Taranto steelworks.

Italy’s Banking Consolidation Draws Scrutiny as Monte dei Paschi Pursues Banco BPM and Banca Generali

Monte dei Paschi di Siena’s voluntary public exchange offers for Banco BPM and Banca Generali are prompting close attention from regulators and financial markets as Italy’s banking sector enters another phase of consolidation.

Italian Air Force Examines US Technology to Turn Unguided Missiles Into Low-Cost Drone Interceptors

Italy is evaluating American guidance kits that could convert existing unguided missiles into cheaper weapons against drones, offering a potential way to reduce the use of expensive air-to-air munitions by Eurofighter aircraft.

Severe Storms and Flooding Trigger Evacuations and Emergency Measures Across Northern and Central Italy

Extreme weather, including storms, mudslides and widespread lightning, damaged infrastructure across Lombardy and Tuscany, prompting the evacuation of about four hundred people and emergency measures in affected areas.

Italy Extends Fuel Tax Cut as Motorway Petrol Prices Exceed Two Euros a Litre

The government extended a seventeen-cent reduction in fuel excise duties to limit the impact of high summer petrol and diesel prices on consumers, while officials consider a possible windfall tax on energy companies.

Italy Reaffirms Military and Energy Support for Ukraine as Rome Marks 35 Years of Independence

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed that Italy will provide further defense systems and winter energy generators to Ukraine, reinforcing Rome’s alignment with NATO and European allies.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham to Give Ukraine Classified Storm Shadow Blueprints for Domestic Missile Production

The British premier authorizes European defense manufacturer MBDA to release sensitive component data during his first official visit to Kyiv on Ukraine's Independence Day.

Italian Workers Lose Two Years of Wage Recovery to Global Shocks, Analysis Finds

An economic analysis says supply-chain disruptions and energy price increases have erased purchasing-power gains Italian workers had accumulated since 2024, weighing on household consumption.

Rai Investigative Journalist Sigfrido Ranucci Sues Magistrate Over Social Media Posts

Sigfrido Ranucci, presenter of Rai’s investigative program Report, has announced legal action against a serving magistrate over allegedly defamatory social media posts, intensifying debate over press freedom and institutional independence.

Italian Political Figure Massimiliano Cencelli Dies at Ninety-Two

Massimiliano Cencelli, the Christian Democrat official whose formula for allocating government positions became synonymous with political power-sharing during Italy’s First Republic, has died.

Italy Reaches New National Healthcare Labour Agreement Through 2027

The Italian public administration and national trade unions have concluded a new collective agreement for public healthcare workers covering the period through 2027, including wage increases for doctors and nurses.

Two Ancient Greek Trading Shipwrecks Discovered Off Calabria’s Ionian Coast

Underwater archaeologists have discovered two trading vessels dating back about two thousand five hundred years off Calabria, offering new evidence of maritime commerce during the era of Magna Graecia.

Northern Italy Hit by Torrential Storms and Tornadoes as Summer Heat Breaks

A powerful Atlantic weather front has brought heavy rain, landslides and a rare tornado to northern Italy, including damage in the Bergamo valleys and around Turin, prompting regional civil protection alerts.

Italian Residential Construction Recovery Shifts Toward Primary Home Renovations

Italy’s residential construction sector is showing signs of recovery following the winding down of the Superbonus program, with activity increasingly supported by tax incentives for energy-efficiency improvements to primary residences.

Italy Allocates Fifty Million Euros to Youth Facilities in Depopulated Villages

Family and Equal Opportunities Minister Eugenia Roccella has announced a fifty million euro fund for municipalities with fewer than five thousand residents, aimed at building educational and recreational facilities to counter rural depop...

Giuseppe Conte Sparks Civil Rights Dispute Within Italy’s Centre-Left Opposition

Five Star Movement leader Giuseppe Conte has criticized what he describes as imported progressive cultural politics, deepening disagreements with the Democratic Party and adding tension to the centre-left alliance ahead of regional elect...

Italy Targets Foreign-Plated Vehicles Used to Avoid Domestic Taxes and Insurance Costs

Transport Minister Matteo Salvini is advancing tougher rules under Italy’s revised Highway Code aimed at drivers who register vehicles with Polish or other foreign plates to avoid higher domestic vehicle taxes and insurance costs.

Italian Municipalities Report Thirteen Percent Drop in Tourist Tax Revenue

Local governments collected thirteen percent less in tourist tax revenue during the first half of the year despite strong international visitor numbers, raising concerns over unregistered short-term rentals and tax evasion.

Italy’s Supreme Court Strengthens Rules Against Labour Exploitation

The Court of Cassation has ruled that employers can still be convicted of labour exploitation even when workers have formal contracts, accommodation and transport, strengthening protections against abusive employment practices.

Italy Weighs Extending Thirty-Three Percent Income Tax Rate to Salaries Up to Sixty Thousand Euros

Government officials are considering extending the thirty-three percent personal income tax bracket to gross annual salaries of up to sixty thousand euros as part of preparations for the next budget law.

Italy’s Poorest Half Holds Just Seven Percent of National Wealth, Data Shows

New economic statistics show that the poorest fifty percent of Italian households own only seven percent of the country’s total wealth, highlighting a sharp widening of wealth inequality since 2011.

Italy Considers Public Pension Fund at Birth to Support New Citizens

Labour Minister Marina Calderone has backed an initial proposal for a state-supported pension fund to be established at birth for every new Italian citizen, with contributions later made by families and the state.

Italy Mobilises National Aid After Magnitude Four Point Seven Campi Flegrei Earthquake

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has pledged national assistance after a magnitude four point seven earthquake near Naples, Italy’s strongest in forty years, displaced hundreds of residents and caused structural damage.

Roberto Vannacci’s Opposition to Ukraine Arms Shipments Deepens Divisions on Italian Right

General Roberto Vannacci’s political movement has opposed continued Italian weapons deliveries to Ukraine, drawing sharp criticism from Forza Italia and exposing further divisions within Italy’s governing right.

Italy Orders Forty-Five-Day Blockade of Sea-Watch Rescue Ship

Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi has ordered a forty-five-day administrative detention of the German-flagged Sea-Watch rescue vessel and imposed financial penalties, citing alleged violations of Italy’s maritime rescue regulations.

Netherlands and Switzerland Resume Dublin Transfers of Asylum Seekers to Italy

The Netherlands and Switzerland have resumed transfers of asylum seekers to Italy under the Dublin rules when Italy was their first point of entry into the European Union, adding pressure to the country’s reception system.

Italian Government Prepares Emergency Fuel Tax Decree to Contain Diesel Prices

The Council of Ministers is preparing a temporary decree to extend fuel excise discounts, with particular attention to diesel, as the Economy Ministry seeks additional funding to cover the measure.

Italy and Banks Agree Four Point Four Billion Euro Contribution to 2026 Budget

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says Italian banks will contribute four point four billion euros to the 2026 budget, following negotiations that avoided a forced extraordinary tax on banks’ excess profits.

Alpine Rescue Authorities Warn of Rising Extreme Weather Risks in Northern Italy

Authorities in Trentino-Alto Adige are warning hikers about rapidly changing mountain weather after an Italian hiker was killed by lightning in South Tyrol, highlighting growing safety concerns for the region’s outdoor tourism industry.

Diphtheria Death of Unvaccinated Child in Palermo Reignites Italy’s Vaccine Debate

The death of an unvaccinated child from diphtheria in Sicily has prompted urgent health warnings from Italy’s Health Ministry and renewed debate over declining vaccination rates and the return of preventable diseases.

Rimini Meeting Ends With Debate on Europe’s Demographics, Industry and Security

The annual Catholic cultural festival in Emilia-Romagna concluded after discussions involving Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and European leaders on demographic pressures, industrial policy, European integration and regional security.

Italy’s Serie A Opens New Season as Clubs Expand International Commercial Reach

The new Serie A season has begun with defending champions Napoli and title-holders Inter winning their opening matches, highlighting the continued commercial appeal of Italian football in international entertainment markets.

Italy’s Aviation Network Records Strong Summer Passenger Growth as Tourism Surges

Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa handled unprecedented summer passenger volumes, with strong international tourism supporting Italy’s hospitality, retail and gastronomy sectors.

Mare Group Advances Industrial Hydrogen Trials in Italy’s Manufacturing Sector

Naples-based engineering company Mare Group has demonstrated new commercial applications for industrial hydrogen as Italy seeks to develop domestic clean-energy technologies and reduce emissions from heavy industry.

Italian Banks and Asset Managers Accelerate Use of AI in Wealth Management

Major financial institutions are increasingly deploying artificial intelligence to manage retail investment portfolios, marking a faster adoption of digital tools across Milan’s traditional banking and asset-management industry.

Italy Expands Digital Currency Preparations as Banks Adapt to ECB Project

The Bank of Italy and major financial institutions are accelerating preparations for the European Central Bank’s digital currency, seeking to ensure that Italy’s financial technology infrastructure remains competitive as the project adva...

Rai Confirms November Return of Investigative Programme After Intimidation Scandal

Italy’s public broadcaster will bring back its flagship investigative programme in November despite ongoing internal ethical reviews following a businessman’s confession that he arranged a bombing at the presenter’s home.

Italy’s State Rail Group Reorganises Tourist Trains as Luxury Travel Demand Grows

Ferrovie dello Stato is restructuring its tourism division and investing in high-end heritage rolling stock to capture rising international demand for premium rail journeys and slower travel experiences across Italy.

Italy Launches Nationwide Tax Evasion Crackdown Targeting Tourism and Undeclared Labour

The Guardia di Finanza says a summer enforcement campaign has targeted undeclared short-term rentals, illegal beach concessions and labour exploitation in agriculture as authorities intensify efforts to combat tax evasion.

Mount Etna Activity Prompts Review of Access Rules After Tourist’s Lightning Death

Italian Civil Protection authorities are considering tighter restrictions on access to Mount Etna after a 30-year-old American tourist was killed by lightning, while continuing ash emissions have also disrupted operations at Catania Inte...

Italy’s Extreme Heat Puts Pressure on Power, Water and Public Health Infrastructure

Weeks of unusually high temperatures are straining electricity networks, water supplies and healthcare facilities across major Italian cities, prompting municipalities to accelerate emergency measures for climate adaptation and urban coo...

Italy’s Luxury Industry Maintains Strong Global Position Despite Economic Headwinds

A new market report says Italian luxury brands continue to perform strongly internationally, supported by the value of the Made in Italy designation across premium fashion, leather goods and high-end watches.

Ferrari Continues Biofuel Engine Development as First Electric Model Sells Out

Ferrari chief executive Benedetto Vigna says the Maranello automaker will continue developing carbon-neutral biofuel combustion engines even as its first fully electric model sells out its global production allocation.