Rome Times

Italian Paralympic Athletes Post Strong Times at Brescia Grand Prix

Italian athletes Bottazzini and Filippi recorded leading qualifying performances at the Brescia Grand Prix, a Paralympic track-and-field event backed by sponsors including UniCredit and Stellantis.

Italian Companies Complete Late-August Dividend Payments as Markets Remain Stable

Companies including Poligrafici Printing carried out scheduled dividend distributions in late August amid broadly stable conditions on the Milan stock market.

Enilive Expands Digital Fuel Voucher Campaign for Italian Motorists

Eni’s mobility business Enilive launched a wider digital fuel-voucher promotion across Italy as motorists face continued volatility in energy prices.

E-Distribuzione Begins Grid Upgrades Across Tuscan Municipalities

Electricity distributor E-Distribuzione scheduled targeted power interruptions in parts of Tuscany, including Massa and Cozzile, while carrying out upgrades intended to strengthen regional grid infrastructure.

Italy Prepares Medical Evacuation for Former Five Star Figure Alessandro Di Battista

Italian diplomatic and medical authorities are coordinating plans to bring Alessandro Di Battista back to Rome after he suffered a serious medical emergency while filming a documentary in Havana.

RAI Journalist Sigfrido Ranucci Takes Legal Action Over Removal From Investigative Program

Sigfrido Ranucci, host of the investigative television program Report, has begun legal action against state broadcaster RAI following his removal, intensifying debate over press freedom and political influence.

Italy Drafts Law Declaring Bank of Italy Gold Reserves Belong to the Italian People

The Meloni government has drafted legislation explicitly stating that gold reserves managed by the Bank of Italy belong to the Italian people.

Italy Redirects €1.5 Billion From Development Fund to Central Budget

The Economy Ministry ordered €1.5 billion from the Development and Cohesion Fund to be transferred to the central state budget as Italy works to meet European deficit targets.

Eurozone Economic Sentiment Rises to 98.4 as Italian Confidence Strengthens

Eurozone economic confidence increased to 98.4 points in late August, with Italy among the Mediterranean economies contributing to the improvement.

Italian Business and Consumer Confidence Improve in August

Italy’s business and consumer confidence indicators rose in August, with the headline measure increasing from 95.7 to 96 points as manufacturing and export activity remained resilient.

Italy Eases Municipal Deadlines for EU-Funded Recovery Projects

Authorities overseeing Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan said municipalities will not face immediate penalties for missing late-August spending deadlines on reprogrammed local infrastructure projects.

Italy Launches New Tax Amnesty for Debts Accumulated Between 2000 and 2023

The Italian revenue agency introduced the “Rottamazione quinquies” program, allowing individuals and companies to settle longstanding tax debts from 2000 to 2023 without some of the associated penalties.

Italian Beach Operators Stage Nationwide Protest Against EU Concession Rules

Beach concession operators launched nationwide protests against implementation of the EU Bolkestein rules, which would require public auctions for many family-run coastal concessions.

Italian Consumer Group Warns Families Face €270 Rise in Energy Bills This Autumn

Consumer association Codacons estimates that a family of four could pay at least €270 more for gas and electricity between September and December, alongside higher food costs.

Southern Italy Heatwave Pushes Temperatures to 40°C as Tyrrhenian Sea Nears 30°C

Temperatures across Sicily, Calabria and Puglia reached 40°C during a late-summer heatwave, while Tyrrhenian Sea surface temperatures approached 30°C, raising concerns for marine ecosystems.

Italy Tightens Tax Rules on Short-Term Rentals to Address Housing Pressure

Italy’s upcoming budget maintains a 21% flat tax on an initial short-term rental property, raises the rate to 26% for a second property and treats further rentals as commercial activity.

Italy Allocates €2.38 Billion in Additional Health Funding for 2026

Italy’s Economy Ministry has structured an additional €2.38 billion for the National Health Service in 2026 as regional systems face staff shortages, aging infrastructure and higher operating costs.

Tornado and Severe Hailstorm Injure 43 People in Cremona

A localized tornado and hailstorm struck the northern Italian city of Cremona, injuring 43 people and damaging an estimated 10,000 vehicles.

Italy Considers Reintroducing Border Checks for Arrivals From Spain Amid Migration Surge

Italy’s Interior Ministry is considering tighter checks on passengers arriving from Spain following a sharp increase in irregular migration into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.

Italy Considers Bank and Energy Sector Contributions to Help Fund 2026 Budget

The Italian government is examining targeted contributions and reduced tax deductibility for credit losses at major banks and energy companies as it looks for additional revenue to finance planned fiscal measures.

Italy Plans Income-Tax Cut for Middle Earners in 2026 Budget

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government is preparing to reduce the second income-tax rate from 35% to 33% for earners on up to €50,000 as it seeks to support household spending while meeting European deficit rules.

Juventus Beat Parma 2-0 to Maintain Strong Start to Serie A Season

Juventus defeated Parma 2-0 with goals from Nico Gonzalez and Teun Koopmeiners, giving the Turin club further early-season momentum under its new tactical leadership.

Pope Francis Leads Religious Procession on Lake Albano

Pope Francis took part in a religious procession on Lake Albano near Castel Gandolfo, marking an unusual papal appearance on the water during the summer retreat.

Tadej Pogacar Withdraws from Vuelta a España After Severe Crash

Reigning champion Tadej Pogacar has withdrawn from the Vuelta a España following a high-speed crash, disrupting his season and raising uncertainty over preparations for the upcoming World Championships.

Iceland Vote to Reopen EU Accession Talks Draws Attention in Italy

Initial referendum results in Iceland show a narrow majority supporting renewed European Union membership negotiations, a development being closely followed in Italian foreign policy discussions.

Ten Million Italians Plan September Holidays as Travel Season Extends

Italian tourism operators expect about 10 million people to take holidays in September as travellers seek lower prices and adapt to shifting seasonal weather, extending business for coastal and mountain destinations.

Venice Film Festival Faces Pro-Palestinian Protests and Heightened Security

Activist groups are preparing demonstrations and Palestinian flag displays around the 83rd Venice Film Festival, prompting tighter security as geopolitical tensions spill into the opening of the event.

Italian Council Proposes Public Procurement Rules to Help Former Prisoners Find Work

The National Council for Economics and Labour is pushing for social inclusion clauses in public contracts that would encourage companies to employ current and former prisoners as part of efforts to reduce recidivism.

Italian Wealth Tax Debate Revives as Global Ultra-Rich Population Expands

Italian media and left-leaning political groups are renewing calls for wealth taxation after data showed more than half a million ultra-high-net-worth individuals worldwide controlling nearly $64 trillion in assets.

More Than 24 Million Vehicles Crowd Italian Highways During August Holiday Return

Italy’s national road operator declared red-alert traffic conditions on major north-south routes as more than 24 million vehicles joined the traditional late-August return from summer holidays.

Italian Summer Tourism Revenue Reaches Record €20 Billion as Foreign Arrivals Rise

Italy’s hospitality industry generated about €20 billion during July and August as foreign visitor numbers increased 10%, with strong international spending reported in destinations across Liguria, Calabria and Puglia.

Italian Government Adjusts Eni Dividend Tax Timing Ahead of EU Budget Talks

Italy’s Economy and Finance Ministry has approved changes affecting advance taxation of dividends from state-backed Eni, seeking to increase near-term fiscal receipts before negotiations over the European Union budget framework.

Leonardo Shares Maintain Strong Annual Gains as European Defence Spending Rises

Italian aerospace and defence group Leonardo continues to outperform the broader Milan market, supported by increased military procurement and security spending across Europe.

Milan Markets Brace for Volatile September as ECB Rate Outlook Remains Uncertain

Italian and wider European equities face renewed uncertainty as strong corporate earnings collide with persistent inflation that could keep European Central Bank monetary policy restrictive.

Alessandro Di Battista Hospitalised in Critical Condition in Cuba

Former Five Star Movement figure Alessandro Di Battista has been hospitalised after a sudden medical emergency while working in rural Cuba, prompting preparations for an Italian state-supported medical evacuation from Havana.

Seven Italians Killed in Peru Plane Crash as Government Coordinates Repatriation

Italy’s Foreign Ministry and its crisis unit are working with Peruvian authorities to repatriate victims after an aviation disaster killed 13 people, including seven Italian nationals.

Southern Italy and Sardinia Face Temperatures Near 46 Degrees Celsius

A severe late-summer heatwave is pushing temperatures toward 46 degrees Celsius in parts of Sardinia and southern Italy, worsening drought conditions, threatening crops and contributing to wildfire risks.

Italian Anti-Mafia Investigations Uncover ’Ndrangheta Links to Northern Business

Investigators in Milan and surrounding areas have disclosed wiretaps detailing meetings among Calabrian organised crime groups, drawing renewed attention to mafia infiltration of legitimate financial and commercial activity in Lombardy.

European Economic Confidence Rises to 98.4 in Boost for Italian Exporters

European Commission data showed the economic sentiment indicator climbing to 98.4 points in August, easing immediate recession concerns and offering support to Italian companies heavily exposed to intra-European trade.

Italian Consumer and Business Confidence Rises Again in August

Italy’s statistics agency Istat reported another monthly increase in consumer sentiment and business confidence, indicating continued optimism around production, orders and household spending despite inflation pressures.

Eni Opens Talks with US and Venezuela Over Expanded Oil Operations

Italian energy group Eni is holding discussions in Washington and Caracas aimed at expanding petroleum production in Venezuela and securing additional crude supplies amid shifting global energy conditions.

Stellantis Shares Slide Nearly 12% in August as Investors Seek Clarity on Production

Stellantis shares fell almost 12% in August and 34% over six months as investors pressed management for clearer evidence of improving North American margins and commitments to Italian plants including Melfi.

RAI Journalist Sigfrido Ranucci Challenges Ouster as Public Broadcasting Dispute Deepens

Investigative journalist Sigfrido Ranucci has launched legal action against state broadcaster RAI following his removal, intensifying debate in Italy over political interference, institutional transparency and the independence of public ...

Italian Transport Unions Announce September Strikes Across Rail, Transit and Aviation

Italian labour unions have called coordinated strikes beginning in early September over wages and working conditions, threatening widespread disruption for commuters and international travellers across rail, public transport and aviation...

Tornado and Hailstorms Hit Northern Italy, Injuring More Than 40

A violent tornado struck Cremona and severe hailstorms swept parts of Lombardy, injuring more than 40 people, damaging the city’s cathedral and destroying about 10,000 vehicles.