Economy & finance – Although the international press continues to focus on the banking sector and the Brexit effect, there have been articles about Italy, mostly carrying news about new investments. One such newsworthy story is that of AC Milan, one of Italy’s legendary soccer clubs that the Berlusconi family has sold to the Chinese group, Sunings. (July 5 and 6 on Financial Times – Berlusconi to sell AC Milan to Chinese investors*; Time –Legendary Italian Soccer Club AC Milan Is Now Chinese-Owned; Bloomberg – AC Milan Sale Close After Berlusconi Reveals Deal With Chinese; les Echos – Silvio Berlusconi va céder l’AC Milan à des investisseurs chinois*).
The FCA group is also betting on Italy, deciding to base production of the Jeep Renegade in Melfi, declaring that the vehicle is certain to fully meet the expectations of fans of the brand, as explained by the Wall Street Journal (June 30 – Jeep Renegade: Built in Italy, Inspired by Moab*).
On the contrary, Yoox, the luxury e-commerce brand, is looking abroad, as following its merger with France’s Net-a-porter, forecasts for growth in the next years, thanks to sales made through smart phones and tablets (Reuters, July 6 – YNAP sees core profit margin rising by 2020 as it bets on mobile). Emilia-based Veroni has decided to concentrate its sales of cold cuts on the US Market (New York Times, July 5 – Italian Salamis You Don’t Have to Smuggle Home in a Suitcase*). Next the Financial Times explained that the Ferrovie dello Stato is planning to take over its Greek counterpart, Transoe (July 6 – Italy state rail operator makes binding bid for Greek counterpart*).
Style, food & drink and luxury – The Italian lifestyle made the news this week following the announcement of research carried out by IRCCS Neuromed, which was picked up by many foreign papers as the good news is that eating moderate amounts of pasta, as part of a Mediterranean diet, is not only non-fattening, it is actually healthy. (El Mundo, July 4 – La pasta (con moderación) no engorda; Time, July 5 – Eating Pasta Does Not Cause Obesity, Italian Study Finds). Italian cuisine also featured in a Wall Street Journal article which told of actress Debi Mazar’s passion for the Tuscan food that stars in her TV program “Extra Virgin” (June 30 – With an eye to Tuscany, Debi Mazar plots culinary future*).
Top of the range fine dining in Italy also got a mention with the Grotta Palezzese in Polignano a Mare as one of the most amazing places in the world to eat (Bloomberg, July 6 – Nine of the Most Extreme Dining Experiences Money Can Buy). Luxury cars – Italian style – were also in the news thanks to the new Fiat 500 designed by yacht manufacturer Riva (Expansion, June 30 – Fiat 500 Riva, crucero de lujo urbano).
Tourism – Various tourist destinations have appeared this week with three articles: the small Ligurian town of Seborga featured in a story by the Wall Street Journal (July 5 – Italian Pretenders to the Crown Pretend to Secede*); the New York Times published the winning story in its on-going student competition that focused on Lake Iseo and the installation by the artist Christo, declaring it to be the most interesting article received that week (July 5 – Summer Reading Contest Winner, Week 1 | ‘A Saffron-Colored Walkway That Connects Two Islands’) and el País published a photo-gallery of the 30 most colorful towns in Italy (July 5 – Otros 30 pueblos italianos muy pintones). Rome was the focus of a Reuters piece that marked the end of a much-needed clean-up operation (July 1 – Rome shows off cleaned up Colosseum) and Philippe Ridet, Rome correspondent for le Monde wrote his farewell piece on the Eternal City before moving on elsewhere (July 6- L’Italie, un vieux Guide bleu et « Le Corniaud » pour tout bagage*).
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