Economy – In the economic news, the international media continue to follow with interest the listing of the American branch of Leonardo, emphasizing that the operation may bring between $ 700 and $ 800 million into the coffers of the Italian defence group (March 15 in Bloomberg – Italy’s Leonardo to Raise Up to $807 Million From DRS Unit IPO* and Reuters – Italian defence group Leonardo launches $700 million IPO of U.S. unit). The press agencies are also dealing with the possible growth operation that Generali is said to be considering in Russia, with an acquisition that, according to leaks, might be worth € 2 billion (March 17 – Italy’s Generali studying 2 bln euro acquisition in Russia-paper). Ferrero is also seeing international growth; as the economic daily Expansión explains, the company has chosen Spain for its worldwide entry into the ice cream market (March 12 – Ferrero elige España para su desembarco mundial en la categoría de helados). Another party joining the Iberian market is the Italian fintech start-up Criptalia, which will “help SMEs finance themselves” with projects for € 3 million (Expansión, March 11 – La ‘fintech’ Criptalia aterriza en España para ayudar a las pymes a financiarse).
On the other hand, economic development and health take centre stage in a Financial Times editorial by Mario Monti, head of the WHO’s Pan-European Commission on Health and Sustainable Development, as he outlines an “ambitious agenda” for the “post-Covid ‘normal’” (March 16 – Mario Monti: An ambitious agenda is needed for the post-Covid ‘normal’*).
Lifestyle – The big names in luxury are back in the spotlight for articles dedicated to lifestyle. El Mundo dedicates a long profile to Patrizio Bertelli, a “magnate obsessed with the America’s Cup,” a “key element” not only in the Luna Rossa sailing challenge, but also in the “revolution that Prada has created in the luxury world” (March 15 – El magnate obsesionado con la Copa América*). The Spanish daily is also closely following the filming of House of Gucci, a movie dedicated entirely to the Italian brand (March 12 – El sorprendente y glamuroso look vintage de Lady Gaga como ‘viuda negra’ de Gucc*i), while the set –The Guardian points out – has reached Gressoney, then to continue on to Milan, Rome, and Florence, and winding up on Lake Como (March 12 – Gucci and Gaga bring Hollywood cheer to tiny Italian Alps village).
Innovation in the world of fashion is also covered, with the experimentation of new materials made from food residues: in its report, El Mundo cites the cases of the Italian companies Orange Fiber, which makes “a fabric similar to silk and viscose in appearance and quality,” and Frumat, which uses apple peels from Alto Adige to make a “leather-like” material (March 18 – La doble vida de la fruta: de alimento a prenda de vestir*).
Food – And of course, as usual, there is no lack of food reports: Le Monde publishes the recipe for “the Italian treat that plays with the equilibrium between the creaminess of mascarpone and the bitterness of coffee” (18 March – Le tiramisu : la recette facile de Gaëtan Roussel), while Der Standard proposes the recipe for potato lasagne (March 16 – Nonna Ninas Erdäpfellasagne: Rezept für Lasagne di patate).
For Italian restaurants abroad, The New York Times covers the opening of a new gelateria in SoHo by the Milanese restaurant Sant Ambreus (March 15 – Sant Ambroeus Opens a Gelateria in SoHo*), and reviews the hot sauce at Casa Firelli, “meant for pizza” and “fuelled with combustible Calabrian chiles.” (March 15 – This Hot Sauce Has Calabrian Fire*). And in Germany, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reports on two Italian restaurants that between its “desserts and pinse” stand apart for their quality and for the way in which they have managed to respond to the pandemic crisis (March 17 – Croissants und Pinsa).
*Article available for pay / at registration