Italy faces the challenge of the restart – The international media continue to shine the spotlight on Italy and on the resumption of activities after the acute phase of the emergency. While some articles report on the strategies of automotive industry players from CNH to Ferrari (Reuters, May 5 – Italy’s CNH Industrial aims for full production by end of May; The Wall Street Journal, 1 May – Ferrari’s Back-To-Work Plan Starts With a Blood Test*), others cover the “surprising” rise in profits of Intesa Sanpaolo during the year’s first quarter (Reuters, May 5 – Italy’s Intesa posts surprise rise in Q1 net profit), a performance that “signals resilience” in the face of the crisis (Reuters, May 5 – Italy’s Intesa signals resilience after surprisingly solid first quarter). On the other hand, explains the financial daily Boersen Zeitung, the Angelini pharmaceutical group’s revenues, driven by sales of Amuchina, are on the rise (May 7 – Angelini Group auf Wachstumskurs*). Another German newspaper, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, interviews Emma Marcegaglia, the “Iron Lady” of Italian industry, to discuss the economic scenario (May 1 – Italiens eiserne Lady). Lastly The Guardian focuses on the subsidies proposed by the Region of Sicily to support the upcoming tourism season (May 5 – Sicily to subsidise post-Covid holidays as Italy considers reopening to tourists).
Culture – Several stories are dedicated to culture. El País interviews Gabriele Salvatores about the upcoming feature film the Oscar-winning director is preparing on an Italy under quarantine (May 6 – Un viaje por la vida de la Italia confinada), while Die Welt pays homage to the Belpaese in a portrait of the Italy without tourists, “authentic in its beauty,” offered in the book by journalist Thomas Steinfeld (May 6 – Das andere Italien). Le Monde, on the other hand, reports on the architect Stefano Boeri’s analysis on the future of cities “that will have to rethink their relationship with nature” (May 4 – « Les villes doivent être des vecteurs dans le développement de corridors écologiques planétaires »*).
While The New York Times wonders about the future of art biennials, a format born with the Venice Biennale of 1895 (May 1 – Art Biennials Were Testing Grounds. Now They Are Being Tested*.), the Spanish daily Expansión travels to Gran Hotel Excelsior Vittoria in Sorrento to recall Enrico Caruso, the tenor who spent his final days there (May 3 – CARUSO, ULTIME SÉRÉNADE DANS UN PALACE*). Lastly, The Guardian celebrates the life of Lorenza Bianchi, the Italian “freethinker and Bohemian” in post-war London (May 3 – Lorenza Bianchi obituary).
Luxury – Other articles are dedicated to luxury: The New York Times celebrates 70 years of the brand from the watchmaker Panerai, discussing the special edition of the famed Luminor (May 1 – Panerai Celebrates the Luminor at 70*), and wonders about the future of fashion shows, explaining how Zegna is organizing its own show online in July (May 2 – Is This the Future of the Fashion Show?*),
Cuisine – Lastly, in cuisine, the focus is on Italian products and their success in the United States. The Wall Street Journal recounts how the Italian community of San Francisco is dealing with the difficulties of the quarantine with home delivery of gelato (May 2 – As San Francisco’s Aging Italians Grieve From Afar, a Gelato Maker Drops By*), while The New York Times goes “beyond pizza,” reviewing the Lombard, Piedmontese, and Emilian specialities that the city’s restaurants offer for home delivery (May 5 – An Italian Specialty for Spring, Veal, for Takeout and Delivery*). As usual, Der Standard devotes coverage to recipes, with “torta cioccolatino,” a dessert from the Piedmontese tradition (May 5 – Torta cioccolatino: Ein Kuchen wie eine Praline).
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