Economy – The economy once again takes centre stage in the reporting dedicated by the foreign press to Italian events and personalities. Les Echos has devoted a long profile to Mario Draghi, “the man who rescued the euro from implosion,” “considered a natural candidate for President of the Italian Republic” but also “one of the people with the most tools to help Europe in its post- Covid reconstruction” (Les Echos, November 13- Mario Draghi, le super-banquier qui fait encore rêver les élites; – Les sept piliers de Mario Draghi).
In corporate news, the press agencies celebrate the deal, in the billions, with which Nexi has purchased its Nordic rival Nets, “the second in six weeks” after the merger with Italy’s SIA, making the group “Europe’s leader” in electronic payments (Bloomberg, November 16 – Nexi Buys Nets in $9.2 Billion Deal to Create Payment Giant; Reuters, November 15 – Italy’s Nexi clinches all-share merger with Nordic rival Nets).
Alliances are also being made in the auto sector, where FCA has reached an agreement with Engie to “take full advantage of [the] boom in electric mobility” (Reuters, November 12 – Fiat Chrysler and Engie EPS to set up e-mobility joint venture). Ferrari is also wagering on green, presenting the hybrid version of its SF90 Stradale, as part of the carmarker’s “drive to make 60% of sales from hybrid technology by 2022” (Reuters, November 12 – Ferrari lifts the lid on convertible version of SF90 Stradale hybrid; Bloomberg, November 12 – Ferrari’s First Plug-In Hybrid Convertible Packs Powerful Punch*).
Design and fashion – Innovation is guiding growth in Italian design. Les Echos recounts the anti-crisis strategy of Dolce&Gabbana, which is “not being brought down by the pandemic” and has decided to wager on craftsmanship and on digital communication in order to face this period (November 17 – 5 choses à savoir sur la stratégie de Dolce & Gabbana en période de crise*). The furnishings sector is also wagering on the “digital era,” with automated and app-controlled kitchens: The Wall Street Journal’s overview of technological offerings also includes major Italian brands, from Dada to Boffi (November 18 – The Future of Kitchen Design Is Hands-Free and Smartphone-Activated*). Lastly, luxury is covered with Bulgari’s new “High Jewellery” collection, a celebration of “eternal glamour” dedicated to Rome (Financial Times, November 19 – Eternal glamour: Bulgari goes baroque*).
Culture and sport – Cultural reports have cast the spotlight on art. While The New York Times tells the story of Geco, the “artist-provocateur” who seems to be the Roman alter ego of Bansky (November 14 – Rome Tracks Down the Man Behind All That Graffiti. No, It’s Not Banksy.), The Wall Street Journal comments on the “L’importuno di Michelangelo” a piece of “Renaissance graffiti” that academics are currently debating, and even wondering whether the Italian artist might be considered a “Renaissance Bansky” (November 13 – Was Michelangelo a Renaissance Banksy?).
Coverage is also devoted to music, with a look back on the life of the late soprano Rosanna Carteri, one of the “last prima donnas” (The New York Times, November 12 – Rosanna Carteri, Soprano Who Retired at Her Peak, Dies at 89*), and with a profile of the Italian “pop star” Raffaella Carrà (The Guardian, November 16 – Raffaella Carrà: the Italian pop star who taught Europe the joy of sex)
Lastly, in sport, Sueddeutsche Zeitung celebrates the results at the ATP Sofia Open of Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner, the youngest tournament winner since 2008” (November 14 – Tennisprofi Sinner jüngster Turniersieger seit 2008).
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