Economy and Finance – This week, the international outlets are focusing their coverage on the economic and financial news from Italy. The spotlight is on the plan to take the Eni spinoff Plenitude private, in the biggest move by “an oil and gas major in response to pressure to reduce carbon emissions” (Financial Times, November 22 – Eni renames transition spin-off Plenitude ahead of planned IPO*) and probably “one of Italy’s biggest initial public offerings” (Reuters, November 22 – Eni could list up to 30% of its Plenitude energy transition unit).
In the meantime, KKR’s buyout offer of TIM, “Italy’s biggest phone group” (Reuters, November 22 – KKR makes $12 billion approach to take Telecom Italia private*), looks to be “one of the largest private equity buyouts of a European company in history” (Financial Times, November 22 – KKR makes €33bn buyout offer for Telecom Italia).
Technologies and sustainability take centre stage in the reporting dedicated by the French economic daily Les Echos to “Lamborghini’s great pivot towards electrification” (November 24 – Le grand virage électrique de Lamborghini*), and in the article that Xinhua devotes to the growth of shared mobility, which has exceeded pre-pandemic levels in Italy (November 24 – Shared mobility in Italy returns to growth, exceeding pre-pandemic levels: report). The Chinese press agency also reports Amazon’s investment in the country increasing by 60% (Xinhua, November 19 – Amazon says its investment in Italy up by 60 pct in 2020).
Other news relates to the cooperation between Leonardo and Fincantieri on defence (Bloomberg, November 18 – Italy Looking at Leonardo, Fincantieri Cooperation on Defense) and to the possible investment by Enel and Intesa Sanpaolo in the payments firm Mooney (Reuters, November 19 – Enel emerges as frontrunner for Italy’s Mooney in joint bid with Intesa – sources).
Music, cinema, entertainment – In culture, Financial Times publishes a long profile/interview with Andrea Bocelli, the tenor “known for his fusion of opera and popular music,” who, with “more than 80 million records,” has become the “biggest‑selling living classical music artist” (November 20 – Andrea Bocelli: ‘I often write emails to my wife at night, even though we’re under the same roof’). The British daily also interviews the director Paolo Sorrentino, who recounts his new and “deeply personal” film The Hand of God (November 25 – Paolo Sorrentino: ‘I am obsessed by the sacred and profane’).
El País, on the other hand, celebrates the success and “the incredible life of Khaby Lane,” the young TikToker from Lombardy who now has “more followers than Zuckerberg on the social networks” (November 23 – La increíble vida de Khaby Lame: de perder su trabajo a tener más seguidores que Zuckerberg en redes sociales).
Style – In fashion, Les Echos reviews the autumn/winter show that Miu Miu has staged in Cortina d’Ampezzo (November 21 – Mode : Miu Miu s’évade à Cortina d’Ampezzo), while The New York Times covers the “sculptural” jewellery line of Maria Sole Ferragamo, one of the granddaughters of the fashion house’s founder (November 22 – She Turned Her Leather Heritage Into a Jewelry Line). Automotive style is also covered, focusing on the new Daytona SP3 with which Ferrari pays homage to 1960s race cars (Bloomberg, November 20 – Ferrari Pays Homage to 1960s Race Cars With Slick Model).
Tourism and wine & food – In tourism, The New York Times tells the story of a retired American couple that has managed to “pursue their dreams” of living in Italy, in Padua, for a totally “different style of life” (November 23 – It’s Never Too Late to Pick Up Your Life and Move to Italy*), while El Mundo proposes, from Lombardy to Sicily, the 12 new towns included among Italy’s most beautiful villages (borghi più belli d’Italia) (November 24 – Estos son los 12 (nuevos) pueblos oficiales más bonitos de Italia de la Toscana a Sicilia). Libération covers the Trentino tradition of polenta with sauerkraut (November 20 – Polenta e crauti, l’Italie casse la choucroute), and, lastly, the Tunisian daily La Presse celebrates Italian cuisine week, whose sixth edition will concentrate on street food (November 19 – 6e semaine de la cuisine italienne du 22 au 26 November à Tunis: La street food italienne à l’honneur!; November 24 – Semaine mondiale de la cuisine italienee: A la découverte des saveurs de l’Italie!).
*Articlde available for pay /at registration