Economy – The foreign media’s interest in Italian businesses and their expansion plans continues. Reuters ran a piece setting out Enel’s international objectives (November 4 – Enel to invest more in Latam grids, broadband abroad), whilst the interview with Guido Barilla, featured by Les Echos explored how a family business can be transformed into a multinational (November 7 – «Notre culture, c’est la compréhension quasi physique du travail de chacun »*). The New York Times wrote about the overseas success achieved by Silvia Avanzi and her made in Italy brand artisanal shoes (November 7 – Brand to Know: Simple Architectural Heels, Made in Italy*). Reuters ran an article about Poste Italiane’s increased profits (November 9 – Poste Italiane 9-mth operating profit rises on insurance growth) whereas the New York Times explained how Milan is hoping to attract UK based foreign businesses adversely effected by Brexit (November 9 – Milan Wants to Lure Asian and Gulf Firms Fleeing Brexit*).
News from the automobile sector took up many column inches this week, the Washington Post and the Financial Times wrote about Ferrari’s record profits and new objectives (November 7 – Ferrari raises forecasts after record third-quarter earnings*; Ferrari shares race ahead on profits beat*). Meantime die Welt and the Wall Street Journal focused on Alfa Romeo and the “come back” it is witnessing thanks to its latest models and new-look designs (November 4 – Alfa Romeo Chefdesigner Alessandro Maccolini; November 3 – 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Review: An Awesome Reboot*). Spain’s Expansión on the other hand, chose to write about the new and exclusive driving course for women introduced by Maserati (November 7 – Maserati crea un exclusivo curso de conducción sólo para mujeres). The FCA group was also the subject of an article in Bloomberg, that explored how New Holland’s agricultural machinery is used in the Antinori vineyards in Tuscany (November 8 – Agnelli Clan Drags Italian Vineyards Into the 21st Century).
Leading figures from the worlds of fashion & design: Three such people featured this week. The Financial Times ran a profile on Alessandro Sartori, Zegna’s artistic director and the man attributed with the ability to take men’s suits into the modern world (November 10 – Can this man save the suit?*). Lapo Elkann, the founder of Italia Independent, his take on generosity and his “crusade on creativity” was the subject chosen by Les Echos (November 10 – «La générosité est la clé de notre futur» LAPO ELKANN*), whilst the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung dedicated an article to the architect and designer, Michele De Lucchi (November 8 – Il Maestro und sein Bleistift).
Culture – This week’s articles of a cultural nature included one in le Monde that was in Turin for the contemporary art event that “revisits the past” (November 7 – A Turin, Artissima revisite le passé*) and the other in el País that was in Bologna, for the most important children’s book fair of all – the Fiera del Libro – to talk about the 59 Catalonian illustrators in attendance (November 8 – La Feria de Bolonia ‘dibujará’ en catalán). For el Mundo, however, it was the films of Valeria Bruni featuring in the Festival of European Cinema being held in Seville that were of interest (November 9 – Las visiones (familiares) de Valeria Bruni).
Tourism – Italy’s three most significant volcanoes – Etna, Vesuvius and Stromboli – were the subject of an article in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (November 4 – Trio Infernale) and the same paper was in Alto Adige to explore the magic of the region’s mountains (November 9 – Kaminglimmen mit Alpenglut). Meantime, attention was dedicated to the revitalization of Santo Stefano di Sessanio, a medieval village in Abruzzo that owes its future to an Italian-Swedish entrepreneur (Reuters, November 4 – Keeping an Italian medieval village alive).
Food & Wine – This week’s gastronomic news included a recipe for almond biscuits published in The Guardian (November 8 – A quick recipe for Italian soft almond biscuits from Rachel Ruddy) whilst l‘Orient le Jour featured the cookery courses that the chef Nicola Offeda is organizing in Lebanon (November 10 – Nicola Offedi, un amoureux du terroir italien).
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