Europe

Italy to announce stimulus package to boost ailing tourism, auto sectors

Editorial Bureau July 28, 2020

ROME (ITALY) – Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri said on Tuesday that the country’s latest stimulus package, which is aimed at helping the economy tide over the pandemic crisis, includes help for the ailing tourism and automobile industries. The stimulus package will be announced

Europe

New arrival of migrants strains ‘hotspot’ in Italian island

Editorial Bureau July 24, 2020

LAMPEDUSA (ITALY) – The arrival of 100 migrants in small boats on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa on Friday has raised concerns among authorities as the holding centre is already strained. According to officials, the migrants came from Libya and they were either rescued or managed to evade the coast guard and reach the […]

Europe

New deficit hike to boost coronavirus-hit economy in Italy gets approval

Editorial Bureau July 23, 2020

ROME (ITALY) – The Italian government passed 25 billion euros (22.72 billion pounds) of extra spending on Wednesday. This was the third major move involving cash injection to bolster its battered economy since the start of the country’s coronavirus outbreak. The new stimulus will include additional borrowing and take the 2020 budget deficit to 11.9% […]

Tech

Amazon, Apple come under the scanner of Italian antitrust authority

Editorial Bureau July 22, 2020

MILAN (ITALY) – Italy’s antitrust authority said on Wednesday it has begun a probe to ascertain whether Apple Inc and Amazon Inc engaged in anti-competitive cooperation to sell Apple products and Beats headphones. It said the probe was aimed at finding out if Apple and Amazon had reached an anti-competitive pact to prevent electronics retailers […]

Tech

Italy takes steps to end stalemate over single broadband network

Editorial Bureau July 11, 2020

ROME (ITALY) – The Italian government told state-controlled utility Enel that it should reach an agreement with Telecom Italia by the end of July on plans to create a single broadband network for the country. To bridge the digital gap with the rest of Europe, Italy has been gunning for a unified network combining Telecom […]

Europe

Brands’ negotiations to bridge luxury gap make Italy’s artisans anxious

Ren Leen June 26, 2020

FLORENCE/MILAN (ITALY) – Italy’s artisans are worried about their future as brands cut orders and in some cases demand discounts and payment delays. The unsold luxury handbags and clothing gathering dust in their workshops add to their woes. Italy accounts for around 40% of global luxury goods manufacturing and has been hit hard by a […]

Europe

Pope, in first post-lockdown audience, thanks Italian doctors

Ren Leen June 20, 2020

VATICAN CITY (Europe) – Pope Francis on Saturday held his first audience for a group of people since Italy lifted its coronavirus lockdown, granting it to health workers from the Italian region most affected by the pandemic. “You were one of the supporting pillars of the entire country,” he told doctors and nurses from the […]

Europe

Italy records 43 coronavirus deaths on Wednesday, 329 new cases

Ren Leen June 17, 2020

ROME (ITALY) – COVID-19 deaths in Italy climbed by 43 on Wednesday against 34 the day before, the Civil Protection Agency said. The daily tally of new cases increased to 329 from 210 on Tuesday. The total death toll now stands at 34,448, the agency said. It is the fourth highest in the world after […]

Europe

Extreme poverty in Italy was on the decline before coronavirus: Survey

Editorial Bureau June 16, 2020

ROME (ITALY) – The number of Italian families living in abject poverty decreased in 2019 after four straight years of growth, though there is still a significant problem in the underdeveloped south, statistics revealed on Tuesday. About 4.6 million people, or 7.7% of the population, live in absolute poverty, defined as those unable to buy […]

Europe

Pope Francis: Don’t celebrate victory over coronavirus too soon

Jim Stein June 14, 2020

VATICAN CITY (Europe) – Pope Francis on Sunday warned Italians to not let their guard down against coronavirus now that infection rates have fallen and urged them to obey government rules on social distancing and wearing masks. Francis, addressing several hundred people in St. Peter’s Square for his Sunday blessing, reacted to applause that broke […]