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Italy

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Italy. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Rome

Head of State

President Sergio Mattarella

Head of Government

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

Cardinal Angelo Becciu renounced his claim to vote in the conclave to elect the next pope. Photo AP

Pope Francis

For ‘the good of the church’ disgraced Cardinal withdraws from conclave

Angelo Becciu was forced to resign as head of the Vatican’s saint-making office and his rights as a cardinal because of allegations of financial misconduct.

29 Apr 2025 - 5:19PMvideocam

Mergers & Acquisitions

Pirelli sidelines China’s Sinochem over control of the Italian tyremaker

29 Apr 2025 - 12:00PM

Pope Francis

Vatican conclave to elect new pope to start on May 7

28 Apr 2025 - 9:00PMvideocam

TV shows and streaming video

What is ‘the sisterhood of ill repute’? Ask Amanda Knox

Knox reveals why she felt ‘seen and understood’ by Monica Lewinsky, her co-producer on a TV series about her wrongful conviction for murder.

28 Apr 2025 - 11:15AM

Monica Lewinsky in 1998 (left) and Amanda Know in 2011. They are collaborating as producers on a coming Hulu series about Knox’s experience being wrongfully accused and convicted. Photo: Reuters

Pope Francis

Will next pope continue Francis’ reforms or steer church in new direction?

Experts say the pontiff’s successor may bring fresh priorities but likely won’t change core doctrines as a pivotal conclave nears.

27 Apr 2025 - 1:00PMvideocam

Fame and celebrity

From 365 Days to Hollywood: Michele Morrone on fame, family and finding kismet

The Italian actor – whose next film, The Housemaid, co-stars Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried – is out to prove he’s more than a pretty face, and takes a passionate approach to all areas of life.

28 Apr 2025 - 10:44AM

US-China trade war

Why are European luxury brands caught in China-US trade war crossfire?

Amid US-China trade war, videos showcasing China’s manufacturing prowess went viral but also drew controversy.

26 Apr 2025 - 2:00PM

Women walk past LVMH’s group headquarters in Paris on April 14. Photo: Reuters

Pope Francis

Where will Trump sit during Pope Francis’ funeral? It’s complicated

Kings and presidents will be among the VIPs, but detailed rules and the whims of the French alphabet will determine who’s in the front row.

26 Apr 2025 - 7:38AM

Pope Francis

Tens of thousands pay final respects to Pope Francis ahead of funeral

Since the pope’s death on Tuesday, about 150,000 people from all over the world have bid farewell to him, the Vatican said.

25 Apr 2025 - 9:08PMvideocam

Pope Francis

Outside In | Why the next pope may be Asian or African

The centre of faith is moving away from the West, a shift that could add impetus to the late pope’s reforms.

25 Apr 2025 - 4:30PMvideocam

Pope Francis

Vatican unveils details of Pope Francis’s marble tomb

The tombstone will bear a simple inscription and be made of material from the Italian region that was home to the pontiff’s ancestors.

25 Apr 2025 - 3:07AM

Nuns wait in line to see Pope Francis lying in state at St Peter’s Basilica on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

Artificial intelligence

AI struggles to predict next pope as Vatican secrecy confounds tech bots

AI tools struggled with the Vatican’s secrecy, providing mixed insights on papal contenders like Parolin and Tagle, making predictions nearly impossible.

24 Apr 2025 - 12:00AM

Pope Francis

Pope Francis mourned at St Peter’s Basilica by Catholic faithful

Francis’ body will lie in state in the basilica until Saturday’s funeral and burial.

23 Apr 2025 - 9:53PMvideocam

Luxury Hotels

Portrait Milano, the ideal window onto the Italian city’s hidden beauty

The top-end property is part of the Lungarno Collection, a hospitality portfolio owned by the Ferragamo family, with sister properties in Florence and Rome.

28 Apr 2025 - 10:50AM

A garden-view room at Portrait Milano Hotel, a luxury property enclosing a stunning piazza, in the Italian fashion capital. Photo: Handout

Pope Francis

Vatican recounts Pope Francis’ final words and his ‘discreet death’

The Vatican said among Pope Francis’ final words were thanking his nurse for enabling his Easter appearance in St Peter’s Square.

22 Apr 2025 - 8:53PMvideocam

Pope Francis

Pope Francis’ funeral set for Saturday in Rome, public viewing begins Wednesday

Francis, 88, died unexpectedly on Monday after suffering a stroke and cardiac arrest.

22 Apr 2025 - 6:59PMvideocam

Pope Francis

Who is Kevin Farrell, the cardinal now running the Vatican?

Known as the Camerlengo, Farrell will determine the date of Francis’ funeral and supervise other organisational tasks.

22 Apr 2025 - 8:43AMvideocam

Food and Drinks

MasterChef Italia’s first ethnically Chinese winner on food and identity

Former model Anna Zhang Yilan, who wowed judges by fusing Italian and Chinese cuisine, talks about her childhood and cooking with her mother.

22 Apr 2025 - 7:15AM

MasterChef Italia season 14 winner Anna Zhang Yilan. Photo: courtesy of MasterChef Italia

Pope Francis

Trump says he will attend funeral of Pope Francis in Rome

In what will be Trump’s first trip abroad since taking office in January, president said he and wife Melania ‘look forward to being there!’.

22 Apr 2025 - 9:35AMvideocam

Pope Francis

Pope Francis was the pontiff with ‘2 left feet’ who loved the ‘beautiful game’

From Argentine compatriots Messi and the late Maradona to Ibrahimovic and Buffon, Francis received greatest stars of football at the Vatican.

22 Apr 2025 - 5:18AM

Pope Francis

Explainer | Who could succeed Pope Francis in the Vatican’s secretive conclave?

Several contenders have emerged to replace Pope Francis, with each bringing unique qualities and influences to the Vatican’s future leadership.

21 Apr 2025 - 10:50PMvideocam

A person stands next to a photograph of Pope Francis inside Saint Anthony Catholic Church in Istanbul, Turkey on Monday. Photo: AP

Emmanuel Macron

World leaders, from King Charles to Putin and Zelensky, mourn Pope Francis’ death

World leaders praised Pope Francis for his compassion, peace efforts, and interfaith dialogue, leaving a legacy of justice and humility.

21 Apr 2025 - 7:21PMvideocam

Pope Francis

Explainer | What happens after the death of Pope Francis?

Following Pope Francis’ death, key rituals commence, including sealing his flat, destroying the ring, and funeral arrangements.

21 Apr 2025 - 7:53PMvideocam

Pope Francis

Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff, dies at 88, on Easter Monday

The pope, who was elected in 2013, died of a stroke and irreversible heart failure, Vatican said in a death certificate released on Monday.

22 Apr 2025 - 3:04AMvideocam

Tourism

4 dead in Italian cable car accident near Naples

The accident happened at Monte Faito. Italian media reports said one of the cables supporting the cabin had snapped.

18 Apr 2025 - 5:23AM

Rescuers at the scene after a smashed gondola of the Mt. Faito cable car near Naples in southern Italy. Photo: AP

Crime

Chinese couple shot dead in Rome in mafia-style execution, Italian police say

The killings of underworld figure Zhang Dayong and partner Gong Xiaoqing could be linked to a turf war between Chinese criminal factions.

17 Apr 2025 - 1:44AM

Italian police officers conduct an operation against the Chinese mafia in Prato, Italy, in January 2018. The latest killings could be related to a violent struggle between Chinese criminal factions originally centred in the city near Florence. Photo: EPA-EFE

Hong Kong economy

Twist in Hutchison ports deal as Italian shipping family’s role surfaces

Aponte family owns world’s largest container line, which is spearheading the strategic acquisition of CK Hutchison’s overseas ports.

18 Apr 2025 - 9:06PM

Britain

‘Selfish’ UK rebuked for not fully sharing fighter jet tech with Italy, Japan

Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said sharing expertise when making investments together was crucial to a ‘serious relationship’.

15 Apr 2025 - 10:35PM

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