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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

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

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

Hong Kong economy

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

33 minutes ago

Britain

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

15 Apr 2025 - 10:35PM

Hong Kong politics

BlackRock ‘eyes control of 2 Panama ports in Hutchison deal, MSC family others’

Source says while consortium is seeking to buy portfolio, US firm aims to take 51 per cent stake in CK Hutchison’s interest in Panama ports.

15 Apr 2025 - 2:11AMvideocam

CK Hutchison operates two ports at the Panama Canal, Balboa and Cristobal. Photo: Reuters

Food and Drinks

This is the ‘latex chef’ and his extreme set menus push diners’ limits

Giuliano Baldessari of Italy’s Michelin-star Aqua Crua restaurant wears a catsuit that dampens his senses so he can focus on flavour.

10 Apr 2025 - 4:15PM

King Charles III

King Charles and Queen Camilla meet Pope Francis in surprise visit

The pontiff, 88, is convalescing at home after a hospital stay, and a planned audience with the UK royal couple was earlier postponed.

10 Apr 2025 - 3:29AM

Donald Trump

Italy’s furniture brands rely on US. Can they survive Trump’s ‘awful’ tariffs?

‘I will lose a lot of my clients. I think the tariffs are going to be enormously awful for trade,’ an interior designer says.

9 Apr 2025 - 3:30PMvideocam

The US is the Italian furniture industry’s second-biggest market after France. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong economy

Editorial | Hong Kong cannot afford another own goal

With five top teams on their way to Hong Kong for a ‘festival of football’, fans must manage their expectations following the Messi farce.

9 Apr 2025 - 8:45AM

Fashion

Q&A | Carolina Cucinelli, Brunello Cucinelli’s VP, on the understated brand

One day she is expected to head the firm along with her sister Camilla – until then, she lives in Solomeo, an Umbrian village her father has renovated.

8 Apr 2025 - 6:00AM

King Charles III

Britain’s King Charles shrugs off health scare to begin Italy visit

Trip comes 10 days after the king, 76, was briefly admitted to hospital after experiencing temporary side effects from his cancer treatment.

8 Apr 2025 - 9:00AMvideocam

Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive at Rome’s Ciampino Airport on Monday for their four-day state visit to Italy. Photo: EPA-EFE

Food and Drinks

What can Hong Kong’s top pizza chefs learn from Asia-Pacific’s No 1?

Four Hong Kong pizza parlours have been ranked among the best in Asia-Pacific. What they do well and what sets Tokyo rival in first place apart.

11 Apr 2025 - 2:43PM

Chef Salvatore Fiata at his pizzeria, Fiata by Salvatore Fiata, in Central, Hong Kong, one of four in the city to make the 50 Top Pizza Asia-Pacific 2025 list. Fiata and fellow chefs reveal what goes into making a great pizza. Photo: Fiata by Salvatore Fiata

Architecture and design

A piece of Hong Kong in your living room

Heritage and urban living inform a collection of locally designed and crafted furniture on show in Milan, Italy, as part of Hong Kong Interior Design Week.

3 Apr 2025 - 6:15PM

Hong Kong Sevens

Editorial | ‘Successful try’ at the Sevens proves game changer for stadium

Despite teething troubles at the rugby showcase, fans cheered the new Hong Kong venue that now eagerly awaits a top band and the best in football action.

1 Apr 2025 - 6:30AM

Britain

UK’s Starmer blames lack of joint action for surge in migrants crossing Channel

UK prime minister hosts London summit and urges nations to smash people smuggling gangs.

1 Apr 2025 - 11:15AM

Migrants board a smuggler’s boat in an attempt to cross the English Channel, off the beach of Gravelines, north of France. Photo: AFP

Tesla

Musk says ‘terrorism’ behind fire at Rome Tesla showroom

Tesla cars have become targets for vandalism across several countries in response to Elon Musk’s right-wing activism.

1 Apr 2025 - 11:00AM

Charred Tesla vehicles at a Tesla dealership in Rome. Photo: Reuters

Jeff Bezos

Venice denies Jeff Bezos taking over parts of city for his lavish wedding

Local authorities said only 200 guests will attend the June event, assuring no disruption to residents and tourists.

30 Mar 2025 - 9:14AM

Crime

Brazil footballer Dani Alves’ rape conviction annulled

Alves was sentenced to 4½ years in jail in February last year for raping a young woman in the VIP bathroom of a Barcelona nightclub in 2022.

28 Mar 2025 - 8:03PMvideocam

TikTok

TikTok Shop to expand to Germany, France, Italy next week amid uncertainty in US

The move marks a major expansion of the short-video app’s e-commerce operations in Europe as it faces a looming ban in its largest market.

28 Mar 2025 - 5:23PMvideocam

TikTok Shop is expanding in Europe amid legal uncertainty and disappointing performance in the US. Photo: AFP

Pope Francis

Doctor reveals how Pope Francis was pulled back from the brink of death

The pontiff returned to the Vatican last week after narrowly escaping death during his 38-day fight against pneumonia.

25 Mar 2025 - 8:47PM

Tourism

5 crowd-free museums to visit in Europe this year

Even in the most visited European cities, such as Rome and Prague, there are museums and places of historical relevance that offer respite from crowds.

27 Mar 2025 - 2:47PM

Pope Francis

Pope Francis back home after 5-week hospital stay for double pneumonia

The 88-year-old pope made his first public appearance since February 14.

24 Mar 2025 - 11:05AM

Pope Francis

Pope Francis will be released from hospital on Sunday, doctors say

The pontiff will need at least two months of rest after spending nearly 40 days battling a life-threatening case of pneumonia in both lungs.

23 Mar 2025 - 1:43AM

Pope Francis waves as he arrives for his weekly general audience at the Vatican in February. Photo: AP

Trending in China

‘Never mess with a Chinese woman’: student chases Italy phone thief, goes viral

With help of police and passers-by, China student trio snare subway phone thief, sending powerful anti-crime message to would-be lawbreakers.

22 Mar 2025 - 9:03AM

Food and Drinks

Italy’s oldest barista, still serving at 100, asks: ‘Why should I stop?’

Since her last holiday 67 years ago, Anna Possi has opened her cafe in northern Italy every day. ‘I’m around people. I feel good,’ she says.

20 Mar 2025 - 4:15AM

Catholic Church

Vatican releases first photo of Pope Francis in hospital

The 88-year-old pope has been receiving treatment at a Rome hospital since February 14, and has not been seen in public since then.

17 Mar 2025 - 9:07AM

The image taken from behind him shows Francis seated in a wheelchair, wearing a cassock and stole. Photo: Holy See Press Office via Reuters

Food and Drinks

Cappuccino after noon? 100-year-old barista in Italy thinks it’s fine

Coffee with milk in the afternoon is a no-no for many Italians. Not Anna Possi, a barista since 1958 who’ll happily pour it past midnight.

15 Mar 2025 - 7:15PM

Drinking a cappuccino – an espresso with frothed milk – is frowned upon in Italian coffee culture. But 100-year-old barista Anna Possi says, “everyone can do as they please”. Photo: Shutterstock

Celebrity children

Who are Donatella Versace’s children, Allegra and Daniel Versace?

Donatella Versace is stepping down from her role as creative director at Versace after almost 3 decades – here’s what we know about her 2 grown-up children, Allegra and Daniel Versace.

14 Mar 2025 - 6:03PM

Fashion

Profile | Donatella Versace, out at namesake fashion label, overcame many obstacles

Versace, 69, took over her brother’s label after his 1997 murder. Carrying on his legacy has been ’the greatest honour of my life’, she says.

14 Mar 2025 - 10:34AM

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