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☆ Italy's Meloni draws fire over food aid aimed at families with children
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Federica Urso | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"The government is there and is ready to do its part to help Italians in the best possible way", Meloni said in a message that presented the 500,000-euro scheme as relief against high inflation. However, the card is reserved for households with at least three members, preferably with children, in a move seen as favouring traditional families. Noting that the allowance amounts to about one euro per day for a year, she described it as a "zero impact" policy. "Being in need is no longer enough, now you need to be in need and also be a certain type of person considered deserving of help," he said. ($1 = 0.8946 euros)Reporting by Federica Urso Additional reporting by Alvise Armellini and Gavin Jones Editing by Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Giorgia, Meloni, Elly Schlein, Confcommercio, Marco Impagliazzo, Filippo Barbera, Federica Urso, Alvise Armellini, Gavin Jones, Mark Potter Organizations: Democratic Party, Catholic, Turin University, Thomson Locations: Italian, Rome

☆ Stellantis to build new Jeep Compass as fifth model in Melfi
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MILAN, July 13 (Reuters) - Stellantis will build the new Jeep Compass, one of the carmaker's bestsellers in Europe, as the fifth model for its Melfi plant in southern Italy, two sources close to the matter told Reuters on Thursday. The new model will be a development from the Compass SUV the Franco-Italian group currently produces in Melfi, one of its main assembly sites in the country. The new Jeep Compass will join four other new models the carmaker had promised for Melfi but which it has not yet officially announced. The production of models in Melfi underpinned by the new Stellantis platform for medium-sized cars is expected to start during 2024. Stellantis currently also builds Jeep's Renegade and Fiat's 500X models in Melfi.

Persons: Stellantis, Carlos Tavares, Adolfo Urso, Melfi, Germany's, Italy's Lancia, Giulio Piovaccari, Gilles Guillaume, Keith Weir Organizations: MILAN, Jeep, Reuters, Compass, Jeep Compass, Germany's Opel, Thomson Locations: Europe, Melfi, Italy, Italian, Paris

[1/4] Italian artist Michelangelo Pistoletto's 'Venus of the Rags' is displayed in Piazza Municipio before being destroyed in a fire, in Naples, Italy July 1, 2023. REUTERS/Ciro De LucaROME, July 12 (Reuters) - An open-air installation of "Venus of the Rags", one of the most famous works by Italian contemporary artist Michelangelo Pistoletto, was destroyed by an arson attack in Naples, Mayor Gaetano Manfredi said on Wednesday. The "Venus of the Rags", a symbol of the Arte Povera movement which counts Pistoletto among its leading members, shows the Roman goddess of love, beauty and fertility standing next to a pile of rags. The installation, first created in 1967, is meant to convey the juxtaposition between eternal beauty, represented by the goddess Venus, and modern society's social degradation and consumerism. Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky and Devika SyamnathOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Michelangelo Pistoletto's, Ciro De Luca ROME, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Gaetano Manfredi, Manfredi, Venus, Adnkronos, Pistoletto, Raissa Kasolowsky Organizations: REUTERS, Arte, Thomson Locations: Italian, Piazza Municipio, Naples, Italy, Piazza del

☆ Ancient Greek altar unearthed at archaeological site in Sicily
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] An ancient Greek altar for family worship dating back at least 2,000 years is pictured after it was found in the Sicilian archaeological site of Segesta, Italy, June 29, 2023. Flavio Leone Sisilab CoopCulture Sicilia/Handout via REUTERSROME, June 30 (Reuters) - An ancient Greek altar for family worship dating back more than 2,000 years has been found in the archaeological site of Segesta on the Italian island of Sicily, local authorities said on Friday. It had been buried for centuries by a few centimetres of earth and vegetation in the area of the Southern Acropolis at the Segesta site, which is in the western part of the island. "The Segesta site never ceases to amaze us," said Sicily's regional culture minister Francesco Paolo Scarpinato. Segesta, renowned for its 5th-century-BC temple, was an ancient Greek city nestled between mountains.

Persons: Flavio Leone Sisilab CoopCulture, Francesco Paolo Scarpinato, Segesta, Federica Urso, Gavin Jones, Gareth Jones Organizations: REUTERS, Southern Acropolis, Thomson Locations: Segesta, Italy, Flavio Leone Sisilab CoopCulture Sicilia, Handout, REUTERS ROME, Sicily, , Southern

☆ Italian police blame couple from England for Colosseum graffiti
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A general view of the Colosseum, in Rome, Italy May 30, 2023. REUTERS/Remo Casilli/File PhotoROME, June 29 (Reuters) - Italian police have identified a couple from England as the likely culprits after graffiti was scribbled on a wall at the Colosseum in Rome last week, prompting widespread anger. Italy's Carabinieri police said they had been helped to identify the couple by photographic evidence but did not name them. A police source said the man had been placed under formal investigation but the couple had left the country before the authorities could catch up with them. "This act was offensive to everyone around the world who appreciates the value of archaeology, monuments and history," said Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano.

Persons: Remo Casilli, Ivan, Hayley, Gennaro Sangiuliano, Emilio Parodi, Keith Weir, Conor Humphries Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Rome, Italy, England, Italian

☆ Stolen 16th century Vasari letter returned to its Italian home
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A handwritten letter by Renaissance artist and historian Giorgio Vasari is returned to its owners during a ceremony at the Uffizi Galleries in Florence, Italy, June 29, 2023. Carabinieri/Handout via REUTERSROME, June 29 (Reuters) - A handwritten letter by Renaissance artist and historian Giorgio Vasari has been returned to its owners in Tuscany more than 20 years after it was stolen, Italian police said on Thursday. The letter was dated March 18, 1566 and is believed to be worth around 20,000 euros ($21,760). Vasari, who is regarded as the first art historian, was born in the central region of Tuscany, where he served the Italian banking family and political dynasty the Medici, in Florence. In the letter, Vasari disclosed the painter's fees as well as commenting on the progress of his works.

Persons: Giorgio Vasari, Vasari, Medici, Jan van der, Giovanni Stradano, Federica, Keith Weir Organizations: Uffizi, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Florence, Italy, REUTERS ROME, Tuscany, Arezzo, London, Brussels, Belgian

☆ Generali to buy Liberty Mutual's Spanish Unit in $2.5 billion all-cash deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ROME, June 15 (Reuters) - Generali (GASI.MI) will buy out the Spanish unit of U.S. insurer Liberty Mutual for 2.3 billion euros ($2.51 billion), in a move aimed at strengthening its property and casualty segment, Italy's top insurer said on Thursday. "Generali is acquiring a profitable insurance business in three growing European markets with very attractive characteristics, that will create significant long-term value for all stakeholders," Chief Executive Philippe Donnet said in a statement. Generali said it expects the acquisition to bring a reduction of 9.7 percentage points on the group's regulatory solvency ratio. The all-cash deal would allow the Italian group to become one of the main players in the Spanish insurance market, as well as enter Ireland and Northern Ireland, Generali said. ($1 = 0.9179 euro)Reporting by Federica Urso in Rome and Shivani Tanna in Bengaluru; editing by Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Philippe Donnet, Generali, Federica Urso, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Liberty Mutual, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Thomson Locations: Spanish, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Rome, Bengaluru

☆ Gender biases not improved over past decade, U.N. says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Federica Urso | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A demonstrator looks on during a rally to mark the International Women's Day in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 8, 2023. In its latest report, the United Nations Development Programme tracked the issue through its Gender Social Norms Index, which uses data from the international research programme World Values Survey (WVS). The survey draws from data sets spanning 2010-2014 and 2017–2022 from countries and territories covering 85% of the global population. The latest analysis showed that almost nine out of 10 men and women hold fundamental biases against women and that the share of people with at least one bias has barely changed over the decade. "We need to change the gender biases, the social norms, but the ultimate goal is to change the power relations between women and men, between people," Aroa Santiago, gender specialist in inclusive economies at UNDP, told Reuters.

Persons: Cristina Sille, Heriberto Tapia, Aroa, Federica Urso, Simon Jessop, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, United Nations, United Nations Development, UNDP, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, United States, Aroa Santiago, Rome

☆ Italy special forces board Turkish vessel after alert over unidentified passengers
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ROME, June 10 (Reuters) - A Turkish cargo vessel that Italian special forces boarded after the crew detected a group of unidentified people on board is now sitting off the southern city of Naples, website MarineTraffic showed, while police continue to investigate the situation. "My congratulations to the guys of the San Marco battalion and the police, who completed a wonderful operation," he wrote. A Turkish transport ministry statement said on Friday the Galata Seaways roll-on-roll-off cargo vessel was sailing from the Turkish port of Yalova to Sete, France. The captain told Italian police he issued the alarm after he saw two of them carrying knives, Ansa reported. The crew locked themselves in the engine room and alerted maritime authorities in Turkey, who in turn contacted Italy and France.

Persons: MarineTraffic, Guido Crosetto, Crosetto, Ansa, Angelo Amante, Federica, Yesim, Nick Macfie, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Twitter, San Marco, Thomson Locations: Turkish, Naples, Yalova, Sete, France, Turkey, Italy

☆ Pope Francis doing well after first night in hospital, Vatican says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A nun kisses the hand of Pope Francis during the weekly general audience on the day he is due to undergo abdominal surgery, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, June 7, 2023. REUTERS/Yara NardiROME, June 8 (Reuters) - Pope Francis was doing well on Thursday morning after his first night in hospital following abdominal surgery, the Vatican said. "The night went well," the Vatican said in a brief statement, adding that more information would be released later in the morning. Fancis underwent a laparotomy, or open abdominal surgery, and a mesh prosthesis was used to reconstruct the abdominal wall. It is the third hospital stay for Francis since cardinals chose the Argentinian in 2013 as the first Latin American pope.

Persons: Pope Francis, Yara, Francis, Sergio Alfieri, hopsital, Alfieri, Fancis, Federica Urso, Gianluca Semeraro, William Maclean Organizations: Vatican, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: St, ROME, Rome, Portugal, Fatima, Mongolia

☆ Italy welcomes baby to parliament for first time
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ROME, June 7 (Reuters) - A baby took a seat in the Italian parliament for the first time ever on Wednesday, when lawmaker Gilda Sportiello breastfed her son Federico in the Chamber of Deputies, triggering a round of applause from fellow members. The event would be more commonplace in many countries, but was underlined by the acting lower-house speaker in traditionally male-dominated Italy. Best wishes to Federico for a long, free, and peaceful life," said Giorgio Mule as he chaired the parliamentary session. Giorgia Meloni took office in October as Italy's first woman prime minister, but around two-thirds of the country's lawmakers are men. While the event on Wednesday was a first for Italy, 13 years ago Licia Ronzulli, now a senator in the centre-right Forza Italia party, breastfed her daughter in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Persons: Gilda Sportiello breastfed, Federico, Giorgio Mule, Giorgia Meloni, Italy's, Licia, breastfed, Federica Urso, Gavin Jones, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Star, Forza Italia, Thomson Locations: Italy, Strasbourg

☆ Photos show US Air Force's epic 'Mammoth Walk' with F-16 fighters, A-10 attack planes and U-2 spy planes in South Korea
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Stefano D'Urso | The Aviationist | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Pacific Air Forces' 7th Air Force staged a large aircraft generation training event at Osan Air Base. The Pacific Air Forces' 7th Air Force staged a large aircraft generation training event at Osan Air Base with the participation of all the subordinate units from Osan and Kunsan air bases, where the 51st and 8th Air Wings are based. The "Mammoth Walk," as the photos' captions called it, happened on May 5, 2023, but it was only disclosed few days ago. An A-10C Thunderbolt II and an U-2 Dragon Lady stand parked on the runway at Osan Air Base during the Mammoth Walk training event on May 5, 2023. U.S. Air Force A-10C Thunderbolt IIs and a F-16 Fighting Falcon wait to taxi down the runway during a Mammoth Walk training event at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, on May 5, 2023.

Persons: —, Sgt, Joshua J, Garcia, Aaron Edwards, Beverly Organizations: Pacific Air Forces, 7th Air Force, Osan Air Base, Service, Osan, 8th Air Wings, 5th Reconnaissance Squadron, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Fighter Squadron, Falcons, 80th Fighter Squadrons, 9th Reconnaissance, U.S, Army's, AF, Osan AB, US Air Force, AIM, . Air Force, Beverly Midnight, Fighter Squadrons Locations: South Korea, Osan, Korea, GBU, Republic of Korea

[1/2] A view shows the Ponte Vecchio bridge and the Arno River in Florence October 16, 2014. The Ponte Vecchio, or Old Bridge, crosses the River Arno at its narrowest point. REUTERS/Regis DuvignauROME, June 1 (Reuters) - Florence wants to ban residential properties in its historic centre from being used for short-term rentals by platforms such as Airbnb (ABNB.O) in order to free up more homes for local people in the Tuscan city. Nardella is a member of the centre-left Democratic Party (PD), which is part of the opposition at national level. Airbnb did not immediately comment on Nardella's initiative, but said in a statement that it wanted to see "clear and simple national rules" in Italy.

Persons: Regis Duvignau ROME, Dario Nardella, Federica Urso, Federico Maccioni, Keith Weir, Crispian Balmer Organizations: REUTERS, Democratic Party, Thomson Locations: Florence, Ponte, Tuscan, Nardella, Italy, Rome, Milan

The upcoming national strategic fund for "Made in Italy" products will have an initial endowment of 1 billion euros ($1.10 billion) in state cash, the statement said, adding it would also aim to boost procurement of "critical raw materials." A draft seen by Reuters showed that the new vehicle was also entitled to invest in domestic, listed firms not operating in the financial sector. The scheme will aim to raise at least an additional 500 million euros from private investors, according to the document. Run by the state lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), the Patrimonio Rilancio fund was originally intended to provide some 40 billion euros of financing, but has so far invested just around 1 billion. Once the bill is approved by parliament, the government will issue a decree defining how the fund will work.

Persons: Rome, Giorgia Meloni, Adolfo Urso's, Italy's, Alison Williams, Deepa Babington Organizations: Reuters, United Arab, Industry, Patrimonio, InfraVia Capital Partners, Paris, Equity, Thomson Locations: ROME, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan, Norway, France

☆ Italy is planning a sovereign fund amid a new era of national interest
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Silvia Amaro | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Italy is moving ahead with a sovereign fund to support critical parts of its economy, amid a wider push by several European nations to bring global supply chains closer to home. Italy's Minister of Enterprises Adolfo Urso announced Wednesday a public-private fund that looks at consolidating "national strategic supply chains" in the areas of raw materials and energy. The announcement comes after Ireland, another EU nation, said earlier this month that it intends to start a sovereign wealth fund next year. Italy established a wealth fund back in 2011 which has investments in energy, communications and aerospace sectors. When Covid-19 hit in early 2020, many European nations struggled to get their hands on masks and other protective equipment, which were manufactured in Asia.

Rome/London CNN —Italy’s government convened crisis talks Thursday to investigate the reasons behind a surge in prices for pasta, one of the country’s most beloved and culturally important foods. Pasta inflation moderated a bit in April but prices were still up 16.5% over 12 months. Pasta prices have soared despite the price of wheat — the main ingredient — falling in recent months. The price of durum wheat — a type of wheat popular among Italian pasta-makers — has fallen 30% since May 2022. Making pasta only requires mixing water with the wheat, the group said, giving “little justification” for the huge increase in retail prices.

☆ Italy is convening a crisis meeting this week to address soaring pasta prices, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Italy's industry minister has called a crisis meeting to address the soaring price of pasta, Reuters reported. Pasta prices jumped 16.3% in April, while broader Italian inflation came in at 8.8%. The comparable increase in Italy's harmonized index of consumer prices, a weighted average of Italian goods and services, measured a provisional 8.8% in April. But Coldiretti, an Italian agriculture group, said soaring pasta prices represented an "anomaly that needs clarification," given the price of a key ingredient, durum wheat, fell 30% in the year, per local publication Ansa. The National Consumer Union said until speculation on wheat prices was defined as an "unfair practice," the price of pasta may stay elevated, per Ansa.

☆ Italy calls crisis meeting over surging pasta prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MILAN, May 4 (Reuters) - Italy's Industry Minister Adolfo Urso called on Thursday for a crisis meeting over prices for pasta, the country's favourite staple, after they jumped by more than double the national inflation rate. Urso's ministry said the cost of spaghetti and other pasta products rose year-on-year by 17.5% in March despite a drop in wheat prices. In that month, Italian EU-harmonised consumer prices (HICP) rose overall by 8.1%. Italian inflation rose by even more in April to 8.8% year-on-year, driven by a fresh spike in energy prices, national statistics agency ISTAT said on Tuesday. 'Core' inflation, net of fresh food and energy, was stable at 6.8% year-on-year.

☆ Italy's government calls crisis meeting over surging pasta prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

☆ Ukraine's military intelligence agency is showing off the Black Hawk helicopter it got through a crowdfunding campaign
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Stefano D'Urso | The Aviationist | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ukraine's military intelligence agency has released footage of a Black Hawk helicopter it recently received. Special-operations personnel from Ukraine's military intelligence agency train with a Black Hawk helicopter in April. Currently, Ukraine can easily accommodate about a hundred Black Hawk multirole helicopters, about 50 Apache attack helicopters and about 40-60 Chinook cargo helicopters", said the first Ukrainian Black Hawk pilot, who carries the call sign "Maestro." So far this is the only UH-60 helicopter in Ukraine. We now know that the Black Hawk in question is a 1980 UH-60A model, which formerly served in the US Army with the serial number 80-23439.

US Air Force at Eglin Air Force Base are now testing a new type of flight helmet. "It is common knowledge fighter pilots have long term neck and back issues," said Maj. Brett Gedman, from the 301st Fighter Squadron. The Air Force's Next Generation Fixed Wing Helmet at Eglin Air Force Base. An F-22A Raptor pilot adjusts the Next Generation Fixed Wing Helmet before a mission at Eglin Air Force Base on March 24. An F-22A pilot adjusts the Next Generation Fixed Wing Helmet before a mission at Eglin Air Force Base on March 24.

☆ Pirelli sees scope for higher 2023 revenues after strong results
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 22 (Reuters) - Italian tyremaker Pirelli (PIRC.MI) said on Wednesday it expects revenues this year of some 6.6-6.8 billion euros, at least in line with the better-than-expected figure for 2022. Revenues at the group totalled 6.62 billion euros ($7.03 billion) in 2022, beating a target of about 6.5 billion euros which was set only in November as an upgrade on an earlier estimate. The supplier of luxury car brands like Ferrari and Porsche said its adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) stood at 977.8 million euros in 2022, up from 815.8 million euros a year before. The result was driven by higher pricing and as measures put in place to weather rising costs offset the hit from raw material costs and other inflation. China's Sinochem Holdings Corp, the biggest investor in Pirelli, last week denied a report that it planned to sell its 37% stake in the company.

☆ Ukraine's military intelligence service got an unannounced delivery of a US-made Black Hawk helicopter
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Stefano D'Urso | The Aviationist | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ukraine's Directorate of Intelligence published photos of the unannounced delivery of a US-made helicopter. The helicopter's livery suggests the US bought a Black Hawk back from a private firm to send to Kyiv. This delivery comes unannounced, as the UH-60 Black Hawk was not included in any of the aid packages and its supply to the Armed Forces of Ukraine was not mentioned by officials. —Defence intelligence of Ukraine (@DI_Ukraine) February 21, 2023However, Defence Blog was quick to notice that the Black Hawk, in addition to the Ukrainian flags and roundels, wears a peculiar livery. This livery was saw in the past on helicopters of the US firm Ace Aeronautics, which specializes in converting older Black Hawk helicopters divested by the US Army for the civilian market.

☆ Italy to sign gas turbines contract with Azerbaijan
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ROME, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Italy is set to sign a new contract to sell four gas turbines to Azerbaijan, its industry minister said on Saturday ahead of his visit to the Asian country that is one of Rome's most important energy partners. The deal will involve Italy's Ansaldo Energia, a service provider for the power generation industry, and Azerenerji, the country's largest electrical power producer, minister Adolfo Urso said in a statement. The news comes after Italy last month signed a $8 billion gas production deal with Libya aimed at boosting energy supplies to Europe. Italy is working to double to 20 billion cubic meters the capacity of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), which brings Azeri gas to Apulia in the southeast of the country. Rome sees a role for itself as a hub for gas supplies to northern Europe in the coming years to help offset the loss of imports from Russia.

☆ Iran unveils underground base meant to protect its aging US-made fighter jets
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Stefano D'Urso | The Aviationist | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Iran unveiled an underground air force base called "Eagle 44" for the 44th anniversary of the Iranian revolution. The underground base is said to be the first large enough to host fighter jets and one of several being built. During the visit of the officers, the aging F-4 Phantoms jets of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force were shown starting up and taxiing through the tunnels to reach the runway outside of the underground base. Iranian military officials at underground air force base "Eagle 44" on February 7. According to Tasnim, the new missile was put on display in the new underground base, but Su-24s and the "Asef" missile were nowhere to be seen in the photos and videos shared by the news agencies.

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