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[1/5] Migrants wait to be rescued by Italian Coast Guard off the coast of Italy, April 10, 2023. The fact that Meloni, a figurehead of the new right, has not carried through on her pledges underscores how intractable the problem is. NORTH AFRICAIn the run-up to the 2022 election, Meloni said she would impose a naval blockade to prevent boats leaving north Africa. Meloni visited Tunisia twice last month, seeking progress in unblocking loans that she says are needed to avoid a financial crisis that might trigger a tsunami of departures. However, a review of migrant flows through Europe over the past decade suggests Italy might not benefit in the way Meloni hopes.

Persons: Meloni, King Canute, Giorgia Meloni, Mattia Diletti, Matteo Piantedosi, Matteo Villa, Ursula von der Leyen, Mark Rutte, ISPI's Villa, COVID, Michelangelo Agrusti, Crispian Balmer, Angelo Amante, Alex Richardson Organizations: Italian Coast Guard, REUTERS, Rome's Sapienza University . Immigration, Ministry, European, Dutch, European Commission, EU, Business, Thomson Locations: Italy, Tunisia, Libya, ROME, Europe, Lampedusa, AFRICA, Africa, North Africa, Tripoli, Brussels, Poland, Hungary, Rome

☆ 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

☆ Italy collects around $3 bln from 2023 energy windfall tax
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Giuseppe Fonte | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Summary Tax take slightly above Treasury estimatesItaly phasing out expansionary fiscal policySpike in energy prices has largely reversedROME, July 10 (Reuters) - Italy has collected around 2.8 billion euros ($3.07 billion) from this year's windfall tax on energy companies, people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday. The Treasury in December estimated the levy would yield around 2.6 billion euros. Under the terms set in the 2023 budget, around 7,000 producers and sellers of electricity, gas and petrol products were required to pay the levy. This year's windfall tax replaced a levy in 2022 that reaped a similar amount of money but triggered criticism and refusals to pay from multiple firms. Italy has promised to gradually phase out the expansionary fiscal policy adopted since 2020 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis.

Persons: refusals, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Giorgia, Christina Fincher Organizations: Reuters, Treasury, Energy, Thomson Locations: Italy, ROME, Ukraine

☆ Italy launches COVID inquiry panel, opposition fears witch hunt
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Angelo Amante | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ROME, July 6 (Reuters) - Italy's lower house of parliament on Thursday backed a parliamentary inquiry into the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the opposition voicing fears of a witch hunt against those in charge at the time. Giuseppe Conte and former health minister Roberto Speranza," Conte himself, who now heads the opposition 5-Star Movement, told parliament. After the result was announced, the coalition lawmakers shouted in chorus "truth, truth." Italy is not the only country holding an inquiry into the pandemic management. Tommaso Foti, the lower house leader of Meloni's Brothers of Italy party, said the COVID issue caused "doubts and pain" among Italians.

Persons: coronavirus, Giuseppe Conte, Giorgia Meloni, Roberto Speranza, Conte, Speranza, Tommaso Foti, Meloni's, Angelo Amante, Keith Weir Organizations: Senate, Star Movement, World Health, Thomson Locations: Italy, COVID, Britain, Bergamo

☆ Berlusconi leaves control of business empire to two eldest children
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Elvira Pollina | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] Eleonora Berlusconi, , Pier Silvio Berlusconi, Barbara Berlusconi, Luigi Berlusconi, Marina Berlusconi walk to attend the funeral of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi at the Duomo Cathedral, in Milan, Italy June 14, 2023. Marina, 56, chairs Fininvest while Pier Silvio, 54, has been in charge of the MFE-MediaForEurope (MFEB.MI) TV business which their father founded. Forbes estimated that the overall Berlusconi family assets, which include luxury properties in Milan, Rome and Sardinia, were worth around $6.8 billion. Brash, ebullient and a four-time prime minister, Berlusconi was a media mogul and political showman whose financial and sexual scandals made him the most polarising figure in modern Italy. Barbara, Eleonora and Luigi Berlusconi, his three children from his second marriage, have been less involved in the family business.

Persons: Eleonora Berlusconi, Pier Silvio Berlusconi, Barbara Berlusconi, Luigi Berlusconi, Marina Berlusconi, Silvio Berlusconi, Claudia Greco, Marta Fascina, Dell'Utri, Silvio Berlusconi's, Marina, Pier Silvio, Fininvest, Brash, ebullient, Berlusconi, Silvio, Barbara, Eleonora, Paolo, Marcello Dell'Utri, Fascina, Milan's, Giorgia Meloni's, Giulio Piovaccari, Federico Maccioni, Keith Weir, Alvise Armellini, Mark Potter Organizations: Italian, Cathedral, REUTERS, MILAN, Marina, Italian Serie A, AC Monza, Banca Mediolanum, Forbes, Fininvest SpA, Reuters, MARTA Berlusconi, Forza Italia, Thomson Locations: Milan, Italy, Italian, Rome, Sardinia, Raffaele

Opposition parties are clamouring for a vote in parliament, but Meloni said on Wednesday that was not about to happen and linked the debate to ongoing discussions on a broader reform of European budget rules. "Italy's interest is addressing negotiations on European governance, which covers the entirety of our national interests," she told parliament. "Meloni does not want to leave the anti-ESM front to Salvini and nobody wants to lose face," he told Reuters. Despite irritation in Brussels over the dithering in Rome, EU officials have told Reuters that any attempt by Meloni to link ESM approval to much more significant budget reform will not pay off. Italy, which has the second largest debt mountain in relation to its GDP in the euro zone after Greece, has criticised the suggestion.

Persons: Giorgia, Meloni, Matteo Salvini, Francesco Galietti, Paschal Donohoe, Francesco Saraceno, Crispian Balmer Organizations: ROME, European Union, Treasury, Reuters, European, Rome's Luiss University, Sciences Po, European Commission, Thomson Locations: Italy, Brussels, Rome, Sciences Po Paris, Greece, Rome's

☆ Turmoil in Russia: Reactions from foreign governments
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"With very limited evidence of fighting between Wagner and Russian security forces, some have likely remained passive, acquiescing to Wagner." LITHUANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER GABRIELIUS LANDSBERGIS"For 100 years Lithuanians have lived on the edge of Moscow's brutal banditocracy, knowing it's only a matter of time before the next chaotic implosion. CZECH FOREIGN MINISTER JAN LIPAVSKY"We are closely following the situation in the Russian Federation. ESTONIAN PRIME MINISTER KAJA KALLAS"Estonia is closely following the development of the situation in Russia and exchanging information with allies. The instructions of Russian security authorities should be followed at all costs," it said in its updated travel advice.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, Wagner, JAMES, OANA, GABRIELIUS, it's, JAN LIPAVSKY, ANDRZEJ DUDA, Emmanuel Macron, GIORGIA, Meloni, Frances Kerry, Hugh Lawson Organizations: MINISTRY, Russian National Guard, Wagner Group, NATO, Ukraine, Russian Federation, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Russia, Russian, Britain, Ukraine, Rostov, Voronezh Oblast, Moscow, EU, Estonia

KKR's approach incorporates a value for TIM's fixed landline network that could top 23 billion euros ($25 billion). TIM plans to analyse in depth the terms to be proposed by KKR, one of the sources said. Having already invested 1.8 billion euros in the grid, KKR has bid for a controlling stake in a unit comprising TIM's entire domestic fixed access network and submarine cable business Sparkle. KKR is also ready to let TIM retain a stake in its landline network. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's administration will have a say on any deal as Rome can use its "golden powers" rules to set conditions or block bids for strategic assets such as TIM's network.

Persons: Pietro Labriola's, Giancarlo Giorgetti, Giorgia Meloni's, Giuseppe Fonte, Elvira Pollina, Valentina Za, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: KKR, TIM, Telecom Italia, Macquarie, Reuters, Vivendi, Treasury, Thomson Locations: ROME, Rome

☆ Italy rules Pirelli's Chinese top investor cannot choose CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Pirelli CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera attends a theatrical performance on the occasion of the 150th anniversary celebration of Italian tyremaker in Milan, Italy, January 28, 2022. Rome's move came after Sinochem notified the Italian government in March of plans to renew and update an existing shareholder pact with fellow investor Camfin, the vehicle of Pirelli's CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera. Rome also ruled Sinochem should pick no more than eight members of Pirelli's 15-strong board, leaving four to Camfin. Pirelli shareholders vote to pick a new board on July 31, with current deputy CEO Giorgio Bruno set to replace Tronchetti Provera, who would stay on as executive vice-chairman. Analysts see the move as an initial step to build an alternative and stable group of Italian shareholders for the company.

Persons: Marco Tronchetti Provera, Flavio Lo Scalzo, China's, tyremaker Pirelli, Rome's, Sinochem, Camfin, Giorgia, Tronchetti Provera, Pirelli's, Giorgio Bruno, Giuseppe Fonte, Valentina Za, Giulio Piovaccari, Louise Heavens Organizations: Pirelli, REUTERS, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Milan, Italy, China, Rome, Camfim

Sinochem was not immediately available for comment, while Pirelli declined to comment. Sources had previously told Reuters that the government was concerned about Sinochem's growing influence on Pirelli, as the proposed pact would have allowed the Chinese group to appoint more board members and potentially choose Pirelli's future CEOs. Founded in 1872, Pirelli is one of Italy's most storied companies. CHANGES NEEDEDMeloni's government refrained from imposing even tougher conditions on Sinochem, including blocking its voting rights in Pirelli. The Chinese group earlier this year confirmed its plans to remain a long-term investor in Pirelli.

Persons: China's Sinochem, Marco Tronchetti Provera, Giorgia, Sinochem, Rome, Camfin, Giorgio Bruno, Tronchetti Provera, Alvise Armellini, Giuseppe Fonte, Giulio Piovaccari, Sandra Maler Organizations: Beijing, tyremaker Pirelli, Camfin, Pirelli, Reuters, Big, Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, Formula, Initiative, Thomson Locations: Beijing ROME, China, Beijing, Italy, Europe, Rome, Milan

☆ Pirelli CEO 'confident' Rome will act to curb Chinese influence over tyremaker
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MILAN, June 15 (Reuters) - Pirelli's CEO (PIRC.MI) said in a recent private meeting that he is "very confident" Rome will use its Golden Power to curb Chinese influence over the Italian tyremaker, deemed a strategic asset, a person with knowledge of the matter said. Italy's right-wing government led by Giorgia Meloni is assessing a new governance agreement at Pirelli between its largest shareholder, China's Sinochem (600500.SS), and fellow investor Camfin, the vehicle of Pirelli CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera. The source said that Tronchetti Provera had expressed confidence at a recent meeting that the situation would be resolved positively. Tronchetti Provera had previously warned Rome, in a hearing with government officials, that the tyremaker's independence is at stake because of Sinochem's growing grip, the Wall Street Journal has reported. A spokesperson for the Pirelli CEO said Tronchetti Provera had no information to enable him to make - and he has not made - any predictions as to what decisions the government might take.

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, China's Sinochem, Camfin, Marco Tronchetti Provera, Tronchetti Provera, Sinochem, Giorgio Bruno, Giorgio Bruno ', Andrea Bruno, Giulio Piovaccari, Giuseppe Fonte, Susan Fenton Organizations: MILAN, Pirelli, Reuters, Wall Street, Camfin, Thomson Locations: Rome, Italy

Italian premiers have been given state funerals in the past, but this is the first time a national day of mourning has been called for one. Italy is ruled by a right-wing coalition of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's party Brothers of Italy, Matteo Salvini's League and Berlusconi's former party Forza Italia. Bindi, a woman often targeted by Berlusconi's sexist jibes, said the national day of mourning was "disrespectful towards the majority" of Italians who opposed the late leader. WREATHS AND SOCCER BANNERS[1/9] People wait for the funeral of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, in Milan, Italy June 14, 2023. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was also confirmed, but few other senior European politicians were expected.

Persons: Silvio Berlusconi, Berlusconi, Giuseppe Conte, Rosy Bindi, Giorgia, Matteo Salvini's, Donald Trump, Tomaso Montanari, Nardi, Lucia Adiele, Sergio Mattarella, Elly Schlein, Mario Draghi, Mario Monti, Paolo Gentiloni, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, Mohammed Shia, Al Sudani, Viktor Orban, Cristiano Corvino, Angelo Amante, Alvise Armellini, Federico Maccioni, Alexandra Hudson, Gavin Jones Organizations: MILAN, Italian, Reuters, Matteo Salvini's League, Forza Italia, European Commission, Siena's University for Foreigners, REUTERS, Democratic Party, Thomson Locations: Milan's Cathedral, Milan, Italy, Altamura, Thani

The funeral homily by Milan's Archbishop Mario Delpini appeared to acknowledge his excesses as well as his qualities. "What can we say about Silvio Berlusconi? [1/9] People wait for the funeral of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, in Milan, Italy June 14, 2023. These included Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. "Final farewell to Silvio Berlusconi.

Persons: Silvio Berlusconi, Berlusconi, Silvio, Marta Fascina, Marina, Donald Trump, Milan's, Mario Delpini, Lucia Adiele, Sergio Mattarella, Giorgia Meloni, Brothers, Matteo Salvini's, Giuseppe Conte, Rosy Bindi, Tomaso Montanari, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, Mohammed Shia, Viktor Orban, Orban, Vladimir Putin, Putin, there's, Cristiano Corvino, Angelo Amante, Alvise Armellini, Gavin Jones, Federico Maccioni, Alexandra Hudson, Nick Macfie Organizations: MILAN, Wednesday, AC Milan soccer, Reuters, Forza Italia, Police, Italian, REUTERS, Matteo Salvini's League, European Commission, Siena's University for Foreigners, Thomson Locations: Milan, Italian, Altamura, Italy, Thani, Iraqi, Hungarian, Ukraine, Kyiv

☆ Italy prepares to bid farewell to Berlusconi with grand funeral
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] A person leaves a letter among flowers and football memorabilia near Villa San Martino, the residence of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, to which his body was transported following his death, in Arcore near Milan, Italy, June 13, 2023. REUTERS/Yara NardiMILAN, June 13 (Reuters) - Italy was preparing on Tuesday to bid farewell to former premier Silvio Berlusconi, a scandal-prone billionaire who dominated the country's politics, business and soccer world for at least three decades. "Italy without Berlusconi," the country's largest circulation newspaper, Corriere della Sera, wrote on its front page, dedicating more than 30 pages of coverage to the event. Corriere said Berlusconi had been well enough to watch on television Saturday's Champions League soccer final between Inter Milan and Manchester City. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a TV interview on Monday that she had spoken "at length" with him that day.

Persons: Silvio Berlusconi, Nardi, Berlusconi, Sera, Corriere, Giorgia Meloni, Antonio Tajani, Tajani, Berlusconi's, Giuliano Urbani, Meloni's, Sergio Mattarella, Alvise, Ed Osmond Organizations: Italian, REUTERS, AC Milan, Monza, Saturday's Champions League, Inter Milan, Manchester City, Berlusconi's Forza Italia, Forza, La Repubblica, Meloni's Brothers, Thomson Locations: Villa San, Arcore, Milan, Italy, Nardi MILAN, Raffaele, Milan's, Washington

MILAN, June 12 (Reuters) - Silvio Berlusconi, the billionaire media mogul and former Italian prime minister who transformed the nation's politics with polarising policies and often alarmed his allies with his brazen remarks, died on Monday aged 86. Berlusconi, Italy's longest-serving premier who counted Russian President Vladimir Putin as a friend and gained notoriety for his "bunga bunga" sex parties, had suffered from leukaemia and recently developed a lung infection. Berlusconi's Forza Italia party is part of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing coalition, and although he himself did not have a role in government, his death is likely to destabilise Italian politics in the coming months. Farewell Silvio," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said. After building a television empire in the 1980s, Berlusconi threw himself into politics in 1994 and almost immediately became prime minister.

Persons: Silvio Berlusconi, Berlusconi, Italy's, Vladimir Putin, Paolo, ANSA, Giorgia Meloni's, Marina, Silvio, Giorgia Meloni, Enrico Letta, Putin, Emilio Parodi, Elvira Pollina, Alvise Armellini, Edmund Blair Organizations: MILAN, Berlusconi's Forza Italia, Twitter, Milan bourse, Forza Italia, Monza, Serie, Thomson Locations: San Raffaele, Milan, Italy, Italian, Ukraine, Moscow, Kyiv

Media tycoon Berlusconi founded Forza Italia when he entered politics in 1994. "I expect Brothers of Italy to be attractive to Forza Italia members," Lorenzo De Sio, a politics professor at LUISS University in Rome, said. The relationship between Berlusconi and Meloni repeatedly came under strain since they won general elections together last year. That triggered a long process which ended up in a merger between Forza Italia and MSI's heir Alleanza Nazionale in a single party. Althea Spinozzi, fixed income strategist at Saxo Bank, said the risk associated with investing in Italy can decrease with a downsized Forza Italia.

Persons: Marina, Silvio Berlusconi, Giorgia Meloni, Berlusconi, Matteo Salvini's, Meloni's, Giuliano Cazzola, Lorenzo De, Meloni, Alleanza, Brothers, Sergio Mattarella, Yara, Eugenio Pizzimenti, Antonio Tajani, Pizzimenti, Althea Spinozzi, Marina Berlusconi, Angelo Amante, Giuseppe Fonte, Antonella Cinelli, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Forza Italia, Media, Matteo Salvini's League, Forza Italia's, Forza, Reuters, Analysts, LUISS University, Italian Social Movement, Berlusconi's, Alleanza Nazionale, REUTERS, Pisa University, Union, Saxo Bank, Meloni, Thomson Locations: ROME, Italy, Rome, Ukraine, Brussels

Silvio Berlusconi, the billionaire media mogul who served as Italian prime minister multiple times between 1994 and 2011, has died. Berlusconi died at the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, according to local media. Berlusconi's extensive political career included appointments as Italian prime minister from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006 and 2008 to 2011. His Forza Italia party is currently a junior partner in Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's ruling right-wing coalition. The former Italian leader had promised — but failed — to sell his assets in the media company when he was prime minister.

Persons: Silvio Berlusconi, Berlusconi, Giorgia Meloni's, —, Karima Organizations: San Raffaele Hospital, CNBC, Forza Italia, Italian soccer, AC Milan, Italy's Locations: Milan, Italian

☆ Italy's former PM Berlusconi in hospital for leukaemia scheduled checks
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Giulio Piovaccari | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Berlusconi, 86, left San Raffaele Hospital last month after six weeks of treatment for a lung infection linked to a chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia, a type of cancer that affects the white blood cells. "Silvio Berlusconi is currently at the San Raffaele Hospital to undergo scheduled tests in connection with his known hematological pathology," the San Raffaele hospital bulletin signed by doctors Alberto Zangrillo and Fabio Ciceri said. Berlusconi served as prime minister in 1994-1995, 2001-2006 and 2008-2011 and although he does not have a direct role in government, his Forza Italia party is a member of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing coalition. A source from Forza Italia said Berlusconi might spend the night in hospital, after local media reports that he would stay there overnight. "Come on, Silvio," Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, one of Berlusconi's main political allies, wrote in an Instagram post, commenting on the news of Berlusconi's hospitalisation.

Persons: Silvio Berlusconi, Berlusconi, Alberto Zangrillo, Fabio Ciceri, Giorgia Meloni's, Matteo Salvini, Berlusconi's, Salvini, Angelo Amante, Emilio Parodi, Federico Maccioni, Stefano Bernabei, Toby Chopra, Nick Macfie, William Maclean Organizations: MILAN, Italian, San Raffaele, Forza Italia, Saturday, Salvini's League, Thomson Locations: Milan, Raffaele

☆ Italy's Meloni visits flood-hit Emilia-Romagna region
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ROME, May 21 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited flood-hit areas of northern Italy on Sunday after returning early from the G7 summit in Japan to lead the response to the disaster. Around 36,000 people have been forced to leave their homes, and many of those who remained in flooded areas were left without electricity. Agriculture has been hit hard in an area which grows fruit such as peaches, kiwis and apricots, as well as corn and grain. Meloni had left the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Hiroshima a day earlier than scheduled, saying her conscience would not allow her to stay away longer. The Italian government will hold a cabinet meeting on Tuesday to decide on measures to help people to cope with the emergency.

MILAN, May 15 (Reuters) - Australian fund Macquarie (MQG.AX) is raising legal hurdles over a plan backed by Italy's Treasury for state lender CDP to join forces with U.S. fund KKR (KKR.N) in a deal to buy Telecom Italia's landline grid (TIM) (TLIT.MI), three sources said on Monday. But Macquarie is now raising legal issues about a possible alliance between CDP and KKR, three sources close to the matter told Reuters on Monday. CDP and Macquarie are co-investors in Open Fiber, a smaller rival to TIM. One of them said Macquarie was aiming to improve its offer with CDP ahead of the June 9 deadline. Separate sources with knowledge of the matter had said this month KKR had expressed its willingness to work further on its bid.

Foreign holdings of Italian government paper increased in February after 10 consecutive monthly declines, according to Bank of Italy data. "This is a magic moment for Italian bonds," he told Reuters. The share of Italian government debt held by foreign investors fell to below 20% at the end of 2022 from around 50% before the 2008 financial crisis, Bank of Italy data shows. The Italian Treasury has already taken steps to shore up demand for its bonds as the ECB retreats, by boosting purchases among domestic households and companies. Together, Italian families and firms now hold around 215 billion euros, or 9%, of Rome's debt, UniCredit's Cazzulani said, the highest level since mid-2015.

☆ Italy unlikely to renew China deal, but needs time, official says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Crispian Balmer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

ROME, May 4 (Reuters) - Italy is highly unlikely to renew its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) deal with China, which expires early next year, but needs time to discuss the issue with Beijing, a senior government official said. By contrast, Chinese exports to Italy rose to 57.5 billion from 31.7 billion over the same period, according to Italian data. The government official said Rome would use this lack of economic development as an argument for not renewing the deal. "There is no political will on my part to favour Chinese expansion into Italy or Europe," she said. (This story has been corrected to show that data refers to Chinese exports to Italy, not Chinese imports from Italy, in paragraph 6)($1 = 0.9037 euros)Reporting by Crispian Balmer; editing by John StonestreetOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Italy pushes to limit executive pay in listed state-run firms
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Giuseppe Fonte | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Top managers' multi-million euro salaries and handsome bonuses have come into focus at a time when Italian families are struggling with an inflation rate that neared 9% in April, well above the euro zone average. According to the government draft, the Treasury will work to "contain management costs" when shareholders vote on remuneration policies at state-controlled listed companies. Monte dei Paschi already applies curbs to executives' pay as a bank that was bailed out by the state in 2017. Under terms agreed with European Union authorities, the total remuneration of any MPS executive may not exceed 10 times the average salary of its employees in 2022. Additional reporting by Gavin Jones; Editing by Gavin Jones and Christina FincherOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

[1/9] A demonstrator throws a tear gas during the traditional May Day labour march, a day of mobilisation against the French pension reform law and for social justice, in Nantes, France May 1, 2023. Sophie Binet, leader of the hardleft CGT union, said the pension reform had left Macron isolated. Macron says the French reform is needed to keep one of the industrialised world's most generous pension systems in the black. French pension payments as a share of pre-retirement earnings are comfortably higher than elsewhere and a French man typically spends longer in retirement than those in other OECD nations. Trade unions say the money can be found elsewhere.

☆ Official promo video for Italy tourism features Slovenia
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ROME, April 25 (Reuters) - Italy's tourism ministry has faced ridicule after an official video to attract tourists to Italy used footage of people in Slovenia drinking Slovenian wine. Art historian Tomaso Montanari called the advertising campaign "grotesque", and an "obscene" waste of money, while the video was lampooned by users of Italian social media platforms. The most controversial footage shows a group of young people smiling on a sunlit patio drinking wine in what is presented as a typical Italian scene. The Armando Testa communications group was not immediately available to comment. Italian Tourism Minister Daniela Santanche, a member of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's far-right Brothers of Italy party, called critics of the video "snobs" and said the depiction of Venus as an influencer was aimed at attracting young people.

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