TOPIC

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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

“Latex chef” Giuliano Baldessari, wearing his signature black rubber catsuit, prepares food in the kitchen at Aqua Crua in Barbarano Vicentino, Italy. Photo: Aqua Crua

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

10 Apr 2025 - 3:29AM

Donald Trump

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

9 Apr 2025 - 3:30PMvideocam

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

Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi (centre, in pink) and teammates sit on the substitute bench during a friendly match in February 2024. Messi had to sit the game out due to an injury, disappointing many of Hong Kong’s football fans. Photo: Reuters

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

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

Pope Francis left Rome’s Gemelli hospital on March 23. Photo: AP

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

Ukraine war

Rubio vows to block ‘antagonistic’ language on Russia at G7 meeting

US wants softer tone on Russia when G7 foreign ministers meet in Quebec from Wednesday.

11 Mar 2025 - 10:05AM

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Photo: AP

Artificial intelligence

China’s iFlyTek eyes Europe expansion as US trade war heats up

iFlyTek plans to expand in Europe, diversifying its supply chain amid rising US-China trade tensions and aiming for new markets.

7 Mar 2025 - 10:03AM

The iFlyTek stand at MWC Barcelona 2025. Photo: Reuters

South Korea

‘One size’ fashion store in Korea sparks concern over thin-body ideals

Brandy Melville defies conventional fashion marketing strategies, promoting the idea that customers should fit into its clothes.

5 Mar 2025 - 7:05PM

Pope Francis

Pope Francis resting after 2 episodes of ‘acute respiratory failure’

The 88-year-old pope has not been seen in public since entering hospital on February 14.

4 Mar 2025 - 4:15PM

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Italy

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.

King Charles and Queen Camilla meet Pope Francis in surprise visit

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

‘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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Rubio vows to block ‘antagonistic’ language on Russia at G7 meeting

US wants softer tone on Russia when G7 foreign ministers meet in Quebec from Wednesday.

China’s iFlyTek eyes Europe expansion as US trade war heats up

iFlyTek plans to expand in Europe, diversifying its supply chain amid rising US-China trade tensions and aiming for new markets.

‘One size’ fashion store in Korea sparks concern over thin-body ideals

Brandy Melville defies conventional fashion marketing strategies, promoting the idea that customers should fit into its clothes.

Pope Francis resting after 2 episodes of ‘acute respiratory failure’

The 88-year-old pope has not been seen in public since entering hospital on February 14.

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