Italians are watching the industrialised Marche region, where voters are electing a new government. The former leftist bastion swung right in 2020, hinting at the political wind that propelled Meloni into the premiership. Can her Brothers of Italy keep hold of this "swing" region? on.ft.com/4mG5ZHM

Italy weighs freezing its retirement age at 67-Italy weighs freezing its retirement age at 67-Despite the relatively high retirement age, just 46 per cent of Italians aged between 50 and 74… www.ft.com/content/af2d... www.ft.com/content/af2d... @amykazmin.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

Italian Parmigiano bets on US football to sell ‘all’Americana’-can pungent Parmigiano Reggiano become a new stadium staple — or a popular game-time snack for spectators at home? It’s all to play for. www.ft.com/content/9765... @amykazmin.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

"CEOs that sixty years ago might have been making four to six times what the average worker is receiving, the last figure I saw, its 600 times what average workers are receiving," Pope Leo, the Chicago-born Catholic spiritual leader, said in his first interview since his election to the papacy.

Pope Leo criticises pay packages of Musk and other corporate chiefs on.ft.com/46BkXd0

Calling all students: You could have access to a free FT subscription without even knowing it. Check here: www.ft.com/schoolsarefree

"We have been living on investments made by our grandfathers, who paid for the pipes we are using. We need to pay for our new pipes," Fabrizio Palermo, CEO of Italy's largest water utility, Acea.

"It's brutal, very brutal. You arrive home, open the taps to shower, and there's no water. You never get used to it," Peppe Manno, a driver in Racalmuto, told me. on.ft.com/3JJueXP

European football has descended into its fiercest battle for years, as fans, clubs and politicians rail against Spanish and Italian plans to hold league games in the US and Australia this season. on.ft.com/3JP9f5K

Why Sicilians hate Meloni’s bridge-the decades-old plan to build a 3.7km bridge in an earthquake-prone area has long faced resistance from locals wary of mafia involvement and determined… www.ft.com/content/ce25... @amykazmin.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

How dogs replaced children in Italy-With fewer children and grandchildren to fawn over, Italians are channelling more of their emotional energy — and cash — towards a growing cadre of pampered pets, with dogs the favourite. www.ft.com/content/1309... @amykazmin.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

"It's not a sin to swim"

That time that @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social's proud filmmaker mom Mira Nair had lunch w/ @financialtimes.com back in 2020, just hours after her son beat a long-time incumbent to win a seat in the NY state assembly - his first election victory! She was wearing his election merch! on.ft.com/4ni6MQz

Sign of the times: great story from @olafstorbeck.ft.com @amykazmin.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/e393...

Italy's faces a deepening crisis, as its population ages + shrinks.. more than 25% of population over 65 years old - just 12% are 14 or below. How to encourage child-bearing? Enter subsidised egg-freezing + fertility testing! on.ft.com/4k6tpon

Italy’s vote on who gets to be Italian—It is a question with profound implications for a rapidly ageing society, where nearly a quarter of the population is over 65 and just 12 per cent below the age of 14. www.ft.com/content/401e... @amykazmin.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

"After sending millions of its impoverished citizens to the US and Latin America in the 19th and 20th centuries, Italy has struggled to reconcile with its current status as a magnet for foreign migrants, lured by its widening labour shortages." www.ft.com/content/401e...

Italy’s exodus of young talent worsens population squeeze—The Bank of Italy has estimated that the projected drop in Italy’s working age population could lead to an 11 per cent drop in GDP, although… www.ft.com/content/7544... @amykazmin.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

Chicago in the Vatican: what the first American pope means for the Catholic Church—“Once, we needed to have a pope who would speak in favour of human rights in Russia and China,” said Massimo Faggioli, a professor of theology… www.ft.com/content/a2ec... @amykazmin.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

Vatican pact with Beijing weighs on papal frontrunner-Parolin’s signature achievement while running the Vatican — a 2018 deal between the Holy See and the Chinese Communist party — now looms large over his prospects… www.ft.com/content/b5d1... @amykazmin.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

Kevin Farrell, the cardinal running the papal conclave-with his administrative experience, Farrell could well prove a valuable asset as the next pope struggles with severely strained Vatican finances. “Every papal election… www.ft.com/content/e675... @amykazmin.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

No crown, no glory: Pope Francis breaks with centuries of funeral rites—Last year, Francis approved further simplified rites. Archbishop Diego Ravelli, master of apostolic ceremonies, said at the time… www.ft.com/content/44de... @amykazmin.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

Evening in Rome.

As Pope Francis is buried today, I offer you this romp (via @financialtimes.com) through 2,000 years of papal funeral history in which I use phrase like 'the pope's son' 'the riots that followed popes' deaths' and discuss a botched papal embalming. Enjoy!!! on.ft.com/4jRfNO6

Who could be the next pope?—The runners and riders reflect the changing demography of a global church growing rapidly in Africa and Asia while declining in its traditional European heartland — as well as… www.ft.com/content/ce3b... @amykazmin.bsky.social @financial-times.bsky.social

A good round up from @amykazmin.bsky.social on.ft.com/3GyjzNG

Is it only me, or has Bannon begun to seriously resemble Lucius Malfoy... ?

I suspect @amykazmin.bsky.social is right. Most Americans spend as little on food as they can and don't care that what they eat is not actual parmigiano-reggiano. Most--not all--of those who care about the difference are willing and able to pay more for the genuine article. on.ft.com/4lpbhI1

In which I reflect on ordinary Americans' unsatiable appetite for 'fake Italian food' - and the potential impact of Trump's tariffs on Italy's exports of its tasty treats! If the tariffs are imposed, will most Americans even notice? on.ft.com/3EmCqe2 via @financialtimes.com

Giorgia Meloni’s charm offensive in Africa—In Niger, where French troops were ousted following a 2023 coup against a pro-western president, Italy has remained willing… www.ft.com/content/d5a9... @amykazmin.bsky.social @financial-times.bsky.social

"Trump’s epic misunderstanding of how the global economy works reminds me of an episode of The Sopranos, where two of Tony’s crew try to force the local Starbucks to pay them protection money." Classic @gideonrachman.bsky.social : www.ft.com/content/9946...

Meloni has spent the past five months balancing Trump vs Europe A vote on the EU’s most powerful weapon in response to US tariffs will test her true allegiance - and her European allies aren’t sure which way she’ll fall @andybounds.bsky.social & @amykazmin.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/ca3c...

Horrified official from Italian agri-business lobby Coldiretti on state TV explains how US consumers hit by Trump tariffs will be forced to eat more “fake Italian” or “Italian-sounding” products like the infamous Chef Boyardee canned pasta…

[Interview] #GlobalEurope: Giorgia #Meloni rejects ‘childish’ choice between #Trump and #Europe, by @roulak.bsky.social, @amykazmin.bsky.social and Benjamin Hall | Financial Times

A government that is completely & utterly high on its own supply. “The Trump administration has sent a letter to some large companies in the EU warning them to comply with an executive order banning diversity, equity and inclusion programmes.” www.ft.com/content/02ed...

Italy’s paper hub loses its story, page by page—Economists and entrepreneurs say too many Italian companies failed to invest enough in product innovation or productivity improvements… www.ft.com/content/e374... @amykazmin.bsky.social @financial-times.bsky.social

German defence splurge could revive Italy’s manufacturers, says minister—Italian industry minister Adolfo Urso told the Financial Times that Berlin’s new €1tn spending programme would stimulate growth… www.ft.com/content/12db... @amykazmin.bsky.social @financial-times.bsky.social

"We must turn the necessity of better defending freedom in Europe into an opportunity for development," Italy's industry minister Adolfo Urso tells @financialtimes.com, insisting the Europe's re-armament drive will be a boost to struggling Italian manufacturers on.ft.com/4iyt2CY

"We are living in a world where, honestly speaking, I don't know what is happening one day to the next: everybody is just waiting for a tweet from the American president," explained an Italian businessman from Fabriano, Italy's historic and now declining paper-making hub. on.ft.com/4bYcd1Y

Giorgia Meloni warns EU against ‘vicious circle’ of tariff war with Donald Trump-Her comments come after the commission — which runs trade policy on behalf of the bloc — said it would impose tariffs of up to… www.ft.com/content/34ca... @amykazmin.bsky.social @financial-times.bsky.social

Great reporting from @amykazmin.bsky.social on the perilous state of Italian manufacturing and what it means for Italians. on.ft.com/4hq5QFN

#Trade: Giorgia #Meloni warns #EU against ‘vicious circle’ of #Tariff war with Donald #Trump, by @amykazmin.bsky.social | Financial Times

Is it surprising that Italian footballer Francesco Totti will be 'star guest' a big Russian corporate event in Moscow next month. A recent Ipsos poll found just 32% of Italians now support Ukraine, down from 57% just after Russia's invasion. And 57% say they are on 'neither side." on.ft.com/3FC7OFF

Champagne and Parmigiano under threat from Donald Trump’s tariffs—As much as the tariffs themselves, it is the unpredictability of Trump’s chaotic on-again, off-again policy that is putting stress on companies. www.ft.com/content/925f... @amykazmin.bsky.social @financial-times.bsky.social

Cheez Whiz and Miller Lite for the Americans then!

Elon Musk seeks Italian presidential meeting to salvage Starlink deal

When people are too frightened to say what they think: THAT is the moment when democracy is over…

And this from a regime that came to power thanks in part to the strong backing of those who call themselves advocates for the "right to life."

Follow live: European leaders are meeting in London today as pressure mounts on Kyiv after disastrous White House meeting. We'll be bringing you live coverage as Sir Keir Starmer calls together leaders to discuss their support for Ukraine www.ft.com/content/220c...

As Trump + Vance scolded Zelenskyy for playing with 'millions of lives' in Ukraine, they've merrily + abruptly ended USAID's supply (via Pepfar) of life-saving anti-retroviral drugs for around 20m people (incl kids + pregnant women) living with HIV/Aids. So much for the moralising 'save lives' BS!