Le notizie di oggi — 24 maggio 2026

Front Page

Car-ramming attack in Modena: Meloni and Mattarella visit the city

• What happened: Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella traveled to Modena on Sunday, May 18, the day after a serious car-ramming incident—the first of its kind in Italy—where a car deliberately hit pedestrians, causing several injuries. Meloni canceled a planned trip to Cyprus to be present.
• Context: Attacks using vehicles as weapons are a phenomenon already known in other European countries. The episode in Modena immediately sparked a debate on public safety and radicalization in Italy.
• Why it matters: As the first incident of its kind in Italy, it raises urgent questions regarding urban prevention and security that the government will have to address in the coming weeks.

Modi in Rome: India and Italy sign "Special Strategic Partnership"

• What happened: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Rome on May 20, meeting with Giorgia Meloni. The two countries officially elevated their relations to a "Special Strategic Partnership" and signed a roadmap for the defense sector. Meloni also used the Hindi word "parishram" (commitment/hard work) during the joint press conference.
• Context: India and Italy are strengthening diplomatic and trade ties at a time when both nations are seeking to diversify international partnerships beyond traditional axes.
• Why it matters: For Italy, strengthening ties with one of the world's largest economies opens up commercial and investment opportunities, as well as cooperation in strategic sectors like defense and technology.

ISTAT: Italian growth under 1% for the fourth year; lessons from Spain

• What happened: The National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) announced on Thursday, May 21, that the Italian economy will grow by less than 1% in 2026, confirming a four-year trend of stagnation. The statistical office suggested that Italy could learn lessons from the much brighter Spanish model.
• Context: Spain has recorded significantly higher growth rates than Italy in recent years, thanks in part to structural reforms, tourism, and a greater capacity to attract foreign investment.
• Why it matters: The ISTAT diagnosis is a wake-up call for the Meloni government ahead of the next budget law: without structural interventions, the gap with eurozone partner countries could widen further.

Taoiseach Martin meets Meloni and Pope Leo XIV in Rome

• What happened: Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin held separate talks with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican and with Premier Meloni at Palazzo Chigi on May 22.
• Context: Rome continues to be an active diplomatic hub during this period, with numerous foreign leaders visiting on the occasion of Leo XIV's recent pontificate.
• Why it matters: It testifies to Italy's growing role as a diplomatic hub within the European and Vatican context, with Meloni managing an intense international agenda.

Trevi Fountain: New Zealand tourist dives into the water, fined 600 dollars

• What happened: A tourist from New Zealand allegedly dove into the famous Trevi Fountain in Rome, swimming in it in front of dozens of stunned visitors. The episode sparked outrage on social media, and the individual was fined nearly 600 dollars.
• Context: Roman authorities have stepped up patrols around the city's iconic monuments to discourage vandalism by tourists, with sanctions increasing in recent years.
• Why it matters: The episode reignites the debate on "overtourism" and respect for Italy's cultural heritage, a theme increasingly central to local policies in major art cities.

Economy and Business

FTSE MIB flies above 49,500: banks and STMicroelectronics drive gains

• The facts: The FTSE MIB closed on Friday, May 22, at 49,511 points, up 0.70% (+342 points), following a powerful 1.71% rally on Wednesday that had brought the index to 49,181. Leading the gains: STMicroelectronics in a strong recovery and banks, supported by hopes for peace between the USA and Iran.
• Impact: The prospect of an agreement on the Iranian nuclear program has reduced energy concerns, easing pressure on European markets and pushing cyclical stocks on Piazza Affari higher.

Generali flies +2.1% after results, Carel crashes -7.3%

• The facts: The opening on Thursday, May 21, on Piazza Affari saw sharp movements in individual stocks. Generali gained 2.1% after publishing positive financial results, while Carel lost 7.3% following the release of its accounts. The FTSE MIB opened at 49,123 points, then closed flat after the previous day's rally.
• Impact: The divergent results among Milan's blue chips highlight how, despite the general recovery of the index, stock selection remains crucial. For Italian savers with exposure to pension funds or insurance products, the solidity of Generali is a positive signal.

Stellantis: the strategic plan fails to convince the market

• The facts: The presentation of the Stellantis strategic plan did not convince investors: the stock weighed on the session on Thursday, contributing to the flat close of the MIB below 49,200 points. Milan stocks had already faced pressure on Monday due to inflation fears and dividend payments.
• Impact: Stellantis is one of the most relevant companies for Italian industrial employment. The lack of a positive market reaction suggests investor skepticism about the group's ability to navigate the transition to electric vehicles and Asian competition.

ISTAT: Italy looks to Spain as a growth model

• The facts: In the May 21 report, ISTAT estimated GDP growth of less than 1% for 2026—the fourth consecutive year below this threshold—and explicitly pointed to Spain as a virtuous example of more effective economic policies.
• Impact: The competitiveness gap between Italy and Spain is reflected in real wages, foreign investment, and the ability to reduce public debt. For Italian families, it means stagnant purchasing power and limited prospects for employment improvement in the short term.

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reuters.com

reuters.com

reuters.com

reuters.com

From the World

US-Iran negotiations: progress that moves global markets

• Where and what: Talks between Washington and Tehran regarding the Iranian nuclear program have seen progress in recent days, with signs of advancement that have reduced geopolitical tension in the Middle East.
• Reflection on Italy/EU: Italy imports significant shares of energy and is directly affected by Middle Eastern instability. A nuclear agreement with Iran could lower oil prices (Brent has remained above 105 dollars anyway), ease the energy bill for Italian families and businesses, and favor further gains for the FTSE MIB.

India-Italy: Special Strategic Partnership signed during Modi's visit

• Where and what: Rome, May 20. Premier Modi and Premier Meloni formalized the elevation of bilateral relations to a "Special Strategic Partnership," with agreements in defense and trade. Modi continued his tour across five European countries.
• Reflection on Italy/EU: The agreement opens new trade corridors with the 1.4-billion-person Indian market. For Italian SMEs, it could translate into export opportunities in sectors like machinery, fashion, food, and technology.

NATO and the new European geopolitical order

• Where and what: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had already warned Europe in February 2026 to prepare for a "new era of geopolitics" that requires a re-examination of each country's role in the Alliance. The message continues to weigh on European defense debates.
• Reflection on Italy/EU: Italy is called, like other NATO countries, to increase defense spending. The signing of the roadmap with India in the defense sector fits into this logic of diversifying Italian strategic partnerships.

Ireland: The Taoiseach meets the Pope and Meloni in Rome

• Where and what: Dublin-Rome, May 22. Micheál Martin met both Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican and Giorgia Meloni at Palazzo Chigi in a single diplomatic visit.
• Reflection on Italy/EU: The busy schedule of international visits to Rome testifies to how the Meloni government and the Holy See of Leo XIV have become unavoidable reference points in the European diplomatic landscape.

Italian Politics in Brief

• Modena, car-ramming attack: Meloni canceled a trip to Cyprus to travel to Modena together with President Mattarella the day after the May 17 attack, the first of its kind in Italy. The government has promised urgent measures on public safety.

• Intense diplomacy: In the span of a week, Meloni received Indian Premier Modi (May 20), Irish Taoiseach Martin (May 22), and participated in numerous bilateral meetings. Rome is consolidating its role as a European diplomatic hub.

• ISTAT and growth: The ISTAT data from May 21—growth under 1% for the fourth year—puts pressure on the government regarding the need for structural reforms before the autumn budget law. The comparison with Spain has become a recurring theme in economic debate.

• Tourism and vandalism: The Trevi Fountain episode has reopened the parliamentary debate on stricter measures to protect cultural heritage and limit the behavior of unruly tourists.

Tech and Innovation

STMicroelectronics: the stock leads the Piazza Affari rally

STMicroelectronics—the semiconductor giant co-headquartered in Italy and Switzerland—recorded a strong rebound on Friday, May 22, driving the FTSE MIB. The company, which produces chips for automotive, IoT, and industrial applications, benefits both from the global tech sector recovery (with Nvidia supporting the entire sector) and hopes for an easing of tensions in the Middle East. For the Italian tech ecosystem, STM remains one of the few global-scale players with a significant manufacturing presence in the country.

Artificial intelligence and diplomacy: Meloni uses technology to communicate with Modi

A curious detail emerged from the May 20 press conference: Meloni used the Hindi word "parishram" (commitment/hard work) when addressing Modi, a gesture that garnered significant media appreciation in India. The episode underscores how digital communication and international media instantly amplify symbolic diplomatic gestures, making mastery of digital narrative an increasingly strategic skill for leaders.