Controversy in Italy over potential deal with Musk’s SpaceX

ROME: The prospect of a cybersecurity deal between Rome and Elon Musk’s SpaceX sparked controversy in Italy on Monday, with the government of Giorgia Meloni denying that a contract had been signed.

Financial news agency Bloomberg said Italy was in “advanced talks” with SpaceX for a deal to provide secure telecommunications for the nation’s government in a contract that could be worth 1.5 billion euros ($1.56 billion).