Italy approves a fresh €100 million loan to keep Acciaierie d'Italia running at its Taranto steelworks. The funds cover operational costs including supplier payments and worker salaries, and must be repaid within six months. The sale process is stalling, with Flacks Group demanding a €500 million bridge loan from the government and Jindal Steel International's conditions described as unacceptable. Italy is fast approaching the European Commission's authorized state aid ceiling of €390 million for the troubled steelmaker.