Italian news (page 2)
News snippets and stories from the Italian papers.
Taliban Says Italian Reporter Released
The Italian government isn't ready to accept this as truth yet, but apparently the Taliban has said they've released Italian reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo to a third party today.
Kidnapped Italian Reporter Seen on Video
The Italian reporter kidnapped in Afghanistan has been seen on video , appealing to the Italian government to work for his release.
Pope gets involved in gay rights debate - I wonder what side he's on?
As the government in Italy debates a bill that would grant rights to non-married co-habitating couples, the Vatican is getting more and more vocal in its opposition.
Kidnapped Italian Reporter Confirmed Alive
One of the biggest stories in the Italian news lately is that of a reporter for La Repubblica , Daniele Mastrogiacomo, who is missing in Afghanistan.
Italian News Snippets: 10 March 2007
What's going on in the boot-shaped country, you ask? Well, I'll tell you. An Italian journalist is missing in Afghanistan , and it's feared he's been taken by the Taliban .
Dad & Grandpa Beat Up My Principal
The other night in my Italian conversation group, we did an exercise where we had to fill in the blanks using prepositions to complete a joke.
Sanremo Song Festival Winner
The winner of this year's Sanremo Song Festival is Simone Cristicchi's song "Ti Regalerò Una Rosa" (I will give you a rose), which is part song and part spoken word letter.
Italian News Snippets: 4 March 2007
Some more Italian news for your weekend: Etruscan riches on show in Milan Tests on sewers reveal higher cocaine use in Florence than London Italian-made AIDS pill on the way Umbria Jazz Fest's 2007…
Italian News Snippets: 3 March 2007
What's that funny-looking blob next to the lowercase i, you ask? Why, it's Italy's new logo, of course.
Sanremo Song Festival - Going on Now
The 57th annual Sanremo Song Festival began this week and runs through Saturday, and is one event the husband and I have wanted to see in person for a few years now.
Newsflash: Prodi Wins Confidence Vote
From the New York Times : Premier Romano Prodi won a confidence vote Wednesday in the Senate, ensuring the survival of his center-left government.
Prodi Faces Confidence Votes in Parliament This Week
Remember when I mentioned that Italian politics were confusing ? Well, add this feather to that cap.
Italian News Snippets: 24 February 2007
Now, this would be something to see - Vatican soccer teams made up of priests and trainee clergyman start playing this Saturday in a bid for the Clericus Cup .
Italy's Prime Minister Resigns
Italy's Premier, Romano Prodi, resigned his post today " after losing a Senate vote on his government's foreign policy " regarding Italian troop levels in Afghanistan and the expansion of an American…
Italian News Snippets: 20 February 2007
So much Italian news, so little time. CIA agents will be tried for kidnap in Italy Egypt frees cleric reported seized in Italy by CIA in 2003 More about the love park in Bari , but don't get your…
Germany's "Parmesan" Isn't the Real Thing
When I was a kid, my dad used to tell stories of our Parisian cousin who would get noticably angry if anyone referred to non-French sparkling wine as "champagne." I didn't see what the big deal was…
Italian Women Have the Smallest Breasts in Europe
Italian women might be the most sexually active in all of Europe, but apparently they've also got the smallest breasts .
Valentine's Day News Snippets: Ancient Lovers & Erotic Poetry
For this Valentine's Day post on the Italy Logue, I've got some love-related news items for you...
Italian News Snippets: 13 February 2007
There's more Italian news out there than you can shake a prosciutto at. Veronica Lario, Mrs.
Racial Tension in Italy is Very Real - Does it Lead to Murder?
Awhile ago, I wrote about the murder of a family that had taken place in southern Italy.
Italian Cuisine: More Varied Than You Think
Italians are famously loyal to their local cuisine. And by "local," I'm not just talking about their country's borders, either.
Italian News Snippets: 7 February 2007
Some news from around il Bel Paese while you sip your morning cappuccino... Nero's Golden House , the Domus Aurea in Rome, opened on February 4th after being closed for more than a year of…
Italian Soccer at a Standstill
There is, as you might expect, a bunch of news and many blog posts about the recent killing of a policeman during a riot after an Italian soccer game in Catania.
Penelope Cruz to Appear at Sanremo Song Festival: Does She Sing?
One of the things the husband and I have done to help immerse ourselves in the Italian language is buy Italian music on CD.
Italian News Snippets: 4 February 2007
There's more to the Italian news that a former premier's flirting and his wife's demand for a public apology. No, really - there is.
Pompeii Still Yielding Surprises - City's Origins Unearthed
The preserved city of Pompeii is on the list of many visitors to Italy, and with good reason. It's an amazing piece of time stopped in its tracks.
Italian News Snippets: 3 February 2007
Some more news snippets from around and about... There are many reasons why young Italians tend to live at home longer than their peers in other countries (high prices and high unemployment being two…
Venice's St. Mark's Square - Minus the Pigeon Droppings
If you've ever been to Venice, no doubt you've spent some time in St. Mark's Square.
Italians Enthralled by Berlusconi's Domestic Dispute, Don't Approve of Wife's Actions
As I noted earlier , Silvio Berlusconi and his wife, Veronica Lario, were in the midst of a rather public spat, one which (naturally) has had the country "in thrall" for the past few days .
Berlusconi's Wife Demands Public Apology for His Flirting
I don't know too many women who would choose to scold a flirtatious husband by sending a letter to the editor of one of the largest newspapers in the country , but I doubt there are many women like…
Italian News Snippets: 31 January 2007
Some Italian news highlights from around... Word to the wise: If you've got a First Century BC Roman funerary monument , chances are tough you'll have a hard time selling it - even if you hack it up…
Famous Stilettos, Papal Fashion Inspiration: Italian Fashion News
I'm going to acknowledge right up front that I'm completely biased here, but I think Italy is the food and fashion capital of the world (not necessarily in that order).
Italian News Snippets: 22 January 2007
There's just too much news out there. Will they stop making news? Probably not. So, I'll play catch-up here and let you investigate further on your own: Search for Leonardo's "lost fresco" - Da Vinci…
Your Uffizi Pictures Will Include Scaffolding Until 2013
If you're going to Florence and you've never been before, you've got the Uffizi museum on your list of things to do. I know you do. Everyone does.
Don't Mess With Italy
As you might imagine, Italians don't treat the use of the word "mafia" lightly. I won't go into the details, but recently a non-Italian head of an anti-doping agency accused Western Europeans of a…
Vatican Store Heats Up Italy's Winter Sales Period
With the winter sales period in full swing in most Italian cities, I would be remiss if I didn't tell you about one of the more exclusive sales events in the country - the Vatican's designer sale .
Defense Jacket: The Perfect Winter Accessory
You can say the Italians are overly concerned with their attire, but you can't say they're not thinking of personal safety at the same time.
Italian Art Quest Continues: Now in Japan
Lest you think Italy is picking on the Getty museum because of some long-standing grudge against the US, they're asking Japan to return the things they claim were "stolen" as well .
Dante "Less Ugly" Than Previously Thought
I routinely tell my Italian students that if they have any problems with the rules of the Italian language, they should blame Dante.
Murder of "Too Loud" Neighbors Shocks Italy
There's a story of a gruesome murder that's been in the Italian press lately, and the shocking twist every murder mystery needs came last week .
Mussolini Should Have Lived?
Italians may be divided politically on a number of issues, but they're pretty universally opposed to the death penalty. That also seems to be a bit retroactive.
Italy's Culture Minister: Getty's Case "Crumbling" Like So Much Fake Art
A bit of an update on the story I wrote about recently about the feud between the Getty Museum in LA and Italy's Culture Minister - the Culture Minister says the Getty's case for hanging onto the…
Italian Art & Culture Lure Visitors
It's good to know that the US isn't the only government that has a "Duh" department pumping out studies and poll results.
French President Likes Lucca's Oil
French President Jacques Chirac must be trying to lay the groundwork for his Italian retirement villa .
What the Pope wears under his robes...
It's apparently not enough that Pope Benedict XVI is the first to pose for his own calendar . Now he's got to have his own soccer jersey .
Stallone Wants to Look Like a Gorilla
Sylvester Stallone was in Rome last week promoting the latest installment of the Rocky series (I think we're up to Rocky 347 now), and didn't waste the opportunity to also talk about his other new…
Buffon: Probably Leaving Juventus but Probably Not for Another Sport
If you needed any proof of just how little I know about most sports, when I saw the headline " Giants line up to sign Buffon " my first thought - I kid you not - was, "But there aren't any…
Raikkonen: Shades of Schumacher in Red
I know jack squat about car racing, except that the cars go really, really fast. The husband is a fan of any sport that involves wheels and speed - and Italy provides plenty of both.
Italian News Snippets: 13 January 2007
Some quick hits of Italian News: You don't want to get sent to an Italian hospital . At least not at the moment. Italy's sexiest actress is a widow - Sophia Loren's husband died .
"Sonic Fingerprinting" on Italian Art
Just a quick one - the Italians are now looking at doing something called " sonic fingerprints " to make sure their on-loan artwork doesn't get "cloned" while it's out of the country. Amazing.
Northern Italy More Child-Friendly than Southern Italy
The husband and I are childless by choice, so things like "kid-friendly restaurants" don't catch our eye when we're out and about. Our many friends with children, however, are always on the lookout.
Italians Optimistic About 2007
2006 was a good year to be an Italian, especially if you were an Italian sports fan.
Italy's Launches New Anti-Smoking Campaign
Italy adopted an anti-smoking law two years ago and it has "virtually ended all smoking in cafés, restaurants, bars, pubs and clubs." As a non-smoker, I think that's brilliant news.
Centenarian Driver On Board
Anyone who's tried to drive (or, hell, just cross a road) in Italy's big cities knows it's something of an art form. One might wonder why it is that Italians have a propensity for crazy-ass driving.
Shave and a Hair Cut, Two Bits
Italy's military is no longer obligatory, so the free haircuts and shaves the officers and enlisted personnel used to enjoy is also gone .
Pope Calendar 2007: You Know You Want One
Italians like their calendar pin-up girls just as much as anyone else. Unlike every other country on earth, however, Italians also have a resident Pope. This one's trying to clean things up a bit.
Italy Issues Ultimatum to LA's Getty
Does Italy have enough in the way of historical artifacts and pieces of art with worldwide significance to keep visitors happy? Definitely. Will it all keep the locals happy? Apparently not.
FIFA Head Didn't Attend World Cup Trophy Presentation
I was too busy jumping around my living room when Italy won the World Cup last year to notice that the head of FIFA, Sepp Blatter, wasn't in attendance at the trophy presentation ceremony.
Etymology of the Word "Dildo" has Italian Roots
Don't ask me how I heard this. No, seriously, don't. At any rate, I wanted to verify it for myself, and sho' nuff: The word "dildo" originally referred to the phallus-shaped peg used to lock an oar…
Trenitalia Changes
The Italian train system is a fantastic method of getting around a country where driving takes skill (and a certain amount of a death wish in the cities) and where buses have the reputation for being…
Milan Bans Too-Thin Models from Runway
Even the fashionistas in Milan think there's such a thing as "too skinny." Late last year, it was announced that women who are deemed too thin will be banned from February's prestigious fashion shows…
"I was just kidding!" There won't be a Vatican soccer team after all...
I heard a story on NPR last month about the Vatican fielding a soccer team, and was honestly quite disappointed when I found out later it was all a joke .
Starbucks has nothing on Italy's classic cappuccino
Put away those venti frappuccinos, soy lattes and skinny peppermint mochas - Italy has certified the classic cappuccino .
Hell Sounds Like Punk
Have you ever wondered what hell might sound like? One Papal choirmaster thinks he's got the answer: Punk.
Major Changes Proposed for Serie A
Apparently winning the World Cup doesn't make people forget about the naughty things you've done.
Italians' Favorite Word? You'll Love it.
What could possibly be the favorite word of the residents of the country which has given the world ciao , cappuccino , pizza and gelato ? Why, it's amore .
Winter Sales Period in Italy Begins - Shop 'Til You Drop
Anyone who's been shopping in Italy knows to appreciate the " saldi " sign in a shop window - those sale signs are nearly drool-inducing.
Goat Manure Gets Results
There's nothing like a little goat manure to get the attention of politicians, I always say.
Smog-Eating Robots Invade Italy
The residents of three Italian cities will soon have the option of calling a special phone number to summon a smog-eating robot to remove noxious substances from the air .
Italy Shuts Down Child Porn Sites
If you're looking for a country in which you can safely set up your child porn industry, don't go to Italy .
Venice Canals Running Dry?
Venice is a city plagued by water troubles. We've all heard that Venice is sinking, that its canals stink of sewage in the summer, that people are forced to raised plywood "sidewalks" when the…
Italy Asks for Worldwide Ban on Death Penalty
The Italian government has renewed its anti-death penalty campaign with the United Nations in the aftermath of the execution of Saddam Hussein.