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Israel-Palestine War

Silence To Statehood: Giorgia Meloni’s Shift On Gaza Should Not Be Overlooked

Italy’s prime minister signals support for a Palestinian state at the UN with conditions attached, breaking with Netanyahu and Trump but stopping short of a full embrace.

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Society

Day At The Water Park, Between Fear Of Heights And Hope In Our Kids

At a water park, you rarely see kids taking selfies or filming their adventures on their smartphones. To me, they didn’t even seem to take notice of the many shades and races and countries of origin of their peers. I saw girls in burkinis racing on the slides with their peers in thongs — no one paid attention to such differences. 

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Geopolitics In The News Society The Next Pope

On Eve Of The Conclave, An Italian Tally Of Cardinals Sees Growing Risk Of A Deadlock

Each cardinal brings strengths and weaknesses, but a Vatican insider tells La Stampa that it is now clear: more time is needed.

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Society

Just A Man: What Made Pope Francis So Different Than His Predecessors

The Argentine-born pontiff appeared equal parts combative and caring, and apt to share parts of papal life long held secret by his predecessors. A look back on a of a pope who was more like you and me than bishops of Rome are thought to be — and who seemed to be just fine with it all.

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Migrant Lives

Lamine Yamal, A New Symbol Of The Evolving Migration Narrative

European sports provide some feel-good stories of young people of color, children of migrant families, who have risen to the top of their disciplines. But these are far from fairytales as Europe still considers non-white or non-national bodies a hindrance and a potential danger, writes Italy’s Black writer and activist Igiaba Scego in daily La Stampa.

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Geopolitics Ideas

The Problem With Calling Giorgia Meloni “Extreme Right”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s declaration labeling Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as “extreme right-wing” is a politically charged move. But is this assessment fair, given Meloni’s strong support for Ukraine and responsible economic decisions — or is there some demonizing and distracting at play?

Categories
This Happened

This Happened — May 13: Ali Agca Shoots Pope John Paul II

Updated May 13, 2024 at 12:30 p.m. Mehmet Ali Ağca attempted to kill Pope John Paul II on this day in 1981 in St. Peter’s Square. Who was Mehmet Ali Ağca? Mehmet Ali Ağca was a Turkish national who was a member of the extremist right-wing organization known as the Grey Wolves. Why did Mehmet […]

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Society

The Limits Of MeToo In Italy

From time to time, testimony of sexual abuse inside the Italian entertainment industry comes out. But inevitably fails to gain much attention, another example of MeToo failing to take off in the traditionally sexist country. There are multiple explanations, though also quieter signs that something may be changing.

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Green

Wild Animals Invading 8 Cities Around The World

An elephant in the street in India, otters on the beach in Cape Town, wild boars in Rome, big cats in Colombia cities, polar bears in Russian towns: a series of factors, including climate change and urbanization, is creating unlikely encounters between humans and the rest of the animal kingdom.

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Ideas

Truth, Lies And Suicide After An Online Restaurant Review

After posting online her answer to a homophobic comment about her restaurant near Milan, Giovanna Pedretti lived the peak of fame in its ups and mostly in its downs that lead to her drastic decision of ending her life.

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Ideas Society

Milei And The Pope: What This Argentine Odd Couple Tells Us About Capitalism Today

Argentina’s rabidly privatizing president, Javier Milei, had a curiously warm meeting with “socialist” and fellow Argentine Pope Francis. As both have an emotive side and abhor the technocratic élites, it could even open the door to an unlikely entente, and even a long-awaited papal visit.

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LGBTQ Plus

A New History Course Explores LGBTQ Life In Ancient Egypt, Greece And Rome

While certain figures from ancient mythology are sometimes held up as LGBTQ ancestors – such as the Greek gods Apollo and Zeus, there is plenty of lesser known history about same-sex attraction and gender variance beyond a strict male-female binary.

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Economy Society

Fiumicino Postcard: A Cruise Ship Giant Wants A Seaside Town As Its Own Roman Port

Not far from Rome’s international airport, the Royal Caribbean cruise ship company bought a state concession to try to build a massive new port to host its Oasis-class cruise ships – 72-meter-high skyscrapers on the sea. Locals in Fiumicino say one major transport hub in the area is more than enough.

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Green Society

From L.A. To Paris, Reflections On The Power Of Public Transport

For the author, the biggest surprise in living in Paris has been the city’s efficient metro system. Her hometown of Los Angeles has an addiction to cars that is more than just unpleasant.

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In The News

La Periferi​a​, Changing Faces On The Forgotten Outskirts Of Italian Cities

Italian politicians often talk about the communities on the peripheries of cities as if they are filled with crime and decay, but the reality is changing before our eyes

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Society

Why Every New Parent Should Travel Alone — Without Their Children

Argentine journalist Ignacio Pereyra travels to Italy alone to do some paperwork as his family stays behind. While he walks alone around Rome, he experiences mixed feelings: freedom, homesickness and nostalgia, and wonders what leads people to desire larger families.

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Economy Society

The Streets Of Rome, How COVID Has Deepened An Eternal Wealth Divide

The pandemic has exposed longstanding inequalities and brought more people into a cycle of hunger and precariousness,

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Geopolitics Rue Amelot

Italy To India To Brazil, How COVID Has Trivialized Mass Death

We’ve gotten used to too many people dying, and too many dying alone.

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Weird

Rome Mayor Mistakes Another Arena For Colosseum, Sent To Lions

For the Romans, there’s no other choice but the mortal (though virtual) thumbs down for their mayor. Yes, online commentators (and no doubt offline elders around the Italian capital) are sending Mayor Virginia Raggi to the proverbial lions for mixing up the Colosseum — the one (and only) built in Rome nearly 2,000 years ago […]

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Economy Ideas

Will China’s New Silk Road Lead To Rome?

The center-right populist Italian government has recently bowed to Chinese flattery, announcing it was ready to sign a Memorandum of Understanding that will connect Rome and Beijing on a modern Silk Road. At the end of a long, slow path of decline and political confusion, Rome is in bad need of fresh investment to boost […]

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blog

Extra! Rome Elects First Woman Mayor, Insurgents Rise Across Italy

ROME —Virginia Raggi, a 37-year-old insurgent newcomer, has scored a resounding victory over the candidate from Prime Minister Matteo Renzi’s ruling party to become the first woman mayor of Italian capital Rome. Raggi, a member of the upstart anti-establishment 5-Star Movement founded by Italian comedian Beppe Grillo, defeated Democratic Party candidate Roberto Giachetti in the […]

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blog

April 21

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Geopolitics Ideas

Paris 2015: Memory, Vanity And History’s New Continuum

Shocked as we are by each new terror attack, we are no longer surprised. From Worldcrunch HQ in Paris, our editor weighs this troubling year with others before it.

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Geopolitics Ideas Terror in Europe

From Raqqa To Paris: The Chilling Mutation Of ISIS’ Strategy

Once focused solely on gaining Middle East territory for its caliphate, the terror group is now targeting “crusader nations,” those fighting it in Syria and Iraq.

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blog

Spanish Steps To French Church

The Italian Renaissance Trinità dei Monti church, at the top of the famous Spanish Steps in Piazza di Spagna, was a little bit like a home away from home for us French travellers. “La Trinité-des-Monts,” as we call it, was built by a French king and has been under French responsibility ever since — together […]

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blog

LAST QUARTER MOON – January 12-19

(March 21 to April 19) The start of the week oscillates between agitation and full dilemmas, but there is no need to panic. This is the final backlash of a mediocre lunar phase for you. It has at least led you to resolve some problems. At work, straight after the weekend some sticking points which […]

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blog

FULL MOON – January 5-11

(March 21 to April 19) This Full Moon plays havoc with your emotions, but brings to light the challenges. Arians who have recently made a new acquaintance will realize that the other party is avoiding them. If you’ve just started a new project, a co-worker or boss will slow progress. But you’re a testa dura, […]

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Migrant Lives Society

Tor Sapienza, The Dumping Ground Of Rome Catches Fire

This neighborhood on the Italian capital’s outskirts has erupted in clashes between longtime residents and undocumented migrants. It is part of a long and toxic history.

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Society

Ruining The Ruins: Why Tourists Deface Ancient Monuments

How about a selfie instead?

Categories
Society The Next Pope

Papal Work Ethic: From 4:45 AM Wakeup, Portrait Of A Tireless Pope Francis

VATICAN CITY — To the priests who invited him to take a vacation with them, the late Cardinal Alberto Idelfonso Schuster of Milan replied, smiling, that there would be plenty of time for that in the afterlife. Pope Francis — the Jesuit whose agenda would wear out any 40-something — seems to be inspired by […]

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Geopolitics Society

What If Sardinia Became A Swiss Island?

Could landlocked Switzerland finally get some coastline? There is a movement afoot pushing Swiss annexation of the Italian island of Sardinia.

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Geopolitics

Berlusconi, The Perils Of Not Knowing When To Say Goodbye

-OpEd- ROME — We must remember that Wednesday’s vote to oust Silvio Berlusconi from the Senate does not mean his political demise. Still, his exclusion from Parliament, the sentence for tax fraud and the other alleged cases — involving underaged prostitution, extortion, the bribing of parliamentarians, and corruption of witnesses — put the former prime […]

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Society

The Most Enchanting And Disgusting Thing About Rome

Look up in the sky. No wait, don’t!

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Geopolitics

Lampedusa, Already Forgotten: Victims Buried In Obscurity After Vows Of State Funerals

LAMPEDUSA — Yesterday, they buried those remaining of the 385 victims from the Oct. 3 shipwreck off Lampedusa. There were no flowers. No gravestones. None of the ceremony that so many had promised. That first day, as the death toll mounted, various political leaders, including Prime Minister Enrico Letta, had called for some kind of […]

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Geopolitics

Is Berlusconi’s World About To Implode?

ROME — Berlusconi’s world has never been at such odds with Berlusconi himself. Nobody could rightly agree with the decision to pull out of the coalition that was providing stability for the Italian government as the country attempts to pull out of a deep recession. You could count on one hand the number of loyalists […]

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blog

WATCH: Berlusconi Infuriated At Prison Sentence

ANSA, TGCOM24 (Italy) Worldcrunch ROME – Italy’s former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi broadcasted an angry video late Thursday, after a high court upheld his four-year prison sentence in a tax fraud case. The center-right leader strongly denounced the jail ruling, claiming his innocence and accusing the Italian Justice of persecuting him. “No-one can understand the […]

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Society

Is This My Country? On A Rome Bus, An Awful Question Answered In Perfect Italian

Being born in Italy doesn’t guarantee you citizenship. For those who grew up children of immigrants, proving you deserve a passport can be like a bus ride to nowhere.

Categories
Society

With New Leaders In Rome And Beijing, China’s Catholics Face Uncertain Future

The some 10 million Catholics in China remain divided between those loyal to the Pope and those in step with the Chinese Communist Party hierarchy.

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Food / Travel

Rome Wants To Pump New Life Into A Gladiator’s Tomb And Ancient Villa

ROME – Springtime at her villa must have been something beautiful indeed. Livia was the wife of the emperor Octavian, also known as Caesar Augustus, and her villa was surrounded by a breathtaking landscape that was unparalleled anywhere in the surrounding areas of Rome: hills, fields, and the Tiber river flowing by. Built along the […]

Categories
Food / Travel

Italy’s Tourist Industry Aims To Please New (Rich) Visitors From Emerging Markets

ROME – Italy is a place of culture, beauty, and a well-oiled style of life — crisis or not. Foreigners always return for more. But in order to make sure that the tourists keep coming back — and telling their friends — some guidelines are needed. According to data from the federation of hotels “Fedalberghi”, […]

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