Topic: Italy

All Content

Southern Europe digs in against further austerity, as IMF calls for relief

But the EU has little room to give, as Europe waits for signals from September elections in Germany – the ultimate decider of Europe's economic direction.
Asian shares dip amidst slowing economic recovery

Worries about trends in global growth, drove down U.S. and European equities, commodities and Asian markets on Wednesday. Earnings forecasts continue to be revised downward, say analysts.
Energy Voices Has clean energy hit a plateau?

Clean energy growth worldwide has stalled despite significant gains in electric vehicles and renewable power, and financing has slowed, according to separate studies released Wednesday. Is increased government funding the answer for clean energy, or should private business play a bigger part?
Italians move northward to trade 'la dolce vita' for 'das süsse Leben'

Italian emigration jumped 30 percent from 2011 to 2012, with Germany and Switzerland the most popular destination for Italians looking for work.
Global News Blog After shipwreck, Costa Concordia gets the musical treatment

The 2012 Costa Concordia cruise ship sinking is the loose inspiration for a new Bollywood-style musical to be filmed in Italy this summer.
2013 Pulitzer Prize winners: 4 excellent books

Months before the Pulitzer Prize committee got there, the Monitor's book critics had already let readers know that these four books were something special. Here's why.
Carnival to repay costs of rescue: What's the tab?

Carnival plans to repay the U.S. government for responding to the disabled Carnival 'Triumph' and 'Splendor' cruise ships, which left thousands of passengers stranded for days.
Auf wiedersehen, euro? New anti-euro party forms in Germany

The small protest party 'Alternative für Deutschland' could shake the political establishment by tapping into German resentment over its perceived propping up of Europe's south.
Energy Voices Why peak oil demand is already a major problem

Oil demand has to do with how much oil we can afford, Tverberg writes, and many of the developed nations are not able to outbid the developing nations when it comes to the world’s limited oil supply.
Carnival cruise ship fails health inspection. Why?

Carnival cruise ship fails health inspection due to flies in kitchen, an unprotected salad bar, and not enough chlorine in the water park pool. This was the first Carnival cruise ship to fail a health inspection in five years, says Carnival.
Stocks end four-day advance as energy slips

A four-day advance for stocks came to an end on Wall Street as falling commodity prices brought down the stocks of energy and mining companies.
Europe indicates it's sticking with austerity. But is that working?

Herman Van Rompuy said on Monday that Europe would hold the course on austerity, but experts say there has been too little focus on growth and a lack of actual reforms.
The Monitor's View Is an end to war-time rape at a tipping point?

The G8 nations agreed Thursday to a British plan to go after those who rape in war zones, hoping to end this atrocity as a weapon in conflicts. Perhaps this big-power move will mark a historic shift in ending a global problem.
British Euroskeptics claim Thatcher, but was she in their camp? (+video)

Though held up today by British Euroskeptics as an icon, the late prime minister left a legacy in Europe that is not as one-sided as it might at first appear.
Modern Parenthood Jennifer Gilmore's 'The Mothers': An honest adoption novel

Jennifer Gilmore's 'The Mothers' is a refreshingly frank portrayal of adoptive parents. Bypassing an adoption memoir of her own, she's able to treat a fictional couple much harder, and with more honesty, than she'd show herself.
Terrorism & Security Foreign ministers struggle to find common ground on Syrian conflict (+video)

Russia has been unmoving in its opposition to stronger action against the Assad regime, putting it at odds with the rest of the G8, meeting today in London, on how to resolve the Syrian conflict.
Kerry makes no further U.S. commitments in Syria

The situation in Syria and the North Korean threats were high on the agenda when G8 leaders gathered in London on Wednesday. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry made no further U.S. commitments in Syria, but spoke of the need for the opposition to become better organized.
Does a Star Wars palace in Italy need the army to protect it?

The Royal Palace of Caserta, which rivals Versailles in size and has appeared in several movies, is in such disrepair and so poorly guarded that the local mayor says the military needs to step in.
Chapter & Verse Grand Central Station turns 100

In his new book, writer Anthony W. Robins discusses the legendary station's architecture, how New York almost lost this masterpiece, and what the future holds for Grand Central.
Antarctic ice samples: What do they say about global warming?

Antarctic ice core samples, up to 150,000 years old, may help scientists estimate whether it will take 50 years - or 500 years - for the Ross Ice Shelf to collapse at the current rate of climate change.
Robert Remini dies, leaves legacy as Andrew Jackson scholar

Robert Remini dies: The Andrew Jackson scholar wrote at least 10 books about the former president. Robert Remini also wrote books about Mormon leader Joseph Smith and President John Quincy Adams.
Energy Voices Why is the Mafia investing in renewable energy?

The renewable energy industry is apparently becoming a favorite playground for the underworld, Alic writes. Lucrative government subsidies for the construction of wind farms and a fairly lax regulatory system have made renewable energy attractive to the Mafia.
'Gate to Hell' unearthed among Turkey's ancient ruins (+video)

'Gate to Hell' unearthed in Turkey: Italian archaeologists have discovered what they believed to be the remains of an ancient cave that was the entrance to the underworld in Greek and Roman legends.
Google faces inquiries (and possible fines) from European regulators

Six counties, including France and the UK, will launch probes into a 2012 Google privacy policy.
Opinion EU should welcome Ukraine as a partner for Europe's own good

Ukraine is important to Europe as a source of economic growth and energy security, as well as a bridge to Russia. Western interests and values are best served by engaging Ukraine as a solid European partner.