italy

‘Rendition’ May Go on Trial

Jan 9, 2007
A court in Italy will decide whether to charge 25 alleged CIA agents for participating in an act of "extraordinary rendition." The trial, should it go ahead, will be the first to address the heinous tactic, by which the United States or its allies kidnap terror suspects in order to remove them to torture-friendly nations.

Pollution-Eating Cement

Nov 12, 2006
An Italian cement company has developed a treatment for building materials that transforms pollutants into less harmful substances, such as water and carbon dioxide. Experts suggest that covering 15 percent of a smog-choked industrial city like Milan could reduce pollution by 50 percent. (h/t: Engadget)

Italy Bails Out France

Aug 22, 2006
Italy's prime minister has tentatively offered to take the leadership role in Lebanon's peacekeeping mission with a deployment of 3,000 troops. France, which was to lead the mission, has offered only 200 troops after expressing concern over the force's mandate.
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Madonna ‘Crucified’ in Italy, Angering Vatican

Aug 7, 2006
The pop queen staged a mock crucifixion in a stadium a mile away from Vatican City, ignoring accusations of blasphemy by the Catholic Church, and even inviting Pope Benedict to come and watch. Of course, Madonna has been fending off Vatican blasphemy accusations since 1989 -- in the pre-"covering up for child molestors" era, when many people still felt the Catholic Church held the moral high ground.

Stolen Art at the J. Paul Getty Museum?

Jun 20, 2006
Negotiators for the J Paul Getty Museum are meeting with Italian authorities to discuss the return of antiquities that Italy claims were stolen For years Italian authorities have accused American museums of purchasing stolen art Also, in New York, a former curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art faces charges of "knowingly buying stolen art".

Italians Seek Indictment of American Soldier

Jun 19, 2006
Italian prosecutors want US Marine Mario Lozano to stand trial for the death of Nicola Calipari, a 51-year-old Italian intelligence agent who was killed at a U roadblock in Iraq Calipari was escorting an Italian journalist who had been released by kidnappers A report published by Italy last year conflicts with the U version of events and, according to the BBC, cited "the troops' stress and inexperience".