‘Extraordinary Rendition’ on Trial

Staff / Truthdig Feb 16, 2007 An Italian judge has decided to go forward with the first criminal trial of extraordinary rendition. Twenty-six Americans and five Italians -- including the former head of military intelligence -- have been indicted and ordered to stand trial for the abduction of an Egyptian cleric who was detained and allegedly tortured in Cairo. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Hell Hath No Fury Like an Italian Woman Scorned

Staff / Truthdig Feb 2, 2007 Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi lost his job thanks to his support of the Iraq war and alleged abuses of power, but he had another headache altogether this week. In a letter that appeared on the front page of a major newspaper, Berlusconi's wife browbeat him for his public flirtations and demanded an apology -- which she got. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

‘Rendition’ May Go on Trial

Staff / Truthdig 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. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Pollution-Eating Cement

Staff / Truthdig 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) Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Italy Bails Out France

Staff / Truthdig 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. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Madonna ‘Crucified’ in Italy, Angering Vatican

Staff / Truthdig 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. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Stolen Art at the J. Paul Getty Museum?

Staff / Truthdig 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". Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Italians Seek Indictment of American Soldier

Staff / Truthdig 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". Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Italy to Pull Its Troops From Iraq

Staff / Truthdig Jan 20, 2006 After a fiercely fought election, Rome is pulling nearly all of its 3,000 troops out of action. | storyDoes this mean that Bush's "Coalition of the Willing" is ready to call those 2,000 mine-detonating Moroccan monkeys into service? Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Opinion

Onward Christian Soldiers!

Larry Gross / Truthdig Jan 17, 2006 Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )