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CHICAGO TRIBUNE. In a speech Tuesday at a college in Naperville, filmmaker Spike Lee said the criticism of his visit by two local Italian-American groups is a clear example of a double standard. (Read the article)
GOTHAMIST. The Villager reports the vote was 20-13 in favor of letting the feast continue up to Houston, but it came with a number of concessions from the organization that runs it. Meanwhile some local Italian-Americans are starting to ask big questions about the direction the feast has been going in the past decade. (Read the article)
ANSA. After twenty years, Rome has reopened the House of the Vestal Virgins, remains of an ancient Roman palace flanking ruins of the imperial seat of government in the Roman Forum. (Read the article)
ANSA. A thick shroud of air pollution has kept Milan in an amber pall for more than two weeks, and is likely to trigger a total ban on vehicular traffic Sunday. For the sixteenth consecutive day, toxic particulate dust (PM10) levels have exceeded the maximum allowed by European standards, often by a factor of two. (Read the article)
ANSA. John Paul II moved closer to sainthood Friday when the Vatican announced he will be beatified on May 1 after his first miracle was officially attributed to him. (Read the article)
ANSA. Panini is celebrating its first half century with a special anniversary edition of the football album that started a worldwide passion for sticker collecting 50 years ago. (Read the article)
GUARDIAN. Robert De Niro has been announced as jury president for this year’s Cannes film festival. The Oscar-winning actor will head a panel of industry professionals appointed to decide which film takes the coveted Palme d’Or award, among many others. (Read the article)
ANSA. President Giorgio Napolitano launched celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy on Friday with the raising of the Italian flag in the city of Reggio Emilia. (Read the article)
AFP. An Italian hospital director sent a memo to doctors and nurses asking them not to snort cocaine while on duty, the ANSA news agency reported. (Read the article)
ANSA Italian writer Alberto Moravia could see the Tiber River flowing downhill from his apartment in Rome. Twenty years after his death, visitors to the Eternal City will be able to do the same, from the same window. (Read the article)