Pinocchio Has Roots in Old Italian Village

Three bodies have been recovered so far

(NEWSER) - As of this morning, authorities in Italy said up to about 70 people remain unaccounted for after a huge luxury cruise ship ran aground and tipped on its side near the Tuscany coast, reports AP . It's possible that number could come down as authorities get a better handle on the evacuation of more than 4,200. Three bodies have been recovered from the water so far. Early quotes from survivors don't exactly paint a picture of organization aboard the Costa Concordia after it ran aground: More»

(NEWSER) - A train carrying liquefied natural gas derailed in Italy tonight, causing explosions that killed at least six people and injured dozens more, the Times of London reports. The train jumped the tracks as it was leaving the station in the northern town of Viareggio, triggering the explosion of two gas-filled carriages and engulfing nearby homes in flames. Officials say damaged tracks or faulty brakes may have caused the accident. More»

Laws against new ethnic eateries prompts charges of gastronomic xenophobia

(NEWSER) - Kebabs, Chinese food, and curries are the targets of a growing Italian campaign against foreign food, the Times of London reports. The Tuscan town of Lucca has slapped a ban on new foreign eateries opening in the city, and Milan has now followed suit. Government-backed campaigners say they are fighting to protect Italian food from the increasingly popular ethnic competition. More»

Italian luxury goods made by Chinese labor cost 90% less

(NEWSER) - For consumers of luxury goods, the "Made in Italy" designation remains so prestigious that it can add 300% to an item's price. But the days of artisans plying their trade in little workshops are largely over, the Los Angeles Times reports, replaced by thousands of Tuscan factories employing Chinese workers at low wages and in deplorable conditions. For many, the labor is little more than indentured servitude. More»

Cartoon characters summoned in Italy counterfeiting case

(NEWSER) - A man is on trial in Italy for counterfeiting Disney and Warner Bros. merchandise, and a surprising set of witnesses has been summoned: Tweety, Mickey Mouse, and Donald and Daisy Duck. Prosecutors in Naples blamed a clerical error for the summons, in which the Italian iterations of the cartoon characters—Titti, Paperino, Paperina and Topolino—were called to testify, the AP reports. More»