EXAMINER. Carnevale di Viareggio in Italy, one of the largest in Europe. Italians love to use any occasion to express their political views. (Read the article by Serenella Leoni)

The New York Times. Conductor Leon Botstein and the American Symphony Orchestra offered a significant, if underattended, performance at the Avery Fisher Hall on Friday night. Titled “Persecution and Hope: Masterworks of Conscience,” the program was based on two one-act operas by the Italian modernist Luigi Dallapiccola: “Volo di Notte” (1939) and “Il Prigioniero” (1948). According to the NYT, Dallapiccola, who died in 1975, "has never been able to shed the label '12-tone composer,' which will always put off segments of the audience."

CEP NEWS. Italian consumer sentiment continued to improve in February, despite expectations of a decline, the Institute for Studies and Economic Analyses (ISAE) reported on Tuesday.

 

WALTAINFO.  High level Italian delegation will visit Ethiopia from February 26-27, 2009, Italian ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union said. Ambassador Raffaele de Lutio told WIC today that Italian Secretary of State for Economic Development, Alfredo Urso will lead the delegation comprising more than 40 Italian companies.    

BLOOMBERG. Telecom Italia SpA, juggling the need to refinance 4.5 billion euros ($5.7 billion) in debt this year with its biggest shareholder’s desire for dividends, may cut the payout as soon as this week. (Read the article by Chiara Remondini)

REUTERS. Italians cut down on buying organic food and drinks in 2008 as economic downturn trimmed appetites for healthier but pricier products with consumption growth slowing by nearly 50 percent, a survey showed on Monday. (Read the Article by Svetlana Kovalyova)