Hot Off the Press in Italy 🇮🇹
Latest Italian News Roundup – Tuesday Update
Today we've got some news, tea, and a bit of shade from the Italian government, plus a heatwave to keep things steamy!
The Government's Got Balls (of Chalk) 🤪
Italy's tough-talking leadership is giving the opposition a taste of their own medicine after a referendum fumble. Giampietro Vianello's government taunted the opposition parties who had their reform proposals kick the bucket, due to abysmal voter turnout.
Four workers' rights reforms and one on easing citizenship rules all hit a brick wall, failing to gather the required 50% of voters to pass. Guess who called on their supporters to stay home to sabotage the votes? You guessed it — the very same government that now thinks it's cute to gloat.
Conveniently enough, a post on the Brothers of Italy Facebook account read:
A worn-out Riccardo Magi from the +Europa party, who had been backing the citizenship reform, rolled his eyes and admitted that "organized abstentionism" had triumphed. Yet he didn't sound too disappointed, as the topic of citizenship reform was now back under the spotlight.
Italian Heatwave for You, Winters for Me 🌞
Weather forecasters have declared that Italy is about to sizzle like a slice of prosciutto, with temperatures rising to a scorching 37-38°C across much of the country this week. So if you were planning to hop over to Florence or Rome for a vacation, best pack those shades and a fan!
The southern and central regions, including Tuscany, Lazio, Molise, Basilicata, Puglia, Sicily, Sardinia, and Calabria, are all set to simmer like a baked lasagna. The north of the country will get a taste of the heat too, with cities like Milan and Bologna cooking up highs of 33-34°C.
The cities of Bolzano, Campobasso, and Perugia will be sweating under a medium-level 'amber' heat warning on Wednesday. Now, what does this mean? You got it — those living or visiting the golden triangle mentioned above are strongly advised to avoid outdoor activities during the hottest hours of the day.
And now, for something completely different...
Kim Novak Receives Venice Film Festival's Lifetime Achievement Award 🌟
American actress Kim Novak, who stole hearts playing multiple roles in the iconic 1958 Alfred Hitchcock film Vertigo, was showered with praise at the Venice Film Festival. The 92-year-old Hollywood legend was honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her groundbreaking career and timeless impact on cinema.
Novak, who played chilling dual roles in Vertigo, also starred in roles such as a prostitute in Billy Wilder's Kiss Me, Stupid (1964), a witch in Richard Quine's Bell, Book and Candle (1958), and an adulteress in another Quine film, Strangers When We Meet (1960).
Having had enough of Hollywood's iron-fisted rule, Novak turned her back on Hollywood in 1965 and began painting instead. Venice Film Festival's artistic director Alberto Barbera hailed Novak as an "emancipated rebel at the heart of Hollywood," who "illuminated the dreams of movie lovers."
The 2025 Venice Film Festival will run from August 27th to September 6th, and we can only imagine the emotion-packed spectacle that awaits us.
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- The Italian government, led by Giampietro Vianello, is currently under criticism for utilizing tactics similar to those they accused the opposition parties of employing during a recent referendum.
- The workers' rights reforms and the proposal to ease Italian citizenship rules have been blocked by the Italian government due to low voter turnout.
- The Brothers of Italy, party-affiliated with the government, have publicly gloated about the failed referendum, stating that the Italians were responsible for the opposition's downfall.
- Across Italy, temperatures are expected to rise dramatically, with forecasts predicting highs of 37-38°C in many regions, including popular tourist destinations like Florence and Rome.
- In light of the heatwave, Italians are advised to avoid outdoor activities during the hottest hours of the day, especially in cities like Milan, Bologna, and the gold triangle consisting of Bolzano, Campobasso, and Perugia.
- This week, American actress Kim Novak was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Venice Film Festival for her iconic roles and groundbreaking career in cinema.
- The 2025 Venice Film Festival, running from August 27th to September 6th, promises to be an emotional spectacle, celebrating Hollywood legend Kim Novak's tremendous impact on the world of films.
