IJR News

Columbus Day critics accused of anti-Italian bias1 source — 2d

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Italian Heritage Celebrations Draw Crowds Across US CitiesLifestyle — 3dItalian heritage celebrations drew crowds in San Francisco, Worcester and Reno, featuring parades, food and cultural traditions. San Francisco’s 158th annual parade and busy Fleet Week weekend were seen as signs that crowds and business activity are returning to the city.

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Columbia Italian Festival postponed amid storm threatWeather — 5dColumbia’s Italian Festival was postponed one week, from Oct. 10 to Oct. 17, because of expected storm-related rain and safety concerns. The free event will run from 1 to 7 p.m. at Finlay Park, featuring Italian food, vendors, cultural performances, entertainment and family activities.

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Italian and Finnish leaders urge Spain Schengen suspension after Ceuta migrant surge — 2dEuropean leaders are openly calling for Spain's removal from the continent's open-border system after tens of thousands of illegal aliens swarmed the nation's North African enclave.

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Rachel Meyers Italy and Finland are right to demand action when Spain can't stop these mass crossings into Ceuta. Schengen can't survive endless abuse.

AP Top 25 College Football TeamsRankingCollege football fans argue endlessly over which programs deserve the top spots in the AP Poll based on wins, schedule strength, and legacy.

Italian Leaders Urge Schengen Suspension for Spain After Ceuta Migrant SurgeWorld — 2dEuropean leaders are openly calling for Spain's removal from the continent's open-border system after tens of thousands of illegal aliens swarmed the nation's North African enclave.

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Marcus Bell Suspending membership feels like a blunt tool. Coordinated patrols and returns would address the surge without fracturing the system.

Egypt Restores Fayum Portrait Ahead of Italy Loan — 2dEgyptian and Italian conservators have restored the 2,000-year-old circular Fayum portrait known as the “Tondo of the Two Brothers,” stabilizing damage to its wooden panel and painted surface. The portrait will travel abroad for the first time as part of a major Fayum exhibition in Rome, opening in November 2026.

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Local Bakeries, Markets Offer Distinctive FoodsLifestyle — 2dThese articles spotlight standout regional food stops, from California’s Basque-inspired Sheepherder Bread and dessert shops to an all-in-one Italian market in Pennsylvania and a gluten- and often dairy-free bakery near Omaha. A small Massachusetts bakery also draws attention for its fresh cakes, scones, pastries and cookies.

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Trump Defends Columbus Legacy at White House — 5dPresident Donald Trump marked Columbus Day with a White House celebration honoring Christopher Columbus as a hero, promoting his administration’s efforts to restore the explorer’s public legacy and emphasizing his ties to Italian Americans. The event comes amid continuing debate over Columbus’s legacy, with critics pointing to colonization and slavery and some institutions recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead.

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Restaurant openings span landmark sites in three citiesLifestyle — Oct 5, 2026New dining and nightlife spots are opening in New Orleans, Manchester and San Antonio: Preservation Hall’s first restaurant and bar, an Italian grill-and-cocktail venue called GiGi, and Park @ 510 Deli & Market at Hemisfair. Their offerings range from live-music-centered evenings and Italian sharing plates to casual deli fare, market goods and drinks.

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MISTR Hosts Second Annual National PrEP DayLifestyle — 3dFashion coverage highlights footwear in several forms: celebrities wore statement heels and sandals at MISTR’s National PrEP Day event, while Dior and Givenchy previewed zip-detail sandals for Spring/Summer 2027. Ballet flats continue to cycle back with updated designs, and a Lexington boutique is showcasing Italian shoes and fall styles.

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Most Influential Women in World HistoryYourlist — RankingFrom ancient queens who ruled empires to modern activists who changed laws, these women left indelible marks on politics, science, and culture. Vote for who you think shaped history most profoundly.

Restaurant Guides Span Hidden Gems, Historic ClosuresLifestyle — 6dThe articles spotlight distinctive dining options, from California strip-mall gems and Los Angeles restaurants with immersive themes to Asheville Italian kitchens and more affordable alternatives to famous, costly restaurants. They also note the loss of several long-running California neighborhood favorites, including Boneyard Bistro and Senfuku.

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Restaurant openings, events span five citiesLifestyle — Oct 6, 2026Seattle’s Good Voyage has reinvented itself as a French-inspired bistro, where chef Max Walsh’s nose-to-tail approach turns duck offal and scraps into popular dishes. Separately, Birmingham’s Big Rock Italian Chophouse has introduced weekday happy-hour deals, while a new Portuguese restaurant has opened in Bunnell.

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US Pizza Spots Debut, Plan Openings Across StatesLifestyle — Oct 4, 2026New Italian and pizza restaurants are opening or preparing to open in Louisiana, Michigan, Maine and Texas, offering everything from traditional pasta and specialty pies to oversized slices. In Monroe, Michigan, Rebel Pizza and Brews also aims to create jobs for people with disabilities, with its owners planning an inclusive staff.

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Hundreds of smuggled animals seized in Miami, SicilyWorld — Oct 5, 2026A U.S. legal permanent resident arriving from Cuba was arrested at Miami International Airport after authorities found 10 live birds concealed in tubes sewn into his underwear. Separately, Italian authorities intercepted a Maltese man allegedly transporting 300 tortoises and 77 parrots in a car to Malta; 76 parrots were protected species, and the man faces charges related to animal welfare and wildlife-trade violations.

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Toy Story vs ShrekYourlist — VS BattleThe toy box vs the swamp: two animation revolutions, one inevitable playground argument.

Lou Ferrigno recreates Hulk pose for Pope Leo XIV at Vatican — Sep 30, 2026Lou Ferrigno, the actor and former bodybuilder known for playing the Incredible Hulk, fulfilled a lifelong dream by meeting Pope Leo XIV after the pope’s general audience in St. Peter’s Square. Ferrigno said his Italian Catholic upbringing made the encounter especially meaningful.

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Priya Raman Meeting Pope Leo XIV after all these years must have meant a lot to Ferrigno, and recreating that famous stance adds a personal touch.

Eni Offers 30% Power, Gas Discount in Italy — Sep 29, 2026Eni’s Plenitude will offer Italian households a 30% discount on electricity and gas supply rates for customers who enroll by Oct. 24, with those rates fixed for two years and potential combined savings estimated at about €200 annually. The discount applies to energy-consumption charges, not the entire bill, and comes alongside a competing fixed-price offer from Enel.

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Meloni Plans School Veil Ban, Foreign-Pupil Caps — Sep 20, 2026Meloni announced to a standing ovation in Rome a school ban on burqas and niqabs, a cap on foreign students per class, and Italian lessons for some parents.

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Derek Foss Capping foreign pupils per class risks separating them instead of fixing integration issues at the root.

Utica Celebrates 112th Cosmas-Damian FeastLifestyle — Sep 26, 2026Saints Cosmas and Damian, early Christian physician brothers remembered for treating the poor without payment, remain honored as patrons of health care workers. Their feast is marked by religious observances and community traditions, including a long-running Italian-American celebration in Utica and planned festivities in Naples.

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Caddell agrees to $35 million settlement in Milan consulate labor probe — Sep 27, 2026Caddell Construction agreed to pay about €30.9 million in a settlement tied to allegations that workers recruited from India for the new U.S. consulate in Milan faced low wages, exhausting shifts and unsafe conditions. Most of the money will go to workers, with additional payments to Italian authorities; the company denies the deal is an admission of wrongdoing, while the investigation continues.

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Meloni Plans Road-Tax Abolition for 14.5 Million Vehicles — Sep 16, 2026Meloni's cabinet abolished Italy's vehicle tax for 14.5 million cars and motorcycles in 2027 at €2.36 billion cost, calling it one of the taxes Italians hate most.

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Elena Vasquez Abolishing it for 14.5 million vehicles in 2027 should ease costs for many families but I wonder how they will fund the roads after.

Analysis Details China Upgrades to Djibouti Base Surveillance Systems — Sep 17, 2026CSIS imagery analysis on September 17, 2026 shows two new communications compounds at China's Djibouti base, less than 10 miles from U.S., French, Italian and Japanese bases.

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Marcus Bell Other nations will likely respond by strengthening their own monitoring near the strait.

Italian Senate Clears Meloni Electoral Reform Bill 113-71 — Sep 15, 2026Senate passed Meloni's electoral reform 113-71 on Sept. 15, 2026, as opposition senators waved red and yellow "No to the fraud law" placards.

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Marcus Bell Naming the prime minister candidate in advance at least gives voters a clearer choice on the ballot.

Italian Football Legend Sandro Mazzola Dies at 83 — Sep 19, 2026Inter Milan icon Sandro Mazzola has died at 83, remembered as a cornerstone of Grande Inter who spent his entire 1960–77 career with Inter and helped the club win four Serie A titles and two European Cups, including the 1964 final where he scored twice. He also contributed to Italy’s 1968 European Championship triumph and played in the 1970 World Cup final, leaving a lasting legacy at both club and country.

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