https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Italy in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Being invited to a Christmas party in Italy is a sure sign you're settling in. But be careful – festive gatherings can be a minefield for foreigners new to Italian social etiquette, so read our survival guide to transform yourself into the perfect guest. https://www.thelocal.it/20161219/how-to-survive-an-italian-christmas-party Mon, 19 Dec 2016 09:29:34 +0100 how-to-survive-an-italian-christmas-party Pietro Grasso, the president of Italy’s Senate, has launched a new political party aimed at attracting voters disillusioned with the fractured centre-left Democrat Party. https://www.thelocal.it/20171204/italian-senate-president-launches-new-left-wing-group Mon, 04 Dec 2017 18:02:07 +0100 italian-senate-president-launches-new-left-wing-group Marco Pannella, the founder of the Radical Party and one of Italy’s longest-standing politicians has died, aged 86. https://www.thelocal.it/20160519/marco-panella-italian-who-fought-for-eu-dies-aged-86-radical-party-founder Thu, 19 May 2016 16:40:39 +0200 marco-panella-italian-who-fought-for-eu-dies-aged-86-radical-party-founder It was meant to be a “sort of” joke by four friends, but an invitation to spend New Year’s Eve at the motorway diner, Autogrill, attracted almost 13,000 revellers, forcing the restaurant to disconnect its phone line after a surge in calls from people eager to get on the party list. https://www.thelocal.it/20151230/nye-party-at-autogrill-prank-lures-thousands Wed, 30 Dec 2015 14:56:27 +0100 nye-party-at-autogrill-prank-lures-thousands Italy’s premier Matteo Renzi is pushing for a bill on civil unions to be approved by May’s regional elections. https://www.thelocal.it/20150317/renzi-wants-civil-unions-bill-by-may Tue, 17 Mar 2015 09:48:20 +0100 renzi-wants-civil-unions-bill-by-may With just a few weeks to go until Christmas, the party season is in full swing. We've put together some tips to help you pass a pleasant time with your Italians chums or in-laws this time of year. https://www.thelocal.it/20141210/how-to-party-with-italians-this-christmas Wed, 10 Dec 2014 11:54:00 +0100 how-to-party-with-italians-this-christmas An Italian priest arrested at a drug-fuelled party in Milan, for allegedly dealing cocaine, is facing a fast-track trial. https://www.thelocal.it/20141112/italys-cocaine-priest-set-for-fast-track-trial Wed, 12 Nov 2014 13:18:00 +0100 italys-cocaine-priest-set-for-fast-track-trial Silvio Berlusconi's future looked bleak on Wednesday after an internal party backlash forced the former prime minister to back away from a bid to bring down the coalition government of prime minister Enrico Letta. https://www.thelocal.it/20131002/is-now-the-end-for-berlusconi Wed, 02 Oct 2013 19:21:00 +0200 is-now-the-end-for-berlusconi