As interest in our new “This Week in Italy” segment picks up, here is your third addition of the latest news from Il Bel Paese. As always, things have been amusing this week (to say the least) - with news ranging from some ironic business techniques to the mafia resorting to crocodiles to extort money from victims.

…So, read on to get your espresso shot of Italians news – and enjoy!

“Cronyism” Pitched to Boost Italian Postal System Bloomberg – September 22, 2009 The nation’s largest employer is looking to nepotism to cut costs and get rid of expensive, older workers. (No joke!) Under the current draft plan, postal workers who want to leave early can “cede” their jobs to their children, as long as they are at least 30 years old and have a high school diploma. It’s all about who you know, right?

Italy Mourns Soldiers at State Funeral Los Angeles Times – September 22, 2009 On Monday Italy laid to rest its six soldiers which were tragically killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan last week. Held in Rome’s St. Paul’s Basilica, the entire country – in addition to the thousands in attendance – mourned the loss when a minute of silence was held throughout schools and offices.

Espresso Maker Bialetti Invents Easy Cappuccino Best of Italy – September 23, 2009 Any Italian or Italophile can attest to the fact that, in Italy, coffee is an art form. So leave it to the Italians to find a way of making Cappuccino as easy as “uno, due, tre!” Watch the video, provided by blogger Mirella Sichirollo, to see this ingenuity in action. :-)

New Tremors Hit Abruzzo Once Again Adnkronos International – September 23, 2009 Just two days after children in L’Aquila began returning to school, a fresh tremor hit the region of Abruzzo again at 11:18pm local time. Although much smaller than the April 6 quake, the 2.9 magnitude tremor reminded relief workers and locals alike that a long road still lies ahead.

Member of Former Italian Royal Family Arrested AFP via Yahoo! News – September 23, 2009 Yet another sex scandal has erupted in Italy this week, this time involving Prince Vittorio Emanuele, son of the last king of Italy. After 56 years in exile due to his family’s support of the fascist regime and an arrest in 2006, the 72–year–old–prince is now awaiting trail in the southern city of Potenza for dealing with gambling and prostitutes.

Naples Underground Collapses The Espresso Break – September 23, 2009 …Well, at least part of it! As many Naples–lovers know, the city is older than Rome itself and the modern city is built (literally) on top of older cities. This is actually great to visit when in town, but on Wednesday morning three holes opened up in downtown Napoli – literally leaving enormous caves in the floors of buildings and churches!

George Clooney Meets Italian Girlfriend’s Mother Dolcevita – September 24, 2009 George Clooney won over thousands of Italians this week as he respected the Italian tradition of “meeting the mother” before sweeping his love Elisabetta Canalis to America. As gossip continues over Italy’s newest and favorite romance, word is speeding that wedding bells could be in the air for later this year.

Italians Mob Boss Uses Crocodile to Scare Victims Italy Magazine – September 24, 2009 One of the more interesting stories of the week, one of our favorite online magazines showed us that it seems like Italians crooks are coming up with some interesting ideas to swindle their victims. In the north, two women posing as good Catholics made off with 20,000 Euro of jewelry after convincing an elderly woman to kiss a saint’s prayer card laced with a sleeping drug. Then, in the south, Naples mafia boss Antonio Cristofaro took some reluctant businessmen to his home, only to threaten them with a (live, of course!) crocodile if they didn’t pay up! Innovative, right?

This Week in Italian “Business” Burnt by the Tuscan Sun – September 26, 2009 Another favorite post this week in the blogosphere, this one actually came from a newly discovered blog. “Burnt by the Tuscan Sun” does all the commentary for us, so just follow the link to get a good chuckle!