"sting" news and stories

We may think our food pantries are in short supply, but residents of Queensland, Australia, are under tsunami recovery. Thousands were forced to evacuate their homes, nine are said to be missing, and there have been 35 flood-related deaths since November 30, 2010, reports the Herald Sun. But there's a way to give back, by buying music.

Rock legend and former Police frontman Sting has joined a list of musicians on a charity album, Flood Relief - Artists For The Flood Appeal. Other artists include Pink, Kings of Leon, Beyoncé, Foo Fighters, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel and John Mayer, who each donated a track to the three-disc album released yesterday by Sony. Sting is also currently touring in the country and is asking fans to donate money at his concerts.

"It would be difficult to come here and not deal with that," he told the Sydney Morning Herald. "We're asking people to make donations at the shows for the Salvation Army and the Red Cross and the Premier's Appeal."

• Think you know a lot about Italian food? Think again.
• Speaking of Italy, plan your next trip to Rome, Sicily, or Milan.
• Did you know that Sting and his wife made their own olive oil and honey and that it's coming to America?
• The perfect tomato sauce.
• An A to Z guide to Italian grapes.
• Italy's best restaurants?
• 100 hours of solitude in Venice.
• This month's recipes: Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Soup with Cheese Panini, Lemony Rice-Parsley Salad, Tuna, Olive, and Bread Salad, Watermelon and Arugula Salad with Walnuts, Ham and Cheese Stuffed Veal Chops, Rosemary-Grilled Chicken with Mushroom Sauce, and a Prosecco-Saba Cocktail.