Bologna may have been relegated, but it’s not all doom and gloom in the world of football. Inter Milan President Moratti responded positively it would seem to the Zapatista challenge to a game. Moratti’s reply to Subcommandante Marcos, and the balaclaved Zapatistas response seem to have had little coverage in the Italian press, having been […]
Last year a controversial law was introduced by the centre-right ruling majority in Italy, to govern the conditions under which assisted procreation may take place. The requirement for legislation governing this area was not in itself controversial. Most recognised that there existed a ‘far-west’ situation, where ethics and medical standards were dubious to say the […]
Flying back to Bologna, after a week in Ireland, the day before Pope John Paul II’s funeral, I expected to be packed tight alongside pilgrims en-route to the Eternal City. I was, and I wasn’t. That there were pilgrims on-board is certain. That there were unoccupied seats around me is also a fact. I overheard […]
I’ve always said that bipolarism is dangerous and the absolute majority anti-democratic. We irritate them. We’ve created a short-circuit A.Mussolini, 15.03.2005 The Mussolini in question, is not il Duce, but rather la nipote, or grand-daughter, Alessandra Mussolini, speaking in Rome today, where she has started a hunger-strike. The reason? Her new party has been barred […]
American soldiers killed Italian secret service agent Nicola Calipari. That much is fact. While transporting released Italian hostage, Giuliana Sgrena, to the airport outside Baghdad, the car in which he was travelling came under US fire. He died from a single gunshot wound to the head. According to American Military officials, the car was travelling […]
Bologna is basking in the glow of attention afforded by American writer John Grisham, who has chosen to ambient most of his latest novel The Broker in its medieval city centre. The story revolves around an imprisoned, high-profile lawyer (obviously) who receives a controversial pardon in the dying days of an administration. On his release […]
News from the frontlines in the war against smoke, and smokers, here in Italy is relatively subdued. Fines have been few, and the streets are crowded with smokers. It may just be coincidence, but Bologna has been obscured by fog for the last couple of days! Of course there are some exceptions to the rule. […]
New Year’s Eve celebrations across Italy are being hastily changed, from traditional noisy and riotous affairs to quiet vigil like ceremonies, to show respect for the victims of the South East Asia Tsunami disaster. Here in Bologna, for example, the city council have cancelled all fireworks and are urging the public to follow suit. The […]
Silvio Berlusconi on Monday gave a barely concealed ultimatum to his coalition partners. After days of meetings, over proposed tax cuts, where he has met opposition from Alleanza Nazionale and UDC, Berlusconi, with as much rhetoric as he could muster (which of course was plenty), sent a letter, or as he put it a manifesto, […]
It’s scarcely mentioned outside of Italy that there are actually some fine journalists working for Silvio Berlusconi’s Mediaset. Under the directorship of Enrico Mentana, the news broadcasts of Canale Cinque, have by and large maintained an impartial and professional stance when reporting the news (in comparison with one of Berlusconi’s other channels Retequattro, and its […]
