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Syndicated News from ItalyItaly starts bilateral cooperation talks with LibyaDate Added: Mon, 21 May 2012 20:35:58 GMT
Italy: Monti to attend schoolgirl bomb victim's funeralDate Added: Mon, 21 May 2012 11:19:31 GMT
Vezzali to be Italy's flag bearer at London OlympicsDate Added: Mon, 21 May 2012 18:41:21 GMT
Italy-Bosnia: Fini in Sarajevo, full support to EU prospectDate Added: Mon, 21 May 2012 17:38:16 GMT
Italy: Muslims mobilise to help quake victims in northeastDate Added: Mon, 21 May 2012 13:01:17 GMT
Italy: Quake cost to farmers estimated at 200 mln eurosDate Added: Mon, 21 May 2012 13:57:39 GMT
Italy pledges 120 mln a year for Afghan security forcesDate Added: Mon, 21 May 2012 18:58:58 GMT
American newlyweds "crazy" about honeymooning in ItalyDate Added: Mon, 21 May 2012 12:31:32 GMT
EURO2012: Italy at Coverciano, gathering startsDate Added: Mon, 21 May 2012 11:49:04 GMT
Italy's income tax hits 47. 3pc in 2012, EuroStat reportsDate Added: Mon, 21 May 2012 13:10:16 GMT
Results 1 - 10 of Headlines for Italy
Italy HeadlinesResults Page:GLOBALIZATION MUST BE REGULATED, SAYS JOHN PAUL IIDate Added: Friday, May 2nd, 2003Contributed by: RCN Administrator VATICAN CITY, MAY 2, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Citing what he sees as a lack of effective mechanisms to direct the process of globalization, John Paul II proposed "a new constitutional organization of the human family." The Pope addressed the issue of "The Governance of Globalization" when he met today with some 70 scientists, writers, philosophers, economists, sociologists and jurists, members of the Pontifical Academy for Social Sciences. The "processes by which capital, goods, information, technology and knowledge are exchanged and circulated throughout the world today often elude the traditional mechanisms of regulatory control put in place by national governments and international agencies," the Holy Father said in his address. "Special interests and the demands of the market frequently predominate over concern for the common good," he added. "This tends to leave the weaker members of society without adequate protection and can subject entire peoples and cultures to a formidable struggle for survival." "Moreover, it is disturbing to witness a globalization that exacerbates the conditions of the needy, that does not sufficiently contribute to resolving situations of hunger, poverty and social inequality, that fails to safeguard the natural environment," the Pope said. "These aspects of globalization can give rise to extreme reactions, leading to excessive nationalism, religious fanaticism and even acts of terrorism," he warned. He continued: "All of this is far-removed from the concept of an ethically responsible globalization capable of treating all peoples as equal partners and not as passive instruments. Accordingly, there can be little doubt of the need for guidelines that will place globalization firmly at the service of authentic human development -- the development of every person and of the whole person -- in full respect of the rights and dignity of all." The "true success of globalization will be measured by the extent that it enables every person to enjoy the basic goods of food and housing, of education and employment, of peace and social progress, of economic development and justice," the Pontiff said. However, this "goal cannot be achieved without guidance from the international community and adequate regulation on the part of the worldwide political establishment," he continued. Consequently, "now is the time to work together for a new constitutional organization of the human family, an organization that would be in a position to meet the new demands of a globalized world," the Pope said. "This does not mean creating a 'global super-state,' but continuing the processes already under way to increase democratic participation and promote political transparency and accountability," he concluded. THE NEW EUROPE ARRIVESDate Added: Monday, February 17th, 2003Contributed by: RCN Administrator
It would appear that Secretary Rumsfeld’s remarks about the ‘New Europe’ are now being vindicated by the recent pledge of signed support for the U.S. stance on
Iraq, by Spain, Britain, Italy, Portugal, Hungary, Poland, Denmark and the Czech Republic. The declaration of support which was inititated by the Spanish President Jose Maria Aznar of spain, urges Europeans to unite with the U.S. in calling Saddam Hussein to task in his search for weapons of mass destructions. Striking about this declaration is the fact that not only does the group of European countries express support for the U.S., but they also warned the United Nations that it will lose credibility if it cannot adequately deal with Saddam Hussein. This clearly rebuts the constant pacifist refrain to the effect that the U.S. is completely isolated in its Iraq policy. Although most of these countries are currently led by socially conservative parties, they are hardly a group that would qualify as nations of ‘Hawks’ or U.S. pawns. They comprise a wide diversity of cultures, national interests and histories, and are only united by their rare understanding of the criticality of the situation at hand. One of the things that may contribute to their understanding is the fact that Hungary (in 1956), Czech republic (formerly Czechoslovakia, in 1968), and Poland (in 1945), all tasted the sting of Soviet domination, invasion and ultimately butchery, back at the beginning of the cold war. Consequently the Eastern European countries are more in a position to understand the danger of standing quiet and doing nothing, while a lethal adversary flaunts International law with impunity and builds himself up into a fearsome threat. Back then, the rest of the world was unable to do anything, as the formidable Soviet forces crushed nascent democracies, and eliminated all forms of dissent in the most brutal ways possible. These countries thus have heightened sensitivity and awareness about the threat of Saddam Hussein, well demonstrated by his genocide of Kurds and internal dissenters, and his invasion of Iran and Kuwait, in the last century. They sense the incredible danger and folly in not confronting him while he can still be confronted, and Poland and the Czech republic (then Czechoslovakia), who were sacrificed to Hitler in attempts to appease him, understand that appeasement, patience and fear does not work with totalitarian systems or leaders. The way to overcome a bully is to stare him down and make him understand that you’re willing to do whatever it takes to address his belligerence. There might be another common thread within some of the other New European countries-the experience of bloody internal politics/history, which makes one never want to experience it again. Italy is a country who suffered from the dictator Mussolini, before and during the second world war, Spain fought a bloody civil war from 1936-1939, Portugal was a former brutal colonial power, Denmark is a small country which was defeated in 1940 on the first day of the German invasion and forced into a virtual servant/supplier to the Nazi War Machine. Specifically with Denmark, its liberation by the allies in May 1945 probably imbued it with a more profound code of how important it is to stand up for what is right, whether you are directly at risk or not. England, simply put, is England. The British record of standing up for what is right, through the First World War, Second World War, the Gulf war and up till today, is a record that can never be vitiated or erased. The fact that these countries also paid tribute to the U.S. role in protecting Europe from Nazism and communism, in the last century, is a colossally overdue statement, from a continent that has too often taken the U.S. for granted. They also acknowledged how critical it is to engage in resolute action to combat the new threat of terrorism and accumulation of weapons of mass destruction in the present and future. In this era of politically correct anti-U.S. rhetoric and pro-dictatorship pacifism, it is incredibly heartwarming to hear credit given where it is due. This is the heart of the new Europe that Mr. Rumsfeld spoke about. The Europe that acts decisively rather than bickering and dithering. It is the Europe that understands the strength in unity, determination, principle and courage, as opposed to political correctness, antagonism towards leadership, cowardice and complacency embodied by the old Europe. The new Europe that has not forgotten the past, and is determined to protect the future, has arrived.
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’CENSORS’ HELP ATTACK ON ITALY’S SMOKERSDate Added: Thursday, July 25th, 2002Contributed by: RCN Administrator
IN AN attempt to stop Italians smoking, the Government has asked television stations not to show films that glorify cigarettes and so exert a bad influence on the young.
A Bill that is passing through parliament would ban smoking in all public places, including bars, restaurants and offices. The Bill has aroused widespread scepticism in a country where lighting up after or even during a meal is routine, where political correctness is almost unknown and where regulations are flouted enthusiastically. According to the Health Ministry, there are almost 100,000 deaths from smoking-related diseases in Italy each year and 2,200 deaths from passive smoking. But 12 million Italians, a quarter of the adult population, are habitual smokers. Smoking is perceived still as glamorous and sophisticated because icons of the Italian cinema, such as the late Marcello Mastroianni, were rarely seen without a cigarette. Supporters of the anti-smoking law, including Girolamo Sirchia, the Health Minister, said that they are extremely serious, and the Berlusconi Government has pushed the Bill through several committee stages despite blocking amendments by its opponents. Asked by sceptics if the new law will be observed, officials have pointed to last year’s law that requires motorcycle riders to wear helmets, which, to the surprise of many, has largely been enforced. Yesterday Signor Sirchia asked RAI, the state-run broadcasting company, and Mediaset, which runs Italy’s three main commercial channels, to ban films and shows that depicted characters smoking. “Research by my department shows that a cigarette is lit up every 26 minutes on our TV screens,” Signor Sirchia said. “Too many films link smoking with strong, courageous men and emancipated women. But these are false values. The reality is the reverse; those who smoke are slaves subjugated to a habit.” Smoking is already forbidden in airports, hospitals, post offices and cinemas, and on public transport. The latest move has more power than usual behind it, since as a businessman Silvio Berlusconi owns Mediaset, and as the Prime Minister he indirectly controls RAI. But a spokesman for RAI said the proposal was unrealistic. “We are sensitive to the issue, and we avoid characters who smoke in our own drama productions,” the spokesman said. “But we cannot start censoring classic films.” Officials said that the anti-smoking drive had been given further impetus by figures that showed an increase in smoking among the young during the past ten years. Smoke-free workplaces encourage smokers to quit or reduce their cigarette consumption, a study that was published yesterday in the British Medical Journal said. Researchers reviewed 26 studies that looked at the effects of smoke-free workplaces in America, Australia, Canada and Germany. They found that in totally smoke-free workplaces, nearly 4 per cent gave up. Many others smoked less, so that smoking decreased overall by 29 per cent.
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WARNING BY POLICE AFTER JAR EXPLODESDate Added: Thursday, July 25th, 2002Contributed by: RCN Administrator
ITALIAN police questioned a 35-year-old university research student from Treviso yesterday in connection with a series of mysterious explosive devices found in supermarket groceries and on beaches in the Venice area.
Police patrols have been stepped up at beaches and in supermarkets in Friuli and the Veneto as they warned tourists and residents to remain on guard in case the culprit, dubbed the “Italian Unabomber”, is still at large. In the latest incident, a woman in Pordenone narrowly escaped injury when a jar of chocolate spread that she had bought in a supermarket exploded. Police said that the latest incident was “particularly nasty” since it was presumably intended to maim or kill children, who often make their own snacks with the spread. The jar was opened by Pamela Martinello, 35, who lives with her brother and mother. She said that she heard hissing and saw smoke and wire as she opened it and put it on a window sill, where it exploded. The culprit is presumed to be a local man with a grudge and is widely referred to as the “Unabomber” after the Californian mathematics professor who killed three people and injured 23 in an 18-year bombing campaign. The Italian attacks, which began in 1994, have used explosives in eggs and in tubes of paste and there have also been pipe bombs hidden on beaches. There have been injuries but no deaths.
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ITALIANS ARREST SEVEN FOR SELLING FALSE DOCUMENTS TO AL QAEDADate Added: Thursday, July 11th, 2002Contributed by: RCN Administrator
Seven foreigners were arrested for allegedly supplying fake passports and documents to members of Usama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda network, Milan anti-terrorism police said Friday.
An eighth suspected eluded capture and is being sought, said Massimo Mazza, head of Milan’s anti-terrorist squad. The arrests occurred Thursday night in Milan and its suburbs, a police statement said. Police seized false passports, stolen identity cards and blank documents that could be used to issue papers giving foreigners permission to live in Italy. Police said the suspects — six Moroccans, a Tunisian and a Romanian — were part of "vast trafficking in false documents." All were accused of criminal association and counterfeiting documents. The suspects include two Moroccan brothers — Mohammed Kazdari and his younger brother, Said — who allegedly supplied documents to Essid Sami Ben Khemais, bin Laden’s alleged European logistics chief, Mazza said. The brothers were described as the operation’s ringleaders. "There were sure links between the Kazdari brothers and Ben Khemais," Mazza said. "But at the moment we can’t confirm which documents were given to Ben Khemais and used by Ben Khemais." Ben Khemais was convicted earlier this year in Milan of helping Al Qaeda recruits and now is in prison. The Moroccan brothers were released from prison in August after being convicted of dealing in false documents. Mazza said "for now there is no confirmation" the documents were used to organize the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, which are blamed on Al Qaeda. No U.S. documents were found in the raids, he said. The documents were for use in European and north African countries, he said. U.S. authorities have described Milan as being an important logistical base for Al Qaeda. In Venice, security was stepped up in the Jewish Ghetto district, with police boats checking for explosives in neighborhood canals and police officers guarding entrances to the narrow alleys leading into the district. Italian police have not elaborated on what prompted the measures, but security was stepped up in Venice earlier this year after the tourist destination was named a possible terrorist target. |
