Global News Journal
Beyond the World news headlines
Berlusconi charms Israel with EU talk
Silvio Berlusconi is seldom shy about making headlines, and he’s also known to turn on the charm when he meets foreign leaders.
So it was hardly surprising the Italian prime minister kicked off a three-day visit to Israel on Monday by declaring his hope that Israel might one day become a member of the European Union.
“My greatest dream, a
s long as I am a mover and shaker in politics, is to welcome Israel as one of the European Union’s member states,” the 73-year-old billionaire announced to Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who went on to praise the shared Judeo-Christian roots of Rome and Jerusalem.
While Berlusconi’s comments made headlines, at least in Israel and Italy, it’s not the first time he’s laid out such an ambition – he said almost exactly the same thing during a visit to Croatia in January 2003, when he backed Zagreb’s bid to join the EU and said he hoped Israel, Turkey, Ukraine and Moldova would follow.
Expressing such a hope is an easy thing for Berlusconi to say and makes him look generous towards his hosts. But he also knows that Israeli EU membership is extremely unlikely any time soon, not only because of opposition among existing EU member states, but because there’s not enormous enthusiasm on Israel’s part either.
Half a dozen countries are already in preliminary or more advanced discussions with Brussels about joining the 27-nation bloc, including Iceland, Albania, Serbia, Turkey and Croatia. But even among those candidates, most of whom are geographically far closer to Europe than Israel, there is scant enthusiasm among many member states for further enlargement, especially when it comes to Turkey, a majority Muslim country that is regarded by some as lacking core Christian-European values.
Quake tours, spartan rooms at no-frills G8 summit
Hiking through rubble-strewn streets, taking in a quake exhibit or bedding down in a concrete police compound — leaders at this week’s G8 summit in the Italian town of L’Aquila are in for a change of pace from the routine luxury spa and resort experience of past summits.****** Devastated by an April earthquake that killed nearly 300 people and ringed by tent camps with portable toilets, L’Aquila is a far cry from previous G8 host cities like the Baltic seaside town of Heiligendamm, French lakeside resort Evian and Scottish golf resort Gleneagles.************ ****** ****** ****** ****** ****** ****** ****** ****** U.S. President Barack Obama and other leaders are being housed in a grey police school building on the outskirts of the mountain town, where they are to stay in spartan rooms with granite floors and cream-coloured walls and furnished with little more than simlpe wooden beds with white sheets.****** “There won’t be the luxuries of hotels on (Sardinia’s) Emerald Coast or (Rome’s) Via Veneto, but there will be dignified accommodation worthy of welcoming such important people,” said Italy’s emergency services chief, Guido Bertolaso.****** Room service menus will be absent, but each room will be supplied with instructions on what to do in the event of another earthquake. Aftershocks have been persistent and plentiful in the run-up to the summit.****** In their free time, leaders can browse through an exhibit on “100 years of earthquakes” in Italy or take up Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s offer of a guided tour of areas laid to waste by the tremor, like Germany’s Angela Merkel did on Wednesday.******Earthquake victims have even welcomed leaders with a giant sign on a hill near the summit site declaring “Yes we camp” to protest the slow pace of reconstruction in the area.****** ****** ****** ****** ****** ****** ****** ****** ****** ******For all the lack of luxury, L’Aquila does guarantee voters back home will see images of their leaders rolling up their sleeves under the hot Abruzzo sun at a time of recession and financial turmoil.****** “I think it’s better to have (the summit) in a damaged zone than in an ultra-touristy region where people are spending millions of dollars on their vacations, while the leaders are there to discuss solutions to the global economic crisis,” said Dimitri Soudas, spokesman for Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, ahead of the summit.****** Italy was initially set to host the annual summit of leaders from the world’s richest nations on the picturesque island of Sardinia, but hastily moved it to L’Aquila citing solidarity with victims when faced with complicated logistics and spiralling costs.****** One thing that won’t be lacking at the summit is fine Italian cuisine, since good food is not a luxury given up easily in Italy. Among the local delicacies on offer are goat on skewers, baby lamb, rabbit from the small town of Goriano Valli, artichokes from Prezza and red garlic from nearby Sulmona.
Berlusconi, as he is
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is the consummate campaigner. No matter where he finds himself, the indefatigable 72-year-old always makes sure the cameras are squarely on him.
Although he is quick to flash a smile to his supporters, Berlusconi can be just as fast in delivering barbed words to his critics. And when he does not have the time to do it, his supporters are more than happy to oblige.
The newspaper Il Libero, for instance, uses its front page to wage war against his adversaries, old and new.
When his wife called for a divorce after criticising his party for considering former actresses and TV showgirls to run in the European elections, it lashed out. It published old photos of her baring her breasts on a theatrical stage and ran a headline telling her that she was of the same ilk.
Il Libero also uses inserts to great effect. Last week, it started publishing a serial recounting the life of Berlusconi.
Reminiscent of the booklet about his life that Berlusconi sent to voters’ homes ahead of the 2006 election, the serial highlights in glowing terms his transformation from cruise ship crooner to real estate mogul to media magnate to prime minister.
from UK News:
Echoes of Italy’s Clean Hands revolution
The shockwaves reverberating through Westminster as the MPs' expenses scandal unfolds have been compared with the "Clean Hands" bribery scandal that effectively demolished Italy's post-war political establishment in the space of a couple of years in the early 1990s.
If things are going to get that bad, the guilty politicians are going to have an uncomfortable time.
As a reporter in Rome at the time, I remember how surprise turned to anger then just as it has now as the public began to realise the sheer extent of the corruption that was helping to line the pockets of the country's leading politicians and their parties.
The morning newspapers brought fresh revelations almost daily of how the main political parties routinely demanded kickbacks in return for government contracts. There were the "golden sheets" for example in which invoices for linen and bedding were inflated to thousands of pounds, and the exorbitant demands placed on suppliers to hospitals, which caused particular anger.
People used to demonstrate in the streets wearing white gloves to show they had clean hands. They would try to scare MPs they felt were corrupt by sending them spoof versions of the "avviso," the official notice that warned potential offenders they were under investigation. The avviso itself became one of the enduring symbols of the scandal, almost like the guillotine in revolutionary France. Reproductions of it used to sell well as birthday and Christmas cards.
Another favourite amng the angry public, if any disgraced politician dared show his face his public, was to mockingly shower them with coins.
Such was the fate of one of those held to have been most deeply involved in the corruption, Socialist leader Bettino Craxi, who was forced to flee to his second home in Tunisia to escape jail in Italy. Other disgraced politicians and businessmen even took their own lives.
As an Italian living in London, in the the 90′s I was interested, but only from an observer’s point of view. I often remarked…these things thankfully do not happen in UK – however I have now come to the inevitable conclusion that they happen everywhere…even in prudish, squeaky clean England – I am disppointed, but not surprised. An Italian saying “tutto il mondo e’ paese” means “the whole world is like your own country” seems more & more accurate, sadly.
A month after quake, gratitude turns to impatience
A month after an earthquake killed nearly 300 people in Italy, the initial goodwill towards authorities for their swift handling of the disaster appears to be giving way to anger as survivors face an uncertain wait for promised funds and the prospect of a long summer in tents.
Italy’s government is promising to start providing the thousands made homeless in the central Italian region of Abruzzo with new, furnished houses by September — in what would be record speed anywhere. But continued aftershocks, rain and chilly temperatures have made life increasingly difficult for survivors in tents, which left-leaning newspapers have seized upon to issue long accounts of the “nightmare” of life in the 170 tent camps.
“I feel like I’ve already spent an entire lifetime inside here but only 30 days have passed,” one tent-dweller, Claudio, told La Repubblica newspaper, which said the arrival of reconstruction funds in installments meant some people might have to wait nearly two years for a house.
A government decree promising 8 billion euros ($10.7 billion) to rebuild the areas devastated by the earthquake has also fallen under a cloud of controversy. Mayors in quake-hit towns complain it undermines their role in rebuilding efforts and the opposition say it is inadequate.
Even normally pro-government bodies like the business lobby Confindustria are beginning to question how much money will actually arrive, and when.
“The first thing that must be done is to understand well how much money is really and immediately available for spending, because businessmen have told us that operations related to re-opening businesses need to be done quickly,” Emma Marcegaglia, the head of Confindustria, said on a tour around the hard-hit town of L’Aquila this week.
Very well done and detailed.I read all your articles about the earthquake and really your coverage was superb
Obama’s “Suntan”
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s quip about Barack Obama’s permanent “suntan” almost certainly wasn’t intended to offend. But now he’s battling accusations of racism.
Clearly, race is a delicate issue. And for those who have covered Berlusconi over the years, it’s easy to understand how such a gaffe prone leader would stumble — spectacularly — on such a sensitive subject.
The remarks came at a press conference on Thursday in Moscow, where Berlusconi was trying to demonstrate his self-described role as a bridge-builder between Russia and the United States, both strong allies of Italy.
“I will try to help relations between Russia and the United States where a new generation has come to power, and don’t see problems for (Russian President Dmitry) Medvedev to establish good relations with Obama who is handsome, young and also suntanned,” he said.
video?videoId=93438&videoChannel=1.
I’ve seen Berlusconi get criticised for gaffes over the years — he once joked about flirting with Finland’s woman president to broker a political deal — but never has the public outcry been as fast and furious as with his comments about Obama.
Hi, I’m italian and yes, I do support Silvio Berlusconi.I suppose you’d like to ask me why. I think he’s the best politician Italy has got right now. Why do we keep on voting him? well… If the other candidate for prime minister is Walter Veltroni the answer is quite obvious. Mr Veltroni tries to imitate (in a very embarassing way) your president elected Barack Obama, is the leader of a very weak political party, cannot even define his own programme without copying Obama’s…Berlusconi instead is a very clever businessman, who knows how the world goes, he’s practical, prefers action instead of pointless ideals and yes, he sometimes makes mistakes. Calling Obama “suntanned” is obviously a mistake, but it doesn’t mean he’s racist.All the italians who left comments like “he’s not my president” “I’m sorry” “I didn’t vote for him”, well you americans should place very little credit on their words. They belong to the same lef parties that not so long ago where anti-american, despided your culture, your politics, your way of living, burned your flag… they’re only frustrated ’cause Silvio is sitting on that chair, making Italian history, and they are near the computers, the only power a keyboard. (communists for example are even out of our parliament, they haven’t had enough votes!)
EU response to financial crisis-every man for himself
The European Union has come under sharp criticism for having a fragmented approach to the financial crisis. It is exemplified by Ireland’s go-it-alone decision to guarantee all accounts and Germany’s surprise announcement after a meeting of leading members that it was taking unilateral action too.
Relief, then, that the 27 member states issued a statement on Monday that they would do what it takes to bolster citizens’ savings and build financial stability. Only problem was, they could not coordinate the announcement. First Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi released it, then Portugal. Only after a while did French President Nicholas Sarkozy weigh in. He does head the current EU presidency after all.
No wonder Washington called for more coordination.
Yes Victor, I agree with you 100% and as you can see clearly those in power truly have no power. Lets keep the Loonies on the grass.
Italy’s hard-left at the Hard Rock
Italy’s far-left alliance of Communists and Greens may not conjure up images of glitz and New York steaks, but leader Fausto Bertinotti has nevertheless picked the Hard Rock Cafe on Rome’s fashionable Via Veneto to wait out the tally of election results on Monday evening. Conveniently located next to the American Embassy, the Hard Rock promises everything from hickory smoked chicken wings to mac & cheese to help ease the long wait ahead for the leader of the Rainbow Left coalition.
Other candidates have chosen more traditional venues for the evening: the centre-right’s Silvio Berlusconi will be waiting it out at his villa in Arcore near Milan, while centre-left rival Walter Veltroni will be standing by at his party’s offices in Rome dubbed the “Loft”.
Far-right leader Daniela Santanche says she won’t stray far from her home in Milan, while Northern League leader Umberto Bossi and centrist leader Pier Ferdinando Casini will both be holed up at their respective party headquarters.
Giving it to Berlusconi…
With her striking good looks and stiletto heels, Italy’s far-right candidate Daniela Santanche has been turning heads on the campaign trail. But is centre-right candidate Silvio Berlusconi also among her admirers?
“Berlusconi? He’s obsessed with me. But I won’t give it to him…,” Santanche said during a campaign stop this week.
Berlusconi initially responded by saying he would not get into a debate with someone who comes from a world of “yachts, caviar and champagne.” But he was willing to play ball a day later.
“Well! If she continues to come on to me….,” the media tycoon told reporters when they prodded him on Santanche’s comments again.
Santanche and Berlusconi have been trading barbs throughout the election campaign, with the 47-year old businesswoman’s La Destra party expected to steal votes on the right away from the 71-year old media tycoon looking to return to power for the third time.
Santanche — conscious of the small splash she has made by becoming one of the few women prime minister candidates in Italy – has reserved some of her sharpest rebukes for Berlusconi, urging Italian women not to vote for him and calling his views outdated and sexist.
“Berlusconi better be careful, because on April 13-14, Italian women will be the ones to cook his goose,” Santanche told Reuters last week.
find forecast for the italian elections based on web visibility at: http://www.bayesfor.eu/wiki/forecast_pol itiche
Il comizio stanca
Non sono solo le foto di Oliviero Toscani a stupire. Talvolta lo sono anche le sue parole e quando, ieri sera a “Niente di personale” su La7, ha dichiarato che – lui, elettore radicale da sempre – non andrà a votare nello studio s’è creato un attimo di silenzio, poi è partito addirittura un applauso. Se qualcuno dice che queste elezioni non entusiasmano, che il dibattito fa sonnecchiare, scoppia l’applauso. A 40 anni dal “tutto è politica” gridato nelle strade dai manifestanti del ’68, la politica annoia, anche se in scena c’è uno scontro elettorale fuori ordinanza.
Non deve stupire quindi se domenica il numero 2 del Pdl Gianfranco Fini ha licenziato in tronco i vertici siciliani del suo partito dopo essersi trovare a fare un comizio a Palermo in una sala semivuota. La politica stanca, e il tema sta diventando un ritornello anche sulla stampa. Ha iniziato domenica Avvenire che ha lanciato l’”allarme” di un possibile astensionismo record. Ha proseguito il critico televisivo del Corriere della sera Aldo Grasso che ha parlato dei bassissimi livelli di audience delle Tribune politiche e dei dibattiti politici in tv. Ha proseguito oggi il quotidiano Il Foglio, il cui direttore Giuliano Ferrara è impegnato direttamente in campagna elettorale alla guida di una lista anti-aborto che rischia di sparire addirittura dalle cronache non per censura, ma per disinteresse generale: “Il voto sarà anche utile, ma la campagna elettorale è vuota”, ha titolato.
L’analisi è impietosa: “Trionfa un piattume sonnolento che corrisponde a una carenza progettuale”, si legge nell’articolo. Il tema è tanto diventato centrale nella campagna elettorale che il candidato del Pd Walter Veltroni si è sentito in dovere questa mattina di lanciare un appello contro l’astensione: “Se ti astieni non ti lamentare se le cose non vanno in un certo modo. Le elezioni sono il momento in cui si decide”, ha detto. E ieri, un altro leader del Pd, Pier Luigi Bersani, ha invitato a dare una “scossa” alla campagna elettorale, per uscire dal torpore. Ma sulla campagna elettorale italiana in queste ore è piombata pure la primavera e il torpore, sempre più, domina.
And to mohammedsadevil, Tunisia, Algeria, Morroco, Lybia, and in particular Egypt were also part of the Roman empire. I guess that makes them part of Europe aswell.
I could understand that you dont like Muslims for personal reasons, but I would bet money on that the god muhammed professed is the same one you believe in, just looking at the same idea from a different angle. Do not expect to be tolerated if you don’t respect other cultures.