cafebabel.com

Documentary 'Listening to Garzon': Spain’s most famous judge judged

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:00:46 -0000

‘Escuchando al Juez Garzón’ is an 87-minute documentary shot as a single interview with the high-profile human rights judge in Madrid in late 2010. Over a year later, he is going on trial for triple prosecutions on his abuses of power at his country's supreme court. International human rights activists argue that this 'Judge Dredd' case is one of Spanish science fiction

Documentary Italy: love it or leave it in a Fiat 500

('Eva Vanhee',) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 12:00:00 -0000

When the lease on their flat in Rome was up, film critic Luca Ragazzi convinced television journalist Gustav Hofer to spend a last six months touring their country and understand why they were moving abroad. Little did they know that those were the six months that changed Italy

Meeting Mario Monti, interim Italian prime minister

('Tobias Sauer',) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:45:42 -0000

On 13 November the independent candidate, known as the president of Italian university Bocconi, officially succeeded Silvio Berlusconi in the middle of a deep debt crisis. Ave Mario, cries French newspaper Le Monde. Super Mario, scream spoof websites. We meet at a press conference in Berlin

Italian writer Alberto Toscano on political gaffes

('Eva Vanhee',) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:02:12 -0000

On 12 November Silvio Berlusconi is scheduled to officially resign. Yes, he is leaving the stage, the king of all the clumsy politicians who has been one of the models of Italian journalist Alberto Toscano’s latest book, which was published in September in France

Four young Europeans react to Berlusconi's resignation: 'There will be civil war'

('Annie Rutherford',) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:49:24 -0000

Barely a week after the Greek prime minister George Papandreou was forced to step down, Italy's prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is gradually following suit. Four young Europeans give us their reactions: something to be expected, or not at all? Where next for Europe: can the 'indignados' step into the limelight or is it all downhill from here? Vox pop from Paris

Berlusconi raised us; how to re-educate Italy?

('Marta Nathansohn',) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:00:00 -0000

What can we say: it was intense. The post-Berlusconi era is almost upon us: will we cope with the tediousness of political debate, with the absence of a man to love and hate, with the end of a television trend where success is available to all?

Berlusconi’s greatest crime is humiliating Montesquieu

('Alexandra Baxter',) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:00:00 -0000

It is too late now to name and shame, useless to lament the past, and so only reflection can now help. Silvio Berlusconi has drained power of its authoritarian and institutional nature, placing himself above all institutions, degrading the spirit of Montesquieu and throwing into question the reasonable balance of constitutional powers. However, the credits are finally rolling on his leadership

Ascanio Celestini: 'I denounce verbal violence of our time’

('Annie Rutherford',) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 10:00:00 -0000

He is the mouthpiece of contemporary Italian theatre, a critic of power, an anthropologist who depicts the evils of our time better than anyone else. The 39-year-old actor, director and author talks about coming from outside Rome and where his one-man-show gets its inspirations from

Europe reacts: what Gaddafi’s expiration means

('Matthieu Amar\xc3\xa9',) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 12:58:29 -0000

On 20 October the world saw a mediatised repeat of bloody images and videos of Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein on their deathbeds: Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi, 69, was killed in his hometown of Sirte. French, US and British forces were part of the Nato airstrikes in the Libyan civil war which began in February 2011. Read presidential and prime ministerial postcards from Poland, Malta, Italy, France and Germany after the news broke

Italy Wikipedia strike: anti-censorship protests online

('Eva Vanhee',) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:00:00 -0000

Here we go again: a new chapter of the world of online democracy begins. In response to a draft law restricting freedom of information being discussed in the Italian parliament, Wikipedia Italy has chosen to temporarily close down. The virtual strike has consequences

Referendum: 57% of Italians signal giant 'Vaffanculo' to nuclear power

('euro topics',) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 12:52:08 -0000

An overwhelming majority of Italians voted in a referendum against reintroducing nuclear energy, and at the same time stopped two more government projects. Still smarting from scandals and corruption accusations, prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is the clear loser, write the German, Italian, Swiss and Spanish press, even though the opposition hardly stands to benefit

WikiLeaks: Europe’s ruling class according to Washington

('victor escandell',) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 14:30:00 -0000

The whistleblowing site has turned the skin of international politics inside-out so people can see its capillaries, arteries and cartilages. This bloody network - 250, 000 documents have been taken from the American state department - includes natural portrayals of many European leaders. From the complex and absolutist Sarkozy to Berlusconi’s hangovers, a review of Europe through Uncle Sam’s eyes

Berlusconism, 'Padania', inequalities: should we celebrate 150 years of Italy?

('hkeet',) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 10:00:00 -0000

On 17 March 1861, Victor-Emmanuel II was proclaimed king of Italy. Now, 150 years later, the question of knowing whether Italian unification should be celebrated has sparked lively debates. The Italian government only decided to make 17 March a public holiday a month ago

Ukraine feminists ‘Femen’: topless a political weapon

("Miriam O'Brien",) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 20:05:00 -0000

At first the 300 members of the feminist community came to the streets to protest against the expansion of sex tourism in the Ukraine. The 12, 000 active 'sex pats' are growing under the indifferent gaze of the authorities. Femen has been organising nude performances as a political weapon for three years now. After a run-in at the Italian embassy, Inna Shevechenko vents her anger

Italian women for and against accused Silvio Berlusconi

('lebuffle',) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:20:00 -0000

Whilst the satirical search engine 'Bungle Bungle' publishes videos of a million women protesters supporting the dignity of the female sex, Silvio's supporters protest in front of the law courts, where the Italian prime minister is due to show on 6 April, accused of the exploitation and prostitution of minors

Mohamed Elhamdi: are Italian pilots attacking Libyans?

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:45:00 -0000

African mercenaries, commissions on civil assassinations and the alleged support of Italy in the repression are some of the horrors of today’s ‘Libyan genocide’. The president of Libya House (Casa Libia) in Spain left his country 38 years ago, devoting himself to socio-cultural issues, until the revolution kicked off on 17 February. Hundreds have died; interview

Bunga bunga: European hanky panky guide for Mr. Berlusconi

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 09:45:00 -0000

The Italian fairytale has caused waves across Europe. We Italians can be proud to have exported a word out there amidst our Ferraris and mozzarella. The prime minister has revived the myth of the dying Italian stallion with a term Colonel Gadafi loaned to him, from ‘female harem’, for his orgies. Berlusconi stands trial for abuse of office on 6 April in Milan

Nichi Vendola: is communism the only alternative to Berlusconi?

('Neil Saddington',) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:45:00 -0000

He's catholic, homosexual, a communist, an environmentalist and an opposition candidate to Silvio Berlusconi in the yet-to-be-decided primary elections. In the face of negative forecasts and senior party officials he's a two-time winner of the regional elections in Puglia, and the 52-year-old has noticeable support for his ideas

The Sound of Silvio: Berlusconi has NOT become gay

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:48:40 -0000

We tried to halt our 2009 mini-column which kept a simple track of the Italian prime minister’s sayings. But if he insists on continuing to entertain, we might just oblige with a gem or two. Quote of the day

Corruption, crime and journalism in Europe

('Sarah Truesdale',) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:27:06 -0000

Political corruption in Europe is the drama of the season. Confronted by media revelations, the governments of Old Europe are criticising, even muzzling the media space whose influence they fear. Not all countries react in the same way: in Great Britain, Germany and Poland, media investigations pressure governments to fire people. In France and Italy, the news isn’t causing a stir at all

Europe's politician loudmouths

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 11:54:31 -0000

British prime minister David Cameron was accused of 'going offscript' by former foreign secretary David Miliband after a series of press conferences where he accused Pakistan of 'exporting terror'. Do Europe's eurosceptic politicians have the biggest mouths when it comes to diplomatic rows? Expression of the week

Berlusconi's Italy: elections soon?

('euro topics',) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 16:45:00 -0000

Italian junior justice minister Giacomo Caliendo, a suspect in a criminal inquiry, narrowly avoided an opposition motion in the lower house of the Italian parliament calling for him to be sacked. Had it gone through, the government could have fallen. The political pressure is rising, though the Irish, Slovenian and Italian press say new elections are unlikely

Fired public radio satirists - 'Berlusconisation France'?

('Nicola Potter',) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:00:04 -0000

Censor one person and someone else will speak for them. That’s what happened on 1 July in front of La Maison de la Radio in Paris, where disappointed listeners and exasperated France Inter workers protested against the sacking of morning show comedians Stéphane Guillon and Didier Porte. Flashback

Top tips from Parisian music festival Solidays

('Angela Therain',) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:00:00 -0000

A few glimpses dedicated to the 168 000 public that attended Solidays – the second biggest music festival in France after les Vieilles Charrues – and without whom the festival would be just another line up of stars

L’Aquila post-earthquake: wheelbarrow people clean up themselves

('Alexandra Baxter',) — Sat, 15 May 2010 16:11:20 -0000

308 victims died in the 6 April 2009 earthquake. Over a year on, reconstruction of the capital of the Abruzzo region is slow. One citizens’ movement is defying politics and criticising the dilapidated state of the town’s historic centre; the story has even hit this year's Cannes film festival. Sabina Guzzanti's documentary received a standing ovation

London: protest singing for the UK elections

('Olly the Octopus',) — Wed, 05 May 2010 16:06:56 -0000

Anarchy in the UK? More like apathy; 60 and 61% of voter apathy was respectively registered in the 2001 and 2005 elections. What will happen on 6 May? A London-based protest singer on the role of music in 'raging against the machine'

The European politicians who insult journalists

('Amanda Mulligan',) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 08:00:00 -0000

Media and politics has always been a love-hate thing. From Livingstone to Berlusconi, a brief outline of some of the most memorable insults that Europe’s elected officials have directed at both defenceless and sometimes-deserving journalists

Europe falls in press freedom rankings

('James Friscia',) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:00:00 -0000

If the old continent believes it still represents the paradigm of press freedom, then it is in for a rude awakening: in the worldwide rankings of freedom of the press published by Reporters Without Borders, many European nations are in a state of free fall. Yet a defence organises for what Kant called 'freedom of the pen'

Sarkozy affair: why the Brit media and co were interested

('Andrew Burgess',) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:00:00 -0000

Whether it is fact or fiction, the rumours of extramarital romantic affairs relating to the French president first-born on Twitter has impassioned the European media, despite the notable absence of newspaper treatment in France. Are European news networks coming to the rescue of national censorship?

Would only a mentally ill man attack the Italian prime minister...

('euro topics',) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Silvio Berlusconi, 73, has spent his second night at the San Raffaele hospital with face wounds after being attacked on 13 December by Massimo Tartaglia, a mentally ill man, during a rally in Milan. The attack has launched a broad discussion about Italy's poisoned political climate. The German, Spanish, Polish and Italian press react

Stripping Silvio: Italy annuls Berlusconi's immunity

('euro topics',) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:35:57 -0000

Italy's constitutional court has struck down a law that shielded prime minister Silvio Berlusconi from prosecution. The judges ruled on Wednesday that the law contravenes the country's principle of equality, among other things. Berlusconi may now be arraigned in court on charges of bribery and tax fraud. The European press discusses the consequences of the judgement for Berlusconi and his government. The German, Spanish, British, Swiss and Italian press react

Lorella Zanardo: real women 'endangered species' on Italian TV

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:00:00 -0000

Chat with the co-writer of the documentary 'Il Corpo delle Donne', which looks at how Italian TV dissects 'women’s bodies'. Since spring 2009, it has attained enormous exposure across all networks thanks to its intelligent and ruthless critique of Italian television

Europe's breakfasts: I'll have what Obama's having

("naomi o'leary",) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:08:27 -0000

Russia: Putin feeds Obama whilst a leather boot fans the flames. Italy: whilst Obama becomes president, Berlusconi serves his escort a hot drink. Germany: Merkel cooks brekkie for hubby: a round-up of European politicians' breakfast stories in the news, plus a pancake recipe for the bimonthly gastronomy column

Italian man and woman discuss 'women & Berlusconi', their national tragicomedy

("naomi o'leary",) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:56:49 -0000

Sex scandals. Unending gaffes about women. A premier's embarrassing inability to stop talking about himself, showcased once again at a press conference with Spanish PM Zapatero. Two nationals discuss whether Italy become a tragedy or a farce

'Papigate': same debate about women and media in Berlusconi era

('Helen Swain',) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:50:40 -0000

The salacious Italian scandal sustained newspapers worldwide for summer 2009. The uproar surrounds the personal, sexual, and not necessarily political activities of a prime minister who, in the word of his future ex-wife Veronica Lario, 'enjoys the company of the underaged'

Italian far-right on Facebook: 'kill them all in Zingonia'

("naomi o'leary",) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:45:00 -0000

On Facebook, the group ‘Let’s invade Zingonia and kill them all’ has gathered 700 members. Volunteer teacher Miriam talks about how spiralling anti-immigrant rhetoric is making life difficult for Italy’s new arrivals

1000 euros for a night with Silvio Berlusconi

('euro topics',) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:18:25 -0000

Southern Italian businessman Gianpaolo Tarantini stated* in a 29 July police interrogation that he had recruited 30 young women for 18 parties in the prime minister's private villas between September 2008 and January 2009. Some are said to have received up to £880 to spend the night with Berlusconi. The Spanish, Italian, French and British press is outraged

Europe's political scandals: Alicante-gate, MP scandals and Berlusconi

('Andrew Christie',) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Italy's playboy PM, Britain's MP guzzlers and Germany’s 'Minister Shameless' (according to the Berliner Zeitung) are sharing the heat: the lull in the traditional summer silly season has prompted mass media coverage of affairs and scandals

G8 summit: amid the ruins of L'Aquila earthquake

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Three months after the earthquake that struck the capital of the Abruzzo region, the G8 summit will have a powerful effect on an exhausted people, tens of thousands of whom are still waiting to return home

The Sound of Silvio: 'I never understood what the satisfaction is when you are missing the pleasure of conquest'

('euro topics',) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:14:48 -0000

Escort girl Patrizia D'Addario, 42, told investigators that she spent the night of Barack Obama's victory at the Italian PM's private residence in Rome. In an interview with Chi magazine on 24 June, Berlusconi talks of defamation: 'I have never paid a woman'. Quotes from the Greek, Finnish and Italian press

2 days in Warsaw: Solidarnosc, cult Polish documentaries and Berlusconi

('Lydia Bigos',) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:42:13 -0000

For two days at the end of April 2009, the Polish capital becomes the 'centre of Europe' as the EU's largest centre-right party descend on the city. Quality time spent between British, Spanish and Polish colleagues raises an understanding of what the last twenty years mean, and the gap between east and west. Opinion

The Sound of Silvio: 'I'll continue to work as ever for the good of this country'

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:17:09 -0000

Nothing keeps Europe's mediatic hills more alive than the sound of Silvio Berlusconi's music. His colourful quips, defences and actions are fast becoming cult in the field of national politics. On 18 June, the Italian prime minister, 72, cranks up the sound of showgirls and showdowns. Quote of the day

Marco Travaglio: ‘Berlusconi, where did you get the money from?’

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:45:00 -0000

In 2001, he put one question to ‘The Cavalier’ - Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi - in his book, ‘The Smell of Money’, repeated it on his TV programme Satyricon. It’s never been answered. Three questions to the Italian journalist who dared to ask

Italy: to vote or not to vote in EU elections on 6-7 June?

('Julia Karlysheva',) — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:45:00 -0000

But most importantly, why vote? The European elections between 4 and 7 June 2009 are victim to a changing and uncertain political landscape

Jeff Israely: 'In his fifteenth year in politics, Berlusconi looks more and more like a comedian'

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:55:21 -0000

The Paris-based American journalist, 41, is a correspondent for Time Magazine for southern Europe. His recently published 'Looks Like My Son Is Italian' is not a summary of Italian mentality, he says - 'I’m just balancing the scales'

'Historic' G20 in London: a one trillion summit like no other

('c j',) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:44:06 -0000

On 2 April G20 leaders agreed on a mind boggling trillion dollar plan to tackle the global financial crisis. As US president Barack Obama heads to Strasbourg for a Nato summit, a roundup of the juice and conclusions

Online music, copyright and illegal downloads in Berlin

('Aatish Pattni',) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:00:00 -0000

All three topics are now making the rounds at the various political benches around EU member states, who are all trying to contain internet piracy with new means and thereby putting fundamental rights under the microscope. In Brussels, the council of ministers is also pressing the issue against decisions of the EU parliament. Bloggers, politicians and legal representatives of the ‘civil society’ speak

Claudio Stassi and Giovanni Di Gregorio 'didn't want to show people being killed in Brancaccio'

('Rosh Mahtani',) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:45:05 -0000

The 2006 comic book has been already been translated into French and Spanish. Both the author and scriptwriter are based in Barcelona, having escaped Sicily because 'the mafia culture is gaining strength'

Governments target magistrates in reform of European justice system

('Fiona Herdman Smith',) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:46:04 -0000

Legal reform is a very delicate subject which threatens to destabilise the equilibrium between legislative, executive and judicial institutions in the EU countries. In The Spirit of Laws (1748), French philosopher Montesquieu founded the theory of the modern democratic state on the separation of the three powers. 'Every man invested with power is apt to abuse it and to abuse it limitlessly. To prevent the abuse of power, power must rein in power'

'Clim City', French game where you play with climate change

('Astrid vW',) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Play, relaxation, recreation, rest, joke - many focus on the fun, the childish and banal, meanwhile the true game is always a regulated and serious activity, but also rich and educational - here, you get fifty years to change to get emissions down to 25%