Il Bel Paese visto da fuori

“Ms Meloni’s high esteem for Mr Orbán, the self-styled champion of “illiberal democracy”, is well known. Since taking office 18 months ago, she has – unlike the Hungarian prime minister – positioned herself reassuringly in Europe’s political mainstream on issues such as Ukraine. But at home, her government’s domineering determination to police the public square, […]

“Riccardo Gullo came up with the novel idea after a census estimated the number of feral goats on Alicudi, the smallest of Sicily’s Aeolian archipelago, was six times the island’s year-round human population of 100.” Fonte: The Guardian Autore: Angela Giuffrida Link: Great goat giveaway: Italian island inundated with adoption offers

“But in fact, I think that what we have seen is that Giorgia Meloni has really reassured international markets, Italy’s international partners, other members of Nato, that she isn’t quite the extremist that maybe many feared she might be”.  Fonte: Financial Times Autore: Gideon Rachman Link: Italy and the Giorgia Meloni phenomenon

Cattelan has experimented with gunshots before, shooting up American and British flags, or rather, having them shot. The artist, who is based in Milan and New York, maintains no studio, much less a shooting range, and his works are almost always fabricated by others. With “Sunday,” Cattelan sought to universalize the symbol of violence, dropping […]

“Extortion rackets have gone out of fashion and murders are largely frowned upon by the godfathers. Just 17 people were killed by the mob in Italy in 2022, according to the latest official data, versus more than 700 in 1991.” Fonte: Reuters Autore: Emilio Parodi Link: Italy’s mafia turns to white-collar crime as murder, extortion […]

“Since the early 16th century, when Swiss mercenaries, revered for their bravery and loyalty, marched to Rome to serve Pope Julius II, the world’s smallest army has been enlisted at the Vatican to protect the pope, his residence and the city’s borders.” Fonte: The Guardian Autore: Angela Giuffrida Link: Meet the Vatican Swiss Guards ready […]

“In a video statement, the Union of Rai Journalists — which represents about 75 per cent of the broadcaster’s 2,000 journalists — complained about editorial interference and working conditions as they launched what organisers say will be five, non-consecutive days of labour action.” Fonte: Financial Times Autore: Amy Kazmin Link: Italian journalists strike in dispute […]

“The outreach reflected an unconventional pope in the most radical stage of his papacy. From his early days in 2013, when he famously declared, “Who am I to judge,” Francis has urged the Catholic Church to embrace all comers, including those living in conflict with its teachings. Now, his unprecedented opening to the LGBTQ+ community […]

“Nobody would accuse the activist-artist Dread Scott of being a diplomat. He would rather dismantle power structures than sustain them. But the ‘All African People’s Consulate,’ he has created as a conceptual artwork along the Grand Canal during the 60th Venice Biennale has quickly become a solid gathering place for the Black community in a […]

“The statue, widely held to be one of the finest original Greek bronzes to have survived from the classical era (most bronzes from that time are Roman copies), has been at the heart of a complex legal dispute for decades. In recent years, Italy has managed to recover hundreds of artifacts illegally looted from its […]