ROME — Enel, the leading Italian energy company, has been accused of illicit behaviour in dealings in the burgeoning Italian renewable energy market. The accusations stem from alleged abuse of Enel’s control of the electric distribution grid including allegedly widespread corruption at the local level.
Shelly Kittleson
ROME — Disagreement over an international tribunal investigating the murder of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri has brought down a Beirut government. Was this a case of Western meddling in a sovereign nation’s internal affairs, of seeking the truth, regardless of what effect it may have on a country? Was it ending impunity for horrific slayings or an attempt by the West to weaken what it sees as a potential threat?
19 Jan 2011
Philippa Malicka
ROME- Judges from Italy’s Constitutional Court have called for a compromise in the law shielding Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi from prosecution, allowing individual judges to decide whether he can be forced to face trial, sources close to the court said.
Citing “qualified sources”, Italian news agency ANSA said the court ruled that Berlusconi could not automatically invoke a “legitimate impediment” claim exempting him and cabinet ministers from attending trails in progress because of their official duties.
13 Jan 2011
Desmond O'Grady
FLORENCE — The “Sydney Bronzino” is at the centre of attention because of a splendid exhibition in Florence. It is the first-ever exhibition devoted to the Renaissance painter Agnollo di Cosimo (nicknamed Bronzino because of his reddish hair).
23 Dec 2010
Philip Willan
ROME — When Silvio Berlusconi recently commented it was “better to be passionate about beautiful women than to be gay” many interpreted it as a dig at his rising political rival.
Nichi Vendola, the leftist governor of the southern region of Puglia, could not be more different from the Italian prime minister if he tried — he is described as a practising Catholic, unrepentant ex-Communist and openly gay.
15 Dec 2010
Philippa Malicka
ROME–It has been a busy week for the MACRO gallery as its permanent new wing designed by Odile Decq was officially opened last Friday.
9 Dec 2010
Philippa Malicka
ROME–The eagerly anticipated collaboration between Roman couture house Valentino and American high street chain Gap was met with sell-out success across Europe this week.
30 Nov 2010
Philippa Malicka
Italian luxury fashion house PRADA unveiled their spring summer 2011 campaign earlier this week, alongside glowing news that the company’s nine month net profit had trebled.
The campaign for next spring, awash with vibrant colour-blocking and bold, accentuated stripes, heralds a new era for luxury companies, many of which are experiencing their first sales increases since the downturn in 2007.
25 Nov 2010
Shelly Kittleson
HERAT, Afghanistan—The city feels like it is on the edge of the world. The wind blows and whips dust in your face, curtainesque burqas flapping furiously in street-front shops within the city on flatlands running to the Iranian border.
25 Nov 2010