Can Greeks already welcome a Happy New Year?

The time has finally come in Athens. The impossibility to elect the President of the Republic by the Hellenic Parliament has caused the announcement of new elections in January 2015.  Syriza is considered the winner of the next elections and many observers have written about the possible problems of a government leaded by Alexis Tsipras,...

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Are Turkish events a huge failure of European Union?

What's happening in Turkey? Few days ago two heads of police and at least 24 journalists have been arrested in 13 different cities. The Director of the newspaper Zaman, Ekrem Dumanli, and the Director of the broadcasting Samanyolu, Hidayet Karaca have been also included in the list. It seems that those events are the result of an internal...

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Christmas Markets: a multi-million business

Nowadays it is a tradition: when Christmas is coming, also the Christmas Markets  are opened in many Cities. Originated in the German-speaking part of Europe, this tradition finds its roots in the late Middle Age: the first one was created in Dresden in 1434.  One of the most beautiful Christmas Market - Vienna (Austria) Even if...

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Reportage from Bangalore: plus and minus of an incredible growth

In October I had the opportunity to spend three weeks in India. I stayed in Bangalore, the capital of the State of Karnataka. With a population of 8.5 millions, Bangalore is the fourth largest metropolitan area in India, after Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai and it is the second fastest growing major metropolis after Surat. Kempfort Shiva - Bangalore Above...

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Who is the new President of Romania?

Recently a presidential election took place in Romania. In the first round, the Prime minister and leader of the Social Democratic Party Victor Ponta won with 40% of the votes, whilst Klaus Iohannis, leader of the Liberal National Party got 30% of preferences. The situation changed at the run-off: also after the protest on how Ponta's government...

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What is the economic relation between Poland and Russia?

In the last months, during the Ukrainian crisis, Poland and Russia have been strongly opposed. Warsaw has firmly supported Kiev against Putin interference. But the position of Poland has deeply exposed itself to the ban of import of some products decided  by Putin. Even the contraposition between Poland and Russia has solid roots...

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The referendum in Scotland: the end of the State?

On Thursday 18th September 2014 it will take please the referendum for the Independence of Scotland. The 9th of November it is planned a similar referendum in Cataluña. Scotland 2014 From some electoral polls, it seems that in Scotland there is a majority for the Independence (51% vs 49%) and the attention of the media is focused on the...

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Few considerations after Tusk election as President of European Council

The 30th of August 2014 Donald Tusk has been nominated President of European Council. He will replace Herman Von Rompuy, President since December 2009. The President of European Council is an important role in the Eu Institutional Framework: he/she is the principal representative of the European Union on the World stage and the person presiding...

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Which is the best way to have a low-cost holiday? Third: the accommodation

In the two previous posts, I analyzed the ways to have a low-cost holiday choosing the cheapest destinations and the cheapest transportation. In this post, the final one of the trilogy (!), I want to put in evidence the ways to save money for the accommodation. There are many possibilities, from the classic hotel to the camping, but I would...

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Which is the best way to have a low-cost holiday? Second: the transportation

Even if the mid of August has passed few days ago, it is still time of holidays. In the previous post, I have discussed about the choice of the best destinations in order to have a low cost holiday. Today I would like to write about the transport options we can have. Once you choose a destination, there are many ways to get it (and...

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Which is the best way to have a low-cost holiday? First: the destination

In this period many people are planning summer holidays.  The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has estimated that in 2013 Europe has attracted the most number of tourists in the World (52%), followed by Asia (23), America (15), Africa (5) and Middle East (3). Regarding the Countries, France is the first world destination, then Usa, Spain,...

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Can the debate about Palestine become just a contrast among supporters?

One week ago, I was in Tel Aviv. I have decided to visit Israel for tourism. Even if I am not a religious person, I think that Middle East can offer extraordinary places, a thousand-year old culture and beautiful natural sites. In the last days of my stay, I started to hear and to see the rockets from Gaza.  Even when the sirens stroke...

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The importance of being a Unesco World Heritage Site

Few days ago, Italy got another Unesco World Heritage Site, the area of Langhe-Roero and Monferrato, famous all over the world for its vineyard. A UNESCO Site is a place recognized as of special cultural or physical significance. The criteria to be able to become a Site are defined in a Convention adopted by UN in 1972. The main element to identify...

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Is it worth hosting a major sporting event?

Few days ago the 2014 World Cup has began in Sao Paolo in Brazil. It is estimated that the economical effort to build all the infrastructures for Word Cup and Olympic Games (that will take place again in Sao Paolo in 2016) will touch the amount of 33 billion US Dollars (24 bl Euros). Such an expense for the organization of a sporting event...

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Monarchy or Republic?

The flag of the Kingdom of Spain Few days ago, King Juan Carlos of Spain, has announced his unexpected abdication. In Spain this decision has fired up a wide debate about the opportunity to move to a Republican State, especially in a such a difficult moment for the Country, deeply touched by the economic crisis (the unemployment rate is...

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Can the Italian Democratic Party be a new model for European Socialists?

The last European Elections has largely confirmed the previsions: Eurosceptics have got many votes and the abstaining has touched another record. The only surprise of these Elections has been Italy. The Democratic Party (Partito Democratico PD), leaded by Matteo Renzi, has won the European Elections 2014 with the 40% of votes, +13% in...

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Poland's last Communist Leader - The enigmatic figure of General W. Jaruzelski

General Wojciech Jaruzelski has died today, 25th May 2014. He has definitively been a central figure in the recent Polish history, especially in the transition to democracy. It is difficult to judge the life of Jaruzelski, considering his political and military decisions in the decades between 60s and 80s. He started his...

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Waiting for EU Elections: the advance of Eurosceptical Parties

The European Elections 2014 are coming. Between the 22nd and 25th of May, the citizens of the 28 Eu States will have to choose the new 751 members of the European Parliament. It will be the 8th Election of the Parliament and the first after the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. Eu Parliament in Strasbourg The contest...

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Waiting for Eu Elections: why has Euro been adopted?

Euro, the official currency of 18 members of European Union, is constantly at the center of the public debate since it has been adopted the 1st January 2002. Especially in the last years, a large part of the public opinion has pointed Euro as the source of all the problems and weaknesses of the European economy.The question at the base...

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Hungarian Elections: which potential scenarios after the Fidesz victory?

At the national elections of the 6th of April Hungary has confirmed Fidesz - the Hungarian Civic Alliance Party - and its leader and prime minister Viktor Orbán as main political force. The result has not been a surprise, Fidesz has got the 44% of votes. Even if it has lost 600 thousands of votes in comparison with the elections of 2010, Orbán...

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Behind the F1 Gp of Bahrain: a Country in revolt

The 10th edition of the F1 Gran Prix of Bahrain has ended few hours ago. The media attention has been focused on the sportive event, that generates millions of dollars each year. But the internal situation of the Country has been completely clouded. The race was cancelled only in 2011, when the revolts of the population began. But in the last...

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