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Italy and Netherlands Compete For Security Council Seat

Italy and the Netherlands had proposed to split a two-year term for their position in the UN Security Council after the two countries became tied for a non-permanent seat in the council.

After five rounds of voting at the 193-member UN General Assembly, neither of the countries can attain the two-thirds majority vote needed.

Each one of them received 95 votes in the previous round.

Meanwhile, Bolivia, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan and Sweden have secured their two-year council mandates in one of the most contested elections ever.

Italy said it was a ‘message of unity between the two European countries.’

A European diplomat said that it was a ‘truly European gentlemanly agreement.’

On January 1, all countries voted into their seats will start their two-year-term on the council on January 1. They would take their seats alongside five other council members including Britain, France, China, Russia and the United States.

Egypt, Japan, Senegal, Ukraine and Uruguay are also entering the non-permanent seats of the Security Council.

As it campaigned to be part of the security council, Italy showed itself as a crossroads country in the Mediterranean. It also said its ability to deal with the refugee crisis – which it handled by majority alone until other EU Countries came in for support.

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The Holy See Rejects Illegal Drugs And Legalisation of Drugs

Addressing a UN General Assembly Special Session on the World Drug Problem, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, The Holy See’s Permanent Observer to the United Nations in New York, had rejected the use of illegal drugs and the legalisation of use.

In his speech he pondered on the negative effects of illicit drug use on the family would extend from community to the possible massive destabilisation of modern civil society.

He called for providing support to people suffering from drug abuse as these can lead to depression and long-term sickness.

He said:

“The negative effect of illicit drug use on the family extends to the community, and leads ultimately to the destabilization of civil society,” he said.

“People suffering from drug abuse require all the support we can give them, including comprehensive health and social services that are accessible, effective and affordable,” continued Archbishop Auza.

“Not all crimes related to illicit drugs are of equal gravity. International drug traffickers, local pushers and drug users have to be treated differently according to the principle of proportionality,” – the Vatican diplomat added – “Disproportionate responses would be against the spirit of justice, and would not help in the rehabilitation of those who have become addicted to illicit drugs.”

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Famous Roman Structures Receive Makeovers

For an entire year and a few months, several of Rome’s classic attractions underwent restoration and subtle improvements hidden behind scaffolding. One of these, the Trevi fountain, was hidden from public and tourist view.

The Baroque structure was restored to its full glory including all its details, down to the gold lettering above the fountain.

According to locals, the structure appeared cleaner and brighter. Officials had left it dirty for quite some time.

The Trevi fountain is set to reopen by the first week of November. Several of Rome’s ancient structures had 26 restorers checking everything from structural cracks, rusty steel supports and other areas that could be a repeat of 2012’s raining debris from the fountain.

Total Costs For Renovation

The costs for managing Rome’s Attraction’s restoration are quite high considering the low funding it receives as Rome and Italy is still within a financial crisis.

Private company and Fashion House Fendi donated €2.18 million to restore the old cultural structure. Fendi also funded other structures, including the city’s Le Quattro Fontane.

Other private companies, including jeweller Bulgari had donated €1.5 million to help restore Rome’s Spanish Steps. Tod’s Shoes Chairman Diego Della Valle had donated €25 million to help restore the Colosseum’s failing structure.

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Rome District Council Under Intense Surveillance Due To Mafia Connections

Rome’s City Hall is under close supervision by senior government executives due to an allegation that organised crime has deeply rooted in the local government.

A scandal dubbed “Mafia Capital” had seen multiple suspicions of rampant corruption used as an explanation for the city’s unmaintained public services and the inconsistencies of municipal account values.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi’s cabinet decided one of Rome’s 15 districts will be under the direct supervision of the government due to Mafia infiltration. Rome Mayor Ignazio Marino, while not investigated for any wrongdoing, is criticised for his lack of authority over organised crime and crime in general. He will be in charge of the remaining 14 districts.

Marino would not be in charge of the Holy Year celebrations due the following year. The government awards responsibility to Prefect Franco Gabrielli. The Holy Year celebrations is a high-profile, year-long event. Marino has not given his comments to the allegations or the relieve of duty for the Holy Year celebrations.

Marino had said the previous month that the city administration was in a ‘substantially-rotten’ state.

The “Mafia Capital” scandal had put up 59 defendants linked with activities of fraud and exploitation in Rome’s City Hall. They are due to be heard in court on November 5.

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Italy Considers EU Request For Powdered Milk In Mozzarella an Attack on Its Cultural Heritage

The EU’s request to use powdered milk when producing mozzarella is an outrage according to Buffalo Mozzarella producers in Italy.

Mozzarella is one of Italy’s top exports and is considered a very important symbol of Italy’s passion for natural produce.

The EU Letter, sent to the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, had asked for “an end to the ban on possession and use of milk powder, condensed milk and reconstituted milk” in the manufacture of dairy products. The EU justified the request as “a restriction on the free movement of goods.”

Coldiretti, representing most of Italy’sagricultural producers, said the EU was forcing the country to lower its standards on food.

It was not the first time the EU had set out a request for artificial ingredients on cultural delicacies. The EU had once allowed winemakers to increase their alcohol content using sugar.

Italian mozzarella producers are protected by a 1974 law that protects the quality of Italian produce, which includes the ban on powdered milk entry in the country.

Coldiretti believes that Italy’s reputation as a food producer would be damaged if they had allowed the entry of powdered milk in the country in replacement for their dairy products

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You’ll Never Guess Who’s Detained in Rome! Be Very Close To This News Update!

In 2013, Justin Bieber earned an arrest warrant related to a 2013 assault claim in Argentina. As soon as he stepped down in Rome, he was halted by authorities as Argentina requested his detainment.

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Apparently, Bieber had assaulted an Argentinian photographer during his stay.

Meanwhile, despite the call for arrest, Bieber was just under interrogation at his five-star hotel. He hasn’t been arrested… yet.

American news magazine TMZ confirmed that Justin Bieber is in an Interpol list for the outstanding arrest warrant in Argentina. Bieber ignored a November court summons, which coincides with a November 2013 date on his recent tour in Buenos Aires.

An Argentinian Photographer, Diego Pesoa, accuses the pop star of having his bodyguard seize the photographer’s camera forcefully, resulting in possible personal injuries.

In Argentina, personal injury could range from one month to six month imprisonment.

Despite the news, Bieber said all information about his Argentinian assault are rumours and nothing more.

Justin Bieber is to appear with a cameo role in the film Zoolander 2.

It wasn’t the first time Bieber had encountered problems with the law. In 2014, he pleaded guilty to less charges after he was found to have participated in an illegal drag race in Miami. For throwing eggs at his neighbour’s home, Bieber was sentenced to two years’ probation last year.

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France and Italy Granted Pardon After Breaking EU Rules

After France and Italy had breached its budget limits, effectively violating the EU budget rules, the European Commission had refused to make an example of France under the EU’s tougher budget regime.

Meanwhile, Italy had also been granted pardon after it quickly failed to reduce its debt level. Currently, Italy’s 133% debt is second only to Greece. It had been named one of the worst economies of 2014 in Europe.

According to EU Economic Chief and Former French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici, the commission was convinced it had to avoid a sudden correction that wouldn’t be easy to correct. According to him, it was a political commission taking decisions on the basis of objective information.

However, the commission hopes that the commission will maintain pressure against France and Italy to improve its economy effectively.

With five years of austerity-led economic policies, Eurozone sovereign debt is now expected to hit 94.4% of gross domestic product this year.

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Mafioso and Slow Reform The Challenges to Mateo Renzi’s Government

Italian President Mateo Renzi was seen by international and local politicians, including supporters of his advocacy as the “demolition man” who would introduce reforms and change the “old” system that has slowed down Italy’s progress. However, his government and cabinet had been involved in a series of organised crimes and public administration scandals.

Worse still, his reform agenda is progressing slowly, with resistant politicians still trying to hold the fort.

Renzi still argues his reforms are essential to help Italy gain international investment.

Italy’s government is still at negative growth with a 13.2% unemployment rate and a debt ratio of 132.6%. He has pushed the “Jobs Act” labour reform designed to encourage local businesses and employees to take up occupations. However, Standard and Poor has downgraded Italy to a “BBB-“ rating.

The passing of the “Jobs Act” had been challenged by the opposition after the ‘Roma Caput Mafia’ involved 37 people with administrative roles in Italy had been arrested for Mafia-type crime that included traditional usury, bribery, extortion and money lending.

One Roman Godfather may have also attended a Renzi fundraising dinner in November. Labour Minister Giuliano Poletti had been seen having dinner with Mafia Boss Salvatore Buzzi.

Italy has yet to see how Renzi will handle everything that is happening and how he could reverse the negative progress that it had contributed to Italy.

Source

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Rome Mayor Ignazio Marino Registers Same-Sex Marriage Against State Laws

Rome City Mayor Ignazio Marino had registered 16 same-sex marriage celebrated aboard the city hall registers. However, Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said that his marriages were considered invalid because it was unconstitutional.

Mayor Marino hoped that “this will become a normal day.” He posted photos of himself wearing the mayor’s sash in between some newly-wed couples and their families inside city hall. On another post, he said “how could you not call this love?”

However, Alfano said through his own social media account that Alfano’s transcriptions were invalid. He said that the Italian constitution makes it impossible to marry two people of the same gender. Alfano stressed that Marino’s signature is not a substitute for law. He even called it an “autograph.”

Alfano also stressed in his interview with local Roman news radio RTL that city authorities must cancel the same-sex registrations or government representatives will step in and annul them.

However, Mayor Marino insisted that “people opposed to the transcriptions probably live in the wrong century” in the Corriere della Sera.

Same-sex marriage is legitimate in some states of the US, the UK and France. These new laws have been constitutionalised in such countries. Without Italy’s consideration, all marriages in cities are invalid.

Source

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Italian Army to Grow Medical Marijuana at Secret Location

Medical marijuana has been legal in Italy since 2007, but due to high costs only a very small percentage of the population have used it on a regular basis.

This looks set to change in the coming months, as the Italian army are growing medical marijuana at a secret location just outside of Florence in a bid to cut costs and make it cheaper. Once a batch is fully developed, then it will distributed in pharmacies throughout the country.

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The move is expected to raise a few eyebrows, especially among Italian anti-drug campaigners. However, the Defense Minister Roberta Pinotto said “the army already produces some medicines, and we can guarantee security conditions.”

Medical marijuana is not the only hot topic in Italy at the moment, as a new supplement called phytoceramides has been causing a lot of controversy recently.

If you’ve never heard of the phytoceramide supplement then it is basically a tablet that promises to restore skin from within, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, smooth aging skin, and even increase the hydration of dry skin. Quite bold claims for sure, but the question on the lips of the Italian population is “does it work?”

In technical terms, the phytoceramide supplement works by replenishing the ceramides that are naturally lost by the body as you get older. This is basically a form of “lipid” and is incredibly important if you want to have young looking skin that gives you confidence and makes you feel younger.

Quite possibly one of the biggest recommendations that phytoceramides has received is from famed and respected TV host Dr Oz. He features the supplement on his show on a regular basis, and advises his faithful viewers to “cheat their way to a facelift” by only taking one little pill a day.

You will also be pleased to hear that phytoceramides are completely 100% safe and natural. As long as the manufacturer uses scientifically tested natural ingredients and is approved by the FDA then you can feel confident about moving forward and making a purchase.

Interestingly, many people who take the supplement start noticing results in as little as 7 days. Just imagine looking in the mirror this time next week and seeing your fine lines and wrinkles almost gone! This could soon be your reality.

Who knows…maybe the Italian army will start producing phytoceramides once it starts to become really popular in order to drive the costs down? Anything is possible.