Notorious Vandal Strikes Again - The Florentine

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6 Thursday 20 October 2005 National NEWS News in BRIEF Security Measures Threaten Businesses According to Italy’s anti-terrorism policies, companies offering public communications services are obligated to make photocopies of the passports of customers who use the Internet, phone, or fax. Although recent legislation also included measures to increase transportation security, permit DNA collection, and facilitate the detention and deportation of suspects, the average citizen is mainly feeling the law’s effect in Internet cafes. The owners of these cafes around Italy are blaming a 10 percent loss in business on these new “passport laws.” But, Italy claims that its new policies have led to the arrest of Hussein Osman, one of the men behind the failed bombing of the London Underground in July. Finding Where Your Fowl is From Starting this week consumers will be able to know exactly where their drumstick has been. In compliance with a new decree issued by the Italian Ministry of Health, all foodstuffs containing fowl (chicken, turkey, pigeon, pheasant, quail or wild birds) must be specifi cally labelled. This new law, valid until December 31 st 2007, was issued in response to the outbreak of the chicken virus throughout the world. Shoppers will be able to know where their fowl was born and raised, as well as the date and place of butchering and sectioning. Large fi nes will be issued to producers who fail to comply. Counterfeit Concerns Counterfeit goods continue to pervade Europe. Each year over a 100 million products are sequestered by customs offi cers. Along with DVDs, and faux brand name clothes and bags, sequestered goods include anything from pharmaceutical products, face cream, mineral water with false labels, toothpaste, and spare car parts. Studies show a 1000 percent increase in imported counterfeit goods since 1998. At least 60 percent of these illegal wares come from China. The European Commission is currently evaluating strategies on how to respond to the growing infl ux of these items. New policies seek to increase protection of member countries, make customs relations more effective, and increase international co-operation. Italy, whose economy is largely affected by the importation of counterfeit goods, supports the new initiative. Prodi Takes Primaries Centre-left supporters turned out en masse on Sunday for unprecedented ‘primary’ elections organised by the centre-left opposition to choose the coalition’s leader for next spring’s general elections. Former European Commission Chief Romano Prodi emerged as winner against six other centre-left candidates. Well over three million people cast their ballots at 9,731 voting booths set up across the country. Voters were asked to sign a form saying they support the opposition’s agenda and offer one euro as a contribution to the costs of the ballot. Prodi hailed the massive turnout, saying it went “beyond expectations. It’s beautiful, incredible. This is a great celebration of democracy at work.” News Fiat Family Nightmare Heir to Automobile Dynasty Hospitalised for Drug Overdose The heir to the Lapo Elkan Agnelli business dynasty and a vice-president of Fiat Auto SpA, Lapo Elkann, was hospitalised in Turin recently for a drug overdose. Doctors affirm that the Fiat manager has suffered no brain damage. Elkann, 28, the grandson of the late Fiat patriarch Gianni Agnelli, heads Fiat’s Brand Promotion division. Three Fiat security guards stood watch on Tuesday outside the hospital building where Elkann is being treated. Police said he was suffering from the effects of a cocaine overdose. Later newspaper reports claimed he had taken a potentially lethal cocktail of heroin and cocaine, washed down by alcohol. In its only statement on the case, Fiat said the manager had “respiratory problems caused by medication.” Possession of small amounts of cocaine for personal use is not illegal in Italy . Lapo has successfully launched new sportswear and leather lines with the Fiat logo to enhance the car maker’s image. He often attends soccer matches of family club Juventus with other members of the Agnelli clan. Italy’s leading engineering union, Fiom, stressed on Tuesday that the case would not affect the company . The Agnelli’s social and personal lives have fascinated Italians for decades, much the way the British royalty’s doings fill the pages of British tabloids. Agnelli family tragedies have elicited comparisons to those of the Kennedy dynasty in the United States. Lapo Elkann’s uncle, Edoardo, the son of Gianni Agnelli, died in 2000 in an apparent suicide. An elder cousin, Giovannino, who had been prepared to take over Fiat, died of cancer at age 33 in 1997. Following in Daddy’s Footsteps Premier’s Daughter Named Italy’s Most Powerful Woman Marina Berlusconi, Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s eldest daughter, continues to draw international press attention nearly a week after she was named president of the family’s media empire. A feature in French daily Le Monde followed similar articles by The Financial Times Deutschland and AFP, the latter of which set the tone with a piece entitled: “The Most Powerful Woman In Italy.” Marina Berlusconi, 39, was appointed to head the family’s holding company Fininvest on October 4, following the death of the group’s former president Aldo Bonomo. “Already considered one of the most powerful women in the world, Maria Elvira Berlusconi, known as Marina, is set to move farther up the annual classification of Forbes and Fortune magazines,” wrote the French daily . “A determined manager, she is both feared and respected. Even a close family friend, (journalist) Emilio Fede [...] recently confessed: ‘I would never go to her to ask her for a raise.’” Berlusconi’s appointment came as no surprise. She served as Bonomo’s deputy for more than nine years and had been tipped as his replacement by inside sources following his death on August 31. Marina Berlusconi Her new position puts her in charge of a vast business empire, encompassing advertising, movie distribution, television, books, magazines, directory enquiries, insurance and pensions. Fininvest, which also owns the AC Milan soccer club, is one of Italy’s largest enterprises, valued at around 17 billion euros and generating some five billion euros annually . Fininvest’s new president entered the group at the age of 25. Although she had spent summers interning at its various subsidiaries since the age of 15, she was only introduced to the daily running of the business in her late 20s, after dropping out of a degree in politics and international relations. She has chaired Fininvest’s publishing company Mondadori, Italy’s largest publisher, since 2003 . Last year, the premier’s eldest offspring was ranked at number 9 on Fortune magazine’s list of the 50 most influential women executives. www.theflorentine.net TRENITALIA INFESTED Police Investigate Unsanitary Conditions of Railway Cars desperate passenger feels A forced to set his coat on fi re, throwing it onto the tracks to exterminate train bedbugs. In a recent journey of the Euronight Train from Nizza to Naples, 150 angry passengers complained about the thousands of bedbugs infesting several of the train’s coaches. In order to prove their point several passengers collected the bugs (originally thought to be ticks) in water bottles to show to train personnel. The train was stopped at the Genova station where several coaches were later isolated on one of the station’s dead tracks. Two other cars were simply closed-off and continued empty for the remainder of the journey. Fifteen passengers, under shock, refused to continue their trip on the same Intercity train. According to Trenitalia, the bedbugs originated in France. In addition to the hypothesis of low standards of cleanliness, investigators are also considering the possibility of sabotage. Police are investigating whether tension amongst employees over Trenitalia’s refusal to renew contracts may have provoked violent reactions from employees. With regards to cleanliness, the railways have declared that 2,800 cars used for long and medium runs have recently received a clean bill from hygiene specialists. Although Trenitalia confi rms that fi ve thousand coaches were disinfected from September 1 to 23, this is the fourth case of passenger protests against insect infestation, particularly during long-distance runs. The CUB train workers union claimed the infestations were the result of cutbacks in cleaning crews — from seven to three people. In response to the latest protest Trenitalia states, “Trains won’t be allowed to leave stations if they don’t reach a certain standard of cleanliness.”
www.theflorentine.net The Fiorentina Stops in Rome Lazio Team Wins, Peruzzi Makes Toni’s miracle LAZIO - FIORENTINA 1-0 scores: Zauli (L) The Fiorentina loses stamina at Rome’s Olympic Stadium against the best Lazio match of the season. Zauli’s goal, eight minutes to the end of the match, meant three points for the Roman team, after a match where the two goalies were absolute protagonists. The violet team didn’t achieve the same standards reached in its latest matches, even despite the two incredible stops by Roman goalie Peruzzi which guaranteed the Roman victory. Several violet players weren’t up to par, Sunday proved a tough night especially for team leader Fiore in his match against the team he played with for many years. Fiorentina’s next match will be played on Saturday, October 22 at 20.30 in Florence, against Parma and victory will prove indispensable if the Violets want to keep their place among top ranking teams. Cardinsky Inter Triumphs Without Adriano Milan Moves Up in Cagliari, Samp Defeated Now more than ever Inter is set on following on Juventus heels. Without Adriano, the unrecognisable Livorno team comes out with broken bones: score five to zero. During the evening in Cagliari, Milan wins, thanks to goals by Gilardino and Shevchenko, qualifying itself as Juve’s only real contender (1- 0 against Messina: Siena falls behind Udine 2-3) The Fiorentina falls flat at the Olympic Stadium 1-0 against a tough-playing Lazio (and an incredible Peruzzi). Sampdoria also slows down and suffers defeat in Ascoli 2-1. The Chievo company attempts to beat ex Guru Del Neri’s Palermo, 2-2 Cycling – Giro di Lombardia BETTINI’S KING OF LOMBARDY Paolo Bettini, the 31-year-old cyclist from Livorno of Quick Step-Innergetic, won the 99th edition of the Giro di Lombardia, after the last leg of ProTour stretching over 246 km from Mendrisio to Como. In a three way race, Bettini beat Gilberto Simoni (Lampre-Caffi ta) and the cyclist Frank Schleck (CSC) from Luxemburg. Giampaolo Caruso (Liberty) came in fourth by just a few seconds. David Rebellin (Gerolsteiner), balanced out the group, taking fi fth place. Bettini succeeds Damiano Cunego in champi- A. Shevchenko for La Barbera with the final goal of the pink-black tie. The Rome team defeated by Empoli 1-0 which has pushed ahead of the former when it comes to ranking. Reggina wins against Lecce 2-0 bringing Reggina into second to last place. Parma and Treviso settle for a 1-1 tie. Moto GP Turkey Battle for Second Heats Up The race for second place in the MotoGP Championships intensified on Sunday when Max Biaggi crashed out of the Australian GP and handed the race to teammate Nicky Hayden. The American’s second place win boosted him to a 170 point score, equal to that of Marco Melandri, with Colin Edwards 9 points behind. Biaggi strutted back to the Respol Honda garage where he watched team-mate Hayden cause Valen- Sports VIOLENT FANS, THE BATTLE CONTINUES Fan Wounded By Flare in Ascoli, Culprit Confesses Sunday saw yet another violent episode in Ascoli where a 57-year old woman risked her life because of a fl are thrown by a 16-year-old celebrating his team’s victory. The two young fans responsible confessed to launching the fl are at the end of Sampdoria’s match. The 16 and 18-year-old boys entered the stadium fi ve minutes to the end of the match, and took advantage of the confusion caused by fans leaving the stadium. The younger boy is currently at home being monitored by judicial authorities for minors whereas F.S. is confi ned to house arrest. Charges against them include misuse of a fl are launcher and infl icting serious injuries. Tennis – Madrid Masters What A Difference A Year Makes The search for a home-grown Madrid Masters champion initially left many puzzled commentators scratching their heads, but now 12 months later, Rafael Nadal is the bookmakers’ favourite for the indoor tournament, with Roger Federer, Lleyton Hewitt, Marat Safin and Andre Agassi relaxing at home with their feet up. Can Nadal, the French Open champion, who’s rocketed from 53rd to second place in the ATP Entry Ranking this season, put the icing on the cake of a memorable breakthrough season? “El Niño” has threatened to make life for the big boys difficult ever since his tour debut in 2002, but he really came out in last year’s Davis Cup final when Nadal overwhelmed Andy Roddick, leaving Spanish fans dreaming of a player capable of conquering all-comers. Max Biaggi tino Rossi all sorts of difficulties before finishing second, earning the driver from Kentucky second place in the championship. Yamaha’s Colin Edwards is nine points behind Hayden and Melandri but like Biaggi, the American is struggling with the set-up of his M1 and will do well if he finishes the season in second place. 7 Thursday 20 October 2005 Sports NEWS SERIE A Results 16 / 10 round 7 sat sat sun sun sun sun sun sun sun sun SERIE A Standings team points team points Juventus Milan Inter Fiorentina Lazio Palermo Sampdoria Udinese Chievo Livorno date hrs sat 18.00 sat 20.30 sun 15.00 sun 15.00 sun 15.00 sun 15.00 sun 15.00 sun 15.00 sun 15.00 sun 20.30 home team opponent Next week 26 / 10 2005 round 9 Top 5 scorers player Siena Juventus Ascoli Cagliari Empoli Inter Lazio Palermo Parma Reggina 1. Bonazzoli 2. Toni 3. Chiesa 4. Shevchenko 5. Tavano 21 16 15 13 13 12 12 12 11 11 Udinese Messina Sampdoria Milan Roma Livorno Fiorentina Chievo Treviso Lecce Empoli Siena Ascoli Roma Reggina Parma Lecce Cagliari Messina Treviso Messina Fiorentina Chievo Lecce Livorno Milan Sampdoria Treviso Udinese Roma team Sampdoria Fiorentina Siena Milan Empoli 2-3 1-0 2-1 0-2 1-0 5-0 1-0 2-2 1-1 2-0 This week 22-23 / 10 2005 round 8 date hrs sun 15.00 sun 15.00 sun 15.00 sun 15.00 sun 15.00 sun 15.00 sun 15.00 sun 15.00 sun 15.00 sun 20.30 home team Ascoli Cagliari Empoli Inter Juventus Lazio Palermo Parma Reggina Siena 10 10 9 8 6 5 4 3 3 2 Ascoli Parma Cagliari Juventus Reggina Palermo Siena Empoli Inter Lazio opponent Udinese Livorno Milan Roma Sampdoria Chievo Lecce Messina Treviso Fiorentina goals 7 6 6 5 5
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