Holy High Court: Vatican’s historic trial over West London property begins LAW In a hot and busy courtroom in London the legal parties for the Vatican and a City financier set out their arguments as the two week trial kicks off
Father, Son, and My Lord: Vatican faces English High Court over luxury Chelsea property fraud LAW The home of the Catholic Church, an expensive London building and an alleged multi-million pound fraud lawsuit heads to the London High Court
Attitudes to the NHS are finally catching up with reality Kristian Niemietz The NHS has always been mediocre to poor in terms of measurable medical outcomes regardless of funding or public adulation, says Kristian Niemietz Public satisfaction with the NHS has fallen to the lowest levels since records began, according to the latest edition of the British Social Attitudes Survey (BSA), which was released this week. 52 per cent [...]
Financier of London restaurants jailed after Italian fraud trial December 21, 2023 The financier behind a collapsed chain of London seafood restaurants has been sentenced to six years in prison in an Italian fraud trial that has rocked the Vatican. Gianluigi Torzi, the man responsible for the Seasons chain of fish restaurants, was sentenced alongside Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the most senior Catholic Church official ever to stand [...]
COP28: Five things to watch out for as the global climate conference starts in Dubai November 29, 2023 While some cynics may look at it as a talking shop where not enough discussion leads to action, it does offer a chance for thought-leaders to co-ordinate.
Why has an Enfield Barclays branch been given Grade 2 listed status? April 10, 2023 An “exuberant” Barclays branch in London, home to the world’s first automated teller machine (ATM), has been given heritage status as the number of ATMs around the country continues to decline. The bank branch, situated at 20 The Town, Enfield, was fitted with the world’s first ATM in 1967 by the actor and comedian [...]
Peace and serenity in the Italian capital of Rome March 17, 2023 THE WEEKEND: No matter how many times you have visited Rome, the Eternal City lures you back. This time for something a little different though: the plushest new swimming pool in the city centre, a rare find in the Italian capital. Sightseeing offset by sun lounging? Tell me more… THE STAY: Situated in the shadows [...]
Tell-all book to reveal ‘blatant calumnies and dark manoeuvres’ against Pope Benedict XVI January 2, 2023 Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s longtime personal secretary has written a tell-all book that his publisher has promised would tell the truth about the “blatant calumnies”, “dark manoeuvres”, mysteries and scandals that sullied the reputation of a pontiff best known for his historic resignation. Archbishop Georg Gaenswein’s Nothing But The Truth: My Life Beside Pope Benedict [...]
Pope Benedict, first to resign in 600 years dies aged 95 December 31, 2022 Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the first pope to resign in 600 years has died. According to a statement by the Vatican, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI died today at 9:34 in the Mater Ecclesia Monastery in the Vatican. Born as Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger in Germany in 1927, he led the Catholic Church for eight years, before [...]
Planet Crypto: Michelangelo to burn artwork, mint NFTs instead October 28, 2022 After chatting with Damien Hirst about burning NFTs, the Planet Crypto team meet Michelangelo - it's all a bit of fun!