Articles
New Lisbon Casino Conferences – 2023 Cycle What is at stake?
Wednesday, August 2nd, 2023 | Articles | Comments Off on New Lisbon Casino Conferences – 2023 Cycle What is at stake?
A century and a half ago, a group of leading Portuguese thinkers decided to conduct a series of conferences on major issues that challenged the world at the end of the 19th century.
Building on this concept and on Portugal’s need to respond to the major challenges of the 21st century with deep dives and original approaches, Circulo Eça de Queiroz, the Gremio literario and the Centro Nacional da Cultura, launched into groundbreaking round tables: the new Conferencias do Casino.
The idea came from three concerned citizens who observed Portugal’s increasing cosmopolitanism in recent years and the need to broaden perspectives. They are Pedro Rebelo de Sousa, Jose Veiga Sarmento, and Dennis Redmont.
Russia and Ukraine, on May 17, ignited the first session with Giuliano da Empoli and Bruno Maçães at Fundacão Calouste Gulbenkian.
AI and Art was the groundbreaking battlefield at the prestigious Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga for the second conference.
Europe and Portugal were the object of scrutiny for the third conference. Here to watch the conferences’ registration.
Upcoming are a series of lectures on Globalization and Deglobalization, and a major meditation on the crisis of democratic capitalization with Martin Wolf at the futuristic Fundação Champalimaud on October 23.
Stay tuned for dates and details!
Click here to download the press release with the description of the project.
Click here to download the first lecture’s press release with the speakers’ presentation.
Click here to download the second and third lectures’ press releases.
Tribute to Henry Kamm
Wednesday, August 2nd, 2023 | Articles | Comments Off on Tribute to Henry Kamm
Portugal honors the memory of the New York Times correspondent who passed away a few weeks ago at the age of 98, Henry Kamm, one of my mentors from the Great Generation: first as a World War II refugee, then as a witness to decolonization in many African and Asian countries.
Together, as seen in the opening photo, in 1982 we interviewed Pope John Paul II on a flight to Rome, returning from a papal trip to Africa.
Click here to read the tribute published in the Diario de Noticias by Leonidio Paulo Ferreira.
A Look Beyond Papal Trips that Read Like Thrillers
Wednesday, August 2nd, 2023 | Articles | Comments Off on A Look Beyond Papal Trips that Read Like Thrillers
1967-2023: Over 50 years of history, five pontificates and three papal trips to the country of “Saudade.” Popes’ visits to #Portugal and other places might appear like thrillers, diplomatic drama, and security challenges, but beyond the pageantry, there is more than what meets the eye. My experience started in 1967 …
“A papal trip to a Catholic country brings with it an explosive mixture of history, diplomacy, politics, and sensational events. And after the trip ends what remains in memory are the unusual events, but some of them only become clear years later.”
Click here to continue reading my article published for Diario de Noticias.
1965. Lisbon. The PIDE, Soares, three women and a dictator.
Wednesday, March 22nd, 2023 | Articles | Comments Off on 1965. Lisbon. The PIDE, Soares, three women and a dictator.
When I arrived in the sleepy, romantic city of Lisbon in 1965, at the age of 23, for my first foreign assignment, I never thought that one day the national airport would be named after the assassinated opposition leader (Humberto Delgado) and that a small-time defense lawyer named Mario Soares (later premier and president of Portugal) would take me to the scene of the crime.
Click here to read the full story published in Italian within the book “Pieces of History. From the Armistice to the Coronavirus. 48 events. 42 witnesses. Facts and Characters in the Tale of Agency Journalists” for Hoepli, edited by Cesare Protetti and Stefano Polli.
10 years as a member of the TEDx Rome Advisory Board
Monday, February 6th, 2023 | Articles | Comments Off on 10 years as a member of the TEDx Rome Advisory Board
I have been a member of the TEDx Rome Advisory Board for ten years.
Find out more about my background and the composition of the team here.
A fateful appointment in November
Tuesday, November 8th, 2022 | Articles | Comments Off on A fateful appointment in November
The world has an appointment on the morning of November 9: the respected 158-year-old Portuguese daily “Diario De Noticias” asked me to decrypt the crucial USA midterm elections.
Click here to read the article or here to download the pdf version of the article.
My life during the years in Portugal and Brazil
Saturday, July 3rd, 2021 | Articles | Comments Off on My life during the years in Portugal and Brazil
I recounted my life during my years in Portugal and Brazil to Il Diario de Noticias in Lisbon over a brunch at the Boulangerie.
Click here to read the article where I tell firsthand about the dangers of journalists and press freedom under dictatorships.
Biden / Putin Geneva Summit
Saturday, June 19th, 2021 | Articles | Comments Off on Biden / Putin Geneva Summit
No props and no stunts this time: who won the battle for media attention at the Biden / Putin Geneva Summit?
Click here to listen to my take for the TRT World Newshour.
Portuguese 1960s/1970s days of censorship and repression told to the Fulbright Community
Saturday, June 5th, 2021 | Articles | Comments Off on Portuguese 1960s/1970s days of censorship and repression told to the Fulbright Community
The Fulbright community in Portugal wanted to hear about the 1960s/1970s days of censorship and repression, and how it compares to censorship these days.
Click here for the recorded talk to listen to my take.
Russian cyberspace disinformation on the pandemic
Wednesday, June 2nd, 2021 | Articles | Comments Off on Russian cyberspace disinformation on the pandemic
Every time a major pandemic development takes place-whether lockdown or vaccine-a sharp uptick comes in from Russian cyberspace with dis/misinformation.
Click here to listen to my take on TRT World Now on how this is being fought.