NAPLES – A World Health Organisation (WHO) representative spoke out against the thousands of people on the street of the Campania capital during the coronavirus crisis, as they celebrated the Azzurri victory over Juventus to claim the Italian Cup, with the pictures shown on Italian television. Ranieri Guerra, deputy director of the WHO, said in a radio interview that “at this moment we cannot afford it, luckily it happened in Naples, where the governor and mayor have implemented rigid measures and the incidence of the virus is lower than elsewhere,” as quoted from Il Messaggero.
INSIDER NEWSDESK
ROME – An Italian National Health Service (ISS) study has revealed that Sars-CoV-2 was present northern Italy as early as Dec 2019, after two different laboratories analysed samples of water waste, reports Il Fatto Quotidiano. The 40 wastewater samples, when compared to 24 control samples, indicate that coronavirus was circulating in Italy two months prior to the discovery of ‘patient 1’ in Codogno at the end of Feb. 2020.
19 Jun 2020
INSIDER NEWSDESK
ROME – Napoli earned a first major trophy in six seasons after beating a subdued Juventus 4-2 on penalties in the Coppa Italia final, after a goalless 90 minute tussle in the empty Sadio Olimpico. It was Napoli manager Gennaro Gattuso’s first trophy, and was also the first to be claimed following the coronavirus pandemic. In Naples, there were fireworks and singing in the streets in celebration.
18 Jun 2020
INSIDER NEWSDESK
ROME – The MAXXI National Museum of 21st century art created an online programme during lockdown that has garnered around 14 million views, and announced the launch of the ‘Casa Mondo’ digital exhibition, their first exhibition entirely conceived and developed for Instagram. "The theme of living is now more than ever topical, after the long lockdown period that has changed our idea of home and the use of domestic space forever,” said Giovanna Melandri, President of the MAXXI Foundation, as quoted from a press release.
17 Jun 2020
INSIDER NEWSDESK
TRAPANI – A mafia pact between the bosses of the fugitive mafia godfather Matteo Messina Denaro, known as ‘Diabolik’, and affiliates residing in the United States, has been uncovered by Italian investigators whose efforts culminated with 13 associated individuals arrested by carabinieri, and 11 other suspects identified as being on the loose, according to judicial sources. The investigation centered on Castellammare del Golfo, a small Sicilian town, and on Tuesday an operation began involving over 200 military personnel with the support of naval units, aircrafts, and search dogs, report Il
17 Jun 2020
INSIDER NEWSDESK
ROME – In the first months of 2020, the refugee crisis has worsened with an uptake in those making the dangerous Mediterranean crossing, mostly from Libya, despite the coronavirus crisis, reports a Sant'Egidio press release, with the organisation remembering the 40 thousand to have died on dangerous routes to Europe on World Refugee Day, June 20.
17 Jun 2020
INSIDER NEWSDESK
ROME – With the expected loss of revenues of millions of euros, the ANSA Agency have gone on strike against mitigation plans from company management that would “undermine the agency's ability to operate in a very delicate phase in which the country is committed to getting out of the health emergency and embarking on the path of economic recovery,” read an ANSA statement. ANSA journalists have appealed to partners and those in government to find solutions that will allow for the agency to fulfil its public service role for the foreseeable future.
16 Jun 2020
INSIDER NEWSDESK
ROME – The Venezuelan President, Nicolás Maduro, has become embroiled in a brewing Italian corruption scandal, with allegations that he sent 3.5 million euros to finance the Italian political party Five Star (M5S) in 2010 when he was foreign affairs minister, according to Spanish newspaper ABC. While the ex-Italian Minister of the Interior, Matteo Salvini, has demanded an explanation, the allegations have been rejected outright by M5S and the Venezuelan government.
16 Jun 2020
Gianfranco Nitti
ROME – ‘AstraZeneca’, a science-led biopharmaceutical company based in the UK, has reached an agreement with Europe’s ‘Inclusive Vaccines Alliance’ (IVA) to supply up to 400 million doses of the University of Oxford’s COVID-19 vaccine, with deliveries starting by the end of 2020 following approval, according to a press release. In May, Oxford University announced the start of a Phase II/III UK trial of AZD1222 with about 10,000 volunteers, with later-stage trials due to begin in a number of other countries.
15 Jun 2020