ROME – All across Italy more people were outside and there was more traffic on the roads as the new round of re-opening began after Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte signed off on a new timetable for 'Phase 2' following talks with regional governments, and allowed shops, bars, beauty salons, and hairdressers to resume their services, although many were open only by appointment to customers, enforced health and safety rules, offered sanitizing gel, and had specific entrance and exit points, reports La Repubblica. A new self-declaration form has also been made available online for those w
CLAIRE DERECKI
Starting from the 1785 earthquake in Calabria all the way to the last fatal tremors that killed scores of Romans holidaying in the central hill town of Amatrice in 2016, Sonia Topazio’s book ‘The lords of earthquakes’ gives an overview of the seismic question in Italy focussing on how the establishment has repeatedly failed to protect innocent citizens. Rather than shying away from the complexity of the topic, the author explores it using a polyphonic choir interweaving the voices of earthquake survivors with researchers, journalists and politicians.
18 May 2020
INSIDER NEWSDESK
VATICAN CITY – St Peter’s Basilica reopened on Monday with a chapel mass to celebrate John Paul II, with approximately 30 people in attendance all observing social-distancing norms, in another televised address from the Holy See.
Several Cardinals were also in attendance with the Pope at the tomb of John Paull II, or Karol Wojtyla, to honour the centenary of the pontiff’s birth. "He was the man of mercy because justice and mercy go together,” said Francis. “They cannot be distinguished. One without the other cannot be found," as quoted from La Repubblica.
18 May 2020
INSIDER NEWSDESK
ROME – A university allegedly allowed Florentine police officers to cheat in exams by providing the answers to prospective and current Florentine police officers, which has led to corruption charges against 71 people at the Link Campus University of Rome and the Italian Unitary Union of Police Workers (Siulp) following a two year investigation entered by Tuscan prosecutors on Wednesday. The surveys cover the academic years 2016-2017 and 2017-2018.
15 May 2020
INSIDER NEWSDESK
ROME - ANSA's assembly of journalists proclaimed a 48-hour strike from Friday until Sunday, according to ANSA’s own website. “The two-day strike decided by the ANSA journalists' meeting is only the latest act of a continuous erosion of jobs and spaces for collaborators in recent years,” read a press release from the Secretariat of the Roman Press Association.
“After yet another cut in costs with a tough round of early retirement on which the editorial team could not find an equilibrium, two months of Covid were enough for the situation to precipitate,” said the press statement.
15 May 2020
INSIDER NEWSDESK
MILAN – The Seveso river, which flows through the provinces of Como, Monza e Brianza, and Milan, and which has overflowed consistently through the years, flooded again in Milan during the night as a storm battered the city and caused blackouts and flooding in Niguarda, via Valfurva, and Lambro, according to local public officials. The river flooded shortly after 3:00 a.m. on Friday morning, report Il Messaggero.
15 May 2020
INSIDER NEWSDESK
VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis has voiced his concern for the situation in Lebanon in this centenary year of 'Greater Lebanon', which has been experiencing a severe poverty crisis, and with current the global economic slowdown risks “robbing of hope” from younger generations, reports a Holy See press release. Given the global context, the pontiff raised concerns that it will become increasingly difficult to ensure that the sons and daughters of the Lebanese people have access to education, which, especially in smaller areas, had previously been guaranteed by ecclesiastical institutions.
14 May 2020
INSIDER NEWSDESK
ROME – The Italian foreign intelligence agency (AISE), has elected Gianni Caravelli, 59, as the new President of the agency, and will replace Luciano Carta, who leaves his leadership position to take over the presidency of Leonardo, the Italian aerospace, defense, and security industry giant, and will assume the position on May 20, report La Repubblica. Mr. Caravelli has been Deputy Director of AISE since 2014.
14 May 2020
JAN FILIPOWICZ
ROME -- A surprise decision by the FAO Director General, Qu Dongyu, to reallocate radically six assistant directors' job descriptions and move the once powerful 'colonels' into six small offices close to the DG's office so that their work can be watched, has caused havoc among the old guard at the UN agency, FAO sources say.
14 May 2020