Sixteen convictions over High-Speed Train protests

INSIDER NEWSDESK

TURIN – The trial of activists and anti-high velocity train sympathisers who clashed with police during protests in Susa Valley over the building of the high-speed rail link between Lyon and Turin, has resulted in 16 convictions and three acquittals, judicial sources said on Friday.

 Retired Greek teacher Nicoletta Dosio, 73, a longstanding TAV (High Velocity Train) protestor, was sentenced to one year, eight months and 10 days. While Marisa Meyer, another stalwart of the No TAV (No to the High Velocity Train) movement, was acquitted. 

World, Italy
12 Oct 2018
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Arab lawyers embrace global future

INSIDER NEWSDESK

ROME - The 4th Arab Lawyers Forum gathered 300 delegates at the Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria Resort to discuss the impact of global trends and regional regulatory reform. Timed to take place alongside the International Bar Association (IBA) Annual Conference, the Forum has expanded in scope, having only previously been held in Morocco, Egypt and Bahrain.

Business, Rome
11 Oct 2018
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Second exhibition of ‘German findings’ in Eternal City

INSIDER NEWSDESK

ROME – ‘Constellation 2’, the second exhibition showcasing stories of German people in Rome, will launch on Nov. 10 and run until January 2019.

 The entire ‘Constellation’ project was initiated by Giuseppe Garrera and supported by Maria Gazzetti, director of the Casa di Goethe in Rome, the venue for the upcoming exhibition. It focuses on ‘German findings’ in Rome, sourced from homes of German families, scholars and travellers.

Culture, Rome, Italy
11 Oct 2018
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Ministry of Defence braced for swingeing cuts

Francesca Halliwell

ROME - Five Star Movement ministers met yesterday to discuss 1 billion euro cuts to departmental budgets. The Ministry of Defence is set to take the greatest hit, as talks confirmed that 500 million euros would be slashed from their budget. Although ministers have assured that the cuts “will not be applied to staff salaries or to Italy’s internal and external security systems,” various defence measures will allegedly be suspended.

Rome, World, Italy
11 Oct 2018
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Genoa victims honoured in Italy fixture

Patrick Middleton

ROME – Applause rang round Sampdoria’s stadium in the 43rd minute of Italy’s friendly against Ukraine last night, in tribute to the 43 people who had lost their lives in the Genoa tragedy in August.

 The Stadio Luigi Ferraris played host to a particularly emotional night, as the victims of the bridge collapse were remembered. During the national anthems, mascots wore t-shirts with the message “Genoa in the heart," while the same words were displayed on the big screen for the minute of applause.

Italy, Sport
11 Oct 2018
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Sardinian floods: Missing woman found dead

INSIDER NEWSDESK

CAGLIARI – Devastating torrential rain in Sardinia has claimed a victim: a 45-year-old woman from Assemini, missing overnight after being swept away by floodwaters has been found dead, police officials said on Thursday.

 A team of police, fire fighters and civil protection personnel found the body of Tamara Maccario 400 metres downstream from the point in Sa Tria where she and her family had been separated.

Italy
11 Oct 2018
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Sardinian bridge collapses after torrential rain

INSIDER NEWSDESK

CAGLIARI – A bridge connecting Cagliari to Capoterra in the south of the island of Sardinia has collapsed following torrential rain, emergency services said on Wednesday.

 The bridge over the Santa Lucia River along state road 195 gave way when heavy rain caused the river to break its banks. Municipal police had already closed a stretch of the road a few kilometres away at the Scafa Bridge after a sinkhole opened. 

 Two couples left stranded after metre-high floodwaters filled their homes were rescued by firefighters.

Italy
10 Oct 2018

Police confirm interest in questioning Ronaldo

Patrick Middleton

ROME – A spokesperson for the Las Vegas Police Department confirmed on Wednesday that they would like to question Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo in connection with the allegation of rape levelled against him by Kathryn Mayorga.

 “We certainly do not know yet when it will happen… but at some point, we will have to listen to him,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying, the Sun reported. However, they went on to clarify that Ronaldo has not been charged with a crime, therefore he would not be questioned as an “accused party”, but as a “person of interest to the facts of the case”.

World, Italy, Sport
10 Oct 2018
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Pope launches attack on abortion

Francesca Halliwell

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis compared abortion to “hiring a hitman to solve a problem,” when addressing his weekly audience at St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday.

 “Interrupting a pregnancy is like eliminating someone,” he declared, adding that “a contradictory approach to life allows the suppression of human life in the mother’s womb in order to safeguard other values."

 He went on to pose the question, “How can an act that suppresses innocent and defenceless life as it blossoms be therapeutic, civil or simply human?”

Rome, World, Italy, Vatican
10 Oct 2018
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