University News

Bocconi alumnus Luca Attanasio, Italian ambassador in Congo, was killed aged 43 during a kidnap attempt along with policeman Vittorio Iacovacci and driver Mustapha Milambo. This week, our entire community was hurt by the loss of one of its most valuable representatives. After graduating at Bocconi in 2001, Attanasio pursued a brilliant career, eventually becoming one of the youngest Italian ambassadors on Earth. Together with his wife Zakia Seddiki, they locally helped mothers and children improve their life conditions. We, as Tra i Leoni, express our most profound condolences to Attanasio’s family.

Bocconi graduates finally had their celebration. True, it was not as exciting as graduating in presence. And true, it took place much later than the actual graduation date. Nevertheless, it was probably better than nothing. This year, the valedictorian speech of the youngest 110 cum laude of the year was given by Ludovica Arconte.

Spadolini quarantined. The emergence of a number of Covid-19 cases at the Spadolini Residence following a screening campaign prompted the Milanese health authorities to order that the structure be quarantined for 14 days, starting on Monday, February 22nd. The Dubini Residence has then been quarantined, too.

Massive rapid swab screening. The screening campaign involving all students residences has been extended to all the Bocconi community: students, professors and staff who visit the campus regularly. It will start in March and will last 4 weeks: Bocconi HR & Operations department said they will be able to complete approximately 200 tests per day, depending on availability. As usual, participation is on a voluntary basis. However, not everyone will be able to be tested: the campaign excludes those who already tested positive to Covid, those currently in quarantine/isolation, those who completed a swab test the previous week and those who have already taken the Covid vaccine.

European News

The European Council on 25 February acknowledged delays in the vaccination campaign. The final document reads that there is the need to “urgently accelerate the authorisation, production and distribution of vaccines, as well as vaccination”, with the Council supporting efforts to increase European vaccine production. The summit of chiefs of government also asked the Commission to draft a report on the lessons learned from Covid-19.

The EU Commission urges six Member States to remove some of their Covid-19 border restrictions. Coordinating EU Member States with regards to the pandemic crisis management was not an easy job, especially concerning border restrictions. In fact, countries were determined in retaining border decisions as a national matter. Now, however, the EU Commission asked some of them to loosen their measures.

EMA’s approval of Johnson & Johnson vaccine scheduled during the first half of March. Following FDA approval of the vaccine in the United States, the same should happen in Europe during the first half of this month. J&J’s vaccine would be the fourth getting approved in our territory, hopefully easing the supply chain in the EU.

The Czech Republic declares a new state of emergency. After a law passed Friday allowing the imposition of a state of emergency, the government announced the latter would last until March 28. Concerns had arisen due to the skyrocketing number of cases, predicted to reach 20,000 daily soon (35,000 without the state of emergency), largely composed of the new variants.

Viktor Orbán has taken the Chinese coronavirus jab. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has announced on social media that he has taken the Covid vaccine developed by Chinese Sinopharm. Sharply criticizing the EU’s vaccination strategy, Hungary has authorized both the Sinopharm and the Sputnik (Russian) vaccines.

World News

A US airstrike in Syria allegedly killed 22 militians. The first military action taken by the Biden administration targeted Iran-backed militias, as a “proportionate military response” after a rocket attack on US targets had led to the death of a contractor.

Dominican Republic announces plans for Haiti border fence. The president of the Dominican Republic has announced plans to build a fence along its border with Haiti, which extends for about 380km. He says that the fence would help curb illegal immigration, drug trafficking and the flow of stolen vehicles between the two countries. These two countries share the Caribbean island Hispaniola, and relations between the two countries have been historically difficult. The cost of the project has not been disclosed. 

Nigeria kidnappings: hunt for 300 girls as second abducted school group freed. Police in Nigeria have launched a search and rescue operation for 317 girls kidnapped from a school in the state of Zamfara. The operation comes as 42 people kidnapped from a boarding school in a similar incident last week in Niger state were released. 

Haiti prison escape: hundreds of inmates flee from Croix-des-Bouquets jail. More than 200 prisoners are on the run in Haiti after escaping from a jail near the capital, Port-au-Prince. Authorities said 25 people died following Thursday’s mass escape from the Croix-des-Bouquets jail, including the prisons director. Staff at a nearby clothing store told reporters that they had been forced to give items to the escaped prisoners.  

El Chapo’s wife Emma Coronel Aispuro arrested in US over ‘drug trafficking’. The wife of jailed Mexican drug lord Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman has been arrested in the US on suspicion of drug trafficking. She is charged with participating in a conspiracy to distribute heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana. El Chapo is currently serving a life sentence in Colorado for drug trafficking and money laundering.

China court orders man to pay wife for housework in landmark case. A much debated case took place in China this week, where a court estimated that the equivalent of €6,500 was due to a wife following a divorce. The amount was justified by the housework carried out by the woman during their 5-year marriage. While part of the public opinion took the husband’s side, others deemed the sentence should have provided for higher reimbursement.

Notizie italiane

Ritorno della Lombardia in zona arancione da oggi. A partire da oggi, la Lombardia si trova in zona arancione: sarà quindi vietato uscire dal comune di residenza, domicilio o abitazione, a meno di esigenze lavorative, situazioni di necessità o motivi di salute.

Conte leader 5 Stelle. L’ex premier Giuseppe Conte ha accettato, nel corso di un summit con i maggiorenti pentastellati a Roma, un ruolo di primo piano nel Movimento. Per il M5S si tratta di riorganizzarsi completamente, dopo gli scarsi risultati nei sondaggi degli ultimi anni e le defezioni (tra cui spicca quella di Alessandro Di Battista). In prospettiva, si ipotizza per Conte un ruolo di “capo unico” del Movimento.

Saranno consegnati domani i primi vaccini per il personale delle Università lombarde. La campagna procederà senza distinzione di età, con priorità in base all’incidenza epidemiologica territoriale, fino ad allargarsi a tutta la Lombardia. Sono interessati 14 atenei pubblici e privati, tra cui la Bocconi, per un totale di 15 mila persone.

La Sardegna è la prima regione bianca. La regione Sardegna è da oggi in “zona bianca” – la prima in Italia. Tra le misure adottate dall’amministrazione regionale, il coprifuoco alle 23.30 e l’apertura serale dei ristoranti. Ulteriori allentamenti delle misure anti-contagio potrebbero essere approvati la prossima settimana.

Nel 2020, le emissioni di gas serra in Italia sono diminuite del 9,8%. La forte riduzione in termini di emissioni, calcolata dall’Ispra, sarebbe dovuta principalmente agli effetti del Covid-19. La diminuzione è stata accompagnata da un forte calo del Pil dell’8,9%. L’obiettivo del futuro è forse quello di abbinare crescita economica a sostenibilità?

Alla Camera nasce “Alternativa c’è. La componente del gruppo misto è stata costituita da tredici deputati che hanno lasciato il Movimento 5 Stelle in seguito alla nascita del governo Draghi, che assicurano che presto ci saranno nuovi ingressi.

Fabrizio Curcio è il nuovo capo della Protezione Civile, nominato dal Consiglio dei Ministri di venerdì 27. Succede ad Angelo Borrelli, tornando a occupare il posto abbandonato nel 2017 per motivi di salute. E la Protezione Civile potrebbe presto avere un ruolo nella campagna vaccinale, per aumentare la velocità nelle somministrazioni e arrivare a 600mila dosi al giorno.

Alitalia, sale il conto per lo Stato italiano. Ammonterebbe a 12 miliardi e 737 milioni di euro il costo per lo Stato italiano della serie di salvataggi e “prestiti ponte” concessi ad Alitalia nel corso degli anni. Una cifra destinata probabilmente ad aumentare se il governo deciderà di andare avanti con ITA, la denominazione che la compagnia acquisirebbe dopo un ulteriore salvataggio.