Topic: L'Aquila

Backchannels
Revisiting the tragic Italian earthquake manslaughter verdict

Trying to be a little fairer to the Italian prosecution that sentenced seven men to prison for failing to 'adequately warn' about the L'Aquila earthquake.

Backchannels
Earthquake predictions and a triumph of scientific illiteracy in an Italian court (+video)

An Italian court sentenced scientists to jail time for not having a functioning crystal ball ahead of the 2009 earthquake in L'Aquila. The arguments of science and reason fell on deaf ears.

Italian seismologists could get four years for incorrect earthquake prediction

According to prosecutors, the six researchers and the Department of Civil Protection downplayed the likelihood that a series of tremors that hit the city in early 2009 were foreshadowing a larger quake.

Italy earthquake: modern buildings, not ancient ones, pose biggest threat (+video)

The Italy earthquake suggests that danger lies not so much in ancient monuments as in the many buildings constructed between the late 1940s and the early 1970s.

Northeast Italy shaken by biggest quake there since the 1300s

The 6.0-magnitude temblor left at least four dead and cracked bell towers, crumbled church facades, and caved in roofs in the region around Bologna early Sunday.

Obama to unveil plan for helping African farmers

Ahead of the G-8 summit, President Obama will unveil a new public-private partnership with DuPont, Monsanto, and Cargill, and almost 20 companies from Africa, to help farmers build local markets and fight hunger.

Marsquake? How rumblings could bolster hope for life on Mars.

If seismic activity on Mars is recent, and it can be traced to a volcano, it could mean that there is a source of heat to melt ice and provide potential habitats for simple forms of life.

Italian scientists' failure to predict 2009 quake: a criminal offense? (video)

More than 300 people died when an earthquake struck the Italian town of L'Aquila in 2009, days after several scientists said there was 'no danger.' Now the scientists are facing a trial for manslaughter.

Global News Blog
Michelle Obama is 'suntanned'? Berlusconi's Top 5 gaffes

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi called President Obama 'tanned' ... again. And this time he brought the First Lady Michelle Obama into it.

The value of change – and what never changes

A Christian Science perspective.

G-8 summit disappoints many, but not Berlusconi

Italy's leader deemed the event a logistical 'miracle' after a last-minute change of venue. But critics decried lack of concrete progress on climate change, Iran, and trade.

G-8 leaders pressured to honor aid pledges

The global recession has helped reduce aid from wealth nations – even as it pushes millions more into poverty.

As G-8 convenes in Italy, tough questions of economic stimulus and climate change

The nations meeting in earthquake-devastated L'Aquila are also likely to consider what actions to take on Iran, North Korea.

Will G-8 countries move faster on climate change?

In the post-Bush era, the major industrial nations meeting this week face pressure to set firm temperature and emission-reduction goals.

In Italy, earthquake survivors struggle to make a tent city feel like home

Gardens and kids' bikes are small signs of an effort to create some normalcy in one of more than 170 encampments that house residents of L'Aquila, badly damaged by an April 6 quake.

Editor's Blog
Today's agenda: Cyberwar rising, GM bankruptcy outlook, German strikes

An Italian prince waltzes into politics

Prince Emmanuel Filiberto of Savoy hopes his recent win in Italy's 'Dancing With the Stars' will ignite a political career in his homeland.

After earthquake, Italians ask questions about building codes

Critics say that lax compliance with existing regulations contributed to L'Aquila's high death toll.

Global News Blog
After the quake, Italy's prime minister vows to rebuild