NYU, democracy and dissent across the globe

Barack ObamaFrom Madrid to Cairo, Tel Aviv, Rome and New York, protests have erupted across the globe against economic instability, political unaccountability and corruption, and characterized by a prevailing sense of disillusionment. What are the defining characteristics of these movements? Where are the ideas coming from and how are they being expressed? How influential is social media in their structure and philosophy? In what direction are they going?

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Fiorentina is three points above the relegation

Bad times for FiorentinaFiorentina is three points above the relegation places after being held to a 0-0 draw at home by Palermo. A run of one win in six games has the Viola sitting dangerously close to the drop zone, but the hosts will feel unlucky not to take all three points from Wednesday’s game. Matija Nastasic saw his first-half header hit the post for Fiorentina before Amauri thought he had won the game for the hosts nine minutes from time, only to have his goal called back for a handball.

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Kick off of the most modern train in Europe

NTV ItaloItalo, the most modern train in Europe, will begin running on April 28. Thanks to railway liberalization, for the first time in the world a private operator, NTV, with a totally private investment of 1 billion euro, brings competition to Italy. NTV will initially start with services on the Naples – Rome – Florence – Bologna – Milan corridor and the network will be later extended to Salerno, Torino and Venezia by the end of the year, when the entire fleet of 25 Alstom AGV trainsets will be available.

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Tuscan woman dies in the waters of Florida

A Tuscan woman died in Key WestA woman aged 47 died in Florida, while she was in the waters of Key West, overwhelmed by a tidal wave. The victim’s name was Paola Falco, lived in Figline Valdarno (Florence). She worked in the Tuscan capital as a manager of an insurance agency. She left with her husband for a holiday in the United States. According to a preliminary reconstruction, a tidal wave of 8 meters was overwhelmed with another swimmer, killing them both.

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New frontiers, the native Amercians at Palazzo Pitti

Palazzo_Pitti (Almaak) - CCThe year 2012 marks the fifth centennial of the death of Amerigo Vespucci, one of the discoverers of the American continents and, especially, the one who gave his name to the new lands. The Superintendent intends to commemorate the great navigator who was born in Florence in 1454, with an exhibition (July 3-Decembre 8 at Andito degli Angiolini and Galleria del Costume) dedicated to the native inhabitants of North America.

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Joint ventures Tuscany-Tunisian regions

Enrico Rossi (Cecil) - CCEnrico Rossi, President of the Tuscany Region (Italy), said Tuscany companies are interested in investing and creating joint ventures in such Tunisian regions as Sousse and Kasserine. Speaking at a meeting held recently in Florence on “Cooperation for Democracy between Tunisia and Tuscany,” he reviewed the opportunities offered by these regions in the health, agriculture, basic infrastructure and manufacturing industries sectors.

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Back the magic of the “Explosion of the Cart”

Scoppio del carro (Sailko) - CCThousands of people even this year will follow the explosion of the cart. The Scoppio del Carro (“Explosion of the Cart”) is a folk tradition of Florence, Italy. On Easter Sunday, a cart, packed full of fireworks and other pyrotechnics, is lit and provides a historic spectacle in the civic life of the city. The cart is loaded with fireworks while a wire, stretching to the high altar inside the cathedral, is fitted with a mechanical dove (the “columbina”).

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