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The Guardian
10-06-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Florence finally to be rid of notorious 60-metre crane after two decades
A giant crane that has blighted the skyline of Florence for almost 20 years is finally to be removed. The controversial structure, described as 'a metal monster', has stood in the centre of the Tuscan capital since 2006, when it was installed in a square opposite the Uffizi Galleries – famous for sublime artworks of the Italian renaissance – and tasked with doing the heavy lifting of materials during the initial phase of the museum's ongoing expansion. At more than 60 metres tall and visible from miles away, the crane was used less and less as the construction works dragged on, but there it remained despite numerous attempts to have it removed over its incongruity with the Florence landscape. Over time, the crane not only became a target of mockery, with an Instagram account set up for this purpose, but also the ultimate symbol of Italy's notoriously sluggish bureaucracy. The main thing holding back the crane's removal has been the huge cost but also the permissions required from the various levels of authority. But after some of the city's entrepreneurs responded to an appeal by the Uffizi's exasperated director, Simone Verde, and clubbed together to cover the bill, the dismantling of the crane will finally begin on 16 June, culminating in a celebration on the terrace of the galleries' Loggia dei Lanzi on 21 June. Such is the importance of the occasion, the event will also be attended by Italy's culture minister, Alessandro Giuli. 'Florence has been waiting for this moment for a long time,' said Verde. 'The metal monster is being removed and Florence's dazzling beauty can finally return intact and unviolated.' Verde added that the 'havoc' caused by the crane had been weighing on the city for far too long, and that he hoped the momentous occasion would mark the beginning of the end of 'this cursed construction site'. Part of the total €180,000 (£152,000) cost will also be used to replace the crane with a less invasive and more sustainable hoist, allowing the works to finally be completed without sullying the city's aesthetics. 'This operation confirms that good administration can triumph despite everything,' said Verde. 'It also testifies that the Uffizi has the capacity to be a model for cultural efficiency and a true flag for Italy in the world.'
The Independent
22-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
US and Italy launch new effort to find remains of soldiers who went missing during WWII
The U.S. has launched a partnership with Italian authorities in order to renew efforts to recover the remains of American soldiers who went missing during World War II. In a post on social media, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) said that the new pact 'reflects values shared' between the two nations. 'This will formalize & facilitate our efforts to search for & recover Americans missing from WWII throughout Italy & it reflects values shared between our countries,' the DPAA said. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Rome on Tuesday by Luigi La Rocca, the head of Italy's Department for Heritage Protection, and Kelly McKeague, the director of DPAA. "The right to research and remember those dead during the war is now combined with the protection of the archaeological heritage for which the Ministry of Culture is responsible," Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli said on Tuesday, CBS reported. Giuli said the agreement was a further step in "our decade-long cooperation with the U.S. agency for prisoners of war and missing in action, as a tribute to those who sacrificed their lives to contribute to our freedom." The recovery of the remains will be facilitated in compliance with archaeological regulations, according to Italy's Ministry of Culture. Around 72,000 American service members still remain unaccounted for from the war around the world, according to DPAA. Though the exact number that died in Italy is difficult to know, the peninsula was the site of multiple battles from 1943 to 1945, after America entered the fight. Since efforts were renewed in the 1970s, the remains of nearly 1,000 Americans who died in World War II have been identified. Earlier this year, the remains of a soldier who went missing in action during an aquatic operation in Italy, were recovered. U.S. Army Pfc. Robert L. Bryant, 23, was assigned to Company B, in the 4th Ranger Battalion, as part of a group known as Darby's Rangers, according to the DPAA. The battalion was trained by Colonel William Darby, and was active in areas including Italy, northern Africa and the Middle East.
Straits Times
20-05-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Italy, US bolster cooperation for recovery of missing WW2 soldiers' remains
ROME - Italy and the U.S. signed a memorandum to improve recovery operations for American military personnel who went missing in action in World War Two and were never accounted for, a statement said on Tuesday. The conflict saw intense fighting across the Italian peninsula from 1943 to 1945, following the Allied invasion of Sicily and the subsequent campaign to liberate Italy from Fascist and Nazi forces. Under the deal signed by Italy's culture ministry and the U.S. defence agency for the research of missing military personnel, recovery operations would be improved by steps to ensure the protection of archaeological sites involved in some of the search efforts. "The right to research and remember those dead during the war is now combined with the protection of the archaeological heritage for which the ministry of culture is responsible," Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli said. He added that the agreement was a further step in "our decade-long cooperation with the U.S. agency for prisoners of war and missing in action, as a tribute to those who sacrificed their lives to contribute to our freedom". Almost 72,000 Americans remain unaccounted for from World War Two globally, according to the defence accounting agency's official website. Since the renewal of recovery efforts in the 1970s, the remains of nearly 1,000 Americans who died in the war have been identified and returned to the families, it added. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Italy, US bolster cooperation for recovery of missing WW2 soldiers
ROME (Reuters) -Italy and the U.S. signed a memorandum to improve recovery operations for American military personnel who went missing in action in World War Two and were never accounted for, a statement said on Tuesday. The conflict saw intense fighting across the Italian peninsula from 1943 to 1945, following the Allied invasion of Sicily and the subsequent campaign to liberate Italy from Fascist and Nazi forces. Under the deal signed by Italy's culture ministry and the U.S. defence agency for the research of missing military personnel, recovery operations would be improved by steps to ensure the protection of archaeological sites involved in some of the search efforts. "The right to research and remember those dead during the war is now combined with the protection of the archaeological heritage for which the ministry of culture is responsible," Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli said. He added that the agreement was a further step in "our decade-long cooperation with the U.S. agency for prisoners of war and missing in action, as a tribute to those who sacrificed their lives to contribute to our freedom". Almost 72,000 Americans remain unaccounted for from World War Two globally, according to the defence accounting agency's official website. Since the renewal of recovery efforts in the 1970s, the remains of nearly 1,000 Americans who died in the war have been identified and returned to the families, it added.
Reuters
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Italy, US bolster cooperation for recovery of missing WW2 soldiers
ROME, May 20 (Reuters) - Italy and the U.S. signed a memorandum to improve recovery operations for American military personnel who went missing in action in World War Two and were never accounted for, a statement said on Tuesday. The conflict saw intense fighting across the Italian peninsula from 1943 to 1945, following the Allied invasion of Sicily and the subsequent campaign to liberate Italy from Fascist and Nazi forces. Under the deal signed by Italy's culture ministry and the U.S. defence agency for the research of missing military personnel, recovery operations would be improved by steps to ensure the protection of archaeological sites involved in some of the search efforts. "The right to research and remember those dead during the war is now combined with the protection of the archaeological heritage for which the ministry of culture is responsible," Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli said. He added that the agreement was a further step in "our decade-long cooperation with the U.S. agency for prisoners of war and missing in action, as a tribute to those who sacrificed their lives to contribute to our freedom". Almost 72,000 Americans remain unaccounted for from World War Two globally, according to the defence accounting agency's official website. Since the renewal of recovery efforts in the 1970s, the remains of nearly 1,000 Americans who died in the war have been identified and returned to the families, it added.
