Italy endorses China's Belt and Road plan in first for a G7 nation

ROME (Reuters) - Italy endorsed China’s ambitious “Belt and Road” infrastructure plan on Saturday, becoming the first major Western power to back the initiative to help revive the struggling Italian economy. Saturday’s signing ceremony was the highlight of a three-day trip to Italy by Chinese President Xi Jinping, with the two nations boosting their ties at a time when the United States is locked in a trade war with China. The rapprochement has angered Washington and alarmed some European Union allies, who fear it could see Beijing gain access to sensitive technologies and critical transport hubs.

Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio played down such concerns, telling reporters that although Rome remained fully committed to its Western partners, it had to put Italy first when it came to commercial ties. “This is a very important day for us, a day when Made-in-Italy has won, Italy has won and Italian companies have won,” said Di Maio, who signed the memorandum of understanding on behalf of the Italian government in a Renaissance villa.

Taking advantage of Xi’s visit, Italian firms inked deals with Chinese counterparts worth an initial 2.5 billion euros ($2.8 billion). Di Maio said these contracts had a potential, future value of 20 billion euros. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) lies at the heart of China’s foreign policy strategy and was incorporated into the ruling Communist Party constitution in 2017, reflecting Xi’s desire for his country to take a global leadership role. The United States worries that it is designed to strengthen China’s military influence and could be used to spread technologies capable of spying on Western interests.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-china-president/italy-endorses-chinas-belt-and-road-plan-in-first-for-a-g7-nation-idUSKCN1R40DV?il=0

Pope accepts resignation of Chilean cardinal accused of covering up abuse

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati as archbishop of Santiago, the highest-ranking member of the Catholic Church in Chile, who has been caught up in the country’s sex abuse scandal. The decision to accept Ezzati’s resignation, announced in a Vatican statement on Saturday, comes at a time of sustained criticism of the Church’s response to a decades-long sexual abuse crisis. Victims of sexual abuse by clergymen say a top-level conference at the Vatican last month failed to come up with concrete measures to tackle the issue.

On March 13 an Australian court sentenced former Vatican treasurer Cardinal George Pell to six years in prison for sexually abusing two choir boys in Melbourne - the most senior Catholic to be convicted for child sex offences. Pell is appealing.

Ezzati, 77, faces multiple charges of cover up, including some relating to the case of Oscar Munoz, a former top aide to the Santiago Archbishopric, who is facing trial on charges he abused and raped at least five children. He denies wrongdoing. In October, Ezzati exercised his right to remain silent after being summoned for questioning by a state prosecutor over the allegations. His resignation brought to eight the number of bishops who have stepped down since all of the country’s 34 bishops offered their resignations en masse during an emergency meeting with the pope last May over allegations of a cover-up.

The May meeting was held after Vatican investigators produced a 2,300-page report alleging that senior Church officials in Chile had failed to act on abuse claims and in some cases hid them. Despite his resignation as archbishop of the Chilean capital, Ezzati will keep his title of cardinal. Until he turns 80, he also will be eligible to enter a conclave to elect a new pope after Francis’ death or resignation.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-chile-abuse-ezzati/pope-accepts-resignation-of-chilean-cardinal-accused-of-covering-up-abuse-idUSKCN1R40EI?il=0

>>5846510

Indeed, get the popcorn ready

Marjory Stoneman Douglas principal reassigned, under investigation

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — An investigation of a Florida school shooting that left 17 dead last year is expanding to include the school’s principal. Broward County Public Schools announced Thursday that Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Principal Ty Thompson will remain at the school, though his responsibilities are being reassigned. It’s unclear why Thompson is under investigation. District administrators say they are keeping Thompson because of the stability he’s provided to the community since the February 2018 shooting. Three assistant principals and a security specialist were reassigned and removed from the school last fall. The decision followed a meeting of the state commission that investigated the shooting. No official reason was given for the transfers. School officials hope to have their investigation finished by the end of the school year.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/mar/21/ty-thompson-marjory-stoneman-douglas-principal-rea/