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Hopes for justice four years after Genoa bridge collapse

The Anews reported, citing the DPA, trial of the officials blamed for the fatal August 2018 collapse of a motorway bridge in the Italian city of Genoa was adjourned on Thursday (July 7) after the court set dates for the proceedings and heard fresh applications.
A total of 59 people are being charged over the disaster, which claimed 43 lives in 2018. The prosecution will hear more than 170 witnesses. More than 300 civilian plaintiffs have already joined the lawsuit.
Egle Possetti, a spokesperson for the victims' association, said the association was among those submitting a new application as a plaintiff. Proceedings were to resume on September 12, she said.
One of the relatives of the victims told Italian television: "This is the last hope for justice that we still have.”
Three halls were prepared for the first day of the trial, one of which was a tent.
Possetti said: "After almost four years we have high expectations.”

She added: "We expect this trial to bring justice, to provide clarity regarding the reasons and responsibility that led to the deaths of our loved ones, because otherwise their deaths will have been in vain, and they will not be able to rest in peace.”
She added that it was necessary for those responsible to be brought to justice for the victims to be able to "rest in peace."
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Observers expect that the first verdicts may only be reached in two years. Among the defendants are experts and former executives of the company responsible for the maintenance of the bridge, as well as former members of the Infrastructure Ministry and other authorities.
"I believe that everyone wants to know the truth," Giovanni Accinni, a lawyer representing one of the accused former officials, said.
His colleague, Guido Carlo Alleva, added: "Today we are starting to talk about the facts." He contrasted this with what he termed a "media-oriented, falsified and twisted process" that followed the collapse.
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Alleva pointed to an experts' report indicating that the bridge had construction defects.
The former officials are being charged with manslaughter, abuse of office, and dereliction of duty.
Two other companies, a maintenance firm and the highway operator, have already settled outside of court for around €30 million ($30.6 million).
After the collapse hundreds of people who lived below the bridge became homeless. The reason for the disaster is presumed to be damage that was not spotted due to a lack of proper maintenance.
A new bridge has been built over the Polcevera river, which was inaugurated as the Ponte San Giorgio (St George Bridge) in August 2020.
Source: anews
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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