Science and culture in the era of coronavirus – The coronavirus pandemic continues to inspire science and culture coverage in foreign press. The New York Times and Reuters concentrate on Andrea Crisanti, “Italy’s Cassandra,” the scientist who “has become something of a celebrity” by challenging WHO Guidelines (New York Times, June 29 – Italy’s Cassandra: The Scientist Who Challenged WHO Guidelines*), and who underscored the high impact of asymptomatic cases in transmission (Reuters, June 30 – Italian whole-town study finds 40% of coronavirus cases had no symptoms).
Luisa Carcavale, on the other hand, collects portraits of people confined to their homes during the emergency in a new project entitled “The Lockdown People,” as explained in Fuera de Serie, the supplement to the Spanish economic daily Expansión (July 1 – Los retratos confinados de Luisa Carcavale reunidos en el proyecto The Lockdown People). And there’s still a place for philosophy at home: this is the lesson Umberto Eco teaches in an essay entitled, “How to travel with a salmon,” a passage from which El Mundo quotes (June 27 – Umberto Eco: cómo hacer filosofía en casa). Lastly, another cultural report covers the latest book by Cristina Comencini, which “explores the collective drama of separation” (Le Monde, June 28 – Cristina Comencini, entre deux valises*).
Tourism – The articles devoted to tourism are also in pursuit of the “new normal” following the acute phase of the pandemic. Le Monde and The New York Times pay a visit to Venice, which might become “even better” without mass tourism (July 1 – Venise et les touristes : un poco ma non troppo*; July 2 – Venice Tourism May Never Be the Same. It Could Be Better. *), while the American daily takes a stroll through the peaks of the Dolomites, “home to some of the world’s most majestic scenery” (June 25 – The Haunting Beauty of a Hut-to-Hut Hike in the Dolomites*).
Financial Times offers as a holiday home a Sienese villa built in an old terracotta factory (June 26 – To buy now: the best homes converted from workplaces*). The British daily also covers a famous dwelling, Casa Malaparte in Capri, to which a show is dedicated in London, with original furnishings representing the “visionary design” of its owner and creator Curzio Malaparte (June 26 – Inside Casa Malaparte: Capri’s house of paradoxes*).
Economy and luxury – In the economic new, Expansión recounts how IntesaSanpaolo is aiming to grow in investment banking on the Spanish market (July 1 – La apuesta de Intesa por España), while The New York Times covers the investment by Gucci’s owner Kering, which opened in Prato the Test & Innovation Laboratory designed to test the brand’s fabrics and materials (June 25 – Gucci Owner Kering to Open Chemical Lab in Italy*).
While Sueddeutsche Zeitung runs unpublished fashion photos taken by Mario Testino in the 1970s (July 1 – Bella Figura), Reuters reports on the “double-digit” growth Prada is recording in Asia, a trend that “will continue” (July 2 – Italy’s Prada sales in Asia up double-digit, trend will continue: CEO). In luxury news, in the automotive industry, Bloomberg reviews the Ferrari F8 Spider, enthusing: “You’ll love every minute of driving this disarmingly practical supercar—if you can afford it” (July 1 – Review: The $297,250 Ferrari F8 Spider Roars, Glides, and Bites*), while El Mundo discusses the charity auction of two “unique sports cars,” organized by Lapo Elkann’s company Garage Italia (July 2 – Los coches deportivos que subasta Lapo Elkann con fines solidarios).
*Article available for pay / at registration