Ansa news

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 24 GEN - "Together for the Students" is the title of a demonstration that is beginning to gather in Belgrade, organized by the IT NGO Blokada, which emerged within the "Intelligence Technology community" to support the student protest movement and manage its financial support platforms, along with some forty other associations backing the students. In central Pasić Square, steps from the Serbian Parliament, booths are being set up to showcase the issues central to the student…

(ANSA-AFP) - BELGRADE, JAN 23 - The United States has extended a temporary operating licence for Serbia's sanctioned oil company, the state broadcaster RTS said on Friday, as negotiations continue for the exit of Russian majority stakeholders. Washington's sanctions on the Petroleum Industry of Serbia (NIS), part of its crackdown on Russia's energy sector, have previously forced a months-long shutdown of the country's only oil refinery. Production restarted earlier this month after a temporary reprieve…

(ANSA-AFP) - BELGRADE, JAN 23 - Prosecutors in Kosovo said Friday that over 100 election staff had been arrested over "falsification" of voting results in a direct attempt to "subvert" last month's national poll. It comes after a full recount and a criminal investigation had been ordered into the Balkan nation's general election earlier this week after inaccuracies in the tallies were discovered. "We are talking about an organisation and a direct intention to subvert the results and the will of…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 23 - "Coordinating a joint response to threats to Euro-Atlantic security" and "Strengthening NATO's European pillar to further strengthen NATO's deterrence and defence posture" are two of the commitments made in the agreement on enhanced cooperation on security, defence, and resilience signed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the Italy-Germany intergovernmental summit. The agreement, which is "not legally binding and does not constitute an international…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 23 - The new round of Kosovo talks, mediated by EU Special Envoy Christian Sorensen, resulted in an agreement to establish a joint commission on people who went missing during the conflict. However, Serbia's request for the immediate establishment and recognition of a Community of Serb Municipalities in Kosovo was denied. Serbian negotiator Petkovic told reporters when he returned to Belgrade that yesterday's talks were "difficult." (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 23 - "Italy and Germany have a strong, solid, and forward-looking partnership as the two most important industrial players in the EU, and we have a duty to support an industrial policy that fosters growth, competitiveness, and a trade policy that provides an outlet for our productive activities," Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said as he opened the Italy-Germany Business Forum in Rome, attended by over 500 companies. Tajani emphasised that the two countries share…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 23 - "The challenges before us are enormous, and Europe speaks with one voice," as in the case of support for Denmark and Greenland," but at the same time, "the Italian and German governments have also demonstrated the importance of maintaining stable relations with the United States," said German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul at the Italy-Germany Business Forum in Rome. The minister emphasised the strong economic partnership between Rome and Berlin, saying, "Europe must…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 23 - "I believe the Greenland issue is now much more consolidated than before. We always assumed it was not a European issue. This is a NATO issue. When two countries, such as the United States and Denmark, are members of the same security-focused organisation, NATO, the appropriate forum for managing the conflict, negotiating, and channelling differing opinions is essentially NATO," Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said to the press at the end of the EU heads of state…

(ANSA-AFP) - DAVOS WIESEN, JAN 22 - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday he and US leader Donald Trump had found agreement on post-war American security guarantees, a key issue in putting together a plan to end the Russian invasion. After meeting Trump in Davos, Zelensky said the security guarantees were "done", speaking in English to journalists. "The document has to be signed by the sides, by the presidents, and then will go to national parliaments." (ANSA-AFP).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 22 - Slovenia's national minimum wage will rise by 16% this year to EUR 1,482 gross, Labour Minister Luka Mesec announced on Thursday, according to Slovenian news agency STA. The take-home pay will vary based on individual circumstances such as the number of dependents and tax breaks, but it will be EUR 1,000 netto for a single person without children, according to STA. In previous weeks, unions had welcomed the figure and businesses had criticised it as damaging for the economy.…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 22 - Wind and solar generated 30% more electricity in the EU than fossil fuels (29%), setting a record. This information comes from the European Electricity Review, published by the energy think tank Ember, which states that, despite the rapid acceleration of the transition, Italy, along with Germany, is among the countries hardest hit by imported petrol costs. Solar power increased by more than a fifth (+20.1%) for the fourth consecutive year, reaching a record 13% of EU…

(ANSA-AFP) - DAVOS, JAN 22 - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned Thursday that the international order is "unravelling at a breathtaking pace" and that "a world where only power counts is a dangerous place". Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Merz pointed to Russia's war in Ukraine, a rising China and a United States that is "radically reshaping its foreign and security policy". "A world where only power counts is a dangerous place," he said. "First for small states and for the middle…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 22 - The Serbian government is waiting for US approval on an oil deal in principle between Hungary's Mol and Russia's Gazprom to acquire Russia's stake in NIS. Serbian Minister of Mines and Energy, Dubravka Djedović Handanović, stated in the pro-government daily Politika that this will allow them to increase their stake in the latter by 5%, bringing it to over 33%. They will also be able to "block decisions that are not in their best interests in the future." According to…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 22 - The severe weather that hit much of Greece with violent storms yesterday, killing two people and forcing authorities to suspend school activities, is now moving eastward towards the Aegean islands, where strong winds and stormy conditions are expected. The northern Aegean islands have been placed under high alert. A 53-year-old coast guard officer died yesterday afternoon after being thrown into the water in the port of Paralio Astros in the eastern Peloponnese. A second…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 21 - On the 20th anniversary of Ibrahim Rugova's death, foreign political leaders and diplomats in Pristina paid tribute to the intellectual and historic first president of Kosovo prior to its declaration of independence. Rugova, a man of conciliation with a diplomatic and nonviolent approach, was once opposed by the KLA's hardline separatists, but he is now regarded as a historical figure, a unifying figure of independence, and a father of the Kosovar nation. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 21 - The European Parliament voted today to refer a recently signed trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur to the EU's top court, putting the agreement in legal limbo. In the vote that approved the referral of the Mercosur agreement to the EU Court, putting its final ratification on hold, cross-party pressure from MEPs from France, Romania, Poland, and Greece proved decisive. MEPs from Italy, Germany, and Spain led the "no" front, with the majority of national delegations…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 21 - The steel crisis in Germany continues: total production in 2025 fell to 34.1 million tonnes, a 9% decrease from 2024. This was announced today in a statement by the steel industry's representative organisation (Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl), which emphasises that such a figure has only been achieved since German reunification (1990), during the 2009 financial crisis. For the fourth consecutive year, production falls below 40 million tonnes, which is considered adequate…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 21 - Slovenia's Defence Minister Borut Sajovic announced today that two Slovenian military officers will travel to Greenland to participate in the international military exercise 'Arctic Endurance' at the end of the week, according to Slovenian news agency STA. Sajovic clarified that the two officers will initially stay in Greenland for a few days before making further decisions based on the needs. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 21 - "In terms of security, it is more important than ever to maintain our focus on Ukraine. Our European security and independence are dependent on what happens next. Nearly four years have passed since Russia invaded Ukraine. Peace talks are ongoing, and we acknowledge the United States' efforts in this regard," said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, speaking in the Strasbourg Chamber during the debate on the EU Council conclusions. "However, as these efforts…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 21 - After his surprise decision to resign, which he announced in a live address to the nation, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has announced that he will run in the early elections scheduled for spring. He hopes to be a decisive political factor, thanks to his popularity in the country. Radev's move is unprecedented in the history of the Balkan country. His duties will be carried out by Vice President Iliana Yotova. Last week, Radev had to acknowledge the country's ungovernability…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 21 - Slovenia is "working very seriously" on joining South Africa's genocide case against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon said this week, following media reports that the government will discuss the matter this week, according to STA. Fajon confirmed that her ministry had drawn up a proposal to join, but said several more steps would need to be agreed upon first. She said the final decision would be made by the government.…

(ANSA) - TRIESTE, 20 GEN - Barcolana presented an award to the owner and crew of the first German boat to reach the finish line of the 2025 Autumn Cup during Boot Düsseldorf, the boating trade fair in which Barcolana takes part together with Friuli Venezia Giulia Turismo and the FVG Marinas Network. The 2025 ADAC Trophy was won by Calabash (Elbe Regatta Club), skippered by Michael Schmidt. "Barcolana," said Dean Bassi, vice president of the Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano, "takes part every…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 20 - The European Parliament has activated the emergency procedure for the proposed €90 billion loan to Ukraine, which will be voted on as early as February's plenary session. By a show of hands, MEPs approved the package's accelerated procedure, which includes a joint debt-financed loan to Kyiv guaranteed by the EU budget. The emergency procedure for enhanced cooperation was also approved, allowing 24 member states—excluding the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia—to…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 20 - Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced on X that Tirana will join the Peace Board proposed by US President Donald Trump, as soon as the Albanian Parliament approves the proposal. Rama addressed Trump directly in the message, thanking him "for the invitation to serve as a founding member," and expressing his "deepest appreciation for your strong commitment and visionary leadership." (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 20 - Slovenian Minister of Culture Asta Vrečko and festival director Nicoletta Romeo celebrated the 37th edition of the Trieste Film Festival, highlighting the success of cultural cooperation between Slovenia and Italy. On this occasion, the Slovenian Film Centre was praised for its strategic role in promoting Slovenian cinema at the Trieste showcase. The partnership, it was emphasised, also confirmed the Trieste Film Festival's role as a bridge between countries, as well…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 20 - The ZEW index of German investor expectations increased to 59.6 points in January, from 45.8 in December. This figure exceeds economists' expectations of 50 points. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 20 - In Germany, 29% of students had a migrant background in 2024. This category includes those who were not born in the country or have at least one parent with a migrant background. This is a significant figure because it exceeds the overall percentage of migrants in German society, which is 26%. Among teachers, the percentage falls to 11 percent. In both cases, there is significant growth: in 2019, the percentage among students was 26%, representing a 2% increase, and among…

(ANSA) - TRIESTE, JAN 19 - A delegation from Confindustria Alto Adriatico visited the Krško (Slovenia) nuclear power plant today, organized by the Association's Energy Consortium with the Regional Economic Union of Slovenia. "The initiative," said CAA President Michelangelo Agrusti, "is part of a broader project we have launched to encourage the integration of companies in the area into highly complex supply chains through qualification and certification paths consistent with the standards required…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 19 - Mol and Gazpromneft have agreed on the basic terms of a future purchase agreement for Serbia's NIS, which can now ask Washington to lift its sanctions. The announcement was made by Serbian Minister of Mines and Energy Dubravka Djedovich Handanovich, who also stated that the Serbian government was able to secure a 5% increase in the state's stake in the Serbian oil company, which had previously been less than 30%. NIS is subject to US sanctions due to Russia's majority…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 19 - Annual inflation in the eurozone fell to 1.9% in December, down from 2.1% in November, according to Eurostat estimates, which were revised down from the initial flash estimate of 2% for December. In the European Union, the rate rose to 2.3% from 2.4% in November. The lowest annual rates were found in Cyprus (0.1%), France (0.7%), and Italy (1.2%). The highest annual rates were found in Romania (8.6%), Slovakia (4.1%), and Estonia (4.0%). (ANSA).