Ansa news

(ANSA-AFP) - ATHENS, 11 LUG - Greece on Friday enforced a three-month freeze on asylum claims from migrants arriving by boat from North Africa, to stem a surge from Libya that the government has called an "invasion". The emergency legislation, approved by a majority of 177 out of 293 lawmakers, allows authorities to detain asylum seekers in camps for up to 18 months. Support for the bill mainly came from the conservative government's MPs and far-right lawmakers. "We have made the difficult but absolutely…

(ANSA-AFP) - SREBRENICA, 11 LUG - Thousands of people were gathering in Srebrenica on Friday to commemorate the genocide committed 30 years ago by Bosnian Serb forces, one of Europe's worst atrocities since World War II. On the eve of the commemorations, thousands of Srebrenica peace marchers who have walked more than 100 kilometres (62 miles) in memory of the victims and survivors of the massacre arrived at the Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial Center. The remains of seven victims of the massacre will…

(by Franco Quintano) (ANSA) - BELGRADE, 10 LUG - Time has not erased the horror of the Srebrenica genocide. Thirty years later, the Bosnian town is once again engulfed by the pain and outrage triggered by the indiscriminate massacres carried out by Bosnian Serb forces under Ratko Mladić — atrocities that marked the darkest period of the bloody fratricidal conflicts that tore apart the former Yugoslav Federation in the 1990s. Tomorrow, July 11— designated by the United Nations as the International…

(ANSA) - SOFIA, 10 LUG - Bulgarian media today called "insolent and provocative" the remarks of North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, who claimed that Bulgaria was behind changes to the European Parliament's report on Skopje that deleted references to the "Macedonian language" and "Macedonian identity" found in the original draft. The report assesses Skopje's progress in negotiations to join the EU. According to Mickoski, Sofia explicitly requested those edits. "Bulgaria acted against…

(ANSA-AFP) - STRASBOURG, 10 LUG - EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday comfortably saw off a no-confidence vote in the European Parliament -- but the rare challenge has exposed frictions between her backers and complaints about her leadership style. Lawmakers in Strasbourg rejected the censure motion -- launched by the far-right over the European Commission president's handling of Covid vaccine contracts -- by 360 to 175 in a widely expected result. "In a moment of global volatility and unpredictability,…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUL 10 - The wildfire situation in Serbia improved significantly, while it is still an emergency in northern Macedonia, where a dozen wildfires remain active, with a death toll so far of two. Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said today that more than 3,000 rescuers and 700 firefighting vehicles participated in extinguishing 628 wildfires that developed in recent days throughout the country. So many were arsonists or related to irresponsible behavior of people in forests and…

(ANSA-AFP) - ROME, 10 LUG - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged US President Donald Trump Thursday to "stay with us" Europeans in maintaining support for Ukraine -- while calling out Slovakia for holding up new EU sanctions on Russia. At an international conference in Rome, Merz offered a message "to Washington DC and to President Donald Trump: stay with us and stay with the Europeans, we are on the same page and we are looking for a stable political order in this world". He added a message to…

(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 10 - Premier Giorgia Meloni said "investing in Ukraine is an investment in ourselves" in her speech at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome on Wednesday, adding that pledges worth over 10 billion euros had been made to the country's reconstruction. "Investing in Ukraine is an investment in ourselves because it concerns each and every one of us, which is why we should be proud of the result we are all achieving together today - nations, international organizations, financial…

(ANSA) - TRIESTE, JUL 9 - A memorandum of understanding will be signed tomorrow in Rome, as part of the Ukrainian Recovery Conference, between the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region and the Ukrainian region of Odessa. FVG Governor Massimiliano Fedriga announced today, hoping for "lasting and concrete cooperation" between the two regions. Fedriga met today in Trieste with the institutional delegation of the Odessa region, led by Governor Oleh Kiper. There were several areas of the agreement: from cultural…

(ANSA) - ROME, 09 LUG - Italy's support for Ukraine remains firm, President Sergio Mattarella told President Volodymyr Zelensky in Rome Wednesday. "Welcome to this palace: it is a great pleasure to meet you again to reaffirm our great friendship and Italy's full support for the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine," said Mattarella upon receiving Zelensky at the Quirinale Palace. The Italian head of state expressed Italy's "most intense and concrete support. "Our position…

(ANSA-AFP) - ATHENS, 09 LUG - Greece will halt for three months all asylum hearings for migrants arriving on boats from North Africa, the prime minister said on Wednesday amid an uptick in migrants from Libya. "The road to Greece is closing... any migrants entering illegally will be arrested and detained," Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told parliament. The conservative leader said legislation would be put to a vote in the chamber on Thursday, and that Athens was keeping the EU informed on the…

(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 9 - Pope Leo XIV had an audience with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, near Rome, on Wednesday, the Vatican said. Zelensky is scheduled to meet Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinal Palace in Rome later on Wednesday, before taking part in the Ukraine Recovery Conference, which takes place in the Italian capital on Thursday and Friday. (ANSA).

(ANSA-AFP) - BERLIN, 09 LUG - Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Wednesday he was "cautiously optimistic" about the prospects of a deal between the European Union and the United States to avert increased tariffs threatened by President Donald Trump. "I am cautiously optimistic that we may succeed in reaching an agreement with the United States in the next few days or at the latest by the end of the month," Merz said in a speech in parliament. (ANSA-AFP).

(ANSA-AFP) - BRUSSELS, 08 LUG - The European Commission on Tuesday said Hungary has made "no progress" on a raft of demands aimed at tackling corruption, bolstering civil society and ensuring media independence. The damning assessment was contained in the EU executive's annual rule-of-law report for countries in the 27-nation bloc and some hoping to join it. Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has long been at loggerheads with Brussels over perceived democratic backsliding by Budapest. "When it…

(ANSA) - WASHINGTON, JUL 8 - Donald Trump has posted on Truth the letters sent to Serbia, Cambodia, Thailand, where he announces duties from August 1 at 35%, 36% and again 36% respectively. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - SARAJEVO, JUL 8 - U.S. President Donald Trump announced, in a letter to the presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 30 percent tariffs on products from the Balkan country. "I am honored to send you this letter because it demonstrates the strength and commitment of our trade relations and the fact that the United States has agreed to continue cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina, despite the significant trade deficit with your great country," the president wrote in the letter sent to Zeljka…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUL 8 - In Serbia sporadic incidents and scuffles between protesters and police occurred last night on the sidelines of numerous roadblocks implemented by students demanding early elections and the release of their colleagues arrested in previous protests. As the Interior Ministry reported, more than 800 people were identified, and 18 stopped and taken to police stations for questioning. The most significant incidents occurred in Belgrade, Novi Sad, and Uzice, with protesters…

(ANSA) - BERLIN, 07 LUG - Both the Czech Republic and Poland are providing support to Ukraine, which has been attacked by Russia, through material aid as well as political, diplomatic, and financial assistance. Czech President Petr Pavel made this statement after meeting with outgoing Polish President Andrzej Duda, who visited Prague for a farewell visit. Both countries advocate for Ukraine's accession to the European Union and, eventually, to NATO. "We believe this is the best way to ensure Europe's…

(ANSA) - PRAGUE, JUL 7 - During today's meeting in Prague, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky called the adoption of the 18th anti-Russian sanctions package crucial. The Czech Republic has long pushed for a proposal to restrict the movement of Russian diplomats in the Schengen area. Wadephul, asked by the Czech News Agency, said the proposal should be considered. The German minister said Europe is in dialogue with the United States on how to increase…

(ANSA) - PRAGUE, 07 LUG - Slovakia will not support the European Union's new climate goal of cutting emissions by 90 percent by 2040, the news site DennikN.SK reports, citing Slovak Environment Minister Tomáš Taraba. "The Brussels bureaucrats have lost touch with reality. Either they have no idea how economically threatened European industry—and, unfortunately, Slovak industry as well—is, or they don't care," the minister said, noting that top automotive-sector leaders are destroying Europe's…

(ANSA) - PRISTINA, 07 LUG - In Kosovo, yet another attempt—the 43rd—to elect the president of the new parliament formed after the February 9 election failed today. The standoff between government and opposition continues, with the chamber once again rejecting the majority party Vetëvendosje (Self-Determination, nationalist left) proposal for a secret ballot. The proposal followed six consecutive defeats for the government's candidate, Albulena Haxhiu, who has not reached the 61-vote threshold…

(ANSA-AFP) - WARSAW, 07 LUG - Poland temporarily reintroduced border controls with Germany and Lithuania at midnight Sunday, saying they are needed to control "illegal immigration". The issue was central to June's presidential election where nationalist Karol Nawrocki -- who ran on a slogan of "Poland first, Poles first" -- narrowly defeated the candidate backed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The Tusk government is now seeking to outflank its rivals by taking a tough approach to immigration. Interior…

(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 7 - President Sergio Mattarella stressed the EU's role in building peace and prosperity after meeting his Croatian counterpart Zoran Milanović for a working lunch in Zagreb on Monday. "Europe was born to ensure a prospect of peace to a continent torn apart by centuries of wars," Mattarella said. "A peace that has lasted for more than 70 years and is, therefore, a model offer to the rest of the international community. "The challenges have multiplied and Europe needs, now more…

(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 7 - President Sergio Mattarella arrived at the presidential palace in Zagreb welcomed by the President of the Republic of Croatia, Zoran Milanović. Bilateral talks between the two heads of state and extended talks with delegations are scheduled. In the afternoon Mattarella will be at the Parliament building for a meeting with the president, Gordan Jandroković, and then will travel to the Croatian government headquarters for talks with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. A meeting…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUL 5 - Serb and Bosnian Serb leaders attended a memorial ceremony today in Bratunac, Bosnia-Herzegovina along the Drina River on the border with Serbia, in remembrance of the thousands of Serbs killed by Bosnian Muslim forces during the 1992-1995 armed conflict. Located in Republika Srpska, Bratunac is a few kilometers from Srebrenica, which in a week's time will be the focus of official ceremonies marking the 30th anniversary of the genocide of more than 8,000 Muslim civilians…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUL 5 - In Serbia, groups of students tried today to block work at construction sites for Expo 2027. Breaking the news during the inauguration of a new stretch of highway, President Aleksandar Vucic added that the action lasted only four minutes to take selfies and photos to circulate on social media. "I am happy to see the loso banners that say 'Thank you Vucic that you are building high-speed rail lines and highways, so we can get there sooner to protest against you.' I am the…

(ANSA) - BERLIN, 04 LUG - Much of the Czech Republic was paralyzed today by a power blackout, the CTK news agency reports. In the capital, Prague, the metro and trams came to a halt. Firefighters were continuously on duty to free people trapped in elevators. The situation is gradually returning to normal. For now, the reasons for the blackout remain unclear; the Interior Ministry has convened a crisis unit. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - SOFIA, 04 LUG - The Bulgarian government, led by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov of the center-right GERB party, which took office on January 16 in coalition with the Socialists (BSP) and the populist "There Is Such a People" (ITN), survived a third motion of no confidence brought by the nationalist opposition. The vote was 130 against and 54 in favor, with 184 of the 240 deputies present. The nationalist party Vazrazhdane (Revival), backed by two other sovereigntist groups, Velichie (Grandeur)…

(ANSA) - CITTÀ DEL VATICANO, 04 LUG - This morning, Pope Leo XIV received the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Milojko Spajić, in audience at the Vatican's Apostolic Palace. The prime minister later met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, who was accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations. "During the cordial discussions at the Secretariat of State, satisfaction was expressed with the excellent existing bilateral…

(ANSA-AFP) - ATENE, 04 LUG - A wildfire on the Greek island of Crete that forced the evacuation of 5,000 tourists and locals is "retreating", firefighters told AFP Friday. Some 230 firefighters and six helicopters are still at the scene near the resort town of Ierapetra, where 3,000 visitors had to leave their hotels and guest houses on Wednesday evening. "The fire is retreating," fire department spokesman Vassilios Vathrakoyannis told AFP. "There are still fears of flare-ups, but there is no longer…