Ansa news

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 29 OTT - "The tragic accident involving an Italian EUFOR helicopter in Bosnia and Herzegovina has caused great sadness. My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all those who are currently working for peace and stability in the region and are going through a difficult time. They have my deepest sympathies, as does the Italian government," Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote on social media. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - ROME, 29 OTT - "For us, the Balkans are a political priority because these countries are destined to become part of the EU. The Central European Initiative must work to prevent any temptation to turn toward Russia that could jeopardize these countries' reunification. I call it reunification, not enlargement. These countries were unable to become part of Europe because communist dictatorships prevented them from doing so." Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani made the remarks while addressing…

(ANSA) - ROMA, 29 OTT - "Per noi i Balcani rappresentano una priorità politica perché sono paesi destinati a far parte della Ue. L'Ince deve lavorare affinché non ci siano tentazioni russe che possano mettere in difficoltà la riunificazione di questi paesi, io la chiamo così e non allargamento. Sono paesi che non hanno potuto far parte dell'Europa perché c'erano dittature comuniste che glielo impedivano". Così il ministro degli Esteri, Antonio Tajani, intervenendo al convegno "L'iniziativa…

(ANSA) - ROME, 29 OTT - An Italian military helicopter crashed in Bosnia Thursday. The CH-47 chopper, deployed as part of Operation EUFOR Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina, crashed for reasons currently under investigation. Rescue teams responded immediately. The Ministry of Defence stated that, at this time, "it is not possible to provide further details, pending more precise information—particularly regarding the health status of the personnel involved." A local mayor said three people were dead…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 29 OTT - Following the resignation of Manja Grčić, the controversial director-general of Serbian state broadcaster RTS, and the dismissal of the news editor-in-chief, Bojana Mladjenović (an action taken by the director-general just before her departure), several other senior editors have now been "relieved of their duties," according to the weekly Vreme and other Serbian media outlets. Borivoje Uskoković, interim editor-in-chief for news, oversaw the replacements. Additionally,…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 29 OTT - After the 'Student List' won the Serbian elections, Aleksandar Vučić reportedly deployed thousands of police officers and 'thugs' outside Parliament to protest the results. However, he was reportedly persuaded to abandon this display of force by an influential European leader, possibly his friend Viktor Orbán. This account, which confirms suspicions already expressed by students that same Sunday evening, comes from the British newspaper "The Times". According to Serbian…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 29 OTT - German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has urged China to accept its responsibilities as a global power and help put an end to Russia's aggression in Ukraine. "China is a permanent member of the Security Council and has a close relationship with Russia. Let us therefore work together to ensure that Russia ceases its attacks and engages in serious negotiations," he said in a speech at Peking University, according to DPA. The German president urged China to join…

(ANSA) - TRIESTE, OCT. 28 - Slovenia's Ambassador to Italy, Melita Gabrič, accompanied by Consul Tomaž Kunstelj, was received this morning at City Hall by Gorizia Mayor Rodolfo Ziberna. "Not only did I wish her every success in her work on behalf of the entire city - the mayor said - but Go!2025 also featured prominently in our discussions. I explained to the ambassador how the joint bid by Nova Gorica and Gorizia to become the 2025 European Capital of Culture came about, marking the first cross-border…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 28 OTT - European natural gas prices remain under pressure. The TTF benchmark in Amsterdam has risen by 4.1% to 100.04 euros per megawatt-hour, levels last seen in 2022, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. There is growing concern about a potential energy crisis on the continent. Fears of an escalation in the conflict with Iran, which could further restrict gas supplies, are driving the increase, along with low European storage levels and rising demand for heating as the winter…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 28 OTT - According to media outlets such as Nova.rs and the Serbian Monitor, Aleksandar Vučić's "United Serbia" list has lost 26 out of 29 Serbian cities. The former president won in three cities: Vranje (approx. 74,000 inhabitants, the country's 19th-largest city), where the SNS/United Serbia list secured 53.19% against 41.21% for the Students' List; Leskovac (the 6th-largest city, with 123,000 inhabitants), where they received 49.25% compared to 44.72% for the students; and…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 28 OTT - In Bulgaria, Yliana Yotova, the current head of state, won the presidential election on October 25. This was confirmed by the Central Election Commission, which published the official final results. Yotova, backed by Prime Minister Rumen Radev's "Progressive Bulgaria" party and the Socialists, received 34.75% of the vote, but not enough to win in the first round. As a result, Yotova will face Andrey Ghiurov, who finished second, in a runoff election next Sunday, November…

(ANSA-AFP) - BELGRADE, 28 OTT - An attacker was killed outside the Israeli embassy in Belgrade early Wednesday after targeting a police officer in a "terrorist attack", Serbia's outgoing Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said. "A minor whose identity has yet to be established... attacked a member of the police with two knives while shouting 'Allahu Akbar'," Dacic said, also raising the terrorism threat to its highest level. (ANSA-AFP).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 27 OTT - President Antonio Costa of the European Council had a productive phone conversation with Dr. Ilija Srdanović, the leader of the student movement that won the Serbian elections. "I congratulated him on the 'Student List's' electoral victory in Serbia," Costa stated on social media, adding that the priority now is to form the Parliament and the new government as soon as possible, in a peaceful transition that fully respects the election results. "Serbia's place is within…

(ANSA-AFP) - BRUSSELS, 27 OTT - The European Union wants to beef up its border agency and extend its powers to handle deportations under plans to strengthen the bloc's response to irregular migration presented on Tuesday. The European Commission proposed to give the Frontex agency a central role in arranging the expulsion of people with no right to stay in the EU and to create a 17,000-strong "reserve" of officers ready to be deployed when needed. (ANSA-AFP).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 27 OTT - The US has requested that Bosnia and Herzegovina extradite Mevlid Jašarević, who carried out a jihadist-inspired terrorist attack on the American Embassy in Sarajevo on October 28, 2011. He fired an automatic rifle for 50 minutes. According to the court verdict, Jašarević fired 105 rounds towards the US Embassy building, targeting officers from the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies (DKPT) who were guarding the site. He seriously injured one officer before…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 27 OTT - Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's potential nomination for the position of UN Secretary-General was not discussed during a recent phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, according to Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. "This topic was not discussed during the conversation, but if such a candidature emerges, it will be considered," Peskov said, as quoted by TASS. Previously, US sources reported that…

(ANSA) - UDINE, 27 OTT - "The European Union will have to support the transition, help strengthen institutions and offer a credible path toward membership, without demanding that Belgrade immediately align itself with Western positions on Russia and Ukraine". Arduino Paniccia, a geopolitical expert and president of ASCE, the School of Economic Warfare and International Competition in Venice, said this on the sidelines of a meeting in Udine, commenting on the outcome of Serbia's parliamentary elections.…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 26 OTT - Marta Kos, EU Commissioner for Enlargement, congratulated Ilija Srdanović, a representative of the student movement that won the recent Serbian elections, on their impressive victory. "We talked about the importance of building trust. The Serbian people have given a strong mandate for change," the Commissioner stated on social media. "Their demands—respect for the rule of law, combating corruption, and promoting free media—are precisely the reforms that can bring…

(ANSA) - UDINE, OCT 26 - From October 28 to November 15, personnel and equipment from the "Julia" Alpine Brigade will participate in the international exercise "Clever Ferret 26," which will take place at the Postojna training area in Slovenia. Joining the "Julia" Brigade will be units from the armed forces of Albania, Slovenia, and Hungary. From October 28 to November 2 and from November 13 to 14, convoys transporting materials and personnel to the Slovenian border will be traveling on the region's…

(ANSA) - UDINE, 26 OTT - "The winners will have to build a common platform that brings together the various factions within the movement, which includes Orthodox and conservative elements, although left-wing students predominate. It is important to note that the candidates are not students themselves, but rather experts, university professors and professionals, each representing different sectors of society." Antonio Ventresca, former director of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) office in Belgrade,…

(di Alberto Rochira) (ANSA) - UDINE, 26 OTT - "La Serbia è una nazione molto forte, con molte energie", le elezioni sono destinate a "incidere anche sui rapporti con l'Unione europea, mentre resta aperta la questione dei futuri equilibri internazionali, compresi quelli con la Cina, altro interlocutore importante per Belgrado". Lo ha detto all'ANSA Antonio Ventresca, ex direttore dell'Ice di Belgrado, commentando la vittoria della Lista studentesca alle elezioni politiche di ieri. "Sul piano economico…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 26 OTT - Today, Pope Francis held an audience with Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar. She then met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State to His Holiness, who was accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations. According to a statement from the Holy See Press Office, the "cordial" discussions at the Secretariat of State included appreciation for the existing positive bilateral relations as well…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 26 OTT - "Congratulations to the Serbian 'Students' List' for their election victory. It is encouraging to see a record turnout in Serbia. We are grateful to the members of the European Parliament and the entire delegation on the ground for observing the elections," tweeted European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, reaffirming the European Parliament's commitment to "supporting Serbia's reform process on its path towards Europe." (ANSA).

(ANSA-AFP) - SOFIA, 26 OTT - Bulgaria's President Iliana Iotova narrowly led the first round of presidential elections Sunday, exit polls showed, in a vote held amid security concerns following a series of drone attacks on ships in the Black Sea. Iotova, who favours dialogue with Moscow and opposes military aid to Ukraine, scored between 35 and 36.5 percent of the vote, according to three polls. She will face Andrey Gyurov, a banker and former caretaker prime minister backed by the pro-Western opposition…

(AGGIORNA E SOSTITUISCE IL SERVIZIO DELLE ORE 20.49) (di Fabio Govoni) (ANSA) - BELGRADO, OCT 25 - The Students won the early parliamentary elections in Serbia. And across the country, as broadcast live on TV, celebrations erupted in the streets. According to the results—which are still preliminary but are unlikely to change substantially— they secured 52% of the vote, which would give them 138 of the 250 seats in the National Parliament, compared to the 39% obtained by former President Aleksandar…

(ANSA) - SARAJEVO, OCT 25 - Large crowds and long lines of Serbian citizens gathered in front of the Serbian Embassy in Sarajevo early this morning to cast their ballots in the special parliamentary elections being held in neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Just under 20,000 voters registered to cast ballots in Serbia's special parliamentary elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 90% of whom reside in the territory of the Republika Srpska (RS), where the Serbian population is predominantly…

(ANSA-AFP) - SOFIA, 25 OTT - Voting began this morning in Bulgaria's presidential election, amid growing security concerns following a series of drone attacks on ships in the Black Sea. Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. local time and will close at 8:00 p.m. President Iliana Iotova, who favours dialogue with Moscow and opposes military aid to Ukraine, is the frontrunner for a new term in the largely ceremonial post, polls show. Iotova, 62, is expected to win between 41 and 47 percent of the vote,…

(ANSA) - TRIESTE, 25 OTT - Polls opened in Serbia on Sunday in what is set to be its most fiercely contested parliamentary election in more than 14 years, as a student-led movement seeks to oust the party of veteran leader Aleksandar Vucic, Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). Roughly 6.5 million eligible voters are called to the polls in a snap parliamentary election to choose lawmakers for a four-year term. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - TRIESTE, 24 OTT - A ceremony in memory of those who fell during the First World War took place today in Kobarid, Slovenia. The event was attended by the Head of the Office for the Protection of the Culture and Memory of the Ministry of Defence, Andrea Rispoli. Other notable attendees included Erik Kopač, State Secretary at the Slovenian Ministry of Defence; Giuseppe Cavagna, Ambassador of Italy to Slovenia; Simona Ciuffoni, Consul General of Italy in Koper; and Gerardo Petitto, Commander…

(ANSA-AFP) - TRIESTE, 24 OTT - Around 150,000 supporters of Serbia's opposition student movement rallied in central Belgrade on Thursday, seeking to oust the party of veteran leader Aleksandar Vucic in crunch parliamentary elections this weekend. The Student List, a leaderless movement of student-backed candidates, wants to end more than 14 years of rule by Vucic's right-wing populist Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in Sunday's vote. It is the biggest threat Vucic has faced and civil society groups…