Ansa news

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 18 - According to German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, Germany is willing to proceed with the removal of sea mines from the Strait of Hormuz, but only under certain conditions. First, all warfare must end, and all parties to the conflict must agree that the strait between Iran and Oman must be freely navigable once more, the CDU politician told the Rheinische Post. Furthermore, Germany should be tasked with clearing sea mines. "If that is the case, we are prepared—provided…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 18 - The German IMK institute is lowering its growth forecast for the German economy in 2027 as a result of the war in Iran. According to estimates published by the Institute for Macroeconomics and Business Research (IMK), GDP is expected to grow by 0.9 percent, down from 1.6 percent in March. The Duesseldorf economists have revised their current-year forecast downward from 0.9 percent to 0.6 percent. They anticipate that future peace negotiations between the United States…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 18 - The Republic of Moldova has launched an official platform, www.moldova.md, as a new tool for promoting the country. Designed as a modern identity card for the country, the platform offers a structured, easy-to-navigate presentation of the Republic of Moldova to international audiences as well as citizens at home and abroad. The platform compiles essential information about the country in one place, covering everything from its economic landscape and development priorities…

(ANSA) - UDINE, 17 GIU - Tra concerti, incontri, passeggiate culturali e visite guidate sono 39 gli appuntamenti che punteggiano il cartellone della 28/a edizione del festival internazionale Nei suoni dei luoghi, in programma da luglio a dicembre in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Slovenia e Austria. Il programma, presentato oggi a Udine, coinvolgerà oltre 150 musicisti, tra cui interpreti affermati e giovani talenti provenienti da conservatori e accademie europei. Ad aprire la rassegna, il primo luglio…

(ANSA) - UDINE, 17 GIU - A total of 39 events, including concerts, talks, cultural walks, and guided tours, will make up the program of the 28th edition of the international Nei Suoni dei Luoghi Festival, scheduled to take place from July through December 2026 in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Slovenia, and Austria. The program, presented in Udine today, will involve more than 150 musicians, including established performers and young talents from European conservatories and music academies. The festival…

(ANSA) - ROME, JUN 17 - Milan prosecutors said Wednesday that Carabinieri police seized "significant" evidence during a search of the home of one of four Italians under investigation for murder over alleged "weekend sniper" trips to Sarajevo during the Bosnia war. The suspects allegedly paid large sums of money to Serbian militia so they could shoot Bosnian citizens for kicks during the 1993-95 Siege of Sarajevo, in which 11,000 people died. Prosecutors said the evidence seized included a photo…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 17 - The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that it has issued an order to block shipments of copper and copper products manufactured in Serbia by the Chinese company Zijin (Zijin Copper D.o.o.) and seized several shipments due to allegations of forced labour in production. The decision, which was also reported by several local media outlets, including Radio Slobodna Evropa (the Serbo-Croatian version of Radio Free Europe, or RFE), takes effect immediately.…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 17 - "Today, Italy achieved significant success in Europe. The European Parliament approved the new European regulation on repatriations, a historic measure that is primarily the result of the Italian government's efforts and allows us to quickly repatriate those who are not entitled to remain in the European Union." This is what Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a social media video recorded while attending the G7 summit in Evian. "The regulation also allows for the establishment…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 17 - The European Parliament has given final approval to the new rules governing the repatriation of third-country nationals illegally residing in the EU. The regulation passed with 418 votes in favour, 218 against, and 30 abstentions, with the EPP and right-wing parties voting. A return decision requires migrants to leave the territory of the Member State concerned immediately or within a specified time frame, but they may also be detained for up to 24 months. It will also…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 17 - The G7 heads of state and government say they are "united in our unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity," and they have "agreed to increase the supply of additional air defence capabilities, systems, and interceptors, as well as long-range capability." This is stated in a joint statement on geopolitical issues issued at Evian. "We are determined to increase pressure on Russia's war economy. To that end, we will…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 17 - The 32nd Tour of Slovenia, the country's premier road cycling race, will start in Velenje on Wednesday, featuring 17 teams and nearly 120 riders. The highlight will be a return to the iconic and gruelling Vršič Pass, according to Slovenian news agency STA today. The main favourite, German Florian Lipowitz, is expected to be challenged by Slovenia's rising star, Jakob Omrzel. The five-stage race will end in Novo Mesto on Sunday, after the riders have covered over 810…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 17 - The Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (SDP) secretariat has voted in favour of replacing current Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene with SDP Secretary Mindaugas Sinkevicius, which coincides with the government's majority change and the resulting reshuffle expected in the coming weeks. Sinkevicius, the current mayor of Jonava, was born in 1984. He has a long career in local administration, including two years as Minister of Economy from 2016 to 2017. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 16 - The German federal government has rejected UniCredit's bid for Commerzbank. This was announced in a statement by the German Finance Agency, which oversees the state's stake in Commerzbank. Accepting the offer was already "economically out of the question, because the offer does not provide an appropriate premium compared to the current Commerzbank share price." (ANSA).

(ANSA-AFP) - WARSAW, JUN 16 - A Russian artist known for his satires of President Vladimir Putin was shot dead in eastern Poland, officials said on Tuesday. "An investigation is being conducted... into the murder of a 44-year-old citizen of the Russian Federation... known in the media as Semyon Skrepecki," the spokesman for the District Prosecutor's Office in Lublin, Marcin Kozak, told journalists. Two Belarusian nationals have been arrested in connection with his murder, he added. (ANSA-AFP).

(ANSA-AFP) - BERLIN, JUN 16 - Germany opened a centre to coordinate its defences against "hybrid attacks" on Tuesday as the country is on high alert for espionage, sabotage and disinformation, particularly from Russia. "The danger posed by hybrid threats is constantly growing, including for Germany," Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told reporters at the opening of the centre in Berlin. "Foreign powers are attacking us through espionage, sabotage, cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns."…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 16 - Germany has established criteria for its participation in a potential security mission in the Strait of Hormuz. A German Navy minesweeper, the "Fulda," is already stationed in the Mediterranean Sea, but Berlin "will be responsible for deploying this vessel—and requesting a mandate from the Bundestag, which is required—only once all the conditions are met," German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated on the country's first public channel. He insisted that the operation…

(ANSA) - TRIESTE, JUN 16 - Matiaz Longar, the Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia, is stepping down from his post in Rome. His tenure in Italy, which began in September 2022, will come to an end at the end of next July. On Thursday, June 18, the reception marking Slovenia's National Day, to be held at the Hotel Parco dei Principi in Rome, will also serve as the occasion for Longar's official farewell. Among the guests of honor will be Senator Tatjana Rojc, who will deliver a "welcome address."…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 16 - "Enlargement is more than just an institutional process; it represents the completion of the European project. The formal opening of European Union accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, both member countries of the Central European Initiative, represents a significant step in this direction," stated Franco Dal Mas, Secretary General of the Central European Initiative (CEI), in a statement. "This is a significant milestone that demonstrates how regional cooperation…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 16 - According to a government decision released late Monday, diesel prices in Slovenia increased at midnight, while petrol prices at pumps outside the motorway remained unchanged, the Slovenian news agency STA reports today. Regular petrol remained at EUR 1.592 per litre, while diesel rose by 3.3 cents to EUR 1.718 per litre. The most recent fuel price adjustment comes after the new government extended price regulation of fuels sold outside the motorway network for another…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 16 - Air Serbia celebrates the 70th anniversary of direct flights between Belgrade and Rome, which is one of the Roman airport's longest-running routes. On June 15, 1956, the airline's first aircraft, Jat, landed in Rome. "These routes are much more than just transport links; they are the threads that connect cultures and economies, making a significant contribution to the two countries' connectivity," said Bojan Aranđelović, Head of Network Planning and Scheduling at Air…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 16 - The Pristina Basic Court has ordered 30 days of pre-trial detention for the five Serb citizens arrested yesterday on charges of war crimes related to the 1999 Reçak (Račak in Serbian) massacre, which killed over 40 Albanian civilians and buried them in a mass grave. The decision was made at the request of the Kosovo Special Prosecutor's Office for the defendants identified by the initials N.P., S.J., B.P., S.M., and S.S. The court stated that there is a real risk of…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 15 - The EU has officially started accession talks with Ukraine. The first cluster, the Fundamentals cluster, was established at today's meeting in Luxembourg, following long-standing opposition in Budapest. "These days are difficult to describe. This is a historic day for both Ukraine and Europe. The opening of the first cluster is a critical and long-awaited milestone in Ukraine's accession process, as well as the EU's commitment to a united, peaceful, and democratic continent,"…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 15 - The Foreign Ministers of the Visegrad Group met in Luxembourg on the sidelines of the Foreign Affairs Council. Hungarian diplomat Anita Orbán called it a "fruitful exchange," announcing that she organised today's meeting to "discuss the Hungarian presidency of the V4, the upcoming V4 summit in Hungary on June 23, and the main challenges facing our region." "The V4 provides a practical framework for cooperation in Central Europe," she underlined. She emphasised that "Hungary…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 15 - Finding work after graduation has become easier across Europe, but Italy continues to struggle. This is according to Eurostat's 2025 data. Last year, the EU's employment rate for young people aged 20 to 34 who had recently graduated from high school or university reached 83%, up from 82.3% in 2024 and the highest level in eleven years. Malta leads the rankings, with 91% of recent high school and university graduates finding work, followed by Germany (90.6%) and the Netherlands…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 15 - Slovenian Foreign Minister Tone Kajzer welcomed on Monday a framework agreement reached between the United States and Iran. "This is a path forward towards more stability and possible peace in the region," Kajzer said as he arrived for an EU foreign affairs ministerial, which also discussed the EU's role in Middle Eastern peace efforts, according to Slovenian news agency STA. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 15 - Four Czech citizens were killed yesterday off the coast of Split, Croatia, when a catamaran collided with a sailboat. Croatian divers discovered the last victim, who had been considered missing, this morning at a depth of 50-60 metres. The Czech news agency CTK reported the information, which was later confirmed by the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The sailboat carried eight Czech citizens, while the catamaran carried 118. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 15 - The programme for the summer edition of the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF 2027), which will be held in Lignano Sabbiadoro (Udine) from July 24 to August 1, 2027, was officially unveiled in Budapest. The presentation took place at the 55th General Assembly of the European Olympic Committees. EYOF 2027 is expected to bring together 4,000 U18 athletes and coaches from 48 countries to compete in 14 disciplines at 50 sports facilities across Friuli Venezia Giulia,…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 15 - Following an agreement with the United States to end their conflict, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy (E4 Group) are prepared to lift some sanctions against Iran. "Iran should never acquire nuclear weapons. We are prepared to collaborate with the United States, Iran, and the IAEA to achieve this goal," the four countries' leaders said in a joint statement. The four countries are also prepared to lift some sanctions if Iran takes "concrete and verifiable…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 15 - "I hope the European Union will stand united in support of the candidate for the post of High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina," said EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos upon her arrival at the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg. "In my opinion," she stated, "the work of the High Representative should be such that this role becomes obsolete very quickly, so that Bosnia and Herzegovina can regain full sovereignty and make decisions without international oversight.…

(ANSA-AFP) - BUCHAREST, 14 GIU - Romanian President Nicusor Dan on Sunday tapped a new prime minister to form a government after the previous hopeful dropped out. "Mr. Eugen Tomac withdrew his candidacy this morning, and under these circumstances, I am appointing Mr. Adrian Vestea as prime minister," Dan said in a statement. (ANSA-AFP).