Ansa news

(ANSA) - TRIESTE, DEC 9 - "Not only history and tradition unite us, but also the future, which we are building together, and this city proves it." This is the message of "friendship between Serbia and Italy, based on mutual respect and cooperation" spread by Serbian first lady Tamara Vucic at the unveiling of a plaque to the memory of Dositej Obradović, writer, reformer and founder of modern Serbian education, who stayed in Trieste in the early 19th century. A friendship that is summed up in the…

(ANSA-AFP) - PRAGUE, DEC 9 - Andrej Babis, a billionaire supporter of US President Donald Trump, returned to power as Czech prime minister on Tuesday, signalling a possible end to Ukraine aid and potentially rockier ties with the European Union. Babis's ANO movement, which won October parliamentary elections, teamed up with two eurosceptic parties to form a coalition government. In its policy statement, the coalition said the EU had "its limits" and no right to impose decisions infringing on the…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, DEC 9 - Hungary is "protecting its energy supplies" from Russia in response to "attacks" by Kiev and the European Union, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto stated during a visit to Moscow. "We must constantly protect oil and gas supplies from attacks from Kiev and Brussels," Szijjarto stated, as reported by Tass. "Brussels' attacks on us are both legal and juridical. Ukraine is physically attacking our oil and gas infrastructure," he added. (ANSA).

(di Francesco De Filippo) (ANSA) - TRIESTE, DEC 8 - VINCENZO DE LUCIA, "WOMEN'S STORIES. STUMPS IN TIME OF WAR FALLEN IN OBLIGATION" (Mimesis; 122 pp.; 12 euro) The subject of a collective repression that may have multiple reasons-such as the fact that World War II was such a slaughterhouse that it is difficult to distinguish individual episodes and chapters of history or because the atrocities committed by the Nazis were so appalling that the revenge of the victors was foregone if not right-the…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, DEC 8 - "The centres in Albania are strongly seeking to be active for all the functions for which they were designed, including detention centres for the exercise of accelerated border procedures, but most importantly, to be the first example of those return hubs that are specifically mentioned in one of these approved regulations, "Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said on the sidelines of the EU Council. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, DEC 8 - The largest party of the Serbian community in Kosovo, Srpska Lista (SL), will run in the country's early parliamentary elections on December 28. Its appeal against its exclusion, which was decreed recently by the Electoral Commission, has been upheld. The Electoral Complaints and Appeals Body determined that the decision to exclude SL violated the law governing candidatures and political entity certification. SL's exclusion was backed in particular by Electoral Commission…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, DEC 8 - The EU Council approved a proposal to amend EU Regulation 2024/1348 regarding the application of the "safe third country" concept. Spain, Greece, France, and Portugal all opposed the proposal. However, a qualified majority was achieved. At the same time, the Council approved a regulation that creates an EU-wide list of safe countries of origin. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, DEC 8 - According to a statement, Turkey's Pegasus Airlines has committed to acquiring Czech Airlines and its subsidiary Smartwings, for a total of €154 million, allowing the Istanbul-based operator to expand internationally. Pegasus Airlines, founded in 1990, operates flights to 158 destinations in 55 countries, in addition to the 80 destinations in 20 countries served by the Czech operator and Smartwings. "We are opening a new chapter for Pegasus Airlines," commented CEO Güliz…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, DEC 8 - Ciprian Ciucu, a member of the ruling Liberal Party (PNL), is clearly leading in today's vote for Bucharest's new mayor. According to preliminary exit polls released after polls closed at 9:00 PM local time (8:00 PM Italian time), Ciucu, with 70% of the votes counted, is expected to lead with nearly 35% of the vote, ahead of Anca Alexandrescu of the far-right AUR party, who has just under 23%. Daniel Baluja of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) is next, with approximately…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, DEC 8 - According to data released today by the Federal Statistical Office, production in Germany's manufacturing sector increased by 1.8% in October 2025 compared to September and 0.8% compared to October 2024. The data have been adjusted for seasonal and calendar effects. According to the Federal Statistical Office, the construction sector is the primary driver of growth, up 3.3% from September; mechanical engineering (+2.8%) and the production of electrical and optical instruments…

(ANSA) - BUCAREST, DEC 7 - Bucharest is voting today to choose a new mayor, following the election of former first citizen Nicusor Dan to the presidency of Romania last May. The mayor will have a reduced term and will serve until the next general administrative elections scheduled for the summer of 2028. The duties of mayor of the capital are currently being performed on an interim basis by Steljan Bujduveanu. There are 16 candidates, none of whom appear to be clear favorites. A possible runoff…

(ANSA) - ROME, 06 DIC - Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, along with the leaders of Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Hungary, wrote a letter to EU leaders on Friday, urging the bloc to allow hybrid cars and biofuels. "The EU must abandon ideological dogmatism, which has brought entire production sectors to their knees while providing no tangible benefits in terms of global emissions," the letter stated. ANSA obtained a copy of the letter, which stated that it is critical to fully implement…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, DEC 6 - Franco Dal Mas, Secretary General of the Central European Initiative (CEI), delivered a speech in Sarajevo emphasising the importance of developing sustainable mobility in Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans, with a focus on interregional rail connections. He was in Bosnia's capital to attend the Regional Cooperation Council's (RCC) annual coordination meeting for regional organisations. Among the guests were representatives from the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative (AII),…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, DEC 5 - "Leo XIV welcomed Andrej Plenković, President of the Republic of Croatia, who met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, and Msgr. Mihăiţă Blaj, Under-Secretary for Relations with States, on December 4. During the cordial discussions in the Secretariat of State, satisfaction was expressed for the good relations between the State and the local Church, as well as the intention to expand collaboration in areas of mutual interest," according to a Vatican press…

(ANSA-AFP) - VILNIUS, DEC 5 - Lithuania's Prime Minister announced on Friday that the country will declare a national "emergency situation" over the influx of smuggler's balloons launched from Belarus. "We are currently preparing the legal basis and documents," Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene told reporters, calling the emergency declaration "the best course of action at this time." The 'emergency situation' enables the government and local authorities to dedicate extra resources to combatting the…

(ANSA) - ROME, 05 DIC - Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, along with the leaders of Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Hungary, wrote a letter to EU leaders on Friday, urging the bloc to allow hybrid cars and biofuels. "The EU must abandon ideological dogmatism, which has brought entire production sectors to their knees while providing no tangible benefits in terms of global emissions," the letter stated. ANSA obtained a copy of the letter, which stated that it is critical to fully implement…

(ANSA) - BRUXELLES, DEC 5 - "L'Ue abbandoni, una volta per tutte, il dogmatismo ideologico che ha messo in ginocchio interi settori produttivi, senza peraltro apportare benefici tangibili in termini di emissioni globali. È fondamentale applicare pienamente il principio della neutralità tecnologica". Lo scrivono Giorgia Meloni e i leader di Polonia, Repubblica Ceca, Slovacchia, Bulgaria e Ungheria in una lettera ai vertici Ue, visionata dall'ANSA. Nel testo, in merito al regolamento sullo stop…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, DEC 5 - France confirmed its participation in Eurovision 2026 and its support for Israel's participation in the song contest, thereby opposing the boycott announced by several countries, including Spain and Ireland. In an interview with Agence France Presse, a France Télévisions spokesperson reiterated the French public broadcaster's support for the Israeli network KAN's participation in the event, which is set to take place in Austria in May 2026. Eurovision is organised by…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, DEC 5 - The German Bundestag has approved the military conscription reform proposed by Friedrich Merz's administration. The bill was approved with 323 votes in favour, 272 against, and one abstention. Military service is still voluntary under the new rules, but all young men must fill out army forms and have a medical exam. (ANSA).

by Francesco De Filippo (ANSA) - TRIESTE, DEC 5 - The dinner at Zanzotto's house consumed on an ironing board in the absence of a table, Zigaina's secret 'closet' or even Montale's 'let's not take ourselves too seriously': Mladen Machiedo, born in 1938, a Croatian from Zagreb, writer, poet, publisher, translator, and lifelong lecturer in Zagreb, tells his story in a film-interview, "The Non-Ordinary Everyday Life of a Croatian Italianist." And he recounts anecdotes about the quirks, peculiarities,…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, DEC 5 - German factory orders increased faster than expected in October, rising 1.5% over the month versus an average of 0.3%. In September, the index had increased by a net 2%. (ANSA).

(ANSA-AFP) - BELGRADE, DEC 4 - Enaon (Italgas Group) is offering 1 billion in investments for Greece's energy transition by 2031, according to a business plan presented today in Athens. The plan calls for the digitalisation of Greece's gas network, including distribution to underserved areas. There are also plans to develop and integrate renewable gases such as biomethane. In total, there will be 2,500 km of new networks, over 2,200 of which will be low-pressure and the remainder medium-pressure,…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, DEC 4 - In Germany, the Ministry of Economy and Energy is allocating an additional €100 million through KfW (Development Bank) to repair Ukraine's energy infrastructure. These funds are in addition to the €60 million announced earlier this year, according to a ministry statement. The allocated funds will go into the Energy Community's Ukraine Energy Support Fund (UESF), to which numerous other international donors have contributed since 2022. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, DEC 4 - Nearly two months have passed since the legislative elections, and the Czech Republic still lacks a new government. While President Petr Pavel continues to hold informal consultations with the fifteen ministerial candidates from the three parties in the likely future coalition (ANO, SPD, and Automovil), Andrej Babis (ANO) has yet to explain how he intends to resolve his conflict of interest if appointed prime minister. Furthermore, the head of state remains opposed to…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, DEC 4 - Serbia's difficult energy situation, with the NIS oil group still subject to US sanctions and uncertainty about the future of Russian gas supplies, was the topic of today's meeting between President Aleksandar Vucic and Russian Ambassador to Belgrade Aleksandar Bocan-Kharcenko. "We examined joint projects of strategic importance for our country, as well as gas supplies and infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening our energy system," Vucic wrote in an Instagram post.…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, DEC 3 - Cross-border cooperation between the Italian region Friuli Venezia Giulia, Carinthia (Austria), and the Veneto "takes a further leap forward with the adoption of a protocol that promotes sustainable mobility through public transport services by road and rail, with the integration of cycle paths," said today by the FVG Regional Councillor for Finance, Barbara Zilli, who, together with the President of the Region of Carinthia, Peter Kaiser, signed a Strategic Agreement for…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, DEC 3 - In Kosovo, the central electoral commission has refused to approve Srpska Lista (SL), the largest party in the local Serb community, to run in the early parliamentary elections on December 28, sparking protests and controversy both locally and within the Serbian leadership in Belgrade. SL's failure to certify the party for the late December vote became clear yesterday evening, when two members of the electoral commission expressed support for SL in the elections, two opposed…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, DEC 3 - "The European wing in Brussels continues to push for a war with Russia," Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjártó stated, adding that war supporters will advance this agenda at the NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Brussels. He stated that these war fanatics will attempt to overturn NATO's previous decision that the Alliance is not a party to the conflict in Ukraine and should do everything possible to avoid becoming one, Zoltan Kovacs, the Hungarian government's spokesman,…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, DEC 3 - The EU Council and the European Parliament agreed on a regulation to phase out Russian natural gas imports during their trilogue. The regulation establishes a gradual and legally binding ban on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and pipeline gas imports from Russia, with a total ban beginning in late 2026 and autumn 2027, respectively. The agreement must be approved by the 27 EU member states and the plenary session. "Finally and permanently, we are turning off the tap on Russian…

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 3 - Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Wednesday that plans to use frozen Russian assets to help support Ukraine have been set back significantly by the position of the European Central Bank (ECB). The bank has reportedly refused to backstop a 140-billion-euros payment to Ukraine, thus undermining an EU plan to raise a 'reparations loan' backed by Russian assets frozen at Euroclear, the Belgian securities depository. "The European Central Bank's position was…