Ansa news

(ANSA) - ROME, 09 AGO - Over six thousand participants are expected to attend the 34th edition of the Karpacz Economic Forum (Poland), known as the Davos of the East, the most important conference in Central and Eastern Europe, scheduled for 2-4 September. The theme of this year's event - organised by the Institute for Oriental Studies Foundation, in collaboration with the Office of the Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship - is "The time of transformation: what will the Europe of the future…

(ANSA) - BRUSSELS, 09 AGO - "Five years after the fraudulent election in Belarus, our support for the Belarusian people remains resolute." President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X. "We will not stop until every one of the more than 1,000 political prisoners is freed. Until the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people are fulfilled. That is why we continue to support civil society, independent media, human rights defenders and Belarusian democratic forces," she said.…

(ANSA) - BRUXELLES, AUG 9 - "The EU continues to support peace negotiations to end the Russian war of aggression, with Ukraine at the table and where Ukraine can make independent and sovereign decisions, which the EU will support." A European Commission spokesperson tells ANSA about the summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin and possible territorial concessions by Ukraine. (ANSA).

(ANSA-AFP) - ATHENS, 09 AGO - Hundreds of firefighters on Saturday battled for a second day a large wildfire near Athens that left one dead, with strong winds raising fears it could spread. A fire department spokesman said over 260 firefighters with nearly 80 fire engines and 12 aircraft were deployed in Keratea, a rural area some 43 kilometres (27 miles) southeast of Athens. "The fire has weakened but there are still active pockets," the spokesman told AFP. Dozens of people were evacuated late…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 8 - The British Labour government has announced that a Balkan summit will take place on October 8 at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland to promote "reconciliation" at a time when the region is under increasing threat from instability. The summit, organised by Foreign Minister David Lammy, will bring together representatives from 15 countries, including Italy, France, and Germany, as well as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia,…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 8 - "I just finished a long conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about the situation in Ukraine. There are certain signs, and perhaps even a hunch, that a cease-fire in the conflict is closer than it appears," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, according to the PAP news agency. Zelensky is "very cautious, but still optimistic," Tusk added, noting that Donald Trump's ultimatum to Vladimir Putin to stop attacking Ukraine and avoid secondary sanctions…

(ANSA-AFP) - PRISTINA, AUG 8 - Thousands of Kosovo war veterans staged a protest rally Thursday against a war crimes court in The Hague that they accused of "distorting history" over its prosecution of former guerilla leaders. Chanting the Kosovo Liberation Army name and waving flags bearing the symbols of ethnic Albanian guerrillas, protesters filled a central square in Pristina and streets around the government headquarters. "The special court is biased, anti-KLA and anti-Kosovo," Hysni Gucati,…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 7 - Bosnian Serb nationalist leader Milorad Dodik has strongly opposed the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH)'s decision to remove him from the position of President of Republika Srpska (RS), BiH's Serb-majority entity. The decision was announced yesterday, following the upholding on appeal of Dodik's sentence of one year in prison and a six-year ban from all political activity for repeatedly disobeying the decisions of Christian Schmidt, the International…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 7 - Rheinmetall reported record revenue today, up 24% in the first half of 2025 to €4.7 billion (compared to €3.8 billion in 2024). The military sector alone experienced a 36% growth. Operating profit also increased (+18%, 20% for the military sector). Specifically, the Arms and Ammunition sector generated a record €1.3 billion in revenue from weapon systems, ammunition, and protective systems in the first half of 2025, outpacing the previous year's result by €269…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 7 - A decision issued today by the German Constitutional Court is expected to spark debate over the use by law enforcement of so-called Trojans, which are spyware installed on electronic devices without the owner's knowledge and allow law enforcement to monitor, for example, messaging services. Activists and journalists were concerned about the uncontrolled use of these systems and filed an appeal in court. The Court only partially admitted the appeals and only for a few specific…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 6 - "Fortunately, in recent decades, situations of mutual intolerance have been overcome, and it is unacceptable that anyone today would wish to revisit events that bring back dramatic aspects of history," Massimiliano Fedriga, President of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, said today. Fedriga responded to the offensive graffiti that appeared yesterday near the Consulate General of the Republic of Slovenia in Trieste. "We fully support the Consulate", Fedriga stated, adding…

(ANSA-AFP) - WARSAW, AUG 6 - Nationalist historian Karol Nawrocki was sworn in as Poland's new president on Wednesday following his victory in a June 1 election that dealt a major blow to the pro-EU government. Nawrocki, 42, a supporter of US President Donald Trump, took the oath of office in front of Polish lawmakers to begin his five-year mandate, AFP reporters saw. Nawrocki, who was sworn in as Poland's new president on Wednesday, is a former amateur boxer with a particular interest in the criminal…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 6 - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić met in Belgrade yesterday evening. According to the Italian government website, the meeting "provided an opportunity to renew Italy's full support for Serbia's EU accession process and the related reform process launched by Belgrade." The two leaders also discussed Italy and Serbia's bilateral relations, as well as the goal of further strengthening cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 6 - According to provisional figures from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), real (price adjusted) new orders in German manufacturing fell 1.0% month on month in June 2025 after seasonal and calendar adjustments. When large-scale orders are excluded, new orders increased 0.5% over the previous month. The less volatile three-month-on-three-month comparison revealed that new orders were 3.1% higher in the second quarter of 2025 than in the first quarter; when large-scale…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 6 - In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Central Election Commission decided today to revoke Milorad Dodik's mandate as president of Republika Srpska, following his one-year prison sentence and six-year ban from all political activity for disobeying the decisions of the International High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christian Schmidt, which was upheld on appeal in recent days. Republika Srpska is Bosnia and Herzegovina's Serb-majority entity. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 5 - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the late afternoon, who was in Belgrade for a brief working visit. Vucic announced the visit on his Instagram profile, emphasising that it is a message of trust and shared vision for the future of a united Europe, as well as a show of strong support for Serbia. "I thank Giorgia Meloni for this important visit and for showing respect for our country and people," Vucic wrote on Instagram. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - ROMA, AUG 5 - Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrived at Belgrade's Nikola Tesla International Airport, where she was greeted by the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, and the Ambassador of Italy to Serbia, Luca Gori. Following this, the two leaders will travel to the official residence Vila Mir for a bilateral meeting. (ANSA).

(ANSA-AFP) - BUCHAREST, AUG 5 - Romanian former president Ion Iliescu, who presided over the eastern European country's chaotic transition from communism to democracy, died on Tuesday aged 95, the government said. "It is with deep regret that the government announces the passing of the former President of Romania, Mr. Ion Iliescu. The former President of Romania died today, August 5, 2025," said the statement published online. It added that details of Iliescu's state funeral would be communicated…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 5 - Offensive graffiti appeared this morning outside the Consulate General of the Republic of Slovenia on Via Teatro Romano in Trieste. Overnight, unknown individuals wrapped a yellow sign around the Consulate's plate with red tape. The police are currently investigating the incident. Investigators are also reviewing video surveillance footage, which may provide useful information in identifying the perpetrators. (ANSA).

(ANSA-AFP) - BERLIN, AUG 5 - Two suspected spies for China, including a former assistant to far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) lawmaker Maximilian Krah, went on trial in the eastern city of Dresden on Tuesday. The German national Jian Guo allegedly worked for Chinese intelligence from 2002, including while working in the office of then-MEP Krah between 2019 and 2024. He is accused of using that position to pass on more than 500 documents, some deemed highly sensitive, to Beijing as well as…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 5 - Vard, Fincantieri Group's Norwegian subsidiary, has signed a new contract with North Star, the United Kingdom's largest shipowner-operator, for the design and construction of two hybrid Service Operation Vessels (SOVs). The order strengthens the two companies' partnership and confirms their shared commitment to sustainable maritime innovation. The agreement's value is defined as "large," which ranges from €100 to €200 million. Vard Design in Alesund, Norway, will build…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 5 - Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will meet with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic this afternoon at 18:30, according to the Italian government website. The visit, which was cancelled earlier this year, has now been officially announced. The intention, it is stated, was to make up the appointment before the summer break, but a scheduling conflict led to today's date being set. The prime minister's mission will be brief, as she returns to Rome this evening following a dinner…

(ANSA) - TRIESTE, 04 AGO - The 30th edition of the No Borders Music Festival concluded yesterday, attracting 30,000 attendees over five shows in the Tarvisio area. From July 19 onwards, the Fusine Lakes hosted world-class artists, including Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, Mika, Jovanotti, Lucio Corsi, I Patagarri, Goran Bregović, and Kings of Convenience. This boundary-free festival generated 100 million views across television, social media, and other platforms, resulting in an economic impact…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 4 - The Lithuanian government, led by Social Democrat Gintautas Paluckas, resigned this morning, confirming the Prime Minister's announcement from last Friday. Under current law, the President of the Republic will have fifteen days to present to Parliament a new candidate for Prime Minister, who will be in charge of forming the new government and seeking a vote of confidence. Paluckas resigned following a series of scandals over the last two months that revealed serious conflicts…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 4 - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban described the EU-US tariff agreement as a "terrible economic agreement, an own goal." On Hungarian public broadcaster Radio Kossuth, Orban stated that "Hungary will respond with two action plans: one to protect jobs and one to protect industry; discussions have already begun." (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 4 - The electric powertrain for the BMW Neue Klasse is now being produced at the Austrian plant in Steyr. The propeller-driven manufacturer's sixth generation of electric vehicles will be powered by the first 100% electric powertrain produced at this facility. The Steyr plant has been producing internal combustion engines for BMW and Mini vehicles for over 40 years and will continue to be the group's most important engine production facility, including for electric vehicles,…

(ANSA-AFP) - POSTOJNA, 03 AGO - Fans of an iconic French car gather this week in Slovenia to reclaim a slow, stress-free way of life where repairs are easy and cars are slow. "Once you sit down, all the stress from your office is gone," Karmen Uglesic, one of the organisers of this year's 25th world meeting of Citroen 2CV fans, told AFP. "You stop worrying and simply enjoy," she said. As head of the Slovenian parliament's public relations office, Uglesic has more than 20 years' experience working…

(ANSA) - BELGRADO, AUG 3 - Serbia does not recognize the Sarajevo court's appeal ruling that on Friday upheld the conviction of Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik to one year in prison and a six-year ban from all political activity for disobeying the deliberations of International High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina Christian Schmidt. President Aleksandar Vucic said this at the end of a meeting of the National Security Council in Belgrade. Speaking to reporters, Vucic added that "Dodik…

(ANSA) - BELGRADO, 03 AGO - La Serbia non riconosce la sentenza in appello del tribunale di Sarajevo che venerdì ha confermato la condanna del leader serbo-bosniaco Milorad Dodik a un anno di reclusione e sei di interdizione da ogni attività politica per disobbedienza alle delibere dell'Alto rappresentante internazionale in Bosnia-Erzegovina Christian Schmidt. Lo ha detto il presidente Aleksandar Vucic al termine di una riunione del Consiglio per la sicurezza nazionale a Belgrado. Parlando ai…

(ANSA) - VILNIUS, AUG 2 - Lithuania's deputy defense ministers, Tomas Godliauskas and Orijana Masale, and their Polish counterpart, Cezary Tomczyk, discussed Friday the joint development of military mobility projects of strategic importance in order to improve troop movement in the region and strengthen NATO's defense capabilities on its eastern flank. They also discussed plans to build a common line of defense with the other two Baltic countries, the creation of a unified system for NATO fuel reserves…