Ansa news

(ANSA-AFP) - BELGRADE, JAN 10 - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Friday he would hold talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin after Washington announced sweeping sanctions against a range of energy companies, including a Serbian firm. Vucic told a news conference he would speak with Putin "first over the phone, and then explore other ways of communication". (ANSA-AFP).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 10 - "The EU supports the International Criminal Court (ICC) and respects the independence and impartiality of the Court: the Council calls on all Member States to cooperate with the Court, including in the execution of arrest warrants," said a spokesperson for the Commission, commenting on Warsaw's decision to guarantee "free access" for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the ceremony marking 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. "It is not the Commission's…

(ANSA) - ROME, JAN 10 - Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Friday told his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting at the presidential Quirinale palace in Rome that Italy was determined to maintain its support for Ukraine, explaining that the commitment was due to the friendship linking Ukraine and Italy, the respect of the international community's rules and the security of the entire Europe. "I am very happy to welcome you again at the Quirinale Palace", said Mattarella,…

(ANSA-AFP) - ZAGREB, JAN 10 - Croatia votes in a presidential runoff on Sunday, with the opposition-backed incumbent Zoran Milanovic expected to win a second term, in a fresh blow to the scandal-hit ruling party. The outspoken Milanovic won more than 49 percent of the vote in the first round of the election in late December, narrowly missing an outright victory in the contest by less than one percent. His main rival, Dragan Primorac, garnered less than 20 percent of the ballots cast, making it unlikely…

(ANSA-AFP) - BELGRADE, 09 GEN - One of the four people who were critically injured in a mass shooting in Montenegro on New Year's Day died on Thursday, medical officials said, taking the death toll to 13. A 45-year-old man opened fire at a tavern in the southern town of Cetinje on January 1. Twelve people were pronounced dead at the scene, including two children. Four others were wounded. "The 40-year-old patient succumbed to severe injuries sustained in the tragic event in Cetinje," the Clinical…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 9 - "If Volodymyr Zelensky intends to continue to harm our country's interests, we can consider using the right of veto in the European Council on any measure in favour of Ukraine," Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico said in a press conference after meeting in Brussels with the European Commissioner for Energy, Danish Socialist Dan Jorgensen. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 9 - According to provisional data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), industrial production in real terms (price adjusted) increased 1.5% month on month in November 2024 after seasonal and calendar adjustments. The less volatile three-month-on-three-month comparison revealed that production was 1.1% lower from September to November 2024 than in the previous three months. After revising the provisional results, production decreased by 0.4% in October 2024 compared…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 9 - The government in Bucharest announced that new presidential elections will be held on May 4, following the Constitutional Court's annulment of the consultation a month ago, according to regional agencies. The potential run-off date has been set for May 18. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 9 - Celebrations for Republika Srpska (RS), Bosnia and Herzegovina's entity with a Serb majority, began yesterday evening for its National Day, which falls today. The anniversary is observed and celebrated with great emphasis and nationalistic spirit, despite the fact that the Bosnian High Court has repeatedly declared it unconstitutional, and the High International Representative in BiH, Christian Schmidt, has stigmatised the holiday. In fact, the judges believe that this…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 8 - Three teachers and activists of the Balkan Route Collective said they were arrested in Bulgaria at the end of December for aiding three young Moroccan migrants, according to a post on Facebook. Simone Zito, a 38-year-old high school professor in Turin published a post on Facebook on January 4 claiming he was arrested with two other colleagues by authorities in Bulgaria at the end of December "for saving human lives". The three teachers are activists of the informal Balkan…

(ANSA) - ROME, JAN 8 - A merger deal between Lufthansa and ITA in which the German airline buys its Italian counterpart will be completed by January 13, German news agency DPA said Wednesday, citing sources close to the dossier from a workers' meeting. However, there is as yet no official confirmation from the German company or from the Italian government. (ANSA).

(ANSA-AFP) - WARSAW, JAN 8 - Poland's parliamentary speaker said Wednesday the country would hold a presidential election on May 18, with the governing pro-EU coalition hoping its candidate will succeed outgoing conservative Andrzej Duda. "The ballot to select the next president of Poland will take place on May 18 of this year," parliamentary speaker Szymon Holownia told reporters, adding that if necessary, a run-off would be held on June 1. (ANSA-AFP).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 8 - In response to a question about Donald Trump's statements on Greenland and Panama, German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit stated that "the Charter of the United Nations is authoritative" and that "borders cannot be changed by force." When asked if Berlin takes these statements seriously, Hebestreit replied, "We have no intention of judging them; we have taken note of them." (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 8 - NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will attend tomorrow's meeting of the Contact Group for Ukraine's Defence at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The meeting is hosted by Lloyd Austin, US Secretary of Defence, and General Charles Brown, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In the afternoon, the Secretary General will travel to the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany, for a press conference. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 8 - According to preliminary data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), real (price adjusted) new orders in manufacturing fell 5.4% month on month in November 2024, after seasonal and calendar adjustments. When large-scale orders were excluded, new orders increased by 0.2% over the previous month. The less volatile three-month-on-three-month comparison revealed that total new orders in the period from September to November 2024 were 1.7% higher than the previous…

(ANSA) - TRIESTE, 07 GEN - In 2025, Adriatic Greenet - an international network association based in Monfalcone (Gorizia, Italy) that weaves relationships with countries across the border - will turn 20 years old, and to celebrate it has organized between July and August, a "Caravan of Peace." a "Balkan" tour to "embrace" the partners with whom in recent years various experiences have been shared between knowledge trips, volunteer camps, European projects, twinning, in order to build bridges, weave…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 7 - "Italy is strongly committed to the process of Balkan reunification with the European Union," said the Italian Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, Maria Tripodi. Tripodi met with Kosovo's ambassador to Italy, Nita Shala, today at the Farnesina, and assures her of a "fruitful discussion." (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 7 - Thanks to the support of 33 million euros from the cohesion policy, the citizens of the agglomerations of the Croatian Adriatic coast of Novi Vinodolski, Crikvenica and Selce will benefit from better wastewater collection and treatment, the EU Commission announced today. Currently, this area suffers from significant water losses, while the maintenance of the sewerage network is hampered by illegal connections to rainwater." (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 7 - Orthodox believers celebrate Christmas in Serbia today. Liturgies were held at midnight in Orthodox churches across Serbia and abroad, with messages of peace and love being sent from them, according to Serbian public television. Patriarch Porfirije will lead a Christmas liturgy at Belgrade's Temple of Saint Sava. "In a world that has always carried an excessively heavy burden of injustice, suffering, suspicion, hatred, and conflict, sincere and fervent faith in justice,…

(ANSA-AFP) - VIENNA, JAN 6 - Austria's president tasked far-right leader Herbert Kickl with trying to form a government Monday, in a historic move after coalition talks that excluded the Freedom party (FPOe) collapsed. The FPOe topped the poll in September's national election for the first time ever, winning almost 29 percent of the vote, but until now had been unable to find partners to form a national government. After meeting Kickl for about an hour, President Alexander Van der Bellen said he…

(ANSA-AFP) - BERLIN, JAN 6 - The death toll from a car ramming attack on a Christmas market in the eastern German city of Magdeburg in December has risen to six, prosecutors said Monday. A 52-year-old woman has died in hospital as a result of injuries she sustained in the attack, the prosecutors said. (ANSA-AFP).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 6 - Following the failure of previous negotiations to form a government, Austria's president, Alexander Van der Bellen, has begun meeting with Herbert Kickl, the leader of the far-right party Fpö. According to Austrian news agency Apa, Kickl arrived at the presidential office shortly before 11. It remains to be seen whether Kickl will actually be tasked with forming a government, and the conversation may not be brief. After months of negotiations, the negotiating table between…

(ANSA) - SKOPJE, 05 GEN - Two small girls swing on a swing in front of a bonfire during a traditional gathering on the night before the Christian Orthodox Christmas Eve in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia, 05 January 2025. Christian Orthodox believers celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar on 07 January. EPA/GEORGI LICOVSKI GEORGI LICOVSKI/ (ANSA).

(ANSA-AFP) - BELGRADE, 04 GEN - Serbia recorded its hottest year in history in 2024, the Balkan country's meteorological office said this week. The average surface air temperature last year was 13.3 degrees Celsius (56 degrees Fahrenheit), "which is 2.3C higher than the average for the period 1991-2020 and almost 1.0C more that the previously hottest year -- 2023," the State Hydro-Meteorological Service said in a report on Friday. Globally, the United Nations' climate and weather agency has said…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 4 - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has confirmed that the United States will impose severe sanctions, including financial penalties, on Nis (Naftna Industrija Srbije), the Serbian oil company majority-owned by Russian energy giant Gazprom. Speaking at a government meeting in Belgrade this morning, Vucic predicted that Washington would officially announce such measures by January 15. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 4 - Former Slovenian President Borut Pahor has decided not to run for the EU's next representative in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, according to Slovenian news agency STA. Pahor had previously expressed his willingness to take up the position. The former Slovenian president cited a number of reasons for his decision, including a differing viewpoint on EU enlargement from official EU policy. (ANSA).

(ANSA-AFP) - VIENNA, JAN 3 - Austria's three-way coalition talks to form a new government failed on Friday, with the head of the liberal party announcing its withdrawal from the negotiations. The far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) topped September 29 national polls for the first time ever, winning 28.8 percent of the vote, ahead of the ruling conservative People's Party (OeVP) with 26.3 percent. The centre-left Social Democrats (SPOe) came third with 21.1 percent. However, the FPOe has been unable to…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 3 - Poland has decided not to invite the Hungarian ambassador and Prime Minister Viktor Orban to today's event marking the start of Warsaw's rotating EU presidency, after Budapest granted asylum to a former Polish deputy minister under investigation for alleged abuse of public funds, according to Deputy Minister for European Affairs Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and European Council President Antonio Costa are expected to deliver speeches…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 3 - The gas market is expected to remain "very volatile" in the coming months as demand increases and storage fills. This is the picture painted by Bloomberg analysts following gas price increases, primarily due to a 'perfect storm' that includes a halt in flows from Ukraine, the interruption of an LNG plant in Norway, and temperatures colder than the seasonal average. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 3 - The disruption of Russian gas supplies, linked to a halt in transit in Ukraine and the pro-Russian breakaway region of Transnistria in Moldova, has forced the closure of all industrial companies, with the exception of food producers. According to international media, the territory, which is predominantly Russian-speaking and has a population of approximately 450,000 people, was separated from Moldova in the 1990s with the collapse of the Soviet Union and suffered a hard…