Ansa news

(ANSA) - TRIESTE, JAN 19 - A delegation from Confindustria Alto Adriatico visited the Krško (Slovenia) nuclear power plant today, organized by the Association's Energy Consortium with the Regional Economic Union of Slovenia. "The initiative," said CAA President Michelangelo Agrusti, "is part of a broader project we have launched to encourage the integration of companies in the area into highly complex supply chains through qualification and certification paths consistent with the standards required…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 19 - Mol and Gazpromneft have agreed on the basic terms of a future purchase agreement for Serbia's NIS, which can now ask Washington to lift its sanctions. The announcement was made by Serbian Minister of Mines and Energy Dubravka Djedovich Handanovich, who also stated that the Serbian government was able to secure a 5% increase in the state's stake in the Serbian oil company, which had previously been less than 30%. NIS is subject to US sanctions due to Russia's majority…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 19 - Annual inflation in the eurozone fell to 1.9% in December, down from 2.1% in November, according to Eurostat estimates, which were revised down from the initial flash estimate of 2% for December. In the European Union, the rate rose to 2.3% from 2.4% in November. The lowest annual rates were found in Cyprus (0.1%), France (0.7%), and Italy (1.2%). The highest annual rates were found in Romania (8.6%), Slovakia (4.1%), and Estonia (4.0%). (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 19 - "We won't be blackmailed" and "there will be a clear and united response from Europe, we are preparing countermeasures agreed upon with our European partners," German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said in a joint statement with his French counterpart Roland Lescure in Berlin, in response to Donald Trump's tariff threats. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 19 - A volunteer fundraising platform in Poland has raised more than 2.4 million zlotys (approximately $660,000) to buy generators for Kiev, organisers announced, as Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure continue due to the harsh winter. The Kyiv Independent reported the news. The fundraiser, called "Heat from Poland for Kiev," initially aimed to raise 400,000 zlotys ($110,000) for the purchase of generators. After quickly reaching that goal, organisers increased…

(ANSA) - VILNIUS, JAN 18 - "If anyone wants to dialogue with Russia as they did before the large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the result will be very bad. With Russia you have to dialogue with force. And this tool is in the hands of Europe: we need a 20th sanctions package and full recognition of the responsibility of the Russian political leadership for the crimes committed in Ukraine." This was stated by Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys. "Not dialogue, but increasing pressure…

(ANSA) - ZAGABRIA, JAN 18 - "Allies within NATO must respect each other and take into account the fact that Greenland is part of Denmark. Therefore, we express solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland." This was stated by the Croatian government in a note released today. Zagreb also reiterates its opposition to the imposition of any additional duties that could undermine the balance of trade relations between the EU and the United States and weaken the transatlantic partnership in a context…

(ANSA) - UDINE, JAN 18 - "Fiume or Death!", is the documentary awarded in Berlin at the 38th European Film Awards, the Oscars of European cinema. The work is supported, among others, by the Fondo per l'Audiovisivo del Fvg. This was announced by the same Fund in a note specifying that the documentary, directed by Igor Bezinović, is produced by Erica Barbiani and Lucia Candelpergher for Friuli-based Videomante and that it won in the European Documentary category. The documentary deals with a particular…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 16 - Slovenian police handled 28,200 cases of illegal border crossings last year, a decrease of nearly 40% from 46,217 cases in 2024, according to Slovenian news agency STA. This was also the lowest figure in the past four years, STA noted. The most common countries of origin for migrants identified in Slovenia were Afghanistan, Egypt, Bangladesh, and Morocco. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 16 - Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico will meet with US President Donald Trump tomorrow at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida to strengthen bilateral relations. According to a Slovak government statement, the prime minister left for the United States yesterday afternoon. Today, he will meet with US Secretary of Energy Christopher A. Wright in Washington and then participate in the signing ceremony of a bilateral agreement on civil nuclear cooperation. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 16 - "The hope is to extend the Arctic Endurance mission" and make it "a NATO exercise," "so, in this sense, Germany and Italy are moving in the same direction," said German Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Michael Stumpfle at a press conference in Berlin, in response to a question about Italy's refusal to participate in the Greenland mission, which Germany and France are participating in. The spokesman emphasised that bilateral defence cooperation is "excellent." (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 16 - According to the Vatican Press Office bulletin, Pope Leo received the Slovenian bishops during their ad limina visit this morning. It was a private meeting with the country's bishops. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 16 - After years of negotiations, the Global Ocean Treaty, a United Nations international agreement aimed at protecting the high seas, or ocean areas that do not belong to any state (roughly 60% of the world's oceans), will go into effect tomorrow, January 17. Greenpeace recalls this in a statement, noting that "to date, 81 countries have ratified it, including France, China, Cuba, and Greece, but Italy is not one of them," and thus calls on the government to join. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 15 - During a visit to Belgrade, Hungarian Foreign and Trade Minister Petar Szijjarto assured Serbian Minister of Mines and Energy Dubravka Djedovič Handanovic that negotiations to sell Gazprom's majority stake in Serbia's NIS, which is under US sanctions due to its Russian controlling interest, are progressing well and the first concrete step is expected in the coming days.nis ga According to the Tanjug agency, citing the Hungarian minister, the Pančevo refinery, the only…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 15 - Authorities detected only 12.525 irregular borders crossing the EU's external borders along the Balkan Route in 2025, a 42% decrease from 2024, according to new Frontex data released today. The decrease, Frontex explained, is due to increased security measures and close collaboration with Frontex. Frontex is present in the region and launched a new joint operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina in November 2025 to strengthen operational support on the ground. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 15 - The final hearings in the trial of 24 former migrant rescue volunteers, accused of participating in a criminal conspiracy, money laundering, and aiding and abetting irregular entry, began this morning at the Court of Appeal on the Greek island of Lesbos in the northeastern Aegean. If convicted, they could face up to 20 years in prison. According to ANSA, the trial is expected to conclude tomorrow. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 15 - In Germany, GDP increased by 0.2% in 2025 over the previous year. Ruth Brand, President of the German Federal Statistical Office, stated that gross domestic product increased by 0.3% after accounting for calendar effects. "After two years of recession, the economy has returned to slight growth, owing primarily to the fact that households resumed consumption in 2025. This growth is primarily the result of increased consumer spending by households and the government. Exports,…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 15 - "The euro zone economy demonstrates resilience despite the challenging international environment," and after a 0.3% GDP increase in the fourth quarter of 2025, "this growth pattern, driven by services, is likely to continue in the short term," the ECB wrote in its economic bulletin. The Bank noted also the expansion of services in particular, while industry and construction activity remained flat, and the boost to GDP from consumption, thanks to the "robust" labour market.…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 14 - Bulgaria is getting closer to yet another snap election. Following the rejection of outgoing Prime Minister Rossen Zhelyazkov, the liberals of "Continue the Change" (PP), parliament's second-largest political force and currently in opposition, immediately returned to President Rumen Radev the mandate he had just given them to try to form a governing majority, as required by the constitution. The outcome was predictable and foretold. After returning her mandate, PP member…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 14 - "The German Federal Army does not tolerate sexual violence, extremism, drug abuse, or discrimination. Soldiers who tolerate such behaviour may be barred from holding command positions in our army," said Bundeswehr Inspector General Carsten Breuer, Germany's highest military authority, at a press conference held during a meeting of the Bundestag's Defence Committee. The meeting focused on the scandal involving the army's paratrooper unit, which included anti-Semitism,…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 14 - With less than three months until the election, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is trailing opposition leader Peter Magyar in polls. According to the most recent poll by polling institute Median, published in the weekly HVG, Tisza's party leads with 51% of voting intentions, compared to 39% for Fidesz. The opposition now leads by two percentage points, up from two months ago. However, the research institute reports that 44% of respondents believe Fidesz will win,…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 14 - "Eastern and Central European banks are demonstrating resilient, high-quality performance, supported by dynamic economies with solid growth fundamentals and a rapidly evolving financial ecosystem," said Paola Papanicolau, Head of the International Banks Division at Intesa Sanpaolo, during the Central and Eastern European Forum 2026, which is currently underway in Vienna. "The higher growth potential in comparison to the Eurozone," she continued, "combined with timely…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 13 - "Sustainability is not just an ethical choice, but a true industrial and financial parameter," and companies that invest in it "improve efficiency, attractiveness, and competitiveness," said Anna Mareschi Danieli, President of Confindustria Slovenia, as she opened a Confindustria Slovenia-sponsored conference in Ljubljana today on sustainability as a strategic and financial lever for business competitiveness. "The challenge today is not whether to make the transition,…

(ANSA) - UDINE, JAN 13 - FemECoPLUS, a European project that will involve 100 women entrepreneurs and freelancers from the mountain areas of Friuli Venezia Giulia and Carinthia to build a stable network of cross-border cooperation for women, has started. The initiative presented today is co-financed by the Interreg Italy-Austria Program 2021-2027 and is led by Cramars, with Verein für Bildung und Lernen and the Interregional Trade Union Council Fvg-Carinthia. The project stems from a starting condition…

(ANSA) - UDINE, 13 GEN - Strengthening and expanding an already well-established partnership in education, research, and relations with the economic and productive sectors. This was the goal of the meeting between the rectors of the Universities of Udine, Angelo Montanari, and Klagenfurt, Ada Pellert, who led their respective delegations in discussions on the future prospects of cross-border cooperation. The news was reported by the University of Udine today. The talks focused on the joint development…

(ANSA-AFP) - BUDAPEST, JAN 13 - Hungary will hold a general election on April 12, its president said Tuesday, with the EU's longest serving current leader, nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, facing an unprecedented challenge. "I have set the date of the 2026 general election... voting will take place on Sunday, 12 April 2026," President Tamas Sulyok said in a statement posted on social media. (ANSA-AFP).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 13 - Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić dismissed a planned visit by a delegation of MEPs to assess Belgrade's level of European integration, stating that they were not invited. Vučić and Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić both stated that they will not meet with the "Serbia haters" who are visiting Serbia. Vucic, speaking during a visit to Abu Dhabi, echoed Ana Brnabić's statement that the Serbian government had not been consulted by the Strasbourg Assembly and…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 13 - For 10,000 kilometres, an Italian driver spends €533 in excise duties and taxes. Italy has the highest diesel prices in the EU, with excise duties and taxes accounting for 59% of the total cost at the pump. Without excise duties and taxes, Italian prices would be the third lowest on the continent. This is according to the web portal Facile.it survey conducted on European Commission data updated to January 5th following the realignment of fuel excise duties, with a 4.05…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 12 - The women and men of the 5th Novara Lancers Regiment were bid farewell today by the community of Codroipo (Udine), where the regiment is stationed, ahead of their departure for Kosovo, where they will be part of the NATO KFOR mission. "Friuli Venezia Giulia is proud of the 5th Novara Lancers Regiment, which was called upon to carry out an important peacekeeping mission and provide assistance to civilians" in Kosovo, said Mario Anzil, Vice President of the Friuli Venezia…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 12 - Serbia will resume receiving crude oil from Croatia via the Adriatic Pipeline (Janaf) starting at midnight, according to Serbian Energy Minister Dubravka Djedović Handanović, as reported by Belgrade's public television. Crude oil deliveries to the Serbian refinery in Pancevo were halted last October due to US sanctions imposed on the Serbian hydrocarbon giant NIS, which is controlled by Russia's Gazprom. The approval for crude oil to enter Serbia through Croatia is…