Ansa news

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 15 OTT - Sergio Mattarella, the Italian President, has arrived in Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital, to attend the annual meeting of the Arraiolos Group heads of state. The Arraiolos meetings provide an opportunity for the presidents to engage in informal discussions about Europe's future, in light of ongoing geopolitical challenges and the effects of the war in Ukraine on the European Union structure. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 15 OTT - The kick-off meeting for 'Rise4Ukraine,' a Horizon Europe-funded project, was held in Brussels. According to a press release from the Central European Initiative (CEI), the programme aims to support the "green reconstruction" of conflict-affected Ukrainian regions by combining ecological transition, economic recovery, and the development of local capacities. Supported by about €4 million in European funding, the 36-month project, which is led by White Research (Belgium),…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 15 OTT - Two oil tankers caught fire overnight in the Black Sea, within Romanian territorial waters, after being hit by Russian drones that had entered the country's airspace, according to Romanian President Nicusor Dan, as reported by Sky News. Eight people are currently missing. The tankers were anchored in the Black Sea, near the mouth of a channel connecting to the Danube, when Romanian naval authorities received an initial distress signal from the Wine Trader, a tanker flying…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 15 OTT - "Do you know what the problem is in Europe right now?" High fuel prices. We welcome any measure that reduces prices and maintains our competitiveness." Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev made this statement upon his arrival at the European Council in Brussels, in response to a question about the US decision to ease sanctions on Russian diesel. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 15 OTT - Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar will host the first-ever Arraiolos meeting of heads of state with non-executive powers in Slovenia on Thursday and Friday, according to Slovenian news agency STA. A dozen presidents will arrive in Slovenia to discuss Europe's future and international role.The presidents of Austria, Estonia, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Hungary, Malta, Germany, Poland, Portugal, and Slovakia have confirmed their attendance at the informal Arraiolos…

(ANSA-AFP) - BUCHAREST, 15 OTT - Romania said eight people were missing after a fire broke out on a vessel flying the San Marino flag on Thursday morning, the latest incident in the Black Sea, which has seen a series of drone attacks. "There were 12 people on board the vessel. Four of them are safe, whilst eight are currently missing," the Romanian Naval Authority said in a press release. (ANSA-AFP).

(ANSA-AFP) - SOFIA, 14 OTT - Bulgaria is investigating a report that several antennas used for communication with the Starlink satellite network were deliberately set on fire, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said Wednesday. "The investigation is extremely intensive. We are working with partner services to successfully carry out this operation," Radev said in parliament, without confirming or denying the claim. Ukraine uses the Starlink satellite system controlled by SpaceX owner Elon Musk for battlefield…

(ANSA-AFP) - HAMBURG, 14 OTT - A Ukrainian former military officer on Wednesday became the first person to stand trial over the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline bombings when proceedings got underway in a German court. Sergiy Kuznietsov, 50, is accused of leading a group of divers, an explosives expert, and a boat captain who planted explosives on the pipelines designed to carry Russian gas to Europe. He entered the courtroom in the northern city of Hamburg accompanied by officials, and gave his personal…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 14 OTT - "The election campaign in Serbia is taking place in a highly polarised context, which may jeopardise the level playing field among candidates," stated the pre-election delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), led by Piero Fassino (PD), at the conclusion of a two-day visit to Belgrade. These elections, held amid a pervasive "referendum-like" atmosphere, are yet another example of a deeply ingrained culture of snap elections that has instrumentalised…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 14 OTT - After a year, Italy will resume command of NATO's KFOR mission in Kosovo. General Roberto Vergori succeeds the outgoing commander, Turkey's Ozkan Ulutuas. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto attended the change-of-command ceremony at KFOR headquarters in Pristina. The mission includes 4,600 troops from 31 countries, with 900 Italians comprising the largest contingent. Vergori is the 15th Italian commander of KFOR. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 14 OTT - "We are resuming command with General Vergori, and we do so with a commitment that will last even if KFOR scales back its operations in Kosovo, because the Balkans are an essential component of our security. Securing the Balkans—and potentially installing radars there in the future to defend both these nations and our own country against threats—is critical," said the Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto on the sidelines of the KFOR mission change-of-command ceremony…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 13 OTT - German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has named SPD politician Alexander Schweitzer as the new Minister of Labour. Steinmeier presented the letter of appointment to Rhineland-Palatinate's former Minister-President. Earlier, during a meeting at his office, Steinmeier handed Schweitzer's predecessor, Baerbel Bas, the letter of resignation. Bas announced her immediate resignation as minister and SPD official yesterday, citing a family bereavement and public attacks from…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 13 OTT - A student and citizen protest outside the Ministry of Education in Tirana quickly escalated into violent clashes with police. The crowd, which numbered in the hundreds, chanted anti-government slogans before throwing firecrackers, ink, eggs and paving stones torn from the sidewalk. Windows in the ministry were shattered. The building's metal fence was also demolished, allowing groups of hooded protesters to enter the courtyard. Police then intervened with water cannons…

(ANSA-AFP) - BUDAPEST, 13 OTT - Hungarian lawmakers on Tuesday voted to remove anti-LGBTQ provisions in a 2021 "child protection" law adopted under nationalist ex-leader Viktor Orban. Parliament passed a bill to amend the law with 139 votes in favour and 51 votes against, marking the first significant reversal of Orban's curbs targeting the LGBTQ community since pro-EU Prime Minister Peter Magyar took power in May. Instead of banning the "portrayal" or "promotion" of sexual and gender diversity…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 13 OTT - "Significant progress has been made, and there has been excellent cooperation between the Hungarian government and EU institutions regarding the restoration of the rule of law," said European Commissioner Michael McGrath upon arriving at the General Affairs Council in Luxembourg, referring to Hungary's Article 7 procedure, which is currently being reviewed by ministers. "There is still much work to be done, given that the new government has only been in office for a few…

(ANSA-AFP) - SOFIA, 13 OTT - Two ships have been struck off the coast of Bulgaria, one in a drone attack, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said Tuesday, a week after a similar incident. Radev wrote on social media that a Ukraine-owned cargo ship was "hit by three aerial drones", and shortly after another ship was hit and sank. He said he intended to summon the Russian ambassador over the "unacceptable" attacks. "We lack solid, clear evidence to level accusations against any specific party; however...…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 12 OTT - "Germany needs a stable government capable of taking immediate action," said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. "We need a strong CDU for both domestic and foreign policy," he added, speaking to the press after a crisis meeting with his party that began yesterday in the capital. These remarks were also made in light of the SPD's internal turmoil, which included the resignation of Bärbel Bas, SPD co-chair and Minister of Labour. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 12 OTT - Four intergovernmental conferences involving Montenegro, Albania, Moldova, and Ukraine are scheduled for the coming days, according to a decision made yesterday by member states, Marta Kos, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, announced, noting that this is the "third time since June" that the EU has held four such conferences at the same time. "It is a clear sign that the enlargement process is moving forward," she declared, praising the achievements of the candidate…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 12 OTT - According to Slovenian news agency STA, the near-complete results of Slovenia's four referendums indicate a mixed outcome for the centre-right government. According to data from the National Electoral Commission (DVK), the AGAINST camp received 51.26% of the vote in the only binding vote on amendments to the parliamentary inquiry law, compared to 48.74% FOR, with 99.97% of ballots counted. Opponents received 471,859 votes, comfortably exceeding the rejection threshold…

(ANSA-AFP) - WARSAW, 11 OTT - Poland's interior ministry said Sunday that the country's Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz may have been targeted by assassination attempts. The ministry ordered authorities to take action "in connection with the information received by (police) concerning a possible assassination attempt on the prime minister ... as well as the deputy prime minister", who is also defence minister, interior spokeswoman Karolina Galecka wrote…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 11 OTT - Slovenia will vote in four referendums on Sunday, marking the government's first public opinion test less than half a year into its term, according to the Slovenian news agency STA. Voters will cast a binding vote on a civil society-initiated parliamentary inquiry law, as well as three consultative referendums demanded by government parties on the TV licence fee, third-country national voting rights in local elections, and a work mandate for welfare recipients. Polls…

(ANSA-AFP) - BERLIN, 10 OTT - Germany said Saturday it would continue to push for new EU sanctions against Russia despite Moscow's agreement with Washington to release diesel to world markets to ease a fuel crunch. Germany noted the US decision to ease its sanctions imposed on Moscow over the invasion of Ukraine, but continued working with European partners on further sanctions, government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said in a statement sent to AFP. (ANSA-AFP).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 09 OTT - The number of entries for Barcolana58, which will take place next Sunday in the Gulf of Trieste, "is rising. We have surpassed the 1,700 mark, a testament to the affection, solidarity, and enthusiasm that renews itself year after year," said Mitja Gialuz, President of the Barcola and Grignano Sailing Club, during "Caffè sul Vespucci," a feature sponsored by the ANSA news agency and the Amerigo Vespucci World Tour in conjunction with the regatta. "We are truly thrilled…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 09 OTT - The German team MW won the sixth edition of the Marina Militare Nastro Rosa Veloce, Italy's sailing circumnavigation race, after a nonstop, 1,560-mile offshore voyage from Genoa to Trieste. The French crew Caracole Rorc finished second and won the Repubbliche Marinare (Maritime Republics) award for the fastest overall time across the gates in Pisa, Amalfi, and Venice. The British team Red Dragon rounded out the podium in third place. Fourth place went to Fati Group, the…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 09 OTT - The Russian Telegram channel Rybar, which provides information on military activities in Ukraine, has confirmed reports that its creator and editor, Mikhail Zvinchuk, has been detained in Montenegro—news first reported by the local newspaper *Vijesti*. Zvinchuk and five other Russian citizens, including the blogger's wife and a colleague, were detained this morning in Risan. "Everyone," Rybar wrote, "was in the country legally and officially; specifically, they were…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 09 OTT - Mykhailo Tkach, head of the investigative journalism department at Ukrainian outlet Ukrainska Pravda, was arrested in Vienna while on assignment to track down fugitive Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko. Tkach was in Austria with his colleague, Yaroslav Bondarenko. Ukrainska Pravda reported on the incident, stating: "The editorial team considers this detention illegal and demands his immediate release, as well as an official explanation of the actions of the Austrian…

(ANSA-AFP) - LJUBLJANA, 08 OTT - Four months after nationalist Prime Minister Janez Jansa took office in Slovenia, a series of referendum votes will test support for his reforms decried by the opposition as "authoritarian". Jansa -- a political veteran and admirer of US President Donald Trump -- came to power after liberal ex-prime minister Robert Golob failed to form a government despite his party's narrow victory in March parliamentary elections. Promising a "cheaper state but with better quality",…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 08 OTT - According to Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis, an agreement was reached during the sixth round of the US-Greece Strategic Dialogue, which took place yesterday in Athens, for the sale of US military equipment through the "Foreign Military Sales" programme. The $4 billion deal aims to support Greece's long-term defence planning. The announcement comes after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's official visit to Greece, where he met with Foreign Minister Giorgos…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 08 OTT - Another enlargement, 'Super Tuesday,' is scheduled for October 13, following the General Affairs Council's meeting. A series of intergovernmental conferences are planned by the EU to advance accession negotiations with Albania, Montenegro, Moldova, and Ukraine. The goal for Ukraine is to open Clusters 2 ('Internal Market') and 3 ('Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth'). An EU diplomatic source notes that, while the aim is to open these two clusters, but "the situation…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 08 OTT - "France and Germany understand the cost of war, the need for reconciliation, and the importance of peace. History has sealed our friendship as a source of strength and hope for all of Europe. Welcome to your state visit, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier—dear friend," wrote French President Emmanuel Macron in a message posted on X for Steinmeier's visit to France. (ANSA).