Algeria, Italy look to broaden ties beyond coveted energy
ALGIERS, Algeria — (AP) — Italy moved to deepen its ties with Algeria through a series of memorandums signed Monday during a two-day visit by Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, who called Algeria Italy’s “most stable, strategic and long-standing’’ partner in the region. Algeria has already become Italy’s main supplier of natural gas as Italy seeks alternatives to Russian gas since its invasion of Russia last February. The agreements underlined Italy’s ambition to become an energy hub for Europe based on imports from Africa, with a focus on Northern Africa and Algeria, dubbed the “Mattei Plan’’ for the late former CEO of Italian energy company ENI Enrico Mattei. Meloni’s visit follows two others last year by her predecessor, Mario Draghi, who secured for Italy pledges that increased imports of Algerian gas from 14 billion cubic meters (494 billion cubic feet) in 2021 to 20 billion cubic meters (706 billion cubic feet) in 2022. Tebboune said that talks focused on gas “and we want Italy to become a platform for distribution of Algerian energy products in Europe.” But, he added that “we want to enlarge our cooperation beyond energy."
wftv.comAlgeria, Italy look to broaden ties beyond coveted energy
Italy and Algeria moved to expand their ties through a series of signed agreements during a two-day visit by Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, who called Algeria Italy’s “most stable, strategic and long-standing’’ partner in the region
washingtonpost.comItaly's Meloni eyes boost in strong energy ties with Algeria
ALGIERS, Algeria — (AP) — Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni is looking to boost already strong energy ties with Algeria to further wean Italy off Russian energy, a focus of her two-day visit to the North African nation starting on Sunday. Russia's war in Ukraine, which upset global strategic and economic dynamics, gave a new and urgent dimension to ties between Algiers and Rome, long dependent on Russian energy. Other European Union nations also have scrambled to find sources of replacement for Russian energy. Italy and gas-rich Algeria now want to build on then Premier Mario Draghi’s successful initiatives last year to boost Algerian energy supplies to Italy and, an Algerian diplomat said, “push beyond that.”“We want Italy to become a European hub for Algerian gas. “Today we are the leading energy partner of Italy,” Touahria said.
wftv.comEU doesn't follow Italy with COVID checks on China arrivals
BRUSSELS — (AP) — The European Union is assessing Beijing's rollback of its strict anti-infection controls but refrained Thursday from immediately following EU member Italy in requiring coronavirus tests for airline passengers coming from China. Even though virus experts in the EU have played down the immediate danger, Italy made coronavirus tests mandatory for all airline passengers arriving from China. "There is no indication that a more dangerous variant has developed in this outbreak in China ... which would bring corresponding travel restrictions,” Health Ministry spokesman Sebastian Guelde said. A coordinated EU approach is necessary since almost all EU member nations are part of Europe's visa-free Schengen Area. Japan will require a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival for travelers from China, and Malaysia announced new tracking and surveillance measures.
wftv.comEU assesses impact China's rollback of COVID measures
BRUSSELS — (AP) — The European Union is assessing the increase in COVID-19 cases in China following Beijing's rollback of its strict anti-infection controls in an attempt to streamline the testing of travelers from China in the 27 EU nations. "There is "no indication that a more dangerous variant has developed in this outbreak in China ... which would bring corresponding travel restrictions,” Health Ministry spokesman Sebastian Guelde said. A coordinated EU approach is necessary since almost all EU member nations are part of Europe's visa-free Schengen Area. The unrestricted travel means that testing in one nation would not be very effective since travelers from China could enter from another EU nation and spread the virus. Japan will require a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival for travelers from China, and Malaysia announced new tracking and surveillance measures.
wftv.comAid groups dock 2 rescue vessels with 500 migrants in Italy
ROME — (AP) — Two European aid groups docked their rescue vessels in Italian ports on Sunday and some 500 would-be refugees disembarked, even as the government insisted it wasn’t backing down on its hard line against migrant smuggling operations from North Africa. The new government of Premier Giorgia Meloni, whose allies campaigned on a tough anti-immigrant stance, has tried to take a hard line against aid groups that rescue migrants in the Mediterranean. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi initially sought to impose a policy allowing only “vulnerable” migrants to disembark in Italian ports and insisting that the flag countries of the rescue vessels take the rest in. The government accuses aid groups of incentivizing illegal migration and rewarding human traffickers, who charge hundreds of euros apiece for the dangerous Mediterranean crossing from Libya. The aid groups deny their rescue operations encourage migration and say they are necessary to save lives.
wftv.comAid groups dock 2 rescue vessels with 500 migrants in Italy
Two European aid groups have docked their rescue vessels in Italian ports and some 500 would-be refugees have disembarked, even as the Italian government insists it isn't backing down on its hard line against migrant smuggling operations from North Africa.
Italy's La Scala opens season to Ukrainian protests
Abdrazakov will sing the title role, leading a mostly Russian cast as he gives his sixth La Scala season premiere performance. This is a great masterpiece in the history of art,'' La Scala general manager Dominique Meyer said during a recent news conference. “They could have reacted in the same way, because La Scala at the beginning of the war had nine months to substitute the opera with an Italian opera. La Scala management has emphasized its support of Ukraine, including a benefit concert that raised 400,000 euros ($421,000). “Boris Godunov” previously was conducted at La Scala by Arthur Toscanini and Claudio Abbado.
wftv.comRising tide of immigration to Europe pushing continent's politics to the right, experts say
Such skirmishes between countries are becoming more common across Europe, where an increase in “irregular” migrants — as those who’ve entered illegally are called here — is pushing European politics in a rightward direction. But, she added, “irregular migration is still a challenge.”What’s more, the number of irregular migrants popping up in England is suddenly spiking even higher. “You see countries like Sweden or Italy flipping more to the right side of the political spectrum,” Knoll told Yahoo News. “I think states are realizing they cannot afford having more refugees situated there or more irregular migrants coming in, because it does potentially push the voters more to the right. Obviously we try to balance this — we have principles, we have values and we are also a sanctuary for refugees.
wftv.comBiden to press G-20 to hold tough on Russia over Ukraine war
Indonesian President Joko Widodo invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to virtually address the G-20 summit. Chinese officials had previously largely refrained from public criticism of Russia’s war, although Beijing has avoided direct support of the Russians, such as supplying arms. At the summit, Biden will have his first opportunities to meet with two critical new partners in that effort: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni. He and Biden are set to strategize during their Wednesday meeting on new ways to bolster Ukraine’s defenses for the long haul. Meloni has pledged to continue to provide arms and aid for Ukraine, but questions remain over her far-right coalition’s commitment to stand up to Russia.
wftv.comItaly, France call for 'full cooperation' after migrant flap
The offices of Presidents Sergio Mattarella and Emmanuel Macron issued identical statements Monday after the two leaders spoke by telephone. France has a prime minister who is head of government, but is named by Macron who holds the real power in government. The diplomatic row erupted last week when Italy forced France's hand to accept a humanitarian rescue ship, the Ocean Viking with 234 migrants aboard, after Italy had refused it a port for weeks. “I would recall the importance of European unity, of responsibility when it comes to human life, and European solidarity. Tajani has accused France of overreacting to a statement issued by Meloni late Tuesday thanking Paris for taking in the Ocean Viking, a statement that was issued before France had publicly announced it would.
wftv.comUkraine war, tensions with China loom over big Bali summit
A showdown between Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin isn’t happening, but the fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and growing tensions between China and the West will be at the fore when leaders of the world’s biggest economies gather in tropical Bali this week.
2nd Spaniard arrested in Iran amid protests; Italian freed
MADRID — (AP) — A Spanish woman has been arrested in Iran, the second Spaniard in just over a month to be detained there amid mass unrest, Spain's foreign ministry said Thursday. Separately, an Italian woman who was detained last week was freed. The Spanish Embassy in Tehran is following the case and is in touch with the family of 24-year-old Ana Baneira, the foreign ministry said. Spanish diplomats are in touch with Iranian authorities about 41-year-old trekker Santiago Sanchez, according to the foreign ministry. At least 328 people have been killed and 14,825 others arrested, according to Human Rights Activists in Iran, a group that’s been monitoring the protests.
wftv.comItaly backs down on 3 migrant ships, 4th heads to Corsica
France still had not publicly offered the Ocean Viking a safe port, but spokesman Francesco Creazzo of the SOS Mediterranee group said the Norwegian-flagged ship was hoping it would eventually do so. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni jumped the gun somewhat and issued a statement Tuesday evening thanking France for taking the Ocean Viking in, prompting a public critique of Italy’s apparent maneuvering on French public radio Wednesday. The last was the Humanity 1, operated by the SOS Humanity group, which disembarked its 35 passengers in the Sicilian port of Catania. But the two ships docked at Catania — the Humanity 1 and the Geo Berents — refused to leave port. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi had adopted measures saying the flag country of each charity-operated ship was responsible for providing a safe port, not Italy.
wftv.comDamage in 5.7-magnitude quake off Italy’s Adriatic coast
ROME — (AP) — A moderate earthquake shook Italy’s northeastern coast early Wednesday, causing some cracks in buildings and prompting at least one health clinic to evacuate. Premier Giorgia Meloni was in constant contact with Italy’s civil protection agency monitoring the situation, her office said in a statement. Italy’s vulcanology institute said the 5.7-magnitude temblor struck at 7:07 a.m. (0507GMT) with an epicenter in the Adriatic Sea off Ancona, in the north-central Le Marche region. The U.S. Geological Survey put the magnitude at 5.6 and added it was at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles). Italian news reports said Ancona’s private Villa Igea clinic evacuated patients as a precaution.
wftv.comItaly allows more migrants off rescue ships, standoff eases
MILAN — (AP) — The far-right-led Italian government's weekslong standoff with aid groups running rescue ships partially eased Tuesday, as officials allowed all remaining migrants on two rescue ships to access port. But a ship with 234 rescued migrants still at sea appealed to France to offer it a safe port after more than two weeks of silence from Italy. Italy was allowing migrants it had previously rejected as “not vulnerable” to disembark the Geo Barents, run by Doctors without Borders, in the Sicilian port of Catania. That comes after all 89 migrants aboard a German-run rescue ship were allowed to disembark on the Italian mainland earlier in the day. Thirty-five migrants rescued at sea on the Humanity 1 ship were deemed by Italy to be not vulnerable and were blocked for days from getting off the boat.
wftv.comItaly directs NGO rescue ship with 89 migrants to port
MILAN — (AP) — After waiting at sea for days, the German humanitarian group Mission Lifeline said Monday that Italy has directed its migrant rescue ship with 89 people on board to proceed to the port of Reggio Calabria. The 25-meter (80-foot) ship Rise Above entered Italian waters over the weekend without consent because of storm-swollen seas, after rescuing 95 people in the central Mediterranean. The situation on board has become more and more critical in the past few days and hours," Mission Lifeline spokeswoman Hermine Poschmann said. Poschmann said that Mission Lifeline has asked Germany to take in more people. A fourth ship, the Ocean Viking operated by SOS Mediterannee, remains in international waters off Sicily with 234 rescued people.
wftv.comShip refuses to leave Italy port until all migrants are off
CATANIA, Sicily — (AP) — The captain of a charity-run migrant rescue ship refused Italian orders to leave a Sicilian port Sunday after authorities refused to let 35 of the migrants on his ship disembark — part of hardline directives by Italy's new far-right-led government targeting foreign-flagged rescue ships. On Sunday, Italy ordered the Humanity 1 to vacate the port of Catania after disembarking 144 rescued migrants, including with children, more than 100 unaccompanied minors and people with medical emergencies. Later Sunday, a second charity ship arrived in Catania, and the vetting process was being repeated with the 572 migrants aboard the Geo Barents ship, operated by Doctors Without Borders. Aboard the Humanity 1, doctors identified people needing urgent medical care after the ship's doctor refused, said SOS Humanity spokesman Wasil Schauseil. Its first rescue was 16 days ago, and anxiety is growing among the rescued migrants, aid workers said.
wftv.comCharity ship with 35 migrants refuses to leave Italian port
The Humanity 1 was ordered to vacate the port of Catania after disembarking 144 rescued migrants. The captain refused to comply “until all survivors rescued from distress at sea have been disembarked," said SOS Humanity, the German charity that operates the ship. Italian authorities completed the process of identifying vulnerable migrants on the Humanity 1 overnight and asked the Geo Barents charity ship, which entered Italian waters with 572 rescued migrants, to proceed Sunday to Catania for the same vetting. The charity ships have reported rescue people sleeping on floors and decks, the spread of fever-inducing infections and scabies, and food and medical supplies nearing depletion. Two other ships carrying rescued migrants remained at sea.
wftv.comShip refuses to leave Italy port until all migrants are off
The captain of a charity-run migrant rescue ship refused Italian orders to leave a Sicilian port Sunday after authorities refused to let 35 of the migrants on his ship disembark — part of hardline directives by Italy's new far-right-led government targeting foreign-flagged rescue ships. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni's two-week-old government is refusing safe port to four ships operating in the central Mediterranean that have rescued migrants at sea in distress, some as many as 16 days ago, and is allowing only those identified as vulnerable to disembark.
news.yahoo.comCharity ship with 35 migrants refuses to leave Italian port
The captain of a charity-operated migrant rescue ship refused Italian orders to leave a Sicilian port Sunday after authorities conducted a medical selection of the passengers and did not allow 35 to get off, acting under directives from Italy’s far-right-led government. The Humanity 1 was ordered to vacate the port of Catania after disembarking 144 rescued migrants.
news.yahoo.comItaly's far-right leader visits EU: "We are not Martians"
For some, it brought the far right into the walls of the EU just as the bloc faces crises on many fronts. Meloni emerged energized from the meetings with the EU’s most powerful officials: European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel, the European Council president who chairs all EU summits. Probably to be able to see and speak with people can help dismantle a the narrative about yours truly," Meloni told reporters. The Brothers of Italy, which she co-founded in 2012, has its roots in a far-right party founded by nostalgists for Mussolini. Italy isn't in a strong position to break ranks with the EU or the shared euro currency.
wftv.comItaly’s new, far-right leader heads to EU HQ to break ice
For others, it's a case of the EU applying the dictum: keep your friends close but your enemies closer. Meloni's Brothers of Italy party has neo-fascist roots and she has governed since Oct. 22 along with anti-migrant League leader Matteo Salvini and former Conservative Premier Silvio Berlusconi. Brothers of Italy, which she co-founded in 2012, has its roots in a far-right party founded by nostalgists for Mussolini. Italy, of course, isn't in a strong position to break ranks with the EU or the euro currency. This offers the EU institutions extensive political leverage.
wftv.comItaly's right-wing government slammed for anti-rave decree
The decree on illegal raves was among the first actions of Meloni’s far-right-led government. Both the political opposition and judicial magistrates voiced alarm the tough law-and-order stance signaled the government's possible intolerance of disobedience. She said the decree was necessary “after years in which the government has bowed its head in the face of illegality. When property is occupied without authorization and drug use and sales are prevalent, “it is right to prosecute illegal raves," Meloni said. She did not address the criticism over the handling of the rave verses the march by fascist sympathizers.
wftv.comThousands commemorate Italy's fascist dictator at crypt
The crowd of some 2,000 to 4,000 marchers, many sporting fascist symbols and singing hymns from Italy's colonial era, was more numerous than in the recent past, as the fascist nostalgics celebrated the centenary of the March on Rome. On Oct 28, 1922, black-shirted fascists entered the Italian capital, launching a putsch that culminated two days later when Italy's king handed Mussolini the mandate to start a new government. Still, some couldn’t resist as the crowd stopped outside of the cemetery where Mussolini is laid to rest for prayers and greetings from Mussolini’s great-granddaughter, Orsola. The crowd gave a final shout of “Duce, Duce, Duce," Mussolini’s honorific as Italy’s dictator. Inside the cemetery on Sunday, admirers of the Duce lined up to enter his crypt tucked in a back corner, a handful at a time.
wftv.comThousands commemorate Italy's fascist dictator at crypt
Several thousand black-clad fascist sympathizers chanted and sang in praise of Benito Mussolini as they marched to the slain Italian dictator’s crypt Sunday, 100 years after Mussolini entered Rome and completed a bloodless coup that gave rise to two decades of fascist rule
washingtonpost.comThousands commemorate Italy's fascist dictator Mussolini
Several thousand black-clad fascist sympathizers chanted and sang in praise of Benito Mussolini as they marched to the slain Italian dictator’s crypt Sunday, 100 years after Mussolini entered Rome and completed a bloodless coup that gave rise to two decades of fascist rule.
Thousands commemorate Italy's fascist dictator Mussolini
Several thousand black-clad fascist sympathizers chanted and sang in praise of the late Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on Sunday as they marched to his crypt, 100 years after Mussolini entered Rome and completed a bloodless coup that gave rise to two decades of fascist rule. The crowd of 2,000 to 4,000 marchers, many sporting fascist symbols and singing hymns from Italy’s colonial era, was more numerous than in the recent past, as the fascist nostalgics celebrated the centenary of the March on Rome. On Oct. 28, 1922, black-shirted fascists entered the Italian capital, launching a putsch that culminated two days later when Italy’s king handed Mussolini the mandate to start a new government.
news.yahoo.comHundreds of anti-fascists march in Mussolini's birthplace
PREDAPPIO, Italy — (AP) — About 1,000 anti-fascists celebrated the anniversary of the 1944 liberation of Benito Mussolini’s birthplace Friday, as scattered fascist nostalgics quietly marked the 100th anniversary of the March on Rome that brought the Italian dictator to power in a bloodless coup. Meloni has sought to distance her Brothers of Italy party from its more radical, nostalgic wing. Their event is scheduled for Sunday, when thousands are expected to march from the center of town to Mussolini’s crypt. Giulio Tam, celebrated a Mass in Mussolini’s crypt, and later lamented the liberal changes in Italian society that some citizens fear Meloni might undermine as premier. “The main thing we must consider 100 years after the March on Rome is what Benito Mussolini did and what happened after 1945.''
wftv.comItaly's fascist past under scrutiny a century after putsch
Meloni has tried to distance Brothers of Italy from its neo-fascist roots. She made her clearest statement yet this week during a speech to Italy’s lower house ahead of confidence votes confirming her government. It conveniently also prevents fascist nostalgics from commemorating the March on Rome that day. Popular notions persist that Italy’s two decades of fascism brought progress, exemplified by the era's timely train services, architectural boom and the draining of malaria-infested swamps. Though the partisan association views such displays as an apology for fascism, punishable by law, they are rarely, if ever, prosecuted.
wftv.comItaly's Meloni easily wins confidence vote in parliament
ROME — (AP) — Italy’s new far-right-led government of Premier Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday night easily won the first of two required confidence votes in Parliament by a comfortable margin. On Wednesday, the new government will face a vote in the upper chamber, the Senate, where it also holds a solid majority. Such attitudes are tantamount to "a lack of respect for the Italian people, who don't need lessons,'' Meloni said. With the confidence votes out of the way, Meloni will be able to get down to the business of governing. “I have never felt sympathy or closeness for any non-democratic regime, including fascism,” Meloni told lawmakers in the Chamber of Deputies.
wftv.comMeloni on critics: Italians don't need lessons from abroad
ROME — (AP) — Italy’s new premier, Giorgia Meloni, on Tuesday laid out her government’s policy plans, firing back at critics at home and abroad alarmed that her far-right politics might undermine European unity or citizens' civil rights. “To pose these questions doesn't mean being an enemy or a heretic but a practical” person, Meloni said in a 70-minute speech. Such attitudes are tantamount to "a lack of respect for the Italian people, who don't need lessons,'' Meloni said. In her election campaign, Meloni, 45, didn't make much fuss about the prospect of becoming the first woman to be Italy's premier. Meloni has been dogged for years by critics who say she hasn't unambiguously condemned fascism.
wftv.comMeloni on critics: Italians don't need lessons from abroad
Italy’s new premier, Giorgia Meloni, on Tuesday laid out her government’s policy plans, firing back at critics at home and abroad alarmed that her far-right politics might undermine European unity or citizens' civil rights. In a speech to Parliament’s lower Chamber of Deputies ahead of a confidence vote required of all new governments, Meloni criticized the European Union for not always being ready for challenges, notably the dramatic energy crisis now threatening households and businesses. “To pose these questions doesn't mean being an enemy or a heretic but a practical” person, Meloni said in a 70-minute speech.
news.yahoo.comEXPLAINER: Is Meloni a far-right firebrand or moderate?
As Giorgia Meloni becomes Italy’s first female premier, the world is watching closely to see if she will emerge as a firebrand leader of a far-right party with neo-fascist roots or the more moderate right-wing politician who succeded in capturing 26% of the vote.
First female premier poised to take helm of Italy government
A party with neo-fascist roots has won the most votes in Italy’s national election, setting the stage for talks to form the country’s first far right-led government since World War II, with Giorgia Meloni at the helm as Italy’s first female premier.