Page 10 - Italy

String of volcanic tremors raises fears of mass evacuations in Italy

Hundreds of small tremors have shaken a densely populated volcanic area west of the Italian city of Naples in recent weeks, pushing the government to quickly redraft mass evacuation plans, even though experts don't see an imminent risk of eruption. In the latest of a long string of tremors, a 4.0-magnitude earthquake hit the region of Campi Flegrei (Phlegraean Fields) Monday. The region is home to a caldera, a cauldron-shaped depression left behind by the eruption of a very large volcano. The one in Campi Flegri is the largest in Europe and last erupted in 1538. A new explosion would put half a million inhabitants at risk. Monday's tremor followed a 4.2-magnitude quake recorded last week, the strongest in the area for 40 years, according to the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV). Experts at INGV have warned authorities and residents that tremors could intensify in the near future as seismic activity continues. However, they have clarified that the intensity of

Italy, Libya resume commercial flights after hiatus of 10 years: Officials

Italy and war-torn Libya on Saturday resumed commercial flights for the first time in a decade, authorities in the Libyan capital said. Flight MT522, operated by the Libyan carrier Medsky Airways, departed Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli for Rome's Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport, according to Libyan airport authorities. A return flight was scheduled to land in Tripoli on Saturday afternoon, according to Mitiga International Airport. Going forward, there will be one round-trip flight between the Libyan and Italian capitals on both Saturdays and Wednesdays, according to the Mitiga airport announcement. The government of Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah in Tripoli lauded the resumed flights, posting photos on social media that showed passengers boarding the flight and officials celebrating. Italy and other western nations banned flights from Libya as the oil-rich nation in North Africa plunged into chaos after a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator

Passalacqua in Italy's Lake Como named as best hotel in the world

The tiny, 24-room hotel only just opened in June 2022 after a years-long restoration to its 18th century building-which has played host to guests as illustrious as Napoleon, Churchill, and Bellini

China welcomes India-Middle East-Europe Corridor if not a geopolitical tool

China said on Monday that it welcomes the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor announced on the sidelines of the G20 summit so long it doesn't become a "geopolitical tool", even as it downplayed Italy's plan to pull out of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). China welcomes all initiatives that truly help developing countries build infrastructure and sincere efforts to promote connectivity and common development, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. "At the same time, we advocate that various connectivity initiatives should be open, inclusive, and form synergy, and should not become geopolitical tools," the ministry said in a written response to PTI to a question on China's reaction to the new corridor. On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced plans to launch the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor which includes India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the European Union, France, Italy, Germany and the US. "Today we all have reached an important and historic partnership.

Italian PM hints quitting BRI, says unlikely to compromise ties with China

Leaving the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) also known as Silk Road does not compromise relations with China, but the decision still has to be taken, Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni said

Biden to Kishida, what G20 leaders had to say about economic corridors

From strengthening connectivity to enabling global cooperation, leaders a the 2023 G20 Summit speak about the progress, achievement and potential of partnership of global infrastructure and investment

'Send me location'..: War of words erupts again between Musk, Zuckerberg

Responding to this, the X-owner accused Zuckerberg of apparently not accepting the challenge

Euro winner Roberto Mancini announces surprise resignation as Italy coach

Italy coach Roberto Mancini surprisingly resigned on Sunday, ending an an up-and-down tenure with the national team that included a European Championship title in 2021 but also a failed qualification for last year's World Cup. The Italian soccer federation issued a short announcement saying that Mancini communicated his resignation late last night, adding that a new coach would be named over the next days. The federation doesn't have much time with Euro 2024 qualifying matches against North Macedonia and Ukraine scheduled for Sept. 10 and 12, respectively. Mancini was hired in May 2018 to revive the Azzurri after they also failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup under predecessor Gian Piero Ventura. And he did by adding flair and youth to a team that won admirers all over the continent during the year-delayed Euro 2020. Mancini was hailed for his vision when he called up then-Roma forward Nicol Zaniolo before he had ever played in Serie A, but he also struggled to find top players

Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg's cage fight likely to be hosted in Italy?

In a series of posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, Musk said he has been in contact with the Italian prime minister and minister of culture about hosting the event

India, Italy to sign MoU in defence sector soon: Ambassador Vincenzo Luca

Italy's Ambassador to India Vincenzo De Luca has said the two countries would soon sign a bilateral pact in the defence sector to ramp up their military ties and maintained that Rome was working hard to contribute to the 'Make in India' programme. In a move to enhance navy-to-navy cooperation between the two countries, Italian Navy's warship ITS Morosini is on a port visit to Mumbai from August 10 to 13. Italian Navy officials will also meet the top brass of the Mumbai-headquartered Western Naval Command during this period. "We are working very hard to contribute to the programme of self-reliance, Make in India," Luca said on Thursday at a press conference here. He said that there are some specific technologies where Italy can add value to the Make in India programme, namely torpedo, helicopter, radar, electronic warfare and shipyard. Make in India is the Narendra Modi government's flagship programme that aspires to facilitate investment, foster innovation, enhance skill ...

Italy bank windfall tax is 'credit negative' for banking sector: Moody's

"If implemented in its current form, (the tax) would account for about 15% of the banking system's 2022 consolidated net income," Moody's noted

Italy proposes bank tax to help people with rate hikes, stocks plunges

Italian bank stocks plunged Tuesday after the Cabinet approved a proposal to apply a 40% tax on some bank profits this year to help consumers and businesses cope with higher borrowing costs. Transport Minister Matteo Salvini announced the tax at a Monday evening press conference, saying it was a measure of social equity to make up for a series of interest rate hikes from the European Central Bank. Those increases are aimed at fighting inflation and make it more expensive for people to get loans to buy homes and cars or for companies to get new equipment or build facilities. UniCredit shares fell over 7%, Intesa Sanpaolo was down more than 8%, Banco BPM dropped more than 8.5%, and BPER and Banca MPS both plummeted over 10% in early afternoon trading on the Milan Stock Exchange. The Association of Italian Banks has not yet commented publicly on the tax, whose approval apparently took banks by surprise. Analysts said banks would surely try to change the proposal or challenge it in cou

Debt-burdened global leaders just love to hate ratings companies: Report

Countries run the gauntlet of rating companies because they're hard-wired into the global investment system

Fifa Women's World Cup: South Africa shock Italy 3-2, knock them out

Italy's players dropped to their knees, buried their faces and tearfully wondered how their tournament had suddenly ended following a shocking upset to South Africa in the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023. The 54th-ranked team in the world stunned Italy, ranked 16th by FIFA, with a 3-2 victory over the Italians in Wednesday's Group G finale. South Africa won with a stoppage-time goal by Thembi Kgatlana. South Africa was ecstatic as players screamed and danced and said thankful prayers in the hallway leading to their locker room. The Italians left in tears and were unable to explain the upset. "I really don't know," goalkeeper Francesca Durante said after the match. "I don't know what didn't work." Nearly every player took the blame for the early elimination, even Arianna Caruso, who scored both of Italy's goals. "I don't think I can find the right words at this moment," Caruso said. "I am not happy because we scored two goals and we didn't do anything." Italy's problems against Sou

Madrid, Rome shut down tourist places as temperature rises to 40 degrees

The high heat in the continent is a result of an anti-cyclonic high pressure system, named 'Cerberus' by the Italian Meteorological Society

China dispatches senior diplomat to Italy to persuade nation to stay in BRI

Beijing is trying to persuade Europe to take a less hawkish stance than the US, which has imposed a sweeping raft of export controls on China to curb its access to advanced technology

Inflation in Italy still exceeds eurozone level for 8th consecutive month

The last time prices rose at a higher rate in the eurozone than in Italy was in September 2022, when the rates were 9.9 per cent and 8.9 per cent, respectively

At least 79 dead after overcrowded migrant vessel sinks off Greece

A fishing boat crammed to the gunwales with migrants trying to reach Europe capsized and sank Wednesday off the coast of Greece, authorities said, leaving at least 79 dead and many more missing in one of the worst disasters of its kind this year. Coast guard, navy and merchant vessels and aircraft fanned out for a vast search-and-rescue operation set to continue overnight. It was unclear how many passengers were missing, but some initial reports suggested hundreds of people may have been aboard when the boat went down far from shore. An aerial photograph of the battered blue vessel released by the Greek coast guard showed scores of people covering practically every inch of deck. Greece's caretaker prime minister, Ioannis Sarmas, declared three days of national mourning, "with our thoughts on all the victims of the ruthless smugglers who exploit human unhappiness". Coast guard spokesman Nikos Alexiou told state ERT TV that it was impossible to accurately estimate the number of ...

Ex-Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi's death draws tributes, even from critics

Adored, scorned, impossible to ignore in life, former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi in death drew tributes even from his critics, and ever more lavish praise from admirers, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as prayers from Pope Francis. Following word of Berlusconi's death on Monday in a Milan hospital, where he was being treated for chronic leukemia, reaction poured in from around the world, from national leaders to announcers who burst into tears on one of his television networks, for the populist three-time premier and media mogul. Here are some of the reactions: In a condolence telegram, Putin hailed Berlusconi as a patriarch of Italian politics and a true patriot who had improved Italy's standing on the world stage. I have always sincerely admired his wisdom, his ability to make balanced, far-sighted decisions even in the most difficult situations, Putin said in the telegram released by the Kremlin. During each of our meetings, I was literally charged wit

Silvio Berlusconi, scandal-scarred former Italian leader, dies at 86

Silvio Berlusconi, the boastful billionaire media mogul who was Italy's longest-serving premier despite scandals over his sex-fueled parties and allegations of corruption, died Monday, according to Italian media. He was 86. Berlusconi's Mediaset television network announced his death with a smiling photo of the man on its homepage and the headline: Berlusconi is dead. Berlusconi was hospitalised on Friday for the second time in months for treatment of chronic leukemia. He also suffered over the years from heart ailments, prostate cancer and was hospitalised for COVID-19 in 2020.