Page 12 - Italy

Migrant boat breaks apart southern coast of Italy; many dead, 58 survivors

The Italian coast guard and firefighters have recovered more than 30 bodies after a wooden migrant boat broke apart in rough seas on Sunday near the southern coast of Italy's mainland, authorities reported. State TV quoted the local prefect's office as saying that by late morning 33 bodies had been recovered and 58 people were rescued. The Italian news agency AGI said that among the bodies was that of a baby a few months old. Quoting unidentified port authorities near the coastal town of Crotone, in Calabria, the toe of the Italian peninsula, RAI state radio said the boat was carrying more than 100 migrants when it ran into trouble at dawn in the Ionian Sea. The Italian news agency Lapresse later quoted unidentified officials among rescue forces as saying there could have been as many as 180 people aboard. State TV said some 27 of the survivors made it to shore, apparently on their own. Wooden pieces of wreckage littered the beach at Steccato di Cutro, near the point where the bo

Heavy snow hits Alps; avalanches kills 9 in Italy, Austria over weekend

Nine people died in avalanches in Austria and Italy over the weekend as heavy snow and school holidays drew skiers into the Alps, with some of the victims dying after skiing in unmarked areas despite warnings of elevated avalanche risk, police said. On Sunday a snow plow driver in East Tirol in Austria was recovered dead after being swept away. In Oetztal a 32-year-old Chinese skier died, while in Zillertal a 17-year old male from New Zealand was buried and in Kleinwalsertal a 55-year-old German man missing since Friday was found dead. More than a dozen avalanches were reported in the Tirol region of Austria alone and authorities had set the warning level at four on a scale of five and urged caution. A 31-year-old German woman was killed on Saturday in the South Tirol region of Italy when a snowmass broke loose at 2,200 metres (7,200 feet) near the Limo Pass some 80 kilometres (50 miles) east of Bolzano, the dpa news agency reported. Rescue efforts were complicated by ...

Italy registers 10.1% inflation in Jan: National Institute of Statistics

Prices in Italy rose by 10.1 per cent in January compared to a year earlier, despite a decline in prices for regulated energy products, the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) said on Wednesday.

Gina Lollobrigida, film beauty who charmed Hollywood, passes away at 95

Gina Lollobrigida frequently described as one of the world's most beautiful women

Italy backs Appian Way's candidacy for UNESCO World Heritage site

Italy's Ministry of Culture has backed the Appian Way's candidacy to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the first time such a bid has had national support in the country.

Trafigura to exit from Nayara Energy; sell stake to Italy's Genera Group

Oil trader Trafigura has agreed to sell its 24.5 per cent indirect stake in Nayara Energy to Italy's Genera Group, the company said Wednesday. The company, however, did not disclose the financial details of the transaction. The Italian group will acquire the stake via a special purpose vehicle, Hara Capital Sarl, incorporated in Luxembourg. Nayara Energy owns India's third largest refinery, a port, and a network of more than 6,500 petrol pumps across the country. The firm is majority owned by Russia's Rosneft.

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni reaffirms commitment to EU recovery plan

The top EU official is holding a series of bilateral discussions with leaders of the 27-member bloc ahead of the February 9-10 meeting of the European Council

Deal reached for sale of Russian-owned refinery plant in Italy's Sicily

Russian oil company Lukoil said Monday that it has reached an agreement for the sale of a refinery plant in Sicily, where thousands of workers have been fearing job losses due to the European embargo on Russian oil. A company statement said that the sale of the ISAB Srl refinery to G.O.I Energy is planned to be completed by the end of March pending various approvals by authorities, particularly the Italian government. The refinery employs 3,500 people and indirectly supports the jobs of 6,500 others. The workers at the refinery protested in late 2022, fearing for their future as a consequence of the embargo imposed because of Russia's war against Ukraine. About 20% of Italy's oil is refined at the plant. Lukoil said that under the agreement the new owner will retain jobs and ensure health and safety conditions. It noted that G.O.I. Energy investors own a majority stake in Bazan Group, which operates Israel's largest integrated refining and petrochemical facility. No financial deta

Italy's inflation reaches 37-yr high in 2022, rises to 8.1% y-o-y

The 8.1 per cent annual inflation rate includes data from the early part of the year when inflation was still low

Italian PM Meloni pledges support for Ukraine, its future reconstruction

Following the call, Zelenskyy thanked Meloni via social media for her "solidarity and comprehensive support" and said Italy was considering providing Kyiv with air defense systems

Italy to host Tour de France bicycle race in June 2024 for the first time

Italy will host the start of the Tour de France for the first time in 2024. Race organisers confirmed on Wednesday that the "grand dpart" will take place on June 29 from Florence to Rimini to mark 100 years since Ottavio Bottecchia became the first Italian rider to win the Tour. Italy will host the first three stages of the 2024 race, which will end on July 21 in Nice instead of Paris because of the Olympic Games. It will be the first time since 1905 that the finish is not the French capital. The start was brought forward by one week, a customary change during an Olympic year.

Italy's greenhouse gas emissions rising despite lower energy use: Report

Italy's greenhouse gas emissions are rising despite lower energy consumption, reflecting a move toward high-emissions energy sources

UK, Italy, Japan team up to build sixth-generation fighter by 2035

Reports indicate the UK held talks with India on joining the coalition

Japan to jointly develop fighter jet with UK to expand defence cooperation

Japan announced on Friday that it will jointly develop its next-generation fighter jet with the UK and Italy as Tokyo looks to expand defence cooperation beyond its traditional ally, the United States. The Mitsubishi F-X fighter jet will replace the aging fleet of F-2 that Japan previously developed with the United States. Japan's F-X and Britain's Tempest, a successor to the Eurofighter Typhoon, will be combined into the next-generation combat aircraft for deployment in 2035. The deal will give Japan greater support in countering China's growing assertiveness and allow Britain a bigger presence in the Indo-Pacific region. Friday's fighter jet announcement came four days after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced spending targets aimed at building up Japan's military capability, including a huge boost in defence spending over the next five years. To meet the five-year spending total of 43 trillion yen (USD 316 billion), the government will need an extra 4 trillion yen (USD 30 ..

Japan to jointly develop 'next-genenration' fighter jet with UK, Italy

Japan announced on Friday that it will jointly develop its next-generation fighter jet with the UK and Italy as Tokyo looks to expand defence cooperation beyond its traditional ally, the United States. The Mitsubishi F-X fighter jet will replace the aging fleet of F-2 that Japan previously developed with the United States. Japan's F-X and Britain's Tempest, a successor to the Eurofighter Typhoon, will be combined into the next-generation combat aircraft for deployment in 2035. The deal will give Japan greater support in countering China's growing assertiveness and allow Britain a bigger presence in the Indo-Pacific region. Friday's fighter jet announcement came four days after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced spending targets aimed at building up Japan's military capability, including a huge boost in defence spending over the next five years. To meet the five-year spending total of 43 trillion yen (USD 316 billion), the government will need an extra 4 trillion yen (USD 30 ..

Covid-19 hospitalisations in Italy rise by 19.5% in a week: Report

Hospitalisations of Covid-19 patients have surged in Italy, so have admissions to intensive care units (ICU) albeit at a slower rate, a report showed

Italian cabinet passes new budget law, plans measures worth $35.8 bn

The new budget included a package aimed at alleviating skyrocketing energy costs for companies and households, as well as tax cuts for employees and self-employed workers

French border checks in force over Italy's migration policy

Lines formed Sunday at Italy's northern border crossings with France following Paris' decision to reinforce border controls over a diplomatic row with Italy about migration policy and humanitarian rescue ships that shows no end in sight. The Ventimiglia-Menton crossing along the picturesque Mediterranean coast has often been a flashpoint of the migrant debate, with makeshift camps giving shelter to migrants who try to cross into France after arriving in Italy. On Sunday morning, several dozen migrants were sleeping on mattresses under a highway overpass numbers that could swell as France cracks down on crossings. France announced this week it was sending 500 extra officers to beef up its frontiers with Italy, and announced serious passport controls, in retaliation for Italy's delays in helping humanitarian ships that rescue migrants in the Mediterranean. Police checked cars crossing the border Sunday, stopping migrants, and patrolled trains. After a weekslong-standoff, Italy allowe

Italy's support for Ukraine 'subject of debate' amid widespread protests

A growing number of Italians argued that current policies risk prolonging the war while diverting resources the government should be spending domestically.

France, Germany press Italy to open safe port to 1,000 people at sea

France and Germany are asking Italy's new far-right-led government to grant a safe port to nearly 1,000 people rescued by humanitarian groups in the central Mediterranean, some of whom have been stuck at sea for more than two weeks. Humanitarian groups caring for the rescued migrants on three ships in the central Mediterranean are sounding an alarm about deteriorating conditions, including people sleeping on floors in the cold and spreading fevers. Italy's new interior minister, Matteo Piantedosi, has drafted new measures alleging that the non-governmental groups violated procedure by not properly coordinating their rescues, a step setting the groundwork for Italy to close the ports. Piantedosi has also asked the countries whose flags they fly to intervene. Italy's posture, maintaining silence to repeated requests for a safe port, has effectively blocked three charity-run rescue boats at sea. It is reminiscent of Italy's anti-NGO policies under former Interior Minister Matteo Salvi