At least 41 migrants feared dead after boat capsizes near Tunisia
RFI
23-08-09 12:37
Four migrants have been rescued off the coast of Sicily, with the survivors reporting that 41 people died, including three children. The migrants, who are from Cote d'Ivoire and Guinea, were rescued by the Maltese-flagged bulk carrier Rimona in the Straits of Sicily before being transferred to the Italian coast guard. The Italian island of Lampedusa, which is closer to Africa than mainland Italy, is a frequent destination for migrant smugglers. This summer has seen numerous shipwrecks of smugglers' boats leaving from Tunisia bound for Italy, and over 93,000 migrants have arrived in Italy this year, more than double the number during the same period last year. The Italian government is urging Tunisia to crack down on smuggling operations.
Italian banks recover after government caps windfall tax
The Globe and Mail
23-08-09 10:53
Italy's government has capped the impact of a surprise windfall tax on bank profits, easing concerns that further measures would be introduced across Europe. The economy ministry clarified that the one-off tax, which targets profits made by banks on higher interest rates, would not exceed 0.1% of their total assets. Analysts at UBS estimate the tax will have an aggregate impact of €1.9bn ($2.1bn). Shares in Italian lenders such as Intesa Sanpaolo, Banco BPM and UniCredit rebounded between 3.3% and 4.4% following the announcement.
Italy has diluted plans to impose a windfall tax on its banks, causing a rebound in the share prices of the country's lenders. The government initially passed a one-off 40% tax on profits banks earn from higher interest rates, causing shares to plummet. However, the finance ministry later announced that the tax would be capped at 0.1% of assets. The tax will apply to the income that comes from the gap between the banks' lending and deposit rates. Italian lenders such as Intesa Sanpaolo, Banco BPM, and UniCredit saw their shares recover after the initial plan was diluted.
41 migrants dead in shipwreck off coast of Italy, survivors say
The Independent
23-08-09 15:06
At least 41 migrants are believed to have died in a shipwreck in the central Mediterranean, according to survivors who have reached the Italian island of Lampedusa. The boat carrying 45 people, including three children, capsized and sank after being hit by a large wave. Only around a dozen of the migrants were wearing life jackets. This year, more than 1,800 people have died attempting the crossing from North Africa to Europe, according to the International Organisation for Migration. The central Mediterranean is the most dangerous migrant crossing in the world.
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has finalised its candidate list and program for next year's European Parliament elections. The party, which has been classified as a suspected right-wing extremist party, has changed its stance on the European Union, now seeking to reform the bloc rather than abolish it. The party also wants Europe to become a "fortress" with regards to migration and to abolish the euro. The AfD is part of the Identity and Democracy Group in the European Parliament, which aims to uphold the sovereignty and identity of European nations and opposes a "bureaucratically led European superstate."
Giorgia Meloni risks going the way of Liz Truss if she keeps defying the market
Telegraph
23-08-10 18:47
Italy's far-right populist government, led by Giorgia Meloni, is implementing policies that are raising concerns about its commitment to the free market. These include a windfall tax on banks and price controls on airlines, both of which have been criticized for damaging the economy and undermining market principles. The government has also imposed bans on Uber, lab-grown meat, and GMO crops and animal feed, causing frustration among scientists and researchers. These policies are leading to fears that Italy is becoming "unfriendly towards innovation" and could discourage investment and future start-ups. Italy's economy has recently shown signs of improvement, but economists warn that this is largely due to transfers from the EU's recovery fund and is unlikely to have a lasting effect. The economy has already started to contract, and the government's recent tax on banks is expected to worsen the credit crunch. The policies implemented by Meloni's government are raising concerns about Italian political risk and could lead to a loss of confidence from international investors.
Elon Musk to fight Mark Zuckerberg in ‘ancient Roman setting’
Telegraph
23-08-11 15:08
The Italian government has agreed to host a "big event" involving Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, according to the country's culture ministry. The event will not be held at the Colosseum, as previously suggested, but another location in Italy. The ministry said it was planning a large event in a historical setting that would raise "many millions of euros" for children's hospitals and the fight against paediatric illnesses in Italy. It was not clear if the event would be a physical fight or another type of encounter between the two tech giants.
Elon Musk to fight Mark Zuckerberg in ‘ancient Roman setting’
Telegraph
23-08-11 15:08
The Italian government has agreed to host a "big event" involving Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, according to the country's culture ministry. The event will not be held at the Colosseum, as previously suggested, but another location in Italy. The ministry said it was planning a large event in a historical setting that would raise "many millions of euros" for children's hospitals and the fight against paediatric illnesses in Italy. It was not clear if the event would be a physical fight or another type of encounter between the two tech giants.
Mark Zuckerberg throws cold water on Elon Musk cage match
Telegraph
23-08-14 10:07
Mark Zuckerberg has accused Elon Musk of not being serious about their planned charity cage match. Zuckerberg claims that he offered a real date but Musk won't confirm it. Musk responded on Twitter, calling Zuckerberg a "chicken" and saying he is eager to fight. The two tech titans have been going back and forth about the match on social media. Musk said the fight would take place in Italy, but the Italian culture minister said it would not be held in Rome. The match is expected to raise millions of euros for two Italian paediatric hospitals.
Brothers of Italy must pay damages to gay Canadian couple for anti-surrogacy advert
Telegraph
23-08-15 14:08
Italy's Brothers of Italy party, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has been ordered to pay damages to a gay Canadian couple for using a photograph of them with their newborn baby in an anti-surrogacy campaign. The party used the image, which showed Frankie Nelson and BJ Barone cradling their son Milo, without the couple's permission in 2016. A court in Rome has now ordered the party to pay the Canadians €10,000 each. Brothers of Italy intends to appeal the decision. The party leads a three-party coalition government in Italy.
Italian government accused as number of migrants arriving this year hits 100,000
Telegraph
23-08-15 17:30
The Italian government has failed to fulfil its promise to prevent migrant boats from arriving in the country, after the number of asylum seekers reaching Italy this year reached 100,000. The number of arrivals is more than double the figure for the same period in 2020. The country is struggling to accommodate and feed the 130,000 migrants already in the country. The government has called on other EU countries to take quotas of migrants but is close to the leaders of Poland and Hungary, who oppose the idea.
Fury of the silent majority is driving a global Right-wing counter-revolution
Telegraph
23-08-16 19:51
The West is currently experiencing a period of widespread discontent and disenchantment with the status quo, according to an op-ed in The Telegraph. The article argues that this disillusionment is due to a range of factors, including economic stagnation, social and cultural changes, and a sense of being ignored by the ruling class. The article suggests that this discontent is primarily being channeled into right-wing populism, with figures such as Donald Trump and Marine Le Pen gaining support. However, the author also warns that not all right-wing populist movements are positive, highlighting the rise of anti-capitalist parties and those driven by xenophobia. Despite this, the article concludes that the global right-wing revolution is gaining ground, with right-wing leaders coming to power in countries such as Italy, the Netherlands, and Israel. The exception to this trend is seen as the UK, where the Conservative Party is failing to capitalize on the dissatisfaction with the ruling class.
Friday evening news briefing: Police fear Lucy Letby may have killed more babies
Telegraph
23-08-18 16:38
Nurse Lucy Letby has been found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others while working at the Countess of Chester Hospital. The verdicts confirm Letby as Britain’s most prolific serial baby killer. She was convicted of murdering five baby boys and two baby girls between June 2015 and June 2016, while also attacking and attempting to kill four boys and two girls using different methods. Letby is said to have become “angry and frustrated” when some of her victims survived.
Italy's government has paid the restaurant bill of four Italian tourists in Albania who left without paying. The incident made headlines in both countries, leading Albania's Prime Minister to raise it with his Italian counterpart. Italy's embassy in Albania confirmed that it had paid the bill on behalf of its citizens. Italy's agriculture minister, who was also on the trip to Albania, said paying the bill was a matter of pride and that "a few dishonest individuals cannot embarrass a nation of decent people." The incident happened in the city of Berat, but it is unclear when exactly it occurred.
Who gets to curate ‘David’? In Italy, the culture wars get a nationalist edge.
Washington Post
23-08-21 08:00
Italy's right-wing government is looking to change the fact that many of the country's most revered opera houses and museums are run by foreigners. Contracts for key jobs are set to expire this year and critics are accusing the government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, of promoting nationalism in decisions that should be based on merit alone. Meloni's government has been accused of wanting to put a conservative stamp on culture, with opponents pointing to its recent press for new museum exhibitions on cultural touchstones of the Italian right, and its moves to restrict the parental rights of same-sex couples. The government has also sought to change the composition of Italy's Experimental Cinematography Centre, with critics fearing that this could give the government more influence over student projects.
Anti-migrant and homophobic bestseller by former commander splits Italy’s Right-wing coalition
Telegraph
23-08-22 15:37
A homophobic and anti-migrant book written by a former head of Italian special forces has caused divisions within the Right-wing governing coalition led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Some ministers have distanced themselves from the book by General Roberto Vannacci, while others have defended his right to express his opinions. The book, entitled The World Back to Front, espouses extreme views on a range of subjects and has been interpreted as hostile towards gay people, feminists, migrants and environmentalists. Vannacci was dismissed from his role as head of the Military Geographical Institute following the book’s release.
Italian leader tones down divisive rhetoric but carries on with pursuit of far-right agenda
The Independent
23-08-25 05:49
Italy's far-right Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, has faced criticism for her government's pursuit of multiple far-right policies. Since taking office in September, Meloni's administration has pursued policies promoted by ministries and lawmakers from her Brothers of Italy party, including refusing to allow the names of some same-sex parents to be on their children's birth records, broadening restrictions on surrogate pregnancies, and seeking to ban foreign words from government documents. Meloni herself has largely stayed above the ideological fray and has avoided making public comments on controversial issues. Despite the criticism, opinion surveys indicate that Meloni's Brothers of Italy party is the most popular among eligible voters, with close to 30% support. Meloni's strategy appears to be staying above the fray while shaping the state according to her ideology. Her government has also cracked down on rave parties and similar gatherings and moved to limit recognition of parental rights for same-sex parents. The government also plans to spend millions of euros to build more day care centers to ease burdens on working parents. Proposed legislation to ban the use of foreign words in government documents is also awaiting action in Parliament.
The struggle for LGBTQ rights is facing setbacks in various countries around the world. In the US, several states have introduced anti-LGBTQ laws, such as banning the discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in schools and prohibiting gender reassignment procedures for those under 18. Russia has introduced laws curbing gender reassignment and prohibiting any expression of queer life in public, while Hungary has passed laws restricting information about homosexuality and gender reassignment to minors. Italy has revoked the civil registration of same-sex parents and banned mayors from registering parents of the same sex. Uganda has one of the strictest sets of rules against LGBTQ minorities, including the death penalty for homosexuality. Indonesia, with the largest Muslim population in the world, is set to ban all sex outside of heterosexual marriage and has harsh penalties for homosexual sex. These restrictions demonstrate the ongoing discrimination and persecution faced by the LGBTQ community in various parts of the world.
More than 4,000 migrants pack into centre in Italy designed for 400
Telegraph
23-08-28 14:42
The reception centre for migrants on the Italian island of Lampedusa is overwhelmed, with over 4,000 people crammed into a facility with a capacity of 400. Many migrants are making the journey to Lampedusa due to favourable weather conditions, and hundreds were transferred to larger centres on the Italian mainland. The mayor of Lampedusa has called on the prime minister to visit the island and witness the crisis, criticising the government for not addressing the long-standing issues. Italy has called for more assistance from the EU, with over 107,000 migrants arriving so far this year.
Partner of Italy PM Meloni faces backlash over rape comments
The Independent
23-08-30 15:45
Andrea Giambruno, the partner of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has faced criticism for victim-blaming comments he made about rape on his television talk show. Giambruno's comments came after a high-profile gang rape case in Palermo, Sicily. He stated that if women avoid getting drunk and losing their senses, they can avoid certain problems and running into trouble. Opposition politicians condemned his remarks, with one senator stating that boys should be educated to show respect rather than girls being taught to be careful. Giambruno defended his comments, stating that they had been taken out of context and that he did not say men are free to rape drunk women.
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