Ansa news

(ANSA) - VIENNA, 26 AGO - For decades, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra has celebrated spring with the successful televised concert "Springtime from Vienna." Starting in 2025, the traditional Viennese orchestra will bring its musical spring to Trieste, holding three concerts as part of the new Easter festival "Springtime from Vienna." Jan Nast, Artistic Director of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, said: "We want to combine the best of two cultures: Trieste has always been a place of nostalgia for many…

(ANSA) - TRIESTE, 26 AGO - 3D printing, robots of all kinds and shapes, educational projects, and electronic boards designed for various tasks are some of the creations born from the creativity of makers that will be on display in Trieste on Saturday, August 31, and Sunday, September 1, during the 11th edition of Maker Faire Trieste, the festival of ingenuity, creativity, science, and technology. The event was presented today and is promoted by the Municipality of Trieste and the Abdus Salam International…

(ANSA-AFP) - WARSAW, AUG 26 - Poland's army said on Monday the NATO country's airspace was violated, probably by a drone, after deadly Russian strikes battered Ukraine. A Russian barrage hit Ukraine with more than 100 missiles and around 100 drones, including in its western regions, killing at least four people and targeting its energy infrastructure. During the attacks, the Polish airspace was violated by an object entering from Ukraine, Poland's army general said. "We are probably dealing with…

(ANSA-AFP) - BERLIN, AUG 26 - German business confidence fell further in August, a closely-watched survey showed Monday, as Europe's biggest economy struggles to emerge from a weak period. The Ifo institute's confidence barometer, based on a survey of around 9,000 companies, declined to 86.6 points from 87 points in July. "The sentiment among companies in Germany is on a downward trend," Ifo president Clemens Fuest said following the fourth consecutive fall in the indicator. "The German economy…

(ANSA-AFP) - SOLINGEN, AUG 26 - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday pledged to tighten Germany's weapons laws and crack down on illegal immigration after a Syrian man allegedly went on a deadly knife rampage in the city of Solingen. "We will now have to tighten up the weapons regulations... in particular with regard to the use of knives," Scholz said on a visit to Solingen, adding that "I'm sure this will happen very quickly". "We will have to do everything we can to ensure that those who cannot…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 26 - Bulgaria will hold its seventh early parliamentary election in two years, on October 27. President Rumen Radev announced today that he has approved the draft of the provisional government proposed by nominated Prime Minister Dimitar Glavcev (61 years old). "Tomorrow, I will sign two decrees: one appointing the interim government and the other setting the date for the early parliamentary elections, October 27. "I hope that the new provisional government will be sworn in…

(ANSA) - TRIESTE, AUG 25 - Operations to defuse the war remnant found Thursday morning at Transalpina Square in Nova Gorica, during work on the renovation of the train station in preparation for Go!2025 European Capital of Culture, ended mid-morning. This was made known to ANSA by the mayor of Gorizia, Rodolfo Ziberna. This is the third clearance in 13 months: other ordnance had been found in July 2023 and last March. Along with about 3,000 Slovenian citizens, the evacuation also affected 1,400…

(ANSA-AFP) - BERLIN, AUG 24 - Several people were killed and injured in an attack at a festival in the western German city of Solingen on Friday, local media reported. At least three people were killed and several injured when a man attacked them with a knife, the Bild daily reported, adding that the attacker had fled the scene. Police were not immediately able to comment when contacted by AFP. Police were at the scene with helicopters and emergency vehicles and have asked the public to avoid the…

(ANSA-AFP) - BERLIN, AUG 23 - The EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell said Friday that Germany's plans to reduce its military aid to Ukraine was "worrisome" and "bad news". Germany has been the second largest contributor of aid to Ukraine after the United States to help it fight Russia's invasion. But the country's draft budget for 2025 -- the subject of a protracted row between the three parties in Chancellor Olaf Scholz's ruling coalition -- includes only around four billion euros ($4.4 billion) for…

(ANSA-AFP) - KYIV, AUG 23 - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi used a historic visit to Kyiv on Friday to reiterate his call for a peaceful end to the war between Ukraine and Russia. Modi's visit comes at a dramatic moment in the two-and-a-half-year conflict, with a diplomatic settlement appearing more elusive than ever. "We have stayed away from the war with great conviction. This does not mean that we were indifferent," Modi told reporters, while seated alongside Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 23 - Defusing war remnants discovered at the construction site of the new Nova Gorica railway station is expected to be completed by Sunday morning. This was announced by Gorizia's mayor, Rodolfo Ziberna, following a summit at the Prefecture attended by law enforcement and Italian and Slovenian officials. The evacuation of homes within a 600-meter radius of the Transalpina square will take place between 7 and 9, with the bomb squad taking action at 10. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 23 - The Flensburg prosecutor's office has launched an investigation after drones were spotted over the ChemCoast Park Brunsbuettel industrial area in the German state of Schleswig Holstein, in the country's north. The drones are suspected to be Russian and investigators are looking into the hypothesis of "activity by espionage agents". The drones flew over the area, where in addition to a now-decommissioned nuclear plant there is a liquefied natural gas terminal and some…

(ANSA) - VILNIUS, AUG 23 - The Lithuanian Army has received a batch of more than 150 units of the U.S.-made Jltv armored all-terrain vehicles. This was announced in a press release from the Vilnius Defense Ministry. "The modernization of the Lithuanian military is progressing rapidly," commented Vilnius Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas. "The new batch of Jltv vehicles delivered to Lithuania this week once again demonstrates the close cooperation between the Lithuanian and U.S. military forces.…

(ANSA-AFP) - BRUSSELS, AUG 22 - The European Commission vowed Thursday to stand up for Europe's dairy sector, a day after it was targeted in the latest anti-subsidy investigation by Beijing. The Chinese probe, announced after the EU confirmed its plan for hefty five-year tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, covers a range of items from fresh cheese and curd to blue cheese, including some milk and cream. "The commission will firmly defend the interests of our dairy industry and of our Common Agricultural…

(ANSA) - GORIZIA, AUG 22 - The 52nd World Folklore Festival "Gorizia Castle" is at the starting tape. Today, from 6:30 p.m., there is a preview of the festival, which this year will have its heart in Victory Square and will continue until Sunday, Aug. 25. On the first day, there will be space for music, performances and dancing in the pedestrian area of Gorizia's historic center, along Garibaldi Street and Corso Verdi. Participating groups are Folk Ensemble Váh, Púchov (Slovakia), Fopack music…

(ANSA-AFP) - BELGRADE, AUG 22 - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Thursday that no conflict could be "resolved on a battlefield" as he spoke in Poland on the eve of his first visit to war-torn Ukraine. "It is India's strong belief that no problem can be resolved on a battlefield," Modi said, adding his country supports "dialogue and diplomacy for restoration of peace and stability as soon as possible". (ANSA-AFP).

(ANSA-AFP) - BELGRADE, AUG 22 - At least nine people died Thursday after a boat carrying migrants capsized in the Drina River separating Serbia and Bosnia, rescuers said. "The bodies of nine migrants were found Thursday after their boat sank in the Drina River," said Bosnia's civil protection group overseeing the rescue operations. (ANSA-AFP).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 22 - An action by Italian and Slovenian authorities, supported by Eurojust, resulted in the arrest of a dangerous criminal hiding in Koper, Slovenia, Eurojust announced today. The leader of an Italian organised crime group (OCG) was on the run after being sentenced to 21 years in prison. He had been convicted of numerous crimes, including drug trafficking, extortion, and kidnapping. The Italian criminal, aged 40 and of Calabrian origin, fled on the eve of his conviction in…

(ANSA-AFP) - BELGRADE, AUG 22 - Serbian police were searching for some seven missing people Thursday after a boat carrying migrants toward Bosnia on the Drina River capsized, police said. Serbia is one of the main transit countries on the so-called "Balkan route" on which migrants attempt to reach the European Union. It borders four EU nations. Early on Thursday a boat with about 25 migrants on board capsized near the border town of Ljubovija in Serbia, according to information from those rescued,…

(ANSA-AFP) - CHISINAU, AUG 22 - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday said Ukraine prepared its surprise counteroffensive into Russia's Kursk region "very secretly and without any feedback". Two and a half years into the war, Ukraine has mounted the unprecedented cross-border assault since August 6, catching Russia off guard and even surprising its close allies. Kyiv claims to have captured dozens of settlements and tens of thousands of Russian civilians have fled. "Ukraine prepared its military…

(ANSA) - TRIESTE, AUG 22 - Last black dot Saturday, on the Autostrade Alto Adriatico network, with likely queues at the Trieste Lisert barrier for the return from the vacations and near the exit at the toll booths of the seaside resorts for the last remnants of the exodus. This is the forecast released by the Concessionaire. About 182 thousand transits are expected throughout the day with about 26 thousand entries at the Lisert barrier. In this regard, the cooperation with Dars (Autostrade Slovene)…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 22 - President Emmanuel Macron will visit Serbia on August 29 and 30, specifically to "reaffirm France's support for the European anchoring" of the Balkan country, the Élysée announced on Thursday, according to AFP. This trip, which follows Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's official visit to Paris in April, will allow the two heads of state to discuss the economy, health, energy, culture, and artificial intelligence, according to the same source. (ANSA).

(ANSA-AFP) - PARIGI, AUG 22 - Il presidente francese Emmanuel Macron si recherà in Serbia il 29 e 30 agosto, una visita volta in particolare a "riaffermare il sostegno della Francia all'ancoraggio europeo" di questo Paese balcanico, ha annunciato l'Eliseo. Dopo la visita ufficiale del presidente serbo Aleksandar Vucic a Parigi ad aprile, questo viaggio sarà l'occasione per i due capi di Stato di discutere di economia, salute, energia, cultura e intelligenza artificiale, secondo la stessa fonte.…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 22 - "For months, we have been asking Russia to end the war in Ukraine and to begin a political and diplomatic process. We would like to see the two countries abandon their weapons and resume negotiations," said Antonio Tajani, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, during an interview with 'ilSussidiario.net' on the occasion of his participation in the Rimini Meeting. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 22 - Trenitalia, the Italian national railway company, plans to launch a high-speed train line connecting Gorizia to several major Italian cities in order to attract more visitors to the culture capitals of Nova Gorica and Italy's Gorizia, according to the Slovenian news agency STA. The route will connect Gorizia and Naples via a Frecciarossa train, stopping in Venice, Bologna, Florence, and Rome. Beginning September 16th, the train will depart Gorizia every day at 6:12 and…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 22 - The PMI index, which measures purchasing managers' confidence in various sectors of German manufacturing in August, is at 42.1 points, compared to analysts' expectations of 43.4 and 43.2 in July. The data for the tertiary sector in August is 51.4 points, compared to 52.3 estimated and 52.5 in July. (ANSA).

(ANSA-AFP) - BELGRADE, AUG 21 - Three employees were shot dead Wednesday at a high school in northwest Bosnia by a co-worker who then tried to kill himself, police said. The shooting occurred around 10:00 am (0800 GMT) in Sanski Most as teachers met to prepare the upcoming school year and no students were present, local media reported. The violence comes after high profile mass shootings in other Balkan nations in recent years, including back-to-back attacks that rocked Serbia in 2023. (ANSA-AFP).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 21 - Bulgarian authorities arrested eight suspected members of a gang smuggling migrants into Europe, including four high-profile criminals, Europol said today. The gang charged up to EUR 6,000 per person and smuggled over 130 people from Turkey into Bulgaria before continuing on to other European destinations via the Western Balkan route. Syrian and Jordanian nationals served as the group's main leaders, coordinating criminal activities with other smugglers in Turkey and…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 21 - In the first few days of September, a new edition of Harley Davidson's European Bike Week will take place in Carinthia, near the Faaker See. The dates to mark on the agenda for fans of the American brand are September 3-8, when the Austrian region will host the signed Harley event. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 21 - Radovan Karadzic, 79, a convicted war criminal who is currently being held in Albany prison on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom, is seeking £50,000 for human rights violations and claims he has been barred from having a computer in his cell and in communicating in his native Serbian, according to the Daily Mail. The former Bosnian Serb political leader during the war was convicted in 2019 of genocide and war crimes. (ANSA).