Ansa news

(ANSA-AFP) - MOSCOW, 19 APR - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday announced an Easter truce in the conflict in Ukraine starting this evening and lasting till midnight on Sunday. The short-term ceasefire proposal from Russia comes as President Donald Trump has been pressing both Moscow and Kyiv to agree a truce, but has failed to extract any major concessions from the Kremlin. "Today from 1800 (1500 GMT) to midnight Sunday (2100 GMT Sunday), the Russian side announces an Easter truce," Putin…

(ANSA-AFP) - BELGRADE, 19 APR - The EU's enlargement commissioner, Marta Kos, called on Saturday all sides in Serbia to "refrain from further tensions" as months-long student-led protests against corruption were held in the country. The student-led protest movement began after a fatal roof collapse at Novi Sad train station on November 1, 2024, which killed 16 people. "I am following closely the situation in Serbia and call upon everyone to refrain from further tensions," Kos wrote on X. "To exit…

(ANSA) - BRUSSELS, 19 APR - "The heroes of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising fought for freedom & dignity in the face of unimaginable horror. Like many across Poland today, we hold a daffodil in remembrance of their bravery. Their memory compels us to stand firm against antisemitism and hatred in all its forms." European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on X, sharing a video in which European Commissioners pose holding a daffodil, a symbol in memory of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising on 19 April…

(ANSA) - TRIESTE, APR 18 - The Celje District Court in Slovenia has acquitted former Prime Minister Janez Janša and co-defendants of abetting in abuse of office over transactions related to their former property in the Trenta Valley 20 years ago, according to Slovenian news agency STA. The prosecution will appeal Janša's two-year prison sentence. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, APR 18 - Gas storages in the EU are rising again, surpassing the levels of mid-April 2022. Europe has 407.603 TWh, or 36% of storage capacity, which is higher than the 319.91 TWh of 2022 but significantly lower than the 702.71 TWh of 2024 and the 637.67 TWh of 2023. Italy has surpassed 40% of the storages, confirming its lead in Europe ahead of Germany. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, APR 18 - According to sources in Brussels, Giorgia Meloni's mission to Washington elicited positive responses from the European Commission's top brass. According to the same sources, the White House meeting provided "a useful opportunity to create further bridges" with the Trump administration "while respecting the different roles, as Meloni herself has already stated." According to the sources, technical discussions between the Commission and the United States will continue in…

(ANSA-AFP) - PARIS, APR 18 - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday said Washington needed to figure out soon if a Ukraine truce was feasible, as he left Paris following meetings with European officials. "We need to figure out here now within a matter of days whether this is doable in the short term, because if it's not, then I think we're just going to move on," he told reporters at the Le Bourget airport before leaving Paris. (ANSA-AFP).

(ANSA-AFP) - FRANKFURT, APR 17 - The European Central Bank cut interest rates again Thursday amid fears that US President Donald Trump's stop-start tariff announcements could threaten growth across the eurozone. ECB policymakers decided to lower rates by a quarter-point, marking the central bank's sixth consecutive cut to borrowing costs for the single-currency area. The decision brought the ECB's benchmark deposit rate down to 2.25 percent, the lowest it has been since the beginning of 2023. Rate-setters…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, APR 17 - The German construction sector is sending mixed signals: the Federal Statistical Office reports that 17,900 permits for the construction of new apartments were issued in February 2025, a 2.3% decrease from February 2024. This is a negative figure following an increase in January: 35,900 permits were issued in the first two months of the year, representing a 2.1% increase over the same period in 2024. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, APR 17 - The student protest in Belgrade, which began on Monday evening, is still taking place in front of the headquarters of public television RTS, motivated by the correct and objective reporting on the student movement's agitation efforts. A similar protest has been ongoing since Monday in front of the RTS branch in the Kosutnjak neighbourhood. In both cases, protesters obstructed nearby road intersections. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, APR 17 - The Czech Republic will now supply its entire annual oil consumption from Trieste, thanks to the expansion of the Tal pipeline's capacity, beginning today. After sixty years, the Czech Republic's reliance on Russian oil via the Druzba pipeline has ended. The country will primarily use oil from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and North Africa. This was announced today by Prime Minister Petr Fiala during a press conference broadcast by ct24. "These are crucial days for the Czech…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, APR 17 - Turkey's Defence Ministry stated that it is determined to protect Ankara's rights in the Aegean and Mediterranean after Athens presented a map depicting Greece's maritime space in these seas, where many areas have historically been disputed by the two countries. "As the Turkish Armed Forces, we are firmly determined to protect our rights and interests in the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean," sources in the ministry told TRT, calling the Greek map "contrary to…

(ANSA-AFP) - BELGRADE, APR 16 - Serbia's parliament elected a new government Wednesday led by a political novice after months of student-led anti-corruption protests brought down the previous administration. The Balkan nation has been mired in political turmoil since former prime minister Milos Vucevic and other senior officials resigned in January amid marathon protests sparked by a railway station disaster that left 16 people dead. "Serbia is tired of divisions and blockades," the newly elected…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, APR 16 - "Strengthening the relationship between the CEI and the European Union is essential to accompany our member countries, particularly those of the Western Balkans, along the path of European integration," said the Secretary General of the CEI, Franco Dal Mas, at the meeting of the Committee of National Coordinators of the CEI member countries, held in Brussels under the Presidency of Serbia 2025. "The CEI confirms itself as a platform for strategic dialogue, capable of…

(ANSA-AFP) - BELGRADE, APR 16 - Serbia is likely to get a new government Wednesday led by a political novice that closely resembles the previous administration, which was brought down after months of student-led anti-corruption protests. The Balkan nation has been in political turmoil since former Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and other senior officials resigned in January, amid marathon protests sparked by a railway station disaster that left 16 people dead. "Serbia is tired of divisions and blockades,"…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, APR 16 - Today marks another day of protests in Serbia, where students continue to mobilise against the president and government, accusing them of corruption, poor democracy, and media control. Rallies in Belgrade and Novi Sad have been taking place since Monday evening in front of the offices of the public television RTS and the regional broadcaster of Vojvodina RTV, both of which do not accurately and objectively report on the protest movement's initiatives across the country.…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, APR 16 - The Italian Embassy in Prague commemorated National Made in Italy Day by showcasing examples of Italian creativity and know-how. The initiative's goal was to show the Czech Republic how Italy creates, produces, and builds the future by forging new paths with ingenuity and passion. The event, organised in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute in Prague, the ICE Agency, and the Italian-Czech Chamber of Commerce and Industry, featured ten vintage Vespa models…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, APR 16 - "I expect the new government to support Europe and reforms. Serbia needs to get back on track in Europe. "We are willing to do everything possible, together with the European Commission, to make this happen," said Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Enlargement, in an interview with the European Newsroom, a group of European press agencies that includes ANSA. The Commissioner also stated that she will visit Belgrade "at the end of the month." Kos then stated that Serbia…

(ANSA) - BELGRADO, APR 15 - The Serbian Parliament, convened today for a vote of confidence in the new government of Prime Minister-in-Charge Djuro Macut, adjourned the continuation of its work until tomorrow, with debate resuming after Macut's keynote address. As was expected, the day was marked by a clash in the courtroom between representatives of the majority and opposition, who did not spare themselves in accusations and counter-accusations, in some cases even on a personal level. Heated tones,…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, APR 15 - "NATO firmly supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina in accordance with the Dayton Peace Agreement," which is a "cornerstone of the stability and state architecture of Bosnia and Herzegovina" that "must be respected," said NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska in a press statement. Shekerinska will meet with Bosnia and Herzegovina's tripartite presidency, including Serb member Željka Cvijanović, Croat Željko Komšić,…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, APR 15 - José Manuel Albares, Spain's Foreign Minister, will begin a two-day visit to the Czech Republic today in Prague to strengthen bilateral relations. A meeting with his counterpart Jan Lipavsky is planned, as well as a meeting with the descendants of Spanish victims of Nazi concentration camps on the 80th anniversary of the Hradistk camp's closure. During the visit, Albares will discuss with Lipavsky the impact of the trade war on global geopolitics, as well as current…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, APR 15 - According to the Financial Times, Brussels is considering legal options that would allow European companies to withdraw from long-term contracts for Russian gas without incurring significant penalties from Moscow. According to three officials familiar with the plan, the European Commission is reviewing the contracts and considering declaring force majeure to allow importers to withdraw from their obligations without incurring additional costs. The Centre for Energy and…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, APR 15 - During 2024 and the first months of 2025, as part of the strategy to combat fuel fraud, the Economic and Financial Police Unit of Friuli Venezia Giulia identified numerous illegal diesel transports, seizing a total of 308,762 litres of fuel. In this manner, the fuel was fraudulently introduced into Italy via the border crossings of Tarvisio (Udine) and Gorizia. The fuel came from Hungary and Slovakia, and it was accompanied by false documents identifying it as a "mixture…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, APR 15 - In 2024, exports of all tomato products increased in volume and value by 6.5% and 3.8%, respectively, over the previous year, totalling 3 billion euros. Over 2.2 billion tonnes of preserves are produced, with peeled tomatoes, pulp, and cherry tomatoes accounting for the vast majority (more than 64%). This was announced by Anicav, which, on the occasion of the second edition of National Made in Italy Day, assessed the product's exports. "A smaller share, adds the National…

(ANSA-AFP) - BUDAPEST, APR 14 - Hungarian lawmakers on Monday backed constitutional changes targeting the country's beleaguered LGBTQ community and dual nationals, the latest step to strengthen the "illiberal" brand of democracy championed by longtime nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The amendment passed parliament with 140 votes in favour and 21 against. (ANSA-AFP).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, APR 14 - The Hungarian government has officially launched a national consultation on Ukraine's EU accession. Questionnaires will be sent to Hungarian citizens starting today, and they will have until June 20 to respond. "Citizens can express their opinion" by responding to the question of whether they support Ukraine's accession to the European Union, explained Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs via social media. "Ukraine's accession to the EU would affect every Hungarian.…

(ANSA-AFP) - BERLIN, APR 14 - German lawmakers will gather in early May to elect Friedrich Merz as chancellor after his conservative bloc sealed a coalition agreement with the main centre-left party, the Bundestag said Monday. The president of the assembly, Julia Kloeckner was "preparing to convene the German Bundestag for the election of the federal chancellor... on Tuesday, May 6", the parliament said in a statement. The date was "subject to the parties' approval of the coalition agreement" and…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, APR 14 - In Serbia, Prime Minister-designate Djuro Macut today presented the composition of his new government, which he will submit to parliament for approval. Marko Djuric retains his position as Foreign Minister, Ivica Dacic as Interior Minister, Sinisa Mali as Finance Minister, Bratislav Gasic as Defence Minister, Adrijana Mesarovic as Economy Minister, Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic as Energy and Mines Minister, Zlatibor Loncar as Health Minister, and Nikola Selakovic as Culture…

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, APR 14 - In the Western Balkans, "we see that tensions are rising, and we absolutely must proceed with the enlargement process because it is something truly tangible and shared." "We really need success stories here," said EU High Representative Kaja Kallas as she arrived at the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, where the issue will be discussed over a working lunch. (ANSA).

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, APR 14 - "The devastating attack against civilians in Sumy on Palm Sunday is further painful evidence of Russia's total disregard for human life and international law," the Austrian Foreign Ministry stated in X. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured and the victims' families" and "Austria stands with Ukraine!" the FM stated. (ANSA).