Italy Archives - Communal News

Libyan Conflict – What is the Turkish and Russian Agenda?

Editor's Pick January 15, 2020January 15, 2020 Christina Kitova Leave a comment

Russia will host Fayez al-Serraj and Khalifa Haftar in Moscow in an attempt to achieve peace in Libya. According to Russian news, Haftar is already in Russia. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, who is a Turkish politician and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey since 24 November 2015, is expected to join them. Hakan Fidan is a retired Turkish army sergeant, teacher, diplomat and the head of Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization. he is expected to attend as well. Hulusi Akar is the current Turkish Minister of Defense and a former four-star Turkish Armed Forces general who served as the 29th Chief of the General Staff. He will be arriving with al Serraj for the talks. Observers from Egypt and United Arab Emirates will be in attendance. The latest development is that Haftar left without signing any type peace resolution.

2019: A Year in Review of Events that Influenced the Geopolitical Balance and Defense Around the Globe

Editor's Pick December 31, 2019December 30, 2019 Christina Kitova Leave a comment

There has been a tug of war for geopolitical influence and attempts to disrupt the already established balance throughout 2019. We also saw the formation of interesting and very invasive social media polices around the globe. Hence, there were ramifications and changes to the social media landscape:

Let’s look at the world’s main players and regions:

European Space Agency’s Largest Budget Ever – Here Comes Future Moon Mission

December 1, 2019November 30, 2019 Christina Kitova Leave a comment

The European Space Agency (ESA) announced a budget increase to $15.866 billion. The expansion of the budget was finalized on November 28. The ESA is an intergovernmental organization of 22 member states dedicated to the exploration of space. Established in 1975 and headquartered in Paris. The national bodies who sit on ESA’s governing council are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Libyan Forces Loyal to Haftar Shoot Down Italian Drone

November 21, 2019November 21, 2019 Benedict Kasigara Leave a comment

Forces lоуаl tо Fіеld Marshal Khаlіfа Hаftаr аnnоunсеd that they shot down аn Itаlіаn drоnе flying іn аn area undеr its іnfluеnсе. Hаftаr’ѕ spokesman ѕаіd the plane wаѕ shot dоwn by аn anti-aircraft mіѕѕіlе іn nоrthеrn Tarhuna, ѕоuthеаѕt оf Trіроlі. Thе Italian Dеfеnѕе Mіnіѕtrу ѕаіd thе plane crashed іn Libya during іtѕ раrtісіраtіоn in Operation Sаfе Sеаѕ.

Venice Put on Alert as New Floods Loom

November 16, 2019November 16, 2019 Vincent Ferdinand Leave a comment

Venice is preparing on Saturday for a further increase of floods that have ravaged the city in recent days, and led the authorities to declare a state of emergency throughout the region. Civil protection officials have issued a red alert for the Venice region, drawing attention to the occurrence of “violent gusts” in the city. Meteorological services predict thunderstorms this weekend, which, combined with high tide, could dangerously raise the water level.

Italy Allows Ocean Viking, 176 Migrants, to Disembark

October 15, 2019October 15, 2019 Joyce Davis Leave a comment

Italian authorities have authorized the migrant ship Ocean Viking to land in the port of Toranto on Monday. The Ocean Viking, run by the French NGO, SOS Méditerranee, and Doctors Without Borders (MSF), rescued 176 migrants in the central Mediterranean on Sunday.

Over 500 Migrants Stranded in the Mediterranean Sea – No Port Willing to Let Them Dock

August 13, 2019August 13, 2019 Vincent Ferdinand Leave a comment

The Norwegian ship Ocean Viking saved another 105 migrants from Libya on Monday. There are a total of 356 people on board. At the same time, 150 migrants remain “trapped” on the Spanish Open Arms ship near the Italian island of Lampedusa. Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has ordered all Italian ports closed for refugees and illegal migrants. Meanwhile, some migrants have reportedly been waiting on ships for over ten days.

Salvini Pulls the Plug, Plunges Italians to Fall Election

August 9, 2019August 10, 2019 Robert Martin (CN Staff) Leave a comment

You can’t say he didn’t warn us. Thursday, after a summer-long beach tour, right-wing Interior Minister, Matteo Salvini, effectively pulled the plug on the Italian government. Evidently on his instruction, his Northern League voted with the opposition in the Senate to stop his coalition partners in the populist Five Star Movement from blocking a high-speed rail link between Turin and Lyon. Salvini, who also serves as one of the country’s Deputy Prime Ministers, had been toying with the idea since dominating the country’s elections to the European Parliament in May.

Migration to Europe: European Countries Agree On the Distribution of Refugees in the EU

Editor's Pick July 23, 2019August 10, 2019 George Mtimba Leave a comment

France has announced that eight European countries have agreed to co-host migrants rescued in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, but Italy is not one of those countries. French President Emmanuel Macaron said six other countries supported a French-German plan to resettle migrants following talks in Paris.

Germany Rescue Ship Changes Course Towards Malta – Salvini Turns Them Away

July 7, 2019August 10, 2019 George Mtimba Leave a comment

The German aid organization, Sea-Eye wants to bring 65 rescued migrants to Malta. Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini forced the ship in Lampedusa to turn back. The German rescue ship “Alan Kurdi” had been waiting for hours in front of the Italian island. Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Salvini had strictly forbidden the ship to enter the port.

Italian Demolition: The Last Two Piles of Genoa Bridge Destroyed by Explosive

June 28, 2019August 10, 2019 George Mtimba Leave a comment

Morandi bridge in Genoa has totally disappeared. The two main piles of the building were destroyed with explosive Friday, June 28, more than ten months after the collapse of part of the roadway, an accident which killed 43 on August 14, 2018.

The detonation was triggered at 9 a.m. and about 4,500 tons of concrete and steel collapsed in seven seconds in a cloud of dust, under the eyes of many Genoese who came to watch the spectacular demolition. Reconstruction of the bridge began in February this year, with the dismantling of various sections between smaller pillars.

European Roundup: News, Notes, and New National Elections

May 28, 2019May 28, 2019 Robert Martin (CN Staff) Leave a comment

Austria:

The country’s youngest-ever Chancellor officially became it’s shortest-serving, and the first since the war to be brought down by a vote of no-confidence on Monday. Already headed for snap elections in the fall, the move was largely seen as necessary by the newly-enlarged opposition to avoid giving Sebastian Kurz an advantage. If Austrians were cross with Kurz, they sure didn’t show it on Sunday. His People’s Party (ÖVP) gained two seats, at the expense of his now-former coalition partners, the Freedom Party (FPÖ), and Greens.

Breakdown of Europe’s Economic Troubles by Country

Editor's Pick March 8, 2019July 3, 2019 Jay Black Leave a comment

#1 Germany: Economy stalled in the final quarter of last year, just skirting recession as fallout from global trade disputes and Brexit put the brakes on a decade of expansion amid signs that exports will stay subdued for the time being.
#2 UK: Economy expanded at its slowest annual rate in six years in 2018 after a sharp contraction in December. Growth in the year was 1.4%, down from 1.8% in 2017 and the slowest rate since 2012. Blame factory output and car production for the slowdown, among other factors.

Week of Uncertainty, Weekend of Protests, Grip Europe

Editor's Pick February 10, 2019March 1, 2019 Robert Martin (CN Staff) Leave a comment

A Yellow Vest protestor was severely injured in Paris on Saturday, as police shot tear gas at those trying to knock down a barrier at the French Parliament. It is the second severe injury in as many weeks. The uprising against President Emmanuel Macron is in its thirteenth consecutive week.
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Are Markets Pricing in a Global Slowdown?

November 13, 2018July 3, 2019 Jay Black Leave a comment

Fears about a no-deal Brexit and a growing rift over Italy’s budget are putting pressure on the euro and the pound. Rising global uncertainty and a widening U.S. yield differential with other economies provide support.
The Eurozone economy grew at its weakest pace in more than four years during the third quarter as the public mood darkened. It takes time to see a potential impact given the manufacturing process takes rather a long time until new goods are imported and exported.
China just reported its weakest quarterly growth since the depths of the global financial crisis in early 2009. “We think more easing will still be needed in order to stabilize growth,” says a senior economist who watches China.
In Japan the pace of retail sales have slowed from the prior month. Trade data showed an unexpected drop in exports in September, raising the specter of a marked moderation in economic growth.
Weaker-than-expected growth in South Korea’s economy is raising fresh questions about a second-straight quarterly decline in corporate capital investment and a sharp drop in hiring are evidence that the economy is losing steam.