DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Oracle's Larry Ellison thinks every government will want to build a 'sovereign' AI cloud in the future
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-07 | by ( Michelle Castillo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Oracle, which works with Nvidia and Microsoft on generative AI capabilities, has already helped use cloud tech to cut red tape for countries. For the first time, we're beginning to win business for countries," Ellison said. Countries including Serbia are standardizing on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and using generative AI for processes like automating health care. Cloud and generative AI applications allowing countries to give rural areas internet access could increase educational opportunities and create more economic value. "There's the 'Black Mirror' bad side of it: Big Brother, data wars, AI warfare and all that stuff," Garder said.

Persons: Raimo Lenschow, Ellison, Oracle's Larry Ellison, it's, Elon Musk's, you've, we've, Dan Gardner, Tapan Parikh, Parikh, Garder, Gardner, Simone Bohnenberger, It's, Bohnenberger, there's Organizations: Oracle, Barclays, EU, Nvidia, Microsoft, European, Amazon, Department of Defense, Google, Infrastructure, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Cornell University, U.S Locations: Serbia, Albania, European Union, Kenya, Rwanda, U.S, China, TikTok

☆ More Americans are moving to Tuscany, where their money goes further, the pace is slower, and the wine flows freely
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Jordan Pandy | Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

More Americans are moving to Tuscany, a part of Italy known for medieval walled cities and wine. Some locals say it's keeping their economy alive, but others are starting to grumble. The influx of Americans, locals said, can be at once a booster of fortunes and an irritating imposition. "A lot of locals say that a place like Montepulciano cannot handle all those tourists because it's a small city," said Tudor, the jeweler. Americans, Ercolani said, "spend money and they appreciate the quality of the food and the wine that we have."

Persons: —, Leanne Davis, Davis, Jon Chewning, Chewning, It's, Georgette Jupe, Knight Frank, Florence ., they're, we've, Frances Mayer's, it's, Michele Capecchi, Capecchi, Erin Lewis, Lewis, Danilo Romolini, Luca Tudor, AJ Tuscany, Tudor, who's, Sam D'Avanzo, dell'Anfiteatro, Frank Bienewald, they've, lockdowns, Jupe, Bendetta, Cantina Ercolani, Ercolani Organizations: Service, Business, Associated Press, US Department of State, Italian National Institute of Statistics, away.com, Christie's, Estate, Locals, International School of Florence Locations: Tuscany, Italy, California, Romano, Sacramento, Montepulciano, Florence, Boccheggiano, Lucca, Siena, American, Europe, Rome, Venice, Chiusi, Austin , Texas, Houston , Texas, Italian, Switzerland, Albanian

☆ I turned my failed Etsy shop into a business that made $1 million in its first year. Here's how I did it by 21.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Ashley Couto | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Keida Dervishi, 21, chose to start an embroidery business with her mom instead of going to college. AdvertisementThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Keida Dervishi, the 21-year-old founder of Soulmate Customs. Soulmate Customs made over $1 million in sales in less than a year. I started with an Etsy embroidery shop before founding Soulmate Customs. Keida Dervishi with the Soulmate Customs team.

Persons: Keida Dervishi, —, Gjeniu I Vogel, we've, I'd, Olivia Rodrigo's, I've, Keida, Dervishi, TikTok, Kris Jenner, Kenny, Olivia Rodrigo, We're, It's, Instagram Organizations: Service, Customs, Business, YouTube, Soulmate Customs, School Locations: Albania, Europe, Gjeniu, Albanian

Justice Department prosecutors had recommended sentencing McGonigal to a prison term of two years and six months for the Washington case alone. McGonigal was scheduled to report to prison next month to begin serving his sentence in the New York case. McGonigal was separately charged with concealing his ties to the former Albanian official, a naturalized U.S. citizen who was living in New Jersey. McGonigal pleaded guilty last September to concealing material facts, a charge punishable by a maximum prison sentence of five years. McGonigal didn't need more prison time beyond his 50-month sentence in New York “to serve the ends of justice,” Ducharme argued.

Persons: —, Charles McGonigal, Colleen Kollar, McGonigal, ”, Kollar, “, Oleg Deripaska, didn't, McGonigle, Elizabeth Aloi, Seth Ducharme, ” Ducharme Organizations: WASHINGTON, FBI, U.S, Justice Department, Albanian Locations: New York, U.S, Albanian, Washington ,, Washington, Russia, Crimea, New Jersey, Albania, Russian, Europe

☆ Italian senate passes controversial measure to ship boat migrants to Albanian camps
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Barbie Latza Nadeau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Rome CNN —A controversial plan agreed upon between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Albanian counterpart in November to send boat migrants to Italian-run centers on Albanian soil has passed the Italian Senate. The plan passed on a vote of 93 to 61. It is unlawful under EU law to immediately deport a migrant or refugee until their application for asylum is processed. The centers will be built with Italian funds and staffed with Italian civil servants to process up to 3,000 asylum applicants a month. In 2023, more than 157,000 people reached Italy by boat, according to Italian interior ministry data.

Persons: Rome, Rome CNN —, Giorgia Meloni, Atdhe Mulla, NGO’s, Meloni’s, Matteo De Bellis, “, ” Organizations: Rome CNN, Italian, Italian Senate, European Union, Bloomberg, Getty, Coast Guard, Navy, Amnesty Locations: Italian, Guantanamo, Albania, Afghan, Shengjin, Italy, United Kingdom, Rwanda

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The leaders of Serbia and Kosovo sparred at the United Nations over the latter's ban of the use of the Serbian currency in areas where minority Serbs live, the latest crisis between the two governments. The dinar was widely used in ethnic Serbian-dominated areas, especially in Kosovo's north, to pay pensions and salaries to staff in Serbian parallel institutions, including schools and hospitals. In 1999, a 78-day NATO bombing campaign ended a war between Serbian government forces and ethnic Albanian separatists in Kosovo. Serbian forces were pushed out but Belgrade never recognized Kosovo’s independence and still considers it a Serbian province. The European Union and the United States expressed concern that Kosovo’s ban of the dinar could raise tensions in an already volatile region and called for consultations and a delay in the ban.

Persons: Aleksandar Vucic, ”, Albin Kurti, ” Kurti, Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Dmitry Polyansky, Kurti Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, Kosovo sparred, United Nations, . Security, NATO, Albanian, European Union, Center for Peace Locations: Serbia, Kosovo, Serbian, Kosovo's, Belgrade, Western Europe, United States, Pristina

☆ Former Albanian Navy Port to Take in Migrants Sent on From Italy
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Floirian GogaSHENGJIN, Albania (Reuters) - An Albanian port that was once home to the country's navy is set to receive African, Asian and Middle East migrants sent on from Italy as part of a deal that has drawn criticism from human rights groups. Migrants who arrive in Italy would be taken by boat to the ex-navy port of Shengjin, now a popular tourist destination on Albania's scenic northern Adriatic seacoast. I feel a spiritual obligation because my children were raised in Italy," said Mhill Marku, an Albanian ex-military officer whose four children live in Italy. The U.N. high commissioner for human rights chief said last week the plan raised concerns about arbitrary detention and living conditions for migrants. The Rwanda scheme was declared unlawful in November by non-EU Britain's Supreme Court and the government has introduced legislation it hopes, when passed, will override human rights concerns.

Persons: Goga, Mhill Marku, Marku, Florian Goga, Ivana Sekularac, Mark Heinrich Organizations: European Union, Migrants, Reuters, European, EU Locations: Goga SHENGJIN, Albania, Albanian, Italy, Balkan, European, EU, Shengjin, Gjader, Brussels, Albania's, British, Rwanda, East Africa, France

In the past week, Kosovo police searched the premises of Serbia-administered institutions and of an ethnic Serb non-governmental organization, confiscating papers and computers believed to hold documentation contrary to the country’s laws. Most of Kosovo uses the euro, even though the country isn’t part of the EU. “The EU urges Kosovo to avoid unilateral actions that could raise tensions, and to address these issues through the EU-facilitated dialogue,” the EU statement said. Serbian forces fought a 1998-99 war with ethnic Albanian separatists in what was then the province of Kosovo. About 13,000 people, mostly ethnic Albanians, died until a 78-day NATO bombing campaign pushed Serbian forces away.

Persons: Jeffrey Hovenier, ”, Besnik Bislimi, Aleksandar Vučić, Albin Kurti, Josep Borrell Organizations: European Union, Kosovo, Police, Ambassador, EU, Serbian, Kosovo police, NATO, Belgrade doesn’t Locations: PRISTINA, Kosovo, United States, Serbia, Serbian, Belgrade, Kosovo’s, Serbs, Kosovo Serb, EU, Hovenier

Most of Kosovo uses the euro, even though the country isn't part of the EU. But parts of Kosovo's north, populated mostly by ethnic Serbs, continue to use the dinar. The Central Bank reported on Wednesday that Serbian bank Komercijalna Banka AD Beograd closed its branches in Kosovo. Serbian forces fought a 1998-99 war with ethnic Albanian separatists in what was then the province of Kosovo. Kosovo eventually declared independence in 2008, but the government in Belgrade doesn't recognize its neighbor as a separate country.

Persons: Kosovo's, Aleksandar Vučić, Alexander, Botsan, ” Vucic, ”, Besnik Bislimi, Albin Kurti, Miroslav Lajčák, Josep Borrell, ___ Llazar Semini Organizations: Union, Serbian, Kosovo’s Central Bank, Western, The Central Bank, NATO, Belgrade doesn't, European Union, Kosovo, Kosovo police, EU Locations: PRISTINA, Kosovo, Serbian, Kosovo's, Serbs, Serbia, Russia, Russian, Belgrade, Pristina, Metohija, Kosovo Serbs, ” Kosovo, Komercijalna Banka, Beograd, Brussels, EU, United States, Vučić, Balkans, Kosovo’s, Tirana, Albania

☆ Contested Migrant Deal Between Albania and Italy Moves Forward
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Elisabetta Povoledo | Gaia Pianigiani | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

An Albanian court on Monday gave the green light to an agreement allowing Italy to send migrants who are rescued in the Mediterranean by Italian ships to detention centers in Albania while their asylum claims are considered. The deal is part of the Italian government’s multipronged efforts to stem migration, in particular Mediterranean Sea crossings, sending the message that many undocumented migrants will not be allowed directly into Italy, even temporarily. The agreement was signed in November by the leaders of the two countries, but challenged by opposition lawmakers in Albania, who argued that it violated the country’s Constitution. On Monday, the Albanian Constitutional Court ruled otherwise, clearing the way for the deal to be taken up by Parliament, where Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party holds 75 of the 140 seats.

Organizations: Monday, Albanian Constitutional, Edi, Socialist Party Locations: Italy, Albania, Albanian

☆ Albania’s Highest Court Rules in Favour of Migrant Deal With Italy
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

TIRANA (Reuters) - Albania's constitutional court ruled on Monday in favour of a deal with Italy that will allow the Italian government to set up reception centres to host migrants trying to come ashore. The Albanian parliament has still to ratify the deal before it enters into force. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni agreed with her Albanian counterpart Edi Rama in November to set up centres that would initially host some 3,000 people as Italy tries to bring down numbers of migrants that nearly doubled last year. (Reporting by Florion Goga, writing by Fatos Bytyci, editing by Christina Fincher)

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, Florion Goga, Fatos Bytyci, Christina Fincher Organizations: Albanian Locations: TIRANA, Italy, Italian

☆ Lila Moss copied her mom Kate Moss' see-through silver dress 30 years later
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Amanda Krause | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The look mirrored a see-through outfit her mom Kate Moss famously wore in 1993. AdvertisementLila Moss is the spitting image of her mother Kate Moss — and she's happy to be. Ian West - PA Images/Getty ImagesThe outfit also not-so-subtly referenced a dress famously worn by the 21-year-old's mother Kate. Kate Moss models for Donna Karan in New York City on April 2, 1993. Fairchild Archive/Getty ImagesRepresentatives for Kate Moss, Lila Moss, and Nensi Dojaka did not respond to a request for comment.

Persons: Lila Moss, Kate Moss, —, Kate Moss —, — Lila, Nensi Dojaka, Ian West, Kate, Moss, Liza Bruce, Jimmy B, James Brown, Corinne Day, Dave Benett, Lila, it'd, It's, Mike Marsland, Donna Karan Organizations: Service, British Fashion Council, Elite Model Agency, Elite, British Vogue, Fairchild, Getty Locations: London, England, Albanian, Soho, British, New York City

☆ British troops patrol Kosovo-Serbia border as tensions remain high
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Fatos Bytyci | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] British troops part of the NATO reinforcements patrol at the Kosovo-Serbia border in Jarinje, Kosovo November 24, 2023. NATO has sent 1,000 extra troops to the region, bringing its presence there to 4,500 peacekeepers from 27 countries. British soldiers are now being deployed in 18-hour shifts in freezing conditions to make sure no weapons or armed groups enter Kosovo. Kosovo, which has an ethnic Albanian majority, declared independence from Serbia in 2008 after a guerrilla uprising and a 1999 NATO intervention. Around five percent of the population in Kosovo are ethnic Serbs, of which half live in the north and refuse to recognize Kosovo independence and see Belgrade as their capital.

Persons: Valdrin, Joss Gaddie, Jens Stoltenberg, Albin Kurti's, Fatos Bytyci, Mike Harrison Organizations: NATO, REUTERS, Atlantic Treaty Organization, Belgrade, KFOR, British Army, Reuters, Kosovo, Kosovo police, Thomson Locations: Kosovo, Serbia, Jarinje, NATO, Britain, Romania, Banjska, Balkans, Belgrade, Pristina

Kosovo’s border with Serbia was “out of control," Rama said after an informal meeting of Western Balkan NATO members in North Macedonia. It gained independence with the help of a NATO military campaign, launched in 1999 to end a bloody Serb crackdown on an armed separatist movement. “But what we do see is an increase in tensions, especially in Kosovo,” Stoltenberg said. During a visit to Kosovo on Monday, Stoltenberg said that NATO was considering deploying additional peacekeeping troops there. In May, Serb demonstrators in northern Kosovo clashed with NATO peacekeeping troops.

Persons: Rama, Jens Stoltenberg, Wednesday's, ” Stoltenberg, Stoltenberg, Dimitar Kovačevski, Milojko, Zoran Milanović Organizations: Edi Rama, NATO, Western Balkan NATO, Kosovo —, Serbia —, European Union Locations: SKOPJE, North Macedonia, Albanian, Kosovo, Serbia, Serbian, Russia, Balkans, Ukraine, North Macedonia's, Skopje, Western Balkans, Belgrade, Banjska, Brussels, Montenegro

☆ OpenAI’s Cast of Characters
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Jennifer Korn | Paul Glader | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Before OpenAI, Altman was president of Y Combinator, mentoring a host of founders and expanding his network in Silicon Valley. “We are encouraged by the changes to the OpenAI board,” he wrote on X on Wednesday. Mira MuratiNamed by the OpenAI board as Altman’s interim successor on Friday, Murati was replaced by Shear before the weekend was done. In September, she joined the board of directors of Shield AI, a defense technology company building AI pilot technology for aircraft. Will HurdAfter joining the OpenAI board in 2021, Hurd was the third director to exit in 2023.

Persons: OpenAI, Sam Altman, Altman, Elon, Satya Nadella, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Kiko, Emmett Shear, Y, Nadella, ”, Mira Murati, Murati, Shear, “ Mira, ” Nadella, Ilya Sutskever, Brockman, Sutskever, “, we’ve, Adam D’Angelo D’Angelo, Mark Zuckerberg, D’Angelo, Forbes, ” Bret Taylor, Bret Taylor, Elon Musk, Taylor, Justin Kan, Tasha McCauley McCauley, Joseph Gordon, Levitt, McCauley, Greg Brockman Greg Brockman, Peter Thiel, Musk, Helen Toner Toner, AI’s, Toner, Joshua Kushner Kushner, Kushner, Jared Kushner, Karlie Kloss, Charles Kushner, Donald Trump, Larry Summers Summers, Obama, Clinton, Summers, Shivon Zilis, Zilis, Walter Isaacson, Will Hurd, Hurd, Nikki Haley, Reid Hoffman, Hoffman, OpenAI . Hoffman, He’s Organizations: CNN, Stanford University, Microsoft, OpenAI, Colby College, Dartmouth University, Tesla, Time, Phillips Exeter Academy, California Institute of Technology, Facebook, Twitter, Google, Yale University, Justin.tv, GeoSim Systems, Rand Corporation, Centre, Bard College, University of Southern, Harvard University, MIT, Elon, Georgetown’s Center for Security, Emerging Technology, Open, Oscar Health, Memphis Grizzlies, Harvard College, Harvard Business School, Republican, CIA, Allen & Company, Texas, M University, Reid Hoffman LinkedIn, PayPal, LinkedIn, Greylock Partners, SpaceX, Boring Company Locations: Silicon Valley, St, Louis , Missouri, OpenAI, Seattle , Washington, Israel, University of Southern California, North Dakota, Beijing, Georgetown, Canada, United States, Texas, Oxford

☆ Italy says migrant pact with Albania isn't comparable to UK-Rwanda plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Angelo Amante | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"This Protocol is not comparable to the agreement between the United Kingdom and Rwanda," Tajani said, rejecting comparisons between the Italian initiative and Britain's, which UK's top judges have declared unlawful. The protocol, seen by Reuters, says the camps will operate under Italian jurisdiction, and should open in spring 2024. Tajani told lawmakers Italy would bear all the costs, including building and policing the centres, and would pay 16.5 million euros ($18.00 million) for the initial expenses. Some 150,000 sea migrants have arrived in Italy so far this year, compared to around 94,000 in the same period in 2022. ($1 = 0.9168 euros)Reporting by Angelo Amante Editing by Alexandra HudsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, Antonio Tajani, Tajani, Meloni, Silvio Berlusconi, Angelo Amante, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: Reuters, Albanian, Forza Italia, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Albania, Rwanda, Africa, Italy, Turkey, United Kingdom, Tajani

☆ Albanian opposition protests budget with smoke bombs
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Reuters Editorial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PoliticsAlbanian opposition protests budget with smoke bombsPostedMembers of the Democratic Party set off smoke bombs and lit a small fire, which was quickly extinguished, in the middle of parliament on Monday (November 20) in a failed bit to stop the chamber from voting on the 2024 budget.

Organizations: Democratic Party

☆ Mira Murati is OpenAI's new interim CEO. Here's what we know about the exec who replaces Sam Altman.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Jordan Hart | Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is out, the company's board said late Friday. Mira Murati, OpenAI's chief technology officer, will replace Altman as the interim CEO. "A member of OpenAI's leadership team for five years, Mira has played a critical role in OpenAI's evolution into a global AI leader. Murati joined OpenAI as a researcher in 2018 when the company had just 40 to 50 employees, she told Fortune. "Our goal is to get to AGI, and we want to get there in a way that makes sure that AGI goes well for humanity," Murati told Fortune.

Persons: Sam Altman, Mira Murati, Altman, —, Mira, OpenAI, PATRICK T, FALLON, Murati, ChatGPT, Tesla, Eugene Gologursky, She's, AGI, Getty, Rainer Maria Rilke Organizations: Service, Albania who's, Murati, Dartmouth, OpenAI, Time Magazine, Radiohead Locations: Albania, Murati, AGI, Silicon Valley, Vancouver

☆ Raphael Dwamena: Ghana international footballer dies aged 28 after collapsing on the pitch
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Raphael Dwamena, who played for the Ghana international football team, has died at the age of 28 after collapsing during a match, the Ghana Football Association announced. “Our thoughts are with the family of Raphael Dwamena at this difficult time,” the association said in a statement. Video footage posted to X, formerly Twitter, shows Dwamena collapsing on the pitch, before players from both teams rushed to his side. During his career, Dwamena played for clubs in Spain, Switzerland, Austria and Denmark. “On behalf of Levante, we would like to express our sincere condolences for the death of our former player, Raphael Dwamena,” the club said in a statement.

Persons: CNN — Raphael Dwamena, Raphael Dwamena, “ Raphael, Raphael, ”, Blau, Dwamena Organizations: CNN, Ghana international football team, Ghana Football Association, Dwamena’s, KF Egnatia, Weiß Linz, Austrian, Levante Locations: Ghana, Albanian, Hartberg, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark

☆ Dua Lipa launches new single with London fan event
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Hanna Rantala | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Dua Lipa dropped her new single "Houdini" on Thursday, celebrating the launch with a secretive fan event in London. The track is the first single from the British-Albanian singer’s third studio album, which is set for release in 2024. "I'm putting on three surprise launch events for Houdini in London, Los Angeles and Tokyo. Lipa's last studio album, 2020's "Future Nostalgia", was an international chart-topper and gained her a Best Pop Vocal Album Grammy and British Album of the Year Brit Award, among many other accolades. Past singles released by Lipa include the hit songs "New Rules", "One Kiss", "Levitating" and "Don't Start Now".

Persons: Lipa, Houdini, Harry Houdini, Danny L, Kevin Parker, I'm, Lipa's, Hanna Rantala, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Albanian, Ballet, Thomson Locations: London, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Europe, Lipa

☆ It's Not Guantanamo, Italy's Tajani Says, Defending Albania Migrant Camps
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS (Reuters) - A deal that allows Italy to build migrant reception and detention camps in Albania respects European Union rules, Italy's foreign minister said on Thursday, dismissing suggestions they were an Italian Guantanamo Bay. Italian opposition parties have denounced Meloni's plans as a deportation, with Riccardo Magi, a lawmaker with the centrist +Europa group, evoking the notorious Guantanamo Bay extrajudicial camps used by the U.S. in Cuba to detain Islamist terrorism suspects. It's a normal humanitarian accord," Tajani said. The German government agreed to look into whether asylum procedures could be carried out outside the European Union, though Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed scepticism on whether that was constitutionally possible and if countries would agree to it. (Reporting by John Irish; additional reporting by Alvise Armellini; editing by Nick Macfie)

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, Meloni's, Riccardo Magi, Antonio Tajani, It's, Tajani, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, John Irish, Alvise, Nick Macfie Organizations: PARIS, European, of Human Rights, Court, Justice, European Union Locations: Italy, Albania, Italian Guantanamo, U.S, Cuba, Guantanamo, Germany

☆ Albania to host no more than 3,000 migrants under deal with Italy
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An Italian Coast Guard vessel carrying migrants rescued at sea passes near a tourist boat, on the Sicilian island of Lampedusa, Italy, September 18, 2023. The figure compares with the more than 145,000 sea migrants who have arrived in Italy so far this year, a sharp increase from 2022 which Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing government is keen to contain. Announcing the deal with Albania on Monday, Meloni said as many as 36,000 migrants per year could pass through the Albanian camps, but hitting this target depends on how quickly Italy can process asylum applications. The protocol states that Italy will shield Albania from any costs from legal action against the initiative. The facilities are more than 1,000 kilometres from Lampedusa, the island where most Italy-bound sea migrants currently land.

Persons: Yara, Giorgia Meloni's, Meloni, repatriating, Alvise, Christina Fincher Organizations: Italian Coast Guard, REUTERS, Rights, Amnesty International, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Lampedusa, Italy, Albania, EU, Shëngjin

☆ Italy PM hails migrants deal with Albania as possible model for EU
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The agreement announced on Monday is the first example of a non-EU country accepting migrants on behalf of an EU nation. "I believe it (the deal) could become a model of cooperation between EU and non-EU countries in managing migration flows... I think this agreement features a bold European spirit," Meloni told Il Messaggero daily. Asked about the scheme by two Italian newspapers, Rama said Italy had not been the only EU country to propose such a deal, but he said he accepted Rome's offer as a sign of "gratitude". In the 1990s, Italy took in large numbers of Albanians and Rome is now one of the most solid backers of Albania's EU accession hopes.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Giorgia Meloni's, Yara, Giorgia Meloni, Meloni, Il, Rama, Federico Maccioni, Alvise Armellini, Nick Macfie Organizations: Italian, REUTERS, Rights, European Union, EU, European Commission, La Stampa, Thomson Locations: Lampedusa, Italy, Albania, EU, British, Rwanda, Rome

☆ National Geographic announces 2024 ‘cool list’
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Lilit Marcus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

City breaksFor great food, museums and nightlife, head to some of the cities featured on National Geographic’s list. States of beingIn several cases, National Geographic highlighted entire states. National Geographic advises not only visiting New York City – the Empire State is also home to some natural beauty at Lake Placid and Niagara Falls. Meanwhile, National Geographic also lauded the northern Indian state of Sikkim, which is nestled in the Himalayas near the country’s borders with Bhutan and Nepal. Natural wondersThe National Geographic list is heavy on beautiful natural destinations.

Persons: •, Italy •, Germany •, Chile •, Argentina • Organizations: CNN, UNESCO, National Geographic, New, Geographic, Northern Ireland • Emilia, Scotland •, Finland •, Peru •, Peru • New York State, Argentina • Akagera Locations: Europe, Albania, China, Lima, Peru, Tainan, Taiwan’s, Texas, New York, New York City, Lake Placid, Niagara Falls, , Texas, Victoria, Australian, Melbourne, Sikkim, Bhutan, Nepal, Nova Scotia, Canada, Chile, Dominica, Madagascar, Scotland, Galloway and Southern Ayrshire, Albanian, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Romagna, Italy, • Galloway, Southern Ayrshire, Scotland • Nordland, Norway, North Yorkshire, England, Italy • Saimaa, Finland, Finland • Tartu, Estonia, Germany, Germany • Valletta, Malta, Wales, Ireland, Atacama, Chile • Lima, Peru • New York, Miami, Florida, Dominica • Nova Scotia, Yucatan, Mexico, Wetlands, Argentina, Rwanda, Madagascar • Sierra Leone, India, Taiwan, Australia

☆ Italy to build sea migrant reception centres in Albania
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Angelo Amante | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Meloni said the Albanian centres would initially host some 3,000 people when they are due to open in spring 2024. More than 145,000 people have come ashore in Italy so far in 2023, compared with around 88,000 in the same period in 2022. The same source denied Italy would pay any money to Albania to host the centres. Meloni said Italy would build a migrant identification facility at the Albanian port of Shëngjin, and a repatriation centre inland. The main countries migrants have arrived from in Italy in 2023 were Guinea, Ivory Coast and Tunisia, official data shows.

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, Meloni, Rama, Rome, Maurizio Veglio, Angelo Amante, Alvise Armellini, Alison Williams Organizations: European Union, Italian coastguard, Albanian, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Italy, Rome, ROME, Albania, Albanian, Africa, Shëngjin, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Rwanda

Search resuls for: "Albanian"

25 mentions found