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☆ Israeli strikes deepen panic in Rafah as UN aid chief warns a ground offensive could result in ‘slaughter’
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

It remains unclear how or when a ground offensive would unfold, and that uncertainty is adding to anxiety among Palestinians in Rafah about where to go and what to do. Israeli military action in Rafah “has already led to and will result in further large scale killing, harm and destruction,” the government said in its request to the World Court. “We cannot afford an Israeli attack on Rafah… We cannot stand by and let this continue,” he said. Palestinians inspect damaged buildings after Israeli airstrikes on Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on February 12, 2024. They told us this area was safe… they told us Rafah was safe.

Persons: Leo Varadkar, Peter Lerner, ”, “ We’re, … We’re, We’ve, Mo’men, Martin Griffiths, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, Lerner, Gaza ”, UN’s Griffiths, Ashraf Amra, Antonio Tajani, King Abdullah II, Israel “, Varadkar, Karim Khan, Daniel Hagari, Abed Rahim Khatib, Khan Younis, We’re, Jarwan, ” Nahla, Netanyahu, ” Netanyahu Organizations: CNN, United Nations, International Court, Reuters, ” United, Israel Defense Forces, Residents, Getty, Criminal, European Union, Foreign Ministry, Criminal Court, ICC, Palestine Red Crescent Society, Israeli Air Force, World Health Organization Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israel, Gazan, ” Israel, Palestinian, ” United Nations, Hamas’s, South Africa, Rafah “, Deir, Balah, Deir al, Anadolu, European, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, China, Italian, ”, Palestine, Al

☆ Calls grow in Europe to halt arms exports to Israel as US Senate passes aid package
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The concern around continuing arms exports to Israel comes after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last month ordered Israel to “take all measures” to comply with international laws on genocide. “In the government’s view, the distribution of American F-35 parts is not unlawful. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte met Israeli cabinet minister Benny Gantz at the Knesset in Jerusalem, February 12, 2024. Meanwhile, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told local media in late January that Italy had stopped all arms shipments to Israel since October 7. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Albares too said in late January that his country had also halted arms sales to Israel in October.

Persons: “, Josep Borrell, ” Borrell, Mike Johnson, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Mark Rutte, Benny Gantz, Gantz, Abir, Justin Bronk, ” Bronk, Bronk, Lockheed Martin, ”, ‘, ’ ”, Antonio Tajani, Jose Albares Organizations: CNN, United States Senate, Israel, Monday, Oxfam, Hague, International Court of Justice, Israeli, Hamas, US, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, State, Dutch, Royal United Services Institute, Israeli Air Forces, Lockheed, Netherlands Air Force, Pagella, Spanish, El, Amnesty International Locations: Israel, Gaza, Netherlands, Belgium, Brussels, Ukraine, Stockholm, Dutch, Jerusalem, Abir Sultan, Israeli, London, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Italy, Spain

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Antifascist activists gathered in Hungary's capital on Saturday to oppose an annual commemoration held by far-right groups, underscoring diplomatic tensions between Budapest and Rome over the detention of an Italian citizen in a Hungarian jail. Hundreds of activists marched through central Budapest alongside a heavy police presence, and called for “freedom for every antifascist." The demonstration came as an Italian antifascist activist is being held in a Hungarian jail for allegedly being involved in assaults against suspected participants in the Day of Honor commemoration in Budapest last year. Images of the activist, Ilaria Salis, chained and shackled at a Budapest court hearing sparked official protests by the Italian government. The case is delicate for the far-right-led government of Meloni, who has forged friendly ties with the nationalist Orbán.

Persons: —, ”, Ilaria Salis, Luca Kruczynski, “, Salis, ’, Giorgia Meloni, Viktor Orbán, Salis ’, Antonio Tajani, Carlo Nordio, Nordio, Tajani, Elly Schlein, Giorgia Meloni’s, Schlein, Colleen Barry Organizations: Nazi, Prosecutors, Hungarian, Meloni, Italy's, Democratic Party, Associated Press Locations: BUDAPEST, Hungary, Budapest, Rome, Hungarian, Italian, Berlin, Europe, Milan, Salis, Italy, Hungary’s, Salis ’ Hungarian

☆ Britain, Italy and Finland Pause Funding for UN Refugee Agency in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain, Italy and Finland on Saturday became the latest countries to pause funding for the United Nations' refugee agency for Palestinians (UNRWA), following allegations its staff were involved in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. It helps about two thirds of Gaza's 2.3 million population and has played a pivotal aid role during the current war. The United States, Australia and Canada had already paused funding to the aid agency after Israel said 12 UNRWA employees were involved in the cross-border attack. "We call on countries that announced the cessation of their support for UNRWA to immediately reverse their decision," he said on X. (Reporting by James Davey in London and Gavin Jones in Rome, Editing by William Maclean and Andrew Cawthorne)

Persons: Israel, Antonio Tajani, Hussein al, James Davey, Gavin Jones, William Maclean, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Saturday, United Nations, West Bank, UNRWA, Foreign Office, Palestine Liberation Organization, PLO Locations: Britain, Italy, Finland, Israel, Israel's, Gaza, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, United States, Australia, Canada, Palestinian, London, Rome

☆ Video of crowd’s fascist salute in heart of Rome rattles Italy – but not its prime minister
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Barbie Latza Nadeau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The MSI party grew from the ashes of Benito Mussolini’s National Fascist Party after it was dismantled at the end of World War II when the dictator was deposed and killed. Gotor and Rocca laid a wreath at a monument to the fallen activists, but left before the fascist salute was carried out, their offices told CNN. Nor are fascist memorabilia or gestures like the fascist salute illegal, something that critics say must change. A witness who lives on the street where the commemoration took place told CNN that it happens every year, including with the fascist salute. Berizzi said that “in this moment neo-fascist groups feel protected by Meloni’s silence, her ambiguity.

Persons: Rome, Giorgia Meloni, Franco Bigonzetti, Francesco Ciavatta, Stefano Recchioni, “, ”, Benito Mussolini’s, Meloni, Francesco Rocca, Miguel Gotor, Gotor, Rocca, Elly Schlein, ” Schlein, Noemi Di Segna, Antonio Tajani –, Silvio Berlusconi –, Meloni wasn’t, ” Maria Calderone, ” Paolo Berizzi, Berizzi, Ewan MacPhee, ” MacPhee Organizations: Rome CNN, Italian, Acca, Italian Social Movement, MSI, Fascist Party, Democratic Party, CNN, ”, Union of Italian, Forza Italia, Facebook, La Repubblica, Italy’s, Operations, Social Democrats Locations: Rome, Italy, Lazio, “, Italian, Germany, Europe, Ukraine, Strasbourg

☆ Italy's parties unanimously back clampdown on violence against women
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Angelo Amante | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] The Campidoglio, Rome's city hall, is lit up in red to honour women who have been killed by men to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, in Rome, Italy, November 25, 2021. The new law expands protections for women at risk to prevent more serious violence and stem a wave of femicides which have sparked outrage across the country. The government also pledged to campaign in schools to promote respect for women and raise awareness on the issue of violence among pupils. As of Nov. 19, 106 women have been killed this year in Italy, including 55 by their partner or former partner, interior ministry figures show. This compares with 109 women killed in the year-ago period, including 53 by a partner or ex-partner.

Persons: Remo Casilli, Giorgia Meloni, Eugenia Roccella, Giulia Cecchettin, Filippo Turetta, Antonio Tajani, Giuseppe Valditara, Angelo Amante, Richard Chang Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Rome's, Rome, Italy, Venice, Germany

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ Airbnb: Italy threatens to seize more than $800 million over unpaid taxes
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Barbie Latza Nadeau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Rome CNN —Italian tax authorities are poised to seize some €779 million ($836 million) from Airbnb as a result of its alleged failure to pay taxes owed by landlords using the platform. Prosecutor Marcello Viola told Italian reporters Monday that three people who were administrators for Airbnb in Italy also face unpaid tax charges. A spokesperson for Airbnb told CNN Tuesday: “Airbnb Ireland has been in active discussions with the Italian tax agency since June 2023 to resolve this matter. In 2017, Google, owned by Alphabet (GOOGL), agreed to pay Italy €306 million ($327 million) to cover taxes for the years 2009 to 2015. And in 2015, the country worked out a similar unpaid tax deal with Apple (AAPL) worth €318 million ($340 million).

Persons: Rome, Airbnb, Marcello Viola, “, won’t, Giorgia Meloni, Airbnb —, Antonio Tajani, — Anna Cooban Organizations: Rome CNN, Union, Airbnb, CNN, ”, Google, Italy €, Apple Locations: Airbnb, Europe, United States, Milan, Ireland, €, Italy, Italian, New York City, Italy’s

☆ Turkey's Erdogan says Hamas is not a terrorist organisation
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NO ARCHIVES Acquire Licensing RightsANKARA, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, in his strongest comments yet on the Gaza conflict, said on Wednesday the Palestinian militant group Hamas was not a terrorist organisation but a liberation group fighting to protect Palestinian lands and people. "Hamas is not a terrorist organisation, it is a liberation group, 'mujahideen' waging a battle to protect its lands and people," he said, using an Arabic word denoting those who fight for their faith. Erdogan also slammed Western powers that have voiced support for Israel's retaliation against Hamas, saying "Western tears shed for Israel are a manifestation of fraud". Many of Turkey's NATO allies consider Hamas a terrorist group, and Erdogan's comments drew a swift rebuke from Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, who said they were "grave and disgusting and did not help with de-escalation". Erdogan accused Israel of taking advantage of Turkey's good intentions.

Persons: Tayyip Erdogan, Murat Cetinmuhurdar, Erdogan, Matteo Salvini, Antonio, Tajani, Salvini, Israel, Gumrukcu, Huseyin Hayatsever, Daren Butler, Gareth Jones Organizations: AK Party, Turkish, REUTERS, Rights, Palestinian, Hamas, AK, NATO, Ece Toksabay, Thomson Locations: Ankara, Turkey, Handout, Rights ANKARA, Gaza, Israel, Turkish, Gaza . Turkey

Israel is escalating its bombardment of targets in the Gaza Strip ahead of an expected ground invasion against Hamas militants. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians who died in the initial Hamas rampage. In addition, 222 people including foreigners were believed captured by Hamas during the incursion and taken into Gaza, Israel's military has said. UNRWA said it found shrapnel in its facilities in the Bureij camp and in Nuseirat in central Gaza from Israel’s bombardment of nearby areas Sunday. Israel said Monday it struck 320 militant targets throughout the besieged Gaza Strip over the last 24 hours.

Persons: Israel, HAVE, won’t, —, ROME —, Antonio Tajani, Nir Forti, ’, Forti, “, barbarously, ’ Tajani, Tajani, Ní Aoláin, Ní, Antonio Guterres’s, ” Ní Aoláin, ” Organizations: Hamas, Health Ministry, West Bank, U.S . Department of Defense, UNRWA, Association of University Heads, Israel Army Radio, Gaza, Gaza’s Health Ministry, UNITED, United Nations, University of Minnesota Locations: Israel, Gaza, U.S, Beirut, israel, CAIRO, Nuseirat, Sunday, ISRAEL, al, Aqsa, Deir al, “, ITALY, Geneva, United

☆ Second Italian missing after Hamas attack has died, Rome says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ROME, Oct 23 (Reuters) - A woman with dual Italian-Israeli nationality who was missing and presumed kidnapped after the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by the Hamas militant group has died, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Monday. The body of Liliach Le Havron was found in recent days, Tajani wrote on X. Le Havron's husband, Eviatar Moshe Kipnis, had also gone missing and was confirmed dead on Oct. 17. The couple lived in Kibbutz Be'eri, 3 miles (5 km) from Gaza, one of the first to be hit by Hamas. A third dual Italian-Israeli citizen is thought to have been taken hostage and remains unaccounted for.

Persons: Antonio Tajani, Le Havron, Tajani, Le Havron's, Eviatar Moshe Kipnis, Alvise, Mark Potter Organizations: Hamas, Gaza, Thomson Locations: Israel, Italian, Italy, Kibbutz Be'eri, Gaza

Political Cartoons View All 1211 ImagesThe first woman to be Italy's premier, Meloni "won out against Salvini and Berlusconi. Fears for Italy's democracy have proved to be “exaggerated,’’ said Franco, who noted that Italy's president serves as a guarantor of the republic's post-war constitution. Meloni contends the rulings support a long-held belief on the political right that Italy’s magistrates sympathize with the left. Since becoming premier, Meloni has topped surveys of eligible voters, hovering near 30% — compared to the 26% of votes her party garnered in the 2022 election. Currently, Italy's president asks someone likely able to command a parliamentary majority the task of forming a government.

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, —, Matteo Salvini, Silvio Berlusconi, Vladimir Putin, Meloni, Salvini, Berlusconi, Massimo Franco, ”, Tommaso Grossi, Ursula von der Leyen —, Joe Biden, ’ ’, Franco, it’s, ” Meloni, Von der Leyen, ″, Roberto Calderoli, Antonio Tajani, Tajani, Meloni’s, “, ″ Grossi, nostalgists, Benito Mussolini, Di Segni, Mussolini, Raf Casert Organizations: ROME, Union, European Commission, EU, Kyiv, Russia’s, Forza Italia, European Policy, White, Italian Rai, European Union, “, Union of Italian, Nazi, Associated Locations: Italy’s, Europe, Italy, Brussels, Rome, Hungary, Poland, Meloni, Ukraine, Lampedusa, Libyan, Tunisia, Italian, Israel, Nazi

☆ Italy Confirms Death of Italian-Israeli Missing After Hamas Attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

ROME (Reuters) - Eviatar Moshe Kipnis, an Italian-Israeli who had been missing since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Islamist group Hamas has been confirmed dead, the Italian foreign minister said on Tuesday. "I am close to his family, especially his two sons whom I met during my trip to Tel Aviv," Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani wrote on social media X. An Italian foreign ministry statement said Kipnis went missing following the attack on Kibbutz Be'eri, an agricultural kibbutz 3 miles (5 km) from Gaza, which was one of the first hit by Hamas. It said the DNA test that confirmed the 65-year-old's death was carried out by Israeli authorities. The statement added that two Italian-Israeli citizens were still unaccounted for, and that the Italian government was fully committed to tracking them down.

Persons: Moshe Kipnis, Antonio Tajani, Kipnis, Angelo Amante, Alvise Armellini Organizations: Hamas Locations: ROME, Italian, Israel, Tel Aviv, Be'eri, Gaza

☆ Italy confirms death of Italian-Israeli missing after Hamas attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ROME, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Eviatar Moshe Kipnis, an Italian-Israeli who had been missing since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Islamist group Hamas has been confirmed dead, the Italian foreign minister said on Tuesday. "I am close to his family, especially his two sons whom I met during my trip to Tel Aviv," Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani wrote on social media X. An Italian foreign ministry statement said Kipnis went missing following the attack on Kibbutz Be'eri, an agricultural kibbutz 3 miles (5 km) from Gaza, which was one of the first hit by Hamas. It said the DNA test that confirmed the 65-year-old's death was carried out by Israeli authorities. The statement added that two Italian-Israeli citizens were still unaccounted for, and that the Italian government was fully committed to tracking them down.

Persons: Moshe Kipnis, Antonio Tajani, Kipnis, Angelo Amante, Alvise Organizations: Hamas, Thomson Locations: Italian, Israel, Tel Aviv, Be'eri, Gaza

No decision on a ground offensive has been announced, although Israel has been massing troops along the Gaza border 3. Israeli military spokesman Read Adm. Daniel Hagari said Saturday Israel had so far identified 126 captives. GERMANY TO START EVACUATING CITIZENS FROM ISRAELBERLIN — The German army will start evacuating its citizens from Israel with military airplanes. Hezbollah said its fighters struck several Israeli military positions in the disputed Chebaa Farms and Kfar Chouba hills in the afternoon. ISRAELI MILITARY ANNOUNCES IT IS PREPARED FOR ‘COORDINATED’ OFFENSIVEJERUSALEM — The Israeli military says it has prepared a “coordinated” offensive in the Gaza Strip involving air, ground and naval forces.

Persons: Israel, Lloyd Austin, “, Israel —, ”, Yifat Zailer, Zailer, Read, Daniel Hagari, Hezbollah’s, Ali Youssef Alaaeddine, Alaaeddine, ERDOGAN'S, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Bilal Erdogan, Suleyman Soylu, Mustafa Sentop, ” Erdogan, Sentop, Khalil Hachem, Rabad Akoum, ” Israel, Ismail Haniyeh, ” Haniyeh, Haniyeh, Mohammad Abu Selim, Medhat Abbas, Hakan Fidan, Sameh Shoukry, IT'S, ROME —, “ We’ve, Antonio Tajani, Tajani, —, ” Tajani, TT, Tobias Billström, Elina Valtonen, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Saleh Arouri, Ziad Nakhaleh, Amirabdollahian Organizations: United Nations, Gaza, United States Defense, TEL, ISRAEL BERLIN —, Hamas, Lufthansa, BEIRUT —, Associated Press, AP, Ministry, Sunday, South, MEDIA, BEIRUT, National News Agency, OFFICIAL, EGYPT BEIRUT —, OF, Gaza —, Shifa, Health Ministry, FROM, Romania — Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Israel, NORDIC, FROM ISRAEL HELSINKI, Nordic, Helsinki Airport, Iran’s, Manar, Islamic, Hezbollah Locations: Gaza City, Israel, Gaza, Egypt, Israeli, Lebanon, ISRAEL, SYRIA, TEL AVIV, Syria, Golan, GERMANY, Germany, Jordan, BEIRUT, Palestinian, ISTANBUL ISTANBUL, Istanbul, United States, Tel Aviv, Dubai, South, Lebanese, Chebaa, Kfar Chouba, JERUSALEM, EGYPT BEIRUT, GAZA, Shifa, FROM ISRAEL, TURKEY, ISTANBUL, Turkish, Embassy, Turkey, BUCHAREST, Romania, Romanian Embassy, ITALY, ROME, Italian, Rome, FINNS, Finland, Sweden, Helsinki, Stockholm, Swedish, Stockholm’s Arlanda, Beirut, Hezbollah’s, Amirabdollahian, Iran, Iraq, Jihad

☆ Egypt facilitating deliveries of aid to Sinai for Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks as he attends a press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (not pictured), in Cairo, Egypt, October 11, 2023. The Rafah crossing between Sinai and Gaza remained open, the Egyptian foreign ministry said, adding that Egypt had asked Israel to avoid targeting the Palestinian side of the crossing after strikes that prevented normal operations there. Al Arish airport in northern Sinai, about 45 km (28 miles) from the Gaza border, was preparing to receive three aid flights from Qatar and Jordan, but these would not leave the airport until humanitarian corridors had been established, two Egyptian security sources said. They said Egypt and Jordan had received assurances from the United States that aid would be delivered to Gaza, without giving details. Since Palestinian Islamist group Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, Israel and Egypt have imposed a blockade, restricting the passage of people and goods in and out of the territory.

Persons: Antonio Tajani, Sameh Shoukry, Mohamed Abd El Ghany, Israel, Jordan, retaliating, Rishi Sunak, Abdel Fattah al, Sisi, Sunak, Ahmed Elimam, Ahmed Mohamed Hassan, Nadine Awadalla, Aidan Lewis, Alex Richardson, Andrew Heavens, Angus MacSwan, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Italian, Egyptian Foreign, REUTERS, Rights, Lithuanian, Hamas, British, Thomson Locations: Cairo, Egypt, Rights CAIRO, Gaza, Sinai, Rafah, Israel, Al Arish, Qatar, Jordan, United States, Palestinian

☆ Egypt discusses Gaza aid, rejects corridors for civilians, say sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Ahmed Mohamed Hassan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Palestinians inspect damages of a house hit by Israeli strikes, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip October 11, 2023. Egypt has long restricted the flow of Gazans onto its territory, even during the fiercest conflicts. LIMITED CEASEFIREEgypt has been intensifying its efforts to contain the situation in Gaza, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi told Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani during a meeting in Cairo, a statement from Sisi's office said. According to the Egyptian security sources, talks between Egypt and the United States, Qatar and Turkey discussed the idea of delivering humanitarian aid through the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula under a geographically limited ceasefire. The crossing, which is the main exit point from Gaza not controlled by Israel, has been closed since Tuesday after Israeli bombardments hit on the Palestinian side, according to officials in Gaza and Egyptian sources.

Persons: Khan Younis, Abu Mustafa, Jake Sullivan, Abdel Fattah al, Sisi, Antonio Tajani, Tajani, Sameh Shoukry, Omar Abdel Razak, Ahmed Elimam, Aidan Lewis, Alison Williams, Toby Chopra Organizations: REUTERS, Hamas, U.S . National, Italian, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Egypt, CAIRO, United States, Israel, Cairo, Qatar, Turkey, Europe

☆ Berlusconi's daughter criticises Meloni over bank windfall tax
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Angelo Amante | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Marina Berlusconi and Luigi Berlusconi attend the funeral of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi at the Duomo Cathedral, in Milan, Italy June 14, 2023. REUTERS/Yara Nardi/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsROME, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Marina Berlusconi, the daughter of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, on Friday criticised Italy's windfall tax on banks, underlining divisions over the issue in the coalition government that includes her late father's party. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has taken personal responsibility for the measure, which targets extra profits made by banks from higher interest rates. "Who determines when a profit is extra and when it is normal?," Marina Berlusconi said to reporters after the assembly of influential Italian business lobby Confindustria. Meloni has said she was open to some modifications, provided the targeted tax take remained unchanged at "just under" 3 billion euros ($3.2 billion).

Persons: Marina Berlusconi, Luigi Berlusconi, Silvio Berlusconi, Yara, Giorgia Meloni, Pier Silvio, Meloni, Berlusconi, Fininvest, Mediolanum, Antonio Tajani, Elvira Pollina, Giuseppe Fonte, Keith Weir Organizations: Italian, Cathedral, REUTERS, Rights, Forza Italia, Thomson Locations: Milan, Italy

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani addresses the opening session on the first day of the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London, Britain June 21, 2023. The hugely ambitious project sees China strengthening trade ties with large infrastructure spending in countries along the historic Silk Road route via Asia to Europe and beyond. "China is willing to work with Italy to continue to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, explore opportunities for potential trade and investment... and promote further development of the China-Italy comprehensive strategic partnership," said He Yadong, a commerce ministry spokesperson. SENSITIVE DIPLOMACYItaly's trade deficit with China grew by 22.3 billion euros ($23.9 billion) between 2019 and 2022, according to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. So far, 90 countries have confirmed attendance, China's foreign ministry announced on Thursday.

Persons: Antonio Tajani, Henry Nicholls, Xi Jinping, Wang Yi, Italy's, Tajani, Joe Cash, Ryan Woo, Giselda Vagnoni, Alvise Armellini, Federico Maccioni, Kim Coghill, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Italy's, Conference, Rights, Initiative, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, RAI, American Enterprise Institute, AC Milan, Inter, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, London, Britain, Rights BEIJING, China, Italy, Beijing, Asia, Europe, Rome, Inter Milan

☆ Partnership with China more important than Belt and Road-Italy's Tajani
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FILE PHOTO-Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani addresses the opening session on the first day of the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London, Britain June 21, 2023. Henry Nicholls/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsROME, Sept 6 (Reuters) - A strategic partnership between Italy and China would be more valuable than a deal such as the Belt and Road initiative, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Wednesday addressing Parliament. "A strategic partnership involves all sectors, so it is more important than single bilateral agreements such as the Silk Road (Belt and Road), which so far is unsatisfactory in terms of exports and investment," Tajani said. On Wednesday Tajani repeated that the Italian government would consult parliament before finalising its position on the issue. After meeting Tajani in Beijing this week, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said cooperation with Italy had been fruitful despite Italian scepticism.

Persons: Antonio Tajani, Henry Nicholls, Tajani, Xi Jinping, China Tajani, Wang Yi, Francesca Piscioneri, Keith Weir, Federico Maccioni, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Conference, Rights, Italian, Tajani, China's, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, London, Britain, Italy, China, China's, Beijing

☆ Partnership With China More Important Than Belt and Road-Italy's Tajani
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

ROME (Reuters) - A strategic partnership between Italy and China would be more valuable than a deal such as the Belt and Road initiative, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Wednesday addressing Parliament. "A strategic partnership involves all sectors, so it is more important than single bilateral agreements such as the Silk Road (Belt and Road), which so far is unsatisfactory in terms of exports and investment," Tajani said. An Italian official close to the matter said that during his visit to China Tajani signalled the possibility for Italy to pull out from the BRI deal while stressing the desire to keep strong ties with Beijing. On Wednesday Tajani repeated that the Italian government would consult parliament before finalising its position on the issue. After meeting Tajani in Beijing this week, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said cooperation with Italy had been fruitful despite Italian scepticism.

Persons: Antonio Tajani, Tajani, Xi Jinping, China Tajani, Wang Yi, Francesca Piscioneri, Keith Weir, Federico Maccioni, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Italian, Tajani, China's Locations: ROME, Italy, China, China's, Beijing

☆ 'Very stupid': Italy's bank tax remains controversial as government scrambles to update it
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Silvia Amaro | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

European bank shares dropped significantly in August after a surprise announcement from the Italian government for a new tax. Italy's shock tax on banks continues to prove controversial, even as the government insists it can improve it. "It's a very stupid law," Carlo Calenda, national secretary of the Azione political party, told CNBC over the weekend. Italy's Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said at Ambrosetti that the bank tax "can certainly be improved upon...but I do not accept that it is considered an unfair tax," according to Reuters. Antonio Tajani, the country's foreign minister and leader of the centre-right Forza Italia party, said the government is stable and the bank tax is not creating tensions.

Persons: Carlo Calenda, Italy's, CNBC's Steve Sedgwick, Giancarlo Giorgetti, Antonio Tajani, CNBC's Sedgwick Organizations: CNBC, House Ambrosetti, Brothers, Italy's, Reuters, Forza Italia Locations: Rome, Italy, Europe, Ambrosetti

FILE PHOTO-Italy's Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti delivers a speech at the G7 High-Level Corporate Governance Roundtable in Niigata on May 11, 2023. "It may be that the tax is inappropriate, it can certainly be improved upon ... but I do not accept that it is considered an unfair tax," Giorgetti said at The European House - Ambrosetti economic forum. Bank shares tumbled before the economy ministry clarified that the new tax would amount to no more than 0.1% of their total assets. Forza Italia is also seeking an exemption for small banks and wants a guarantee the levy will not be extended beyond 2023. Giorgetti did not comment on his government ally's proposals on the bank tax.

Persons: Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti, KAZUHIRO, Giancarlo Giorgetti, Giorgetti, Antonio Tajani, Siena, Giselda Vagnoni, Giancarlo Navach, Hugh Lawson, David Evans Organizations: Economy, Finance, Bank, League, Forza Italia, Monte, Thomson Locations: Niigata, Italy, Cernobbio

☆ Many Italian parties are against China's Belt and Road Initiative, foreign minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Silvia Amaro | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Many Italian parties are against Rome's participation in China's Belt and Road Initiative, Antonio Tajani, the country's foreign minister said Saturday, ahead of a critical decision on whether to quit the project. Under the agreement the two parties can end the deal after five years, otherwise the partnership gets extended for another five-year term. Tajani, however, did not confirm any specific time for when Italy will unveil its final decision on whether to continue in the Belt and Road Initiative. In this moment the countries without the Belt and Road Initiative, the European countries, are working better than us. For this, Italy will decide if [to] stay or not [to] stay in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Persons: Antonio Tajani, Rome, Mario Draghi, Tajani, Steve Sedgwick Organizations: Initiative, European Central Bank, Ambrosetti, Italy Locations: Italy, Beijing, Rome, China

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