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A huge billboard advertising Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as candidate of the World Expo 2030 is seen in Paris as the host country of The World Expo 2030 will be elected by BIE Member States that will gather in the 173rd General Assembly in Paris, France, November 25, 2023. South Korea's southeastern city of Busan is competing against Saudi Arabia's Riyadh and Italy's Rome. More than one vote will be necessary if no country gets a majority at the first ballot. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni personally got involved in trying to persuade international leaders to back the Rome bid, giving it her full political backing. Rome is looking to use the Expo as a way of attracting investment, much as Milan did when it successfully hosted the 2015 Expo.

Persons: Gonzalo Fuentes, Roberto Gualtieri, Crown Prince Mohammed bin, Prince Mohammed, Jamal Khashoggi, Yoon Suk Yeol, Giorgia Meloni, Michel Rose, Elizabeth Pineau, Crispian Balmer, Giselda Vagnoni, Hyonhee, Christina Fincher Organizations: BIE Member, 173rd, Assembly, REUTERS, PARIS, Saudi, City, Crown, Paris . South, Thomson Locations: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Paris, BIE, BIE Member States, France, Busan, Saudi's Riyadh, Italy's Rome, Italy, South Korea, South, Rome, Saudi, Lebanon, Paris ., Korea, Italian, Milan, Europe, Dubai, Osaka, Japan, Seoul

And now Ben Hammou faces another blow as the German government moves to end pandemic-era tax breaks for the hospitality industry. The fiscally hawkish FDP party, which has control of the finance ministry in the three-way ruling coalition, backs letting the tax break expire, calculating that it would cost 3.3 billion euros ($3.5 billion) to keep it going in 2024. Many restaurants operate on tight margins, which makes them quite sensitive to tax increases. In Spain, Italy and France, the VAT on restaurants is at 10%, considerably lower than the expected 19% in Germany from 2024. The question is whether German restaurants are still struggling or have recovered well enough from the pandemic to withstand having the tax break removed, according to Tomas Dvorak, senior economist at Oxford Economics.

Persons: Omar Ben Hammou, Ben Hammou, Christian Lindner, Guido Zoellick, Thijs Geijer, Ingrid Hartges, DEHOGA, Steffen Marx, Tomas Dvorak, Maria Martinez, Christian Kraemer, Tanja Daube, Ulrike Heil, Belen Carreno, Giselda Vagnoni, Thomas Leigh, Matthias Williams, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Restaurant Association, ING, Reuters, Oxford Economics, Thomson Locations: Bavaria, BERLIN, Berlin, Russia, Ukraine, COVID, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Munich, Madrid, Rome, Paris

Politicians from across the spectrum have visited the garrison of workers permanently stationed outside the Crevalcore plant, less than 40 kilometres from Ferrari's headquarters. Marelli has put the plan on hold but confirmed it wants to abandon the plant, leaving workers in a limbo. Samira Chouri, 50, has worked at the Crevalcore plant for 18 years. Some 37% of the EU's 800 billion euros ($845 billion) post-pandemic recovery fund is earmarked for climate friendly investment. Climate change think tank ECCO said Italy needed to spend between 7-13 billion euros more per year to meet Europe's decarbonisation goals.

Persons: Marelli, Grazia Vitiello, Samira Chouri, Calsonic, I'm, Sergio Manni, Francesco Simeri, Chouri's, Giovanni Sanfelice, ANFIA, Francesco Zirpoli, Zirpoli, Giorgia Meloni's, Europe's, Vittorio Sarti, Giulio Piovaccari, Vagnoni, Toby Chopra Organizations: U.S, KKR, Volkswagen, BMW, Fiat Chrysler, FCA, Venice University, Center, Automotive, Mobility, Thomson Locations: Italy, Italy's, Emilia Romagna, Marelli, Stellantis, France, Crevalcore, Europe, Rome, Italian

It was seen on taking power as the country's most right-wing since wartime dictator Benito Mussolini, as Meloni's Brothers of Italy party traces its roots to the post-fascist Italian Social Movement (MSI). At home she pleased her rightist grassroots through measures to defend the traditional family, protect Italy's cultural heritage and try to stem migrant arrivals. That makes it harder for Meloni to keep her tax-cutting promises and makes Italy's debt, equal to 140% of national output, vulnerable to market sell-offs. Last week Meloni weathered the first of several reviews on Italy's debt when S&P Global Ratings confirmed the country's BBB rating with a stable outlook. COMMANDING POSITIONAt home Meloni has so far avoided the domestic political chaos that dogged so many of her predecessors.

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, Juan Medina, Meloni's, Meloni, Benito Mussolini, Valentina Meliciani, Andrea Giambruno, Meliciani, Italy's, Ukraine Meloni, Enzo Moavero Milanesi, Giovanni Orsina, Angelo Amante, Giselda, Gavin Jones, Alex Richardson Organizations: Italy's, REUTERS, Western, Coalition, Italian Social Movement, EU, Ukraine, Democratic Party, Star Movement, League, Forza Italia, Analysts, Thomson Locations: Granada, Spain, ROME, EU, Ukraine, Russia, Italy, Rome, Brussels, Africa

☆ Italy's Meloni Urges International Community Not to Fall Into Hamas 'Trap'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

CAIRO (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Saturday that the international community must avoid an escalation in the war between Israel and Hamas and set a roadmap towards the two states solution. Meloni made the remarks while speaking in Egypt at the Cairo international summit for peace in the Middle East as Israel prepares a ground assault on Gaza following Hamas attack that killed 1,400 people. The Italian premier met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Cairo before travelling to Tel Aviv to meet Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "I hope that there is a responsibility on the part of whole international community, and it seems to me that there is, to speed up this process and provide a structural solution to the conflict," Meloni said. She stressed that a two-state solution must have a clear timeframe.

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, Meloni, Mahmoud Abbas, Benjamin Netanyahu, Abbas, Giselda Vagnoni, Tomasz Janowski, Alison Williams Organizations: Italian, Israel's Locations: CAIRO, Israel, Egypt, Cairo, East, Gaza, Italian, Tel Aviv

☆ Italy's Meloni urges international community not to fall into Hamas "trap"
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan speaks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni prior to the Cairo Summit for Peace, at the St. Regis in Cairo, Egypt, October 21, 2023. UAE Presidential Court /Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsCAIRO, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Saturday that the international community must avoid an escalation in the war between Israel and Hamas and set a roadmap towards the two states solution. Meloni made the remarks while speaking in Egypt at the Cairo international summit for peace in the Middle East as Israel prepares a ground assault on Gaza following Hamas attack that killed 1,400 people. The Italian premier met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Cairo before travelling to Tel Aviv to meet Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Reporting by Giselda Vagnoni; Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Alison WilliamsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Giorgia Meloni, Meloni, Mahmoud Abbas, Benjamin Netanyahu, Abbas, Giselda Vagnoni, Tomasz Janowski, Alison Williams Organizations: United Arab, Italian, Cairo Summit for Peace, UAE, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Israel's, Thomson Locations: United Arab Emirates, Regis, Cairo, Egypt, Rights CAIRO, Israel, East, Gaza, Italian, Tel Aviv

The Treasury will issue new economic targets on Wednesday providing the framework for a budget in which Meloni will attempt to keep her tax-cutting promises while also lowering the fiscal deficit. "This budget is Meloni's first real economic test since she came to power last October," said Tim Jones, euro zone analyst for market consultancy firm Medley Advisors. Meloni has much less room for manoeuvre than when she hiked deficit targets in her first budget a year ago. Episodes targeting airlines and investors in Italy's 307- billion-euro ($326.74 billion) bad loan market have followed a similar pattern. Meloni subsequently said no measures were planned regarding non-performing loans, but her party's proposal is still before parliament and uncertainty persists.

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, Meloni, Tim Jones, she's, Morgan Stanley, Reuters.G Rome, Roberto Perotti, Meloni's, Valentina Za, Francesco Canepa, Giuseppe Fonte, Sara Rossi, Gianluca Semeraro, Ed Osmond, Giselda Organizations: Treasury, Advisors, European Central Bank, Reuters, Ryanair, Milan's, Bank of, ECB, Thomson Locations: ROME, Italy, Greece, Rome, Italian, Italy's, Brussels, EU, Milan

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 ( 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

☆ 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

Italian Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti gestures during a confidence vote over the 2023 budget at the lower house of the parliament, in Rome, Italy December 23, 2022. "The government plans to maintain the forecasts of 1% in 2023, but inevitable external variables are radically changing the picture," Giorgetti said, speaking at The European House-Ambrosetti economic forum. The total cost of the so-called Superbonus originally introduced in 2020 is approaching 100 billion euros ($107.73 billion), the source added. With interest rate hikes by the European Central Bank to curb inflation dampening economic activity, Rome's growth target of 1.5% next year is increasingly at risk, economists say. As Italy is preparing a difficult 2024 budget, Giorgetti reiterated the commitment to keeping the deficit on a downward trend, leaving little leeway for stimulus.

Persons: Giancarlo Giorgetti, Remo Casilli, Giorgetti, Giuseppe Fonte, Giancarlo Navach, Giselda Vagnoni, Susan Fenton Organizations: REUTERS, European Central Bank, European Union, Thomson Locations: Rome, Italy, CERNOBBIO, Cernobbio, Ukraine

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

☆ EU's Gentiloni confident over budget rule deal by year-end deadline
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

EU Economic Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni holds a news conference on the European Commission's economic forecasts for the EU for 2023 and 2024 on GDP and inflation, in Brussels, Belgium February 13, 2023. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCERNOBBIO, Italy, Sept 2 (Reuters) - European Union Commissioner for Economy Paolo Gentiloni said on Saturday he was confident an agreement over re-implementing EU budget rules would be reached by year-end, ruling out an extension of their suspension into 2024. "I'm confident, I'd say I have to be confident, that a deal (over the new budget rules) can be reached by year-end," Gentiloni told reporters on the sidelines of the European House Ambrosetti economic forum in Cernobbio. Italy is preparing a difficult 2024 budget in which it will seek to meet Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's tax-cutting promises while at the same time reducing the deficit while faced with an economic slowdown. Gentiloni said failing to reach a deal on reviving the rules would mean a return to previous budget rules that did not help promote economic growth and cut sovereign debt in the bloc.

Persons: Paolo Gentiloni, Johanna Geron, Gentiloni, Giancarlo Giorgetti, Giorgia, Christine Lagarde, Elvira Pollina, Giselda, Tomasz Janowski, Helen Popper Our Organizations: EU, REUTERS, Union, House, Italian Economy, European Commission, European Central Bank, ECB, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Italy, Ukraine

☆ Italy FM: Belt and Road China deal did not bring expected results
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Visitors walk past a wall with a map showing the species of peony in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries, at horticultural exhibition Beijing Expo 2019, in Beijing, China April 29, 2019. REUTERS/Stringer/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsCERNOBBIO, Italy, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Trade between Italy and China has not improved as expected since Rome joined Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative four years ago, Italy's Foreign Minister said on Saturday. Under a previous government, Italy in 2019 became the first major Western nation to join China's infrastructure initiative, despite protests from the United States. "The Silk Road did not bring the results we expected," Antonio Tajani said at the European House Ambrosetti economic forum shortly before leaving on a trip to China. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she was planning to visit China in one of her next trips abroad.

Persons: Stringer, Rome, Antonio Tajani, Tajani, Giorgia Meloni, Francesca Landini, Giselda, John Stonestreet, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Initiative, REUTERS, House, Italy's, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Italy, Beijing's, United States, Rome

☆ Catania airport in Sicily cleared to reopen main terminal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A screen grab taken from a video shows people waiting outside the Catania Fontanarossa International Airport in Catania, Italy July 26, 2023. REUTERS/Giselda Vagnoni/File PhotoROME, Aug 5 (Reuters) - The Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) on Saturday gave its green light to reopen the main terminal at Sicily's Catania airport, a statement said, nearly three weeks after it was shut down due to a fire. "ENAC's order ... allows the airport to return immediately, as of this evening, to normal conditions," Sicilian regional governor Renato Schifani said in the statement published on the airport's website. Following the accident, the airport operated at reduced capacity through a smaller terminal, alongside which tent-like structures were built to help cope with the flows of passengers. The Catania airport is regularly used by tourists heading to places including the resort town of Taormina, which is about 70 kilometers (43.5 miles) away, and Siracusa, with its Greek Theatre.

Persons: Giselda, Renato Schifani, Schifani, Angelo Amante, David Holmes Organizations: Catania, REUTERS, Italian Civil Aviation Authority, Saturday, Greek Theatre, Thomson Locations: Catania, Italy, Sicily's Catania, Sicily, Palermo, Mount Etna, Taormina

CATANIA, Italy, July 26 (Reuters) - A fire early last week at Sicily's main airport is still causing massive disruption for visitors to the island, laying bare the disorganisation and poor infrastructure that challenge Italy's tourism ambitions. The fire broke out on July 17 at Catania airport, below Mount Etna, which acts as a hub for the east of Sicily and attracts more arrivals than the capital Palermo. Some disruption was inevitable, but visitors describe scenes of utter chaos that jar with the government's jaunty "Welcome to Wonder" advertising campaign, which aims to attract tourists using a computerised "influencer" version of Venus. "We are now told our flight won't leave before 6 p.m. (1600 GMT). "Airport people were shouting the names of the flights to be boarded, but what happens if you don't hear them?," she said.

Persons: Julie, Maria Grazia Salamone, Ugo Zinna, Guglielmino, Alberto Chiumento, Gavin Jones, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: CATANIA, Italy, Sicily's, Catania, Mount Etna, Sicily, Palermo, California, Taormina, Syracuse, Rome, Genoa, Catania's, Belpasso

[1/3] People cool off near the Spanish Steps, during a heatwave across Italy, as temperatures are expected to rise further in the coming days, in Rome, Italy July 18, 2023. They have added fresh urgency to talks this week between the United States and China, the world's top greenhouse gas polluters. "Whilst most of the attention focuses on daytime maximum temperatures, it is the overnight temperatures which have the biggest health risks, especially for vulnerable populations," it said. The European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service says 2022 and 2021 were the continent's hottest summers on record. In a large part of the territory, night-time temperatures were in the top 5% of the highest recorded at this time of year.

Persons: Remo Casilli, John Kerry, Xi Jinping, Carlo Spanu, Anita Elshoy, Elshoy, AEMET, Talim, Angelo Amante, Emma Farge, Giselda, Crispian Balmer, Angeliki Koutantou, Emma Pinedo Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Matthias Williams, Janet Lawrence Organizations: REUTERS, World Meteorological Organization, WMO, Thomson Locations: Italy, Rome, Europe, U.S, Asia Italy, ROME, Asia, United States, Sardinia, Lazio, heatwaves, Death, China's, Greece, Swiss, India, South Korea, China, Beijing, North America, North Africa, Sicily, Sulcis, Norway, Spain, Catalonia, Aragon, Mallorca, Andujar, 44.9C, Toledo, Dervenochoria, Athens

☆ Global temperatures near record highs as US, China meet on climate
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Charlie Devereux | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

REUTERS/Remo CasilliSummary Weather extremes experienced around the worldBiggest polluters United States and China meetClimate crisis 'is happening', says WHO bossMADRID, July 17 (Reuters) - Global temperatures were soaring to historic highs as the world's two biggest carbon emitters, the United States and China, sought on Monday to reignite talks on climate change. Wildfires in Europe raged ahead of a second heat wave in two weeks that was set to send temperatures as high as 48C. Ahead of meeting Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua in Beijing, U.S. climate envoy John Kerry urged China to partner with the United States to cut methane emissions and coal-fired power. Prolonged high temperatures in China are threatening power grids and crops and raising concerns about a repeat of last year's drought, the most severe in 60 years. The heat dome across the western United States also helped to generate heavy rains in the northeast, claiming at least five lives.

Persons: Remo, MADRID, reignite, Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Xie Zhenhua, John Kerry, Talim, Charon, Matilde, Angelica Aureli, it's, Ruben del Campo, Sergio Rodriguez, Kayla Hill, Carlo Buontempo, Buontempo, Charlie Devereux, Emma Pinedo, Giselda Vagnoni, Emma Farge, Kate Abnett, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: REUTERS, United, World Health, ACT, Italy's Air Force, La Palma, Canaries, TVE, World Meteorological Organization, National, Thomson Locations: Italy, Rome, United States, China, Sanbao, Europe, Beijing, U.S, Guangdong, Hainan, South Korea, Seoul, Sardinia, Spain, La, Florida, Furnace Creek, Salt Lake City , Utah, Madrid, Geneva, Brussels

[1/5] Firefighters work at the scene following a fire in a retirement home in Milan, Italy, July 7, 2023. REUTERS/Claudia GrecoMILAN, July 7 (Reuters) - An overnight fire in a retirement home in Milan killed six people and injured around 80, including three who are in a critical condition, Italian authorities said on Friday. Two residents burned to death in their room, while four others died from intoxication, Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala said, speaking to reporters on the scene. Having said that, six dead is a very heavy death toll," Sala said, indicating that the facility housed 167 people. They evacuated about 80 people, including many in wheelchairs, while another 80 or so were taken to hospital, local firefighters' chief Nicola Miceli told RAI public television.

Persons: Claudia Greco MILAN, Giuseppe Sala, Sala, Firefighters, Luca Cari, Nicola Miceli, Lucia, Giselda Vagnoni, Keith Weir Organizations: REUTERS, Milan, Firefighters, RAI, Thomson Locations: Milan, Italy, Corvetto

☆ Spanish charity rescues 117 migrants sailing from Libya
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ROME, June 17 (Reuters) - Spanish charity Open Arms said it rescued 117 migrants on Saturday crowded onto a precarious wooden boat from Libya in the latest such perilous crossing over the Mediterranean sea. Open Arms said in a statement that it had picked up 117 people on Saturday, including 25 women and a three-year-old boy, mainly from Eritrea, Sudan and Libya. The rescue operation took place in international waters 30km off the coast of Libya after the boat left the port of Sabratha under darkness at 0100 GMT, according to the statement and a spokesperson for the charity. All the passengers were receiving a medical assessment on board the Open Arms vessel, the charity said, without giving more details on where they would be taken. Reporting by Giselda Vagnoni; Editing by Andrew CawthorneOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Giselda Vagnoni, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Thomson Locations: Libya, Greece, Africa, Eritrea, Sudan, Sabratha

☆ Pope had another peaceful night in hospital, Vatican says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Flowers are seen at the statue of Pope John Paul II at Gemelli Hospital where Pope Francis is hospitalised for surgery on his abdomen, in Rome, Italy, June 9, 2023. REUTERS/Remo CasilliROME, June 9 (Reuters) - Pope Francis spent another peaceful night in hospital, the Vatican said on Friday, two days after the pontiff underwent abdominal surgery that doctors say went as planned. "Last night also went well. More information during the course of the day," the Vatican press office said in a short statement. Francis underwent a three-hour operation on Wednesday to repair a hernia, which doctors said was successful enough that he should have no limitations on his travels and other activities after he recovers.

Persons: Pope John Paul II, Pope Francis, Remo Casilli ROME, Francis, Sergio Alfieri, Alfieri, Alvise Armellini, Giselda Vagnoni, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Gemelli Hospital, REUTERS, Vatican, Thomson Locations: Rome, Italy, Rome's, Portugal, Fatima, Mongolia

☆ Pent-up demand promises record tourist season for southern Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Giselda Vagnoni | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

What's more, there appears to be growing demand for the luxury end of the spectrum. Portugal registered more than 2.8 million of foreign visitors from January to March, the best first quarter on record, according to official data. Airlines such as Lufthansa, easyJet and Ryanair have confirmed robust summer bookings while Ryanair, in anticipation of strong demand, has just ordered 150 new 737 Max-10s and optioned another 150. Italian travel and tourism company Alpitour forecasts turnover 30% higher this year. "We already see a very strong demand to book Christmas holidays in 2023.

☆ Italy calls for clearer apology from France over migration 'insult'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ROME, May 7 (Reuters) - Italy remains dissatisfied with the apologies offered by Paris after a French minister accused Rome of mishandling the influx of migrants, Italy's foreign minister Antonio Tajani said on Sunday. "Clearer words are needed," Tajani, who is member of the conservative Forza Italia party, told Italian state-owned television RAI in an interview. "I hope that the French government changes its position and that an apology comes that represents a contrast to the positions adopted by the Interior Minister. French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said last week that Italy's right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had been "unable to solve the migration problems on which she was elected". Tajani called off a visit to Paris at the last minute on Thursday in a sign of protest over what he considered an "insult" to Italy.

Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O)-backed OpenAI took ChatGPT offline in Italy last month after the country's data protection authority, also known as Garante, temporarily banned the chatbot and launched a probe over the artificial intelligence application's suspected breach of privacy rules. Last month, Garante said ChatGPT has an "absence of any legal basis that justifies the massive collection and storage of personal data" to "train" the chatbot. Italy was the first western European country to curb ChatGPT, but its rapid development has attracted attention from lawmakers and regulators in several countries. Following Garante's interest in ChatGPT, European Data Protection Board, the body that unites Europe's national privacy watchdogs, set up a task force on the chatbot earlier this month. Garante said it will continue its probe of ChatGPT and will work with the special task force.

☆ Italian police arrest four for stealing Leclerc's watch
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ROME, April 4 (Reuters) - Italian police have arrested four people wanted in connection with the theft of a luxury watch from Ferrari's Formula One driver Charles Leclerc last year. Leclerc, who is from Monte Carlo, had his exclusive Richard Mille timepiece stolen from his wrist in the Italian seaside resort of Viareggio last April. The theft took place when the Formula One driver was approached by two people wearing motorcycle helmets who asked for a selfie. An investigative source said it was not yet possible to say if either of the watches found were the one stolen from Leclerc. Reporting by Cristina Carlevaro and Giselda Vagnoni; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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