Italy

The Italian government approved a bill criminalizing road and railroad blockades. The opposition and trade unions are concerned about increased repression, but the authorities emphasize that protests will be allowed under certain conditions.

The European Asylum Agency (EUAA) recently released data on asylum trends in the European Union for the first half of 2024.

Italy has reduced the size of its military mission in Lebanon, which trains the local military. The government recommends that Italian citizens urgently leave Lebanon and is ready to evacuate if necessary.

On the anniversary of the illegal “referendums,” G7 ministers reaffirmed their non-recognition of Russia's annexation of Ukrainian regions. They called on Russia to withdraw its troops and promised to continue supporting Ukraine.

The countries are negotiating to change part of the border in the Alps due to melting glaciers. Switzerland has already approved an agreement covering the Rose Plateau region and other areas near the Matterhorn.

The president's spokesman said that an official announcement on the permission to strike at russian territory with Western weapons will be made after the first strikes. So far, no final decision has been made, but Ukraine is in talks with key partners.

A 42-year-old man who married his 78-year-old mother-in-law to evade conscription was detained on the border with Hungary. Border guards did not allow him to cross the border, and both face criminal liability.

The USA and the EU have almost reached an agreement on a $50bn aid package for Ukraine using frozen Russian assets. The US is ready to contribute $20bn if the EU changes the sanctions regime against Russia.

France and the United States proposed a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon to allow for negotiations. The initiative was supported by several Arab countries and the EU, calling for de-escalation of the conflict and a diplomatic settlement.

Ukraine plans to return about 2,000 orphans evacuated abroad at the beginning of the war. The priority will be given to family-based forms of care, and monitoring visits are being conducted to assess the needs of each child.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. They agreed on the nearest joint plans and discussed the G7's efforts to establish peace.

Ruslan Kravchenko met with Italian Ambassador Carlo Formosa. They discussed energy resilience of communities, reconstruction of Kyiv region and creation of an online platform for business cooperation between regions.

The Australian government is working with the United States on a plan to send decommissioned M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. The former commander of the Australian army supported the idea of transferring decommissioned equipment.

Severe flooding and landslides hit the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Two people went missing, about 1000 were evacuated, schools were closed, and trains were canceled due to storm Boris.

For the first time, World Cleanup Day was held in 2018, when its participants managed to collect more than 80 thousand tons of garbage around the world. This year, at least 100 million people from 197 countries will join World Cleanup Day.

At least 24 people have been killed by Storm Boris in Central and Eastern Europe. Poland, Romania, and Italy are taking measures to protect against flooding, and the head of the European Commission will visit the affected regions.

European countries are redirecting Indian artillery shells to Ukraine, which provokes protests from russia. India does not interfere with these deliveries, although they have been going on for more than a year.

The cyclone that caused heavy rainfall in Central Europe will not reach Ukraine. According to a spokeswoman for the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center, the cyclone's peak activity has already passed, and it is moving toward Italy.

John Aprea, known for his role as Salvatore Tessio in The Godfather 2, died on August 5 in Los Angeles. The actor also starred in many films, including the movie New Jack City and the TV series Forced Parenthood.

A Russian who organized a car theft and ransom scheme was extradited from Italy to Ukraine. The suspect created a Telegram channel where he offered to return the stolen cars for half their value.

A 19-year-old tourist from Ukraine engraved his initials on the wall of the Colosseum. He was detained, fined and drawn up a report, and the mayor of Rome condemned this act of vandalism.

The President of Ukraine accepted credentials from the ambassadors of Mexico, Italy, Slovakia, the Netherlands, India, and Belgium. Zelenskyy discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation between the countries with each ambassador.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has codified and authorized the Buffalo MPV armored personnel carrier for delivery to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This armored vehicle, manufactured using MRAP technology, is considered one of the safest in the world.

The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine has not received a response from the mayor of Rome to the call to cancel Anna Netreko's performances at the Rome Opera. The acting Minister of Culture hopes for the non-administrative influence of the Italian leadership in this matter.

The United States is sending military forces to the Middle East because of the threat of an Iranian attack on Israel. Western leaders have expressed support for Israel and called on Iran to back down from its aggressive plans.

The US President held talks with the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the UK on the situation in Gaza. They supported the call for a ceasefire and expressed solidarity with Israel against Iranian threats.

The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine has appealed to the authorities in Rome to cancel the performances of Russian singer Anna Netrebko. ICIP emphasizes that Netrebko supports the Putin regime and the annexation of Crimea.

The apple harvest in key EU countries in 2024 will fall by 11% compared to the previous year. Production will also decline in Ukraine and Moldova, leading to high prices and new opportunities for exporters.

UNN offers a selection of classic westerns to watch over the weekend. Among them are The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, For a Few Dollars More, For a Fistful of Dollars, Train to Yuma, and High Plains Wanderer.

Italian Eurofighter Typhoons intercepted unidentified aircraft in Baltic airspace. The fighters took off from a base in Lithuania on the orders of the NATO surveillance center in Germany.