Rome

The President of Ukraine called on Europe to abandon Russian gas and strengthen its energy independence. He also emphasized the importance of the EU's technological development and strengthening the continent's security.

Joe Biden has awarded Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom “with distinction. ” This is the first time such an award has been presented by a sitting US president, and the ceremony took place over the phone due to the fires in California.

U. S. President Joe Biden has canceled his planned trip to Rome due to large-scale wildfires in Los Angeles. Meetings with the Pope, Italian Prime Minister, and Ukrainian President Zelensky are canceled.

The US and Ukrainian administrations considered the possibility of negotiations with Moscow in the first half of 2025. The US is working to strengthen Ukraine's position and impose new sanctions against the Russian Federation before potential negotiations.

Keith Kellogg, the US Special Representative to Ukraine, was scheduled to visit Kyiv in early January. The visit has been postponed until after Trump's inauguration on January 20, and plans to visit Rome and Paris have also been changed.

Rome has completed a two-month restoration of the famous Trevi Fountain worth 327 thousand euros.

Keith Kellogg, Trump's new special envoy for Ukraine, will visit Kiev and European capitals in January. The visit is aimed at gathering information to quickly end the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The Italian government has approved the tenth package of military aid to Ukraine, the details of which remain confidential. Defense Minister Guido Crozetto will present it at COPASIR. The country continues to support Kyiv in its quest for a just peace.

Religious and human rights organizations are calling on Joe Biden to use the right to commute death sentences before Trump's presidency. The pressure intensified after Biden pardoned his son Hunter.

Researchers have found 86-year-old Gertrude Strix in the United States, who was believed to have died in Auschwitz. Her father handed her 5-year-old daughter over to an unknown woman before being deported in 1944, which saved the girl's life.

G7 foreign ministers meet in Fujairah and Ananya on November 25-26. The agenda includes the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, and other international issues.

Airbnb paid $1. 5 million to rent the Colosseum for the Gladiatorial Experience in May 2025. The project has sparked outrage among locals, who accuse the authorities of over-commercializing the historic site.

U. S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said there is evidence of the presence of North Korean troops in Russia. He added that it is not yet known what role they will play there.

A 63-year-old man from Rome woke up from a coma thinking he was 24 years old and in the 1980s. He did not recognize his wife and son, having lost the memory of 39 years of his life due to a head injury in a car accident in 2019.

A Rome court has ruled that the detention of 12 migrants in Albania is illegal and ordered their return to Italy. The decision concerns a group of 16 people sent to Albania under a new bilateral agreement.

A treasure trove of nearly 3,000 Roman coins from the third century AD has been discovered in Germany outside the borders of the empire. The discovery was made in the Westerwald Mountains, far from the known settlements of the time, which raises questions among scientists.

Italy has made the first departure of 16 migrants to Albania under the new agreement. The migrants intercepted in the Mediterranean will be screened and will be able to apply for asylum or repatriate.

The President of Ukraine spoke about defense packages, air defense, and investments in weapons production following his visit to London, Paris, Rome, and Berlin. Zelenskyy presented the Victory Plan to his partners and discussed the approach of a just peace.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced a conference on Ukraine's recovery in Rome on July 10-11, 2025. She emphasized that Ukraine is not alone, and Italy will support it for as long as it takes.

During his visit to Paris, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy called for a rapid increase in Western aid before winter. Macron assured of continued French support and emphasized the progress in training and equipping the Ukrainian brigade.

The Verkhovna Rada has expelled MPs Artem Dmytruk and Andriy Odarchenko from parliamentary committees. Both MPs illegally left Ukraine and are under investigation.

Advisor to the President Dmytro Lytvyn denied an Italian newspaper report that Zelenskyy was ready for a ceasefire along the current front line. He emphasized that Ukraine adheres to the Peace Formula and will present a plan for victory to its partners.

The Minister of Finance of Ukraine Sergii Marchenko discussed the G7 mechanism for increasing Ukraine's budget at the expense of frozen Russian assets. He also spoke about external financing plans for 2025.

Oleksiy Kuleba announced the creation of an Advisory Group under the Recovery Agency. The group will assist in projects to build water pipelines, housing for IDPs, and protect energy facilities.

Ukrainian President Zelenskiy will visit Berlin on October 11 to meet with Chancellor Scholz. He will present a “victory plan” to end the war, which he previously showed to Biden, and then visit Rome and Paris.

Pope Francis will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on October 11 in Rome. During the visit, Zelenskyy is also expected to hold talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

MPs from the Servant of the People party have registered a draft resolution to exclude Odarchenko and Dmytruk from the VR committees. Both MPs are wanted on suspicion of criminal offenses.

European countries are asking their citizens to leave Lebanon because of the threat of an Israeli offensive. Some governments are organizing charter flights, while others are advising to use commercial flights from Beirut.

The Office of the Prosecutor General is preparing materials for the extradition of MP Artem Dmytruk, suspected of attacks on a law enforcement officer and a soldier. Dmytruk, who was put on the international wanted list, was detained in London.

Netflix has announced the release date of the anime The Witcher: Sirens from the Deep - February 11, 2025. The main character Geralt will be voiced by Doug Cockle, and the film is based on Andrzej Sapkowski's short story “The Little Victim.