Italy - The African Mirror

Oct

2023

Italy signs deal to take in migrant workers from Tunisia

ITALY signed a deal to take in some 4,000 workers from Tunisia, in line with pledges to help the northern African state stem the pressure from migrants at its borders. The deal was signed during a visit by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani to Tunis, where he was scheduled to meet his counterpart Nabil Ammar and President Kais Saied, his office said. It envisages regular migration channels for "qualified workers" willing to come to Italy, an Italian briefing note said as Rome also promised to help Tunisia in its efforts to stop migrant smugglers and create job opportunities for the young.…

Sep

2023

By CRISPIAN BALMER

Asylum seekers in Italy told to pay to avoid detention

WORLD

ASYLUM seekers in Italy will have to pay 4,938 euros ($5,259) to avoid detention while their request for protection is being processed, the government said on Friday, in a measure apparently aimed at deterring migrants. Facing a surge in new arrivals, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's coalition announced this week that it would increase the number of detention centres around the country to hold migrants ahead of their possible repatriation. It also said that it would increase the amount of time people could be detained to 18 months from three months. At present migrants to Italy who apply for asylum are free to…

Jan

2023

By The African Mirror

Fifa boss shows support for players racially abused in Italy

NEWS

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has called on fans to "shut up all the racists" after Lecce defender Samuel Umtiti and teammate Lameck Banda were subjected to racial abuse during their home game against Lazio. The match was paused for several minutes while a stadium announcement was made calling for the chance to stop. Infantino showed his support for Umtiti and Zambian Banda in a social media post. "Solidarity with Samuel Umtiti and Lameck Banda - let's shout it loud and clear: No to racism," he wrote as a caption to photos of Umtiti and Banda. FIFA president Gianni Infantino claps…

Jul

2022

By The African Mirror

Mario Draghi resigns, plunging Italy into political turmoil

WORLD

CRISPIAN BALMER, GIUSEPPE FONTE and ANGELO AMANTE ITALY will hold a snap national election on September 25 after Prime Minister Mario Draghi resigned following the collapse of his national unity government, sending tremors through financial markets. It will be the first autumn national election for more than a century in Italy, where the second half of the year is normally taken up with getting the budget law through parliament. It is likely to be a fractious campaign fought in the fierce summer heat in a drought-hit country. A bloc of conservative parties, led by the far-right Brothers of Italy, looks…

Dec

2021

By The African Mirror

Boy who survived gondola crash returns to Italy after custody battle

WORLD

A six-year-old boy, the sole survivor of an Italian cable car disaster who was kidnapped and taken to Israel by his grandfather, flew back to Italy on Friday night following a nearly three-month custody battle, the boy's aunt said. Israel's Supreme Court this week rejected a request by Eitan Biran's maternal grandfather to appeal previous court rulings which said the boy must be sent back to his paternal aunt in Italy. It ordered him returned by December 12. The child, who was born in Israel but moved to Italy with his family when he was one month old, had been…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

Europe sends aid to Tunisia

COVID-19

ITALY, Spain and Switzerland have sent medical aid to Tunisia which is facing its worst health crisis since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, with a sharp rise in deaths, hospitals filled to capacity and a lack of oxygen supplies. Deaths from COVID-19 exceeded 150 per day during the past week in Tunisia, prompting countries including Qatar, Algeria, the UAE, Morocco, Turkey and Kuwait to send aid. Egypt and Saudi Arabia opened an air bridge earlier this week, sending at least 8 planes of aid. France said this week it also planned to send about one million vaccination doses and…

Jun

2021

By The African Mirror

Ferrari goes from fast cars to haute fashion

BEAUTY AND FASHION

MPHO RANTAO FERRARI, a dominant force in the motorsport world, have made their entry into the cutthroat world of fashion. Showcased below the factory’s production level, with the V12 assembly line enveloped in a red glow, the “Prancing Horse” launched their first ready-to-wear collection from its Maranello factory in Italy. The collection was created in the classic Ferrari colour palette of Ferrari red, black and Scuderia yellow in light sustainable fabrics. Unlike the conversative and understated clothing pieces that Ferrari’s loyal (and older) fanbase would normally wear, this new collection includes trench coats, bomber jackets, parkas and loose-fitting trousers —…

Jun

2021

By The African Mirror

FACTBOX: China, climate and vaccines – what the G7 agreed this weekend

WORLD

THE Group of Seven rich nations promised to tackle China's growing influence, fight climate change, get more COVID-19 jabs to poor countries and keep up their economic stimulus programmes at their first summit since Joe Biden became U.S. president. Following is a summary of the main points agreed by the leaders of the United States, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Canada at their three-day meeting at a beachside hotel in southwest England which ended yesterday. CLIMATE CHANGE - The G7 said it would meet a long-overdue funding pledge of $100 billion a year by rich countries to help poorer…

May

2021

By The African Mirror

Italian cable car crash kills 14 people, child seriously hurt

WORLD

GUILIA SEGRETI, FLAVIO LO SCALZO and ALEX FRASER AT least 14 people, including five Israelis, died and a child was seriously injured yesterday when a cable car linking Italy's Lake Maggiore with a nearby mountain plunged to the ground, officials and rescuers said. The Stresa-Mottarone cable car takes tourists and locals from the town on Lake Maggiore, almost 1,400 metres above sea level to the top of the Mottarone mountain in 20 minutes. Israel's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it had been informed by Italian authorities that five of its nationals were among the dead and one Israeli…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

Verstappen’s first Italian glory

SPORT

RED Bull’s Max Verstappen finally has his podium moment in Italy. Verstappen provided an exhibition of world class driving and defending against champion Lewis Hamilton who provided a lesson in patience and focus in a drama filled at the Emilia Romagna F1 race. The Imola circuit produced a belter of a race, aided by pouring rain 10 minutes before lights out, teams were forced to change strategies. Verstappen, who started third on the grid, struck like lightning to overtake both Hamilton, who started in pole and teammate Sergio Perez in the first corner to take the lead. He drove impeccably,…