EU Leaders Approve Informal Military Rearmament Plan Amid Growing Debate on Ukraine Support
On Thursday, during an extraordinary European Council meeting in Brussels, the leaders of the 27 EU member states informally approved a plan to allocate 800 billion euros for the rearmament of EU countries and to increase defense spending. The plan will be discussed again at the next regular Council meeting in March, where it is expected to be formally approved. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attended the meeting, where the leaders also debated extending European support to Ukraine, especially in light of US President Donald Trump’s reduced engagement. However, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán opposed the wording of the plan, leaving the final approval hanging on Orbán’s position in the March meeting. The plan includes a 150 billion euro fund for military loans to member states and allows countries to exceed debt limits without facing penalties. Despite disagreements, including Hungary’s opposition, Zelensky emphasized the need for a peace agreement, reaffirming Ukraine’s collaboration with the EU and plans for concrete proposals toward peace.
Political Pressure Mounts on Torino’s Urban Planning Commissioner Amid New Investigation
On Thursday, Andrea Russi, the leader of the 5-Star Movement in Torino’s city council, called for the resignation of Paolo Mazzoleni, the city’s urban planning commissioner, following his involvement in a new investigation. Mazzoleni, previously the president of the Milan Architects’ Association, is implicated in several ongoing investigations concerning the construction of new buildings in Milan, where he is accused of facilitating illegal urban development by using simplified permits. The latest charges stem from his connection to Giovanni Oggioni, a former city official arrested for corruption. Mazzoleni is linked to the controversial construction of the Lambrate Twin Palace, a luxury residential project. Despite ongoing investigations, Mazzoleni has not commented publicly, while the Democratic Party’s Claudio Cerrato expressed continued support for him, emphasizing the need for administrative continuity in Torino. However, Russi criticized Mazzoleni for delays in urban planning projects and the lack of a new master plan for the city.
Italian Court Orders Compensation for Migrants in Diciotti Case
Italy’s Court of Cassation has ruled that the government must compensate a group of migrants involved in the 2018 Diciotti case, where 177 migrants were stranded on the Italian coast after the ship Diciotti, which rescued them, was blocked by then-Interior Minister Matteo Salvini. The migrants were held aboard in dire physical and psychological conditions for days, and some sought compensation for the deprivation of their liberty. The court agreed to the claim, but left the amount of compensation to be decided by the Rome Court of Appeal. Although Salvini faced charges of kidnapping and illegal detention, he was never put on trial as the Senate denied permission to proceed with the case.
Rescue After Collapse in Bari: Investigation Underway
On Thursday evening, firefighters rescued 74-year-old Rosalia De Giosa, who had been trapped for 24 hours under the rubble following the collapse of a five-story building in the Carrassi district of Bari, Italy. She is currently hospitalized. The Bari prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the collapse, which is being treated as involuntary manslaughter against unknown individuals. The building had been declared unsafe over a year ago, leading to the evacuation of approximately 20 families. Despite warnings, some residents were allowed to return briefly to collect their belongings, and De Giosa reportedly never left her apartment. Bari’s mayor, Vito Leccese, questioned whether anyone had disregarded evacuation orders. Recent safety work, costing around 700,000 euros, began only days before the collapse, raising questions about the delay and adequacy of the measures. The exact cause of the collapse remains unclear, but it is believed to have involved a structural failure.
Woman Stabs Husband to Death During Argument in San Severo
A 30-year-old man, Mario La Pietra, was fatally stabbed by his wife during a heated argument in their San Severo home. According to the wife’s account to the carabinieri, she acted in self-defense after being attacked by her husband during a dispute over trivial matters. La Pietra was fatally wounded in the abdomen and died shortly after being transported to the hospital. The couple, who have two young children, had no prior reports of domestic issues, and no protective measures have been taken against the wife, a homemaker. The incident occurred while the wife was preparing dinner, holding their youngest child in one arm and using a kitchen knife in the other when the husband allegedly attacked her. In the ensuing struggle, she unintentionally stabbed him. The authorities are investigating the exact sequence of events.
