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Journalist Ordered to Pay Damages for Mocking Italian PM’s Height

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An Italian journalist, Giulia Cortese, has been ordered to pay Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni €5,000 (£4,210) in damages for social media posts mocking Meloni’s height. A judge ruled that two tweets by Cortese, who also received a suspended fine of €1,200, were defamatory and constituted “body shaming.”

The incident began in October 2021 when Meloni’s far-right Brothers of Italy party was in opposition. Cortese posted a doctored image on X (formerly Twitter) showing Meloni with a framed photo of fascist dictator Benito Mussolini in the background. Meloni condemned the image as extremely serious and announced legal action. Cortese deleted the image, admitting it was fake but accused Meloni of creating a “media pillory” against her. She called Meloni a “little woman” and later tweeted, “You don’t scare me, Giorgia Meloni. After all, you’re only 1.2m [3ft 9in] tall. I can’t even see you.” Meloni’s actual height is reported as 1.63m (5ft 3in) in Italian media.

Cortese was cleared of any wrongdoing for posting the doctored image but was convicted for the subsequent tweets. She has the option to appeal but hasn’t decided yet. Meloni’s lawyer stated that any awarded money would be donated to charity.

Cortese reacted to the verdict on X, criticizing the Italian government for its stance on freedom of expression and journalistic dissent. She compared the situation to Hungary under Viktor Orbán, expressing concern for independent journalists and opinion leaders in Italy. Cortese added that while she is proud to be Italian, the country deserves better than its current government.

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Italy’s PM Condemns Fascist Nostalgia Following Youth Wing Scandal

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her frustration and disappointment to her Brothers of Italy (FdI) party members following investigative reports showing the party’s youth wing engaging in fascist salutes and using racist and antisemitic language. In a letter, Meloni asserted that there is no place in FdI for racism, antisemitism, or nostalgia for totalitarian regimes, condemning such behavior as detrimental to the party’s mission.

The reports by the investigative outlet Fanpage involved undercover journalists who captured National Youth wing (Gioventù Nazionale – GN) members chanting fascist and Nazi slogans. Subsequent footage revealed members making derogatory remarks about disabled individuals, along with racist and antisemitic comments. Following the exposé, some former GN members came forward to confirm similar behaviors in local branches.

Prominent GN members implicated in the investigation, such as Elisa Segnini and Flaminia Pace, resigned from their positions after their involvement was revealed. Holocaust survivor and Italian senator Liliana Segre condemned the resurfacing of such rhetoric, expressing distress over witnessing it again at her age.

Minister Luca Ciriani of FdI claimed the reports were based on out-of-context, fragmented images taken privately, while Senate President Ignazio La Russa condemned the GN’s language, asserting it contradicted the party’s values. Although Meloni initially criticized Fanpage’s methods and questioned the fairness of targeting only FdI, she acknowledged the incompatibility of racist, antisemitic, or nostalgic ideas with the party’s principles.

Opposition senator Simona Malpezzi argued that Meloni should have praised the journalists for uncovering the serious issues within GN and distanced herself from the implicated members. Meloni had previously lauded GN’s young supporters, describing them as rare and valuable for their political engagement.

Since leading a right-wing coalition and becoming Italy’s prime minister in 2022, Meloni has faced numerous controversies related to the far-right roots of Brothers of Italy, tracing back to the Italian Social Movement (MSI) founded by Mussolini supporters post-World War II. In June, a spokesperson for a key Meloni ally resigned over racist and antisemitic remarks in wiretapped communications.

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Von der Leyen Nominated for Second Term as EU Commission President

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EU leaders have nominated Ursula von der Leyen, the current European Commission head, for a second five-year term during a summit in Brussels. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has been selected as the EU’s next foreign affairs chief, and former Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa has been chosen as the next chairman of EU summits. All three candidates are from centrist, pro-EU factions.

The European Parliament will vote on the nominations of Ms. von der Leyen and Ms. Kallas. Von der Leyen is from Germany’s centre-right, Costa is a socialist, and Kallas is a liberal. This leadership package represents continuity for the EU amid geopolitical uncertainty, despite a recent surge in support for hard-right parties in the European Parliament elections.

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has shown resistance, stating that the plans ignore the successes of hard-right parties like her own. Meloni, who heads the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) bloc, abstained from voting for von der Leyen and voted against Costa and Kallas. Despite the ECR becoming the third largest group in the European Parliament, Meloni was not included in the nomination discussions.

Meloni expressed frustration, arguing that European voters had asked for a different direction. Without naming names, she criticized those who believe in oligarchy as the only acceptable form of democracy.

Von der Leyen will need 361 votes from the European Parliament for confirmation. Support from the centre-right European People’s Party, liberals, and social democrats could give her enough backing, but it will be close. Diplomats suggest that von der Leyen might seek Meloni’s support by offering Italy a powerful commission post.

Von der Leyen expressed gratitude for her nomination and highlighted the importance of supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, a task that may become more complex if Donald Trump wins the upcoming US presidential election.

Kallas, known for her strong support of Ukraine and criticism of the Kremlin, acknowledged the significant responsibility of her new role. Some critics are concerned that her firm stance on Russia could pose challenges.

Costa praised his colleagues and emphasized the importance of European unity and resilience. He will replace Belgium’s Charles Michel, and Kallas will succeed Spain’s Josep Borrell.

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Florence elects first woman mayor

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Florence has elected its first female mayor, Sara Funaro, who decisively defeated her right-wing opponent. A local councillor from the centre-left Democratic Party (PD), Funaro secured governance of the Italian city with over 60% of the vote. Her opponent, Eike Schmidt, a former director of Florence’s Uffizi Gallery and a candidate backed by Italy’s far-right coalition government, garnered 39%.

This election concluded a series of votes in which centre-left parties claimed victories in five regional capitals. As the vote count progressed, Funaro expressed her excitement and dedicated her victory to her grandfather, Piero Bargellini, known for his leadership during the 1966 Florence flood. Despite his loss, Schmidt, a political newcomer born in Germany, stated that his campaign performed well and remained optimistic.

Funaro’s win is part of a broader success for Italy’s centre-left alliance, led by the PD. In recent votes, the alliance maintained control of Bergamo in Lombardy and Bari in Puglia, and captured Cagliari, Sardinia’s capital, and Perugia in Umbria from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s far-right ruling coalition. This follows significant gains by the right in the recent European Parliament elections.

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Roberto Baggio Injured in Home Robbery

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Roberto Baggio, the renowned former footballer who played for Juventus and AC Milan, recently endured a harrowing experience at his home in northern Italy. At around 10:00 PM local time, intruders broke into his villa in Altavilla Vicentina. During the robbery, Baggio, aged 57, was struck on the forehead with a gun, resulting in a minor injury that required stitches. He was quickly taken to an emergency room in Arzignano for treatment. Despite the physical wounds, Baggio emphasized the emotional toll of the incident, expressing gratitude for the outpouring of support and stating his determination to overcome the fear that lingered after the ordeal.

Luca Zaia, the president of the Veneto region, publicly denounced the robbery, describing Baggio as a cherished symbol of both local and national football. He extended well wishes for Baggio’s recovery, acknowledging the trauma inflicted upon the footballer and his family. The incident unfolded while Baggio and his loved ones were watching a European Championships football match, underscoring the sudden and shocking nature of the intrusion.

Reports indicate that Baggio and his family were held captive in a room while the burglars searched the premises for valuables over a span of about 40 minutes. Eventually, Baggio managed to free himself and alert the authorities, who are now investigating the incident with the help of CCTV footage from the scene. The community and fans alike have rallied around Baggio, expressing solidarity and hoping for justice to be swiftly served against those responsible for the violent break-in.

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Farm Laborer Dies in Italy After Arm Severed by Machinery

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An Indian farm laborer in Italy, Satnam Singh, tragically died after being abandoned by the roadside following a severe accident. Singh’s arm was severed, and his legs were crushed by heavy machinery while working in a vegetable field in Lazio, near Rome. His employer, Antonello Lovato, allegedly transported Singh and his wife in a van, leaving them near their home, with Singh’s severed arm placed in a fruit box. Medical assistance arrived an hour and a half later, and Singh was airlifted to a hospital in Rome, where he died on Wednesday. Lovato is now under investigation for criminal negligence and manslaughter.

Lovato’s father claimed that Singh had been warned to stay away from the machinery but did not heed the advice. Italy’s Minister of Labour, Marina Calderone, condemned the incident as an “act of barbarity.” Singh, in his early 30s, had been living and working in Italy as an undocumented migrant for around two years. The Indian embassy in Italy expressed deep sorrow over Singh’s death and stated that it was coordinating with local authorities.

The Flai CGIL trade union has called for a strike of agricultural workers on Saturday to protest Singh’s death. Union secretary general Maurizio Landini highlighted the severe exploitation within the agricultural sector, likening it to modern slavery, especially for undocumented workers.

The Lazio area, where Singh worked, hosts large farms and a significant Punjabi and Sikh population, many of whom work as farmhands. Undocumented laborers in Italy often fall victim to the “caporalato” system, where middlemen illegally recruit workers for extremely low wages. Even legally documented workers frequently earn far below the legal minimum wage. A 2018 study by the Italian National Institute of Statistics found that nearly a quarter of the agricultural workforce in Italy was employed through this method. This exploitative system also affects workers in the service and construction industries.

Despite the outlawing of caporalato in 2016, following the death of an Italian woman working under harsh conditions, the exploitation persists. Thousands of agricultural workers in Italy, both Italian and migrant, work without contracts in dangerous conditions, often paying for transportation to remote fields and living in isolated, substandard housing without access to education or healthcare. In 2018, 16 agricultural workers died in two separate road accidents in Puglia, prompting African migrant laborers to strike against poor working conditions. Recently, two individuals in Puglia were arrested for caporalato, having recruited and exploited several dozen workers.

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Aid Ship Captain Recounts Dramatic Rescue of Migrants off Italian Coast

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The captain of an aid ship recounted the dramatic rescue of migrants trapped in the cargo hold of a sinking boat off the coast of Italy. Ingo Veert, captain of the RESQSHIP aid vessel, shared on BBC’s Today programme how his crew used axes and hammers to save two men from below deck after initially rescuing 50 migrants from the deck of the distressed boat near Lampedusa. Sadly, 10 men were found dead below deck.

Another 64 migrants are reported missing at sea after a second vessel sank near Calabria, approximately 125 miles off the Italian coast. Of the 12 survivors from this incident, one died after reaching shore, as confirmed by the Italian coastguard.

The survivors of the Lampedusa incident were handed over to the Italian coastguard on Monday morning, while the deceased were being transported to the island, according to RESQSHIP. The migrants had departed from Libya and Turkey, each paying around $3,500 (£2,759) for the journey, as reported by Ansa news agency.

Captain Veert, who commands the Nadir rescue ship, recounted receiving the first distress call at 01:30 local time about an overloaded migrant boat. By 03:00, his crew reached the sinking vessel, where they found water flooding in and people in a state of panic. The crew distributed life jackets and used axes and hammers to break through the deck to rescue two trapped men, one of whom had a dangerously low body temperature of 32°C. Veert described the survivors as very young men, aged between 18 and 25, from Syria, Egypt, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, according to UN agencies.

In the separate Calabria incident, aid agencies reported that many of the missing are children, with at least 26 among the unaccounted for. Shakilla Mohammadi of MSF relayed survivors’ accounts indicating that 66 people, including entire families from Afghanistan, were missing. These families had left Turkey eight days prior, endured several days taking on water, and lacked life vests. Some vessels had passed without offering assistance.

The Mediterranean remains the deadliest migration route globally, with over 23,500 migrants dead or missing since 2014, according to UN data.

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G7 to Use Frozen Russian Assets for $50 Billion Ukraine Loan

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The G7 has agreed to utilize frozen Russian assets to raise $50 billion (£39 billion) for Ukraine to aid in its defense against Russian forces. President Joe Biden emphasized this decision as a signal to Russia that the support for Ukraine remains steadfast. However, Moscow has warned of “extremely painful” retaliatory actions. The funds, anticipated to be available by the end of the year, are intended to support Ukraine’s war effort and economic stability in the long term.

At the G7 summit in Italy, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Biden signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement between the US and Ukraine, which Ukraine hailed as “historic.” This agreement involves US military and training aid but does not commit US troops to combat. It aims to enhance Ukraine’s defense capabilities, support its defense industry, and aid in economic and energy recovery. It also stipulates consultations at the highest levels in case of future Russian attacks on Ukraine to decide necessary support measures.

Separately, about $325 billion in Russian assets were frozen by the G7 and the EU following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. These assets generate approximately $3 billion annually in interest. The G7 plan involves using this interest to cover the annual interest on a $50 billion loan for Ukraine, sourced from international markets.

President Biden, at the summit in Puglia, Italy, reiterated that the $50 billion loan would support Ukraine and send a strong message to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelensky expressed gratitude for the continued support from the US and other allies, calling the security deal with the US the strongest since Ukraine’s independence in 1991. Other G7 leaders, including UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, praised the loan deal as transformative.

The $50 billion loan compares significantly with the $61 billion in US military aid agreed upon in May. A senior White House official noted the loan would support various needs, including military, budget, humanitarian, and reconstruction efforts. While the frozen funds’ interest is seen as a symbolic victory for Ukraine, some in Kyiv had hoped for the release of the entire $300 billion frozen fund. However, the European Central Bank opposed this, citing risks to international order.

The funds from the loan will not immediately impact the war, as they are expected later in the year. Ukraine continues to seek more immediate military aid, such as air defense systems and F-16 fighter jets, which could start arriving in the summer. Zelensky mentioned that the new security agreement includes US shipments of these aircraft.

The loan arrangement symbolizes a significant move where Russia’s frozen assets are repurposed to support Ukraine’s defense. Although this marks a turning point, it is unlikely to change Russia’s stance on the war. Most of the frozen Russian central bank assets are in Belgium, and international law prevents their direct confiscation for Ukraine’s benefit. Russia has condemned the West’s actions as criminal and has hinted at severe retaliatory measures. European investors have around €33 billion stuck in Russia, complicating the situation further.

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Italy’s Meloni basks in G7 limelight with Western leaders

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Two contrasting accommodation options were presented for the G7 summit in Puglia, Italy: the luxurious Borgo Egnazia resort, known for hosting celebrities like Madonna and the Beckhams, and a deteriorating ship moored off Brindisi for the 2,600 police officers, criticized for its appalling conditions. The resort houses world leaders, while the ship, costing the Italian government €6m and now under fraud investigation, exemplifies the disparity in treatment.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, buoyed by her party’s success in the European elections, hosts the summit, highlighting Italy’s newfound political stability compared to other G7 nations facing political turmoil. Meloni’s government is portrayed as the strongest amidst leaders like Biden, Sunak, and Trudeau, who are struggling domestically.

Low expectations surround the summit due to the precarious political climate in many G7 countries. However, a significant plan to loan Ukraine $50bn from frozen Russian assets is anticipated. Additionally, Sunak will announce substantial support for Ukraine’s energy and humanitarian needs.

Sessions will address the climate crisis, investment in Africa, the Middle East ceasefire, and AI regulation, with Pope Francis attending for the first time. Efforts to broaden global consensus include inviting leaders from Brazil, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Algeria. Locals in Puglia, like ice-cream maker Vincenzo Iannacone, express pride and excitement for the summit, hoping it brings positive attention to their region.

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Giorgia Meloni Opens Up as Italy Votes in EU Elections

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Italians have begun voting on the third of four days of European elections taking place across 27 EU nations. Although these votes are for the next European Parliament, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hopes the outcome will strengthen her position in Italian politics. She has even encouraged voters to “just write Giorgia” on their ballots.

Most EU countries are voting on Sunday after several weeks of turmoil during which two European leaders and other politicians were physically attacked. On Friday evening, Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was assaulted in the street in Copenhagen ahead of Sunday’s Danish vote. She sustained minor whiplash, according to her office, and a suspect has been detained.

European leaders have expressed their shock at the latest attack amid elections involving around 373 million European voters. Last month, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico survived an assassination attempt and was only recently discharged from the hospital. Several German politicians have also been targeted.

While these elections are intended to be separate from national politics, the reality is often different, especially in Italy. Meloni, who leads the far-right Brothers of Italy (FdI), was appointed prime minister in 2022. She has taken the unusual step of putting her name at the top of her party’s ballot, despite having no plans to take a seat in the European Parliament.

Since becoming prime minister in 2022, Meloni has enjoyed steady poll ratings, helped by a fragmented centrist and left-wing opposition and the decline of her junior coalition partner, Matteo Salvini’s League party. To counter this trend, Salvini has shifted his party’s rhetoric further to the right. The League’s election posters, which criticize EU-backed initiatives like electric cars and tethered caps on plastic bottles, have drawn both ridicule and attention.

Salvini’s lead candidate, Roberto Vannacci, has also drawn attention. The army general, dismissed after self-publishing a book with homophobic and racist views, has doubled down on these views since becoming a League candidate. His messages are frequently amplified by the media, which could translate into votes for the League. If not, Salvini’s leadership could be in jeopardy.

Similarly, the left-wing Democratic Party (PD) leader Elly Schlein must match the 19% vote share from the 2019 elections to maintain her position. Further to the left, Ilaria Salis, a self-described antifascist activist detained in Hungary since 2023, is running on the Left/Greens platform.

These European elections hold significant importance. While the Netherlands voted on Thursday, with exit polls suggesting a tight race between a left-green alliance and Geert Wilders’ Freedom Party, other countries like Ireland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Latvia, and Malta are voting across the weekend. Germany is voting on Sunday, with the center-right CDU/CSU expected to surpass Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party.

In France, President Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party is competing for second place with the Socialist party, trailing Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN). Macron, warning of the threat to Europe from the surge of the right, has called for a high turnout. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, recovering from surgery after an assassination attempt, has recently criticized Slovakia’s liberal opposition. Hungary’s Viktor Orban, opposing EU support for Ukraine, warned that Europe is nearing a point of no return in preventing conflict from spreading beyond Ukraine’s borders.

Italy’s polls will be the last to close at 23:00 (21:00 GMT) on Sunday, with initial projections combining provisional results and estimates expected shortly after.

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