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Pope Francis warns pets must not replace children in Italy

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Pope Francis has expressed concern about the increasing difficulty of starting a family in Italy, stating that it has become a significant challenge that only the wealthy can afford. Speaking at a conference on Italy’s demographic crisis, he noted that pets are replacing children in many households. The country has one of the lowest fertility rates in the European Union, with births dropping to a new low of below 400,000 last year. The Pope attributed this decline to a lack of hope among younger generations, who face uncertainty, fragility, and precariousness due to difficulties in finding stable jobs, high rents, and insufficient wages.

The Pope shared an incident where a woman asked him to bless her baby, only to reveal a small dog instead. Expressing his frustration, he questioned why someone would prioritize a pet over hungry children. This remark received applause from the audience.

Italy is not the only country experiencing a decline in birth rates. Japan, South Korea, Puerto Rico, and Portugal are among the nations facing similar challenges. However, Italy’s situation is particularly worrisome due to its status as the third-largest country in the eurozone. The country could lose almost 20% of its population by 2050 while simultaneously facing a rapidly aging population, as evidenced by the tripling number of centenarians over the past two decades.

The shrinking population is a major concern, with experts warning that it could lead to the impoverishment of the nation. Italy’s Economy Minister, Giancarlo Giorgetti, predicts that the declining birth rate will result in an 18% reduction in the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 2042.

Several factors contribute to the declining birth rate in Italy. Young people face difficulties in finding stable employment, and the childcare support system is often inadequate, making it challenging for mothers to balance work and family life. Additionally, six out of ten mothers lack access to nurseries, and many pregnant women face resignations or dismissals from their jobs upon pregnancy.

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Italy declares state of emergency to address influx of migrant boats

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The Italian government has declared a six-month state of emergency in response to an increase in the number of migrants crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa. The move will release €5m in funds and comes as 3,000 migrants arrived in just three days, with many landing on the Italian island of Lampedusa.

Since Friday, the coastguard has rescued around 2,000 people, but 400 people on a fishing boat are still awaiting assistance. Despite attempts by Italy’s right-wing coalition government to tackle irregular migration, migrant arrivals have surged compared to the same period last year.

Over the weekend, at least four people died and 20 more were missing after two migrant boats sank off Tunisia. German aid group ResQship rescued 22 survivors and took them to Lampedusa.

Tunisia has recently become the largest departure point for migrant boats, leading to a series of incidents off the coast, including a disaster on Saturday in which at least four people died. Lampedusa, an Italian island, is located 185km away from the Tunisian port of Sfax. Sea and Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci has reported a 300% increase in migrant flows, calling it an “absolute emergency” that puts Italy’s infrastructure at risk.

However, the minister stressed that the state of emergency alone would not solve the problem and that responsible intervention by the European Union was required.

The extra funding released by the Italian government will reportedly allow officials to speed up reception procedures and the repatriation of those who are not allowed to remain in Italy. It is unclear how the measure will address the rising numbers of migrants crossing the Mediterranean.

The Italian coastguard is escorting two boats in the Ionian Sea off Sicily, with one boat carrying around 400 people believed to have set out from Tobruk in Libya. The rescue mission is being hampered by difficult sea conditions, and an unofficial hotline for migrants called Alarm Phone reported that the boat was experiencing medical emergencies, water filling the vessel, and no fuel left.

The situation was described as dramatic. A second boat carrying around 800 people is also under coastguard escort, with no information about where it set out from. The boat was found adrift in Maltese waters, and an urgent alarm was raised with the authorities of Italy, Greece, and Malta.

German non-governmental organisation Sea-Watch International reported that two merchant vessels near the boat had been ordered not to help with rescue efforts by Malta while the boat was in Maltese waters.

According to monitoring group IOM Missing Migrants Project, over 26,000 people have died or gone missing at sea in the Central Mediterranean since 2014. The Armed Forces of Malta stated that “no rescue was requested by the people on board”.

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News Sports Trending

Charles Leclerc: Ferrari driver asks fans to stop gathering outside his home

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Charles Leclerc has requested admirers to quit obtruding themselves outside of his flat in Monaco and to respect his privacy.

The 25-year-old claimed that after his address recently became known, supporters gathered outside to ring the doorbell. In public spaces or at the track, the Ferrari driver said he would still say hello to supporters, but gathering inside his home is “a barrier that should not be crossed.”

When Leclerc took a selfie with two individuals sporting scooter helmets in Italy last year, his watch was stolen. The theft that occurred in the beach resort of Viareggio last April was reported as a result of four persons being arrested, according to Italian police last week.

“For the past few months, my home address has somehow become public, leading to people gathering beneath my apartment, ringing my bell, and asking for pictures and autographs,” Leclerc wrote on his Instagram stories.

“While I’m always happy to be there for you and I truly appreciate your support, please respect my privacy and refrain from coming to my house.

“I’ll make sure to stop for everyone when you see me on the streets or at the track, but I won’t be coming downstairs if you visit my home.

“Your support, both in person and on social media, means the world to me, but there is a boundary that should not be crossed.”Leclerc has had a challenging start to the 2023 Formula 1 season, finishing 10th in the driver standings after being forced to retire from two of the first three races.

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News Technology Trending

ChatGPT banned in Italy over privacy concerns

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Italy has become the first Western nation to obstruct ChatGPT, an intelligent chatbot. The model, developed by US start-up OpenAI and supported by Microsoft, raised privacy issues, according to the Italian data protection authorities.

With “immediate effect,” the agency said it will forbid OpenAI and launch an investigation. Since its debut in November 2022, ChatGPT has been used by millions of users.

With the internet as it was in 2021 as its database, it can replicate different writing styles and respond to queries in a manner that is natural and human-like. It was included to Bing last month after Microsoft invested billions in it.

Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook will all have a version of the technology integrated into them, according to the company.

Concerns have been raised about the possible downsides of artificial intelligence (AI), including the threat it poses to employment and the spread of bias and false information. Elon Musk and other prominent industry heavyweights called for the suspension of these AI systems earlier this week over concerns that the race to develop them was out of control.

In addition to blocking OpenAI’s chatbot, the Italian watchdog declared that it will look into whether it complies with the General Data Protection Regulation. The GDPR sets rules for the collection, use, processing, and storage of personal data.

The data breach involved user communications and payment details, the watchdog reported on March 20.

It claimed that there was no legal justification for “the widespread collecting and storage of personal data for the purpose of ‘training’ the platform’s operating algorithms.”

It added that the software “exposes minors to utterly improper replies relative to their degree of development and knowledge” because there was no method to confirm the users’ ages.

Due to the same worries, Bard, Google’s competing artificial intelligence chatbot, is currently only accessible to select persons above the age of 18.

The Italian data-protection authority said OpenAI had 20 days to say how it would address the watchdog’s concerns, under penalty of a fine of €20 million ($21.7m) or up to 4% of annual revenues.

Elsewhere, the Irish data protection commission – responsible for upholding the fundamental right of individuals in the EU to have their personal data protected – told the BBC it is following up with the Italian regulator to understand the basis for their action and “will coordinate with all EU data protection authorities” in connection to the ban.

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Food News Trending

Italy’s Quest to Preserve Culinary Tradition: Controversy Surrounds Ban on Lab-Grown Meat

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A plan that would outlaw laboratory-produced beef and other synthetic foods has the support of Italy’s right-wing government, underlining the country’s culinary tradition and commitment to public health.

A violation of the ban might result in fines of up to €60,000 (£53,000) if the plans are approved.

The minister of agriculture and food sovereignty under a new name, Francesco Lollobrigida, spoke on the value of Italian cuisine. The measure was applauded by the farmers’ group.

But, it was a setback for certain animal welfare organisations, who had promoted lab-produced meat as a solution to problems like preserving food safety and the environment from carbon emissions.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is one of the 500,000 signatories to a petition that Coldiretti and other agriculture advocacy groups have gathered in recent months to safeguard “natural food vs. synthetic food.”

She addressed a “flash mob” assembled by Coldiretti outside her office in Rome, saying, “We could only rejoice with our farmers a legislation that puts our farmers in the vanguard, not just on the topic of safeguarding quality… but also in defending consumers.”

The proposed bill came hard on the heels of a series of government decrees banning the use of flour derived from insects such as crickets and locusts in pizza or pasta.

Both initiatives were initiated by ministers who cited Italy’s renowned Mediterranean diet as their inspiration.

“Laboratory products can not guarantee quality, well-being, or the safeguarding of the Italian food and wine culture and tradition, to which part of our tradition is related,” said Mr. Lollobrigida, a member of the far-right Brothers of Italy party.

The measures, which were adopted by the ministers on Tuesday, aim to outlaw lab-produced fish and synthetic milk as well as other synthetic meals made from animal cells without harming the animal.

After “careful review,” the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last November approved cell-cultured chicken for human consumption. Singapore’s regulatory body approved the use of lab-grown chicken meat in nuggets in 2020.

Although the European Union has not yet approved any cell-based agriculture practises, such as cultured meat, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has stated that such practises “could be considered as a promising and innovative solution… for healthy and environmentally friendly food systems.”

Commentators noted that due to the free flow of goods and services, Italy would not be able to object to the sale of synthetic beef made within the EU once it receives EU clearance.

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Europe migrant crisis: Dozens missing off Tunisian coast

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On March 24th, 2023, a migrant boat carrying dozens of people, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, went missing off the Tunisian coast. The boat is believed to have been headed towards Italy, where many migrants attempt to seek asylum and a better life.

According to local reports, the boat had set off from the Tunisian city of Sfax, carrying around 50 to 60 people. However, it ran into trouble and is suspected to have sunk in the Mediterranean Sea. The Tunisian navy has launched a search and rescue operation, but so far, no survivors have been found.

The incident is just the latest in a series of tragic events involving migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea in search of a better life in Europe. Many of these migrants come from countries in sub-Saharan Africa, where they face poverty, conflict, and persecution. They risk their lives by taking dangerous journeys across the sea, often in overcrowded and unseaworthy boats.

The European Union has faced criticism for its response to the migrant crisis, with many arguing that it has not done enough to provide safe and legal routes for migrants to enter Europe. Instead, many are forced to take perilous journeys, risking their lives in the process.

The issue of migration has become a highly politicized one in Europe, with many countries taking a hardline stance against allowing migrants in. This has led to tensions between EU member states and has complicated efforts to address the issue.

As the search for survivors continues, the latest tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those attempting to cross the Mediterranean in search of a better life. It also highlights the urgent need for the EU and its member states to find a humane and effective way to address the issue of migration.

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Italy migrant boat shipwreck: More than 100 people feared dead

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More than 100 passengers, possibly including children, are thought to have perished after their boat capsized in choppy waters off southern Italy. There have been at least 62 verified deaths among migrants, with 12 children, including a baby, reportedly among the dead.

On Sunday, the ship, which is believed to have been carrying 200 people, broke apart as it attempted to touch down close to Crotone. There were reportedly passengers from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, Iraq, and Iran.

At a nearby seaside resort in the Calabria region, bodies were found on the beach. Many more are still missing, according to the coast guard, who said that 80 individuals had been rescued alive, “including some who managed to reach the land after the sinking.”

According to customs police, one survivor was detained on suspicion of trafficking in migrants. Many of the passengers were reportedly from Pakistan. More than a dozen Pakistanis are thought to have been among the deceased, according to Shehbaz Sharif, the country’s prime minister, on Monday.

A number of the survivors of the horrific disaster are still dealing with the death of their loved ones as help and relocation efforts go on. Some of them were sobbing silently inside a makeshift reception facility in the town of Isola di Capo Rizzuto, while others were simply covered in blankets and gazing into space.

Secretary General António Guterres called on nations to do more to assist refugees and migrants, as well as for safer transit routes and strengthened rescue operations, in a Monday morning address to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy, who was elected last year in part on a promise to stop the flow of immigrants into her country, expressed “great grief” and accused human traffickers for the deaths on Sunday.

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Italy ex-PM Silvio Berlusconi acquitted in ‘bunga-bunga’ party case

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Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was cleared of paying witnesses to fabricate stories about his infamous “bunga-bunga” parties.

The 86-year-old multibillionaire media tycoon was charged with paying young showgirls and other witnesses to provide false testimony on the allegedly pornographic gatherings.

The remaining 28 defendants were all found not guilty, including Moroccan dancer Karima El Mahroug, also known as Ruby, who was involved in a previous Berlusconi case. Berlusconi has had numerous legal battles.

Right-wing senator Ruby successfully appealed his conviction for paying for sex with a minor prostitute in the Ruby case. He denied having had intercourse with Ruby, and she denied ever having worked as a prostitute.

He has asserted innocence throughout his legal proceedings and charged that the prosecution is out for revenge on account of his political views. He argued that the gatherings, which some people had referred to as “orgies,” were actually formal dinners.

In 2013, Berlusconi was sentenced for tax fraud, which was the sole trial that resulted in a conviction. Italian justice was sympathetic with him because of his advanced age; he completed a year of volunteer work at a nursing home close to Milan. Between 1994 and 2011, Berlusconi served as prime minister three times. In the “bunga-bunga” trial, he was accused of paying witnesses millions of euros in hush money, but he insisted that the money was offered as compensation for persons connected to the notorious parties who had their reputations damaged.

He was temporarily barred from political office over his conviction for tax fraud, but won a seat in the Senate in 2022 elections.

His Forza Italia party plays a key role in Italy’s ruling right-wing coalition, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. She hailed his acquittal as “excellent news that puts an end to a long legal case that also had important repercussions on Italian political and institutional life”.

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Italy’s most-wanted Mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro arrested in Sicily

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Matteo Messina Denaro, the most sought Mafia boss in Italy, was apprehended in Sicily after 30 years on the lam. According to reports, Messina Denaro was detained while undergoing cancer treatment in Palermo, the capital of Sicily.

He was prosecuted and given a life sentence in prison in absentia in 2002 for a number of killings; he is suspected of being a boss of the infamous Cosa Nostra Mafia. His arrest was carried out with the assistance of more than 100 military personnel.

According to Italian media, the Carabinieri apprehended Messina Denaro soon before 10:00 (09:00 GMT) and took him to a hidden location. According to reports, he went to the clinic under a false identity to receive chemotherapy.

A video circulated by Italian media appears to show people standing in the street and applauding the Italian police as Messina Denaro is led away.

Messina Denaro allegedly bragged that his victims could “fill a cemetery.” The formidable Cosa Nostra organised crime syndicate’s mafia boss also handled racketeering, illicit garbage disposal, money-laundering, and drug trafficking.

According to rumours, he was Tot Riina’s protege. Tot Riina was the boss of the Corleone family and was apprehended in 1993 after 23 years on the lam. Clans dubbed Messina Denaro “U Siccu” and “Diabolik,” both of which refer to elusive thieves in comic books (Skinny).

He is regarded as the final “secret-keeper” of the Cosa Nostra. He is thought to be the source of all information and the identities of people connected to numerous of the Mafia’s most notorious crimes, including the bombings that killed magistrates Falcone and Borsellino.

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Italy shooting: Three women shot dead in Rome cafe

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A guy opened fire at a cafe in Rome, killing three women and wounded four others, one of whom was a friend of Italy’s incoming prime minister. Inside, the residents’ committee of a nearby block was holding a meeting.

Rome’s mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, called the shooting a “terrible episode of violence” and said he would be present at a Monday emergency meeting. In detention is a 57-year-old suspect. According to reports, he has a history of disagreements with certain of the committee’s board. The vice-president of the committee, Luciana Ciorba, was at the café in the Fidene neighbourhood, according to the Italian newspaper La Repubblica.

She claimed that the shooter had shouted “I’ll kill you all” as he entered the club on Sunday before pulling his gun. According to reports, he was overcome by neighbourhood residents before being arrested by authorities. One of the injured, thought to be two women and two men, is still in a critical condition.

Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister, identified one of the victims as her friend Nicoletta Golisano. Sabina Sperandio and Elisabetta Silenzi were the names of the other two deceased women. Ms. Meloni expressed her sympathy to Ms. Golisano’s family in a Facebook post, saying she would always remember her friend as “beautiful and happy.”

A shooting range from which the suspect is suspected of stealing the weapon used in the attack has been closed, according to Ms. Meloni, and is the subject of an inquiry. The suspect, whose identity has been made public by the Italian press but not by the police, has not yet been explained by the police. It is believed that the attack was not political in nature.

According to reports, the suspect and the board of residents of the apartment building have been engaged in a protracted argument. In October, Giorgia Meloni, the head of the far-right Brothers of Italy party in Italy, was elected as the nation’s first female prime minister.

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