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Straits Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Italy calls Council of Europe 'shameful' after warning on police racism
Police patrols outside the press centre facilities, ahead of the G7 summit of world leaders in the city of Bari, Italy, June 12, 2024. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki/ File Photo ROME - Italy lashed out at the Council of Europe on Thursday and defended its police after the European human rights body named Italy among countries where racist conduct among law enforcers was a problem. In presenting its 2025 annual report on Wednesday, the head of the Council's Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) urged Italy to launch an independent enquiry into evidence that its police disproportionately targeted immigrants. Bertil Cottier said so-called "racial profiling", by which the police stop people on the basis of their skin colour or presumed nationality or religion, appeared to be an issue in Italy and called on the government to look into it. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her deputy Matteo Salvini, who both lead far-right parties that base their appeal on law-and-order and the fight against illegal immigration, bluntly dismissed the suggestion. "ECRI's words, accusing the Italian police of racism, are simply shameful," Brothers of Italy chief Meloni posted on social media platform X on Wednesday. League leader Salvini doubled down on Thursday, telling reporters in Rome that the anti-racism panel "should be ashamed," and calling it "another useless body paid for by Italian and European citizens, that produces rubbish in return." The head of state Sergio Mattarella summoned Italy's police chief for a meeting on Thursday, "to re-confirm the admiration and trust of the country in its law enforcers." The Council of Europe did not respond to a request for comment. The Strasbourg-based organisation, which has 46 member states, was founded in 1949 to promote democracy and human rights in the continent. The latest ECRI report was an overview of its activities in 2024 and did not specifically discuss the Italian situation. However, in ECRI's latest country-specific report in October, it flagged "numerous accounts of racial profiling by law enforcement officials, targeting especially Roma and people of African descent" in Italy. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
22-05-2025
- Climate
- The Star
Firefighters test readiness as Greece enters wildfire season
A PZL firefighting plane drops water, during a wide scale readiness training exercise, as the country enters its peak fire season, in Lavrio, Greece, May 22, Gouliamaki LAVRIO, Greece (Reuters) -On a hillside outside Athens, firefighters, rescuers and the army stand ready to tackle an encroaching wildfire near a summer camp - a scenario all too familiar in Greece, where climate change has made blazes more frequent and devastating. With Greece well into its wildfire season, Thursday's exercise near the seaside town of Lavrio some 70 kilometres south of the capital was held simultaneously across the country. Fire trucks raced to the scene and aircraft dumped water on a simulated flame. Authorities described the drill's weather conditions as "realistic" - hot and windy after weeks of drought. Greece, whose Mediterranean climate makes it more vulnerable to climate change, recorded its hottest summer last year as well as prolonged periods of drought that led to water shortages and damaged crops. This June is forecast to be warmer than usual across southern Europe. The government is planning to deploy a record number of firefighters this year - around 18,000 from 15,500 in 2022 - backed by volunteers. It will spend around 2 billion euros on new aircraft and will use nearly twice as many thermal camera drones to catch fires early. "Our goal is to not mourn human lives and to protect property and the environment," Kefalogiannis said. Some 9,777 wildfires broke out across Greece last year according to the fire brigade, up from 8,257 in 2023. One of Europe's biggest wildfires on record burned for weeks in northern Greece in 2023, killing at least 20 people. Last summer, a wildfire fanned by gale force winds reached Athens's northern suburbs, forcing hundreds to flee. (Reporting by Karolina Tagaris, editing by Ed Osmond)
Straits Times
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Straits Times
Firefighters test readiness as Greece enters wildfire season
Firefighters fly a drone, during a wide scale readiness training exercise, as the country enters its peak fire season, in Lavrio, Greece, May 22, Gouliamaki A McDermott firefighting helicopter drops water, during a wide scale readiness training exercise, as the country enters its peak fire season, in Lavrio, Greece, May 22, Gouliamaki A McDermott firefighting helicopter fills water at the sea, during a wide scale readiness training exercise, as the country enters its peak fire season, in Lavrio, Greece, May 22, Gouliamaki Firefighters conduct a wide scale readiness training exercise, as the country enters its peak fire season, in Lavrio, Greece, May 22, Gouliamaki A PZL firefighting plane drops water, during a wide scale readiness training exercise, as the country enters its peak fire season, in Lavrio, Greece, May 22, Gouliamaki LAVRIO, Greece - On a hillside outside Athens, firefighters, rescuers and the army stand ready to tackle an encroaching wildfire near a summer camp - a scenario all too familiar in Greece, where climate change has made blazes more frequent and devastating. With Greece well into its wildfire season, Thursday's exercise near the seaside town of Lavrio some 70 kilometres south of the capital was held simultaneously across the country. Fire trucks raced to the scene and aircraft dumped water on a simulated flame. Authorities described the drill's weather conditions as "realistic" - hot and windy after weeks of drought. Greece, whose Mediterranean climate makes it more vulnerable to climate change, recorded its hottest summer last year as well as prolonged periods of drought that led to water shortages and damaged crops. This June is forecast to be warmer than usual across southern Europe. The government is planning to deploy a record number of firefighters this year - around 18,000 from 15,500 in 2022 - backed by volunteers. It will spend around 2 billion euros on new aircraft and will use nearly twice as many thermal camera drones to catch fires early. "Our goal is to not mourn human lives and to protect property and the environment," Kefalogiannis said. Some 9,777 wildfires broke out across Greece last year according to the fire brigade, up from 8,257 in 2023. One of Europe's biggest wildfires on record burned for weeks in northern Greece in 2023, killing at least 20 people. Last summer, a wildfire fanned by gale force winds reached Athens's northern suburbs, forcing hundreds to flee. REUTERS Find out more about climate change and how it could affect you on the ST microsite here.
The Star
17-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Romanians vote in presidential run-off that could widen EU rifts
A woman exits the Central Electoral Bureau, ahead of the second round of the presidential election, in Bucharest, Romania, May 17, 2025. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki BUCHAREST Reuters) -Romanians vote on Sunday in a presidential election run-off that pits a hard-right eurosceptic against a centrist independent, and where the outcome could have implications for both the country's struggling economy and EU unity. Hard-right nationalist George Simion, 38, who opposes military aid to neighbouring Ukraine and is critical of European Union leadership, decisively swept the first presidential election round, triggering the collapse of a pro-Western coalition government. That led to significant capital outflows. Centrist Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan, 55, who has pledged to clamp down on corruption, is staunchly pro-EU and NATO, and has said Romania's support for Ukraine is vital for its own security against a growing Russian threat. The president of the EU and NATO state has considerable powers, not least being in charge of the defence council that decides on military aid. He will also have oversight of foreign policy, with the power to veto EU votes that require unanimity. Whoever is elected will also need to nominate a prime minister to negotiate a new majority in parliament to reduce Romania's budget deficit - the largest in the EU - as well as reassure investors and try to avoid a credit rating downgrade. An opinion poll on Friday showed Dan slightly ahead of Simion for the first time since the first round in a tight race that will depend on turnout and the sizable Romanian diaspora. "Unlike Western states, which can more easily afford mistakes, trust in Romania can be lost much more easily and it could ... take generations to gain it back," said Radu Burnete, director of the country's largest employers' group. "We cannot afford to drift." Voting starts at 7 a.m. (0400 GMT) and ends at 9 p.m. (1800 GMT), with exit polls to follow immediately. MISINFORMATION Political analysts have said victory for Simion, a supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, would risk isolating the country abroad, eroding private investment and destabilising NATO's eastern flank. The vote comes on the same day as the first round of Poland's presidential election, expected to be led by pro-EU Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski and conservative historian Karol Nawrocki. Victory for Simion and/or Trzaskowski would expand a cohort of eurosceptic leaders that already includes prime ministers in Hungary and Slovakia amid a political shift in Central Europe that could widen rifts in the EU. "What the (nationalists) want is a European Union that is as little integrated as possible," said political analyst and historian Ion M. Ionita. "One that is very little united from a legislative standpoint in which decisions are only taken nationally, but still benefitting from European money." Romania's vote comes nearly six months after the initial ballot was canceled because of alleged Russian interference - denied by Moscow - in favour of far-right frontrunner Calin Georgescu, who was then banned from standing again. The cancellation was criticised by the Trump administration, and Simion owes much of his success to popular anger against the decision, as well as frustration with mainstream parties blamed for high living costs and corruption. Simion has said his prime minister pick would be Georgescu, who favours nationalisations and an openness towards Russia. Some analysts warn online disinformation has been rife again ahead of Sunday's vote. "We're seeing disinformation spreading like wildfire across social media platforms – through bots and strategic reshares mimicking authentic posting," said Roxana Radu, expert at Oxford University's Blavatnik School of Government. (Reporting by Luiza IlieEditing by Mark Potter)
Straits Times
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Romanians vote in presidential run-off that could widen EU rifts
People walk by Romanian and EU flags, ahead of the second round of the presidential election, in Bucharest, Romania, May 17, 2025. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki People walk in the centre of the city, ahead of the second round of the presidential election, in Bucharest, Romania, May 17, 2025. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki A girl plays under a Romanian flag, at a rally in support of the European Union, ahead of the presidential election run-off, in Bucharest, Romania, May 9, 2025. REUTERS/Andreea Campeanu A woman exits the Central Electoral Bureau, ahead of the second round of the presidential election, in Bucharest, Romania, May 17, 2025. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki BUCHAREST Reuters) -Romanians vote on Sunday in a presidential election run-off that pits a hard-right eurosceptic against a centrist independent, and where the outcome could have implications for both the country's struggling economy and EU unity. Hard-right nationalist George Simion, 38, who opposes military aid to neighbouring Ukraine and is critical of European Union leadership, decisively swept the first presidential election round, triggering the collapse of a pro-Western coalition government. That led to significant capital outflows. Centrist Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan, 55, who has pledged to clamp down on corruption, is staunchly pro-EU and NATO, and has said Romania's support for Ukraine is vital for its own security against a growing Russian threat. The president of the EU and NATO state has considerable powers, not least being in charge of the defence council that decides on military aid. He will also have oversight of foreign policy, with the power to veto EU votes that require unanimity. Whoever is elected will also need to nominate a prime minister to negotiate a new majority in parliament to reduce Romania's budget deficit - the largest in the EU - as well as reassure investors and try to avoid a credit rating downgrade. An opinion poll on Friday showed Dan slightly ahead of Simion for the first time since the first round in a tight race that will depend on turnout and the sizable Romanian diaspora. "Unlike Western states, which can more easily afford mistakes, trust in Romania can be lost much more easily and it could ... take generations to gain it back," said Radu Burnete, director of the country's largest employers' group. "We cannot afford to drift." Voting starts at 7 a.m. (0400 GMT) and ends at 9 p.m. (1800 GMT), with exit polls to follow immediately. MISINFORMATION Political analysts have said victory for Simion, a supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, would risk isolating the country abroad, eroding private investment and destabilising NATO's eastern flank. The vote comes on the same day as the first round of Poland's presidential election, expected to be led by pro-EU Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski and conservative historian Karol Nawrocki. Victory for Simion and/or Trzaskowski would expand a cohort of eurosceptic leaders that already includes prime ministers in Hungary and Slovakia amid a political shift in Central Europe that could widen rifts in the EU. "What the (nationalists) want is a European Union that is as little integrated as possible," said political analyst and historian Ion M. Ionita. "One that is very little united from a legislative standpoint in which decisions are only taken nationally, but still benefitting from European money." Romania's vote comes nearly six months after the initial ballot was canceled because of alleged Russian interference - denied by Moscow - in favour of far-right frontrunner Calin Georgescu, who was then banned from standing again. The cancellation was criticised by the Trump administration, and Simion owes much of his success to popular anger against the decision, as well as frustration with mainstream parties blamed for high living costs and corruption. Simion has said his prime minister pick would be Georgescu, who favours nationalisations and an openness towards Russia. Some analysts warn online disinformation has been rife again ahead of Sunday's vote. "We're seeing disinformation spreading like wildfire across social media platforms – through bots and strategic reshares mimicking authentic posting," said Roxana Radu, expert at Oxford University's Blavatnik School of Government. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
