News from Italy
Vita gazette – From the USA to NATO and the EU, from Russia to China and the Pacific… From energy to arms and hunger… From culture to history and art… From natural disasters to new discoveries and technology… Important history recorded notes… (15-22 October 2022)
In order to have an idea by being informed… We choose carefully only the news that matters to start the week well. Weekly information note for those who missed important developments in history…
Human and animal rights
Algeria – France: The largest party and coalition partner of the Algerian Parliament, the National Liberation Front (UKC), demanded that France recognize and apologize for the massacre committed by the police against Algerians on 17 October 1961 in Paris. (16 Oct)
On the night of October 17, 1961, the police attacked a massive unarmed and peaceful procession of Algerians in Paris. Hundreds were dead and thousands were wounded. A wound still open. the publisher François Maspero recalled the massacre of October 17, 1961, interviewed thirty years later in Mehdi Lallaoui’s documentary The Silence of the River (1991). That night in Paris, amid almost general indifference, the most serious police and racist repression of a demonstration in the history of post-World War II took place. The police systematically and preventively attacked an unarmed and peaceful procession of Algerians, with an impressive toll: hundreds of dead and missing, thousands injured, and 11,000 detained.
Global warming – Climate change – Natural disasters
Germany: Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the climate crisis is the biggest security threat of this century. He stated that every measure taken to protect the climate contributes to global peace and international security. Emphasizing that the climate crisis can be better tackled by expanding renewable energy, Baerbock noted that climate policy should be placed at the centre of EU foreign policy. (17 Oct)
New Zealand: The farmers protest the “extraction” tax. They demanded the centre-left government back down from the new law, which they described as the “burpee and fart tax”.Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern recently announced the first tax plan for animals nationwide, which concerns six million people. Ardern’s arguing that the tax could benefit farmers sparked backlash. Prime Minister Ardern’s plan envisions the world’s first such tax on agricultural gases and biogenic methane produced by their livestock from owners of an estimated six million cows and 26 million sheep, which is said to increase emissions across New Zealand. Ardern argues that the tax is necessary to slow global warming. (20 Oct)
Health
Hair straightening chemicals carry high uterine cancer. In the study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, researchers determined that women who reported using hair straightening products frequently (more than four times in the previous year) were more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer than those who did not use these products. (19 Oct)
The bird flu cases: While the number of flu cases detected in the USA reached the highest level since 2015, the epidemic was widespread in poultry and wild birds. (19 Oct)
WHO: By 2030, 500 million people will suffer from inactivity-related health problems. For the first time, the World Health Organization (WHO) has prepared a global report on the effects of inactivity. According to the report, if governments do not change their stance on this issue, the number of people suffering from diseases such as heart problems, obesity and diabetes due to lack of physical activity will reach approximately 500 million between 2020-30. (19 Oct)
WHO: The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that immediate action must be taken against famine in Somalia. Otherwise, the country may face a health crisis that has never been seen before. (20 Oct)
Art – Culture – History
Support for Putin from the famous US actor. In his birthday message, Steven Seagal described Russian President Vladimir Putin as “one of the greatest world leaders of all time”. US actor Seagal congratulated Putin on his birthday message. “I think we are living in very, very difficult times right now. He is one of the world’s greatest leaders and one of the greatest presidents,” the message said. (20 Oct)
Eurovision: Following North Macedonia and Montenegro, Bulgaria also decided not to participate in the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. The three countries’ decision came after the increase in participation registration fees. (21 Oct)
Science – Technology – Discovery
England: According to a study published in the PLOS Digital Health, Scientists conducted a Biobank Project study. The study, which involved more than 100,000 Britons, began in 2006 and will continue for another 14 years. (22 Oct)
Researchers collected 6-minute slices of participants who wore motion sensors on their wrists, recording their daily walks. The scientists measured the condition of the heart and lungs during these walks of the mixed racers and compared them with the average of their age groups. The study’s results estimated participants’ risk of death in the next five years with 72% accuracy.
Iraqi: In the Iraqi city of Mosul, archaeologists began restoration work at the Masaki Gate, which ISIS destroyed. During the studies, archaeologists found 2,700-year-old Assyrian remains. According to the news of AFP, the Ministry of Antiquities of Iraq said that the ruins date back to the Assyrian King Sanherib, who ruled the ancient city of Nineveh from 705 to 681 BC. The ministry stated that in ruins found at the historical gate, there are eight marble reliefs, finely carved battle scenes, and grape and palm tree engravings. Masaki Gate, one of the enormous gates of the ancient city of Nineveh, symbolised the city’s power and greatness. Although the gate was rebuilt in the 1970s, it was damaged in 2003 by the US invasion of Iraq. (20 Oct)
A 2009 report by UNESCO stated that “it was determined that the city was damaged by digging, cutting, scraping and levelling”. In 2016, ISIS destroyed many ancient cities from the pre-Islamic period with a bulldozer and looted the Mashki Gate, which it sees as a symbol of “Paganism”.
International relations and strategies
Pope Francis: Pope Francis stated that the Russia-Ukraine war demonstrates the need for the United Nations Security Council to find practical solutions to conflicts. (16 Oct)
Russia: The state of preparedness for the war period has increased in all regions of Russia. Three different levels of readiness for the war period in Ukraine will be implemented in all areas of Russia. Accordingly, security measures for energy, communication and transportation infrastructures in these regions can be increased. (19 Oct)
Russia – Ukraine: Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to declare martial law in annexed Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions (19 Oct)
Italy – USA-EU-NATO- Russia-Ukraine: Former Prime Minister of Italy, Silvio Berlusconi, stated that the Ukrainian administrators were responsible for the war and that Russia organized a special operation to change the government. Berlusconi noted that due to the military and financial aid provided by the Western world, the military operation turned into a great war that would last for years. (19 Oct)
Finland draws fence on Russian border: Parliament supported the motion. (19 Oct)
Russia – USA-EU-NATO-Ukraine: Military support to Ukraine brings NATO closer to conflict with us. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zakharova pointed out that NATO was shipping weapons to Ukraine and said, “According to the latest data, the West provided 42.3 billion dollars worth of military aid to Ukraine. Among these, 28.3 billion dollars belong to the United States. As if competing with each other, their countries continue to send weapons and ammunition to the Kyiv regime, provide intelligence information, train Ukrainian soldiers and provide guidance on military operations. This brings NATO closer to a confrontation with Russia.” made its assessment. Stating that “NATO is an accomplice of the Kyiv administration,” Zaharova said, “NATO countries, especially the USA, are the sponsors of terrorist acts carried out under the auspices of the Kyiv administration.” Zaharova noted that terrorists, extremists and criminal organizations had a monthly value of more than 1 billion dollars in the black market. (20 Oct)
Ireland – USA-NATO-EU: Irish EP Member Clare Daly made a historic speech in the EP parliament: “The concept of state-sponsored terrorism belongs to America. If you insist on using this term, the sponsor of Israeli terrorism in Palestine in Europe. The West is the sponsor of terrorism in Saudi Arabia. ISIS is essentially a French, British and American terrorist organization. The sponsors of Syria and Iraq are Turkey and the Gulf countries. The United States has supported terrorism in the face of the Cuban revolution for decades. The Contras in Nicaragua, the Contras in Guatemala and death squads in El Salvador remember fear after fear, terror upon terror in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Extremists want “burn all bridges, no peace”. Extremists want Ukraine to become a permanent slaughterhouse for the suicidal holy crusade against Russia. But essentially, we must work to establish peace. It should work.”
Germany – NATO: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the West would not take little steps that could lead to a confrontation between Russia and NATO: “In such” a dangerous situation, any limited actions are unacceptable. There should not be a direct conflict between Russia and NATO.” (22 O”t)
New York Post writer Philip Pilkington stated that the US and EU sanctions imposed to destroy the Russian economy have the opposite effect, weakening the West and strengthening the Russian currency. The author made more money than the previous year by emphasising that the sanctions did not wRussia’suse of rising energy prices and that Russia’s main export was oil and gas. Something has to change,” he s”id.
Pilkington pointed out that US President Joe Biden promised to crash the ruble, but the Russian currency rose by about 23 per cent against the dollar. Stating that the West’sWest’sc of not buying Russian energy resources was also unsuccessful because Moscow agreed with China and India on oil and gas, the author found it ironic that these countries bought Russian energy resources at a discount while the Americans and Europeans were suffering from the energy crisis and expressed the following. (22 Oct)
EU:
France: In France, the platform that monitors the gas consumption of subscribers has been put into practice. When the gas usage of consumers registered to the platform increases, the signal will turn green, orange, or red; at this stage, the system will automatically send an e-mail or text message to warn the consumer. French President Emmanuel Macron stated that GermanGermany’sisolation is unsuitable for this country and Europe. (20 Oct)
While the leaders of the EU member states could not agree on the ceiling price for natural gas, they decided to conduct studies to determine the possible consequences of the ceiling price. (21 Oct)
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that the ceiling price proposed by the European Commission against Russian gas would not be valid for supplies to his country. Stating that this condition will not be mandatory for Budapest if EU countries start to buy gas together, Orban continued his words with a humorous example. “It’s like going to the”It’s telling the bartender that you want to pay half your beer,” said the European Com” mission’s proposal commission’s price on gas prices, Orban said. (21 Oct)
Italy’s Outgoing Prime Minister Mario Draghi said that Russia would achieve victory if EU countries continue to take a different stance in the Ukraine-Russia war. Arguing that the divisions and disagreements within the EU should be ended, Draghi said, He told the leaders of the European Union that “we should act together”.
The European Union “leaders announced their decisions based on the Ukraine war and energy security after the meeting in the last two days. It was decided that Russia’s frozen assets so far amounted to oveRussia’sllion Euros and to explore options for using this in Ukraine’s reconstruction. (22 Oct)
Energy:
GeUkraine’sspitals in the country may be closed due to the crisis. German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said hospitals in the country are in danger of going bankrupt amid the energy and inflation crisis. (17 Oct) Germany: The annual Kölner Lichter fireworks show, held in Cologne, Germany, was cancelled this year due to economic problems due to the war and energy crisis in Europe. (18 Oct) The energy crisis has increased the theft of wood from forests in Germany. (19 Oct) The German Bundestag approved the 200 billion euro aid fund “protection umbrella” law against the energy” crisis. In Germany” the government created the 200 billion euro fund to protect consumers and companies from high energy costs and described it as “the umbrella of protection against rising “as and electricity prices” passed the Bundestag. (21 Oct)
England: J” in Pettigrew, managing director of multinational electricity and gas company National Grid, said there could be cuts to homes and businesses in the UK this winter as electricity and gas imports from Europe plummeted. Pettigrew warns that there will be three hours of blackout per day in the worst-case scenario. (18 Oct)
Belgium: In Belgium, some cafes have started to receive mandatory energy contributions from their customers, while others lower the temperature so that long-sitting people leave the environment. Some bakeries in Belgium are closing their shutters due to the energy crisis. The eight-times increase in gas bills and two-times rise in flour prices put the bakers in trouble. Some bakeries began to close because they could not afford the costs (18 Oct)
France: The platform that monitors the gas consumption of subscribers has been put into practice in France. When the gas consumption of consumers registered on the platform increases, the signal turns green, orange, or red; at this stage, the system will automatically send an e-mail or SMS to notify the consumer. The shares of wood companies increased by 700 per cent in the stock market due to the energy crisis in France. Due to the rise in energy prices in France, the shares of companies selling wood rose rapidly in the stock market as the public turned to sawdust. (20 Oct)
Armament
France: France promised Ukraine to provide air defence missiles and special training for its soldiers. French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said in a statement to Le Parisien newspaper that nearly 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers will be trained in France. (16 Oct)
EU: The European Union will provide additional financial support of 500m euros to assist in the military training of Ukrainian soldiers in Europe and purchase weapons for Ukraine. In this context, the EU’s total security support will exceed 3 billion euros in Ukraine. (17 Oct)
The USA – The Washington Post newspaper has found documents showing that six retired US admirals, three former navy officers and three shipbuilding experts have been providing consultancy services to Australia since 2015. In recent years, the Australian navy has seen an increase in consulting services from US soldiers, with nearly $10 million paid in total for these services since 2015. (19 Oct)
Estonia: Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur announced that they gave one-third of their country’s defence budget to Ukraine. (19 Oct)
Spain: Defense expenditures come to the fore in the 2023 budget prepared by the left coalition government in Spain and discussed in the parliament. The government will allocate 12 billion 825 million euros to the defence budget, an increase of 25.8 per cent in 2023 compared to 2022. (20 Oct)
Germany: Chancellor Olaf Scholz says his country will train a brigade of about 5,000 Ukrainian soldiers by spring. (20 Oct)
Sanctions
Finland: Finnish Prime Minister Marin argued that all EU countries should impose a visa ban on Russian tourists. (19 Oct)
The US administration has announced sanctions against a network that buys military and sensitive technologies manufactured in the US and supplies them to Russia. (20 Oct)
Serbia: Serbian President Aleksandr Vucic announced that they would not impose any sanctions on Russia unless there is a threat to his country. (21 Oct)
Countries
France: Thousands of people took to the streets in Paris, the capital of France, to protest the cost of living in the country and the insensitivity in the fight against climate change. (16 Oct)
Sweden: In Sweden, 36 days after the election, a right-wing coalition government was formed. (17 Oct)
England: British Prime Minister Liz Truss has announced her resignation from her post. Truss said in a statement that he could not fulfil his promises when he took office. (20 Oct)
Italy: Meloni government took oath in Italy. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her ministers, who formed the 68th government in Italy, took the oath and began their duties. (22 Oct)
