Italy has delivered weapons worth 3 billion euros to Ukraine since 2022
Since November 2022, Italy has provided Ukraine with nearly 3 billion euros worth of weapons and ammunition, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto confirmed.
As Catholic cardinals prepare to elect a new pope following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, a key question arises: will the papacy return to an Italian after nearly 50 years of foreign leadership?
For centuries, Italians dominated the papacy, holding the position unbroken for 455 years until 1978, when Polish-born John Paul II was elected. Since then, the role has passed to German Pope Benedict and Argentine Pope Francis. Now, with the conclave set to begin on May 7, speculation is growing around several Italian candidates, including Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's Secretary of State; Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna; and Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, based in Jerusalem.
Despite Italy’s strong historical ties to the papacy, its influence has declined in recent decades. Italians now make up only 14% of the cardinal electors, compared to 24% in 2013. The Italian vote could be split among multiple candidates, reducing the chance of a united front.
Historian Alberto Melloni pointed out that Italy's failure to back a single candidate in past conclaves contributed to the election of non-Italians. Internal divisions and unwillingness to compromise have often made Italian contenders seem less viable.
Though Italian cardinals avoid openly campaigning, many emphasize that the pope’s origin should matter less than spiritual wisdom. Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco stated that faith and leadership are more important than nationality.
However, a past financial scandal could damage Italy's chances. Cardinal Angelo Becciu, a former top official under Parolin, was dismissed in 2020 and later convicted for financial misconduct involving a London property deal. Although Parolin wasn’t implicated, the scandal has resurfaced, casting a shadow over the Italian bloc. Becciu announced he would not attend the conclave to avoid controversy.
Experts note that the leading Italian candidates have significant international experience, a shift from past traditions. Whether this makes them more acceptable to global cardinals or whether internal tensions will again work against them, remains to be seen in the coming days.
Tensions flare in the India-France Rafale deal as France refuses to share the fighter jet’s source code, limiting India’s ability to integrate indigenous weapons and reducing its combat autonomy.
France has rejected India’s request to share source codes needed to integrate indigenous weapons into Rafale fighter jets. Despite repeated appeals, French manufacturer Dassault Aviation has refused to compromise on the issue
Anton Kobyakov, adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, claimed at the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum that the USSR’s dissolution was legally invalid and that the Soviet Union still exists under constitutional law, framing the Ukraine war as an “internal process.”
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Two staff members from the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C.- Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim were shot and killed on Wednesday night by a lone gunman as they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum, close to the White House.
Russia is preparing to present Ukraine with a draft peace proposal once a recent prisoner swap concludes, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced Friday, signaling a potential step forward in peace efforts.
Boeing has struck a deal with the U.S. Justice Department to avoid criminal charges over the 737 Max tragedies, agreeing to pay over $1.1 billion in penalties, victim support, and safety reforms.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered the arrest of those responsible for the failed launch of the country’s second naval destroyer, calling the incident an “unpardonable criminal act” and demanding accountability amid skepticism over the extent of damage to the warship.
German police say at least 17 people were injured in a knife attack at Hamburg’s main train station on Friday.
Iran and the U.S. ended a fresh round of indirect talks in Rome, as negotiators hope to resolve a decades-long dispute over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
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