Digital Phablet

Tag: Italy

  • Italy’s Meloni ‘Has No Regrets’ in Effort to Win Trump’s Support

    Italy’s Meloni ‘Has No Regrets’ in Effort to Win Trump’s Support

    Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated on Wednesday that she has no regrets about her attempts to build a strong relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, even after several public disagreements that have put a strain on their previously close connection. Once regarded as one of Trump’s most loyal allies in Europe, Meloni has recently faced criticism from the president both in media interviews and on social media platforms.

    Asked in Ankara at a NATO summit—also attended by Trump—whether she had second thoughts about the political investments she made in supporting Trump, Meloni replied, “No, I absolutely don’t regret anything I’ve done.” She emphasized that her commitment to Western unity was not a strategy adopted solely with Trump’s arrival but a consistent approach she has pursued with all her international counterparts.

    Trump’s initial public critique of Meloni surfaced in April after she rebuked him for criticizing Pope Leo over the pontiff’s stance on the Iran conflict. Additionally, in March, Italy blocked U.S. military aircraft destined for the Middle East from landing at Sigonella Air Base in Sicily. Despite that, Meloni, who was the only European leader to attend Trump’s inauguration last year, chose not to respond to a recent social media post by Trump that depicted her looking up at him with the caption: “RESTRAINING ORDER NEEDED.”

    Meloni highlighted that her support for Western cohesion is rooted in principles rather than personal alliances. She said, “I made that political investment because I believe in the unity of the West. It’s not a strategy I started with Trump’s arrival, but one I have maintained with all my counterparts.” While acknowledging that the dynamics between her and Trump are evolving, she maintained that they still share common views on key issues like immigration and opposing what she calls “woke culture.”

    During the NATO summit, Trump was more diplomatic, describing Meloni as “a nice person” but also reiterating criticism that she has not done enough to back his military actions against Iran, which are anticipated to resume soon.

  • Trump on Meloni: ” She’s genuinely a kind person”

    Trump on Meloni: ” She’s genuinely a kind person”

    US President-elect Donald Trump met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on January 4, 2025. — Reuters

    ANKARA: Donald Trump appeared to put an end to the diplomatic spat with Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as he arrived in Ankara for an important NATO summit.

    The disagreement started late last month after Trump claimed in an interview with an Italian TV channel that Meloni had “begged” him for a photo together at the G7 summit, and he only agreed because he “felt sorry for her.” Meloni swiftly denied the allegation, calling it “fabricated,” which led Trump to double down, sparking a personal feud with one of Europe’s leading right-wing leaders.

    This conflict escalated into an unprofessional back-and-forth that continued until Sunday, when Trump posted an altered image on his Truth Social platform. The picture showed Meloni looking at him with admiration, accompanied by the caption, “Restraining Order Needed.”

    By Tuesday, Trump seemed to adopt a more friendly approach. “I think she’s a nice person, actually,” he stated during a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

    “Our relationship was strained, folks. It got a little worse because she refused to help us… She declined to get involved with the Strait of Hormuz,” he said, expressing disappointment over Europe’s hesitation to support US and Israeli efforts in the Iran conflict.

    “I like her. I think she’s a good person, but she made a mistake… she just wasn’t there for us, and I wasn’t happy about that,” Trump added.

    Leading up to the Ankara meeting, Trump has heavily criticized European NATO members, with allies trying to highlight increased defense spending to win his favor.

  • Meloni responds to Trump’s claim: She begged for a photo

    Meloni responds to Trump’s claim: She begged for a photo

    Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni accused former close ally Donald Trump of inventing a story about her on Friday after he claimed on an Italian TV channel that she had “begged” him to take a photo with her at the G7 summit. Meloni expressed her shock at his remarks, calling them “completely fabricated.” She criticized him for showing greater respect to Western enemies than to longstanding allies.

    This disagreement signals a notable deterioration in their relationship, following moments at the G7 in France that suggested the two populist leaders had mended some earlier strains caused by tensions over Iran’s war earlier this year.

    Video footage from the event in France showed Meloni and Trump engaged in conversation, but he later claimed he only indulged her by chatting. “She begged me to take a picture with her. She was eager for a photo with me. I wouldn’t have agreed, but I felt sorry for her,” Trump alleged, according to La7’s translation. The channel didn’t release the original audio, only a dubbed version.

    Meloni responded firmly: “Donald Trump’s statements are entirely false. I am genuinely surprised. I don’t understand why the U.S. President behaves this way towards allies—this isn’t the first time either.”

    She added: “It’s disappointing that he doesn’t show the same resolve with America’s enemies, instead treating their leaders with much more leniency. Just remember one thing: neither I nor Italy ever beg.”

    Following Trump’s mocking remarks, Italy’s foreign minister announced she was canceling her upcoming trip to the U.S., condemning Trump’s “offensive” words.

    “President Trump’s offensive comments are an insult to all of Italy,” said Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in a post on X (formerly Twitter), revealing she was scheduled to visit the U.S. on June 21 and 22.

    Later, she distanced herself further from Trump, criticizing his comments about Pope Leo’s condemnation of Iran, and stating she no longer aligned with his stance on the conflict. Trump responded bluntly, accusing her of lacking courage.

  • Modi’s Rome tour: Colosseum selfies and ‘Melody’ toffee indulgence

    Modi’s Rome tour: Colosseum selfies and ‘Melody’ toffee indulgence

    Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni welcomes her counterpart India’s Narendra Modi for a meeting at Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome on May 20, 2026. — AFP

    ROME: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni snapped selfies at the Colosseum and enjoyed views over Rome before their talks, which focused on trade, on Wednesday.

    In a video posted to X, Meloni also expressed gratitude to Modi for bringing a packet of “Melody” toffees during his visit, with both leaders sharing a laugh over the gift—a playful nod to their names.

    Concluding a European tour, Modi arrived in Rome on Tuesday for his first bilateral visit to Italy in 26 years.

    Modi’s previous visits to Italy included attending G20 meetings in 2021 and G7 summits in 2024.

    In an editorial published in Italy’s Corriere della Sera, the leaders expressed their goal to “surpass the 20 billion euro ($23 billion) trade target with Italy by 2029.”

    They highlighted sectors of particular interest: defense, aerospace, automotive parts, clean energy technologies, and textiles.

    “We aim to create a strong synergy between Italian design, manufacturing expertise, and cutting-edge supercomputers, alongside India’s rapid economic growth, engineering talent, scale, innovation, and entrepreneurial culture,” they stated.

    Last year, bilateral trade between Italy and India reached approximately €14.25 billion, according to the Indian embassy in Italy.

    Later Wednesday, the leaders are scheduled to hold private discussions at Villa Pamphili, a historic 17th-century estate located west of Rome’s city center.

    Modi also mentioned on X that he plans to visit the headquarters of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome, underscoring India’s commitment to multilateralism and global food security.

  • Italy’s Meloni cautions on AI deepfakes amid fake photo spread

    Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced on Tuesday that fake images of her, created using artificial intelligence, are circulating online. She warned that such misleading photos could deceive the public and be used to target individuals who cannot easily defend themselves.

    Meloni stated that several AI-generated fake images of her have been fabricated and falsely presented as genuine by political adversaries. She shared one such image depicting her sitting on a bed in her underwear. The initial post included a furious comment labeling the photo as shameful and unworthy of an Italian prime minister.

    “I have to admit that whoever made these, at least in the example attached, has also made me look quite a bit better,” Meloni remarked. She emphasized that this incident highlights how “almost anything” is now being exploited to attack individuals and spread false information.

    She pointed out that the real issue extends beyond her personally, labeling deepfake technology as a dangerous tool capable of deceiving, manipulating, and harming anyone. While she can defend herself, many others are vulnerable.

    Meloni urged the public to verify the authenticity of online content before accepting or sharing it. Her advice was straightforward: “Always verify before believing and think twice before sharing.”

    Two years ago, Meloni filed a defamation lawsuit against a man from Sardinia accused of creating deepfake pornographic images using her face and posting them online. The case is still ongoing.

  • Italy halts defense agreement with Israel

    Italy halts defense agreement with Israel

    Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced Tuesday that her government is halting a defense cooperation agreement with Israel, highlighting strained relations amid ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts.

    Although Meloni’s conservative government has traditionally been supportive of Israel within Europe, recent weeks have seen criticism of Israel’s strikes on Lebanon, which resulted in numerous casualties and injuries.

    Last week, Israeli forces fired warning shots at Italian personnel serving in Lebanon under a United Nations mandate, damaging a vehicle in the process.

    “Given the current climate, the government has decided to pause the renewal of the defense treaty with Israel,” Meloni stated during a visit to Verona in northern Italy.

    Sources close to the decision, speaking anonymously, revealed that Meloni made the call on Monday after consultations with her foreign and defense ministers, Antonio Tajani and Guido Crosetto, along with Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini.

    The Israeli foreign ministry declined to comment.

    Opposition parties had previously been urging the government to suspend the agreement, making the announcement a notable departure from Meloni’s earlier cautious approach toward Israel. Elly Schlein, leader of Italy’s center-left Democratic Party, said, “We’ve been pushing for this for some time, alongside other progressive groups.” She also suggested Italy should support suspending the European Union-Israel Association Agreement.

    This memorandum, originally signed in 2003 by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and enacted in 2006, provides for ongoing automatic five-year renewals unless explicitly canceled by either side. It seeks to enhance Italian-Israeli defense capabilities through collaboration in procurement, training, and the import, export, and transit of military equipment.

    Amid rising diplomatic tensions, Rome summoned the Israeli ambassador last week to protest the Lebanon incident involving Italian troops. On Monday, Israel’s government summoned Italy’s ambassador in turn to discuss the ongoing situation.

  • Victims’ Group Claims Nearly 4,400 Abused by Priests in Italy

    Victims’ Group Claims Nearly 4,400 Abused by Priests in Italy

    At a weekly general audience at the Vatican on September 24, 2025, a statue of Saint Peter and St. Peter’s Basilica was prominently displayed. — Reuters

    Since 2020, a victims’ organization claims that nearly 4,400 individuals in Italy have come forward with allegations of abuse by Catholic priests. This report renews calls for church leaders to address a longstanding crisis within the world’s largest Christian denomination. The count, compiled by Rete l’Abuso—Italy’s largest abuse victims’ group—is based on survivor testimonies, judicial records, and media reports. The organization did not specify the period during which these alleged abuses took place.

    The Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI), which faced criticism from the Vatican’s child protection commission last week, declined to comment on the new findings.

    Most of the allegations involve abuse committed by priests. The worldwide Catholic Church has been rocked for decades by scandals involving pedophile priests and efforts to conceal their crimes. However, Italian church authorities have been less transparent in tackling the issue.

    Pope Leo, who recently met with survivors of clergy abuse for the first time, has instructed new bishops not to conceal misconduct allegations. His predecessor, the late Pope Francis, prioritized addressing abuse during his 12 years as pope, though results have been mixed. In a rare critique published on October 16, the Vatican’s child protection commission revealed that only 81 of Italy’s 226 dioceses responded to a safeguarding practices questionnaire.

    Rete l’Abuso reports it has documented 1,250 suspected cases of abuse, some involving multiple victims. Of these, 1,106 cases are attributed to priests, with others linked to nuns, religious teachers, lay volunteers, educators, and scout leaders. The organization’s report details 4,625 survivors—referred to as victims—including 4,395 abused by priests.

    Among the victims are 4,451 minors, with males making up 4,108 of the cases. The report also notes five nuns, 156 vulnerable adults, and 11 individuals with disabilities among the victims. Of the 1,106 priests suspected of abuse, only 76 have undergone church trials. Of these, 17 were suspended temporarily, seven reassigned to different parishes, and 18 defrocked or resigned. Sadly, five suspects committed suicide.

  • Chinese Driverless Bus To Start Operating In Italy

    Chinese Driverless Bus To Start Operating In Italy

    Robobus, a driverless minibus autonomously engineered by a Chinese autonomous driving startup, is anticipated to traverse the streets of the city of Turin nestled at the base of the Alps, and offer short-range transport services.

    As per the developer, Guizhou Hankaisi Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. (PIX Moving), the firm will collaborate with Italian mobile travel solution provider Tecnocad to deliver the service.

    Pix moving driveless minibus 2
    PIX Moving

    PIX Moving has already secured a public road autonomous vehicle test and operation license sanctioned by the regulatory bodies of the Turin city government.

    Situated in a high-tech development area in Guiyang, PIX Moving’s flagship product, the autonomous minibus, has already made its mark in countries including Spain, Japan, the United States, and India.

    Pix moving driveless minibus
    PIX Moving

    The company stated it has shipped a Robobus model via sea transport to Turin, where it will undergo on-site tests before being deployed. Additional exports are anticipated based on service demand.

    The entirely electric vehicle lacks traditional bus elements like a driver’s cab, steering wheel, pedals, or rearview mirrors. It is designed symmetrically, without the differentiation of front and rear, facilitating movement in both directions.

    PIX moving robobus specifications
    PIX Moving

    Robobus has a top speed of 30 km per hour. It can accommodate six passengers, with a range of 100-130 km on a single charge.

    “The base of the minibus is an open-source self-driving chassis. It is founded on an independent modular platform, constructed with artificial intelligence technology and digital manufacturing technology, which can be fitted with systems for various requirements of customized services,” stated Angelo Yu, founder, and CEO of PIX Moving.

  • Italy Bans ChatGPT Over Alleged Data Breach

    ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot, was effectively banned by Italy’s national data protection regulator after its developer, OpenAI, was accused of “unlawfully collecting personal data.

    OpenAI has been directed to stop collecting data from customers in Italy immediately unless its data collection practices change.

    In an early press release, the country’s data protection regulator, GDPR, stated that the company has no legitimate reason to collect personal data from consumers.

    The GDPR also claims that OpenAI lacks a system to prevent minors from using the program, “exposing children to completely inappropriate reactions given their level of development and self-confidence.”

    Italy’s data regulator has already taken similar action against artificial chatbots. In February, the European Commission banned the chatbot app Replica.ai.

    Replica is known for some users’ strong attachment to chatbots, and many customers expressed disappointment when the company recently removed erotic role-playing options. 

    At the time of publication, Digital Phablet could access ChatGPT via a VPN, which routed traffic through Milan, Italy. However, it may take some time for OpenAI to comply with the policy to stop processing Italian user data.

    GPSP says he has been given 20 days to explain the company’s compliance steps. Failure to do so can result in fines of up to €20 million (or 4% of annual global turnover).

    We have reached out to OpenAI for comment. We will update you soon.

  • Deaths From Coronavirus In US Surpassed Italy, Highest Death Toll in The World

    The deaths from coronavirus in US have surpassed Italy making its highest death toll in the world. The death toll has now crossed 20,000 deaths from the US alone.

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