Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday celebrated a historic political milestone as her hard-right government became the longest-lasting administration in Italy’s postwar history, even as thousands of supporters gathered for a rally and protesters demonstrated nearby. Meloni has now been in charge of the same government for 1,413 days, surpassing the previous record held by billionaire media tycoon and former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi by one day.The milestone is particularly significant in a country that has experienced 68 governments in 80 years, with previous administrations frequently collapsing because of political crises, defections and coalition disputes. Meloni, however, has so far managed to keep her governing coalition together.<h2>Meloni celebrates record with Bari rally</h2>Around 80 coaches are expected to bring supporters to Bari, the capital of southern Italy's Puglia region, for a major rally organised by Meloni's far-right Brothers of Italy (FdI) party. The event is being held in an area of the port capable of accommodating up to 10,000 people, according to organisers. Meloni is scheduled to address the crowd in the early evening. Her deputy prime ministers, Matteo Salvini and Antonio Tajani, are also expected to participate through video links. The gathering effectively doubles as an early campaign-style event ahead of Italy's 2027 general election.&nbsp;Under the official slogan "Il Governo piu stabile, l’Italia piu forte" ("The Most Stable Government, the Strongest Italy"), the celebrations will feature traditional Puglian light shows and DJ performances. The government is expected to highlight its record in office, including the creation of more than one million additional jobs and a reported 21-billion-euro ($24-billion) reduction in personal income taxes.&nbsp;Italy's fiscal position has also improved significantly despite its heavy debt burden. Critics, however, argue that greater fiscal stability has not translated into stronger economic growth or improved living standards. "Have wages increased? No. Petrol costs more, job insecurity has increased, people are retiring less and the healthcare system is functioning less effectively," Maurizio Landini, head of the CGIL trade union, said ahead of the event.<h2>Migration and security at centre of Meloni's record</h2>Meloni has also argued that Italy's influence internationally has grown during her time in office. Her relationship with US President Donald Trump, once described as a close friendship, has nevertheless suffered a dramatic setback after she criticised him for attacking the pope. Meloni's coalition includes her Brothers of Italy, the far-right anti-immigration League led by Salvini and the centre-right Forza Italia party.&nbsp;Together, the coalition has passed around 300 laws and decrees, with many focused on what the government describes as security threats. The measures have addressed issues ranging from petty crime to rave parties and climate protests. Meloni's Brothers of Italy, which has roots in the neo-Fascist political tradition, won the 2022 election after campaigning heavily on illegal migration.&nbsp;The government says its policies have helped reduce migrant arrivals by 80 percent. But maintaining political momentum will be more difficult as the government moves closer to the next election. Meloni will also have to say how she intends to use these last months ahead of the vote, a very interesting question, Flavia Perina, an editorialist with La Stampa daily, told a press conference in Rome on Thursday.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kenya-vs-tata-chemicals-why-president-william-ruto-ordered-company-to-stop-operations-1788498964263">Kenya vs Tata Chemicals: Why President William Ruto ordered company to stop operations</a><h2>Protesters challenge Meloni's record</h2>While supporters gather to celebrate the government's longevity, Meloni's opponents are planning an anti-government demonstration across Bari's historic centre. The protest organisers accuse the government of creating a war and weapons economy and a police state, while also alleging that its policies have contributed to a climate of hostility towards migrants. The demonstrations underscore the political divisions surrounding Meloni as she approaches the final stretch before the 2027 election.<h2>Far-right challenger emerges</h2>Meloni also faces a challenge from further to her political right. A former general has emerged as the leader of a party that is even further to the right than Meloni's Brothers of Italy. The party's rapid rise has seen it overtake both the League and Forza Italia in opinion polls, potentially creating a new threat to Meloni's dominance of Italy's right-wing political landscape. As supporters gather for Meloni's record-breaking celebration, with food trucks serving Bari's traditional ‘Assassin Spaghetti’, the prime minister faces a more complicated question: whether she can turn her government's historic longevity into another electoral victory in 2027.

Giorgia Meloni marks 1,413 days in power as Italy’s longest-lasting postwar government, amid a rally, protests and scrutiny over her record

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday celebrated a historic political milestone as her hard-right government became the longest-lasting administration in Italy’s postwar history, even as thousands of supporters gathered for a rally and protesters demonstrated nearby. Meloni has now been in charge of the same government for 1,413 days, surpassing the previous record held by billionaire media tycoon and former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi by one day. The milestone is particularly significant in a country that has experienced 68 governments in 80 years, with previous administrations frequently collapsing because of political crises, defections and coalition disputes. Meloni, however, has so far managed to keep her governing coalition together. Meloni celebrates record with Bari rally Around 80 coaches are expected to bring supporters to Bari, the capital of southern Italy's Puglia region, for a major rally organised by Meloni's far-right Brothers of Italy (FdI) party. The event is being held in an area of the port capable of accommodating up to 10,000 people, according to organisers. Meloni is scheduled to address the crowd in the early evening. Her deputy prime ministers, Matteo Salvini and Antonio Tajani, are also expected to participate through video links. The gathering effectively doubles as an early campaign-style event ahead of Italy's 2027 general election. Under the official slogan "Il Governo piu stabile, l’Italia piu forte" ("The Most Stable Government, the Strongest Italy"), the celebrations will feature traditional Puglian light shows and DJ performances. The government is expected to highlight its record in office, including the creation of more than one million additional jobs and a reported 21-billion-euro ($24-billion) reduction in personal income taxes. Italy's fiscal position has also improved significantly despite its heavy debt burden. Critics, however, argue that greater fiscal stability has not translated into stronger economic growth or improved living standards. "Have wages increased? No. Petrol costs more, job insecurity has increased, people are retiring less and the healthcare system is functioning less effectively," Maurizio Landini, head of the CGIL trade union, said ahead of the event. Migration and security at centre of Meloni's record Meloni has also argued that Italy's influence internationally has grown during her time in office. Her relationship with US President Donald Trump, once described as a close friendship, has nevertheless suffered a dramatic setback after she criticised him for attacking the pope. Meloni's coalition includes her Brothers of Italy, the far-right anti-immigration League led by Salvini and the centre-right Forza Italia party. Together, the coalition has passed around 300 laws and decrees, with many focused on what the government describes as security threats. The measures have addressed issues ranging from petty crime to rave parties and climate protests. Meloni's Brothers of Italy, which has roots in the neo-Fascist political tradition, won the 2022 election after campaigning heavily on illegal migration. The government says its policies have helped reduce migrant arrivals by 80 percent. But maintaining political momentum will be more difficult as the government moves closer to the next election. Meloni will also have to say how she intends to use these last months ahead of the vote, a very interesting question, Flavia Perina, an editorialist with La Stampa daily, told a press conference in Rome on Thursday. Also read: Kenya vs Tata Chemicals: Why President William Ruto ordered company to stop operations Protesters challenge Meloni's record While supporters gather to celebrate the government's longevity, Meloni's opponents are planning an anti-government demonstration across Bari's historic centre. The protest organisers accuse the government of creating a war and weapons economy and a police state, while also alleging that its policies have contributed to a climate of hostility towards migrants. The demonstrations underscore the political divisions surrounding Meloni as she approaches the final stretch before the 2027 election. Far-right challenger emerges Meloni also faces a challenge from further to her political right. A former general has emerged as the leader of a party that is even further to the right than Meloni's Brothers of Italy. The party's rapid rise has seen it overtake both the League and Forza Italia in opinion polls, potentially creating a new threat to Meloni's dominance of Italy's right-wing political landscape. As supporters gather for Meloni's record-breaking celebration, with food trucks serving Bari's traditional ‘Assassin Spaghetti’, the prime minister faces a more complicated question: whether she can turn her government's historic longevity into another electoral victory in 2027.

Giorgia Meloni celebrates her government becoming Italy’s longest-lasting since WWII as supporters rally and protesters challenge her record

Giorgia Meloni’s government breaks Berlusconi’s record, becomes Italy’s longest-lasting since WWII

ITALY NEWS: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is set to reach a major political milestone on September 4, when her government is expected to become Italy's longest-serving uninterrupted government since the republic was founded in 1946.

Meloni took office on October 22, 2022, and is set to reach 1,413 days in power, surpassing the previous record associated with Silvio Berlusconi's second government.

The milestone is particularly significant given Italy's long history of political instability. Since the republic was founded in 1946, the country has had dozens of governments, with administrations historically lasting relatively short periods.

Meloni has also undergone a significant transformation on the international stage. Once viewed as a radical political figure, she has adopted a more pragmatic approach and positioned herself as a key European Union partner and strong supporter of Ukraine.

Giorgia Meloni Set To Become Italy's Longest-Serving PM | Historic Milestone On September 4

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday (Jul 7) said her relationship with US President Donald Trump remains "cordial", even as the two continue to exchange sharp remarks over NATO, Iran and a disputed photo claim that has stirred irritation in Rome. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey, Meloni tried to cool speculation that the row had damaged ties between the two leaders. Her comments came after weeks of friction, much of it triggered by Trump's claim that she had "begged" him for a picture during the G7 summit in Evian, France.Meloni rejected that version of events, and the dispute was serious enough that Italy's foreign minister later cancelled a planned trip to the United States, according to CNN.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/meloni-signals-truce-after-extraordinary-public-spat-with-trump-i-don-t-intend-to-keep-fuelling-this-dispute-1782265096024">Meloni signals truce after extraordinary public spat with Trump: 'I don't intend to keep fuelling this dispute'</a><h2>Italy will not play along</h2>Now, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani says the government is done responding to Trump's jabs. "He speaks for himself," Tajani said, adding that Meloni and other senior officials would simply ignore the posts and comments."We have a US President who loves to provoke, especially on social media. We have decided to stop responding to these remarks so as not to fuel disputes among our allies," he told La Stampa newspaper."We are and will remain friends of the United States as our strategic partner and that of Europe," he added.His message was clear. Italy does not want this becoming a full blown diplomatic spat, even if Trump keeps pushing it in public.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/why-is-macron-wearing-sunglasses-indoors-mysterious-shades-spark-domestic-abuse-speculation-online-another-shiner-1783407347884">Why is Macron wearing sunglasses indoors? Mysterious shades spark domestic abuse speculation online: 'Another shiner?'</a><h2>Trump calls Meloni "nice" but keeps the pressure on</h2>Trump, for his part, did little to calm things down. During a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, he described Meloni as a "nice person" but also said their relationship had turned sour after Italy refused to support US military action against Iran."I think she's a nice person, actually. But I think she made a mistake," Trump said, according to CNN. He also insisted he had not leaned on her too hard, and blamed Italy, saying its refusal had "soured" the relationship "a little bit."That followed a Truth Social post on Sunday in which Trump shared a photograph with Meloni and wrote, "RESTRAINING ORDER NEEDED."<h2>The comment that started the spat</h2>Earlier, while speaking to Italian broadcaster La7, Trump had claimed that Meloni wanted a photo with him "so badly", saying he would not have taken it but "felt sorry for her.""She begged me to take a picture with her. She wanted a picture with me so ​badly. I wouldn’t have taken it, but I felt sorry for her," he said.Meloni later fired back in a social media video, saying she was "astonished" by what she called the president's "completely made up" statements.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says her relationship with Donald Trump remains "cordial" despite weeks of public sparring over NATO, Iran and Trump's claim that she "begged" him for a photo.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday (Jul 7) said her relationship with US President Donald Trump remains "cordial", even as the two continue to exchange sharp remarks over NATO, Iran and a disputed photo claim that has stirred irritation in Rome. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey, Meloni tried to cool speculation that the row had damaged ties between the two leaders. Her comments came after weeks of friction, much of it triggered by Trump's claim that she had "begged" him for a picture during the G7 summit in Evian, France. Meloni rejected that version of events, and the dispute was serious enough that Italy's foreign minister later cancelled a planned trip to the United States, according to CNN. Also read | Meloni signals truce after extraordinary public spat with Trump: 'I don't intend to keep fuelling this dispute' Italy will not play along Now, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani says the government is done responding to Trump's jabs. "He speaks for himself," Tajani said, adding that Meloni and other senior officials would simply ignore the posts and comments. "We have a US President who loves to provoke, especially on social media. We have decided to stop responding to these remarks so as not to fuel disputes among our allies," he told La Stampa newspaper. "We are and will remain friends of the United States as our strategic partner and that of Europe," he added. His message was clear. Italy does not want this becoming a full blown diplomatic spat, even if Trump keeps pushing it in public. Also read | Why is Macron wearing sunglasses indoors? Mysterious shades spark domestic abuse speculation online: 'Another shiner?' Trump calls Meloni "nice" but keeps the pressure on Trump, for his part, did little to calm things down. During a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, he described Meloni as a "nice person" but also said their relationship had turned sour after Italy refused to support US military action against Iran. "I think she's a nice person, actually. But I think she made a mistake," Trump said, according to CNN. He also insisted he had not leaned on her too hard, and blamed Italy, saying its refusal had "soured" the relationship "a little bit." That followed a Truth Social post on Sunday in which Trump shared a photograph with Meloni and wrote, "RESTRAINING ORDER NEEDED." The comment that started the spat Earlier, while speaking to Italian broadcaster La7, Trump had claimed that Meloni wanted a photo with him "so badly", saying he would not have taken it but "felt sorry for her." "She begged me to take a picture with her. She wanted a picture with me so badly. I wouldn’t have taken it, but I felt sorry for her," he said. Meloni later fired back in a social media video, saying she was "astonished" by what she called the president's "completely made up" statements.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says her relationship with Donald Trump remains "cordial" despite weeks of public sparring over NATO, Iran and Trump's claim that she "begged" him for a photo.

Meloni says ties with Trump remain 'cordial,' even as Italy labels him ‘US President who loves to provoke’

US President Donald Trump renewed his feud with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after posting a bizarre photo on Truth Social on Sunday night. The image is from the G7 Summit and shows Meloni looking at Trump, with the words "Restraining order needed" written on top. It is not clear what he was trying to imply, although it is possible that his latest post will escalate tensions between him and Meloni. Soon after the G7 Summit was over, Trump claimed that Meloni "begged" him for a photo. &nbsp;In response, Meloni posted a video slamming Trump for making the absurd claim.&nbsp;The US President said she practically pleaded for the photo, and that he didn't have to take it but agreed because he "felt sorry for her". He claimed Melon was suffering from poor ratings and wanted to stage the photo to improve them. Meloni lashed out and said, "Neither I nor Italy ever beg." She said Trump's claims were "completely fabricated" and "senseless". She expressed shock that Trump was treating his allies worse than his adversaries.

Trump did not stop at this and doubled down on his claim. He wrote on Truth Social that Meloni asked "over and over" for the photo. Meloni hit back and mocked Trump for being obsessed with her poll numbers. "In any case, my popularity is none of your concern. I suggest you focus on yours," she said.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-am-not-anti-american-italian-pm-meloni-opens-up-days-after-pub">'I am not anti-American...': Italian PM Meloni opens up days after public spat with Trump</a>&nbsp;https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-meloni-clash-a-g7-summit-photo-op-turns-into-a-political-storm-1782007012461/embed<h2>Trump and Meloni feud</h2>Trump and Meloni had earlier locked horns over America's demand to allow its military permission to use Italian airbases and runways for offensive strikes against Iran. Italy was not in favour of it, and Meloni said that such actions required strict parliamentary backing. Trump blasted her for "lack of courage." When Pope Leo XIV expressed his displeasure with war and violence, Trump openly hit back at him. Meloni called his remarks against the pontiff "unacceptable", which did not go down well with the US President.

Donald Trump's latest Truth Social post is expected to once again start a feud with  Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. He posted a photo of Meloni looking at him at the G7 Summit with the words "Restraining order needed".

US President Donald Trump renewed his feud with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after posting a bizarre photo on Truth Social on Sunday night. The image is from the G7 Summit and shows Meloni looking at Trump, with the words "Restraining order needed" written on top. It is not clear what he was trying to imply, although it is possible that his latest post will escalate tensions between him and Meloni. Soon after the G7 Summit was over, Trump claimed that Meloni "begged" him for a photo. In response, Meloni posted a video slamming Trump for making the absurd claim. The US President said she practically pleaded for the photo, and that he didn't have to take it but agreed because he "felt sorry for her". He claimed Melon was suffering from poor ratings and wanted to stage the photo to improve them. Meloni lashed out and said, "Neither I nor Italy ever beg." She said Trump's claims were "completely fabricated" and "senseless". She expressed shock that Trump was treating his allies worse than his adversaries.

Donald Trump's latest Truth Social post is expected to once again start a feud with &nbsp;Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. He posted a photo of Meloni looking at him at the G7 Summit with the words "Restraining order needed".

Kicking the hornet's nest? Trump's bizarre 'Restraining Order Needed' post with a photo of Meloni

Amid recent controversy with US President Donald Trump, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Monday (June 29) said that she is not anti-American but also not “kneeling.”' Batting for a truce with the US president, Meloni said that she believes West is stronger when it is united. She also clarified that she is not anti-American.&nbsp;&nbsp;"I am not anti-American today; I was not kneeling yesterday. I am a person who believes that the West is stronger united, who believes that Italy is stronger in a united West, and has worked and continues to work for this. After that, however, solid relationships are also based on frankness, and I am a frank person," Meloni said while speaking about Italy-US relations to an Italian news agency Adnkronos.&nbsp;Earlier this month, Italian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani announced the cancellation of his planned visit to Miami for a business forum, after the controversy over Trump's comments on Meloni. "The serious and offensive words of President Trump towards Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offend all of Italy. For this reason, I have decided to cancel my visit to the United States scheduled for the next 21 and 22 June," Tajani wrote on X.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/italy-headed-for-early-elections-after-feud-with-trump-report-claims-meloni-is-fearing-drop-in-her-popularity-1782232560372">Italy headed for early elections? After feud with Trump, report claims Meloni is fearing drop in her popularity</a><h2>What Trump said after G7?</h2>Trump and Meloni had multiple interactions at the June 2026 G7 summit in France. After the summit, speaking exclusively in a phone interview with Italian broadcaster La7, Trump said that Meloni "begged me to take a photo with her. She wanted a photo with me so badly. I might not have done it, but I felt sorry for her." He asked the correspondent: “How is your Prime Minister? How is she?” When asked to further comment on the conversation he had with Meloni on the sidelines of the Evian summit, Trump added, “She's probably happy I spoke to her. I wasn't obliged to speak to her.” Trump slammed Europeans in the same conversation and said that they got everything wrong on energy and everything wrong on immigration, adding that if they do not solve these problems, Europe will never be the same. He described immigration and energy as a “disaster."&nbsp;Later, in a Truth Social post, the US president claimed Meloni had asked "over and over" for photographs throughout the summit and suggested she was attempting to improve ties with Washington for domestic political reasons. "Now, after the United States defeated Iran militarily, she wants to be friends again to get her 'numbers up.' No thanks!!!" Trump wrote. He suggested that Meloni was doing “poorly in Italy.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/meloni-signals-truce-after-extraordinary-public-spat-with-trump-i-don-t-intend-to-keep-fuelling-this-dispute-1782265096024">Meloni signals truce after extraordinary public spat with Trump: 'I don't intend to keep fuelling this dispute'</a><h2>How Meloni reacted?</h2>Meloni rejected the claims made by Trump and described it as entirely “made up.” accused the US president of launching "constant, unprovoked... senseless" attacks and insisted that her standing with Italian voters had nothing to do with her relationship with Trump. Meloni also said, "In any case, my popularity is none of your concern. I suggest you focus on yours." Later, speaking at an event in Rome, Meloni signalled that she wanted to move beyond the dispute, saying she had no intention of prolonging the row. "I don't intend to keep fuelling this dispute," the Italian leader said.

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni says she is "not anti-American" but also "not kneeling" after Donald Trump's controversial remarks about her sparked a diplomatic row. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani cancelled his US visit, while Trump also criticised Europe over immigration and energy.

Amid recent controversy with US President Donald Trump, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Monday (June 29) said that she is not anti-American but also not “kneeling.”' Batting for a truce with the US president, Meloni said that she believes West is stronger when it is united. She also clarified that she is not anti-American. "I am not anti-American today; I was not kneeling yesterday. I am a person who believes that the West is stronger united, who believes that Italy is stronger in a united West, and has worked and continues to work for this. After that, however, solid relationships are also based on frankness, and I am a frank person," Meloni said while speaking about Italy-US relations to an Italian news agency Adnkronos. Earlier this month, Italian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani announced the cancellation of his planned visit to Miami for a business forum, after the controversy over Trump's comments on Meloni. "The serious and offensive words of President Trump towards Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offend all of Italy. For this reason, I have decided to cancel my visit to the United States scheduled for the next 21 and 22 June," Tajani wrote on X. Also Read: Italy headed for early elections? After feud with Trump, report claims Meloni is fearing drop in her popularity What Trump said after G7? Trump and Meloni had multiple interactions at the June 2026 G7 summit in France. After the summit, speaking exclusively in a phone interview with Italian broadcaster La7, Trump said that Meloni "begged me to take a photo with her. She wanted a photo with me so badly. I might not have done it, but I felt sorry for her." He asked the correspondent: “How is your Prime Minister? How is she?” When asked to further comment on the conversation he had with Meloni on the sidelines of the Evian summit, Trump added, “She's probably happy I spoke to her. I wasn't obliged to speak to her.” Trump slammed Europeans in the same conversation and said that they got everything wrong on energy and everything wrong on immigration, adding that if they do not solve these problems, Europe will never be the same. He described immigration and energy as a “disaster." Later, in a Truth Social post, the US president claimed Meloni had asked "over and over" for photographs throughout the summit and suggested she was attempting to improve ties with Washington for domestic political reasons. "Now, after the United States defeated Iran militarily, she wants to be friends again to get her 'numbers up.' No thanks!!!" Trump wrote. He suggested that Meloni was doing “poorly in Italy.” Also Read: Meloni signals truce after extraordinary public spat with Trump: 'I don't intend to keep fuelling this dispute' How Meloni reacted? Meloni rejected the claims made by Trump and described it as entirely “made up.” accused the US president of launching "constant, unprovoked... senseless" attacks and insisted that her standing with Italian voters had nothing to do with her relationship with Trump. Meloni also said, "In any case, my popularity is none of your concern. I suggest you focus on yours." Later, speaking at an event in Rome, Meloni signalled that she wanted to move beyond the dispute, saying she had no intention of prolonging the row. "I don't intend to keep fuelling this dispute," the Italian leader said.

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni says she is "not anti-American" but also "not kneeling" after Donald Trump's controversial remarks about her sparked a diplomatic row. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani cancelled his US visit, while Trump also criticised Europe over immigration and energy.

'I am not anti-American...': Italian PM Meloni opens up days after public spat with Trump

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is considering the option of announcing the nation's next general election as early as April, several months before the current parliament's term ends in late 2027, a new report said.


Giorgia Meloni Concerned About Popularity Ratings; Considering Early Elections

Relations between Italy and the United States appeared to ease on Tuesday (Jun 23) after days of public tensions between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and US President Donald Trump. Speaking at an event in Rome, Meloni signalled that she wanted to move beyond the dispute, saying she had no intention of prolonging the row. "I don't intend to keep fuelling this dispute," the Italian leader said, days after accusing Trump of inventing claims about their interactions during the recent G7 summit in France.The clash marked one of the most visible rifts between Trump and a European leader long regarded as one of his closest political allies on the continent.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/meloni-hits-back-at-trump-my-popularity-doesn-t-depend-on-you-1781975262122">Meloni hits back at Trump: ‘My popularity doesn’t depend on you’</a><h2>The Trump-Meloni public spat: What happened?</h2>The dispute began after Trump, while speaking to Italian broadcaster La7, claimed that Meloni had repeatedly sought a photograph with him during the G7 gathering. According to Trump, the Italian prime minister had "begged" for a picture, and he agreed only because he "felt sorry for her."Meloni swiftly rejected the claim, describing it as entirely "made up".However, rather than backing down, Trump escalated the disagreement. In a post on Truth Social, he claimed Meloni had asked "over and over" for photographs throughout the summit and suggested she was attempting to improve ties with Washington for domestic political reasons. "Now, after the United States defeated Iran militarily, she wants to be friends again to get her 'numbers up.' No thanks!!!" Trump wrote.He suggested that Meloni was doing "poorly in Italy" and suggested that the issue was linked to Italy's position during the conflict involving Iran. Trump also slammed her for refusing to let the United States use Italian "landing strips or runways" during the conflict with Iran.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/italy-headed-for-early-elections-after-feud-with-trump-report-claims-meloni-is-fearing-drop-in-her-popularity-1782232560372/amp">Italy headed for early elections? After feud with Trump, report claims Meloni is fearing drop in her popularity</a><h2>Meloni's popularity 'none of your concern'</h2>The comments triggered a sharp reaction in Italy. Meloni accused the US president of launching "constant, unprovoked... senseless" attacks and insisted that her standing with Italian voters had nothing to do with her relationship with Trump."Being your friend certainly has not helped it, nor does it depend on my relationship with you," she wrote, adding In any case, my popularity is none of your concern. I suggest you focus on yours."

From G7 photo claims to accusations over Iran and domestic politics, the Trump-Meloni dispute became one of the most unexpected diplomatic dramas of the year. After days of tensions, Meloni is now calling for an end to the row. All you need to know. 

Relations between Italy and the United States appeared to ease on Tuesday (Jun 23) after days of public tensions between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and US President Donald Trump. Speaking at an event in Rome, Meloni signalled that she wanted to move beyond the dispute, saying she had no intention of prolonging the row. "I don't intend to keep fuelling this dispute," the Italian leader said, days after accusing Trump of inventing claims about their interactions during the recent G7 summit in France. The clash marked one of the most visible rifts between Trump and a European leader long regarded as one of his closest political allies on the continent. Also read | Meloni hits back at Trump: ‘My popularity doesn’t depend on you’ The Trump-Meloni public spat: What happened? The dispute began after Trump, while speaking to Italian broadcaster La7, claimed that Meloni had repeatedly sought a photograph with him during the G7 gathering. According to Trump, the Italian prime minister had "begged" for a picture, and he agreed only because he "felt sorry for her." Meloni swiftly rejected the claim, describing it as entirely "made up". However, rather than backing down, Trump escalated the disagreement. In a post on Truth Social, he claimed Meloni had asked "over and over" for photographs throughout the summit and suggested she was attempting to improve ties with Washington for domestic political reasons. "Now, after the United States defeated Iran militarily, she wants to be friends again to get her 'numbers up.' No thanks!!!" Trump wrote. He suggested that Meloni was doing "poorly in Italy" and suggested that the issue was linked to Italy's position during the conflict involving Iran. Trump also slammed her for refusing to let the United States use Italian "landing strips or runways" during the conflict with Iran. Also read | Italy headed for early elections? After feud with Trump, report claims Meloni is fearing drop in her popularity Meloni's popularity 'none of your concern' The comments triggered a sharp reaction in Italy. Meloni accused the US president of launching "constant, unprovoked... senseless" attacks and insisted that her standing with Italian voters had nothing to do with her relationship with Trump. "Being your friend certainly has not helped it, nor does it depend on my relationship with you," she wrote, adding In any case, my popularity is none of your concern. I suggest you focus on yours."

From G7 photo claims to accusations over Iran and domestic politics, the Trump-Meloni dispute became one of the most unexpected diplomatic dramas of the year. After days of tensions, Meloni is now calling for an end to the row. All you need to know.&nbsp;

Meloni signals truce after extraordinary public spat with Trump: 'I don't intend to keep fuelling this dispute'

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is considering calling an early general election as soon as April, more than a year before the country’s current parliamentary term is due to end. Meloni, who leads the Brothers of Italy party, is said to be concerned that postponing elections until the scheduled end of the legislature in late 2027 could further damage her approval ratings and weaken her political position at home.&nbsp;According to a report, which cited people familiar with the matter on Tuesday (June 23), the Italian leader believes an earlier vote could help her capitalise on her current political standing before public support declines further.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-claims-israel-deliberately-targeted-gaza-children-during-and-after-war-netanyahu-government-rejects-allegation-1782219343229">UN claims Israel deliberately targeted Gaza children during and after war; Netanyahu government rejects allegation</a>&nbsp;The report said Meloni is also weighing practical considerations linked to the timing of the next election. Holding a vote towards the end of 2027 could leave a newly elected government with little time to prepare and pass Italy’s annual budget, which must be approved before the end of the year.&nbsp;According to Bloomberg’s sources, Meloni has already discussed the possibility of early elections with the office of Sergio Mattarella, who has the constitutional authority to dissolve parliament and call fresh national polls. No formal decision has been announced, and there has been no public confirmation from Meloni’s office regarding the reported discussions.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-has-fully-and-completely-agreed-to-highest-level-nuclear-inspection-trump-s-big-claim-amid-switzerland-talks-1782214814586">‘Iran has fully and completely agreed to highest level nuclear inspection’: Trump's big claim amid Switzerland talks</a>&nbsp;The prospect of an early election comes as political observers closely watch the Italian government’s standing amid domestic and international challenges. Any decision to seek a fresh mandate would mark a significant political gamble for Meloni, whose coalition currently holds a parliamentary majority.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/forced-to-dig-my-own-grave-ex-student-files-10m-lawsuit-over-alleged-abuse-at-new-york-boarding-school-1782068705159">‘Forced to dig my own grave’: Ex-student files $10m lawsuit over alleged abuse at New York boarding school</a>

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is reportedly considering calling early elections for April to secure her position before potential drops in popularity and to avoid budget-timing conflicts.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is considering calling an early general election as soon as April, more than a year before the country’s current parliamentary term is due to end. Meloni, who leads the Brothers of Italy party, is said to be concerned that postponing elections until the scheduled end of the legislature in late 2027 could further damage her approval ratings and weaken her political position at home. According to a report, which cited people familiar with the matter on Tuesday (June 23), the Italian leader believes an earlier vote could help her capitalise on her current political standing before public support declines further. Also read: UN claims Israel deliberately targeted Gaza children during and after war; Netanyahu government rejects allegation The report said Meloni is also weighing practical considerations linked to the timing of the next election. Holding a vote towards the end of 2027 could leave a newly elected government with little time to prepare and pass Italy’s annual budget, which must be approved before the end of the year. According to Bloomberg’s sources, Meloni has already discussed the possibility of early elections with the office of Sergio Mattarella, who has the constitutional authority to dissolve parliament and call fresh national polls. No formal decision has been announced, and there has been no public confirmation from Meloni’s office regarding the reported discussions. Also read: ‘Iran has fully and completely agreed to highest level nuclear inspection’: Trump's big claim amid Switzerland talks The prospect of an early election comes as political observers closely watch the Italian government’s standing amid domestic and international challenges. Any decision to seek a fresh mandate would mark a significant political gamble for Meloni, whose coalition currently holds a parliamentary majority. Also read: ‘Forced to dig my own grave’: Ex-student files $10m lawsuit over alleged abuse at New York boarding school

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is reportedly considering calling early elections for April to secure her position before potential drops in popularity and to avoid budget-timing conflicts.

Italy headed for early elections? After feud with Trump, report claims Meloni is fearing drop in her popularity

A diplomatic firestorm has erupted between U.S. President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni following the recent G7 Summit in France. President Trump claimed in an interview that PM Meloni "begged" him for a photo-op, a statement Meloni vehemently denied as "completely fabricated." 


Trump-Meloni Spat Intesifies: Italy's FM Cancels His Planned Visit to Washington

A significant diplomatic rift has erupted between Rome and Washington. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has abruptly canceled his scheduled visit to the United States following comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump in an interview with Italian broadcaster La7.  

In the interview, Trump claimed that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had "begged" him for a photograph during the recent G7 summit, asserting that he only obliged because he "felt sorry" for her. Prime Minister Meloni has vehemently rejected the claim, labeling it "completely fabricated" and stating, "Italy and I do not beg."

Italian PM Meloni Accuses Trump of Lying Over G7 Encounter

A significant diplomatic rift has erupted between Rome and Washington. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has abruptly canceled his scheduled visit to the United States following comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump in an interview with Italian broadcaster La7.  

In the interview, Trump claimed that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had "begged" him for a photograph during the recent G7 summit, asserting that he only obliged because he "felt sorry" for her. Prime Minister Meloni has vehemently rejected the claim, labeling it "completely fabricated" and stating, "Italy and I do not beg."


Trump's Photo Claim Ignites Transatlantic Feud With Italian PM

US President Donald Trump continued with his feud with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as he doubled down on her, calling her a kind of "big fan", the kind which he does not want. Earlier in the week, the pair engaged in a bout when Trump said that Meloni “begged” for a picture with him at the G7 summit. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni responded by saying that she and Italy never “beg”.In a phone call with NBC News, Trump said, “She was a big fan.” He added, “But I don’t want her as a fan because she was not there — along with the NATO group — having to do with the strait.”US President Donald Trump had been growing publicly frustrated with the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Video footage from the G7 shows Trump and Meloni having a one-on-one conversation on the sofa. But Trump portrayed the interaction as something he had granted rather than sought out. “She’s probably happy I talked to her. I didn’t have to talk to her,” Trump told La7 after bringing up the topic of the Italian Prime Minister himself. The right-leaning Italian politician has been one of his closest political friends on the international stage. She was the only European leader to attend Trump's inauguration in January 2025.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-anthropic-dario-amodei-not-national-security-threat-1781701239194">'Not now, but a week ago, maybe': Trump says Anthropic not a national security threat</a>The relationship soured after the Italian Prime Minister, along with other European leader denied to rescue Trump's adventure in Iran and the resulting closure of the Strait of Hormuz. It further deteriorated when Trump attacked Pope Leo XIV for being too liberal and condemning the Iran war. Trump suggested that he should be thankful as “he wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American." But on Friday, Giorgia Meloni seemed to have had enough of Trump; she lashed out, saying “Italy and I never beg,” adding that he treats longtime Western allies with less respect than he shows their adversaries.&nbsp;

Donald Trump intensified his feud with Italy's Giorgia Meloni. He called Meloni a “big fan” after their G7 clash, while the Italian leader fired back, insisting that “Italy and I never beg.”

US President Donald Trump continued with his feud with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as he doubled down on her, calling her a kind of "big fan", the kind which he does not want. Earlier in the week, the pair engaged in a bout when Trump said that Meloni “begged” for a picture with him at the G7 summit. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni responded by saying that she and Italy never “beg”. In a phone call with NBC News, Trump said, “She was a big fan.” He added, “But I don’t want her as a fan because she was not there — along with the NATO group — having to do with the strait.” US President Donald Trump had been growing publicly frustrated with the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Video footage from the G7 shows Trump and Meloni having a one-on-one conversation on the sofa. But Trump portrayed the interaction as something he had granted rather than sought out. “She’s probably happy I talked to her. I didn’t have to talk to her,” Trump told La7 after bringing up the topic of the Italian Prime Minister himself. The right-leaning Italian politician has been one of his closest political friends on the international stage. She was the only European leader to attend Trump's inauguration in January 2025. Also Read: 'Not now, but a week ago, maybe': Trump says Anthropic not a national security threat The relationship soured after the Italian Prime Minister, along with other European leader denied to rescue Trump's adventure in Iran and the resulting closure of the Strait of Hormuz. It further deteriorated when Trump attacked Pope Leo XIV for being too liberal and condemning the Iran war. Trump suggested that he should be thankful as “he wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American." But on Friday, Giorgia Meloni seemed to have had enough of Trump; she lashed out, saying “Italy and I never beg,” adding that he treats longtime Western allies with less respect than he shows their adversaries.

Donald Trump intensified his feud with Italy's Giorgia Meloni. He called Meloni a “big fan” after their G7 clash, while the Italian leader fired back, insisting that “Italy and I never beg.”

Trump doubles down on Giorgia Meloni saying she was a ‘big fan’ but he 'doesn't want her'

As world leaders gathered at the resort town of Évian-les-Bains, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni featured in two highly publicised hot mic moments that went viral globally. Away from the formal and scripted nature of the diplomatic chats, these candid moments showed the unscripted and funny quirks of the pragmatic and polarising Italian Prime Minister.&nbsp;<h2>Giorgia Meloni Quit Smoking</h2>Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was seen chatting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer following a formal meeting. Meloni was saying that she needed three cups of coffee to wake up in the morning, then Merz suggested, “and a cigarette”, Meloni responded, “no”, she stopped smoking. To which European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen acted surprised and asked: “When?” &nbsp;Meloni responded, “One month ago”. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer asked the European Council President, Antonio Costa, “When did you stop?” He shared that it has been 21 years since he quit smoking.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ai-export-controls-intelligence-as-commodity-digital-colonialism-1781617339741">AI, data centres and digital colonialism: How intelligence became a commodity</a><h2>The most famous couple on Instagram</h2>While world leaders were gathering for the traditional G7 family photo session, a microphone picked up an informal exchange between Meloni and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She greeted Modi, saying, “Nice to meet you again.” Prime Minister Modi referenced their social media popularity, Meloni playfully responded with a smile: “Yes, we are the most famous couple on Instagram”.&nbsp;This comes as the long line of viral internet jokes of "melodi", a quip at the Modi- Meloni diplomatic relations. Modi's PR team in his last visit to Rome built on that by sharing a packet of Parle's Melody toffees.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Italy&#39;s Meloni says she quit smoking at G7 Summit. <a href="https://t.co/Z3NFztqS6m">pic.twitter.com/Z3NFztqS6m</a>&mdash; Clash Report (@clashreport) <a href="https://x.com/clashreport/status/2066932766915088593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Meloni to Modi after their viral Melodi toffee post got 10 million likes on Instagram &quot;Nice to see you again. We are the most famous on Instagram.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/Oj9Wd6WzCm">pic.twitter.com/Oj9Wd6WzCm</a>&mdash; Shashank Mattoo (@MattooShashank) <a href="https://x.com/MattooShashank/status/2066884886456115235?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sparked viral moments at the G7 Summit after revealing she quit smoking a month ago and joking with PM Narendra Modi that they are the "most famous couple on Instagram."

As world leaders gathered at the resort town of Évian-les-Bains, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni featured in two highly publicised hot mic moments that went viral globally. Away from the formal and scripted nature of the diplomatic chats, these candid moments showed the unscripted and funny quirks of the pragmatic and polarising Italian Prime Minister. Giorgia Meloni Quit Smoking Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was seen chatting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer following a formal meeting. Meloni was saying that she needed three cups of coffee to wake up in the morning, then Merz suggested, “and a cigarette”, Meloni responded, “no”, she stopped smoking. To which European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen acted surprised and asked: “When?” Meloni responded, “One month ago”. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer asked the European Council President, Antonio Costa, “When did you stop?” He shared that it has been 21 years since he quit smoking. Also Read: AI, data centres and digital colonialism: How intelligence became a commodity The most famous couple on Instagram While world leaders were gathering for the traditional G7 family photo session, a microphone picked up an informal exchange between Meloni and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She greeted Modi, saying, “Nice to meet you again.” Prime Minister Modi referenced their social media popularity, Meloni playfully responded with a smile: “Yes, we are the most famous couple on Instagram”. This comes as the long line of viral internet jokes of "melodi", a quip at the Modi- Meloni diplomatic relations. Modi's PR team in his last visit to Rome built on that by sharing a packet of Parle's Melody toffees.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sparked viral moments at the G7 Summit after revealing she quit smoking a month ago and joking with PM Narendra Modi that they are the "most famous couple on Instagram."

Meloni's G7 hot mic moment: 'I stopped smoking' and 'most famous couple on Instagram'

Parle Industries shares increased sharply on Tuesday (May 19) after Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted a packet of Melody toffees to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during his visit to Italy. The shares climbed 5 per cent intraday to Rs 5.25, and the stock had also risen nearly 7 per cent over the past one week.<h3>What do we know about Parle Industries?</h3>There is, however, an important twist. The listed company, Parle Industries, is not the manufacturer of Melody toffees. It operates in infrastructure, real estate development, and paper waste recycling. Whereas, Melody is produced by Parle Products, the privately held FMCG giant known for brands such as Parle-G, Monaco, KrackJack, Mango Bite and Poppins. Since Parle Products is not listed on the stock market, investors cannot directly trade its shares.&nbsp;Parle Industries is a completely separate BSE-listed firm with no direct connection to Melody candies. The spike in its stock appears to have been driven by retail investors and traders who seemingly associated the “Parle” name with the viral Melody buzz and rushed to buy shares of the listed company.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pm-modi-surprises-italian-prime-minister-giorgia-meloni-with-special-gift-melody-chocolate-watch-1779258462967">'Melodi' moment in Italy! PM Modi surprises Meloni with special gift — WATCH</a> The rally followed a light-hearted viral video featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. In the clip, Modi was seen gifting a packet of Melody candies to Meloni, a playful nod many social media users linked to the popular “#Melodi” phrase used online for the two leaders.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Thank you for the gift <a href="https://t.co/7ePxbJwPbA">pic.twitter.com/7ePxbJwPbA</a>&mdash; Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) <a href="https://twitter.com/GiorgiaMeloni/status/2056983259633062130?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Later, Meloni shared the clip on her social media post X and wrote, “Thank you for the gift.” In the clip, she was also heard saying, “He gifted... a very, very good toffee." The posted video quickly went viral, drawing the attention of several netizens across social media platforms. Shortly after the clip went viral, shares of Parle Industries saw a surge in buying interest.

Parle Industries shares surged 5% after PM Modi gifted Melody toffees to Italian PM Meloni, sparking a viral "#Melodi" trend. However, in a major mix-up, traders bought the wrong stock: Check what the twist in the story is.

Parle Industries shares increased sharply on Tuesday (May 19) after Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted a packet of Melody toffees to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during his visit to Italy. The shares climbed 5 per cent intraday to Rs 5.25, and the stock had also risen nearly 7 per cent over the past one week. What do we know about Parle Industries? There is, however, an important twist. The listed company, Parle Industries, is not the manufacturer of Melody toffees. It operates in infrastructure, real estate development, and paper waste recycling. Whereas, Melody is produced by Parle Products, the privately held FMCG giant known for brands such as Parle-G, Monaco, KrackJack, Mango Bite and Poppins. Since Parle Products is not listed on the stock market, investors cannot directly trade its shares. Parle Industries is a completely separate BSE-listed firm with no direct connection to Melody candies. The spike in its stock appears to have been driven by retail investors and traders who seemingly associated the “Parle” name with the viral Melody buzz and rushed to buy shares of the listed company. Also read: 'Melodi' moment in Italy! PM Modi surprises Meloni with special gift — WATCH The rally followed a light-hearted viral video featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. In the clip, Modi was seen gifting a packet of Melody candies to Meloni, a playful nod many social media users linked to the popular “#Melodi” phrase used online for the two leaders.

Parle Industries shares surged 5% after PM Modi gifted Melody toffees to Italian PM Meloni, sparking a viral "#Melodi" trend. However, in a major mix-up, traders bought the wrong stock: Check what the twist in the story is.

Parle industries stock jumps 5% after Modi gifts Melody toffees to Meloni — But investors got it wrong. Here’s the twist

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday (April 14) announced the suspension of Italy’s defence cooperation agreement with Israel, citing the deteriorating political climate following recent developments in West Asia.&nbsp;“In view of the current situation, the government has decided to suspend the automatic renewal of the defence agreement with Israel,” Meloni was quoted as saying by Italian news agency Ansa.&nbsp;An Italian diplomatic source confirmed the development to AFP, stating that continuing the agreement would have been “politically difficult” under the present circumstances.<h2>What the agreement entails</h2>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-seats-to-expand-to-850-from-543-govt-proposes-constitutional-amendment-1776175613094">Delimitation push: Centre proposes expansion of Lok Sabha to 850 seats</a>&nbsp;The bilateral defence agreement, approved in 2006, is subject to review every five years. It facilitates cooperation between Italy and Israel across a wide range of areas, including defence industries, training and education of military personnel, research and development, and information technology.<h2>Rising tensions over Lebanon</h2>Ties between the two countries have come under strain in recent days after Italy accused Israeli forces of firing warning shots at a convoy of Italian UN peacekeepers in Lebanon.&nbsp;Italy has also voiced strong criticism of Israeli military actions in Lebanon. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani described the strikes as “unacceptable attacks” on Lebanese civilians.&nbsp;Following these remarks, Israel summoned Italy’s ambassador on Monday, signalling a sharp escalation in diplomatic tensions. Tajani travelled to Beirut for meetings with the Lebanese President, Joseph Aoun, and the Foreign Minister, Youssef Raggi. In a post on X, he said his visit aimed to convey Italy’s solidarity in light of what he called Israel’s attacks on civilians.<h2>Call for de-escalation</h2>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pm-modi-receives-call-from-trump-discusses-west-asia-stresses-open-and-secure-hormuz-in-40-minute-talks-1776182400804">PM Modi receives call from Trump, discusses West Asia, stresses secure Hormuz</a>&nbsp;Speaking on the sidelines of a wine industry fair in Verona, Meloni emphasised the need to push forward peace negotiations involving Israel, the United States and Iran. She also highlighted the strategic importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a key global transit route.&nbsp;“It is necessary to continue working in order to advance peace negotiations, making every possible effort to stabilise the situation and reopen the Strait, which is fundamental for us, not only for fuel supplies but also for fertilisers,” Meloni said.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suspended Italy’s 2006 defence pact with Israel, citing civilian casualties in Lebanon and Israeli attacks on Italian UN peacekeepers as primary reasons for the diplomatic freeze.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday (April 14) announced the suspension of Italy’s defence cooperation agreement with Israel, citing the deteriorating political climate following recent developments in West Asia. “In view of the current situation, the government has decided to suspend the automatic renewal of the defence agreement with Israel,” Meloni was quoted as saying by Italian news agency Ansa. An Italian diplomatic source confirmed the development to AFP, stating that continuing the agreement would have been “politically difficult” under the present circumstances. What the agreement entails Also read: Delimitation push: Centre proposes expansion of Lok Sabha to 850 seats The bilateral defence agreement, approved in 2006, is subject to review every five years. It facilitates cooperation between Italy and Israel across a wide range of areas, including defence industries, training and education of military personnel, research and development, and information technology. Rising tensions over Lebanon Ties between the two countries have come under strain in recent days after Italy accused Israeli forces of firing warning shots at a convoy of Italian UN peacekeepers in Lebanon. Italy has also voiced strong criticism of Israeli military actions in Lebanon. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani described the strikes as “unacceptable attacks” on Lebanese civilians. Following these remarks, Israel summoned Italy’s ambassador on Monday, signalling a sharp escalation in diplomatic tensions. Tajani travelled to Beirut for meetings with the Lebanese President, Joseph Aoun, and the Foreign Minister, Youssef Raggi. In a post on X, he said his visit aimed to convey Italy’s solidarity in light of what he called Israel’s attacks on civilians. Call for de-escalation Also read: PM Modi receives call from Trump, discusses West Asia, stresses secure Hormuz Speaking on the sidelines of a wine industry fair in Verona, Meloni emphasised the need to push forward peace negotiations involving Israel, the United States and Iran. She also highlighted the strategic importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a key global transit route. “It is necessary to continue working in order to advance peace negotiations, making every possible effort to stabilise the situation and reopen the Strait, which is fundamental for us, not only for fuel supplies but also for fertilisers,” Meloni said.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suspended Italy’s 2006 defence pact with Israel, citing civilian casualties in Lebanon and Israeli attacks on Italian UN peacekeepers as primary reasons for the diplomatic freeze.

Why Giorgia Meloni has halted Italy’s defence pact with Israel? This is what we know

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suffered a significant political setback on Monday (March 23) after voters rejected her government’s proposed justice reforms in a closely watched referendum, curbing her authority ahead of a looming general election.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-meloni-to-tulsi-bhai-pm-modi-s-high-powered-g20-diplomacy-in-pictures-1763833646729">From Meloni to 'Tulsi bhai': PM Modi’s high-powered G20 diplomacy IN PICTURES</a>&nbsp;Official results showed that 53.74 per cent of voters opposed the reforms, while 46.26 per cent backed them, dealing a blow to the right-wing leader’s efforts to overhaul Italy’s judicial system. The referendum had been framed as a crucial test of Meloni’s political strength.&nbsp;Conceding defeat, Meloni said in a post on X, “The Italians have decided. And we respect this decision. We will carry on, as we always have, with responsibility, determination, and respect for the Italian people and for Italy.”&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-i-m-no-angel-says-italy-s-pm-giorgia-meloni-amid-church-fresco-controversy-1769880739134">'I’m no angel,' says Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni amid church fresco controversy</a>&nbsp;The rejected reforms aimed to restructure how judges and prosecutors are governed, including separating their career tracks and reshaping disciplinary oversight bodies. Meloni’s government argued the changes would make the judiciary more accountable, long accusing it of being politicised and biased.&nbsp;However, critics, including opposition leaders and legal experts, warned that the proposals risked undermining judicial independence. They portrayed the referendum as an attempt to bring Italy’s traditionally autonomous judiciary under greater political control.&nbsp;The debate reflects deep-rooted tensions in Italian politics, dating back to the Mani Pulite investigations of the early 1990s, which exposed widespread corruption and reshaped the country’s political landscape. The legacy of Silvio Berlusconi - who frequently clashed with prosecutors - also loomed over the campaign.&nbsp;Under Meloni, friction between the government and the courts has persisted, particularly over issues such as migration policy and major infrastructure projects. Several ministers in her administration have also faced legal scrutiny during the current term.&nbsp;While the referendum dealt with complex legal changes, it was widely interpreted as a barometer of Meloni’s leadership. The outcome is expected to weaken her political leverage and influence the tone of Italy’s political debate in the run-up to national elections expected before the end of next year. &nbsp;

Italian voters rejected Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s judicial reforms on March 23, 2026. The 53.7 per cent "No" vote stalled plans to separate judge-prosecutor careers, marking a significant blow to her authority.

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suffered a significant political setback on Monday (March 23) after voters rejected her government’s proposed justice reforms in a closely watched referendum, curbing her authority ahead of a looming general election. Also read: From Meloni to 'Tulsi bhai': PM Modi’s high-powered G20 diplomacy IN PICTURES Official results showed that 53.74 per cent of voters opposed the reforms, while 46.26 per cent backed them, dealing a blow to the right-wing leader’s efforts to overhaul Italy’s judicial system. The referendum had been framed as a crucial test of Meloni’s political strength. Conceding defeat, Meloni said in a post on X, “The Italians have decided. And we respect this decision. We will carry on, as we always have, with responsibility, determination, and respect for the Italian people and for Italy.” Also read: 'I’m no angel,' says Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni amid church fresco controversy The rejected reforms aimed to restructure how judges and prosecutors are governed, including separating their career tracks and reshaping disciplinary oversight bodies. Meloni’s government argued the changes would make the judiciary more accountable, long accusing it of being politicised and biased. However, critics, including opposition leaders and legal experts, warned that the proposals risked undermining judicial independence. They portrayed the referendum as an attempt to bring Italy’s traditionally autonomous judiciary under greater political control. The debate reflects deep-rooted tensions in Italian politics, dating back to the Mani Pulite investigations of the early 1990s, which exposed widespread corruption and reshaped the country’s political landscape. The legacy of Silvio Berlusconi - who frequently clashed with prosecutors - also loomed over the campaign. Under Meloni, friction between the government and the courts has persisted, particularly over issues such as migration policy and major infrastructure projects. Several ministers in her administration have also faced legal scrutiny during the current term. While the referendum dealt with complex legal changes, it was widely interpreted as a barometer of Meloni’s leadership. The outcome is expected to weaken her political leverage and influence the tone of Italy’s political debate in the run-up to national elections expected before the end of next year.

Italian voters rejected Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s judicial reforms on March 23, 2026. The 53.7 per cent "No" vote stalled plans to separate judge-prosecutor careers, marking a significant blow to her authority.

Meloni concedes defeat as 53.7% of Italians vote ‘No’ on court overhaul

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni faced a significant political defeat as voters rejected her judicial reform in the 2026 referendum, with about 53–54% voting No. Meloni expressed regret over a “missed opportunity to modernise Italy.” The result highlights public resistance to her reform agenda ahead of future elections.

Giorgia Meloni Loses Judicial Referendum; Regrets Missed Chance to Modernise Italy

A painting in a Rome church has prompted an investigation following complaints that a newly-restored cherub bears a remarkable likeness to the nation’s leader, Giorgia Meloni.


Italy Probes Restored Angel Painting That Now Resembles PM Giorgia Meloni

A controversy erupted after a cherub painted in a chapel in the San Lorenzo in Lucina Basilica showed a striking resemblance to Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, sparking questions over whether it was done deliberately. The chapel, a small building used by Christians for worship or prayer, is located near the Italian government offices.&nbsp;An Italian daily the Le República observed that, after the latest renovations, one of the painted angels has a resemblance to the facial features of the blonde, diminutive leader.&nbsp;The winged figure is shown holding a parchment and standing next to a statue of Italy’s last king, Umberto II, who ruled for only a month before being removed from power in 1946.&nbsp;Bruno Ventinetti, the Italian artist who worked on the restoration of the Cherubim, denied the allegations that he was trying to immortalise Meloni, emphasising that he only brought back the image of the original fresco.&nbsp;In a lighthearted response to the controversy, Meloni addressed the situation on Instagram by sharing an image of the restored fresco with the caption: “No, decidedly I do not resemble an angel.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/isi-espionage-operation-foiled-in-rajasthan-intelligence-arrests-youth-for-passing-sensitive-information-to-pakistan-1769866881193">ISI espionage operation foiled in Rajasthan; intelligence arrests youth for passing sensitive information to Pakistan</a>&nbsp;However, following complaints from several opposition politicians, Italy's Culture Minister, Alessandro Giuli, announced on Saturday that he has ordered an official inspection of the fresco.&nbsp;The investigation will be an expert "look-over" to determine the specific nature of the work performed on the updated painting within the San Lorenzo in Lucina chapel. According to a statement from the minister, the findings will help the government decide on any further steps that may be necessary regarding the controversial restoration.

In a lighthearted response to the controversy, Meloni addressed the situation on Instagram by sharing an image of the restored fresco with the caption: “No, decidedly I do not resemble an angel.”

A controversy erupted after a cherub painted in a chapel in the San Lorenzo in Lucina Basilica showed a striking resemblance to Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, sparking questions over whether it was done deliberately. The chapel, a small building used by Christians for worship or prayer, is located near the Italian government offices. An Italian daily the Le República observed that, after the latest renovations, one of the painted angels has a resemblance to the facial features of the blonde, diminutive leader. The winged figure is shown holding a parchment and standing next to a statue of Italy’s last king, Umberto II, who ruled for only a month before being removed from power in 1946. Bruno Ventinetti, the Italian artist who worked on the restoration of the Cherubim, denied the allegations that he was trying to immortalise Meloni, emphasising that he only brought back the image of the original fresco. In a lighthearted response to the controversy, Meloni addressed the situation on Instagram by sharing an image of the restored fresco with the caption: “No, decidedly I do not resemble an angel.” Also Read: ISI espionage operation foiled in Rajasthan; intelligence arrests youth for passing sensitive information to Pakistan However, following complaints from several opposition politicians, Italy's Culture Minister, Alessandro Giuli, announced on Saturday that he has ordered an official inspection of the fresco. The investigation will be an expert "look-over" to determine the specific nature of the work performed on the updated painting within the San Lorenzo in Lucina chapel. According to a statement from the minister, the findings will help the government decide on any further steps that may be necessary regarding the controversial restoration.

In a lighthearted response to the controversy, Meloni addressed the situation on Instagram by sharing an image of the restored fresco with the caption: “No, decidedly I do not resemble an angel.”

'I’m no angel,' says Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni amid church fresco controversy

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday (Jan 23) said that she hopes that the US president Donald Trump would end the conflict in Ukraine so she could nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize. Meloni described her ties with Trump as cordial. "I hope that one day we can award a Nobel Peace Prize to Donald Trump," she said.&nbsp;"I trust that if he makes a difference... in achieving a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, for Ukraine too... finally, we too could nominate Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize," she added during a press conference after meeting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.&nbsp;The Nobel Peace Prize emerged as the biggest fixation for President Trump, prompting him to announce himself as the most suitable candidate for the prize multiple times. However, failing to get the award, Trump, on Monday, in a message to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, said he no longer felt obliged to think purely of peace.&nbsp;Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-a-prize-cannot-even-symbolically-be-passed-on-nobel-foundation-after-machado-presented-her-award-to-trump-1768760719222"> ‘A prize cannot even symbolically be passed on’: Nobel Foundation after Machado presented her award to Trump</a>&nbsp;Earlier, in what was seen as a snub to Donald Trump, the Nobel Foundation reiterated that Nobel Prizes cannot be transferred, shared, or symbolically passed on. The clarification came after Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado claimed she had presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to the US President during their meeting at the White House.&nbsp;"The Foundation upholds Alfred Nobel's will and its stipulations. It states that the prizes shall be awarded to those who "have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind," and it specifies who has the right to award each respective prize. A prize can therefore not, even symbolically, be passed on or further distributed," the Foundation said in a post on X.&nbsp;Donald Trump’s obsession with the Nobel Peace Prize became one of the defining fixations of his presidency, often influencing how he framed foreign policy decisions and international conflicts. To placate his long-standing desire for the Nobel Prize, separate peace awards were later instituted by Israel and a football body linked to FIFA, both of which were presented to Trump.

Italy has been invited to join the “Board of Peace”, but Meloni said she had informed Trump that the country faces “constitutional constraints”.

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday (Jan 23) said that she hopes that the US president Donald Trump would end the conflict in Ukraine so she could nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize. Meloni described her ties with Trump as cordial. "I hope that one day we can award a Nobel Peace Prize to Donald Trump," she said. "I trust that if he makes a difference... in achieving a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, for Ukraine too... finally, we too could nominate Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize," she added during a press conference after meeting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The Nobel Peace Prize emerged as the biggest fixation for President Trump, prompting him to announce himself as the most suitable candidate for the prize multiple times. However, failing to get the award, Trump, on Monday, in a message to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, said he no longer felt obliged to think purely of peace. Also Read: ‘A prize cannot even symbolically be passed on’: Nobel Foundation after Machado presented her award to Trump Earlier, in what was seen as a snub to Donald Trump, the Nobel Foundation reiterated that Nobel Prizes cannot be transferred, shared, or symbolically passed on. The clarification came after Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado claimed she had presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to the US President during their meeting at the White House. "The Foundation upholds Alfred Nobel's will and its stipulations. It states that the prizes shall be awarded to those who "have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind," and it specifies who has the right to award each respective prize. A prize can therefore not, even symbolically, be passed on or further distributed," the Foundation said in a post on X. Donald Trump’s obsession with the Nobel Peace Prize became one of the defining fixations of his presidency, often influencing how he framed foreign policy decisions and international conflicts. To placate his long-standing desire for the Nobel Prize, separate peace awards were later instituted by Israel and a football body linked to FIFA, both of which were presented to Trump.

Italy has been invited to join the “Board of Peace”, but Meloni said she had informed Trump that the country faces “constitutional constraints”.

Meloni hopes to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize if he achieves lasting peace in Ukraine

Italian lawmakers have formally inaugurated a cross-party Parliamentary Friendship Group dedicated to the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), that shows Italy’s determination to play a leading role in the ambitious trade and infrastructure project. The new intergroup was launched in the Italian Chamber of Deputies (lower house of the Italian Parliament) under the chairmanship of Paolo Formentini, Vice-President of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Antonio Giordano who serves&nbsp;in the Chamber.&nbsp;More than forty parliamentarians from across the political spectrum have already joined.Italy was among the founding signatories of IMEC when the memorandum of understanding was signed on the margins of the 2023 G20 Summit in New Delhi.&nbsp;&nbsp;The corridor aims to create rail, shipping, energy and digital links connecting India with the Gulf states and Europe, offering a shorter and potentially more secure alternative to routes dominated by China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Speaking at the inauguration, Senator Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata, President of the Senate’s EU Affairs Committee and a former Foreign Minister, described the new body as an important "instrument for strengthening" ties between Rome and New Delhi.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read -<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/over-1-500-homes-destroyed-thousands-left-homeless-as-bangladesh-slum-fire-rages-for-16-hours-1764226617600"> Over 1,500 homes destroyed, thousands left homeless as Bangladesh slum fire rages for 16 hours</a>&nbsp;He said it “reaffirms the centrality of parliamentary diplomacy” in advancing major international initiatives.&nbsp;Terzi linked IMEC to the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s vision of the “confluence of the two seas”, the Indian and Pacific Oceans, adding that the corridor is now “materialising” and is complemented by the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy and Italy’s own Mattei Plan for cooperation with Africa and the Mediterranean. Another key politician, Deborah Bergamini highlighted Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani’s personal commitment, noting his forthcoming visit to India in December and a major IMEC-related conference planned for the northern port city of Trieste in spring 2026.&nbsp;“IMEC represents a decisive step in strengthening the Mediterranean’s role in global routes and offers a competitive alternative to the Belt and Road Initiative,” Formentini and Giordano said in a joint statement.&nbsp;&nbsp;They expressed hope that parliaments in other countries would establish similar groups. The launch event was attended by ambassadors from India, Israel, Egypt, Cyprus, Germany, France, the United States and Jordan. Cyprus, which takes over the rotating EU Presidency next month, pledged to give the corridor additional prominence during its six-month term.&nbsp;Cross-party support was evident. Senator Tiziana Rojc of the centre-left Democratic Party and Senator Marco Dreosto of the right-wing Lega both emphasised Trieste’s strategic position and its rail connections to twelve EU countries, arguing that the city should become IMEC’s principal European gateway.&nbsp;The Italian initiative follows a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at last week’s G20 Summit in South Africa, and comes ahead of Deputy Prime Minister Tajani’s second trade mission to India this year.

The Italian initiative follows a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at last week’s G20 Summit in South Africa, and comes ahead of Deputy Prime Minister Tajani’s second trade mission to India this year.

Italian lawmakers have formally inaugurated a cross-party Parliamentary Friendship Group dedicated to the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), that shows Italy’s determination to play a leading role in the ambitious trade and infrastructure project. The new intergroup was launched in the Italian Chamber of Deputies (lower house of the Italian Parliament) under the chairmanship of Paolo Formentini, Vice-President of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Antonio Giordano who serves in the Chamber. More than forty parliamentarians from across the political spectrum have already joined. Italy was among the founding signatories of IMEC when the memorandum of understanding was signed on the margins of the 2023 G20 Summit in New Delhi. The corridor aims to create rail, shipping, energy and digital links connecting India with the Gulf states and Europe, offering a shorter and potentially more secure alternative to routes dominated by China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Speaking at the inauguration, Senator Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata, President of the Senate’s EU Affairs Committee and a former Foreign Minister, described the new body as an important "instrument for strengthening" ties between Rome and New Delhi. Also Read - Over 1,500 homes destroyed, thousands left homeless as Bangladesh slum fire rages for 16 hours He said it “reaffirms the centrality of parliamentary diplomacy” in advancing major international initiatives. Terzi linked IMEC to the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s vision of the “confluence of the two seas”, the Indian and Pacific Oceans, adding that the corridor is now “materialising” and is complemented by the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy and Italy’s own Mattei Plan for cooperation with Africa and the Mediterranean. Another key politician, Deborah Bergamini highlighted Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani’s personal commitment, noting his forthcoming visit to India in December and a major IMEC-related conference planned for the northern port city of Trieste in spring 2026. “IMEC represents a decisive step in strengthening the Mediterranean’s role in global routes and offers a competitive alternative to the Belt and Road Initiative,” Formentini and Giordano said in a joint statement. They expressed hope that parliaments in other countries would establish similar groups. The launch event was attended by ambassadors from India, Israel, Egypt, Cyprus, Germany, France, the United States and Jordan. Cyprus, which takes over the rotating EU Presidency next month, pledged to give the corridor additional prominence during its six-month term. Cross-party support was evident. Senator Tiziana Rojc of the centre-left Democratic Party and Senator Marco Dreosto of the right-wing Lega both emphasised Trieste’s strategic position and its rail connections to twelve EU countries, arguing that the city should become IMEC’s principal European gateway. The Italian initiative follows a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at last week’s G20 Summit in South Africa, and comes ahead of Deputy Prime Minister Tajani’s second trade mission to India this year.

The Italian initiative follows a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at last week’s G20 Summit in South Africa, and comes ahead of Deputy Prime Minister Tajani’s second trade mission to India this year.

Italy launches Parliamentary group to boost India-Middle East-Europe corridor

Giorgio Armani, the legendary Italian designer who redefined elegance and brought minimalist sophistication to global fashion, has died at the age of 91. Armani's passing has sparked an outpouring of grief and admiration from fashion houses, celebrities, and global leaders.
Known for dressing Hollywood royalty and political dignitaries alike, Armani was more than a designer: he was a global symbol of timeless style, and a pillar of “Made in Italy” excellence.

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praised him for bringing "luster to Italian fashion and inspiring the world.

 Giorgio Armani dies at 91: Fashion world mourns a legend

A massive outrage has been sparked in Italy after a pornographic website posted doctored images of a bunch of prominent women of the country, including the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Meloni's sister Arianna was also one of the targeted women. The photos were shared with vulgar and sexist captions and were suspected of being &nbsp;harvested from personal social media accounts or public sources before being altered and published on the Italian platform Phica. The website has more than 700,000 subscribers.&nbsp;The images of women politicians from across party lines had been taken during rallies or TV interviews or while the women were in their bikinis on holiday. They had been altered to zoom in on body parts or suggest sexual poses. They were found in the “VIP section” of the website.The scandal came just a week after Meta closed down an Italian Facebook account called Mia Moglie (My Wife), where men exchanged intimate photos of their wives or unknown women.The name Phica is a misspelled play on a slang word in Italian that means vagina. The website was launched in Italy in 2005 and appeared to have operated unhindered until several politicians from the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) announced they had submitted a legal complaint. Police are now investigating.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-japan-summit-2025-modi-kishida-bullet-train-unicorn-trade-defence-1756364546293">PM Modi's Japan visit after 7 years: Bullet train project, trade deals on agenda</a>&nbsp;Other high-profile women whose images were used on the site were: Paola Cortellesi, an actor and the director of an Italian box office hit about domestic violence, C’è Ancora Domani (There’s Still Tomorrow), and Chiara Ferragni, an influencer.&nbsp;Valeria Campagna, a PD politician, was among the first to make an official complaint on the matter. She posted on Facebook saying she was “disgusted, angry and disappointed” and “couldn’t stay silent” after discovering that her photos had been published on the site without her consent. “Not just photos in a swimsuit but moments from my public and private life,” she wrote, adding, "Beneath them there were sexist, vulgar and violent comments. I can’t stay silent because this story isn’t just about me. It’s about all of us. It’s about our right to be free, respected and to live without fear.”

The photos were shared with vulgar and sexist captions and were suspected of being  harvested from personal social media accounts or public sources before being altered and published on the Italian platform Phica

A massive outrage has been sparked in Italy after a pornographic website posted doctored images of a bunch of prominent women of the country, including the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Meloni's sister Arianna was also one of the targeted women. The photos were shared with vulgar and sexist captions and were suspected of being harvested from personal social media accounts or public sources before being altered and published on the Italian platform Phica. The website has more than 700,000 subscribers. The images of women politicians from across party lines had been taken during rallies or TV interviews or while the women were in their bikinis on holiday. They had been altered to zoom in on body parts or suggest sexual poses. They were found in the “VIP section” of the website. The scandal came just a week after Meta closed down an Italian Facebook account called Mia Moglie (My Wife), where men exchanged intimate photos of their wives or unknown women. The name Phica is a misspelled play on a slang word in Italian that means vagina. The website was launched in Italy in 2005 and appeared to have operated unhindered until several politicians from the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) announced they had submitted a legal complaint. Police are now investigating. Also read: PM Modi's Japan visit after 7 years: Bullet train project, trade deals on agenda Other high-profile women whose images were used on the site were: Paola Cortellesi, an actor and the director of an Italian box office hit about domestic violence, C’è Ancora Domani (There’s Still Tomorrow), and Chiara Ferragni, an influencer. Valeria Campagna, a PD politician, was among the first to make an official complaint on the matter. She posted on Facebook saying she was “disgusted, angry and disappointed” and “couldn’t stay silent” after discovering that her photos had been published on the site without her consent. “Not just photos in a swimsuit but moments from my public and private life,” she wrote, adding, "Beneath them there were sexist, vulgar and violent comments. I can’t stay silent because this story isn’t just about me. It’s about all of us. It’s about our right to be free, respected and to live without fear.”

The photos were shared with vulgar and sexist captions and were suspected of being &nbsp;harvested from personal social media accounts or public sources before being altered and published on the Italian platform Phica.

Doctored image of Giorgia Meloni on porn site sparks outrage in Italy. Sickening details emerge

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama stole the spotlight at the European Political Community (EPC) summit when he knelt on the red carpet while welcoming Italian PM Giorgia Meloni.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-maqz50yr-tag1onwp-o7455s23">
🇦🇱🇮🇹 Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama welcomed Giorgia Meloni by kneeling on the red carpet. <a href="https://t.co/yJwwh9HNdx">pic.twitter.com/yJwwh9HNdx</a>
&mdash; Update NEWS (@UpdateNews724) <a href="https://twitter.com/UpdateNews724/status/1923319983657861497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-meets-ahmed-al-sharaa-becomes-first-us-president-to-meet-syrian-leader-in-25-years-see-pics-9067927">Donald Trump meets Ahmed al-Sharaa, becomes first US president to meet Syrian leader in 25 years: See pics</a>
The video and pictures of the incident have gone viral on social media. He also presented her with a specially crafted scarf designed by an Italian artist living in Albania and serenaded her with &ldquo;Tanti Auguri,&rdquo; the Italian version of &ldquo;Happy Birthday.&rdquo; Another viral moment from the summit was AI-generated baby images of &nbsp;leaders projected on a large screen, &nbsp;saying: &ldquo;Welcome to Albania.&rdquo;
Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/from-al-qaeda-terrorist-to-trumps-tough-attractive-guy-story-of-syrian-president-ahmed-al-sharaa-9073460">From al-Qaeda terrorist to Trump's 'tough attractive guy': Story of Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa</a>
This act of camaraderie underscored the strong diplomatic ties between Albania and Italy, despite the leaders&rsquo; differing political ideologies &mdash; Rama leads Albania&rsquo;s Socialist Party, while Meloni heads Italy&rsquo;s right-wing Brothers of Italy party.&nbsp;
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<figcaption>Photograph: (AFP)</figcaption>
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&nbsp;Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pornography-websites-to-be-banned-in-us-if-this-bill-tabled-by-republican-senator-is-passed-9075979">US to punish those who visit porn websites? Senators introduce new bill to 'protect American families'</a>
<h2>EPC summit</h2>
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The EPC summit, held for the first time in the Western Balkans, marked a major milestone for Albania. With over 40 European leaders in attendance, including French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the event signalled Albania&rsquo;s growing relevance in European political discourse.
Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-afghanistan-bagram-air-base-canada-list-of-places-us-president-wants-to-take-over-9075480">Trump's obsession now reaches Afghanistan's Bagram Air Base: List of places US president wants to take over</a>
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World | Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama stole the spotlight at the EPC summit when he knelt on the red carpet while welcoming Italian PM Giorgia Meloni.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama stole the spotlight at the European Political Community (EPC) summit when he knelt on the red carpet while welcoming Italian PM Giorgia Meloni. 🇦🇱🇮🇹 Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama welcomed Giorgia Meloni by kneeling on the red carpet. pic.twitter.com/yJwwh9HNdx — Update NEWS (@UpdateNews724) May 16, 2025 Donald Trump meets Ahmed al-Sharaa, becomes first US president to meet Syrian leader in 25 years: See pics The video and pictures of the incident have gone viral on social media. He also presented her with a specially crafted scarf designed by an Italian artist living in Albania and serenaded her with “Tanti Auguri,” the Italian version of “Happy Birthday.” Another viral moment from the summit was AI-generated baby images of leaders projected on a large screen, saying: “Welcome to Albania.” Read More | From al-Qaeda terrorist to Trump's 'tough attractive guy': Story of Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa This act of camaraderie underscored the strong diplomatic ties between Albania and Italy, despite the leaders’ differing political ideologies — Rama leads Albania’s Socialist Party, while Meloni heads Italy’s right-wing Brothers of Italy party. Photograph: (AFP) Read More | US to punish those who visit porn websites? Senators introduce new bill to 'protect American families' EPC summit The EPC summit, held for the first time in the Western Balkans, marked a major milestone for Albania. With over 40 European leaders in attendance, including French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the event signalled Albania’s growing relevance in European political discourse. Read More | Trump's obsession now reaches Afghanistan's Bagram Air Base: List of places US president wants to take over

Albanian PM kneels before Italy's Giorgia Meloni as he welcomes her at EPC Summit | WATCH

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, is set to hold talks during a high-stakes summit with US President Donald Trump in the White House on Thursday (April 17).&nbsp;
Meloni is the first European leader to meet Trump after the US president announced tariffs, beginning the trade war.&nbsp;
Meloni and Trump will have lunch at 12 pm local time today (Thursday) before the meeting in the Oval Office.&nbsp;The meeting will be attended by a pool of White House reporters and Italian journalists.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/put-pressure-on-the-killers-zelensky-urges-partners-ahead-of-us-eu-talks-in-paris-to-end-ukraine-war-8972393">&lsquo;Put pressure on the killers&rsquo;: Zelensky urges partners ahead of US, EU talks in Paris to end Ukraine war</a>
<h2>What's on the agenda?&nbsp;</h2>
A senior US administration official said that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-health-secretary-who-said-autism-is-curable-now-claims-environmental-toxins-could-be-causing-it-8972319">Trump </a>and Meloni meeting was planned "long before" tariffs were introduced, which somehow clarifies that the two leaders' discussion might not just include tariff talks.&nbsp;
The official said the Trump administration wants to "advance the ball and get into a dialogue".
He further believed that Italy plays a key role in the Europe-Middle East-India trade corridor, saying that the White House sees Italy as an "important" market for US products.&nbsp;
Trump "won't simply focus on how Italy's marketplace can be opened up, but how they can help us with the rest of Europe," he added.
One of the official said that Trump will also push that Italy needs to spend more on defence, a key demand for NATO allies from the Trump administration.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-trumps-tariff-war-pushing-desperate-china-closer-to-its-neighbours-heres-how-beijing-wants-to-team-up-with-india-8969819">Is Trump&rsquo;s tariff war pushing 'desperate' China closer to its neighbours? Here's how Beijing wants to 'team up' with India</a>
&ldquo;Certainly, that will come up,&rdquo; one official said. &ldquo;There are eight countries that aren&rsquo;t meeting their 2% threshold. Italy is unfortunately one of them.&rdquo;
The US has been urging NATO allies to increase their military spending, as the Trump administration seeks an "America First&rdquo; approach to foreign policy.
<h2>Meloni consults with EU leaders before Trump meeting</h2>
Earlier this week, during an event in Rome, Meloni said, "It&rsquo;s a difficult moment, let&rsquo;s see how the situation develops," while talking about her meeting with the US president.&nbsp;
As you can imagine, I&rsquo;m feeling no pressure at all,&rdquo; Meloni joked at the event.&nbsp;
She further said that lets remember "that we have the strength, ability and intelligence to overcome any obstacle.&rdquo;
Moreover, before leaving for the US, Meloni discussed the summit with the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen.&nbsp;
Germany&rsquo;s outgoing chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and his successor, Friedrich Merz also held discussions with Meloni, Politico reported.&nbsp;
WATCH | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-china-trade-war-us-imposes-245-tariffs-on-chinese-imports-8969057">US-China trade war: US imposes 245% tariffs on Chinese imports</a>
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Meloni and Trump will have lunch at 12 pm, before the meeting in the Oval Office. The meeting will be attended by a pool of White House and Italian journalists. WORLD

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, is set to hold talks during a high-stakes summit with US President Donald Trump in the White House on Thursday (April 17). Meloni is the first European leader to meet Trump after the US president announced tariffs, beginning the trade war. Meloni and Trump will have lunch at 12 pm local time today (Thursday) before the meeting in the Oval Office. The meeting will be attended by a pool of White House reporters and Italian journalists. Also read: ‘Put pressure on the killers’: Zelensky urges partners ahead of US, EU talks in Paris to end Ukraine war What's on the agenda? A senior US administration official said that Trump and Meloni meeting was planned "long before" tariffs were introduced, which somehow clarifies that the two leaders' discussion might not just include tariff talks. The official said the Trump administration wants to "advance the ball and get into a dialogue". He further believed that Italy plays a key role in the Europe-Middle East-India trade corridor, saying that the White House sees Italy as an "important" market for US products. Trump "won't simply focus on how Italy's marketplace can be opened up, but how they can help us with the rest of Europe," he added. One of the official said that Trump will also push that Italy needs to spend more on defence, a key demand for NATO allies from the Trump administration. Also read: Is Trump’s tariff war pushing 'desperate' China closer to its neighbours? Here's how Beijing wants to 'team up' with India “Certainly, that will come up,” one official said. “There are eight countries that aren’t meeting their 2% threshold. Italy is unfortunately one of them.” The US has been urging NATO allies to increase their military spending, as the Trump administration seeks an "America First” approach to foreign policy. Meloni consults with EU leaders before Trump meeting Earlier this week, during an event in Rome, Meloni said, "It’s a difficult moment, let’s see how the situation develops," while talking about her meeting with the US president. As you can imagine, I’m feeling no pressure at all,” Meloni joked at the event. She further said that lets remember "that we have the strength, ability and intelligence to overcome any obstacle.” Moreover, before leaving for the US, Meloni discussed the summit with the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen. Germany’s outgoing chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and his successor, Friedrich Merz also held discussions with Meloni, Politico reported. WATCH | US-China trade war: US imposes 245% tariffs on Chinese imports

'Tariff, US-EU trade deal, or IMEC corridor?' What will Meloni-Trump discuss today during talks in Washington

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggested that NATO could extend its Article 5 projections to Ukraine without making it a member of the alliance.&nbsp;
Meloni on March 6 (Thursday) made the proposal for the North Atlantic Alliance, during the sidelines of the EU leaders' emergency Summit in Brussels.
Notably, Article 5 states that an attack on any NATO member would be treated like an attack on all of them.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukrainians-built-up-trust-zelenskys-approval-rating-surges-to-68-per-cent-after-showdown-with-trump-8831282">Ukrainians built up trust: Zelensky's approval rating surges to 68 per cent after showdown with Trump</a>
"We need to think about more durable solutions than just sending European peacekeepers to Ukraine," Meloni said.&nbsp;
"Extending the same coverage that NATO countries have to Ukraine would certainly be much more effective while being something different from NATO's membership," the Italian PM said at a press briefing in Brussels.&nbsp;
"It&rsquo;s a different thing than entering NATO, but it implies extending the coverage that NATO countries have also to Ukraine," she added.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-ukraine-to-hold-meeting-next-week-zelensky-announces-after-eu-emergency-summit-in-brussels-8828965">US, Ukraine likely to hold meeting next week, Zelensky announces after EU Emergency Summit in Brussels</a>
She further said that it would be a "stable, lasting, effective security guarantee, more than some of the proposals I'm seeing."&nbsp;
Moreover, when asked about how Europe might provide security guarantees to Ukraine without a US backdrop, both European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen dodged specifics and shifted to praising the Ukrainian military.
"The best security guarantee is the Ukrainians themselves," Costa said, stressing that Ukraine has been fighting the war for over three years.&nbsp;
<h2>Kyiv seeks more information&nbsp;</h2>
Ukraine has asked Italy for more information about the proposal made by Meloni.&nbsp;
Kyiv is seeking security guarantees from its Western allies ahead of any peace talks with Russia. It has been wanting NATO membership, but US President Donald Trump rejected this.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-emergency-summit-live-great-we-are-not-alone-zelensky-says-as-he-arrives-at-summit-8827857">Emergency Summit HIGHLIGHTS: 'Conflict will unavoidably resume', Russia warns EU as leaders hold summit</a>
Meanwhile, as discussed in yesterday's Summit, the European countries are developing a "coalition of the willing" to monitor a potential ceasefire in Ukraine.&nbsp;
Further, countries including Canada, Australia, and Ireland have shown openness to partake in such a mission.
Notably, Ukraine has wanted to join NATO for long and it has been a highly contentious subject. Russia could be angered by any moves to extend the alliance's support to Kyiv.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-leaders-rally-around-ukraine-commit-to-866-billion-defence-plan-8830122">European leaders rally around Ukraine, commit to $866 billion defence plan</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Meloni on March 6 (Thursday) made the proposal for the North Atlantic Alliance, during the sidelines of the EU leaders' emergency Summit in Brussels.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggested that NATO could extend its Article 5 projections to Ukraine without making it a member of the alliance. Meloni on March 6 (Thursday) made the proposal for the North Atlantic Alliance, during the sidelines of the EU leaders' emergency Summit in Brussels. Notably, Article 5 states that an attack on any NATO member would be treated like an attack on all of them. Also read: Ukrainians built up trust: Zelensky's approval rating surges to 68 per cent after showdown with Trump "We need to think about more durable solutions than just sending European peacekeepers to Ukraine," Meloni said. "Extending the same coverage that NATO countries have to Ukraine would certainly be much more effective while being something different from NATO's membership," the Italian PM said at a press briefing in Brussels. "It’s a different thing than entering NATO, but it implies extending the coverage that NATO countries have also to Ukraine," she added. Also read: US, Ukraine likely to hold meeting next week, Zelensky announces after EU Emergency Summit in Brussels She further said that it would be a "stable, lasting, effective security guarantee, more than some of the proposals I'm seeing." Moreover, when asked about how Europe might provide security guarantees to Ukraine without a US backdrop, both European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen dodged specifics and shifted to praising the Ukrainian military. "The best security guarantee is the Ukrainians themselves," Costa said, stressing that Ukraine has been fighting the war for over three years. Kyiv seeks more information Ukraine has asked Italy for more information about the proposal made by Meloni. Kyiv is seeking security guarantees from its Western allies ahead of any peace talks with Russia. It has been wanting NATO membership, but US President Donald Trump rejected this. Also read: Emergency Summit HIGHLIGHTS: 'Conflict will unavoidably resume', Russia warns EU as leaders hold summit Meanwhile, as discussed in yesterday's Summit, the European countries are developing a "coalition of the willing" to monitor a potential ceasefire in Ukraine. Further, countries including Canada, Australia, and Ireland have shown openness to partake in such a mission. Notably, Ukraine has wanted to join NATO for long and it has been a highly contentious subject. Russia could be angered by any moves to extend the alliance's support to Kyiv. Also read: European leaders rally around Ukraine, commit to $866 billion defence plan (With inputs from agencies)

Italy's Meloni suggests taking Ukraine under NATO's security umbrella without providing membership

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Saturday defended her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi as she slammed the "double standards" of the global political Left. Meloni said that leaders like herself, PM Modi, US President Donald Trump and Argentine President Javier Milei are creating and leading a new global conservative movement.&nbsp;
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-the-puck-trudeau-in-an-apparent-dig-at-trump-celebrates-canadas-3-2-win-over-us-says-you-cant-take-our-country-8747866" rel="noopener" target="_blank">What the 'puck'? Trudeau, in an apparent dig at Trump, celebrates Canada's 3-2 win over US, says 'You can&rsquo;t take our country</a>
While speaking virtually at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, Meloni said that people across the world are rejecting the Left's "lies", hence, the conservative leaders are rising.&nbsp;
Meloni, the head of the far-right Brothers of Italy party, said that nationalist leaders are labeled as threats to democracy, whereas leftist leaders were celebrated as visionaries when they established international networks in the past.&nbsp;
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/stockholm-syndrome-israeli-hostage-seen-kissing-hamas-militants-on-head-after-release-watch-video-8747606" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Stockholm Syndrome? Israeli hostage seen kissing Hamas militants on head after release. Watch video&nbsp;</a>
"When Bill Clinton and Tony Blair created the global leftist liberal network in the 90s, they were called statesmen. Today, when Trump, Meloni, (Javier) Milei, or maybe (Narendra) Modi talk, they are called a threat to democracy. This is the Left's double standard, but we are used to it," she said.&nbsp;
She further spoke about why people continue to vote for them. "And the good news is people no longer believe in their lies. Despite all the mud they throw at us, citizens keep voting for us," she added.&nbsp;
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hamas-murdered-10-month-old-kfir-and-4-year-old-ariel-bibas-with-bare-hands-alleges-israel-family-says-yet-to-receive-official-info-8747053" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Hamas murdered young hostages? Israel claims 'terrorists' killed 10-month-old Kfir and 4-year-old Ariel Bibas with 'bare hands'</a>&nbsp;
"They are worried as conservative leaders around the world are winning and collaborating on global issues," she further added.&nbsp;
"We defend freedom. We love our nations. We want secure borders. We preserve businesses and citizens. We defend family and life. We fight against wokeism. We protect the sacred right to our faith and our free speech. And we stand for common sense," Meloni noted.&nbsp;
<h2>Italy's ties with the US&nbsp;</h2>
Meloni told American conservatives that the United States and Europe would remain close under Donald Trump amid rising tensions between the allies including over the fate of Ukraine.&nbsp;
In the first weeks of Trump's 2.0 reign, ties between staunch allies Europe and the US have been strained. Trump has reached out to Russia and warned of a shift away from Europe, raising fears of America's commitment to the NATO alliance.
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bus-travelling-from-mata-vaishno-devi-to-delhi-skids-off-road-near-jammu-1-dead-16-injured-8747711" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Bus travelling from Mata Vaishno Devi to Delhi skids off-road near Jammu; driver dead, 17 injured</a>&nbsp;
Meloni insisted Europe was not "lost", as she blamed "ruling classes" and "mainstream media".&nbsp;
"Our adversaries hope that President Trump will move away from us (Europe)," Meloni said. But, "knowing him as a strong and effective leader I bet that those who hope for divisions will be proven wrong."&nbsp;
As the sole European Union leader to attend Trump's inauguration in January, Meloni has been positioned by her supporters as a possible mediator between the US president and the EU.&nbsp;
However, since then, the nationalist leader has mostly been silent over Trump's barrage of policies and remarks.
(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

World | Trending News | Meloni emphasizes the rise of global conservative leaders as a response to the Left's narratives, gaining voter support despite criticism.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Saturday defended her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi as she slammed the "double standards" of the global political Left. Meloni said that leaders like herself, PM Modi, US President Donald Trump and Argentine President Javier Milei are creating and leading a new global conservative movement. Also read: What the 'puck'? Trudeau, in an apparent dig at Trump, celebrates Canada's 3-2 win over US, says 'You can’t take our country While speaking virtually at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, Meloni said that people across the world are rejecting the Left's "lies", hence, the conservative leaders are rising. Meloni, the head of the far-right Brothers of Italy party, said that nationalist leaders are labeled as threats to democracy, whereas leftist leaders were celebrated as visionaries when they established international networks in the past. Also read: Stockholm Syndrome? Israeli hostage seen kissing Hamas militants on head after release. Watch video "When Bill Clinton and Tony Blair created the global leftist liberal network in the 90s, they were called statesmen. Today, when Trump, Meloni, (Javier) Milei, or maybe (Narendra) Modi talk, they are called a threat to democracy. This is the Left's double standard, but we are used to it," she said. She further spoke about why people continue to vote for them. "And the good news is people no longer believe in their lies. Despite all the mud they throw at us, citizens keep voting for us," she added. Also read: Hamas murdered young hostages? Israel claims 'terrorists' killed 10-month-old Kfir and 4-year-old Ariel Bibas with 'bare hands' "They are worried as conservative leaders around the world are winning and collaborating on global issues," she further added. "We defend freedom. We love our nations. We want secure borders. We preserve businesses and citizens. We defend family and life. We fight against wokeism. We protect the sacred right to our faith and our free speech. And we stand for common sense," Meloni noted. Italy's ties with the US Meloni told American conservatives that the United States and Europe would remain close under Donald Trump amid rising tensions between the allies including over the fate of Ukraine. In the first weeks of Trump's 2.0 reign, ties between staunch allies Europe and the US have been strained. Trump has reached out to Russia and warned of a shift away from Europe, raising fears of America's commitment to the NATO alliance. Also read: Bus travelling from Mata Vaishno Devi to Delhi skids off-road near Jammu; driver dead, 17 injured Meloni insisted Europe was not "lost", as she blamed "ruling classes" and "mainstream media". "Our adversaries hope that President Trump will move away from us (Europe)," Meloni said. But, "knowing him as a strong and effective leader I bet that those who hope for divisions will be proven wrong." As the sole European Union leader to attend Trump's inauguration in January, Meloni has been positioned by her supporters as a possible mediator between the US president and the EU. However, since then, the nationalist leader has mostly been silent over Trump's barrage of policies and remarks. (With inputs from agencies)

Italian PM Meloni defends PM Modi, slams Left's 'double standards': 'Despite all the mud...'

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday as she looks to boost ties with the oil-rich kingdom. Watch this report for more details!

Italian PM Meets Saudi Arabia Crown Prince in Al-Ula city to boost ties, sign deals

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama's sweet gesture, where he presents a birthday gift to his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni has taken the internet by storm.
Meloni, who celebrated her 48th birthday on Wednesday (Jan 15), was surprised by Rama as he went down on one knee and sang "tanti auguri" (happy birthday).
The two leaders were attending the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi.
<h2>Here's the video of the moment:</h2>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m5z91957-7hcjyasq-y9llg0gh">
🇦🇱🇮🇹 Albanian PM Edi Rama knelt before Italian PM Giorgia Meloni during their visit to Abu Dhabi, presenting her with a scarf as a birthday gift and referring to her as "Your Majesty". He also tried to place the scarf over her head like a hijab. <a href="https://t.co/QSqEuuBexM">pic.twitter.com/QSqEuuBexM</a>
&mdash; kos_data (@kos_data) <a href="https://twitter.com/kos_data/status/1879519490142253412?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
The lightweight scarf was created by an Italian designer who had moved to Albania, Rama could be seen explaining to Meloni.
Both leaders share great camaraderie despite their contrasting political beliefs.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/melodi-meme-narendra-modi-giorgia-meloni-8608500">Also read: Indian PM Narendra Modi reacts to viral 'Melodi' memes of him and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni</a>
The Italian prime minister heads the right-wing Brothers of Italy, while Rama leads Albania's Socialist Party.
Meloni and Rama forged a deal last year to redirect some migrants rescued at sea by Italy to detention centres in Albania. However, these centres currently stand dormant due to ongoing legal challenges to the agreement.
Italy, Albania, and the United Arab Emirates signed a groundbreaking deal at the summit on Wednesday to construct a subsea interconnection for renewable energy across the Adriatic Sea.
It is worth at least 1 billion euros ($1 billion).
This massive project aims to strengthen existing power connections, stretching 430 km along the Adriatic seabed, and enhance energy security, sustainable development, and the transition to clean energy in the Mediterranean region.
(With inputs from agencies)

World | Trending: Both the leaders share great camaraderie despite their contrasting political beliefs. Meloni heads the right-wing Brothers of Italy, while Rama leads Albania's Socialist Party.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama's sweet gesture, where he presents a birthday gift to his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni has taken the internet by storm. Meloni, who celebrated her 48th birthday on Wednesday (Jan 15), was surprised by Rama as he went down on one knee and sang "tanti auguri" (happy birthday). The two leaders were attending the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi. Here's the video of the moment: 🇦🇱🇮🇹 Albanian PM Edi Rama knelt before Italian PM Giorgia Meloni during their visit to Abu Dhabi, presenting her with a scarf as a birthday gift and referring to her as "Your Majesty". He also tried to place the scarf over her head like a hijab. pic.twitter.com/QSqEuuBexM — kos_data (@kos_data) January 15, 2025 The lightweight scarf was created by an Italian designer who had moved to Albania, Rama could be seen explaining to Meloni. Both leaders share great camaraderie despite their contrasting political beliefs. Also read: Indian PM Narendra Modi reacts to viral 'Melodi' memes of him and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni The Italian prime minister heads the right-wing Brothers of Italy, while Rama leads Albania's Socialist Party. Meloni and Rama forged a deal last year to redirect some migrants rescued at sea by Italy to detention centres in Albania. However, these centres currently stand dormant due to ongoing legal challenges to the agreement. Italy, Albania, and the United Arab Emirates signed a groundbreaking deal at the summit on Wednesday to construct a subsea interconnection for renewable energy across the Adriatic Sea. It is worth at least 1 billion euros ($1 billion). This massive project aims to strengthen existing power connections, stretching 430 km along the Adriatic seabed, and enhance energy security, sustainable development, and the transition to clean energy in the Mediterranean region. (With inputs from agencies)

WATCH | Albanian PM goes down on one knee, surprises Giorgia Meloni with scarf on birthday

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared on a podcast with Zerodha founder Nikhil Kamath on Friday (Jan 10). Apart from serious discussions, a light-hearted moment was captured when the PM reacted to the viral "Melodi" memes on the internet featuring him and the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Kamath asked Modi if he had seen those memes and the PM just smiled and said "Wo toh chalta rahta hai" (That just keeps going on).&nbsp;
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/has-the-iconic-hollywood-sign-damaged-due-to-la-wildfire-heres-what-we-know-8608339" aria-label="LA wildfires: Iconic Hollywood sign damaged? Here's what we know so far">LA wildfires: Iconic Hollywood sign damaged? Here's what we know so far</a>
Kamath started the discussion on the meme saying, "My favourite food is pizza. And pizza is from Italy. And people say you know a lot about Italy." &nbsp;He then asked the PM, "Would you like to say something about that?"
Modi added that he does not "waste time" thinking about memes.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m5qv7la9-p97c2498-ruls0s3j">
Hi friends, from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Melodi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Melodi</a> <a href="https://t.co/OslCnWlB86">pic.twitter.com/OslCnWlB86</a>
&mdash; Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) <a href="https://twitter.com/GiorgiaMeloni/status/1801865796190134583?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
The "Melodi" memes, an acronym of Modi+Meloni, had gone viral after Meloni shared a selfie with Modi in Juden 2023 from &nbsp;the G7 summit on the social media platform X. The caption was, &ldquo;Hello from the Melodi team." Modi replied to the post saying, &ldquo;Long live India-Italy friendship!" after which the internet started shipping them together in playful memes.&nbsp;
Also read |&nbsp;<a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/international-fact-checking-network-calls-out-meta-ceo-zuckerbergs-censorship-claim-as-false-8608243" aria-label="International Fact-Checking Network calls out Meta CEO Zuckerberg's censorship claim as 'false'">International Fact-Checking Network calls out Meta CEO Zuckerberg's censorship claim as 'false'</a>
<h3>Modi - not a foodie&nbsp;</h3>
<iframe width="600" height="400" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yTMYtcQLLaw?start=6400&amp;feature=oembed" title="People with The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi x Nikhil Kamath | Episode 6 | By WTF" class="publive-iframes-block publive-YouTube-block" id="PL_iframe_block-m5qv76tp-nib7b8wj-jondyhml"></iframe>
PM Modi also said that he is not a foodie.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not a foodie, whatever is served in any country I eat happily. It is my bad fortune that if you take me to a restaurant, hand me the menu and ask me to choose, I won&rsquo;t be able to do it," he said.&nbsp;
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-leader-priyanka-chaturvedi-slams-lt-chiefs-work-90-hrs-a-week-remark-8608139" aria-label="Besides being misogynistic...: Indian leader Priyanka Chaturvedi slams L&amp;T chief's 'work 90 hrs a week' remark">Besides being misogynistic...: Indian leader Priyanka Chaturvedi slams L&amp;T chief's 'work 90 hrs a week' remark</a>
He further said that back in the day, he used to take the help of BJP's senior leader Arun Jaitley to order food from restaurants.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know if the dish that is mentioned on the menu and the food in front of me are the same thing, I do not know, I am ignorant because I have not developed that tendency. So I don&rsquo;t understand much about it, so I always used to ask Arun ji to order food for me, it just needed to be vegetarian," the Indian PM said.&nbsp;
Also read |&nbsp;<a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-polls-aap-vs-bjp-arvind-kejriwal-voter-manipulation-bjps-cm-face-asks-delhi-cm-8608002" aria-label="Delhi polls: AAP vs BJP heats up as Kejriwal alleges voter manipulation; Who is BJP&rsquo;s CM face? asks Atishi">Delhi polls: AAP vs BJP heats up as Kejriwal alleges voter manipulation; Who is BJP&rsquo;s CM face? asks Atishi</a>
(With inputs from agencies)
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Prime Minister Modi's smile during Kamath's question reflects his approachable demeanor, highlighting his awareness and acceptance of the role digital culture plays today.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared on a podcast with Zerodha founder Nikhil Kamath on Friday (Jan 10). Apart from serious discussions, a light-hearted moment was captured when the PM reacted to the viral "Melodi" memes on the internet featuring him and the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Kamath asked Modi if he had seen those memes and the PM just smiled and said "Wo toh chalta rahta hai" (That just keeps going on). Also read | LA wildfires: Iconic Hollywood sign damaged? Here's what we know so far Kamath started the discussion on the meme saying, "My favourite food is pizza. And pizza is from Italy. And people say you know a lot about Italy." He then asked the PM, "Would you like to say something about that?" Modi added that he does not "waste time" thinking about memes. Hi friends, from #Melodi pic.twitter.com/OslCnWlB86 — Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) June 15, 2024 The "Melodi" memes, an acronym of Modi+Meloni, had gone viral after Meloni shared a selfie with Modi in Juden 2023 from the G7 summit on the social media platform X. The caption was, “Hello from the Melodi team." Modi replied to the post saying, “Long live India-Italy friendship!" after which the internet started shipping them together in playful memes. Also read | International Fact-Checking Network calls out Meta CEO Zuckerberg's censorship claim as 'false' Modi - not a foodie PM Modi also said that he is not a foodie. “I’m not a foodie, whatever is served in any country I eat happily. It is my bad fortune that if you take me to a restaurant, hand me the menu and ask me to choose, I won’t be able to do it," he said. Also read | Besides being misogynistic...: Indian leader Priyanka Chaturvedi slams L&T chief's 'work 90 hrs a week' remark He further said that back in the day, he used to take the help of BJP's senior leader Arun Jaitley to order food from restaurants. “I don’t know if the dish that is mentioned on the menu and the food in front of me are the same thing, I do not know, I am ignorant because I have not developed that tendency. So I don’t understand much about it, so I always used to ask Arun ji to order food for me, it just needed to be vegetarian," the Indian PM said. Also read | Delhi polls: AAP vs BJP heats up as Kejriwal alleges voter manipulation; Who is BJP’s CM face? asks Atishi (With inputs from agencies)

Indian PM Narendra Modi reacts to viral 'Melodi' memes of him and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni

New Delhi, India 
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday (Dec 18) took a defensive stance on her friendship with billionaire Elon Musk and informed Italian lawmakers it will not influence her in areas in which the latter has economic interests.
“I can be a friend of Elon Musk and at the same time the head of the first Italian government that made a new law to regulate private activity in space,’’ said Meloni, while replying to questions in a customary parliamentary discussion held before the European Union summit scheduled for this week in Brussels. 
Meloni took a jibe at her predecessors and said that previous Italian leaders “who thought they had a good relationship, even a friendship, with a foreign leader, they had to slavishly follow what the others did.”
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/elon-musk-surpasses-the-net-worth-of-bezos-and-zuckerberg-combined-785218">Elon Musk surpasses the net worth of Bezos and Zuckerberg combined</a>
She said that she shared good relationships “with many people” but “I don’t take orders from anyone and you should be happy about this."
<h2>Meloni and Musk's friendship</h2>
Meloni was frequently seen with Tesla and SpaceX billionaire Elon Musk after coming to power in 2022. 
This year, Meloni’s government approved a framework which paved the way for foreign space companies to operate in the country. It is expected that this will generate $7.7 billion in investments by 2026.
Watch: Elon Musk's Philanthropic Donations Fail to Meet Minimum Threshold
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/19/1912_wion_musk_930am-1734585011-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1912_wion_musk_930am.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=184&tags=Elon Musk,donations,elon musk's charitable foundation" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
Amid this, the friendship between Meloni and Musk also garnered a lot of attention. Musk refuted reports of having any kind of romantic relationship with Meloni after a photo of them looking at each other went viral last September. 
The two also attended a black-tie event in New York where Meloni was presented an award by Musk.
A year ago, Musk was also seen at an event organised for the ruling party's youth members in Italy. 
(With inputs from agencies)

A picture of Musk and Meloni from an event in September went viral and left social media users speculating if the two were "dating"

 



New Delhi, India Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday (Dec 18) took a defensive stance on her friendship with billionaire Elon Musk and informed Italian lawmakers it will not influence her in areas in which the latter has economic interests. “I can be a friend of Elon Musk and at the same time the head of the first Italian government that made a new law to regulate private activity in space,’’ said Meloni, while replying to questions in a customary parliamentary discussion held before the European Union summit scheduled for this week in Brussels. Meloni took a jibe at her predecessors and said that previous Italian leaders “who thought they had a good relationship, even a friendship, with a foreign leader, they had to slavishly follow what the others did.” Also Read: Elon Musk surpasses the net worth of Bezos and Zuckerberg combined She said that she shared good relationships “with many people” but “I don’t take orders from anyone and you should be happy about this." Meloni and Musk's friendship Meloni was frequently seen with Tesla and SpaceX billionaire Elon Musk after coming to power in 2022. This year, Meloni’s government approved a framework which paved the way for foreign space companies to operate in the country. It is expected that this will generate $7.7 billion in investments by 2026. Watch: Elon Musk's Philanthropic Donations Fail to Meet Minimum Threshold Amid this, the friendship between Meloni and Musk also garnered a lot of attention. Musk refuted reports of having any kind of romantic relationship with Meloni after a photo of them looking at each other went viral last September. The two also attended a black-tie event in New York where Meloni was presented an award by Musk. A year ago, Musk was also seen at an event organised for the ruling party's youth members in Italy. (With inputs from agencies)

Italy's Giorgia Meloni speaks on her friendship with Musk, says 'Don't take orders from anyone'

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