- Trump rallies at site of failed assassination: 'Never quit'
- Too hot by day, Dubai's floodlit beaches are packed at night
- Is music finally reckoning with #MeToo?
- Fans hail Trump's 'guts' as he returns to site of rally shooting
- Lebanon state media says 'very violent' Israeli strikes hit south Beirut
- Guardians maul Tigers, miracle Mets rally in MLB series openers
- Lebanon state media says Israeli strikes hit south Beirut
- Miami on track for MLS record points after win in Toronto
- Madrid beat Villarreal but Carvajal suffers knee injury
- Madrid beat Villarreal to move level with Liga leaders Barcelona
- Monaco take top spot in Ligue 1 with win at Rennes
- French rugby player on rape charge whistled but 'serene' on return
- Madrid beat Villarreal to level Liga leaders Barca
- Thuram treble fires Inter past Torino and up to second
- 'Fight': defiant Trump jets in to site of rally shooting
- Toddler among 3 dead in migrant Channel crossings
- Mexico City's new mayor sworn in with pledges on water, housing
- Israel on alert ahead of Hamas attack anniversary
- Guardians maul Tigers in MLB playoff series opener
- Macron criticises Israel on Gaza, Lebanon operations
- French rugby player whistled but 'serene' on return amid ongoing rape case
- Kovacic stars as Man City sink Fulham to get title bid back on track
- Retegui hat-trick fires five-star Atalanta to hammering of Genoa
- Heavyweights Australia, England off to World Cup winning starts
- Visiting UN refugee agency chief decries 'terrible crisis' in Lebanon
- Spinners come to party as England defeat Bangladesh at T20 World Cup
- Search continues for missing in deadly Bosnia floods
- Man City sink Fulham to get title bid back on track
- France's Auradou whistled on Pau return in Perpignan loss amid ongoing rape case
- A 'forgotten' valley in storm-hit North Carolina, desperate for help
- Arsenal hit back in style after Southampton scare
- Thousands march for Palestinians ahead of Oct 7 anniversary
- Hezbollah heir apparent Safieddine out of contact after strikes
- Liverpool stay top of Premier League as Arsenal, Man City win
- In dank Tour of Emilia, Pogacar shines in rainbow jersey
- DR Congo launches mpox vaccination drive, hoping to curb outbreak
- Trump returns to site of failed assassination
- Careless Leverkusen held to Bundesliga draw
- O'Brien's 'superstar' Kyprios posts landmark win on Arc weekend
- Toddler crushed to death in migrant Channel crossing
- Liverpool suffer Alisson injury blow
- Habosi helps Racing beat Vannes before Auradou's playing return
- Thousands march in London in support of Palestinians, 1 year after Oct 7
- Israel readying response to Iran missile attack
- Schutt, Mooney help Australia beat Sri Lanka in Women's T20 World Cup
- Liverpool extend Premier League lead with win at Palace
- Djokovic 'shakes rust off' to make third round of Shanghai Masters
- 'Imperfect' PSG fighting on all fronts - Luis Enrique
- Struggling Pakistan look to thwart adaptable England
- Child 'trampled to death' in asylum seekers' Channel crossing: minister
Putin, Italian firms talk business despite Ukraine tensions
Russian President Vladimir Putin spent more than two hours Wednesday in a virtual meeting with top Italian executives, despite Rome's opposition to the event due to escalating tensions over Ukraine.
More than 16 companies, including energy giant Enel, insurer Generali and tyre manufacturer Pirelli took part in the meeting organised by the Italian-Russian Chamber of Commerce. Energy firm Eni told AFP it had decided Tuesday to withdraw.
According to Russian news agencies, Putin hailed Italy as one of Moscow's "main economic partners" and amid worries over soaring gas prices, said Russia was a "reliable supplier".
The meeting was planned in November by the chamber, which seeks to boost business and investment ties between the eurozone's third-largest economy and Russia. According to the group, more than 500 Italian companies are active in Russia.
But it comes just as the United States and other Western powers have warned Moscow it risks punishing economic sanctions if it moves ahead with what they fear is an imminent invasion of Ukraine.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi's government asked firms in which the Italian state has a stake not to take part in the meeting, according to a source close to one participant. The Italian state is the largest shareholder in Enel.
An Italian government official told AFP: "The meeting is of a private nature and no member of the Italian government will take part."
The chamber said it was the first time Putin had directly addressed an Italian business delegation.
Business leaders posed questions to and raised issues directly with Putin, "thus creating a debate, without political rhetoric" on trade issues, the economy, and industrial policy, among other topics, it said in a statement.
Eight Russian government ministers, including those from agriculture and economic development, accompanied Putin in the meeting.
- Doing business -
Putin said he was "willing to develop cooperation between the two countries and to attract Italian business... by creating favourable and stable conditions", the chamber's statement read.
Italy, which is heavily dependent on Russian gas, has a chronic trade deficit with Russia.
Gas prices have soared this winter, a surge thought to be partly due to a particularly cold winter and a return to economic activity after the pandemic.
But Moscow is also suspected of taking advantage of the tensions on the world market to limit supply and drive up prices.
"Our country is a reliable supplier of energy to Italian consumers," Putin told the meeting, according to Russian news agencies.
He said Italian energy firms continue to work with Russia's Gazprom on the basis of long-term contracts, "and can currently buy gas at prices well below those of the market".
He added that despite the pandemic and the "volatility" of the global economy, "our countries have managed to maintain economic cooperation at a relatively high level".
Putin also complained that "contacts and business travel are hampered" by the lack of an EU-Russia deal to recognise coronavirus vaccines.
NATO on Monday said it was sending jets and ships to bolster its eastern European flank, as the United States and European Union looked to coordinate a tough response to Russia if it invades Ukraine.
Italy's defence minister said Wednesday his country would uphold its commitments to the alliance while underlining the need for dialogue with Moscow for a peaceful solution in Ukraine.
Unlike most of its Western neighbours, Italy has historically relatively friendly ties with Putin, backed by strong, long-standing investments by Italian corporations in Russia.
Since becoming prime minister of Italy in February 2021, Draghi has stressed that Italy is firmly on the side of the European Union and NATO.
D.Sawyer--AMWN