International

Italy's falling birth rate is a crisis that's only getting worse

Italy has long had one of the lowest birth rates in the EU, and the country is ageing at a much faster rate than other member states, and it appears to be getting worse, Euronews reports.

According to government statistics, the average number of children per Italian woman has dropped from 1.24 in 2022 to 1.2 in 2023. Experts say that if the country's population crisis continues, Italy’s population of 59 million could fall by almost 1 million by 2030.

And the effects of the crisis are already being felt, with the ageing of the population causing problems for Italy's healthcare and pension systems.

Addressing the crisis is one of the government’s core policies, and a top priority of the parliament's ruling far-right party, the Brothers of Italy. But while the argument over how to solve the population crisis has been politicised for years, many are arguing that a consensus on a solution needs to be found.

The problems with the way the crisis is currently handled were recently on display at a two-day conference held in Rome.

The event offered a chance to discuss what is being described as a cross-party national emergency, but a brief interruption by a group of young activists who attacked the government’s anti-abortion measures showed how politically divisive the subject still is.

Organisers stressed that a private institution was behind the event, not the government.

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Universities from the Republic of Moldova promoted in India. Dan Perciun: Each international student contributes €10,000 annually to the country's economy.
Social

Universities from the Republic of Moldova promoted in India. Dan Perciun: Each international student contributes €10,000 annually to the country's economy.

International students who choose to study in the Republic of Moldova contribute approximately €10,000 each year to the country's economy through tuition fees, accommodation, food, and other services, according to Dan Perciun, the Minister of Education and Research. He noted that these funds support job creation and investment in universities, thereby improving conditions for all students.

EXIT-POLL presidential elections in Romania// Marcel Ciolacu and Elena Lasconi, in the second round
International

EXIT-POLL presidential elections in Romania// Marcel Ciolacu and Elena Lasconi, in the second round

The two finalists of the first round of the presidential elections on November 24, 2024 are Marcel Ciolacu (PSD) and Elena Lasconi (USR), shows a CIRA-AVANGARDE-INSOMAR poll, conducted when voters left the polls, at 7:00 p.m. The poll was conducted only on Romanian territory and does not include the diaspora, reports news.ro.

Correspondence from Bucharest: Romania elects its president – Vote of the Diaspora is important
International

Correspondence from Bucharest: Romania elects its president – Vote of the Diaspora is important

Romanians face a challenging task today, as 14 candidates are competing for the presidency at Cotroceni Palace. This count is effectively 13, considering the recent withdrawal of Ludovic Orban, who will still appear on the ballot papers. Polls show that the top five candidates have a chance of advancing to the second round, which will take place in two weeks. Additionally, parliamentary elections are scheduled for the following week.