Italy’s Political Crisis Deepens

Gianfranco Fini was called on to step down by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi Thursday after Mr. Berlusconi’s party expelled him after months of bitter conflict.
"Obviously, I will not hand in my resignation," Mr. Fini told a news conference. As a co-founder of Mr. Berlusconi’s center-right People of Freedom party, Mr. Fini and his followers could threaten to diminish Mr. Berlusconi’s control over parliament by forming an independent group.
Mr. Fini told the news conference his followers would keep supporting the government as long as it stuck to the program on which it was elected two years ago.
Mr. Berlusconi has insisted his party didn’t risk losing control of parliament. "There is no risk at all," he said Thursday after announcing Mr. Fini’s expulsion. The loss of a majority in parliament could lead to early elections.
Mr. Fini had been distancing himself from Mr. Berlusconi for months as the premier’s party became engulfed in corruption scandals that led to the resignation of two ministers and a deputy minister.
Mr. Fini recently invited fellow party members close to Mr. Berlusconi to resign citing questions of morality and legality. He also spoke against government bills, including a controversial draft law to restrict wiretapping and the publication of transcripts from them.
The expulsion of Mr. Fini came hours after parliament approved the government’s €25 billion ($32.7 billion) austerity package. Mr. Berlusconi said the party wanted to ensure the budget plan received final approval before announcing the break with Mr. Fini and his allies.
Europe

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy visits London to boost military cooperation with UK

Hungary and Slovakia block 18th sanctions package against Russia

Erdoğan: We will not allow Syria to be dragged into instability again

EU: Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz would be extremely dangerous
NEWS FEED
Russian Foreign Intelligence: Serbia exports military goods to Ukraine via indirect routes
Baku Court sentences Bahruz Samedov to 15 years for treason linked to Armenian intelligence
Data from Apple, Google, Facebook and other platforms leaked -WARNING
Putin: External powers are increasingly involved in Middle East conflict
IDF: Israeli airstrikes destroy key Iranian command centers
Evacuation of foreigners from Iran to Azerbaijan continues
Azerbaijani delegation attends opening of 30th Shanghai Television Festival
Construction materials production facility commissioned in Goranboy district-UPDATED
President Ilham Aliyev attended opening of Yevlakh pilot agricultural park -UPDATED
Iran does not rule out targeting US military bases in Middle East
Azerbaijani song misrepresented as Armenian removed from YouTube after intervention by Intellectual Property Agency
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy visits London to boost military cooperation with UK
EU to hold discussions on Georgia today
Sweden sharply increases investments in Azerbaijani economy
Official Baku condemns terrorist attack on church in Syria
Chargé d'Affaires: Iran has not abandoned the path of diplomacy
Hungary and Slovakia block 18th sanctions package against Russia
President Ilham Aliyev attended inauguration of Central Aran Regional SCADA Control Center in Yevlakh -UPDATED
Media tour held at Azerbaijan Military History Museum -PHOTO
US military base in Syria attacked
Azerbaijani embassy in Iran continues its operations
Trump did not inform Putin about intention to strike Iran
Embassy: Iran has never intended to acquire nuclear weapons
Iran's chargé d'affaires: US and Israel violated Iran's sovereign territory
Kremlin responds to Trump's statement on the possibility of regime change in Iran
“Yevlakh” Junction Substation and Regional Training and Laboratory Center inaugurated -PHOTO-UPDATED
President Ilham Aliyev attended inauguration of sand filter-free water treatment facility in Yevlakh City -PHOTO-UPDATED
Putin condemns Iran bombing as act of aggression
Iran-Israeli War -LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Defense Minister: Israeli army intensively bombards central Tehran
Israel strikes multiple IRGC and security installations
Putin received Iranian FM at Kremlin-VIDEO
Israel strikes road to Fordow nuclear facility
IAEA Director General: Uranium processing buildings damaged during US strike on Isfahan nuclear facility
Azerbaijan Defense Ministry hosts a meeting with media and NGO representatives
Israeli Air Force strikes Tehran-UPDATED
Kremlin condemns US strikes on Iran
ADSEA officials attend international summit in Singapore
President Ilham Aliyev reviewed construction progress on Baku–Alat–Gazakh–State Border with Georgia highway section passing through Yevlakh city-UPDATED
China, Iran discuss tensions in Strait of Hormuz
Evacuation of foreign nationals via Astara border checkpoint continues-PHOTO
American Airlines flight makes emergency landing in Baku
Erdoğan: We will not allow Syria to be dragged into instability again
President Ilham Aliyev inspected construction progress of Yevlakh Olympic Sports Complex -UPDATED
EU: Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz would be extremely dangerous
Azerbaijan's ANAMA discovers 104 more landmines, 1,445 UXOs in liberated territories
Iranian Parliament debates halting cooperation with IAEA
U.S. Independence Day reception in Baku postponed
Azerbaijan extends special quarantine regime
Israeli Army: Missiles launched by Iran detected-UPDATED