VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis called for Ukraine to find “the courage of the white flag” and negotiate with Russia to end the war, the Vatican said.
The pontiff, speaking during an interview on Swiss television, labelled war as “madness” and urged for negotiations between warring countries and groups. He argued that to learn we must look at history, saying all wars “end in agreement,” and said that leaders should “not be ashamed to negotiate” before the situation gets worse.
ROME – Italy shocked Scotland in a 31-29 victory in the Six Nations, their first home victory in the tournament for 11 years.
The Azzurri claimed their first victory in the Six Nations in over two years, fighting back from a six-point deficit at half time.
The Italian side have been growing stronger with every performance at the tournament, narrowly avoiding victory against England, drawing with France and winning against Scotland. However, they were thrashed by Ireland.
ROME — Palermo prosecutors failed for 26 years to name a suspect in the murder of Domenico Geraci, a militant unionist who railed against Mafia influence before he was shot dead at his own doorbell in 1998. But testimony from three new Cosa Nostra turncoats led the Palermo anti-Mafia directorate (DDA) this week to charge two convicted Mafiosi with the crime, judicial sources said.
ROME – Roma ruined Roberto De Zerbi’s Italian homecoming as they thrashed Brighton and Hove Albion 4-0 in the first leg of the Europa League Round of 16.
Roma was the dominant team for most of the night, playing before a home crowd against an English side who had never played in a European competition before. Brighton were also suffering loss of star player Kaoru Mitoma, who has been ruled out until May due to a back injury.
ROME – Italian street artist, Jorit, defended himself on social media after he posed for a photo with Vladimir Putin at the World Youth Festival in Sochi.
Jorit, born Jorrit Ciro Cerullo, posted a story on Instagram with a statement hitting back at those who criticised him for posing with and embracing Russian president Putin.
KINSHASA – Ahead of International Women’s Day, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) chief Cindy McCain issued an appeal to the international community for urgent resources and support to respond to the deepening hunger crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where women are bearing a disproportionate burden of this humanitarian emergency.
JUBA — Sudan’s war has shattered millions of lives and created the world’s largest displacement crisis. Now this catastrophe also risks becoming the world’s largest hunger crisis, unless fighting stops, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director Cindy McCain warns today as she concludes a visit to South Sudan, where she met families fleeing violence and an escalating hunger emergency in Sudan.
ROME – Two Brighton fans have been stabbed in Rome ahead of the clash with Roma in the Europa league on Thursday.
Joey Thorpe, 27, was mugged and two of his friends, 28 and 29, were stabbed in the thigh on Via Monte Polacco, near Via Cavour, just after midnight on Thursday. The police were called after the two victims went into a nearby restaurant, asking for help.
They had been attacked by six masked men who also stole their wallets and passports. The attackers have not yet been identified and any connection with Roma has not yet been confirmed.
ROME – During the summer period in Rome, most public transport will not be running, leaving tourists and locals alike unable to commute in the city.
There will be no trams running in Rome from May to the middle of October, due to expansion works at the Porta Maggiore depot. 121 more trams are expected to arrive in Rome before the Jubilee in 2025, but Porta Maggiore is currently not big enough to contain all the new vehicles. While the depot is expanded, there is no place to park the current trams and so all lines are suspended.
