ROME -- A new UNICEF report has shown Italy to be amongst the worst countries in the Europian Union for childhood inequality, at 32nd out of 35, whilst Denmark has come out on top, and Israel takes last place.
Corinna Harrison
ROME -- Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has had an important trip to Iran, during which the two countries have agreed to step up cooperation, both politically and economically. Through his sojourn, Renzi has become the first Western leader to visit the country since the lifting of their sanctions after complying with a nuclear program roll back in January.
13 Apr 2016
Christina Höfferer
Alice Pasquini spray-paints the walls of Rome
By Christina Höfferer and Florence Brock
13 Apr 2016
Corinna Harrison
ROME -- On Tuesday afternoon the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs was set to discuss the alleged “proportional” measures promised by the Italians if the Egyptians failed to deliver in the Giulio Regeni case after the meetings held in Rome on Thursday and Friday. The meeting was due to take place between the Minister for Foreign Affairs Paolo Gentiloni and the Italian ambassador to Cairo Maurizio Massari, who arrived back in Rome yesterday for consultation after the meeting with Egyptian investigators did not turn up enough information.
12 Apr 2016
Philip Willan
Rome -- Italy’s most abrasive radio show host narrowly missed coming to blows with animal rights activists angry at the country’s slaughter of spring lambs for traditional Easter lunches, and at Giuseppe Cruciani’s provocative insensitivity on the subject.
Mr Cruciani, an emulator of feisty American talk radio hosts and described as “an illegitimate son of David Letterman,” has delighted in twisting the tail of Italian vegetarians.
12 Apr 2016
STEFANO GRAZIOSI
VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis will make a pastoral visit to Armenia June 24-26 and then return to the Caucasus region Sept.30-Oct.23 for a trip to Georgia and Azerbaijan, the Vatican said Saturday.
The pontiff’s sojourn in Armenia at the invitation of Armenian Supreme Patriarch Karekin II as well as civil authorities and the local Roman Catholic Church, could strain diplomatic relations between Turkey and the Holy See, Vatican watchers say.
9 Apr 2016
Corinna Harrison
ROME -- Bruno Vespa has caused quite a stir by inviting the son of one of the very top mafia bosses, the head of Cosa Nostra Toto Riina, to be a guest on his show “Porta a Porta” on national Italian television channel RAI after the release of his book. The impact can already be felt, with the Parliamentary Anti-Mafia Commission calling the President and Director General of RAI, Monica Maggioni and Antonio Campo Dall’Orto respectively, to an emergency hearing on Thursday late afternoon for having given Vespa the go-ahead.
7 Apr 2016
Corinna Harrison
ROME -- The Italian industrial group Finmeccanica have succeeded in gaining themselves an eight-billion euro contract in Kuwait. They will be selling 28 Eurofighter Tycoon aircraft to the Kuwaitis, which will be built in Italy itself, with most of the project being carried out in Piedmont. There will also be important contributions towards various parts of the machines from Lombardy, Campania and Apulia.
6 Apr 2016
Corinna Harrison
ROME -- The new Chelsea manager has been announced, with Antonio Conte, formerly a member of Juventus and current manager of the Italian national side, taking over the role of head coach of the football club from July, having signed a three-year contract. “Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Antonio Conte as First Team Head Coach,” read the official announcement that was posted on the London-based team’s site.
5 Apr 2016