Confusion still reigns over next year's elections, says Rome's premier political commentator.

ROME - Almost four years ago, I went to the Terrorhaza, the House of Terror in Budapest.

ROME - Every day brings new revelations about scandals in the cities and the regions.

NAPLES -- Naples has been notorious for poverty and social deprivation since the days when wealthy Europeans visited the city as part of their Grand Tour.

ROME - This month heads of state and government from FAO donor countries and beneficiary states gathered in Rome at the UN agency’s headquarters for World Food Day.

VATICAN CITY - The trial of Pope Benedict XVI's butler reflects the Vatican's uncertainty how to use contemporary media, Holy See watchers say.  

ROME--The chief executive of the Lazio regional government, Renata Polverini, resigned yesterday, a resignation without honour.

Rome -- In August Italy normally sinks into a torpor and the most serious worry is whether there is space on your favorite beach or mountain path.

ROME- The weak economy is visible to all but there is a parallel system crack at least as dangerous to the country’s wellbeing and stability, undermining the very structures of the country.

ROME- Romans are a lot like New Yorkers: they are thick-skinned to outsiders and seemingly unaffected by the qualms of visitors.

ROME- It is obvious enough but has to be said: there is no perfect electoral
system. If we want to elect a legislature, there are two major issues to

ROME- Instead of winding down for the summer break, Italy has a corruption scandal in the north, a major mafia investigation in the south and regional governments with serious budget deficits acros

ROME-When Margaret Thatcher made an unscheduled speech to a Tory election rally in Plymouth, the local cinema was showing “The Mummy returns”. She started her speech by mentioning this and adding “

ROME- If I am lucky I can park my car in Paradise – piazza del Paradiso, so named for a mediæval inn known for its gastronomic delights.

The Holy See’s appointment of Greg Burke to oversee communications may herald his conservative Opus Dei movement resuming control again over the public image of the Catholic Church.

ROME-The dazzling Diamond Jubilee birthday party of Queen Elizabeth II held in Villa Wolkonski was an outstanding effort by British Ambassador, Christopher Prentice and his talented staff.

PORTRUSH, COUNTYANTRIM --If any picture is worth a thousand words, it must be this one.

ROME -- 1992 was a traumatic year for Italy. This year has seen a wave of commemorations of those events.

ROME --  “I’ll be home late tonight, there’s an important meeting.” “Sure darling, I’ll keep the minestrone warm for you.” “Did they fix the sink?”

Italy is known for its macho, misogynistic culture, not at all helped by its former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's 'bunga bunga' antics.

The FAO's new chief has taken promising steps toward reversing the demoralisation that stymied the UN agency under the pisspoor leadership of Jacques Diouf.