…r. Italy, which approved an austerity programme last week, currently has a debt-to-GDP ratio of 120%. S&P took the decision after lowering its annual growth forecast for Italy to just 0.7% between 2011 and 2014, down from 1.3% a year. It also questioned whether Italy’s austerity plan would deliver the €60 billion savings that the government is aiming for. “We believe the reduced pa…
Spain wins Euro 2012 final after beating Italy with 4-0 and claiming a successive European crown to add to their 2010 World Cup triumph. Vicente del Bosque’s side staged a compelling claim to be the greatest international side of all time as the Euro 2012 final was transformed into an exhibition with Italy – who performed creditably for long periods – passed brutally into submis…
o named 10 “wise men” to work in two separate groups to end the impasse in forming a new government in Italy Italy has been governed by a group of technocrats led by Mario Monti since late 2011 – when centre-right leader Silvio Berlusconi resigned in the middle of an acute economic crisis. Giorgio Napolitano said that Mario Monti’s caretaker cabinet was still “operati…
Italian stocks have fallen sharply, reacting to news that Prime Minister Mario Monti plans to resign and former premier Silvio Berlusconi is to run for office again. The main Italian stock index fell 3.1%. Other indexes throughout Europe were also lower, with banks the worst hit among shares. Mario Monti became the leader of a technocrat government in 2011 after investors became worried about Ita…
Seventeen people are now known to have died and another 350 were hurt in the 5.8 magnitude earthquake that hit northern Italy yesterday. The tremor was the second in just over a week. Dozens of aftershocks have shuddered through Italy’s northern Emilia Romagna region overnight. The latest victim has been pulled from the rubble in the town of Medolla, some 27 miles (45km) north-west of Bolog…
…and its fragile economic recovery made the country “especially vulnerable” to external shocks, Fitch said. The rating agency added that it expected growth to remain subdued between now and 2015, and unemployment to remain high. Spain has the highest jobless rate in the eurozone, at more than 20%. Fitch agency cuts Italy and Spain ratings However, Fitch said the Spanish economy should…
…iencing its longest recession in more than 40 years. National debt is now about 127% of annual economic output, second only to Greece in the eurozone. Unemployment is at a record high of 11.5% – 38% for the under-25s. Before taking office, Enrico Letta vowed to make job creation his priority, but critics are unhappy that he has focused on property tax reform. The issues of social justice and…
…munity by giving an undertaking to a court that the pair would return. “A person who comes to court and gives an undertaking has no immunity,” Chief Justice Kabir said. The court set April 2 as the next date of hearing and restrained the Italian ambassador from leaving India “until further orders”. The Supreme Court in India has said Italy’s Ambassador Daniele Mancin…
The 6-magnitude earthquake that hit northern Italy this morning has killed at least six people and caused serious damage to buildings in several towns, local officials say. The quake struck in the middle of the night, about 35 km (22 miles) north of the city of Bologna. The tremor caused “significant damage to the cultural heritage” of Emilia Romagna region, the government said. Later…
nt in Verona – have written books about the case. Rafafele Sollecito’s book was published last year. Amanda Knox’s book – titled Waiting to be Heard – is due out on April 30, 2013. Meredith Kercher case: 1 November 2007: Meredith Kercher is killed at her apartment in Perugia, Italy. Police find her a day later. 6 November 2007: Meredith Kercher’s US housemate…
…th Italy on Thursday The UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body will deal with the case on Tuesday, 19 June. FARE (Football Against Racism in Europe) announced on Friday that their observers heard between 300 and 500 Croatia fans chanting monkey noises, which prompted Uefa to investigate the matter. The Croatian Football Federation (HNS) has condemned the “deviant” fans who had shamed thei…
…. The Senate on Friday backed the plan, which includes a rise in VAT and the pension age, a fuel price hike and also the sale of state assets. Following that vote, shares in most European markets rose 2-3%, and the interest rate paid on Italy’s 10-year bonds dropped. International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde has welcomed the “significant progress” made in tackling the p…
…manded details “in the next few hours”, an Italian news agency said, after accusations the UK did not inform Italy about the planned mission. Islamist militants took British Chris McManus, 28, of Oldham, and Italian Franco Lamolinara, 48, hostage in north-west Nigeria last May. The engineers died as Nigerian and UK forces tried to free them on Thursday. UK Foreign Secretary William Hag…
c. Though discredited by his support for Mussolini, King Victor Emmanuel clung on to his throne after the dictator’s fall, only abdicating in favor of Umberto in May 1946. Umberto ruled for only 34 days, earning for himself the sobriquet “the May King“….
Amanda Knox, who was convicted and then cleared of murdering her British roommate Meredith Kercher, says she may return to Italy to face a retrial. “My lawyers have said that I don’t have to… I’m still considering it, to be honest,” Amanda Knox told USA Today. Amanda Knox, 25, also went on TV to publicly protest her innocence as she released her autobiography, Waitin…
…nditionally. Enrico Letta, once a member of the former centre-right Christian Democrats, is seen as moderate of the left. His uncle, Gianni Letta, has been Silvio Berlusconi’s chief-of-staff for 10 years. A broad political alliance would again make Silvio Berlusconi a major influence. This awkward coming together of bitter rivals is seen as the only way to end the parliamentary stalemate and…
A 5.9-magnitude earthquake in northern Italy has killed at least three people and caused thousands of others to flee into the streets, officials say. The quake struck in the middle of the night, about 35 km (22 miles) north of the city of Bologna. Italian officials say the three victims died when the buildings they were working in overnight collapsed. A 5.9-magnitude earthquake in northern Italy…
ees, after which people tried to reach land in lifeboats or by swimming. Rescue teams have been going from cabin to cabin, searching for survivors. Italians, Germans, French and British were among the 3,200 passengers. There were also 1,000 crew on board. Helicopters evacuated the last 50 people on the deck who were in a “worsening” situation. Three people were confirmed dead, Italian…
hich was magnitude 6.0, the Associated Press said. That quake destroyed many centuries-old buildings of cultural value. It was the worst to hit Italy since the L’Aquila tremor that killed nearly 300 people in 2009. …
ase had been botched and DNA evidence contaminated. A third suspect, Rudy Guede, whose DNA and bloody footprints were found all over the crime scene, is serving a 16-year prison sentence, reduced from 30 years on appeal. Meredith Kercher’s family welcomed the Italian court’s judgment. Her sister Stephanie said: “We are never going to be happy about any outcome because we have still lost Meredith b…
Amanda Knox and her former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito face a retrial over the 2007 killing of Briton student Meredith Kercher, Italy’s highest court has ordered. Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito spent four years in jail in Italy for murder but were freed on appeal in October 2011, largely on the grounds DNA evidence was flawed. Prosecutors appealed and the Court of Cassation overturned…
…said it had received assurances about the men’s treatment and their human rights. Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone are accused of shooting the fishermen off the Kerala coast in February 2012. The marines had been guarding an Italian oil tanker and said they mistook the fishermen for pirates. The marines, who had been out on bail awaiting trial, were allowed to fly back to Italy for…
As his estranged wife filed for divorce just last month, Ashton Kutcher did not celebrate the holidays with Demi Moore, but he did spend the festive period with her lookalike Lorene Scafaria. Ashton Kutcher enjoyed Christmas in Italy with 33-year-old screenwriter Lorene Scafaria, who looks remarkably like Demi Moore. The actor posted a snap of himself and Lorene Scafaria to his Twitter page. He p…
…iend Kanye West seal the deal? One likely location where they may have conceived is Italy. Kim Kardashian was there with her man around three months ago where she enjoyed a romantic break ahead of her 32nd birthday. On Sunday – just hours before Kanye West broke the baby news with a shout out to his “baby mama” while live in concert in Atlantic City, Kim Kardashian posted her second best mom…
Daniele Mancini, Italy’s ambassador to India, has been ordered not to leave the country after Rome’s refusal to return two marines charged with the murder of two fishermen in Kerala last year. The Indian court had allowed the marines to go home to vote in last month’s elections. Ambassador Daniele Mancini had personally assured the court the marines would return by March 22. On Wednes…
Eurovision 2013 winner is Denmark's Emmelie de Forest with Only TeardropsDenmark has won 2013 Eurovision Song Contest, held in the Swedish city of Malmo. Danish Emmelie de Forest had been the overwhelming favorite among the 26 entries, with her…
Phil Robertson, Miss Kay and Uncle Si do commercials for Clayton HomesDuck Commander Phil Robertson and his wife Miss Kay, the stars of Duck Dynasty, sliced some sweet potato pie and filled their audience in about Clayton Homes. “What do I…
Eurovision winners over the years. Where are they now?The Eurovision Song Contest has been running since 1956 and in that time, acts from around Europe have been singing their hearts out in the hope of winning the trophy. There…
Eurovision 2013: 26 countries competing in Malmö Grand Final2013 Eurovision Song Contest is under way in the Swedish city of Malmö as 26 countries compete in front of millions of TV viewers. Denmark's Emmelie de Forest is the…
Real Housewives of Miami: Adriana de Moura marries Frederic Marq wearing a grey wedding dressAdriana De Moura was rumored to have already wed her fiancé Frederic Marq five years ago, but The Real Housewives of Miami's star walked down the aisle with the interior…
Beyoncé posts defensive note amid pregnancy rumorsBeyoncé was obviously frustrated with the pregnancy rumors as she posted a sharply worded note to Instagram appearing to address the gossip head-on. The defensive…
Eurovision 2013 winner is Denmark’s Emmelie de Forest with Only Teardrops
Zahra Shahid Hussain shot dead in Karachi
Phil Robertson, Miss Kay and Uncle Si do commercials for Clayton Homes
Manotox: Nip+Fab man only anti-ageing product claims to reduce wrinkles and fine lines without surgery
Eurovision winners over the years. Where are they now?
Mood lipstick: Green lipstick containing Red 27 reacts to your body chemistry to become perfect pink hue
KORA Organics: Miranda Kerr unveils skincare line featuring Noni fruit
Eurovision 2013: 26 countries competing in Malmö Grand Final
Rome: Thousands rally to oppose Italy’s austerity measures
Michelle Obama debuts her new longer hairdo
Ariel Castro’s three dogs found in better health than his victims
Real Housewives of Miami: Adriana de Moura marries Frederic Marq wearing a grey wedding dress
Beyoncé posts defensive note amid pregnancy rumors
US Airways flight makes belly landing at Newark Airport
Rihanna sues Topshop for $5 million over using pictures of her on T-shirts without her permission
Raha Moharrak: First Saudi woman and youngest Arab reaching Everest summit
DSM-5: Controversial updates to mental health manual to be published
North Korea fires short-range missiles from its east coast
Recipe: Super slimming mushroom inspired meal
Mushroom diet: M-Plan promises to help women lose weight still keeping their curves
Photo: George Michael airlifted to hospital following car crash on M1 motorway
US criticizes Russia for sending missiles to Syrian government
Connecticut head-on train crash injures at least 60 people near New York City
Christoph Waltz: Man points gun at him and threatens to blow up studio with hand grenade during Cannes TV interview
Mariah Carey’s American Idol finale performance branded worst lip-sync of all time
Dick Trickle 911 call before suicide
Ireland Baldwin displays tan lines in backless top
Beyoncé is pregnant with second child, multiple sources confirm
Madeleine McCann case: Potential suspects identified by UK detectives
Cannes Film Festival 2013: $1 million Chopard jewels stolen from Novotel hotel room