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Pope taps trusted prelate to help oversee troubled Vatican bank in first sign of reform

The Canadian PressJune 15, 2013 11:00
VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis took a first big step in reforming the troubled Vatican bank on Saturday by tapping a trusted prelate to help oversee its management, in a sign he wants to know more about its activities. Francis signed off on naming Monsignor Battista Ricca as interim prelate of the Institute for Religious Works.

Italy's political charmers are stung by local polls

June 11, 2013 16:31
By James Mackenzie and Steve Scherer ROME (Reuters) - Sweeping wins for the center left in Italy's local elections have sounded alarms for Silvio Berlusconi and Beppe Grillo, the charismatic figures who emerged as the big winners from February's deadlocked national vote. Elections on Monday in more than 500 towns and cities, including the capital Rome, saw the center left bounce back from its humiliating near-collapse in the parliamentary election, which it had long been expected to win comfortably.

Italy local elections give boost to PM Letta

June 10, 2013 14:30
By James Mackenzie ROME (Reuters) - Italy's battered center-left won the election for mayor of Rome and 15 other major cities on Monday, giving a lift to Prime Minister Enrico Letta as he strives to control an uneasy coalition with traditional rivals on the right. The center-left candidate in Rome, former surgeon Ignazio Marino, took 64 percent of votes in a run-off ballot on Sunday and Monday, defeating the outgoing mayor Gianni Alemanno, who won 36 percent, the Interior Ministry said.

Rome city hall returns to centre-left amid low turnout

Agence France-PresseJune 10, 2013 13:32
Romans on Monday voted to return the Italian capital to the centre-left after right-wing mayor Gianni Alemanno lost his re-election bid to little known challenger Ignazio Marino in polls marred by low turnout. Alemanno conceded defeat, saying the results in city races across the country for his People of Freedom party (PDL) led by former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi were "not positive", blaming the losses on Italians' "disaffection" with politics, as only about half of eligible voters cast ballots.

Italian PM hopes local election will strengthen hand

June 9, 2013 11:31
By James Mackenzie ROME (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta hopes to lift his bruised center-left party in local elections that conclude on Monday, strengthening his hold over an uneasy coalition government with its traditional rivals on the center-right. The votes in Rome and other cities will have no direct effect on the national government but will test the fragile partnership between Letta's center-left Democratic Party (PD) and the center-right People of Freedom (PDL) party of former premier Silvio Berlusconi.

Italians vote in city polls with all eyes on Rome

Agence France-PresseJune 9, 2013 09:31
Italians voted Sunday in the second round of municipal polls in 67 towns and cities, with Rome's right-wing mayor Gianni Alemanno facing a stiff challenge from the centre-left candidate. Little known on the national scene, challenger Ignazio Marino picked up 43 percent of the vote in the first round two weeks ago, while Alemanno, a former neo-fascist, came in second with 30 percent.

Italy must stand up to Germany, Berlusconi says

June 7, 2013 07:21
ROME (Reuters) - Silvio Berlusconi urged Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta on Friday to seek a "test of strength" with Germany, saying budget austerity imposed by Berlin was killing Italian companies and putting the euro zone at risk. Italy's economy is mired in a recession that has been dragging on since mid-2011, driving up unemployment and forcing the closure of thousands of companies. Germany, Europe's biggest economy, has resisted calls to loosen budgetary constraints on southern European countries.

Pirelli, Camfin shares suspended also in after hours session - bourse

June 3, 2013 11:32
MILAN (Reuters) - Shares in tyremaker Pirelli <PECI.MI> and in its controlling shareholder Camfin <CAMI.MI>, a holding company, were suspended in after-hours trading on Monday ahead of the publication of a statement, the Italian stock exchange said. Earlier on Monday, the exchange said shares had been suspended during its daytime session.

Telecom Italia chief says no decision on Hutchison tie-up on Wednesday: paper

June 1, 2013 09:45
MILAN (Reuters) - The board of Telecom Italia <TLIT.MI> will not make a decision on a possible tie-up with Hutchison Whampoa <0013.HK> at its next meeting on Wednesday, the Italian group's chief said in a newspaper interview on Saturday. The group is focused on the planned spin-off of some of its network assets - valued at between 13 and 15 billion euros ($17-$19.4 billion) - into a separate company, which it approved on Thursday, Chairman Franco Bernabe said.

Sentences sought for Berlusconi friends for pimping

Agence France-PresseMay 31, 2013 13:00
Italian prosecutors in Milan on Friday requested seven-year prison sentences for three associates of Silvio Berlusconi accused of pimping for the then prime minister and billionaire tycoon. The trial of failed showbusiness agent Lele Mora, showgirl-turned-politician Nicole Minetti and sacked television network host Emilio Fede is linked to Berlusconi's own trial which is ongoing. Berlusconi is accused of having sex with an underage 17-year-old prostitute at one the allegedly raunchy parties he threw at his villa near Milan with the help of Fede, Minetti and Mora.
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