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Verdict due in Berlusconi tax fraud appeal

Agence France-PresseMay 8, 2013 14:17
Silvio Berlusconi's appeal trial against a tax fraud conviction is due to conclude with a verdict later on Wednesday in the latest in a 20-year legal saga for the former prime minister. A Milan court said it would issue its ruling "after 1500 GMT", without giving further details. Berlusconi is appealing a one-year prison sentence and a five-year ban from holding public office, both of which have been suspended pending an appeal. They will not be implemented immediately even if the conviction is upheld, as the case will go to Italy's top court for a second appeal.

Diesel signs deal to restore Venice's Rialto Bridge

Agence France-PresseMay 8, 2013 12:15
Italian jeans maker Diesel signed a deal with Venice city council on Tuesday to fund a five-million-euro ($6.5-million) project to restore and clean the floating city's famous Rialto Bridge. "Today a fundamental collaboration for the safeguarding of our common heritage comes to life," mayor Giorgio Orsoni said after Renzo Rosso, founder and owner of Diesel, signed the contract. The work on the centuries-old bridge will begin in early 2014 and last approximately 18 months, according to the city's cultural officer Alessandro Maggioni.

Diesel signs deal to restore Venice's Rialto Bridge

Agence France-PresseMay 8, 2013 08:58
Italian jeans maker Diesel signed a deal with Venice city council on Tuesday to fund a five-million-euro ($6.5-million) project to restore and clean the floating city's famous Rialto Bridge. "Today a fundamental collaboration for the safeguarding of our common heritage comes to life," mayor Giorgio Orsoni said after Renzo Rosso, founder and owner of Diesel, signed the contract. The work on the centuries-old bridge will begin in early 2014 and last approximately 18 months, according to the city's cultural officer Alessandro Maggioni.

Insight: Italy came to brink before being saved by "King George"

May 7, 2013 11:38
By Barry Moody and Steve Scherer ROME (Reuters) - On Saturday April 20, the leaders of Italy's two biggest political forces climbed the Quirinal, highest of Rome's seven ancient hills, and begged President Giorgio Napolitano to stay for a second term. Pier Luigi Bersani and Silvio Berlusconi were followed into the presidential palace by outgoing Prime Minister Mario Monti, Northern League boss Roberto Maroni and finally the governors of Italy's regions, in scenes that resembled schoolboys visiting the headmaster's office.

Insight: Italy came to brink before being saved by "King George"

May 7, 2013 11:38
By Barry Moody and Steve Scherer ROME (Reuters) - On Saturday April 20, the leaders of Italy's two biggest political forces climbed the Quirinal, highest of Rome's seven ancient hills, and begged President Giorgio Napolitano to stay for a second term. Pier Luigi Bersani and Silvio Berlusconi were followed into the presidential palace by outgoing Prime Minister Mario Monti, Northern League boss Roberto Maroni and finally the governors of Italy's regions, in scenes that resembled schoolboys visiting the headmaster's office.

Italy's first black minister defiant in face of racist slurs

May 7, 2013 11:20
By Catherine Hornby ROME (Reuters) - Italy's first black minister has responded to a barrage of sexist and racial insults by saying she is proud to be black, not colored, and that Italy is not really a racist country. Cecile Kyenge, an eye doctor and Italian citizen originally from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was named integration minister by Prime Minister Enrico Letta last Saturday, one of seven women in the new government.

Italy's Letta names austerity critic Fassina as junior minister

May 7, 2013 11:16
ROME (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta named a leading critic of Europe's austerity programs as deputy economy minister, directly below the orthodox former Bank of Italy official chosen to head the ministry. The appointment of Stefano Fassina, who has called for Italy to re-negotiate budget targets agreed with the European Union, provides a figurehead for critics of fiscal rigor within government and parliament. But as one of two deputy economy ministers, it is unclear how much policymaking weight he will carry.

Italy's high court says Berlusconi trials to stay in Milan

May 7, 2013 11:12
ROME (Reuters) - Italy's top appeals court on Monday rejected a request by former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi to move two trials he faces out of Milan where, he has maintained, he cannot get a fair trial. Berlusconi's lawyers argued that prosecutors and judges at the Milan court have "persecuted" the center-right leader for his conservative politics. The 76-year-old media magnate is not a member of the current government, but his party is one of the main supporters of Enrico Letta's broad right-left coalition.

More than 60 percent of Italians approve of new PM Letta: poll

May 7, 2013 10:44
ROME (Reuters) - More than 60 percent of Italians have confidence in new prime minister Enrico Letta, but only 7 percent expect his right-left coalition government to last for a full five-year term, a survey showed on Friday. Letta's government was sworn in on Sunday, ending months of stalemate in the euro zone's third largest economy. He embarked on a tour of European capitals this week to push for a shift of focus away from austerity towards growth and jobs.

Italy's Andreotti, leading postwar politician, dead at 94

May 7, 2013 10:30
By Philip Pullella ROME (Reuters) - Giulio Andreotti, who served as Italian prime minister seven times and whose name was synonymous with political survival and cunning in the land that gave the world Machiavelli, died on Monday at the age of 94. Andreotti, who for more than half a century was known as "Mr Italy" because of the many offices he held, died at home, family sources said. He had suffered from respiratory problems for years and had been in hospital several times.
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