Italy

Thursday’s Morning Briefing – 24th May, 2018

Good morning The Maltese newspapers lead with the story related to a bomb which exploded yesterday in Gharghur. In this explosion a man Kevin Ellul (43), who happens to…

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“I will be the defence lawyer of the Italians” – Giuseppe Conte accepts official mandate to form government

The President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella gave Professor Giuseppe Conte the task of forming the new Italian government. The decision was announced by the secretary general of the Quirinale…

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Italy: Truck hits train and derails. One dead, 18 injured

One person died and 16 got injured when a regional train hit a truck, which is used for special transport on the Turin-Ivrea railway line, at Caluso . The regional train 10027 has hit…

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Italian President Mattarella calls Giuseppe Conte for a decisive meeting, an indication that soon, Italy might have a Prime Minister

The Italian President Sergio Mattarella, has called for Giuseppe Conte, the person indicated by both M5S and Lega as the next Prime Minister for a meeting. The meeting is expected to take place today at 1730. According to…

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Universities in New York and Malta have no records showing enrolment or engagement of Giuseppe Conte

Giuseppe Conte's academic credentials credibility have been put in doubt after two mentioned academic institutions denied Conte's claimed links. The New York Times has quoted a New York University spokesperson…

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Tuesday’s Morning Briefing – 22nd May, 2018

Good morning Hazy morning in Malta. The overcast seems to stay throughout the day, even though temperatures should reach 21 degrees (C). Our morning round up follows. Today’s Malta's newspapers…

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Law Professor Giuseppe Conte named as chosen candidate for Italian Prime Minister

Law professor Giuseppe Conte has been named as the choice of the Five Star Movement and League to lead the coalition government. During the past two weeks, the League's Matteo…

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Pepe Reina, Paolo Cannavaro and Salvatore Aronica summoned by the FIGC for links with the Camorra

Outgoing Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina has been summoned to a hearing at the Italian football federation over his association with people with links to the Camorra. Reina, along with Paolo…

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Morning Briefing – Sunday 20th May 2018

Good morning, Here is our morning briefing. An update of the salient events of the last hours. Speculation about an empty seat, next to Prince William also led to various…

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Anti-abortion activism in Italy take new lease of life following Irish referendum debate

As the 40th anniversary of Italy’s legalisation of abortion approaches, activists and far-right politicians have seized on Italy’s low birth rate and the attention on Ireland’s referendum on abortion to…

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No damage or casualties reported in 4.3 earthquake in Piacenza, Italy

An earthquake has been felt by the population in the province of Piacenza, Italy. According to the INGV survey, the earthquake, which occurred at 18:41, had a magnitude of 4.3…

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Obituary – Former Maltese Ambassador Dr. Joseph Cassar passes away

Seasoned Maltese diplomat Dr. Joseph Cassar passed away. Born in 1947, Dr Cassar served as Malta's Ambassador to Portugal, Libya, the Russian Federation and Italy. He served as, Malta's permanent…

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If Mattarella needs me, I am available – Silvio Berlusconi

"At the moment no body has the necessary experience to be a Prime Minister. If Mattarella needs me, I am available." Silvio Berlusconi said this earlier on Friday on the margins…

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New Italian Prime Minister to be named ‘in a matter of days’

ANSA reports that the 5-Star Movement (M5S) leader Luigi Di Maio said Thursday that he was confident a deal with the League on a programme for a new government will…

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Agreement on the contract for Italy’s new Government. Last hurdle is naming the Prime Minister

After hours of negotiations and discussions on the formation of the new government in Italy, M5s and La Lega has found enough ground to sign an agreement on a plan…

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Pasta is Italy’s best export product

According to research conducted by Aidepo, the Association of Italian sweet and pasta industries 56% of pasta produced in Italy ends up on the foreign markets. This means that Italian pasta factories…

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Italy : The long obstacle race for government formation is still on

There was no agreement on who will be the next Prime Minister of Italy and both M5s and Lega asked Italian President Mattarella for more time. The Head of State agreed to…

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New Italian premier will not be a technocrat, but a politician

"We are ready to report". The call to the Quirinale arrives Sunday evening, after a long day of negotiations marked by a double summit in Milan between M5s and Lega…

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Will Italy have a Government tonight?

"You're writing the story and obviously it takes some time, there's a great atmosphere at the table, you're dealing with very important issues." This was stated by the leader M5s…

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New photo shows Mafia bosses amongst audience in Maurizio Costanzo show, a year before car bomb directed at TV presenter

It's been 25 years ago but new facts emerge on the attack against Italian TV presenter Maurizio Costanzo. The new revelations relate to a photo that there was also Matteo…

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Berlusconi can stand for election, as court lifts ban

An Italian court has lifted a ban on former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi holding public office. He was barred in 2013 after receiving a four-year sentence for tax fraud, although…

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Two people shot dead in Calabria

ANSA: Two people died and three were hurt in two shootings near Vibo Valentia in Calabria on Friday. The shootings at Limbadi and Nicotera were the work of the same person,…

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Agreement on key issues for government formation in Italy

5-Star Movement (M5S) leader Luigi Di Maio said that a fresh meeting with League chief Matteo Salvini on the formation of a new government went well on Friday. "We are…

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Italy fines Whatsapp for allegedly obliging users to agree to sharing their personal data

Italy’s Competition and Markets Authority (AGCM) announced it was imposing a €3 million (USD3.6 million) fine on messaging service Whatsapp for allegedly obliging users to agree to sharing their personal…

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Mother’s Day – Celebrity motherhood

All children matter. All births are special. While some are born and live in 'anonymity', others, due to their parents, get more media attention. Baby shower in style for Eva…

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Macron awarded Charlemagne Prize; refers to Brexit and Italian elections as European traumas

The situation in the Middle East, relations with the United States, but above all the state of the European Union were the main themes that emerged during a meeting between Emmanuel…

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Siamese twins, dismissed after progress following operation at Bambino Gesu Hospital

Rayenne and Djihene, Siamese twins joined at the chest and the abdomen, who in October were admitted to the Bambino Gesu Hospital, for their separation, were dismissed and can go home to Algeria . The very delicate…

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Italy breaks two jihadist cells

Italian police moved in on two jihadist rings accused of raising funding for terrorist attacks. 14 people were arrested in an operation that involved searches in 20 properties in Sardinia…

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Italy: Race to reach government agreement by Sunday

Italy may be edging towards forming a new government after Luigi di Maio and Matteo Salvini indicate “significant steps forward” have been made. Fresh negotiations on Wednesday between Movimento Cinque…

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Could Starbucks make it in the country of espresso?

Starbucks executive chairman Howard Schultz fuelled speculation that the brand is coming to the land of espresso, Italy. The multinational coffee-house chain grew from 11 stores in 1983 to a…

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Political impasse in Italy sends Government Bond yields rising

Following the unsuccessful final round of coalition talks, Italian president Mattarella declared that the process to form a government had failed. Mattarella’s preferred option remains to install a fixed-mandate technical…

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22nd July the most probable date for new elections in Italy

Italy might have failed to reach the World Cup, but at this stage, the months of June and July seem to be taken up by another kind of contest following…

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Measles cases in Europe quadrupled in 2017

Measles, which had virtually disappeared in the UK and much of the developed world, is returning with a vengeance, despite the fact we’ve had a cheap and effective vaccine for…

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Italy – No chance to form ‘Government’

President Sergio Mattarella held a third round of formal political consultations on Monday but there was no sign of a breakthrough to end the gridlock that followed Italy's inconclusive election…

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Renzi satisfied that there was no deal between PD and M5s

Former premier and ex Democratic Party (PD) leader Matteo Renzi said that he was pleased he had intervened to scupper the possibility of the centre-left group striking a government deal…

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Di Maio: “Ready to step back, we choose a premier with Salvini” The League “appreciates”

Luigi Di Maio opens to Matteo Salvini in an attempt to give the country a government after more than 60 days. "Ok to a third premier but with commitment on…

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Italy – Bid for a PD-M5s coalition closed chapter – Risk of new elections

A bid to form a government between the centre-left Democratic party (PD) and the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) is "over" and there is now the risk of another general election,…

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Fresh elections in Italy are more than just a probability

Centre-left Democratic Party (PD) caretaker leader Maurizio Martina said Monday it was "impossible to lead the party" after former leader Matteo Renzi on Sunday scotched the idea of a government…

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Italy – Renzi rules out coalition with Di Maio

Matteo Renzi while interviewed on TV programme "Che tempo che fa" said "Those who lost the election can not go to the government. We can not pass the message that…

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Di Maio calls for a German style coalition agreement

There's something fascinating about the Italian way of doing politics. This applies especially to the narrative and the way it is expressed. There are the mass meetings, there are the…

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Unprecedented threats to unprecedented growth

The IMF released its World Economic Outlook in January 2018, where it expressed satisfaction with global economic growth in 2017, where the world economy expanded by 3.7%. Looking ahead, the…

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Alfie Evans still breathing despite termination of life support.

SKY News reports that the father of Alfie Evans, Tom said doctors were "gobsmacked" his 23-month-old son was still breathing eleven hours after his life support ended. Mr Evans said…

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10 dead, over 17 operations as migrant journeys restart from North Africa

With the good weather and the calm sea, the departures of refugees from North Africa to Italy have resumed. Unfortunately, so did the tragedies and the need for rescue operations.…

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EU Commission opens in-depth investigation into Italian State loan to Alitalia

The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether Italy's bridge loan to Alitalia totalling €900 million constitutes State aid and whether it complies with EU rules for…

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Roberto Fico (M5s) given the mandate to explore the formation of a government in Italy

Italian President Sergio Mattarella handed Lower House Speaker Roberto Fico an exploratory mandate to explore the possibility of a government-formation deal between his anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) and the centre-left…

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Alfie Evans granted Italian citizenship

Italy on Monday gave Italian citizenship to terminally ill British toddler Alfie Evans so that he can hopefully be "immediately" moved to Italy from Liverpool, where doctors are set to…

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Italy – Centre right takes lead in Molise

Centre-right governor candidate Donato Toma looks set to win Sunday's regional election in the southern region of Molise, the first major test of voter sentiment since last month's inconclusive general…

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What’s next for Italy after links between politicians and mafia were confirmed in court?

On Friday, a Palermo court found guilty former heads of the ROS security police Mario Mori, Giuseppe De Donno and Antonio Subranni, former Forza Italia Senator and Berlusconi aide Marcello…

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Spain overtakes Italy, and it’s not about football.

Italy and Spain, often end up 'fighting it out' on the football pitch. The past weeks saw Roma and Juventus facing Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively. The matches were the…

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Italy risks new election

Italian News Agency Ansa reports that President Sergio Mattarella has decided to take two days to reflect after Senate Speaker Maria Elisabetta Casellati reported back to him on Friday following her exploratory…

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Italy – Caselati given mandate to end political deadlock

Ansa: President Sergio Mattarella gave Senate Speaker Elisabetta Alberti Casellati a mandate to see if it is possible to end Italy's post-election political deadlock. Casellati had been given the task of…

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Food and Wine – Parma to host City of Gastronomy Festival

Parma has announced a series of events that will be taking place this year as Italy celebrates “Year of Italian food”. The main event is the City of Gastronomy Festival, an…

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Air Strikes on Syria – Berlusconi weighs in his view on Italy’s position

In a letter published on Sunday's edition of Il Corriere Della Sera, Silvio Berlusconi said that faced with a complex and dramatic situation such as that which has been determined…

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No progress registered in Italy

In Italy not much progress has been registered in the feat of forming a government in Italy. The second round of consultations proved inconclusive. President Mattarella warned that the country…

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Air Strikes on Syria – Italy’s reaction

Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said that Italy did not participate in the attack in Syria. According to news agency ANSA, Gentiloni said that the Italian Government insisted and clarified…

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Italy’s President arduous task of forming a Government is probably as difficult as that of the Commissario Tecnico of the Italian National Team

One of the main burdens which come with the job of being President of Italy is the formation of a Government. In the country where football is a religion and…

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Tensions between Italy and France

Bardonecchia - Italy summoned French ambassador over incident at border migrant clinic which has irked the Italian authorities in an incident which has proved to be an opportunity to be…

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