(ANSA) - Rome, February 9 - Rome was placed on a second
winter-storm alert Thursday with the mayor ordering snow removal
crews into place and schools and public offices to prepare for
closures.
"This time we clearly understand the conditions so we are
preparing better," said Rome Mayor Gianni Alemanno, who has been
sharply criticized for the city's response to roughly two feet
of snowfall last week that brought the capital to a standstill
for days.
(ANSA) - Rome, February 9 - Premier Mario Monti has taken
his austerity drive to the government departments he is directly
responsible for, with a ban on all expenditure that is "not
indispensable or directly and immediately connected to public
objectives".
The new policy will mean, among other things, an end to
all conferences, meetings and inaugurations unless they are
considered absolutely necessary.
(ANSA) - Rome, February 9 - Fabio Capello's shock
resignation as England manager just four months before Euro 2012
has sparked a whirlwind of media speculation about who will be
the Italian coach's next employers, with Juventus and Inter
Milan seen as favourites.
Capello resigned on Wednesday over a row about the
decision by the English Football Association (FA) to strip the
national-team captaincy from John Terry, the Chelsea centre back
who is due to stand trial for allegedly racially abusing Queens
Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand.
(ANSA) - Rome, February 9 - United States President Barack
Obama has richly praised Italian Premier Mario Monti ahead of
Thursday's meeting between the leaders at the White House.
Obama complimented Monti on the efforts being made to
steer Italy out of its debt crisis, with the approval of a tough
austerity package in December, and his moves to make structural
economic reforms.
(ANSA) - Rome, February 8 - Italy bucked a downward European
market trend on Wednesday as the Milan bourse closed up and the
yield and spread were down.
The spread between 10-year Italian and German bonds, a
measure of Italy's credibility on the sovereign-debt market,
dropped to 360 as the yield went down to 5.58%, brushing off
news that there was still no conclusion on a Greek bailout deal.
The Milan Ftse Mib index went up 1.08% to close at 16,669
points.
(ANSA) - Rome, February 8 - A Milan judge has dropped a case
filed by veteran TV anchor Emilio Fede accusing two young women
of defamation for saying he took them to an alleged sex party at
ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi's Milan villa.
In his lawsuit filed last April Fede said the statements
leaked to the press were "absolutely false and denigratory" to
himself and other persons cited.
The two former beauty contestants, Ambra Battilana and
Chiara Danese, gave detailed accounts of the former premier's
alleged 'bunga bunga' parties and claimed Fede said they should
have sex with him and Berlusconi if they wanted to further their
careers.
(ANSA) - Rome, February 8 - Sexual abuse claims have cost
the Catholic Church roughly $2 billion, according to a report
Wednesday.
"Financial losses are affecting the current mission of the
Church," said the report by Americans Michael Bemi, president of
the National Catholic Risk Retention Group, and Patricia Neal,
child protection consultant from Oklahoma.
They presented their findings at the international
symposium Healing and Renewal, meant to address the Church
sex-abuse scandal.
(ANSA) - Milan, February 8 - Inter Milan were boosted
Wednesday when Wesley Sneijder returned to full training ahead
of a home clash with Novara on Sunday.
The Netherlands international missed Sunday's 4-0 loss at
AS Roma with a leg injury sustained during last week's 4-4 home
draw with Palermo.
Sneijder came through a 90-minute session unscathed,
increasing his chances of facing Serie A basement club Novara.
Inter meanwhile had no comment on a report that
big-spending Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala are lining up a
25-million-euro offer for Sneijder.
(ANSA) - Rome, February 8 - Lazio on Wednesday officially
presented their only major January transfer-window buy,
midfielder Antonio Candreva.
"The right club can change a young player's career for
various reasons," said Sporting Director Igle Tare of the
24-year-old signing from Cesena, who has two Italy caps.
"He has all the right cards to win over Lazio fans" who
booed Candreva on his debut in his debut win over AC Milan, Tare
added.
Candreva said he was bemused by the jeering, sparked by his
alleged sympathy for cross-city rivals AS Roma.
(ANSA) - Rome, February 8 - Italy has agreed with the United
States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Spain to use the
American Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) to chase
international tax dodgers.
The move will "intensify the fight against international tax
evasion," the Italian economy ministry said, vowing to find more
and better ways to trade information.
The Italian government has launched a high-profile campaign
against tax dodgers.
(ANSA) - Alfedena, February 8 - An entire herd of 40 deer
were spotted prancing down a snow-covered street in the
800-inhabitant town of Alfedena near L'Aquila in Abruzzo
Wednesday morning around 8am.
What first appeared to be a single straggler, spotted by a
10-year-old boy looking out his window, unfolded into a
fairy-tale-like scene of more than 40 tawny ruminants wandering
slowly in single file.
Local wildlife authorities said that the deer were most
likely foraging for food or escaping from hungry wolves further
up the mountain.
(ANSA) - Rome, February 8 - Premier Mario Monti on
Wednesday sought to reassure Italy's judges that a move to make
them civilly liable for their rulings will not become law at a
meeting with magistrates union ANM.
The government intends to hold talks "with the
parliamentary parties to reach an agreement on an amendment," a
government statement said.
(ANSA) - Rome, February 8 - Italy is "very concerned and
irritated" by the continuing slaughter of Syrian civilians by
forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, Foreign Minister
Giulio Terzi told the Senate Wednesday.
Terzi said Syria's continued apparent defiance of the
international community would be high on the agenda of talks
between Premier Mario Monti and United States President Barack
Obama in Washington Thursday.
Terzi and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will address
the situation, he added.
Syrian forces on Wednesday killed at least 67 civilians in
the rebel city of Homs, including three families slain in their
homes, activists said.
Power cuts led to 18 newborn babies dying in a Homs
hospital, they added.
(ANSA) - Rome, February 8 - An investigation into delays
and difficulties in Rome brought on by last week's harsh weather
conditions was opened on Wednesday.
Non-criminal complaints by consumer associations have been
filed, in particular regarding interruptions in road traffic
circulation after snowfall in and around the capital Friday and
Saturday.
For the moment, investigators are compiling testimony
regarding services provided by the city, the civil protection
department, the public transport company Anas and energy
providers ENEL, but have yet to file charges.
(ANSA) - Rome, February 8 - Pope Benedict XVI has been
invited to Iran, the Iranian ambassador to the Holy See said
Wednesday.
"If the Holy Father decided to take this trip we would be
ready to welcome him in an excellent manner and with
enthusiasm," said Ali' Akbar Naseri.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's invitation to the
pontiff was first made in November 2010 when Cardinal Jean-Louis
Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious
Dialogue, visited Tehran for the two countries' seventh biennial
interreligious meeting.
