The head of the Costa Cruises crisis unit, Roberto Ferrarini, was on the witness stand last week in the trial of Francesco Schettino, the captain of the tragic Costa Concordia. His evidence is the latest to suggest Mr. Schettino has lied about his role.

Rome - Pope Francis attended an emotional night of prayers for hot-button social issues including domestic abuse, prison overcrowding and unemployment to mark the Good Friday before Easter.

The team creating the OnePlus "perfect" smartphone has ended the speculation on how much the device will cost by releasing base prices for the unit in key territories at launch.

Rome - Riot police dragged away some 350 squatter families from abandoned offices in Rome amid violent clashes on Wednesday -- the latest in a rising tide of forced evictions in Italy fuelled by the economic crisis.

Rome - Italian drinks company Campari on Tuesday announced it was buying the owner of the Averna digestif brand in a 103.75 million euro ($143.34 million) deal and said it hoped for a boost from new trends in the United States.

Rome - The Italian cruise ship captain on trial for murder after the sinking of the Costa Concordia in early 2012 said on the night of the fateful accident that he believed he had hit only "a little rock", a court heard Monday.

Rome - The Reverend Gustavo Gutierrez of Peru was a surprise speaker at the launching of a book by Cardinal Gerhard Mueller, head of the Vatican orthodoxy office and one of Pope Francis' top advisers.

Rome - The United Nations warned on Monday of the potential "massive destruction" of the world's banana crop if a disease affecting the most popular variety spreads from Asia to Africa and the Middle East.

Rome - Ferrari's Formula One boss Stefano Domenicali quit on Monday following the Italian team's disappointing start to the 2014 season."Ferrari notes the resignation of Stefano Domenicali and thanks him for having served the company ...

- While he may not be widely known internationally, Pope John XXIII holds a special place in the heart of many Italians and nowhere more so than in his homeland of Bergamo where he was born into a farming family.

Rome - A woman who underwent fertility treatment at a clinic in Rome became pregnant with the twins of another couple after their embryos were mixed up, press reports said Sunday.

Rome - An ex-senator friend of former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi was arrested on Saturday in Lebanon where he was on the run over charges of mafia ties, the Italian interior ministry announced.

Rome - Police fired tear gas and made a number of arrests in Rome on Saturday as an anti-government protest turned violent, leaving several injured, according to medics and an AFP photographer.

Turin - Italy's new prime minister on Saturday blasted what he called a European Union of austerity and bankers, as he kicked off his party's campaign for next month's European elections.

Rome - Italy has rescued 896 migrants crossing the Mediterranean by boat overnight, the navy said on Friday, after the government warned of an "emergency" caused by a surge in new arrivals.

In a strongly worded speech, Pope Francis sought forgiveness from victims of sexual abuse, assuring imposition of harsh penalties on priests who harm children.

Rome - Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways could outline an offer to buy into troubled Italian carrier Alitalia on Monday, Italian media reported on Friday.

The trial of Francesco Schettino, the captain of the Costa Concordia, the cruise ship that hit a reef Jan. 13, 2012, killing 32, is ongoing and an important witness may soon take the stand. That witness is Rusil Bin, the helmsman on that fateful night.

Rome - Etihad Airways boss James Hogan met with Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Thursday, as his company nears a deal to purchase a stake in debt-laden Alitalia airline, Italian media reported.

Turin - Juventus remained on track for the Europa League final at their home stadium after a 2-1 win over Lyon in their quarter-final second leg in Turin on Thursday.