Italy
Italy set for decision on new government
Mar 22, 2013 05:02 EDT
Italy's President Giorgio Napolitano said he will hand out a mandate for the formation of a new government on Friday in a bid to break a deadlock created by elections last month, but the identity of the possible prime minister is still a mystery.
Murder trial Italian marines on way back to Delhi
Mar 22, 2013 01:31 EDT
Two Italian marines flew back to India on Friday to face murder charges, after Rome dramatically reversed a decision that they would not return which had triggered a diplomatic firestorm.
Murder charge Italian marines on way to Delhi: India
Mar 22, 2013 00:28 EDT
Two Italian marines charged with murder in India are on their way back to New Delhi after the government in Rome agreed they should return to face trial, the foreign ministry said on Friday.
After Boateng, Italy looks to long fight with racism
Mar 21, 2013 22:26 EDT
It took a defiant gesture to reignite the debate on one of Italian sport's biggest demons, but the fight to rid football of racism in Serie A could be just beginning.
Italy says will send marines back to India for trial
Mar 21, 2013 21:03 EDT
Italy said two marines on trial for murder in India would return to the country by Friday, a stunning turnaround after Rome earlier unleashed a diplomatic furore by saying they would not go back.
Balotelli levels as Italy draw 2-2 with Brazil
Mar 21, 2013 19:23 EDT
Daniele De Rossi sparked Italy's fightback and Mario Balotelli scored a superb second-half equaliser as the Azzurri battled to a 2-2 draw against Brazil in a friendly on Thursday.
New leader of world's Anglicans enthroned
Mar 21, 2013 18:12 EDT
Justin Welby, the new Archbishop of Canterbury, was enthroned on Thursday, taking over the leadership of 80 million Anglicans worldwide in a service calling for Christian unity that was enlivened by African dancers.
Italy president to unveil decision on new government Friday
Mar 21, 2013 17:21 EDT
Italian President Giorgio Napolitano said he will announce on Friday his decision on who will be asked to form a government after inconclusive elections in the austerity-stricken country and amid rising tensions in the eurozone.
Italy says will send its marines back to India for trial
Mar 21, 2013 15:39 EDT
Italy said two marines on trial for murder in India would return to the country by Friday, in a stunning turnaround after Rome earlier unleashed a diplomatic furore by saying they would not go back.
Cyprus brinksmanship could spin out of control: analysts
Mar 21, 2013 13:41 EDT
As the EU raised the spectre of a eurozone exit for Cyprus, experts warned on Thursday of the consequences of brinksmanship from Brussels to Moscow in the race to fix new bailout terms.
Kiradech shines as Donald struggles in Malaysia
Mar 21, 2013 09:31 EDT
Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat staked out an early lead as world number three Luke Donald struggled to settle in Thursday on a rain-interrupted first day's play at the Maybank Malaysian Open.
Italian athletics great Mennea dies
Mar 21, 2013 07:23 EDT
Italian athletics great Pietro Mennea, the gold medal winner in the 200m at the 1980 Moscow Olympics who held the world record in the event for 17 years, has died.
Mexican leader asks for one year to reduce violence
Mar 21, 2013 05:07 EDT
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto urged his countrymen to give his anti-crime strategy one year to bear fruit as the wave of violence persisted, with gunfights, police killings and terrorized parents pulling kids from school.
Buffon relishes Brazil test
Mar 21, 2013 03:19 EDT
Italy will have one eye on the Confederations Cup this June when the Azzurri take on Brazil in a friendly Thursday, says Juventus and Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon.
Mexican leader asks for one year to reduce violence
Mar 20, 2013 23:10 EDT
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto urged his countrymen to give his anti-crime strategy one year to bear fruit as the wave of violence persisted, with gunfights, police killings and terrorized parents pulling kids from school.
Buffon relishes Brazil test
Mar 20, 2013 21:37 EDT
Italy will have one eye on the Confederations Cup this June when the Azzurri take on Brazil in a friendly Thursday, says Juventus and Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon.
No Rafa, no Roger, no problem for Novak in Miami
Mar 20, 2013 19:11 EDT
Novak Djokovic is looking to bounce back at the ATP Miami Masters after his 22-match win streak was ended last week at Indian Wells and the absence of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer is no problem.
Saudi-born man accused of terrorism in New York
Mar 20, 2013 14:21 EDT
An alleged veteran of al-Qaeda's fight against US soldiers in Afghanistan who went on to plot a bomb attack on US diplomatic facilities in Nigeria was charged Wednesday in New York.
Kate gets 'baby on board' badge from London Underground
Mar 20, 2013 13:58 EDT
Prince William's pregnant wife Catherine was given a badge to help expectant mothers get a seat on London's Underground when she accompanied Queen Elizabeth II on a visit Wednesday to mark the train network's 150th anniversary.
New Chinese golf prodigy, 12, to smash age record
Mar 20, 2013 13:37 EDT
Twelve-year-old Chinese golf prodigy Ye Wocheng ensured he will smash the record for youngest player at a European Tour event when he came through a qualifying tournament on Wednesday.
Facts from the Wikipedia page:
| Italian Republic
Repubblica Italiana
| ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||
| Anthem: Il Canto degli Italiani (also known as Inno di Mameli) The Song of the Italians | ||||||
 Location of Italy (dark green)
– on the European continent (light green & dark grey) | ||||||
| Capital (and largest city) | Rome 41°54′N 12°29′E / 41.9°N 12.483°E | |||||
| Official languages | Italian1 | |||||
| Ethnic groups | 93.5% Italian 2.72% Romanians, Albanians, Moroccans | |||||
| Demonym | Italian | |||||
| Government | Parliamentary republic | |||||
| - | President | Giorgio Napolitano | ||||
| - | Prime Minister | Silvio Berlusconi | ||||
| Legislature | Parliament | |||||
| - | Upper House | Senate | ||||
| - | Lower House | Chamber of Deputies | ||||
| Formation | ||||||
| - | Unification | 17 March 1861 | ||||
| - | Republic | 2 June 1946 | ||||
| EU accession | 25 March 1957 (founding member) | |||||
| Area | ||||||
| - | Total | 301,338 km2 (71st) 116,346 sq mi | ||||
| - | Water (%) | 2.4 | ||||
| Population | ||||||
| - | 2009 estimate | 60,200,060[1] (23rd) | ||||
| - | 2001 census | 56,995,744 | ||||
| - | Density | 199.8/km2 (54th) 517.4/sq mi | ||||
| GDP (PPP) | 2008 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $1.817 trillion[2] (10th) | ||||
| - | Per capita | $30,631[2] (27th) | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | 2008 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $2.314 trillion[2] (7th) | ||||
| - | Per capita | $38,996[2] (21st) | ||||
| Gini (2000) | 36 (medium) | |||||
| HDI (2007) | ▲ 0.951[3] (very high) (18th) | |||||
| Currency | Euro (€)2 (EUR) | |||||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |||||
| - | Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||||
| Drives on the | Right | |||||
| Internet TLD | .it3 | |||||
| Calling code | 394 | |||||
| 1 | French is co-official in the Aosta Valley; Slovene is co-official in the province of Trieste and the province of Gorizia; German and Ladin are co-official in the province of Bolzano-Bozen. | |||||
| 2 | Before 2002, the Italian Lira. The euro is accepted in Campione d'Italia, but the official currency is the Swiss Franc.[4] | |||||
| 3 | The .eu domain is also used, as it is shared with other European Union member states. | |||||
| 4 | To call Campione d'Italia, it is necessary to use the Swiss code +41. | |||||
