Page 3 - Italy

India's right to self-defence backed globally: S Jaishankar in Italy

S Jaishankar thanked Italy for backing India's right to self-defence. He highlighted growing India-Italy ties in trade, defence, and global cooperation

Iran and US hold fifth round of nuclear talks in Rome over enrichment

Iran and the United States prepared for a fifth round of negotiations over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear programme Friday in Rome, with enrichment emerging as the key issue. US officials from President Donald Trump down insist Iran cannot continue to enrich uranium at all in any deal that could see sanctions lifted on Tehran's struggling economy. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi early Friday insisted online that no enrichment would mean we do NOT have a deal. Figuring out the path to a deal is not rocket science, Araghchi wrote on the social platform X. Time to decide. The US will be again represented in the talks by Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff and Michael Anton, the State Department's policy planning director. While authorities haven't offered a location for the talks, another round in Italy's capital took place at the Omani Embassy there. Oman's Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi is mediating the negotiations as the sultanate on the Arabian Peninsula has been a trusted .

Italy's Meloni scores diplomatic win by bringing US, EU to Rome summit

Italy's Premier Giorgia Meloni hosted a key trilateral meeting in Rome on Sunday, bringing US Vice President JD Vance and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to the same table, hoping to usher in what she said could be a new beginning. It was a diplomatic score for Meloni, who has been touted as a potential bridge-builder with the Trump administration, but so far had been unable to provide decisive breakthroughs amid increasingly strained relations with her main European partners. I am very proud to host two of the leaders of the EU and the US to start a dialogue, Meloni told the press ahead of the trilateral meeting, while sitting at a round table with her counterparts. The Italian premier recalled that she had proposed such an initiative a month earlier in the US capital when she met President Donald Trump at the White House. I hope that today can be a first meeting and a new beginning, Meloni said, noting that for trade matters the competence belonged to the EU Commissi

Tens of thousands flock to Vatican for Pope Leo XIV's installation ceremony

Tens of thousands of people streamed into St. Peter's Square early Sunday to inaugurate Pope Leo XIV's pontificate, joining presidents and princes in celebrating history's first American pope with a formal installation ceremony that blends ancient ritual, evocative symbols and a nod to modern-day celebrity. Starting at dawn, civil protection crews in neon uniforms funnelled pilgrims into quadrants in the piazza while priests and patriarchs hurried into St. Peter's Basilica to get ready for the Mass. US Vice President JD Vance, one of the last foreign officials to see Pope Francis before he died, paid his respects at the Argentine pope's tomb upon arriving in Rome late Saturday and was heading the US delegation honouring the Chicago-born Leo. Leo will start the day by taking his first tour through the piazza in the popemobile. The open-topped vehicle has become synonymous with the papacy's global reach and mediatic draw, used at home and abroad to bring popes close to their flock. I

Pope Francis leaves tough legacy behind, key challenges await successor

While Pope Francis accomplished a lot in his 12-year papacy, he left much unfinished business and many challenges for his successor from the Vatican's disastrous finances to the wars raging on multiple continents and discontent among traditionalists about his crackdown on the old Latin Mass. When the conclave's cardinals finish casting their ballots under Michelangelo's frescoed ceilings of the Sistine Chapel, the 267th pope will have to decide whether to continue Francis' policies, tweak them, or abandon them altogether. Will he prioritize migrants, the environment and the social justice policies that Francis championed, or give precedence to other issues? Among the challenges facing the new pope: The role of women Francis did more to promote women to leadership positions in the Vatican than any pope before him, and his successor will have to decide whether to continue that legacy, accelerate it or back down and change course. The issue isn't minor. Catholic women do much of the

Who will be the next Pope? Italians try to predict with 'Fantapapa' game

With betting frowned upon in Italy, thousands are playing 'Fantapapa'-a fantasy game where users guess the next pope

Thousands mourn Pope Francis as Vatican considers extending public viewing

Mourners from across the globe made a slow, shuffling procession up the main aisle of St Peter's Basilica to pay their last respects to Pope Francis, finding community as they spent hours waiting to reach the open casket of the Argentine pontiff remembered for creating a climate of inclusion. The public viewing was scheduled to resume Thursday, a day after it began with numbers that were so strong that the Vatican said it would consider longer hours to meet the demand. Nearly 20,000 people paid their respects in the first 8 1/2 hours. Among them was a church group of 14-year-olds from near Milan who arrived for the now-suspended canonisation of the first millennial saint, as well as a woman who prayed to the pope for a successful operation and an Italian family who brought their small children to see the pope's body. We came because we didn't bring them when he was alive, so we thought we would bring them for a final farewell, said Rosa Scorpati, who was exiting the basilica Wednes

Pope Francis' body to lie in state at St Peter's Basilica as faithful mourn

The body of Pope Francis will be moved to St Peter's Basilica early Wednesday to lie in state for the Catholic faithful to pay their respects to the Argentine pontiff remembered for his humble style, concern for the poor and insistent prayers for peace. Heads of state are expected for the funeral Saturday in St Peter's Square, but the three days of public viewing are largely for ordinary Catholics to grieve the 88-year-old pope, who died Monday after suffering a stroke. Francis first lay in state in the Santa Marta Domus in a private viewing for Vatican residents and the papal household. Images released by the Vatican on Tuesday showed Francis lying in an open casket, wearing the traditional pointed headdress of bishops and red robes, his hands folded over a rosary. The Vatican's No 2, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, was pictured praying by Francis. His body will be transferred Wednesday morning to St Peter's Basilica, which will be kept open until midnight on Wednesday and Thursday to all

US, Italy call IMEC 'top economic, connectivity project of this century'

A US-Italy joint statement takes note of the IndiaMiddle EastEurope Economic Corridor, calling it one of the greatest economic integration and connectivity projects of this century that will connect partners and stimulate economic development and integration from India onward to the United States. The US and Italy will work together to develop the IndiaMiddle EastEurope Economic Corridor (IMEC), one of the greatest economic integration and connectivity projects of this century, connecting partners by ports, railways, and undersea cables and stimulating economic development and integration from India, to the Gulf to Israel, to Italy, and onward to the United States, the joint statement issued Friday said. The United States Italy Joint Leaders' Statement' was issued after US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's first official meeting in Washington, DC Thursday.

JD Vance visits Italy, Vatican after tangling with pope on migration

US Vice President JD Vance arrived in Rome on Friday for meetings with the Vatican No. 2 and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, fresh off the Italian leader's visit to the White House a day earlier. Meloni, who has positioned herself as a bridge between the US and Europe, received praise from President Donald Trump for her crackdown on migration during a meeting at the Oval Office on Thursday. Vance, who attended the meetings, was scheduled to meet with the Italian leader Friday in Rome and planned to attend Easter weekend events at the Vatican. He was scheduled to meet with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the White House said. No meeting with Pope Francis was announced. The 88-year-old pope has sharply cut back his work schedule as he recovers from a near-fatal case of double pneumonia. Francis and Vance, a Catholic convert, have tangled sharply over migration and the Trump administration's plans to deport migrants en masse. Just days before he was .

Trump '100%' confident of trade deal with EU during Meloni's US visit

Trump has paused the imposition of 20 per cent reciprocal tariffs on more 75 countries, including the EU

In 'no rush' to end tariffs, says Trump in talks with Italy's Meloni

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is in no rush to reach any trade deals because of the revenues his tariffs are generating, but he suggested while meeting with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni that it would be easy to find an agreement with the European Union and others. Trump played down the likelihood of an accelerated timeline to wrap up deals, saying any agreements would come at a certain point. We're in no rush, said Trump, hinting that he has leverage because other countries want access to US consumers. Meloni's meeting with Trump is testing her mettle as a bridge between the EU and the United States. She is the first European leader to have face-to-face talks with the president since he announced and then partially suspended 20 per cent tariffs on European exports. Meloni secured the meeting as Italy's leader, but she also has, in a sense, been knighted to represent the EU at a critical juncture in the fast-evolving trade war that has stoked recession fears. The T

Italy's Meloni to test her role as EU-US bridge in talks with Trump

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni will test her mettle as a bridge between the EU and the United States when she meets with US President Donald Trump in the White House on Thursday, the first European leader to have a face-to-face with Trump since he announced, and then suspended, 20% tariffs on European exports. Meloni secured the meeting at a critical juncture in the trade war as Italy's leader, but she also has, in a sense, been knighted to represent the European Union. She has been in close contact with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen ahead of the trip, and "the outreach is closely coordinated," a commission spokeswoman said this week. We know we are in a difficult moment," Meloni said this week in Rome. "Most certainly, I am well aware of what I represent, and what I am defending." The European Union is defending what it calls the most important commercial relationship in the world,' with annual trade reaching 1.6 trillion euros (USD 1.8 trillion). Trade negotiation

Here's why Giorgia Meloni's Nato-light Ukraine plan is worth trying

The cleverness of Meloni's proposal lies in the way it would test to destruction Putin's rationale for his invasion of a sovereign neighbour

Political costs of courting Trump piling up for Italian PM Giorgia Meloni

The Italian prime minister was the only European leader to attend Trump's January inauguration

Venice to host Jeff Bezos wedding, denies reports of major city disruptions

The city of Venice has confirmed it will host the wedding of multi-billionaire Jeff Bezos and fiance Lauren Sanchez, denying reports the famous Italian city would be invaded by hundreds of celebrities and possible disruptions for citizens and tourists. The city in a short statement didn't give a date for the wedding. Italian media have reported it will be between June 24-26, with a few days of celebrations. "The many speculations and fake news circulating about Jeff Bezos' wedding are completely unfounded," the statement said. Bezos is the owner of The Washington Post and founder and largest individual shareholder of Amazon. Among others, George and Amal Clooney celebrated their wedding in Venice in 2014. The city said only 200 guests would be invited, a number easily accommodated without any disruption to the city, its residents and visitors. It noted that it has broad experience handling international events "much larger than this". "Venice is used to being the stage for events

Pope Francis' doctors considered stopping treatment after breathing crisis

Pope Francis' medical team briefly considered suspending treatment after a February 28 breathing crisis but instead decided on an aggressive course that put his organs at risk, the doctor coordinating the pope's hospital care said in an interview published Tuesday. Dr. Sergio Alfieri said the 88-year-old pontiff and people close to him alike understood that he might not survive the night,' after the bronchospasm attack during which the pope inhaled vomit. "We needed to choose whether to stop and let him go, or to push it and attempt with all of the possible drugs and the treatments, taking the very high risk of damaging other organs,' Alfieri told the Milan daily Corriere della Sera. In the end, that is the path we chose. Francis was released Sunday after 38 days of treatment for double pneumonia, under doctors' orders to observe two months of convalescence during which he should avoid large gatherings. The pope appeared weak and frail when he greeted the crowd outside the Gemelli

Pope Francis to be released from the hospital on March 23, say doctors

Pope Francis was admitted to Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14 after a bout of bronchitis worsened

India, Italy officials hold deliberations to expand military cooperation

India and Italy held a two-day meeting in Rome, focusing on ways to expand their military cooperation, including in areas of capability development, the defence ministry said on Saturday. The deliberations to boost the bilateral defence ties came four months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni unveiled a five-year strategic action plan to significantly expand cooperation between the two countries in certain key areas, including defence and security. The action plan was released following talks between the two prime ministers in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro in November on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. At the meeting of the 13th edition of the India-Italy Military Cooperation Group (MCG) held on March 20 and 21, the two sides also reviewed the overall situation in the Indo-Pacific. The discussions focused on identifying new avenues to expand the scope of bilateral military-focused cooperation, the ministry said. "Key agenda points included ...

AI makes history: Italy's Il Foglio publishes first fully AI-generated newspaper

Il Foglio, Italy's conservative-liberal daily, has launched a month-long experiment with an AI-generated edition to highlight artificial intelligence's impact on journalism