Italy hands over 1st new houses to survivors of April 6 quake as temblors strike Tuscany

ROME — Premier Silvio Berlusconi handed out keys Monday to some of the first new homes for survivors of the April 6 earthquake that devastated parts of central Italy.

Italian police recovers most of the jewelry stolen from Saudi princess in Sardinia

ROME — Italian police say they have recovered most of the jewelry that was stolen from the hotel room of a Saudi princess in Sardinia last month.

Italy to hand over first new houses to victims of April 6 quake as temblors strike Tuscany

ROME — The government is handing over dozens of new homes to victims of the April 6 earthquake that devastated parts of central Italy.

€11 million in Saudi princess’ cash, jewelry stolen from hotel room in glitzy Italian resort

ROME —Italian police said Monday they are hunting for burglars who stole euro11 million ($15.5 million) in cash and jewelry from the hotel room of a Saudi princess.

Italian TV actress with “SB” tattoo takes centre stage in Berlusconi row

LONDON - A TV actress, who is known as the ‘Queen Bee’ and has a tattoo dedicated to “SB” on her ankle, has become the latest star of the ‘Silvio Berlusconi saga’.

Spain on maximum wildfire alert; heat wave blazes across southern Europe

MADRID — Spain was placed on maximum wildfire alert Friday as authorities elsewhere in the Mediterranean also battled blazes and braced for a weekend heat wave.

Obama sets out to reshape US relations in Russia, meet Pope Benedict XVI, make mark in Africa

WASHINGTON — Determined to change the way the world views the United States, Barack Obama is onto his next foreign mission: rebuilding relations with Russia, proving to global leaders that America is serious about climate change, and outlining his vision for Africa, his father’s birthplace.

Obama sets out to reshape US relations in Russia, meet the Pope, make a mark in Africa

WASHINGTON — Determined to change the way the world views the United States, Barack Obama is onto his next foreign mission: rebuilding relations with Russia, proving to global leaders that America is serious about climate change, and outlining his vision for Africa, his father’s birthplace.

Berlusconi’s estranged wife says her dignity has been besmirched

ROME — Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s estranged wife believes her dignity has been besmirched in the fallout from a scandal that began with her suggestions that her husband had an inappropriate relationship with an 18-year-old model.

Italy’s vote for EU Parliament a virtual referendum on scandal-plagued Berlusconi

ROME — Italians voted Saturday in European Parliament elections that have become a virtual barometer of Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s ability to weather a scandal over his attention to young women.

Italians vote for EU Parliament in election turned into referendum on scandal-plagued premier

ROME — Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi has weathered corruption probes and public outrage at his tasteless quips — emerging each time with his popularity intact.

Berlusconi: I’ll resign if lied about teen; moves to sue Spanish paper over topless photos

ROME — Premier Silvio Berlusconi said Friday he would resign immediately if he were shown to have lied about his relationship with an 18-year-old model at the heart of a scandal that has titillated Italy for weeks.

Italy’s Berlusconi probed over use of gov’t plane, premier calls accusations political ploy

ROME — Prosecutors are investigating Premier Silvio Berlusconi for alleged improper use of a government plane, a charge the Italian leader dismissed Thursday as politically motivated.

Italians follow spectacle of Berlusconi defending himself against wife’s fury

ROME — Just weeks ago Silvio Berlusconi appeared to have an ironclad grip on power. Now the Italian premier is looking suddenly vulnerable, with the heat coming from something almost unheard of in freewheeling Italy: a sex scandal.

Italy seeks to move G-8 summit to quake-hit L’Aquila, approves reconstruction plan

ROME — Italy’s government wants to move this summer’s Group of Eight summit from Sardinia to earthquake-stricken L’Aquila — both to save money and to give the devastated central region an economic boost.

Italy seeks to move G-8 summit to quake-hit L’Aquila

ROME — Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi says he wants to move this summer’s Group of Eight summit to earthquake-stricken L’Aquila from Sardinia to both save money and provide the region with an economic boost.