Austrian foreign minister Sebastian Kurz has urged his Italian counterpart not to allow migrants arriving by boat to Italy's islands to travel on to the mainland, declaring that "being saved in the Mediterranean cannot be connected with a ticket to Central Europe".

Italian authorities have arrested 11 people in a probe of corruption linked to the Sicilian Mafia and construction contracts for Milan's Expo 15 fair.

Surrogate parents should be treated as sex offenders and sent to prison, said Italy’s interior minister, escalating his opposition to plans to give gay and unmarried heterosexual couples legal recognition.

Italy has expelled 64 suspected Islamic extremists in 2015 and monitored 90 foreign fighters as part of stepped-up measures to prevent attacks on its soil.

Luxury watchmaker Rolex has demanded an apology from Italy’s prime minister and interior minister for saying that violent demonstrators who devastated parts of Milan last week were “rich, spoiled brats with Rolexes”.

Italy’s maritime search and rescue service has saved 3,500 migrants and found 19 corpses in the Mediterranean since Friday as thousands attempted to cross to Europe by boat over the weekend, the Italian navy said.

A ship carrying African migrants to Europe has caught fire and capsized off the southern Italian island of Lampedusa, killing at least 114 people, including two pregnant women, with 150 still missing.

Silvio Berlusconi has been defeated in his attempts to bring down the Italian government, announcing his party will vote to support the coalition of premier Enrico Letta, in a major U-turn.

Former premier Silvio Berlusconi is turning to Europe’s human rights court in a bid to avoid a ban on public office and other punishments for his tax fraud conviction, the media mogul’s aides said yesterday.

Silvio Berlusconi’s lawyers and allies cried foul after Italy’s highest court set a remarkably quick July 30 hearing date for his tax fraud appeal

Prosecutors in Italy have called for a six-year prison sentence and a lifetime ban on holding public office for Silvio Berlusconi, the former prime minister charged with abuse of office and paying for sex with a minor.

A prosecutor says Italian politicians were the intended target of a gunman who shot and wounded two policemen in a crowded square outside the premier’s office in Rome.

Prime minister Mario Monti has told Italy’s president he is resigning because he can no longer govern after Silvio Berlusconi’s party withdrew crucial support.

Former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi suggested that he will attempt a return to power — using the old party name that brought him into politics two decades ago.

Former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi has suggested in an interview that he will attempt a return to power – using the old party name that brought him into politics two decades ago.

A close associate of Silvio Berlusconi has promised that the outgoing Italian prime minister’s party will give full support to Mario Monti, as the economist prepares to form a government which aims to save the country from financial disaster.

ITALY’s president appointed former European Commissioner Mario Monti yesterday to head a new government charged with implementing urgent reforms to end a crisis that has endangered the whole eurozone.

ITALY’s president raced to appoint an emergency government yesterday to face a crisis endangering the whole eurozone, after Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi resigned to the jeers of thousands of protesters.

Leaders of Silvio Berlusconi’s party have given their approval for economist Mario Monti to try to form a government, but say it can only last just long enough to implement measures to save Italy from financial disaster.

Financial markets pounded Italy today amid worries that premier Silvio Berlusconi would linger in office and delay reforms.

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi has confirmed he will not run again for office and said his hand-picked successor Angelino Alfano will be his party’s candidate when Italy holds new elections.

ITALIAN Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, facing record bond yields and calls for his resignation, said Italy is “up to the task” of tackling the debt crisis as its economic fundamentals are solid.

SOME Italian MPs are seeking a probe into the prosecutors’ office in Perugia, where American student Amanda Knox was convicted of murdering her British roommate Meredith Kercher.

Some Italian MPs are seeking a probe into the prosecutors’ office in Perugia, where American student Amanda Knox was convicted of murdering her British roommate Meredith Kercher.

Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi says his justice minister could succeed him as the conservative party leader, further signalling his intention not to seek re-election when his term ends in 2013.

Placido Domingo would like to make a career detour before he retires – to baritone.