Amanda Knox claims there is "no logic" to an Italian court’s decision to reinstate her conviction for the murder of British student Meredith Kercher.

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.

Italy’s supreme court upheld a jail sentence against Silvio Berlusconi for tax fraud in a devastating blow to the former prime minister that could throw the country’s fragile coalition government into crisis.

Italy faced political paralysis today as near-complete election results showed no clear winner and raised the possibility of a hung parliament.

PHYSICISTS on the team that measured particles travelling faster than light said yesterday they were as surprised as their sceptics about the results — which appear to violate the laws of nature as we know them.

Italy’s government has vowed that its new austerity package will slash the country’s huge bureaucratic costs, with thousands of jobs and local elected posts being gradually eliminated.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi branded a tax fraud case against him “ridiculous” ahead of a court hearing in Milan.

FROM afar Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi seems a vain, powerful man used to getting his way.

HOW do you solve a problem like Mario?

Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi did not attend a hearing today in a case accusing him of bribing a British lawyer to lie in evidence.

AN Italian judge yesterday convicted 23 Americans of the 2003 kidnapping of an Egyptian cleric on a Milan street, in a landmark case involving the CIA’s extraordinary rendition programme in the war on terrorism.

THE body representing the country’s Vocational Education Committees (VECs) had expressed dismay that the European Court of Human Rights may have prompted the removal of the crucifix from schools.

Italy’s constitutional court began deliberations today on whether a law giving prime minister Silvio Berlusconi and other top Italian officials immunity from prosecution while in office is legal under the constitution.

A MAN made homeless by April’s earthquake in central Italy has asked Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to keep his promise and provide victims with lodging in one of his houses.

L’AQUILA’s public hospital was hailed as a state-of-the-art, earthquake-proof building when it opened in 2000.

A man accused of murdering British student Meredith Kercher when she refused to take part in a violent sex game told a court today: “I find it hard to kill a fly.”

Record Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen has been given the all-clear to compete in the 75th running of the event this weekend.

ITALIAN football’s ambitious plans to reform and rebuild faced an uncertain future after their lost bid to host Euro 2012.

Italy’s top criminal court today ruled that former Premier Silvio Berlusconi should face an appeals trial on corruption charges.

A British passenger plane en route to an Egyptian holiday resort made an emergency landing today in Brindisi, southern Italy, after the pilot reported that a bomb was suspectedto be on board.

A British passenger plane requested an emergency landing today in Brindisi, southern Italy, because of a suspected bomb on board, the Italian air traffic agency said.

Italy’s government today survived the second confidence vote in two days tied to funding for the country’s military operation in Afghanistan, giving final approval to the measure despite opposition from some far-left members of Premier Romano Prodi’s coalition.

Centre-left leader Romano Prodi is not expected to receive the nod to form Italy’s government until after parliament elects the country’s new president next week.

Italy’s Parliament today resumed business for the first time since Romano Prodi’s coalition narrowly won elections earlier this month, with legislative sessions that will test his partners’ ability to stay united.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern tonight congratulated Italian political leader Romano Prodi, who was finally confirmed as the winner of the country’s general election.

Italy today granted asylum to an Afghan man who faced the death penalty and threats for converting from Islam to Christianity, and Premier Silvio Berlusconi said the had man arrived in Italy earlier in the day.

POPE Benedict, speaking out on hot topics that will figure in the campaigning for this year’s Italian general elections, yesterday condemned gay marriage and the use of the so-called “abortion pill.”

Two people were killed when a small plane carrying tourists crashed today in southern Italy, fire officials said.

Italy’s government insisted Tuesday it will keep its troops in Iraq despite a demand by militants holding an Italian journalist hostage that Italian forces pull out within 48 hours.

Fountains of ash, rock and sand rained down on Sicily’s Mount Etna, but a river of molten lava that had threatened to swallow up a tourist station stopped its fiery advance.