Italy’s top bishop rounded on sex-scandal mired Premier Silvio Berlusconi today with scathing criticism, insisting public officials must control themselves and warning of the damage to the country and its reputation.

Roman Catholic Church officials said the recently created first synthetic cell could be a positive development if correctly used, but warned scientists that "only God can create life".

The head of Italy’s influential bishops conference has received a second envelope containing bullets and a death threat, following comments he made opposing same-sex unions, police said today.