US president Donald Trump plans to speak with German, French, and Italian officials ahead of a summit of the Group of 20 leading economies this week that could expose his sharp differences with world powers on trade and other issues.

The Italian prime minister has urged his EU allies to take in more refugees, saying the relentless arrival of tens of thousands of rescued people on Italian shores is putting his country under enormous strain.

The final death toll from the devastating avalanche in Italy stands at 29 after the final bodies were pulled out of the rubble of a hotel crushed by tons of snow.

Italy's new government is asking parliament to approve up to an additional €20bn in funding to rescue the country's troubled banks, if necessary.

Italy's new Prime Minister is to ask Parliament to back a move to borrow €20bn which would be used to help the country's troubled banks.

The Italian president's office says that foreign minister Paolo Gentiloni has formed a new government.

The bodies of nine Italians have been identified after an attack on a restaurant in Bangladesh, the Italian foreign minister said.

With France still reeling from the attacks that killed 129 and wounded hundreds, France’s lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, has voted to extend a state of emergency for three months. The measure now goes to the Senate, where it is likely to be approved.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for a car bomb attack at the Italian consulate in central Cairo, in an escalation of violence that suggests militants are opening a new front against foreigners in Egypt.

Italy has issued its strongest warning yet about the danger of the Islamic State group establishing a stronghold in Libya from where it could attack Europe and destabilise neighbouring states.

A VIOLENT computer game blocked by the Irish censor from entering the market here earlier this week is looking unlikely to be released anywhere as more countries ban it for its extreme content.