Hopes of finding more survivors after an avalanche buried a mountain resort in central Italy under tonnes of snow and rubble are fading as the death toll rose to 15.

The death toll from the avalanche which buried an Italian hotel has risen to nine after emergency crews pulled out three more bodies.

Good evening. Here’s all the news you need to know.

Italian wine is a reflection of the country’s politics, equally fascinating and frustrating.

We are at mid-summer point now and the sunshine, up to now, has been rather absent.

I suppose I had better just come out and admit it, I’m not a big fan of sauvignon blanc.

April has been declared ‘Natural Wine Month’ by Le Caveau wine merchants in Kilkenny which specialises in organic, bio-dynamic and ‘natural’ wines.

Now that we are properly into 2016, I have had some further thoughts on wine experiences I enjoyed last year.

Sad news to report as in case you didn’t hear the legendary Cork-based wine importer Joe Karwig died suddenly on October 26.

The key to successful present buying I believe is to find something that the recipient wants, but which it did not occur to them to buy for themselves.

ITALY:

The mayor of the earthquake-ravaged Italian city of L’Aquila has resigned amid fallout from an investigation into bribes allegedly paid to civil servants to rebuild the city centre, state-run television has reported.

ALTHOUGH increasing numbers of us buy our wine at the supermarkets, this week I want to encourage you to remember the independent wine shops who can often provide more variety and unusual styles.

Pope Benedict XVI said there had been “stormy waters” during his papacy as he gave his farewell speech in St Peter’s Square before tens of thousands of pilgrims ahead of his momentous resignation today.

Forget about Hawaii or Florida, the buzzword among American retirees is Ireland, either Youghal, Co Cork, or Co Clare — either of which when it comes to affordable homes is hotter than anywhere Stateside.

Six Italian scientists and a government official were found guilty in a watershed trial of multiple manslaughter for underestimating the risks of a killer earthquake in the town of L’Aquila in 2009.

After no big snowfall for 26 years, Rome is being hit by its second snowstorm in a week.

A GROUP of Italian scientists went on trial yesterday for failing to predict an earthquake that killed more than 300 people in central Italy in 2009 despite signs of increased seismic activity in the area.

STAND back now, because the nation’s sommeliers are just about to pop the cork on the autumn season of tastings and dinners.

Seven scientists and other experts were sent for trial on manslaughter charges today for failing to warn people of a devastating earthquake that killed more than 300 people in central Italy in 2009.

IT WAS supposed to be a beautiful day.

MEMBERS of Italy’s Camorra mafia won contracts to rebuild the quake-hit city of L’Aquila with the help of four bank employees, police charged yesterday after carrying out six arrests.

TDs are expected to hold talks with Europe’s Regional Policy Commissioner Pawel Samecki later this week as the Goverment considers a formal application for flood damage cash support from Brussels.

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.

WITH the world’s most powerful leaders gathering in L’Aquila just three months after a devastating earthquake hit the city, Italian security officials have prepared an emergency evacuation plan to airlift the leaders to safety in case of another powerful tremor.

The pope visited Italy’s earthquake-ravaged region today offering words of comfort to the survivors and calling for the rebirth of the area.

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.

L’Aquila’s chief prosecutor today announced an investigation into allegations of shoddy construction as workers continued to scour the rubble for people still missing after a devastating earthquake five days ago.

It was a scene that moved a nation: mourners clinging to one another and sobbing over neat rows of more than 200 coffins, some with tiny children’s caskets resting on top.

Grieving relatives today collapsed over flower-draped caskets of the victims of Italy’s worst earthquake in three decades as the nation joined in a day of mourning.

Aftershocks from the earthquake that killed at least 260 people in central Italy sent new fears through the camps that sheltered thousands of survivors today.

Relatives of the missing watched in agony today as rescuers dug by hand for survivors in the earthquake ravaged Italian city of L’Aquila.

Rescuers worked frantically through the night in the central Italian city of L’Aquila searching for survivors of the earthquake that has killed 179 and injured more than 1,500.

A powerful earthquake ripped through central Italy today killing more than 90 people as they slept.

At least 90 people were killed and 1,500 wounded in an earthquake that rocked central Italy today, officials said.

A powerful earthquake struck central Italy this morning, killing at least 20 people, collapsing buildings and leaving thousands of people homeless, officials and news reports said.

Six people, including four children, were killed today as a magnitude-6.3 earthquake struck central Italy, reports said.

A four-year-old German girl tumbled to her death down a deep well today at a country home in central Italy where her family was staying on holiday, authorities said.

An aftershock rocked San Giuliano di Puglia today less than two weeks after a strong tremor toppled a school in the Italian village and killed 26 children inside.