Romans went to the polls yesterday to elect a mayor of Italy’s capital in a vote which could have repercussions for the fragile national government of prime minister Enrico Letta.

Actress and TV presenter Caroline Morahan married her partner of five years, Daithi O Caoimh, at Santa Maria di Provenzano church in Siena Tuscany, Italy yesterday.

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.

JUVENTUS have appointed Antonio Conte as their new head coach on a two-year contract.

Italy’s tourism minister has called for an end to the nation’s popular Palio horse races, likening them to Spain’s bullfights for exploiting animals.

Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has warned Real Madrid and other clubs that Diego Milito is not for sale.

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho has no plans to discuss his future until after the Champions League final on May 22.

THE Germans call it schadenfreude, meaning the pleasure you get from someone else’s misfortune, or literally “damage joy”.

Juventus have suffered a blow with the news striker Vincenzo Iaquinta will have to undergo knee surgery.

SACKING Claudio Ranieri was the “last resort” in a bid to halt Juventus’ slide down the Serie A table, according to general manager Jean Claude Blanc.

POPE Benedict XVI canonised five new saints yesterday, including Portugal’s 14th century independence leader and a nearly blind Italian monk who died of the plague after tending to the sick.

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said yesterday his team need to fight for their lives to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Producers on the latest James Bond movie have come under fire from animal rights activists over fears horses may be injured or killed.

Celtic and the Scottish Football Association will today receive the verdict on whether next month’s crunch European clashes in Italy must be moved to new venues.

Celtic’s Champions League clash in Milan next month is set to be played in an empty San Siro stadium.

Italian interior minister Giuliano Amato vowed today to resist what he said was pressure from football clubs and to ensure safety in and outside stadiums, days after a police officer died in rioting at a top match in Sicily.

Italian football could restart on Sunday, according to Federation commissioner chief Luca Pancalli.

Massimo Maccarone’s move to Siena is in the balance, with Middlesbrough yet to deliver the relevant paperwork to the Serie A club.

Richard Hughes could be expected to forgo the bread and butter of British racing for more tropical climes at this time of year.

MANCHESTER UNITED captain Roy Keane is set to miss tomorrow’s Champions League opener against Panathinaikos at Old Trafford.

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi has been forced to give up plans to buy a property in Tuscany after being told he would not be welcome in Italy’s left-wing stronghold, it was reported today.

We were sitting around the table last night with Emily and her friends. They were all in a panic: still so many presents to organise, no time, no money...