Now that there appears be a chink of light at the end of the recession tunnel — given the number of new wine shop and wine bar openings — I thought I would talk gadgets this week.

APRIL is Real Wine Month which focuses on minimal intervention “natural” wines and also low intervention organic and biodynamic wines.

Cosmos Escorted Tours

WHAT do you think the word ‘natural’ means?

Canada and Oz are popular with emigrants right now, but what about a new life on the continent? Kerry Waldron made the leap and, after a slow start, has made a happy life in Italy

EUROPE shivered in some of the coldest temperatures seen in decades yesterday as the death toll topped 80 and countries battled to clear snow from roads and railways.

POPE Benedict XVI has illuminated a huge Christmas tree lighting display in Umbria in central Italy by tapping on a tablet computer from the comfort of the Vatican.

ITALY’S highest criminal court yesterday upheld the conviction and 16-year prison sentence of a young man from the Ivory Coast for the 2007 murder of a British student.

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.

THE woman accused of killing British student Meredith Kercher was no murderer, merely naive and foolish, a court heard yesterday.

The woman accused of killing British student Meredith Kercher was no murderer, merely naive and foolish, an Italian court heard today.

The Italian court trying an American student and her former boyfriend for the murder of a British woman has inspected the apartment house in Perugia where the victim was stabbed to death in 2007.

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.

Two former lovers suspected of killing Leeds University student Meredith Kercher will find out today if they are to face trial.

AS part of its first birthday celebrations this month, the Cork International Airport Hotel will be flying the gastronomic flag for Italy in a three-day showcase of the finest flavours and foods from one of the world’s centres of gourmet excellence.

Arrest warrants for more than 50 people were issued today in a Mafia sweep across Italy targeting drug trafficking and extortion rackets, news reports said.

The mother of a US student suspected in the murder of her British flatmate comforted her daughter in an Italian jail today, the prison’s chaplain said.

An explosion ripped through an olive oil depository in central Italy today, killing four workers and slightly injuring another, firefighters said.

The reputed boss of the Italian Mafia Bernardo Provenzano maintained his prison silence today as forensic experts searched his hideout and police arrested three men accused of aiding Italy’s No.1 fugitive.

Ryanair today named Pisa as its 14th European base and announced three new routes to Dublin, Eindhoven and Alghero from the Italian airport.

SERIE A side Perugia paraded the most unorthodox signing of Italy’s closed season yesterday when they presented al-Saadi Gaddafi, son of Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, to the press.

Pope John Paul today described his great relief over the end of the 39-day siege and the resumption of religious services at Bethlehem’s Nativity church.