Italian Premier Romano Prodi resigned last night after his centre-left government embarrassingly lost a Senate vote on foreign policy, including the country’s military mission in Afghanistan.

A defeat in parliament for Premier Romano Prodi raised new worries today about the stability of Italy’s centre-left governing coalition and prompted opposition calls for the premier’s resignation.

AT LEAST 16 people, mostly elderly, have died in northern Italy over the past two days from causes linked to a week-long heatwave, as temperatures in the country remained in the 30s Celsius.

At least 16 people, mostly elderly, have died in northern Italy over the past two days from causes linked to a week-long heat wave, as temperatures in the country remained in the 30s Celsius (90s Fahrenheit).

Five nations today signed an agreement to set up a European Gendarmerie Force that would offer paramilitary support for international peacekeeping missions.

Plans to set up a European paramilitary police force based on the French gendarmes or Italy’s Carabinieri to support international peacekeeping missions top the agenda at a meeting for EU defence ministers opening today.

Fulham have plunged into the transfer market again and are on the verge of signing Cameroon international defender Pierre Wome from Bologna.

Taking his rowing skills to the limits, a Venetian gondolier plans to row across the English Channel tomorrow to promote research for rare diseases.