Italy

PISTOIA, Italy (AP) — A Ukrainian circus troupe is performing a never-ending “Alice in Wonderland” tour of Italy, caught in the real-world rabbit hole of having to create joyful performances on stage while their families at home are living through war.

ROME, May 9 (Reuters) - Italy's parliament has extended Rome's special vetting powers to protect its key national assets by including the hydroelectric sector and new companies that plan to operate in industries deemed strategic, lawmakers said on Monday.

The 15-month old government lead by Prime Minister Mario Draghi has used its so-called "golden powers" to set conditions on scores of mergers and has blocked several attempts by China to extend its presence in the euro zone's third-largest economy.

MILAN (AP) — Italian Premier Mario Draghi meets with U.S. President Joe Biden this week in Washington as Europe faces another “whatever it takes” moment with Russia’s war in Ukraine raging on its eastern flank.

Both Rome and Washington will emphasize their historic friendship and shared desire to help Ukraine defend itself from Russia’s two-month-old invasion when the leaders meet on Tuesday. Energy, climate change and promoting global economic prosperity also are on the agenda.

ROME, May 5 (Reuters) - An Italian parliamentary panel has opened an investigation into "disinformation" on television amid a heated debate over the frequent appearance of Russian guests on the country's news programmes during the war in Ukraine.

The Parliamentary Committee for the Security of the Republic (Copasir) which oversees the intelligence services, said on Wednesday it had summoned the heads of Italy's state TV network, state security agency and communications watchdog.

ROME, May 5 (Reuters) - An Italian parliamentary panel has opened an investigation into "disinformation" on television amid a heated debate over the frequent appearance of Russian guests on the country's news programmes during the war in Ukraine.

The Parliamentary Committee for the Security of the Republic (Copasir) which oversees the intelligence services, said on Wednesday it had summoned the heads of Italy's state TV network, state security agency and communications watchdog.

ROME, May 6. /TASS/: The European Union will fully embargo Russian oil within nine months, European Commissioner for Economy Paolo Gentiloni said in an interview with the Italian newspaper Il Messaggero published on Friday.

"Our proposal is to embargo [oil], depending on the types of petroleum products, within nine months. Shorter terms would trigger a negative impact on global oil prices, which contradicts our goals," he said.

"The decision will affect the European economy," Commissioner noted, adding though that it "will hit the Russian [economy] harder."

MILAN (AP) — Across Europe, rising energy prices are testing the resolve of ordinary consumers and business owners who are caught between the continent’s dependence on cheap Russian energy and its revulsion over President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

ROME (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met with Pope Francis and top Vatican officials in talks Wednesday about the need for “a world free of nuclear weapons,” the Vatican said.

The meeting came as nuclear-armed Russia pressed its war in Ukraine and after North Korea launched a ballistic missile toward its eastern waters and vowed to speed up the development of its own nuclear arsenal.

ROME, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Italy's government on Monday adopted a decree that eliminates excise taxes on some forms of natural gas and methane to help tackle surging energy prices due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

According to a statement from the office of Prime Minister Mario Draghi, excise taxes on gasoline, diesel fuel, liquified petroleum gas, and all forms of natural gas will be lowered starting Tuesday, until at least July 8.

For natural gas used for transport, excise taxes will be removed while value-added tax will be five percent.

ROME, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Protection of the environment was not Andrea Zatti's first big public passion, but it is the one he has been focused on the longest.

Zatti, 52, is an environmental advocate and a professor of public finance with a focus on environmental issues at the University of Pavia in Italy. He first came into the public eye during a ten-year career as a professional basketball player, much of it in Serie A, Italy's top division.