Vatican austerity means donated nativity scene
The Vatican has happily accepted a donated Nativity scene for St. Peter's Square this Christmas after a previous setup costing €550,000 ($717,000) was ...

German real estate booms as people seek security
Buying a home in Berlin is widely viewed as one of the safest investments a German, or any European, can make. That is why some real-estate experts ...
Italy raises cash easily as Berlusconi vacillates
Silvio Berlusconi's vacillations over whether or not to run for Prime Minister of Italy failed to dent investor demand for the country's debt, leaving ...

Italy raises money at lower rates despite upheaval
Italy successfully sold €6.5 billion ($8.45 billion) in bonds the country's first debt auction since the country's Prime Minister Mario Monti ...

Review: Kaufmann triumphs as La Scala's Lohengrin
This Lohengrin is no knight in shining armor, confidently riding in on a swan to defend a beautiful maiden. No, the barefoot hero on view at La Scala ...
China revokes new Shanghai Catholic bishop's title
In a fresh challenge to Vatican authority, China has revoked the title of a new Catholic bishop in Shanghai who outraged Chinese officials by ...
Ruby, key witness in Berlusconi trial, in Mexico
The Moroccan woman at the center of ex-Premier Silvio Berlusconi's pay-for-sex trial has turned up in Mexico after missing a court date and becoming ...

Italian premier defends austerity measures
Premier Mario Monti on Tuesday defended his government's austerity measures as necessary to restore confidence in Italy's financial future, and warned ...

Stocks edge higher; Dow boosted by McDonald's
Stocks edged higher Monday on Wall Street after a strong sales report from McDonald's offset concerns about the surprise resignation of Italy's prime ...

Maserati confident in Italy output despite turmoil
The CEO of Italian luxury carmaker Maserati is confident that parent company Fiat's €1.2 billion ($1.5 billion) investment to boost production in ...

Italian election means new stress for eurozone
Until last weekend, Europe seemed headed for a quiet Christmas and New Year's. Then Italy's Prime Minister Mario Monti unexpectedly announced he was ...

Monti seeks to calm market concerns over Italy
Seeking to calm financial markets, Premier Mario Monti said Monday he will lead Italy until the next government takes power, insisting there will be ...
Spanish state universities protest cutbacks
Rectors from about 50 state-run universities across Spain protested Monday that government spending cuts were choking third-level education and would ...
Stocks opening mixed following disarray in Italy
Stocks are opening mixed on Wall Street after the surprise resignation of Italy's prime minister sent a jolt through European markets. McDonald's rose ...
US futures fall following EU political strife
U.S. futures are lower after the surprise resignation of Italy's prime minister sent a jolt through European markets. A strong sales report from ...

Messi sets goal record for a year; Falcao scores 5
Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Atletico Madrid's Radamel Falcao were unstoppable Sunday on a night when both stars again demonstrated why their teams ...

Italy's PM says he intends to quit over crisis
Premier Mario Monti told the Italian president Saturday he is resigning soon, saying he can no longer govern after Silvio Berlusconi's party withdrew ...

Berlusconi in comeback bid to become Italy premier
Billionaire media baron Silvio Berlusconi, who resigned in disgrace with Italy tottering through the European debt crisis, announced Saturday he was ...

Wagner wins over La Scala's ardent Verdi fans
Richard Wagner won over La Scala's ardent Verdi followers during the gala season premiere on Friday with a production of "Lohengrin" that packed ...

Italy's president confident gov't crisis avoided
Although Italy's Silvio Berlusconi resigned in disgrace a year ago, has since been convicted of tax fraud and now faces plunging poll numbers, the ...

Gazprom starts building Europe-bound pipeline
After years of delays and negotiations, Russian gas company Gazprom on Friday formally started construction of its €16 billion ($20.65 billion) ...

Police save ancient Egyptian sculpture in Italy
An Egyptian granite sculpture of a sphinx that risked ending up on the black market for antiquities is destined instead for a Rome museum. Italian Tax ...