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Clooney praised in Florence for pumping Mona Lisa return

George Clooney's claim that France should return the Mona Lisa to Italy was welcomed in Florence on Friday.

A total of 218 immigrants, mostly from sub-Sahara countries, were rescued from the sea Wednesday and brought the total of new migrants in just two days to almost 700 people.

Source: ANSA

Italy's new Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is being seen as the country's final hope. He must tackle an economy which is the real Achilles' heel of Europe

Source: The Telegraph

Why does the Vatican drink so much wine?

Here's a full-bodied statistic that needs a really good swill. Vatican City consumes more wine per head than any other country.

Source: The Guardian

New Italian Premier, in First Speech, Outlines Early Priorities for His Tenure

Making his first appearance before Parliament since becoming prime minister, Matteo Renzi on Monday called for lawmakers to have the courage to make radical change, pledged to push through political and electoral overhauls, and promised bold, innovative measures to revive the moribund economy.

Source: The New York Times

Can new prime minister Matteo Renzi fulfil the hopes of Italy's youth?

"What do I think of Matteo Renzi? I don't trust his face," said Danielle Barrese, 23, a trainee chef from Calabria. "And I don't trust any promises made to young people in this country."
Renzi, who triggered a generational shift in Italian politics on Saturday when, aged 39, he became Italy's youngest prime minister, has made bold promises to give work back to the country's chronically underemployed youth.

Source: The Guardian

Obama praises Renzi's reform agenda during call

United States President Barack Obama praised the economic reform agenda of Italy's rookie Premier Matteo Renzi during a phone call Monday, the premier's office said in a statement. The conversation was "warm" and reaffirmed the friendship between the two countries, the statement said.

Source: ANSA

In Italy, Hoping for a Youthquake

If Matteo Renzi becomes prime minister of Italy, as political indications suggest, there will be an interesting statistic for Italy’s fashion world. At 39, Mr. Renzi, now the mayor of Florence, is almost exactly half the age of Italy’s noble icon, Giorgio Armani, 79.

Source: The New York Times

Renzi government to have 16 ministers, half women

Premier-in-waiting Matteo Renzi announced Friday that his new cabinet would be made up of 16 ministers, half of whom are women - the first time parity between the sexes has been achieved in an Italian executive.

Source: ANSA