Giorgio Napolitano

LONDON (Reuters) - Rising optimism about global growth pushed world shares to a near five-year high on Monday, while comments from Japan's economy minister that consumers could suffer if the yen falls further lifted it off a 4-1/2 low. Data last week...

LONDON (Reuters) - The yen rose from a 4-1/2-year low against the dollar on Monday after Japan's economy minister suggested the country's currency might have weakened enough, leading some investors to cut hefty bets against it. The dollar fell 0.6...

* Politicians begged reluctant Napolitano * Worse crisis for decades solved by president * Future uncertain, how long will president serve? By Barry Moody and Steve Scherer ROME, May 7 (Reuters) - On Saturday April 20, the leaders of Italy's two...

* Bersani big loser, Berlusconi a winner * Napolitano is biggest victor * Grillo, Renzi may suffer from Letta success By Barry Moody ROME, April 29 (Reuters) - Five months ago, Silvio Berlusconi was in steep decline and his party was in shambles....

ROME, April 28 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Enrico Letta's new Italian government was sworn in on Sunday with pomp and ceremony at the presidential palace and is expected to face its first confidence vote in parliament on Monday. Letta, 46, the moderate...

"Any donkey can conduct, but to make music is difficult," Riccardo Muti told the young members of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago at an open rehearsal last week at Symphony Center. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra music director was quoting his famous...

* New PM Letta must hold together broad coalition * Names central banker Saccomanni as economy minister * Will push EU to ease austerity By Gavin Jones ROME, April 27 (Reuters) - There is much about Italy's new centre-left prime minister Enrico Letta,...

* Letta seeking agreement on Saturday for confidence vote Monday * Differences apparent on tax policy and names of ministers * Moody's maintains rating on Italy By James Mackenzie ROME, April 27 (Reuters) - Italy's centre-left prime minister-designate...

TOP STORIES ----------- DHAKA - Survivors from a building that collapsed in Bangladesh killing at least 187 mainly women workers described hearing a deafening crack before the complex housing factories supplying Western clothes retailers crashed down in...

* Government expected in next few days * Berlusconi says government must help end recession, spur growth * Big parties to meet in the afternoon By Philip Pullella ROME, April 25 (Reuters) - Prime Minister-designate Enrico Letta began tricky...

* Broad-based government likely to be in place by next week * Berlusconi winner, Bersani broken man * Centre-left in turmoil By Barry Moody ROME, April 24 (Reuters) - Months of paralysing political deadlock seem close to an end in Italy with a new...

* Center-left's Enrico Letta asked to form govt * Italian 10-yr bond yields stay around 2-1/2 years lows * Debt costs could fall to 3.50 pct if reform agenda revived By Francesca Landini MILAN, April 24 (Reuters) - A rally that has pushed Italy's...