New Italy PM wins confidence vote, vows 'radical change'
Prime Minister Matteo Renzi called for a "radical and immediate change" in recession-hit Italy as he outlined his new government's reform agenda before winning a crucial confidence vote in the Senate.
Astana Opera singer to perform in French opera project The Tales of Hoffmann
The leading soloist of the Astana Opera house Medet Chotabayev has been invited to perform a part in The Tales of Hoffmann opera.
Versace struts its stuff as investment looms
Versace showed off a bold collection on Friday with red fur coats, knee-high lace-up boots and military epaulettes as a decision nears for the sale of a minority stake in the family firm.
International adoption: sick children are healthy?
Kazakhstani orphans are falsely diagnosed with heavy illnesses to be later adopted by foreigners while childless Kazakhstanis continue to wait for their chance of adoption.
Big brands parade but Milan fashion fest looks beyond
With big brands defending their dominance and the fashion press wary of taking a gamble, new designers sometimes struggled to be heard in Milan but Vogue Italia's editor told AFP that is all in the past.
Hope for recovery as Milan fashion week kicks off
Italy's top luxury brands show off their latest collections at Milan Fashion Week starting on Wednesday with high hopes for a recovery of the sector this year even amid the latest government crisis.
Italy and Kazakhstan working on extradition agreement
The Lower Chamber of the Kazakhstan Parliament is considering a draft agreement on extradition of convicts to and from Italy.
Renzi to be picked as Italy's youngest PM
Italian leftist leader Matteo Renzi is to be nominated Italy's youngest-ever prime minister after a daring power grab that has been welcomed by investors but has left many Italians sceptical.
Italian PM Letta to resign, Renzi poised to step in
Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta will resign on Friday in a lightning political crisis and his 39-year-old leftist challenger Matteo Renzi is poised to win the nomination to replace him.
Winter Olympics ceremony 'personal triumph' for Putin
European commentators portrayed the opening ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics as a personal triumph and even an exorbitant show of power for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Giacometti exhibit in Rome explores power of human body
The striking, skeletal forms of Swiss sculptor Alberto Giacometti are juxtaposed with corpulent neo-classical and baroque Italian masterpieces in a new exhibition in Rome exploring the evocative power of the human body.
Kazakhstan's Maria Mudyak among notable European opera singers
Kazakhstan opera singer Maria Mudyak has been included into the list of notable European opera singers.
Vatican trove shows Catholic persecution in samurai-era Japan
A trove of ancient documents unearthed at the Vatican could shed light on the brutal crackdown on Christianity in isolationist Japan under its samurai rulers.
US ship heads out to destroy Syrian chemical weapons
A specially-equipped US naval ship departed for Italy on Monday on a ground-breaking mission to destroy Syria's most dangerous chemical agents.
Italy minister resigns amid abuse of power, corruption probes
Italy's Agriculture Minister resigned amid allegations of abuse of power over the appointment of staff in the public healthcare system.
Blast outside French church in Rome as Hollande visits
A small explosive device went off outside a French church in central Rome could be linked to President Francois Hollande's visit.
France's embattled Hollande to meet pope, woo angry Catholics
Abortion and euthanasia will be among hot button issues on the table when Pope Francis meets embattled French President Francois Hollande.
Schiaparelli makes whimsical couture comeback in Paris
Sixty years after Elsa Schiaparelli's last runway show, the house on Monday made a highly-awaited comeback with an elegant collection studded with whimsy, in a nod to the Italian fashion legend.
Italian violinist strikes a chord with street kids
A leading Italian violinist has swapped gilded concert halls for audiences of street children around the world, using music therapy to help those less fortunate.
Greek bronzes raise hope of revival in southern Italy
Two remarkably life-like Greek bronze statues have gone on show in the same Calabria region in southern Italy where they were found by an amateur diver 42 years ago.