Italy wraps up two-day conference on violence against women

September 30th, 2009 Biden commemorates Violence Against Women ActWASHINGTON — Women's groups gathered at Vice President Joe Biden's home Tuesday night to toast the 15th anniversary of landmark legislation aimed at eliminating violence against women. "You've helped so many women step out of the darkness.

September 30th, 2009 A glance at crime victim programs in the stimulusThe federal stimulus includes $225 million to combat violence against women and $100 million for crime victims. Some victim services programs are also tapping other categories of law enforcement money.

September 21st, 2009 Italian man in PM's sex scandal gets house arrestROME — Italian news reports say a businessman involved in Premier Silvio Berlusconi's sex scandal has been placed under house arrest as part of a drug probe. The ANSA news agency said Monday that Gianpaolo Tarantini was granted house arrest in Rome after a judge said there was no risk he could flee Italy.

September 9th, 2009 Italy hosts conference on violence against womenROME — The global economic downturn may be leading to increased violence against women worldwide, both by pushing them into unsafe jobs and by raising tensions within their families, U.N. officials said Wednesday.

July 9th, 2009 Clooney: I'll film in Italy quake areaL'AQUILA, Italy — George Clooney has toured the ruins of Italy's recent earthquake and told the survivors he'll shoot a film in their mountain region. The actor inspected crumbled buildings during a visit on the sidelines of the G-8 summit in L'Aquila.

July 8th, 2009 FLORENCE - Chinese President Hu Jintao cut short his stay in Italy and left for home early Wednesday without attending the G8-G5 summit following the violence in Xinjiang region that has left at least 156 people dead and over 1,000 injured. State Councillor Dai Bingguo will attend the summit meetings in the central Italian city of L'Aquila on Hu's behalf.

July 8th, 2009 UN: Rape, sexual violence growing in AfghanistanUNITED NATIONS — Afghan women are increasingly the victims of violence, including rapes and acid-throwing attacks at the hands of anti-government elements and local chieftains, according to new U.N. report. The situation is further aggravated by impunity for perpetrators and the failure of authorities to protect woman's rights, the report states.

June 26th, 2009 White House appoints domestic violence adviserWASHINGTON — A longtime advocate for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault was named to a new post Friday as a White House adviser on violence against women. In announcing the appointment of Lynn Rosenthal, Vice President Joe Biden said that creating the job allows the White House to revive a focus on domestic violence issues — which Biden said were not at the forefront during the Bush administration.

June 26th, 2009 G8 countries urge end of violence in IranTRIESTE, Italy — Foreign ministers from Group of Eight countries meeting in Italy are calling for the immediate end of violence in Iran and are calling on Tehran authorities to seek a peaceful solution. The officials gathering in Trieste have worked to smooth over differences among themselves and address Iran's violent crackdown on protesters following disputed elections.

June 15th, 2009 Italy open to taking 3 Guantanamo detaineesWASHINGTON — Italy says it is open to taking at least three detainees from Guantanamo. An aide to Premier Silvio Berlusconi said Monday the topic will likely come up during the Italian leader's meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House later in the day.

June 12th, 2009 Gadhafi meets with Italian business leadersROME — Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi has met with business leaders during a visit to Italy that has sparked protests. Gadhafi held talks Friday with the powerful business lobby Confindustria on trade and possible investments between the two countries.

May 3rd, 2009 Williams sisters hoping to play Fed Cup finalROME — Venus and Serena Williams are interested in playing the Fed Cup final against Italy in November despite skipping the United States' victory over the Czech Republic last weekend. Venus said she and her sister "would both love to play" if they are healthy.

April 23rd, 2009 Italy asks to move G-8 summit to quake-hit cityROME — Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi says he wants to move this summer's Group of Eight summit to earthquake-stricken L'Aquila from Sardinia to both save money and provide the region with an economic boost. Berlusconi told a news conference after a Cabinet meeting in L'Aquila that the security costs of holding the July 8-10 summit in the Sardinian island of La Maddalena would have cost euro220 million ($285 million) alone — money better spent on reconstruction efforts in Italy's central Abruzzo region.

April 9th, 2009 LONDON - A 98-year-old women had a unique surviving strategy after she was captured in the rubble caused by the L'Aquila earthquake in Italy-busying herself in knitting. When rescue workers reached Maria D'Antuono, she revealed that in the 30 hours of being trapped in the rubble, she resorted to knitting to keep herself busy and stay alive.

April 6th, 2009 ROME - A powerful earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale struck central Italy early Monday. According to the ANSA news agency, the quake was reportedly felt in Rome and central Italy.