It wasn't so long ago that Kraft was announcing an interest in taking over British firm Cadbury. Now, the American company Hershey and Italian-based Ferrero have stated they would consider buying the firm.

Christine Lagarde, Finance Minister of France, has spoken of her concern that some of the world's major banks are "on steriods" as a result of the massive amounts of public money they have received during the global financial crisis.

A judge in a court in Milan, Northern Italy has convicted 23 Americans, 22 of them CIA agents, of kidnapping a Muslim cleric in a street in the city in 2003.

On Wednesday, the last show this season of Giacomo Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" took place at the Four Seasons Center for the Performing Arts in Toronto. After the show, dozens of audience members discussed the actions of the opera's characters.

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that crucifixes should not be displayed in Italian public schools, a decision that has incurred the wrath of the Vatican and politicians alike.

An Italian court reduces a murder sentence by 4 years, due to genetic evidence. This is the first European case where a genetic tendancy toward violent behaviour has been successfully used by defense lawyers to reduce a sentence.

A 51-year-old Mafia boss, previously convicted of murder and on the run since 1995, has been arrested by Italian police during a dawn raid on a chicken and rabbit farm in Somma Vesuviana, a town near Naples in Southern Italy.

Italian police hope horrific footage of a daytime murder will catch the suspected killer. The embedded video -- not suitable for all viewers -- also shows seemingly unfazed bystanders when the victim was shot in the head.

It is looking increasingly certain that a lack of support amongst both center-right and center-left politicians across Europe will put paid to Tony Blair's chances of becoming the first President of Europe.

Animal activists struck at least four different fur farms in Spain and France earlier in October, releasing approximately 20,000 of the animals. Some mink were recaptured.