Rome, March 8 - Italian industrial employers association Confindustria on Friday warned that the eurozone's third-largest economy risks being embroiled in a credit crunch for the third time in six years.

''Italy is yet again in full credit emergency'', Confindustria's research unit said in a report. ''The risk is that Italy will suffer a third credit crunch after those of 2007-2009 and 2011-2012. ''Banks are becoming increasingly selective, loan levels are falling, and the interest rates applied are increasing'', Confindustria said.

Naples, March 8 - Former Italian prime minister Romano Prodi was questioned by prosecutors on Friday in relation to an investigation into allegations ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi bribed a Senator to change political colours.

Berlusconi is being probed for allegedly paying three million euros to get Senator Sergio De Gregorio to switch sides.

Rome, March 8 - Eliminating violence against women is "necessary and possible", said Labour Minister Elsa Fornero on Friday as part of an event for International Women's Day. The minister, who is also tasked with equal opportunities issues, said that "we are here today also to give voice to the 124 women killed in Italy in 2012" at the hands of partners or husbands. 

ROME - Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi is facing his first tests in parliament following two recent stinging electoral defeats and demands by his key coalition partner for an end to Italy's involvement in the military campaign against Libya.

Expedia has started a new advertising campaign in Europe which is the start of it rolling out its Expedia Everywhere strategy. The idea behind it is that it gives more personalised travel services and expands the brand so that it is just not associated with being a place where things can be booked, which is how many people tend to view it at the moment.

NATO says it has lost radar contact with a helicopter drone conducting a reconnaissance flight over Libya, denying that one of its attack helicopters crashed. The military alliance's command centre in Naples, Italy, lost track of the unmanned autonomous helicopter drone at 0720 GMT (1720 AEST), NATO military spokesman Mike Bracken said in a statement.

(ANSA) - Milan, May 20 - A former close aide of Premier Silvio Berlusconi, Marcello Dell'Utri, was acquitted Friday on charges of attempted extortion aggravated by Mafia conspiracy.

(ANSA) - Milan, May 20 - Italy's Foreign Minister Franco Frattini openly "thanked" United States President Barack Obama for his effort to capture the moment of deep political change in North Africa and the Mideast by calling for renewed peace negotiations in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

(ANSA) - Rome, May 20 - Al Qaeda has been weakened by the loss of Osama Bin Laden but its threat remains, Italian President Giorgio Napolitano said Friday.

(ANSA) - Rome, May 20 - NATO on Friday thanked Italy for its contribution to the international mission in Libya.