Alan Johnston

Vatican says Pope's ex-ambassador to Dominican Rep. no longer has diplomatic immunity so could be sent back to DR to face child abuse trial.

A migrant boat capsized en route to Italy overnight. The Italian navy managed to rescue more than 360 people. But six bodies also recovered.

At least 18 people die in migrant boat sinking south of Italian island of Lampedusa. Earlier dozens feared dead in similar sinking off Libya

Italy's decided to send weapons to the Kurds to help them in their fight with the forces of the Islamic State.

The Pope's written to UN chief Ban Ki-moon urging action to end the "humanitarian tragedy" unfolding in Iraq.

Vatican calls on all religious leaders -- specially Muslim ones -- to condemn the actions of Islamic State fighters in Iraq.

Pope pleads for the international community to do more about the situation in northern Iraq as Christians there flee Islamist fighters.

There's been a row over a Rome university's decision to invite the Costa Concordia Captain to speak on "panic management" at a conference.

Four people died and 20 others were hurt when a flash flood hit a festival on Saturday night at Refrontolo, in Northern Italy.

There're reports that at least 20 people have drowned in a disaster involving a boat loaded with migrants off Libya. Dozens more missing.

As Gaza's truce breaks down Pope Francis makes an impassioned plea for peace. "Please stop! I ask you with all my heart. It's time to stop."

The wreck of the Costa Concordia cruise ship is being towed into Genoa harbour at the end of one of the biggest ever salvage operations.

Ocean-going tugs have begun to tow the wreck of the Costa Concordia away from the Italian island of Giglio.

Italian police charge five men with murdering dozens of people on a boat packed with migrants. Victims allegedly thrown in the sea.

More deaths among people trying to reach Italy from North Africa. Five bodies retrieved from a half-sunken vessel. Others feared drowned.

19 people reported to have died aboard a boat carrying migrants from Libya to Italy. They're believed to have suffocated below deck.

Silvio Berlusconi has won an appeal against his conviction for paying for sex with an under-age prostitute in the so-called "Ruby" case.

Salvage workers trying to re-float the Costa Concordia have managed to raise the wreck a metre above under-sea platform on which she sat.

The operation to re-float the Costa Concordia cruise ship just off the Italian island of Giglio has begun.

Transfer of dangerous material from Syria's chemical weapons programme completed in an Italian port. US Navy will now destroy the stockpile.