Latest Rome News

Middle East latest: 4 peacekeepers lightly injured as UN base is hit by rockets in south Lebanon

Nov. 22, 2024 10:35 AM EST

Rockets likely launched by Hezbollah or affiliated groups on Friday hit a United Nations peacekeeping base in southern Lebanon, the U.N. said. Italy’s Defense Ministry said four Italian soldiers were slightly injured after two exploding rockets hit the U.N. mission base in Shama in...

Ridley Scott on going big with 'Gladiator II'

Nov. 21, 2024 00:04 AM EST

NEW YORK (AP) — An inevitable fact of interviewing Ridley Scott is that, whatever movie he’s about to release, you’ll find him already knee-deep in his next project. Scott, Hollywood’s perpetual rolling stone even at age 86, may be preparing to unveil “Gladiator II,” one...

Italy recovers Etruscan artifacts worth $8.5 million bound for black market

Nov. 20, 2024 21:30 PM EST

ROME (AP) — Italian authorities announced Tuesday the seizure of an illegal excavation of an Etruscan burial site in the central Umbria region and are investigating two people for suspected theft of urns, sarcophagi and other artifacts worth 8 million euros ($8.5 million) intended for sale on the...

Marquette University names Kimo Ah Yun as its new president

Nov. 20, 2024 17:45 PM EST

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Marquette University officials announced Wednesday that Kimo Ah Yun will serve as the school's next president. Ah Yun had served as acting president since June, when President Michael Lovell died in Rome after a three-year battle with cancer. Ah Yun...

Pope approves new papal funeral rites to simplify ritual, allow for burial outside the Vatican

Nov. 20, 2024 11:36 AM EST

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has revised the funeral rites that will be used when he dies, simplifying the rituals to emphasize his role as a mere bishop and allowing for burial outside the Vatican in keeping with his wishes. The Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano on Wednesday...

Pope asks Church of Rome to help address housing crisis ahead of Holy Year in 2025

Nov. 15, 2024 14:06 PM EST

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis on Friday called on the diocese of Rome to respond to a growing housing crisis in the Eternal City, wading into the debate about rising rental prices that has only grown more acute with Holy Year celebrations in 2025. Francis has written to the city's...

Winston Churchill portrait returns to Ottawa after international art caper

Nov. 15, 2024 13:40 PM EST

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — A stolen portrait of Winston Churchill that was swapped with a forgery during the pandemic has returned to its rightful place, after two Ottawa police detectives traveled to Rome to retrieve it. Police said ”The Roaring Lion" was stolen from the Fairmont...

A criticized Airbnb deal will let users play gladiator in Rome's Colosseum

Nov. 14, 2024 23:02 PM EST

ROME (AP) — The ancient Roman Colosseum will be the venue of gladiator fights — albeit staged — for the first time in two millennia under a $1.5 million sponsorship deal with Airbnb that aims to promote “a more conscious tourism.” But some visitors to the monument Thursday,...

Movie Review: 'Gladiator II,' with Denzel Washington, goes back into the arena

Nov. 11, 2024 09:11 AM EST

Rome teeters on the brink in Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II.” Its fall is said to be imminent. The dream it once symbolized is dead. The once high-minded ideals of the Roman Empire have deteriorated across a venal land now ruled by a pale-faced emperor. On the throne is Geta...

Tourists in Rome now have a walkway to visit the Trevi Fountain but can't toss coins

Nov. 09, 2024 12:43 PM EST

ROME (AP) — Tourists in Rome won’t be allowed to toss coins over their shoulders into the Trevi Fountain, following tradition, though an elevated walkway now gives limited access to the monument during maintenance work. Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri inaugurated the steel walkway...