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ANSA. An Italian on trial with his American girlfriend for the murder of British student Meredith Kercher said Friday that he ''wouldn't hurt a fly''. As the trial of Raffaele Sollecito, 24, and Amanda Knox, 21, reopened in Perugia, Sollecito said in an address to the court that he was the victim of a miscarriage of justice. (Read the article)
ANSA. President Giorgio Napolitano on Friday said he would not approve an emergency decree to prevent doctors from removing Eluana Englaro's feeding tube in accordance with a landmark right-to-die ruling. (Read the article)
Nymag. Teresa Rizzo-Marino has to vacate her Lower East Side restaurant, Isabella’s Oven, and she’s not happy about it. Kicked out of her space by her landlord, Ms Marino's most serious accusation revolves around what she calls “ethnic discrimination” — “they discriminate against Italian people, non-Kosher places, any little thing they can find. I’ve never met people like this in my life." (Read the article by Daniel Maurer)
NBCDFM. Another designer, Fausto Sarli, dedicated the jewel of his collection to Michelle Obama. The gown, pinkish and studded with crystals and lavish swirls, represents a light in the desert, said Sarli. (Read the article by Andrew Greiner)
TIMES ON LINE. Speaking in court, Mr Sollecito sought to proclaim his innocence, insisting he “would never hurt a fly” and was “the victim of injustice”. (Read the article by Richard Owen)
AP. Italy's government issued an emergency decree Friday to prevent a woman in a vegetative state from having her feeding tubes disconnected but the president immediately said he wouldn't sign it. President Giorgio Napolitano said the decree violated the "fundamental" separation of powers between the executive and judicial branches since it defied court rulings that have favored removing Eluana Englaro's feeding tubes. (Read the article by Alessandra Rizzo)
ANSA. The cabinet on Friday unanimously approved an emergency decree to stop doctors carrying out a landmark right-to-die court ruling that is fiercely opposed by the Catholic Church. (Read the article)
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL. Over 1,600 migrants currently held on the Italian island of Lampedusa are at risk of being forcibly returned to their home countries. According to an official statement by the Italian Minister of the Interior on 23 January, 150 migrants have already been returned from Lampedusa since 1 January. (Read the article)
Reuters. Mania over President Barack Obama has reached the catwalks of Rome, where a top haute couture designer showed off a kaftan emblazoned with his face and another dedicated a gown of "hope" to his wife Michelle. (Read the article)
The Wall Street Journal. Italian eyewear maker Luxottica SpA is expected to unveil a new social-benefits program for its domestic work force, an attempt to ease the pain as the global economic downturn hits Italy's industrial north. (Read the article by Stacy Meichtry and Jennifer Clark)