Migliori elected president of OSCE PA

Riccardo MiglioriRiccardo Migliori, a Florentine member of Italy’s Chamber of Deputies, today became the first Italian elected president of the 56-country OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. Migliori, 60, immediately assumes the top elected position of the Assembly for a one-year term. “I am honored to have the trust of my colleagues and look forward to working with delegations across our region to tangibly strengthen our commitments to human rights,” said Migliori.

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“Charon” does not belie the promises

Hot FlorenceA hot day across Italy and much of eastern Europe. Brisk west winds will be blowing through the Straits of Gibraltar with a strong north wind through the Aegean Sea. Hot and dry as well across into Italy, Corsica and Sardinia follows on Monday. “Charon” does not belie the promises and is now at full power: is pushing very hot air to Italy and especially to the Central-South regions and Emilia Romagna. In Florence the maximum temperature is forecast to 39 °C.

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Fitch downgrades the Province of Florence

Palazzo Medici RiccardiFitch Ratings has affirmed the Italian Province of Florence’s Long-term foreign and local currency ratings at ‘A-‘ and Short-term foreign currency rating at ‘F2’. The Outlooks for the Long-term ratings are Negative, mirroring the Outlook on Italy (‘A-‘/Negative). The rating action affects about EUR115m of debt outstanding at end-2011, as well as future borrowings.

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Confiscation of false extra virgin olive oil

Olive-OilNas searches and confiscation of false extra virgin olive oil, in Tuscany, Emilia and Lazio; 17 under investigation. The people investigated are charged with criminal organization for commercial frauds regarding the sophistication and adulteration of extra virgin olive oil. Searches have been carried out by Carabinieri’ s special bodies in Florence and Pistoia.

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Two professors as councilors for mayor Renzi

Alessandro PetrettoThe economist Alessandro Petretto is the new councilor to the budget of the City of Florence. Sergio Givone also enters in the council, with the delegation to the culture. This was announced by Mayor Matteo Renzi, on the sidelines of the Confindustria Firenze. Petretto replaces Claudio Fantoni, who resigned last Friday in a dispute with the mayor sounded the alarm on the budget of the Palazzo Vecchio.

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5.8 earthquake shook Florence, no damages

Earthquake in Florence, no damagesA magnitude 5.8 earthquake shook northern Italy on Tuesday and authorities were investigating reports of possible victims. Some schools had been evacuated as far south as Florence. Italian news agencies said six people were confirmed dead and many people were injured. It is the second big earthquake in a couple of week in the North of the Country. Residents of Florence, Italy, were among those who felt the earthquake, at 9 am.

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