Projections from an early vote count in Italy’s election showed Silvio Berlusconi’s center right coalition slightly ahead in the Senate, a result that could cause deep government instability if confirmed. LIVE COVERAGE OF ITALY’S ELECTION
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Projections from an early vote count in Italy’s election showed Silvio Berlusconi’s center right coalition slightly ahead in the Senate, a result that could cause deep government instability if confirmed. 

LIVE COVERAGE OF ITALY’S ELECTION

Spain’s Iker Casillas lifts up the trophy after defeating Italy to win the Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev, July 1, 2012. [REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach] More on this story at Reuters.com
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Spain’s Iker Casillas lifts up the trophy after defeating Italy to win the Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev, July 1, 2012. [REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach]

More on this story at Reuters.com

FLASH: Spain wins Euro 2012 with 4-0 victory over Italy. Watch Reuters.com for more. PHOTO: Spain’s team players celebrate a goal by Fernando Torres during their Euro 2012 final soccer match against Italy at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev July 1, 2012. [REUTERS/Michael Dalder]
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FLASH: Spain wins Euro 2012 with 4-0 victory over Italy. Watch Reuters.com for more.

PHOTO: Spain’s team players celebrate a goal by Fernando Torres during their Euro 2012 final soccer match against Italy at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev July 1, 2012. [REUTERS/Michael Dalder]

An earthquake killed at least 15 people in northern Italy on Tuesday, damaging buildings and spreading panic among thousands of residents still living in tents after a tremor in the same region destroyed their homes just over a week ago. Officials said several people were trapped under the rubble of houses and warehouses in the Emilia-Romagna region, where several building sites and workshops had just reopened after the previous quake on May 20. Civil protection officials said 15 people were confirmed dead. Seven people were killed in the May 20 quake that, like Tuesday’s, had its epicenter not far from the city of Modena. Italian television showed buildings shaking and collapsing, ambulances racing across towns and rescue workers battling to remove rubble. READ MORE: 15 dead as second big quake strikes Italy
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An earthquake killed at least 15 people in northern Italy on Tuesday, damaging buildings and spreading panic among thousands of residents still living in tents after a tremor in the same region destroyed their homes just over a week ago.

Officials said several people were trapped under the rubble of houses and warehouses in the Emilia-Romagna region, where several building sites and workshops had just reopened after the previous quake on May 20.

Civil protection officials said 15 people were confirmed dead. Seven people were killed in the May 20 quake that, like Tuesday’s, had its epicenter not far from the city of Modena.

Italian television showed buildings shaking and collapsing, ambulances racing across towns and rescue workers battling to remove rubble.

READ MORE: 15 dead as second big quake strikes Italy

One of the young women who attended Silvio Berlusconi’s “bunga bunga” parties told a court on Friday that she dressed up as a burlesque version of U.S. President Barack Obama to entertain the former Italian prime minister.

In testimony during a trial against the 75-year-old Berlusconi on charges of paying for sex with an underage prostitute, Marysthell Polanco said she had also dressed as prosecutor Ilda Boccassini.

“I dressed up as Boccassini with a toga to make him laugh, and also as Obama,” Polanco told the court.

READ MORE: Berlusconi party girl says she dressed up as Obama

Mount Etna spews lava on the southern Italian island of Sicily February 9, 2012. Mount Etna is Europe’s tallest and most active volcano. [REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello]

See more photos of Mount Etna’s eruption in Italy

Lawyers in Naples taped up their mouths and turned their backs on a government speaker at a solemn ceremony to mark the start of Italy’s judicial year. [REUTERS/AGN foto] Read more: Italy’s lawyers on war-footing against reform
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Lawyers in Naples taped up their mouths and turned their backs on a government speaker at a solemn ceremony to mark the start of Italy’s judicial year. [REUTERS/AGN foto]

Read more: Italy’s lawyers on war-footing against reform

Seagulls rest on a rock near the cruise liner Costa Concordia off the west coast of Italy at Giglio island January 29, 2012.  The wreck of the cruise ship Costa Concordia could remain where it lies near the Tuscan island of Giglio until the end of the year before it can be broken up or salvaged, the official in charge of the recovery operation said on Sunday. [REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi] Read more: Wrecked Italian liner will not be moved for months
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Seagulls rest on a rock near the cruise liner Costa Concordia off the west coast of Italy at Giglio island January 29, 2012. 

The wreck of the cruise ship Costa Concordia could remain where it lies near the Tuscan island of Giglio until the end of the year before it can be broken up or salvaged, the official in charge of the recovery operation said on Sunday. [REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi]

Read more: Wrecked Italian liner will not be moved for months

A Carabinieri scuba diver inspects the Costa Concordia cruise ship which ran aground off the west coast of Italy at Giglio island January 19, 2012. [REUTERS/Centro subacquei dei Carabinieri/Handout]
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A Carabinieri scuba diver inspects the Costa Concordia cruise ship which ran aground off the west coast of Italy at Giglio island January 19, 2012. [REUTERS/Centro subacquei dei Carabinieri/Handout]

Three die as cruise ship runs aground in Italy

Gavin Jones and Antonio Denti for Reuters - Police and passengers quoted on television spoke of people jumping off the 290-metre-long ship, a floating resort hotel with spas, theatres, swimming pools and a discotheque.

“We had a blackout and everybody was just screaming. All the passengers were running up and down and then we went to our cabins to get to know what is going on,” said another passenger, who did not give his name.

 “They said we should stay calm, it is nothing, it’s just some electrical problem or just some blackout thing.”

Several passengers criticized the response to the emergency.