ANSA

Scientists in Italy have rediscovered a type of snake which was used by the ancient Greeks as a weapon of war during sea battles.

They used to throw it at their enemies so as to create panic and confusion.

The Javelin Sand Boa, officially known as Eryx jaculus, had not been recorded in Italy for 80 years, as Telegraph reports.

Serbian president meets with Pope Francis in Vatican

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic was in the Vatican on Friday where he met with the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis.

As announced by the Vatican's press service, "in the cordial discussions, the good existing relations between the Holy See and the Republic of Serbia were demonstrated."

More than 40 people are feared drowned off Italy in the latest sinking incident in the Mediterranean Sea.

According to media reports, 41 bodies and just four survivors were found by navy searchers on Thursday when they arrived in the Italian port of Traponi.

According to the survivors, their group of 45 people had left Tripoli on a raft, ANSA news agency reports.

At least four people died at the Palace of Justice in Milan after a shooting took place on Thursday.

According to the president of Milan's appeals court Giovanni Canzio, a defendant in a bankruptcy case opened fire at the entrance of the courthouse, ANSA news agency reports.

Italy's Infrastructure and Transport Minister Maurizio Lupi announced on Thursday that he is to present his resignation to the country's parliament on Friday.

Lupi has been under pressure to resign due to corruption allegations at his ministry involving the awarding of public contracts, ANSA news agency reports.

The Italian Parliament elected Sergio Mattarella as the country's president on Saturday at its fourth attempt.

In the previous three rounds, which took place on Thursday and Friday, none of the candidates managed to gather two-thirds majority or 673 votes.

Bad weather in the Adriatic Sea is thwarting efforts to tow a fire-ravaged ferry to Italy, so authorities can search it for more possible dead and investigate the cause of the blaze that killed at least 11 people.

Venice mayor Giorgio Orsoni and other 35 people have been arrested over claims of bribery during the public tender process of the cities flood barriers, known as the Moses project.

At least 14 migrants have died when their boat capsized in the Mediterranean Sea between Libya and Italy on Monday.

The fast response of the Italian coast guard helped the rescue of some 200 people from the sinking boat, CNN reported, citing the local ANSA agency. It is unknown yet how many people were on board.