7:48pm

Instability looms as Italy rejects austerity

A voting official counts the ballots in a polling station in Rome ©Reuters

Little hope of any party mustering a majority

Democratic Party's Pier Luigi Bersani, the favourite to become Italy's prime minister after the general election, casts his ballot in a polling station on February 24 2013 in Piacenza. Italians fed up with austerity went to the polls on Sunday in elections where the centre-left is the favourite, as Europe held its breath for signs of fresh instability in the eurozone's third economy. ©Getty 7:26pm

Live coverage: Italian elections

Exit polls leave outcome uncertain

Global Insight 7:20pm

German president renews Europe debate

Joachim Gauck’s sermon called for ‘shared narrative’ on EU

6:21pm

Brussels challenges Madrid on regulator plan

Spain accused of legal infringement over watchdog merger

French actor Gerard Depardieu, center, dances during a reseption, in Chechnya's provincial capital Grozny, Russia. President Vladimir Putin granted Depardieu Russian citizenship last month ©AP 4:53pm

Depardieu renews double act with Kadyrov

Actor does Chechen dance at dinner hosted by republic’s ruler

4:39pm

Irish union leaders agree to pay cuts

Moves to cut a further €1bn from the public sector pay bill

Hiker woman in Dooney Rock Forest. Near Sligo city. County Sligo. Republic of Ireland. ©Alamy 4:16pm

Bleak prospect for Ireland’s forests

Anger grows over Dublin’s move to sell timber harvesting rights

3:47pm

Pope alters rules on successor’s election

Cardinals can begin the meeting more quickly

The World 12:13pm

Five ways to prepare for the result

FT World Blog posts providing context on the political battle

The World 12:10pm

Beginner’s guide to Italy’s general election

9:42am

Risk of instability hangs over Italy poll

Result that yields strong government ‘would be a miracle’

9:58pm

Italy goes to the polls in close election

Protest vote could be crucial

From GLOBAL ECONOMY 5:39pm

Bundesbank tells France to stick to budget

Weidmann warns over need to hit deficit target

From GLOBAL ECONOMY 5:29pm

Hostility mounts to Portugal’s austerity

Anger grows as money-saving measures tighten

From COMPANIES 4:56pm

M&A expected to be buoyant in Ireland

Confidence in country’s prospects improving, says report

From AFRICA 4:39pm

Chadian death toll in Mali rises

At least 23 soldiers killed since Thursday

From COMPANIES 10:09pm

France Telecom says worst may be over

Telecoms chief says there was a ‘climax of regulatory forces’ in 2012 that appears to be over

From GLOBAL ECONOMY Feb 24, 2013

Cyprus victor vows to finalise bailout

Anastasiades to resume talks with international lenders

From COMPANIES Feb 24, 2013

Turkey scraps $5.7bn privatisation

Veto thwarts country’s biggest conglomerate

From COMPANIES Feb 24, 2013

Business’ nervous watch on Italy’s poll

Fears unstable government will lead to more pain for companies

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