Italian PM Conte seeks to save his government from falling

ROME (AP) — Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte has acknowledged errors in fighting the unprecedented pandemic, but in a speech aimed at preserving his second mandate, he told lawmakers his government can “hold its head high.” Conte is fighting for his political life after he lost his coalition majority with the defection of Cabinet ministers belonging to former Premier Matteo Renzi’s tiny but key Italia Viva (Italy Alive) party. Renzi has faced harsh criticism for the power play during a pandemic, but he has defended the move as necessary to prevent Conte from amassing too much power.