Rome, March 15 - Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi on Monday asked prosecutors to confirm press reports that he is under investigation for allegedly trying to muzzle criticism on talk shows produced by state broadcaster RAI.So far, lawyers for the premier said, he had received no formal notification from the prosecutors in the Puglian city of Trani.According to legal experts, however, the prosecu
Rome, March 15 - Ferrari's one-two finish inSunday's Formula One season opener was thanks to the Scuderiahaving two center forwards, Team Principal Stefano Domenicalisaid on Monday, Team newcomer Fernando Alonso won the Bahrain Grand Prixahead of Felipe Massa, who made his comeback to the track afterhis life-threatening accident last July.Speaking on a morning radio sports program, Domenicali u
Trapani, March 15 - Nineteen Mafia suspects werearrested Monday in an operation police said had helped themclose the net on fugitive Cosa Nostra No.1 Matteo MessinaDenaro. This is a very heavy blow to the Sicilian Mafia, saidJustice Minister Angelino Alfano.The arrests were made near the western Sicilian city ofTrapani where Messina Denaro, 47, built up his power base beforebeating Palermo chief
Milan, March 15 - David Beckham on Monday left Milanfor Helsinki to have surgery on the Achilles tendon injury thatappears to have wrecked his World Cup dream.Beckham, who ruptured the tendon in AC Milan's 1-0 winagainst Chievo Sunday night, looked grim as he left the downtownhotel he has been staying at since January.The midfielder, wearing a black woolly cap and faded bluejacket, grimaced as he
Rome, March 15 - Milan reopened the title race witha 1-0 win over Chievo Sunday night that put them within a pointof Inter, beaten 3-1 at Catania Friday.But coach Leonardo's joy at Clarence Seedorf's last-minutegoal was tempered by seeing David Beckham hop off with a tornAchilles tendon that appears to have ended his World Cup dreams. It was one of our most exciting and important victories butDav
Rome, March 12 - Four of the 13 regions whereelections will be held later this month are still up for grabswhile six should be won by the center left and three by thecenter right, according to a poll published on Friday.Carried out two weeks before the vote by the ISPO researchagency of pollster Renato Mannheimmer, the survey found that themix-up by Premier Silvio Berlusconi's People of Freedom (
Vatican City, March 12 - Pope Benedict XVI hasapproved measures to tackle the child sex abuse scandal sweepingthe Roman Catholic Church in Germany, the leader of thecountry's bishops said after an audience with the pope Friday.Msgr Robert Zollitsch told a press conference he hadillustrated the moves to the German-born pope. He is favourable to our measures but we do not know whetherthey will be e
Rome, March 12 - Italy coach Nick Mallett on Fridaynamed an unchanged squad to take on Six Nations leader France inParis Sunday.Mallett said he had full confidence in the men who beatScotland 16-12 at the Flaminio two weeks ago, Italy's first winin two years.Against the flying French Italy will be bidding to equaltheir best-ever Six Nations year, 2007, when they won two games- although many pun
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