Rome, June 14 - Italy's biggest trade union CGIL hasgiven a tentative, conditional green light to an accord withFiat to boost production at its Pomigliano d'Arco plant nearNaples.CGIL said a final decision, however, would have to be madeby its autoworkers union FIOM.Italy's other leading unions - including CISL, UIL and UGL- gave their green light to the plan on Friday.All workers at Pomigliano w
Cape Town, June 14 - Marcello Lippi said reigningchampions Italy are confident they can dispel the pessimismabout their chances at the World Cup in South Africa with aconvincing win over Paraguay in their opener Monday.''Here in Cape Town we don't have a good chance, we have anexcellent chance,'' the World Cup-winning coach told Italianstate broadcaster RAI on Monday.''All the players have the co
Rome, June 14 - A thief who disguised himself as apriest to rob a Catholic college in Rome became so caught up inhis holy pretence that he blessed the police officers who helpedfoil his bid to steal a batch of antique books.The fake cleric, a 52-year-old Venezuelan, mingled amongstudents and teachers on Saturday at the city's VenerableEnglish College, a seminary for priests for England and Wales,
Rome, June 14 - Banned Fiorentina striker AdrianMutu's troubles continued on Monday when a Swiss court knockedback his appeal against a record 17.17-million-euro damagespayment to Chelsea for testing positive for cocaine in 2004.The Romania international rebuilt his career after beingbanned for seven months on that occasion but he is now back onthe sidelines after a nine-month suspension for taki
Cape Town, June 14 - Marcello Lippi is tipped tofield a three-pronged attack in Italy's World Cup opener onMonday as the reigning champions seek to dispel pessimism abouttheir chances with a convincing win over Paraguay.Lippi used Simone Pepe, Alberto Gilardino and VincenzoIaquinta at the front of a 4-3-3 formation in training on Sundayand is expected to stick with it, having experimented withsev
Trento, June 14 - The work of Futurist artistFortunato Depero is spotlighted in a joint exhibition beingstaged by a northern Italian museum and the National Gallery inBudapest.The exhibition in the Hungarian capital continues a seriesof Futurist events around the world, which got under way lastyear, celebrating 100 years since the foundation of the Italianart movement.The Trento and Rovereto Muse
Rome, June 11 - Italian state employees wanting tohead home early to see the Azzurri's World Cup games on TV hadtheir hopes dashed in advance by Civil Service Minister RenatoBrunetta on Friday.Brunetta said civil servants will not be able to use permitsgranted to take hours off work, usually for things like doctorappointments, to make time for the matches in South Africa.The minister added that w
Florence, June 11 - Eight Tuscan mayors strippeddown to their underwear on Friday to protest against the budgetcuts Rome has made to state contributions to local government.The cuts were part of an austerity package the government adopted to slash public spending by 24 billion euros over atwo-year period and thus reduce Italy's budget deficit.The mayors said their protest was meant to symbolise t