London, Apr 21 : Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and one of his female ministers, whom he once said he would like to marry, have been painted nude by an artist.

Two years ago, in an interview to a TV channel, Berlusconi had told Equality Minister Mara Carfagna that he would marry her like a shot if he wasn''t married already.

Infuriated wife Veronica Lario had, subsequently, demanded and obtained an apology.

Rome - Brazil's football team coach Dunga on Monday took a firm stand against the racist chants that Juventus fans aimed at Inter Milan black striker Mario Balotelli at the weekend.

Dunga spent the weekend in Italy to watch some Brazilian internationals playing in the Italian Serie A.

"Racism is a bad thing," he said, "but in football we feel it more because there are players from all over the world. People want to blow off steam, but they do it in a wrong way.

Cison di Valmarino, Italy - Agriculture ministers from the world's richest nations were expected Monday to emerge from the final session of a three-day meeting, with a global strategy aimed at bolstering global food security.

"We still need around an hour's work," said Italian Agriculture Minister Luca Zaia, indicating that the final declaration from the Group of Eight (G8) agriculture ministers meeting would be ready by midday.

Rome, April 20 : Reports indicate that the powerful earthquake in the central Italian Abruzzo regional capital L'Aquila last week has unearthed prehistoric dwellings there.

Some of the vaulted caves measure up to five meters in height, Italian geologist Gianluca Ferretti told Italian daily La Stampa.

"We are exploring them," said Ferretti, who teaches geology at L'Aquila's university.

One the biggest caves is located near L'Aquila's bus terminal, in via di Collemaggio. The caves date back 15,000 years, according to geologists.

Rome  - Veteran defender Fabio Cannavaro has decided to rejoin Serie A clu

Rome  - Young Argentine Mauro Zarate scored the winner for Lazio Saturday as the side from the capital won 1-0 away to Genoa in a Serie A weekend opener.

The defeat, which they suffered after a four-win run topped by a 3-2 success at Juventus, could be crucial for Genoa in the race for a fourth available Champions League berth.

Fifth-placed Fiorentina trail Genoa two points adrift and can leapfrog them when they play Sunday at Udinese.

The hosts had their best chances in the early minutes through a header from defender Giuseppe Biava that Fernando Muslera incredibly managed to slap away.