e Yugoslavia

Rome, Dec 8 – Pope Benedict XVI will hold this year’s Christmas Eve midnight mass at St Peter’s basilica two hours earlier, the Vatican has announced.

Rome  – Brazil striker Amauri has said he looks forward to playing with the Italian national team when he obtains naturalization and asked for respect from those who would rather not see him don the Azzurri jersey.

Rome  – Ghana midfielder Stephen Appiah was due to start training with underdogs Bologna later on Tuesday as he rejoins the Italian Serie A from a four-year absence, the northern Italian club said on their website.

Rome  – David Beckham is due back at AC Milan where he will play from January to the end of the season on loan from Los Angeles Galaxy.

Rome  – A brace each from Samuel Eto’o and Mario Balotelli were barely enough for leaders Inter Milan as they edged guests Palermo 5-3 Thursday in a game that wrapped up a Serie A mid-week round.

Rome  – Italy’s opposition Democratic Party on Sunday elected former minister Pier Luigi Bersani the party’s new leader.

Rome  – English veteran star David Beckham is likely to rejoin AC Milan from L. A. Galaxy when the winter transfer market opens in January.

Rome – The southern tip of the region of Apulia is far removed from the rest of Italian life. After Bari and Brindisi comes the peninsula of Salento, which is just 70 kilometres from Albania, and points like an index finger south-east into the Mediterranean.

Parma, Italy  – Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon will look after his troubled knee in the stands on Wednesday when holders Italy wrap up their successful qualification campaign for the 2010 World Cup against Cyprus.

Rome  – A doping case involving international defender Fabio Cannavaro appears set to be dismissed as a sports prosecutor ascertained that it was based on a miscommunication, Italian media reported Saturday.