(1) FOREIGN MINISTER RHUBARB
    (a) ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER RESIGNS OVER EURO DEBATE
    (b) OPPOSITION ACCUSES PRIME MINISTER OF GIVING IN TO 
HIS RIGHT-WING COALITION MEMBERS
    (c) HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS CHAIR CALLS RUGGIERO'S POSITION           
UNTENABLE
(2) CHINA TAKES OVER FROM ITALY IN GDP RANKINGS
        Italy now in seventh place, worldwide
(3) VIRTUAL SEX, MOSTLY FOR HOUSE WIVES
        Italy ranked last among European computer users when it came to 
virtual love or cyber sex.
        But, Surprisingly, Italian housewives were the most frequent visitors 
to virtual sex sites.
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1) (a)ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER RESIGNS OVER EURO DEBATE
Italian foreign minister Renato Ruggiero, one of the strongest pro-European 
voices in premier Silvio Berlusconi's center-right administration, resigned 
yesterday. The official announcement came after a meeting at Palazzo Chigi 
between Mr. Ruggiero and Mr. Berlusconi's close aide and advisor, Giani 
Letta, who had just returned from a summit meeting with the prime minister in 
Sardinia. The statement read that, after discussing the events of the past 
few days, including articles in the press related to the future of Europe, 
"both parties agreed to end the government collaboration which both agreed 
had been important, useful, and, above all, positive." Mr. Ruggiero assured 
the government of his full collaboration, and the prime minister thanked 
minister Ruggiero "most warmly for the work he carried out on behalf of the 
country, and most of all for what he did when the government came into office 
to help its international image." 

1)(b)OPPOSITION ACCUSES PRIME MINISTER OF GIVING IN TO 
HIS RIGHT-WING COALITION MEMBERS
Opposition leader Francesco Rutelli criticized the prime minister's handling 
of the falling-out with foreign minister Renato Ruggiero, characterizing the 
foreign minister's resignation as "a disastrous government crisis that 
greatly damages Italy's international reputation." Mr. Rutelli accused Mr. 
Berlusconi of giving in to the whims of reforms minister Umberto Bossi and 
economy minister Giulio Tremonti, two cabinet members who have openly 
criticized Mr. Ruggiero in the past. "Instability dominates in a coalition 
that is already starting to crumble," the center-left leader stated, "but 
when foreign policy is the point of contention, there is not much to rejoice 
about." Piero Fassino, the head of the largest opposition party, Democratici 
di Sinistra  (Left Democrats, DS), stated that Mr. Ruggiero's resignation was 
"a severe blow to the prestige and credibility of Italy" and held the 
governing center-right coalition responsible for the failure to retain its 
foreign minister. "Mr. Rugg
iero's departure is so much the worse," he said, "because his presence 
reassured the international community of Italy's political continuity in 
Europe and the world."

1) (c)HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS CHAIR CALLS RUGGIERO'S POSITION
UNTENABLE
Gustavo Selva, a deputy of the National Alliance, AN (Alleanza Nazionale) 
party and chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, stated that 
foreign minister Renato Ruggiero's position had become "untenable." Mr. Selva 
confirmed to the press that coalition members of the Casa della Liberta' 
(House of Freedom) had lost faith in the foreign minister. The right-wing 
politician pointed out that Mr. Ruggiero did not accept or understand that it 
is the prime minister who is the final arbiter of foreign policy decisions 
and accused Mr. Ruggiero of taking an individualist's stance without 
consulting with Premier Silvio Berlusconi. He added, "Maybe Mr. Ruggiero 
wants to become a martyr, or maybe he has other secret reasons to create a 
way out." However, it may be, Mr. Selva concluded, "he certainly played into 
the hands of the center-left opposition and helped them in their campaign of 
attacking our administration."

(2) CHINA TAKES OVER FROM ITALY IN GDP RANKINGS
The Bloomberg financial agency reported the world's Gross Domestic Product 
rankings for the year 2001. Italy, which occupied sixth place the year 
before, behind the United States, Japan, Germany, France and Great Britian, 
was surpassed by China, which registered a GDP of $1,200 billion against 
Italy's $1,100 billion last year. Bloomberg market researchers noted that, in 
spite of a global economic crisis now going on, China's growth rate had been 
steadily increasing. The world's most populated country might well rank even 
higher next year.

(3) VIRTUAL SEX, MOSTLY FOR HOUSE WIVES.
Eurispes, a Rome-based think tank, researched online computer habits of 
Italians as part of its "2002 Report on Italy," due at the end of this month. 
The report's findings are that in 2001, Italy ranked last among European 
computer users when it came to virtual love or cyber sex. Per year, 
approximately 40,000 Italians check into "adult-only" Web sites and chat 
rooms, but log on for a little over half an hour, while their Norwegian and 
German counterparts spend close to an hour in search for virtual sex. 
Surprisingly, Italian housewives were the most frequent visitors to virtual 
sex sites.