London, Dec 4 : An Italian masterpiece featuring a semi-naked woman, consigned to an attic for 200 years, has sold for 2.84m pounds at an auction in London.

Giambattista Tiepolo’s artwork, Portrait of a lady as Flora, had been hidden in the attic of a French chateau since the 19th Century, and was expected to sell off for 900,000 pounds at the Christie''s sale.

It has been assumed that the reason the picture was kept hidden in the attic by the seller’s grandparents because it shows a woman baring her naked breast.

PIACENZA, Italy, Dec. 4  -- Police say a counterfeiting ring in Piacenza, Italy, was exposed after lap dancers identified bills shoved into their panties as fakes.

Genoa, Italy - A group of gay rights activists in Italy staged Wednesday a protest against the Vatican's refusal to endorse a proposed United Nations resolution calling on governments to de- criminalize homosexuality.

The demonstrators, numbering around 20, unfurled a banner reading "The Vatican is an accomplice in our martyrdom," in front of the offices of the archdiocese of Genoa, the ANSA news agency reported.

The north-western port city is scheduled to host Italy's national Gay Pride celebrations in 2009.

Milan, Italy - Two Morrocan men suspected of links with al-Qaeda have been arrested in Italy for allegedly planning bomb attacks, including one against Milan's Duomo cathedral.

"The plot was uncovered well before those being investigated were able to procure explosives," Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said commenting on Tuesday's arrests.

The 31-year-old Rachid Ilhami, a welder by trade, and his associate Abdelkader Ghafir, 43, a bricklayer, were apprehended in Giussano, a town 25 kilometres north of Milan.

Plantar fasciitis is a common and painful foot problem pain. It is an inflammation of the connective tissue called the plantar fascia that runs along the bottom of the foot, from the heel to the ball of the foot. Its common treatment includes icing the area, taking over-the-counter pain relievers, wearing an orthotic, or resting the foot. A recent study has shown that a new treatment involving steroid injections can give quick relief to patients suffering from this problem.

Rome - Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho said Tuesday he would rather one of his own players had won the Ballon d'Or which went to Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo.

"I'd have preferred that one of our players had won it," the Portuguese coach said when asked about the award going to fellow countryman Ronaldo.

Mourinho said Inter's Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic was a player who would have deserved the trophy awarded by French magazine France Football.