Women in politics: Berlusconi lays into Spain's 'too pink' cabinet
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/europe/women-in-...
"[He] has formed a government that is too pink," reads one. "That's something we cannot do... because there is a prevalence of men in politics and it isn't easy to find women who are qualified for government. Now he's asked for it. He'll have problems leading them."
Putin tells journalists to keep 'snotty noses' out of his business
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/europe/putin-tel...
President Vladimir Putin denied that he was planning to marry a 24-year- old gymnast yesterday, and told journalists to keep their "snotty noses" out of his private life.
the Russian President has recently projected an image of virility. He has been photographed topless with bulging muscles, and was once overheard cracking a joke to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert over the rape allegations against President Moshe Katsav.
"He really surprised us ... He didn't look like a guy who could be with 10 women," said Mr Putin with a smile.
However, it was a Russian journalist who asked Mr Putin the question at his press conference in Sardinia. Mr Berlusconi, who earlier this week joked that Italy would be better off without newspapers, apparently raised his fingers and pretended to shoot the offending journalist, which his spokesman later referred to as a "playful gesture".
Mr Berlusconi's meeting with Mr Putin at his villa was the first meeting with a world leader since his re-election. Mr Putin said he had asked for the meeting before he knew the election results: "I haven't seen him for a long time. I missed him."