�WHAT'S THE STORY?

Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is to stand trial this Thursday on corruption charges relating to a Euro465,000 payment he allegedly made to British lawyer David Mills (RIGHT), the estranged husband of UK Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell.

Prosecutors say Berlusconi bribed Mills into giving false evidence to protect him at two trials in 1997 and 1998. Both Berlusconi and Mills have denied the charges.

WHAT ARE THEY SAYING?

Berlusconi said last year he was "profoundly indignant" at the charges, and claims to have proof that the money paid to David Mills actually came from disgraced Italian businessman Diego Attanasio. Prosecution lawyers have, unsurprisingly, rubbished these claims. Meanwhile, despite the fact that the impending trial nearly cost his wife her job and led to their separation, Mills said last year, "It's very exciting.

It's like a thriller, all of this."

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

For Berlusconi (RIGHT), Mills is just one of his problems. He is currently on a connected trial with 11 other men in relation to fraud charges and money laundering. Italy's richest man, Berlusconi has been at the centre of numerous corruption investigations into his vast business empire, but insists he is the victim of a judicial witch-hunt by "communist magistrates". Even if found guilty, none of the men is likely to go to jail due to legislation passed by Berlusconi's government in 2005. Handy.

�WHAT'S THE STORY?

Paddies of the world unite for one big party What do you mean, 'what's the story?' Haven't you lined up your green Guinness and McDonald's shamrock shakes for the occasion already. Yes folks, next Saturday is St Patrick's Day. St Patrick was a British man with ophidiophobia who travelled to Ireland and converted the masses to Christianity.

WHAT ARE THEY SAYING?

"Before I was humiliated, I was like a stone that lies in deep mud, and he who is mighty came and in his compassion raised me up and exalted me very high and placed me on the top of the wall" - St Patrick "Yes, if I were a leprechaun from Ireland, I'd shout happily, That I live in the fields here in Ireland, But no one will ever catch me" - 'traditional' St Patrick's day song according to Songs4Teachers. com The St Patrick's Day festival in Dublin (www. stpatricksday. ie) runs from the 15th to the 19th of March and features a parade, a funfair, concerts and more. There are also parades in Downpatrick, Clare, Cork, Galway and elsewhere around the country. US satellite radio station XM will launch a 72-hour special St Patrick's Day channel to cope with all the festivities.