News in English

Amid exceptional security measures, Pope John Paul presided over a candle-lit Good Friday service at Rome's ancient Colosseum where thousands of pilgrims braved cold and rain to hear the frail, 83-year-old pontiff.

Two US soldiers were confirmed missing today after an attack on their convoy in Iraq, with fears they could be the latest in a series of kidnap victims.

Australia has left the door open to allow more than 4000 Iraqi refugees to stay after conceding the situation in the war-torn country was not "settling down".

Japan has vowed to keep its troops in Iraq despite pleas from relatives of three Japanese hostages being held by gunmen pleading for an immediate withdrawal.

Atheists in Ireland have more than doubled in number over the last 10 years, while the percentage of traditional Roman Catholics among the population is on the decline, according to the 2002 census published Thursday.

The situation in Iraq appears to be going from bad to worse, with a key Iraqi minister resigning his position as coalition forces still battle for control in key cities.

Bollywood's new sex symbol, Mallika Sherawat, is ready to contest upcoming parliamentary polls against Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Ten Iraqis were killed and 20 wounded in clashes yesterday between coalition forces and supporters of radical Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr, hospital officials in Najaf reported.

The Islamic cleric accused of being the spiritual leader of South-East Asia's terror group Jemaah Islamiah has predicted that authorities won't set him free this month as scheduled.

Terrorists who blew themselves up last weekend as rather than be arrested in connection with the Madrid train bombings had been plotting an attack on a sprawling shopping centre outside Madrid.