VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI is to make his first visit to the Holy Land in May, Jerusalem's Latin patriarch has said. The Pope wanted to "acquire first-hand knowledge of the hard conditions in our region", AFP news agency quoted Fuad Twal as saying.
WASHINGTON - It's something any bank would demand to know before handing out a loan: Where's the money going?
EUROPE - The development of a major blocking high pressure system over the north atlantic and its subsequent backing west is about to throw most of Europe into the coldest winter weather pattern in many a year.
VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI has said that saving humanity from homosexual or transsexual behaviour is just as important as saving the rainforest from destruction. He explained that defending God's creation is not limited to saving the environment, but also protecting man from self-destruction.
WORLD - Leap/E2020 anticipates than the unfolding global systemic crisis will experience in March 2009 a new tipping point of similar magnitude to the September 2008 one.
USA - Leap/E2020 estimates that recession hit the US economy at the beginning of 2007. And we confirm this analysis despite the official statistics published by the US authorities.
IRAN - Russia has begun delivering S-300 air defence systems to Iran, the official IRNA news agency reported on Sunday. The systems are among the most advanced in the world and could enable Iran to prevent a strike on its nuclear sites.
EUROPE - De Morgen reports that French President Nicolas Sarkozy has refused to be present at the ceremony in Prague when the EU Presidency will be handed over to the Czech Republic, reportedly challenging the legitimacy of the Czech Presidency.
USA/GB - Bankers at four leading City firms are to share an estimated £6.4billion Christmas bonus pool. Despite helping to bring the financial system to the brink of collapse, London employees of Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch and Dresdner Kleinwort have been told to expect bumper year-end payouts.
ISRAEL - Israel threatened on Sunday to launch a major offensive against the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip as violence simmered around the impoverished territory days after the end of a truce with the Islamists.
WASHINGTON - The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned on Sunday that the economic situation could get even worse in 2009 if governments fail to take firm enough action.
SPAIN - The governor of the Bank of Spain on Sunday issued a bleak assessment of the economic crisis, warning that the world faced a "total" financial meltdown unseen since the Great Depression. "THE LACK OF CONFIDENCE IS TOTAL," Miguel Angel Fernandez Ordonez said in an interview with Spain's El Pais daily.
UK - Workers who have devout religious beliefs could be forced out of their jobs following an ruling by an employment appeal tribunal, it is feared.
LONDON - The Archbishop of Canterbury warns today that Britain must learn the lessons of Nazi Germany in dealing with the effects of the recession.
JAPAN - A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 has hit Japan's north-east coast, injuring at least 40 people. The quake's epicentre is thought to have been 20km (12.4 miles) below the ocean off Miyagi prefecture, striking at around 1146 (0246GMT).