Pope blasts Irish bishops, orders Vatican probe (AP)

AP – Pope Benedict XVI has rebuked Irish bishops for “grave errors of judgement” in handling clerical sex abuse and ordered a Vatican investigation into the Irish church to wipe out the scourge.

Pope ’sorry’ for Irish sex abuse

Pope Benedict XVI has apologised to victims of child sex abuse by Catholic priests in Ireland.

In a pastoral letter to Irish Catholics, he acknowledged the sense of betrayal in the Church felt by victims and their families.

The Pope said there had been "serious mistakes" among bishops in responding to allegations of paedophilia.

The pastoral letter is the first public statement by the Vatican on the sexual abuse of children, dating back decades.

It follows revelations of paedophilia within the Irish Catholic Church, which have rocked the institution.

Scandals involving Catholic priests have been reported in other countries, including the Pope’s native Germany.

The Pope said those guilty of abuse must "answer before God and properly constituted tribunals for the sinful and criminal actions they have committed".

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Year’s biggest sandstorm turns Beijing sky orange (AP)

AP – China’s capital woke up to orange-tinted skies Saturday as the strongest sandstorm so far this year hit the country’s north, delaying some flights at Beijing’s airport and prompting a dust warning for Seoul.

Thai protesters stage weekend march around capital (AP)

AP – Tens of thousands of protesters riding motorcycles and crammed into trucks and cars rolled through the streets of the Thai capital Saturday in a giant caravan to rally residents to their “class war” against the government.

Nepalese statesman Koirala dies

The former Nepalese Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has died in Kathmandu, his aides and state TV say.

Mr Koirala served four terms as prime minister with the Nepali Congress Party and led protests that brought down King Gyanendra’s authoritarian rule.

Thousands of supporters had gathered outside his daughter’s house where he was taken after being in hospital for several days.

Mr Koirala’s aide Bal Krishna Khad confirmed the death at the age of 86.

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England shade first day honours

Second Test, Mirpur:England v Bangladesh
Coverage: Ball-by-ball Test Match Special commentary on BBC 5 live sports extra, BBC Radio 4 Long Wave & BBC Sport website (from 0315 GMT); live text commentary on BBC Sport website & mobiles; also live on Sky Sports

England expect Stuart Broad to be fit for the second Test against Bangladesh, which starts in Mirpur on Saturday.

The fast bowler missed training on Thursday but recuperated sufficiently to take part in Friday’s net sessions.

"He had a little illness but we think he’ll be fine," said captain Alastair Cook. "He’s up and about now which he wasn’t yesterday (Thursday)."

Broad is likely to figure in a four-man pace attack, although Cook refused to rule out playing with two spinners.

Middlesex fast bowler Steven Finn, who made his debut in the 181-run victory in Chittagong, would be most likely to make way should England opt for Kent’s James Tredwell alongside frontline spinner Graeme Swann.

"We’ll consider all the options and a second spinner is definitely one of those," said Cook.

"We’ll sit down and pick the best team to win the match. We did that in Chittagong and in hindsight we got it right.

"If we think that is the best way of going – two seamers, two spinners – then we will do that. It is very ‘un-English’, though.

"We are used to playing in English conditions where seamers do the majority of the work and you’d be very unlikely ever to go out in England with less than three seamers."

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Pakistan official: 3 Taliban militants arrested (AP)

AP – Police arrested three Taliban militants Saturday and seized a bomb-making factory in the southern Pakistan city of Karachi, a counterterrorism official said.

UN chief is shown Israeli settlements, barrier (AP)

AP – U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon on Saturday got a closer look at what has emerged as a main obstacle to restarting Mideast peace talks — Israeli settlements on Palestinian-claimed land.

Thousands of BA flights canceled as crew on strike (AP)

AP – British Airways canceled more than 1,000 flights after its cabin crew launched a three-day strike Saturday, wreaking havoc on the plans of tens of thousands of passengers just before the busy spring holiday season.

UN chief begins Mid-East effort

The UN secretary general is due in Israel to keep up diplomatic pressure for a resumption of peace talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

Ban Ki-Moon is scheduled to meet leaders from both sides, and to visit Gaza, where the UN administers large-scale relief projects for Palestinians.

Israel’s controversial plan to build 1,600 more homes in East Jerusalem has provoked the latest round of activity.

The Palestinian leadership has said the plan is an obstacle to resuming talks.

It has been strongly criticised by the Quartet of the US, Russia, the EU and the UN.

Israel announced last week it had granted permission for the new homes in the Ramat Shlomo area of East Jerusalem, occupied by Israel since 1967.

Speaking before his arrival on Saturday, Mr Ban said: "Recalling that the annexation of East Jerusalem is not recognised by the international community, the Quartet… condemns the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem."

Mr Ban stated the goal of an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement – including a Palestinian state – within two years.

The last time Mr Ban came to Israel was in the immediate aftermath of Israel’s military operation against Gaza 14 months ago.

Weekend diplomacy

Then he did not hide his anger over the high human cost of that operation, and there may be strong words from Mr Ban this time over Israel’s refusal to halt the construction of settlements, the BBC’s Jonathan Head says in Jerusalem.

On Sunday the US special representative George Mitchell will also visit the region to try to get the so-called proximity talks going between the Israelis and Palestinians.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to travel to Washington where he is expected to meet Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and possibly President Barack Obama.

Speaking to the BBC earlier, Mrs Clinton indicated that hardening the tone with Israel had paid off, with talks now back in prospect.

"I think we are going to see the resumption of the negotiating track, and that means that is paying off, because that is our goal," she said.

Israeli strikes

The diplomatic efforts come as at least 11 people were injured by Israeli air strikes targeting Gaza’s airport, Palestinian officials say.

The Israeli military confirmed the missile strikes near Rafah, in southern Gaza, which it said targeted militants.

It was the second night of Israeli raids since a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip killed a worker on an Israeli farm on Thursday.

Friday’s missiles hit Gaza’s long disused international airport and tunnels dug by militants near the border with Israel.

On Thursday, Israeli missiles hit smuggling tunnels and a metal workshop in Gaza, but there were no reports of serious injuries.

An Israeli military spokesman said the strikes were a response to five rockets fired at Israel from Gaza in the past two days – including one that killed a farm worker from Thailand in a kibbutz in southern Israel.

He was the first person to be killed by rocket fire in southern Israel since the Israeli campaign in Gaza last year.

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