President Nelson Mandela has thanked Pope John Paul for the Catholic Church's help in education and health care of black South Africans during the apartheid era.
Mr Mandela, wearing his untucked African shirt instead of the dark suits and ties worn by most heads of state when they visit the Pope, prompted the Pope to chuckle and smile when he greeted him: "Your Holiness is looking well."
A painting by Prince Charles has been sold for $7,500 at a New York charity auction to benefit the New York Academy of Art.
The watercolour landscape of Hong Kong harbour was sold to Peter Thomas Roth (40) of Manhattan, who said he "thought it would go for $12,000".
Virgin boss Richard Branson is trying to launch a no-frills airline in the US under the name Virgin America.
His company is looking at a number of options and has held talks with businesses in the US. But Virgin has so far been unable to move ahead with its plans because of restrictions on foreign carriers setting up in the US.
Cricket-mad rocker Mick Jagger is at the net for a run of live ball-by-ball match broadcasts.
His computer web company, Jagged Internetworks, is covering a series of summer matches - including the first live Internet broadcast from Lords.
Coverage kicked off at Lord's yesterday with the test between England and South Africa. Today, from Colombo, will come the start of the match between Sri Lanka and India.
Lenin's niece has turned to Russia's workers to try to raise more than £60,000 to fight off attempts to evict her from her home.
In a letter to a steel factory still bearing her uncle's name, Olga Ulyanova wrote that her family could be left homeless in a dispute with her estranged son-in-law if she fails to raise £70,000. She said he is forcing her to buy out his share of their Moscow apartment, although he has not lived there for four years.