There has been sustained improvement in the condition of Nelson Mandela from the recurring lung infection that is forcing him to spend a ninth day in hospital, South Africa’s president said today.

ORGANISERS say they expect as many as 1.5 million people to attend the Catholic church’s World Youth Day event to be led by Pope Benedict XVI in Madrid.

The kick-off times for the ten matches of next year's tour of South Africa by the British & Irish Lions have been confirmed.

Marriage between a man and a woman is part of God’s plan, Pope Benedict XVI said in a message released today, keeping up his campaign against same-sex unions.