Cuban president Raul Castro arrived at the Vatican yesterday to thank Pope Francis for his role in brokering the rapprochement between Havana and Washington.

The son of an Iranian woman who faces death by stoning for adultery said authorities have imposed a new sentence of 99 lashes.

The Vatican hinted that it may use behind-the-scenes diplomacy in a bid to save the life of an Iranian widow sentenced to be stoned for adultery.

THE Vatican raised the possibility yesterday of using behind-the-scenes diplomacy to try to save the life of an Iranian widow sentenced to be stoned for adultery.