OWNERS of the wrecked Costa Concordia cruise ship last night said “preliminary indications” suggested the captain may have been guilty of “significant human error”.

Coast guard divers searching the submerged part of the stricken cruise ship Costa Concordia today found the bodies of two elderly men still in their life jackets, authorities said.

An Italian prosecutor has confirmed allegations from passengers and others that the captain of the cruise ship abandoned the stricken liner before all the passengers had left.

A poll carried out by Sky Italia TV today indicated that Italians had narrowly voted against a package of sweeping changes to their country’s post-war constitution.

POPE John Paul II was nearing death last night as his health suddenly worsened, drawing anguished prayers from Catholics around the world reluctant to accept his historic pontificate was at an end.