Pope Benedict XVI today privately met Australians who were sexually abused as children by priests today, ending a pilgrimage to the country with a gesture of contrition over a scandal that has rocked the Catholic Church.

Pope Benedict XVI has raised expectations that he would apologise directly to victims of past clergy sexual abuse.

Banditry on Afghanistan roads is making it too dangerous to deliver help to many remote areas where millions of hungry Afghans are effectively cut off, the UN World Food Programme has said.