STRIKER Miroslav Klose scored twice as Germany warmed up for their crunch clash with the Republic of Ireland next month with a 3-0 victory over Sweden at the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen last night.

PAVEL Nedved has announced he will retire from international football following the Czech Republic’s friendly clash with Serbia tonight.

After weeks of refusing to concede election defeat, Italian conservative Premier Silvio Berlusconi was expected to lead a final cabinet meeting today and then resign, clearing the way for formation of a new government by centre-left leader Romano Prodi.

Mourners streamed past the crimson-robed body of John Paul II for a second day today, with thousands waiting in line to say a personal farewell to the pontiff, as the cardinals who will elect his successor prepared for another round of preparatory meetings to arrange for the conclave.

Italian customs officials have discovered the bodies of four male asylum seekers in a shipping container in the port town of Leghorn.