Madonna and her film-maker husband Guy Ritchie have infuriated religious chiefs following their decision to attend a party dressed as a nun and the Pope respectively - at a time when Pope John Paul II is becoming increasingly frail.

ISRAEL'S parliament yesterday swept aside another potential obstacle to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, overwhelmingly rejecting a proposal for holding a national referendum on the pull-out.

Opponents of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s plan for a pullout from the Gaza Strip and part of the West Bank made last-ditch efforts today to rally support for a vote that could halt the withdrawal.

Israeli forces backed by tanks and combat helicopters raided the West Bank town of Jenin today, sparking a gun battle that killed a Palestinian woman in her home.

Israel’s Hapoel Jerusalem basketball team is not happy after its latest loss - to a 15-year-old girl.