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Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday accepted the resignation of an Irish bishop accused of mishandling allegations of sexual abuse by priests...

Pope accepts Irish Bishops resignation

Vatican City: Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday accepted the resignation of an Irish bishop accused of mishandling allegations of sexual abuse by priests,adding to the fallout of a scandal that has rocked the Catholic Church in Ireland and throughout Europe. Bishop John Magee,who served as private secretary to three popes,stepped down earlier this month as head of the diocese of Cloyne,in southern Ireland,following allegations that he had not disciplined priests known to have abused children. As I depart,I want to offer once again my sincere apologies to any person who has been abused by any priest of the Diocese of Cloyne during my time as bishop or at any time, Bishop Magee said in a statement on Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia arrests 113 al-Qaeda suspects

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday it has foiled several planned attacks on oil installations with the arrests of 113 suspected al-Qaeda militants in a months-long sweep. Many of the suspects had come to Saudi Arabia on visas to visit holy sites or by sneaking across its borders,but wanted to join and organise attacks with Qaeda,the Interior Ministry said. The ministry statement said the arrests were carried out over a period of five months. Those detained included 47 Saudis,51 Yemenis,a Somali,an Eritrean and a Bangladeshi.

US man held in North Korea rallied against Pyongyang

Seoul: North Korea announced on Monday that Aijalon Mahli Gomes,30,the man from Boston who was detained in North Korea,would stand trial after entering the country illegally. The trial date was not mentioned in a brief report in state media. Activists in Seoul said he was an acquaintance of Robert Park,a fellow Christian from Arizona who crossed into North Korea on Christmas in a bold bid to draw attention to the countrys human rights situation.

Months after conviction,Samsung boss is back

Seoul: Lee Kun-hee,a tycoon convicted of corruption last August but pardoned by President Lee Myung-bak four months later to help South Korea campaign for the 2018 Winter Olympics,returned to the helm of Samsung Electronics on Wednesday. He was the latest and most prominent in a series of ex-convicts who have retained top management of major conglomerates here.

Rajapaksa is jealous of me,says Fonseka

Colombo: Sri Lankas former Army Chief Sarath Fonseka,facing court martial under detention,says he has been set up and feels his life is at risk. Saying that the charges against him were bogus,the 59-year-old Fonseka claimed that he was being held illegally as the President Mahinda Rajapaksa was jealous of him. He is jealous of me as I got more votes than him although he rigged,he knows that I can challenge him, Fonseka said in an interview to the Channel 4.