Pope Francis visits John Paul II's tomb

VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis on Tuesday visited the tomb of John Paul II at St Peter's Basilica, exactly eight years after the former pope's death, the Vatican said.

"(...) The Pope knelt for a long time praying in front of Blessed John Paul II in the Chapel of St. Sebastian," it said in a statement, adding he also made brief stops in front of the tombs of John XXII and St. Pius X.

Hugely popular John Paul II led the Catholic Church from 1978 until his death in 2005 and was succeeded by Benedict XVI, who stunned the world in February with his decision to resign aged 85. Pope Francis was then elected on March 13.

AFP

Strong youth support for Sharia in Pakistan

PAKISTAN: More than half of young Pakistanis believe democracy has not been good for their country and nearly 40 percent are in favour of having Islamic Sharia rule, according to a survey published Wednesday.

Pakistan goes to the polls in a historic general election on May 11, but the report by the British Council found deep pessimism about the political system among voters aged 18 to 29.

An overwhelming 96 percent of those surveyed in the "Next Generation Goes to the Ballot Box" report said the country was heading in the wrong direction and almost a third said they would prefer military rule to democracy.

Just 29 percent chose democracy as the best system for Pakistan, a constitutional Islamic republic, with 38 percent favouring Sharia, saying it was the best for giving rights and freedom and promoting tolerance.

A study commissioned for the report estimated there are more than 25 million registered voters aged 18 to 29 in Pakistan, or slightly more than 30 percent of the electorate.

AFP

'Ready for Hillary' website launched

US: "Ready for Hillary" -- the name says it all. Supporters of the former secretary of state are laying the groundwork for a possible 2016 White House bid, officially launching a website Tuesday that features photos of the would-be candidate and plenty of praise.

The site -- www.readyforhillary.com -- belongs to the Ready for Hillary super PAC (political action committee), which aims to raise funds and rally enthusiasm for the former First Lady should she decide to run.

"What makes Hillary, Hillary is strength, toughness (and a) very strong streak of principle. I just have an instinct that the best is yet to come," former British prime minister Tony Blair is quoted as saying. Dubbed "the rock star diplomat," Clinton has said she has no plans to re-enter politics and run in 2016, claiming she wants to rest after two decades in the public spotlight, catch up on reading and spend time with her family.

AFP

Bieber fever affects Norwegian schools

NORWAY: Norwegian schools have moved exams that clashed with Justin Bieber's concerts in the country, fearing some fans would rather cut class than miss out on an evening with the Canadian heart throb. "We find it regrettable, but we preferred to move forward the Norwegian exams to avoid problems," Roar Aasen, the headmaster of an upper secondary school in Aalesund on Norway's west coast, told AFP. In total, five schools in the town -- more than a seven hours' drive from Oslo -- decided not to hold exams on April 16 and 17 since they coincided with two of Bieber's three gigs in the Norwegian capital. The tests, which would have been taken by around 500 pupils, will now be held on April 10 and 11. Bieber, who is 19, sparked chaos in Oslo in May last year when dozens of teenagers chased the singer's car in the hope of following him to a free concert at a location that was only revealed at the last minute.

AFP

Seven dead as bus falls from bridge

BRAZIL: At least seven people were killed and nine injured Tuesday when a bus plunged off a bridge overlooking one of Rio's main access roads, firefighters said. "Rescue teams are on the scene. So far seven deaths have been confirmed," a spokesman said. A Civil Protection statement later said nine people were injured and rushed to area hospitals.

The bus landed on is its roof after falling from a height of 15 meters (45 feet) onto Rio's Avenida Brasil, an AFP photographer reported.

AFP

Malaysian PM dissolves Parliament

MALAYSIA: Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak dissolved parliament Wednesday in preparation for a general election seen as the toughest challenge yet for the ruling coalition after 56 years in power.

"This morning I met the king and asked for his consent to dissolve the Parliament," he said. "This dissolution will pave the way for the 13th general election." The election commission will meet shortly to decide on a date for the poll, which is likely to take place within the next few weeks. Analysts predict the election will be the closest ever amid concerns over corruption, the rising cost of living and crime under the Barisan Nasional coalition, which has ruled Malaysia since independence in 1957.

The 13-member coalition is dominated by the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) currently holds 75 of 222 parliamentary seats and controls four of the country's 13 states.

AFP

Dutch Police red-faced over April Fool's gag

THE NETHERLANDS: Dutch police were forced on Tuesday to explain why one of their number announced that a vital section of motorway would be closed for Britain's "Top Gear" television programme, in what turned out to be an April Fool's joke.

"He acted on his own initiative for April 1," Amsterdam police spokesman Thomas Aling told AFP on Tuesday. "There was a healthy discussion about his behaviour" with his superiors, he said.

The unidentified policeman announced on the police website on Sunday that a stretch of the A2 motorway between Amsterdam and central city Utrecht would be shut off on Monday morning for "Top Gear".

The hugely popular motoring programme allegedly wanted to try to break the speed record on a public road, driving at over 250 miles per hour (400 kilometres per hour). The joke warning was removed from the site "within a few hours", Aling said, insisting that traffic on the motorway had not been affected on Monday morning.

AFP