A roundup of today's other stories in brief.
Pope to make first trip to US next spring
VATICAN CITY -Pope Benedict will make his first trip to the United States next spring.
The Pope will visit New York and several other cities in the east, Vatican sources said yesterday, adding that the itinerary was still being worked out. - (Guardian service)
Tussle over second Pavarotti will
ROME -Representatives of Luciano Pavarotti's two families were last night squaring up for a tussle after the publication of a second will leaving all of his property in the US to his second wife, Nicoletta Mantovani.
A lawyer representing the three daughters of his first marriage said he wanted an independent verification of the new document which, he said, appeared to be "seriously prejudicial" to their interests. - (Guardian service)
Sarkozy pledge to overhaul pensions
PARIS -President Nicolas Sarkozy vowed yesterday to overhaul France's social security system, but said he would consult unions to stave off mass protests that have sunk previous reforms. Mr Sarkozy said the "special regimes" pensions of some workers should be brought into line with the less generous civil service scheme, with changes thrashed out over the coming months. - (Reuters)
Super typhoon to hit Shanghai
BEIJING -Shanghai and neighbouring regions yesterday evacuated 200,000 people ahead of the landfall of "super typhoon" Wipha, forecast to lash the city this morning with the most powerful winds and rains seen in a decade. - (Guardian service)
Foot-and-mouth on another farm
LONDON -Foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed on another farm in southern England.
Pigs, cattle and sheep were slaughtered as a precaution last night after initial tests on sheep showed signs of the disease. - (PA)