HOLLYWOOD actress Angelina Jolie has arrived in Baghdad on a surprise visit as a United Nations goodwill ambassador promoting action to help the two million people displaced by Iraq`s war
IRAN`s ex-president Mohammad Khatami labelled the mass disqualification of reformist candidates for parliamentary elections as a catastrophe which threatens the Islamic revolution
EGYPT`S foreign minister threatened to break the legs of anyone crossing the Rafah border illegally, and the nation would no longer tolerate Palestinians infiltrating the country from the Gaza Strip
PALESTINIAN president Mahmud Abbas offered to help negotiate a ceasefire as Israel pounded Gaza on Thursday, killing seven people days after a suicide bombing claimed by the Strip`s Hamas rulers
DOZENS of tornadoes that sliced across southern US states ripping apart homes and shopping malls, killed at least 52 people and injured hundreds more, officials said today
DEMOCRATIC White House hopeful Hillary Clinton has revealed she loaned her campaign $US5 million ($5.59m) of her own money in January to keep up with rival Barack Obama`s record cash windfall
POP star Madonna has hosted a celebrity-studded event on the lawns of the United Nations to aid Malawi orphans, the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) and - controversially - to inaugurate a new Gucci store
HEATH Ledger`s fatal overdose from a cocktail of powerful drugs has prompted a US government investigation into why doctors prescribed the Australian actor the deadly mix of pills
THE parents of Britney Spears have said they fear her life is now at risk, after she was released from a hospital where she was receiving psychiatric care
QUEENSLAND Roar`s rising star Robbie Kruse rated Sydney FC`s backline "probably the best in the A-League" and he expects to be a target of more foul play in the do-or-die semi-final at Suncorp Stadium tomorrow
QUEENSLAND Roar coach Frank Farina expects captain Craig Moore to be fit for Friday`s elimination A-League semi-final against Sydney FC after making his farewell Socceroos appearance
NEWCASTLE striker Joel Griffiths gives himself a 50-50 chance of playing in Sunday`s A-League major semi-final return leg against Central Coast but coach Gary Van Egmond says he won`t take any chances with his prolific scorer
UN goodwill ambassador Angelina Jolie is in Iraq on a mission to help save people displaced by the war
