A Middle Eastern prince has bought a Ł300 million "flying palace".

Saudi Arabia's Saudi Prince al-Waleed bin Talal- has reportedly splashed out on the plane which, when completed in three years time, will be the world's largest private jet.

Pope Benedict XVI continues to attempt to reach the younger Catholics through the launch of the Vatican channel on YouTube. Expected to be viewed are video and audio footage of the pontiff's speeches and news about the Catholic world.

The seat of the Catholic Church has been increasing its use of information technology to spread its message to young people since traditional ways like the pulpit and the Sacraments have been less attractive to Catholic youths.

Atheists have filed a lawsuit before the U.S. District Court in Columbia to prevent president-elect Barack Obama from swearing to God and stop religious figures from saying prayers during the presidential inauguration.

The suit filed by Dan Barker, co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and 28 other atheists and agnostics attending the presidential inauguration on Jan. 20 next year seeks to enjoin Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts Jr., from adding the phrase "So help me God" to the presidential oath of office as well as stop the Presidential Inaugural Committee from sponsoring prayers at the ceremony.

Australian Speaker of the House Harry Jenkins wants to hear from citizens if they are still in favor of the Lord's Prayer being recited before the session of the Parliament.

The result of a public debate called by Jenkins will determine if the Christian prayer, a tradition inherited from Australia's British roots, will continue to be said or be junked in favor of an acknowledgement of the country's aboriginal ancestors.

A religious leader in Pakistan has issued a fatwa or religious opinion condemning President Asif Ali Zardari for flirting with the U.S. Republican vice presidential candidate during a meeting.

The fatwa of cleric Maulana Abdul Ghafar, a prayer leader at radical mosque Lal Masjid in Islamabad, branded as indecent, un-Islamic and unbecoming of a head of state Zardari's gesture to Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) while shaking hands with her at the United Nations headquarters last week.