London, Apr 2 : Italian actress Sophia Loren has called on leaders of the Catholic Church to approve the beatification of late pope John Paul II.

Loren, 74, a devout Roman Catholic, told church officials that the reason behind the move, which would confirm the religious leader''s place in history, is because the late pope, who died in 2005, had meant a lot to her and her fellow followers.

London, Apr. 2 : Meet the Russian golfer whose sex appeal matches her playing skills.

Maria Verchenova has made a huge impression on the Ladies European Tour circuit, but there is much more to her than her skills on the fairway.

When asked which was easier, modelling or golf, The Sun quoted Verchenova as saying: " Are you kidding me? Definitely modelling. You just put some clothes on and pose. If golf was that easy we'd all be 20-under-par every tournament."

London, April 2: Archaeological excavations in the ancient region of Baktria in Afghanistan have revealed a unique marble slab with the image of Alexander the Great and a passage of an inscription.

The slab represents an ancient king on a horse heading Macedonian cavalry and Macedonian phalanx at the background.

London, April 2: Jackie Chan has decided to hop his acting boundaries and take to the microphone for an exclusive one-off concert in Beijing, China.

The ‘Rush Hour’ actor will share the stage with other performers at the Beijing National Stadium for the show next month.

The 54-year-old will put his vocals to test during the gig, entitled Descendants of the Dragon: Jackie Chan and friends, at the 91,000-seat arena.

But the star said he was confident his fans would forgive him should he go off the track.

London, Apr 2: Katy Perry is so determined not to get pregnant that she constantly chews birth control pills.

The singer says that she would love to start a family one-day, but is currently too busy focusing on her career to even contemplate about having kids.

"I love being in love, I love the idea of marriage and making babies - but not yet. Not until I''m 30,” the Sun quoted Perry, as telling Paper magazine.

"I basically chew my birth control tablets - I chew them like vitamin C, I''m like, ''nomnomnomnom,’ ” she added.

London, April 2 : Keira Knightley has starred in a new campaign against domestic abuse to help increase awareness for the Women''s Aid charity.

The two-minute film, directed by Joe Wright, shows the Pirates of the Caribbean star returning home after a day's shoot but only to be beaten by her boyfriend.

The advertisement, entitled `CUT', further depicts the actress getting kicked in the stomach and hit in the face while her hair is pulled later.

It ends with a question asking: ''Isn''t it time someone called cut?''