World News: Bieber scoops music awards

The 16-year-old heart-throb captured every category in which he was nominated, including favourite artist. He beat a list which featured Eminem, Usher, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga.

Ireland agrees EU rescue deal

THE Republic of Ireland and the European Union have agreed a financial rescue package, Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen has confirmed.

The Taoiseach said the amount and terms would be negotiated in the coming days with the EU and the International Monetary Fund.

Irish Finance Minister Brian Lenihan said the amount would be less than e100 billion (85bn).

The UK and Sweden have also offered direct loans to help with the crisis.

Plane returns after problem

A PLANE heading for Los Angeles was forced to return to Atlanta because of an air duct problem.

Delta Air Lines spokeswoman Kristin Baur said Flight 125 had to turn back about an hour and a half after taking off from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

Boy arrested for peace protest

AN American boy campaigning to turn the demilitarised zone between North and South Korea into a peace park was taken away by Chinese police after staging a protest near Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

Jonathan Lee, 13, unfurled a sign saying "Peace treaty" and "Nuclear-free DMZ children's peace forest".

Rescuers admit trapped NZ miners may be dead

POLICE and mine rescue crews in New Zealand have acknowledged for the first time that the 29 miners trapped underground since an explosion on Friday may not have survived.

Superintendent Gary Knowles said today that rescuers were keeping an open mind.

However, he added: "We are planning for all outcomes and, as part of this process, we're planning for the possible loss of life as a result of what's occurred underground."

Toxic gases have prevented rescuers from entering the mine, near Atarau on South Island, and there has been no contact with the missing men.

Meanwhile, the family and friends of two Scottish miners missing in the explosion spoke of their fears as they wait for the rescue mission to begin today.

Pete Rodger, 40, from Perthshire, and Malcolm Campbell, 25, from St Andrews, are among the 29 missing.

Mr Campbell's father, Malcolm senior, 50, and mother Jane, 45, said: "We can't concentrate on anything, we can't sleep because it's difficult.

"Only last month we were watching the Chilean miners being rescued."I remember saying to my wife how awful it would be if it happened to Malcolm and now it has."

Taliban chief killed in joint Nato attack

Afghanistan: A Taliban leader has been killed in eastern Afghanistan, Nato said today, part of the campaign to capture and kill mid-level insurgent leaders and disrupt their supply lines.

A joint Afghan and Nato force was said to have killed Fared Gul in Paktia province.

Japan: Justice minister Minoru Yanagida is to resign to take full responsibility for recent comments seen as deriding his duty to respond to questioning in the parliament.