The Herald

Sombre Vigil at Vatican As Pontiff 'Patiently Waits for God to Call Him' Christ has Opened the Door to Pope, Says Vicar General

POPE John Paul II lay on the brink of death early today as the Vatican's health minister said the end of his 26-year papacy was imminent. "I talked to the doctors and they told me there is no more hope, " said Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan.

Hundreds Flock to Childhood Church 'This Is the Will of God, We Just Have to Pray. Everything Is in the Hands of God'

CATHOLICS across the world wept and prayed for Pope John Paul II yesterday as news from the Vatican dominated their thoughts. In Poland, hundreds went to the church where he worshipped as a boy, joining a nationwide tide of emotion as the health of Poland's favourite son worsened.

Solidarity Founder Praises a 'Native Son'

LECH Walesa, the former leader of Poland's Solidarity movement, had praise for Pope John Paul II yesterday for his key role in bringing down communism, and said Poland still needed its beloved native son as it faced a difficult future. "In this era of globalisation, we really need the Holy Father.

Final Hours of an Ailing Pontiff

ITwas a day full of religious significance. John Paul II yesterday asked aides to read him the biblical passage describing the 14 stations of the Way of the Cross, the path that Christ took to his crucifixion and burial. The Pope followed attentively and made the sign of the cross, said Joaquin NavarroValls, the papal spokesman.

Mo Johnston has His Catwalk Kicks at the Copacabana Mcfashion Show Scotland to Wow New York

ITcould only happen in New York. In the nightclub that made Barry Manilow a star and under the gaze of Sir Sean Connery, one of Scotland's most controversial footballers will sashay down a catwalk lined with "Highland hunks" and models in tartan lingerie and red wellies - and he'll only be the warm-up act.

Mugabe Party Wins 'Flawed' Poll

MORE than half of all crimes in Scotland are carried out by those aged under 21, according to a study released yesterday. The Scottish Executive-funded research shed light for the first time on the scale of offending by young people.

Lanarkshire School Begins to Teach the Fine Art of Scottish Hospitality As Pupils Try to Branch Out

BELLSHILL may not immediately spring to mind as the ideal breeding ground for the celebrity chefs of the future. From next year, however, pupils at the town's Cardinal Newman High are to be taught the skills that will allow them to run the restaurants and hotels of the future.

Lectures On Faith Will Focus On Religious Bigotry

RELIGIOUS bigotry will be put under the spotlight tomorrow at a seminar being held at the St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art in Glasgow. Sectarianism in Glasgow is one of a series of free lectures being organised by the city council to explore the faiths and beliefs of people around the world.

Teenage Girls Slower to Take Up Healthy Lifestyle Than Their Male Counterparts

GIRLS are trailing boys in the trend towards healthier lifestyles revealed in the latest survey to look at smoking, drinking, and drug- taking among teenage schoolchildren. The Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey found that all three habits were declining among 13-year- olds and 15-year-olds.

Pope John Paul Ii Scots Pray for the Holy Father Special Masses Are Held

A FEW words on the tiny scrap of paper lying among the burned- out candles expressed the feelings of Scotland's Catholics. A simple prayer, it read: "For the Holy Father, the Pope, get well soon." "Paul M", its author, came in hope, like others who made theirway last night to St Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral in Edinburgh. Some interrupted their shopping while others went straight from offices in the heart of Edinburgh's business community. There were those who came on impulse.

Dalyell's Last Speech to House Will Be a Tribute

TAM Dalyell, father of the House of Commons, is due on Monday to make his last parliamentary speech after 43 years as an MP in a tribute to his old colleague James Callaghan, the former Labour prime minister who died last weekend aged 92. Mr Dalyell, 72, the MP for Linlithgow, is stepping down at the general election, which Tony Blair is expected to announce on Monday. The likelihood is the Commons will be dissolved on Thursday or possibly the following Monday in order to allow some remaining...

Late Delivery Delays Reopening of Square

THE reopening of the revamped historic centre of Scotland's largest city was cancelled last night amid fears for public safety. Glasgow City Council was forced to delay the opening of George Square, which has undergone a pounds-450,000 facelift, after essential equipment failed to turn up on time.

Future of Scottish Military Museums Safe, Says Minister

THE armed forces minister yesterday denied reports that the future of Scottish regimental museums was in doubt. In February, The Herald revealed that the Ministry of Defence was threatening to withdraw funding from regimental museums unless they agreed to pool their exhibits at a single site to cut costs.

Nationalist Newspaper Brands Salmond's Vision As 'Unclear'

ALEX Salmond has been given an unhelpful pre-election kick by the published voice of nationalism. The Scots Independent monthly newspaper has proved its own independent credentials with an editorial warning to the Scottish National Party's leader.

Young Commit Half of Crimes in Scotland Key Policy in Spotlight

YOUNG people commit more than half of all crimes in Scotland, a new report revealed yesterday. The first study assessing the true extent of youth offending north of the border found that more than a million acts of shoplifting and 30,000 violent crimes were carried out by those under the age of 21.

Songwriter Home After Head Injury

Drugs Seized As 10 Arrested in City Raids

MORE than 100 police officers were involved in a major drugs operation in Scotland's biggest city yesterday morning. A number of houses in the Govanhill area of Glasgow were targeted in the operation, which took weeks of planning.

Fears for Eagles After Three Buzzards Poisoned

THREE buzzards and a raven have been found poisoned near the Queen's Balmoral estate on Deeside, raising fears for the long-term future of Scotland's golden eagles. Police and officials with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, alerted by an anonymous telephone call, found the carcasses in remote woodland on the edge of a grouse moor near Crathie, Aberdeenshire.

Bogus Worker Forced to Flee

Breast Screening Service Failing Elderly Mammogram Plan Suffers Due to Shortage of Staff

`THOUSANDS of older women are missing out on breast cancer tests even though the service should have been provided more than a year ago. NHS Grampian, which was attacked for taking too long to treat breast cancer patients last week, has also failed to expand routine testing for the disease across the north east.