Vatican The Roman Catholic Church entered a new era after cardinals picked German conservative Joseph Ratzinger to guide its 1.1 billion followers, drawing praise around the world but also criticism from many quarters. Vatican-Germany Stunned Germans erupted in joy at news Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger had been elected pope, sending villagers in his hometown into the streets as Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder spoke of a "great honour" for the country. Vatican-US American Catholics, who have endured years of scandal and isolation from the Vatican, gaved mixed but hopeful reactions to the election of the conservative Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as the new pope. Italy Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government was on the verge of collapse as a key coalition ally blasted his failure to resign before forming a new government, but held back from withdrawing its ministers. Russia-US US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice headed into talks with Russia's leadership after expressing renewed concern over Moscow's commitment to democracy and laying out a full plate of complaints on other issues. US A Senate committee postponed until next month a vote on controversial nominee John Bolton to become the next US ambassador to the United Nations so it could hear new allegations against him. Iraq A suicide bomber killed six people outside an Iraqi army recruitment centre in Baghdad, as insurgents stepped up attacks on targets ranging from would-be recruits to top military officers in their homes. Greece-EU The Greek parliament ratified the European Constitution by 268 votes to 17, making Greece the sixth European Union member to ratify the new code. Belarus-EU-US President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, under pressure from both the United States and the European Union over his authoritarian rule, said on there would be no Western-inspired "revolution" in his country, and that he would stay in power until 2010. Spain-Argentina An Argentine former navy officer was sentenced to 640 years in jail by a Spanish court after being convicted of crimes against humanity committed during his country's "dirty war" against suspected leftist opponents in the 1970s. Sudan Khartoum-backed southern Sudanese militia groups boycotted a key regional conference here aimed at promoting post-war reconciliation between the south's fractious factions.