Italy Italy prepared to welcome back freed Italian hostage Giuliana Sgrena but the joy at her release was marred by the death of a secret agent killed when US troops opened fire on the convoy taking her to safety. Iraq The United States sought to provide answers to an angry Italy after the deadly shooting by US troops of a convoy carrying a liberated Italian hostage in Iraq, as four US soldiers were killed in action. China Premier Wen Jiabao admitted China faced "glaring" social problems and pledged more help for the poor to deal with simmering unrest as he forecast economic growth of eight percent this year. Somalia Somalia's exiled leaders have arrived back in Kenya after a week-long trip home, their first since taking the helm of the lawless country's transitional government last year, officials said. Vatican Pope John Paul II spent a peaceful night at Rome's Gemelli hospital overnight and was preparing to take part in his traditional Sunday Angelus blessing from hospital for a second time. HongKong Concerns about the future of Hong Kong's autonomy under Chinese rule grew following reports that Beijing will flout the territory's constitution in appointing a new leader. Lebanon-Syria Embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is poised to announce a major troop redeployment in neighbouring Lebanon, officials said, but it was unclear how far the pullback would go to meet UN demands for a complete withdrawal. US President George W. Bush stepped up calls for a Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon, warning the Damascus government that there could be "no half-hearted measures." US Michael Jackson's lawyer savaged the credibility of his child abuse accuser's sister, forcing her to admit she lied and casting doubt on claims the family was kidnapped.