'Good pope' honored

VATICAN CITY (AP) -- Admirers of John XXIII stood in line for hours in St. Peter's Square Sunday for a close look at his new, see-through coffin, part of a tribute to the "good pope" ordered by the current pontiff, John Paul II, for one of his most beloved predecessors.

The "good pope" was a nickname fellow Italians gave Angelo Roncalli, the son of simple northern farmers who grew up to be a priest, Vatican diplomat, cardinal of Venice and finally pontiff from 1958 to 1963.

He paved the way for innovations such as celebrating Mass in local languages instead of Latin, as well as greater tolerance for Jews and others outside of Catholicism.

Saudi Arabia signs on

JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) -- Saudi Arabia signed agreements with nine international oil companies Sunday, a move that marks the first major foreign investment in its energy sector since nationalizing the industry in 1975.

The deal, worth at least $25 billion, involves the development of three natural gas fields in the kingdom, and a number of related power plants, transmission pipelines and water desalinization projects.

Irving, Texas-based Exxon Mobil Corp., the world's largest publicly traded oil company, is the lead manager on two of the projects, including the $12 billion to $16 billion Ghawar Core Venture 1 project. It also will lead the Red Sea Coast Core Venture 2 project. Royal Dutch/Shell was chosen to lead the Shaybah Core Venture 3 project.

Cuts not planned

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- The Bush administration, in reviewing U.S. military commitments abroad, is assessing the makeup of American forces in Europe but is not planning to reduce their numbers, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Sunday.

In an interview with reporters flying with him to the Turkish capital, Rumsfeld said some have gained the mistaken impression that he might recommend to President Bush that the United States pay more attention to security issues in the Asia-Pacific region at the expense of its deep involvement in Europe.

"Yes, Asia is growing and it is an important part of the world," he said. "Any suggestion that the United States is going to, or ought to, or might, turn away from Europe is fundamentally flawed in logic."

Iraq reassures neighbors

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- As Iraq prepared to shut off its oil exports under the United Nations' oil-for-food program, the country's oil minister on Sunday reassured neighboring nations they would not face shortages because of the move.

Lt. Gen. Amer Mohammed Rashid did not name any countries, but Jordan has been importing Iraqi crude and fuel oil since 1991 under a separate, U.N.-accepted arrangement. And the Iraqi Cabinet chaired by President Saddam Hussein said in a statement that Iraq would continue exporting oil to "countries and parties engaged in trade and economical ties with it."

'Pearl Harbor' shines

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- "Pearl Harbor" edged out the story of a humble ogre to remain No. 1 in weekend box office for the second week.

"Pearl Harbor" took in $30 million. "Shrek" ran a close second with $28.4 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

After 10 days, "Pearl Harbor" has grossed $119.3 million; "Shrek" hit $148.6 million in 17 days.

Bomb kills 10

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) -- A bomb exploded inside a Catholic church during Mass Sunday, killing at least 10 people and wounding 25 others in southwestern Bangladesh, police said.

Nine worshippers died instantly in the Christian Mission Church in Baniarchar village in Gopalganj district, 100 miles southwest of Dhaka. Another died on the way to hospital.