The Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles agrees to pay out nearly $10m (£6.7m) to settle four clergy sex abuse cases.

Guardian columnist George Monbiot is to carry out three years of charity work to settle a libel action brought by Conservative peer Lord McAlpine.

Internet search giant Google is paying nearly $15m (£10.1m) in bonuses to four of its top executives for their performances last year.

More than half of UK consumers have changed their shopping habits as a result of the horsemeat scandal, a survey by consumer group Which? suggests.

A study of Neanderthal skulls suggests that they became extinct because they had larger eyes than our species.

Giving up smoking reduces the risk of heart disease even if it results in significant weight gain, a US study finds.

The man leading a review of patient safety in the NHS says he wants to turn the anger over the Stafford hospital scandal into action.

Euro MPs set conditions for a deal on the EU's multi-year budget, amid tensions with austerity-minded governments.