The world's longest domestic cat, a 48.5in (1.23m) Maine Coon named Stewie, of Reno Nevada, dies at the age of eight.

The Vatican official charged with prosecuting sexual crimes acknowledges that the US media helped the Catholic Church confront the abuse scandal.

A German university votes to strip Education Minister Annette Schavan of her doctorate after an investigation into plagiarism allegations.

France says hundreds of Islamist militants have been killed since its offensive began in northern Mali, and suggests troops may start pulling out in March.

Anti-corruption lawyers in Spain will question the former treasurer of the governing Popular Party (PP), Luis Barcenas, over claims of secret payments.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 8.0 strikes off the Solomon Islands in the Pacific, generating a "potentially destructive" tsunami.

China says it will raise its minimum wage as it approves a long-awaited plan targeted at tackling a widening income gap.

The Alabama man who held a 5-year-old hostage in an underground bunker for nearly a week was killed during a firefight with officials, the FBI says.