A Chinese bank has topped a list of the world's top 1,000 banks for the first time, according to a survey by The Banker news and intelligence service.

Mark Carney officially takes over as head of the UK's central bank, replacing Sir Mervyn King as governor of the Bank of England.

South African athlete Oscar Pistorius resumes "low-key" training, weeks before he is due back in court over the killing of his girlfriend.

Chilean ex-President Michelle Bachelet secures a place in November's presidential election by winning a primary for her left-wing opposition bloc.

New Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd unveils his cabinet, five days after ousting Julia Gillard, as polling shows support for Labor is up.

At least 19 US firefighters are killed battling a wildfire in central Arizona, amid near-record temperatures and high winds.

Nearly 3,000 people are still missing in India's flood-hit Uttarakhand, its chief minister says, and the number of dead may never be known.

France, Greece and Italy are among allies targeted by US spying operations, according to fresh leaks, as the EU demands answers on bugging claims.