A lion kills a worker who was in its cage at a private big cat sanctuary near Fresno, California, officials say.

The body of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez lies in state at the Caracas military academy, after huge crowds watch a procession carrying his coffin.

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev denounces recent laws passed in Russia by President Vladimir Putin as an "attack on the rights of citizens".

The first-ever local planning referendum, a key part of the government's localism bill, is being held in Cumbria on Thursday.

Britain is to spend £10m over three years to help Afghanistan exploit its huge natural resources, the prime minister announces.

The Ministry of Defence shows "a worrying lack of financial expertise" forcing it spend money on expensive accountants, a group of MPs says.

Voting begins in the Mid-Ulster by-election to find a replacement for Martin McGuinness who resigned as MP for the constituency at the end of last year.

The UK faces a Supreme Court case over failure to clean up city air in line with EU laws.