Pope Francis calls for power to move away from Vatican

Pope Francis has called for power in the Catholic Church to be devolved away from the Vatican, in the first major work he has written in the role. In the document , he says he is open to suggestions to changes in the power of the papacy. He also warns that rising global economic inequality is bound to explode in conflict. (BBC)

Israeli court orders mother to circumcise her son

An Israeli mother has been ordered by a religious court to circumcise her son against her will or face fines of £90 for every day the procedure remains undone. It was issued by a panel of three rabbis after the one-year-old boy's parents filed for divorce. The father insisted that his son be circumcised, as required under Jewish religious tradition. In their ruling, the rabbis suggested that the mother's refusal was part of a ploy to save her marriage. (Telegraph)

Berlusconi faces expulsion from parliament over tax fraud sentence

Italian center-right leader Silvio Berlusconi faces one of the heaviest blows of his 20-year political career today when the Senate votes on stripping him of his seat in parliament over a conviction for tax fraud. (Reuters)

Belgian senate panel to vote on bill to extend euthanasia to minors

The proposed legislation would make Belgium the first country to remove the age limit for euthanasia – though it would insist parents have a role in their child's decision to die. (Guardian)

Comet Ison edges closer to the surface of the Sun

"The comet of the century" is expected to pass just about 621,000 miles (1 million km) from the Sun's surface on November 28. (Telegraph)