Americas
Grisly well find linked to 'Speed Freak Killers'
In a macabre series of discoveries, 300 human bone fragments are dug up in an abandoned US well, the fourth consecutive day of finding possible victims of two serial killers.
17 to hospital after hotel chemical spill
A hazardous materials spill at a California hotel sent more than a dozen workers to the hospital and led to the evacuation of about 200 guests.
Birth induced so dying dad could hold daughter
Diane Aulger had her labour induced so her husband could see their daughter before he died.
5.5 quake strikes northern California
A moderate earthquake has struck northern California in the US.
Murder trial over 2003 honeymoon diving death
Eight years after Tina Watson died on a dive during her Australian honeymoon, her husband has gone on trial in the US for her murder.
Obama's election-year budget to target rich
Barack Obama will propose a budget that raises taxes on millionaires and seeks billions of dollars to create jobs.
Santorum takes aim at Romney
A day after Mitt Romney regained some momentum in the Republican presidential contest, his rival Rick Santorum went on the attack.
The different states of America
Blog: Two basketball teams - Los Angeles' Lakers and Boston's Celtics - symbolise the vast differences between their two cities.
Pilot attacked on Brazilian airliner
A Brazilian airliner made a forced landing after a passenger reportedly attacked a pilot and crew members.
Uzbek admits plot to kill Obama
A man from Uzbekistan has pleaded guilty to plotting to kill US President Barack Obama.
Obama tries to defuse birth control fight
US President Barack Obama has backed down on a policy that would have required religious organisations to provide birth control to employees.
TV host recovering from dog bite during broadcast
A television anchor who was bitten in the face by an 38.5-kilogram Argentine Mastiff during a live broadcast has been released from a hospital.
13.6 tons of pure methamphetamine seized
Mexican troops have made a historic seizure of 15 tons of pure methamphetamine in the western state of Jalisco, an amount equivalent to half of all meth seizures worldwide in 2009.
US Marines posed with Nazi symbol
US Marine Corps are again in damage control after a photograph surfaced of a sniper team in Afghanistan posing in front of a flag with a logo resembling that of the notorious Nazi SS.
Drifting family in dramatic Pacific Ocean rescue
A family of three attempting their first voyage across the Pacific in a yacht were left adrift in rough seas hundreds of kilometres from land when their mast broke in high winds.
Cameras capture girl's abduction ordeal
US security cameras capture the moment a stranger tried to abduct a seven-year-old girl.
Briton wanted in 1993 heist nabbed in US
A British armoured car guard suspected of driving off with a fortune worth US$1.5 million back in 1993 has been captured in rural Missouri,
Indians sue beer companies sued for alcohol problems
An American Indian tribe is sueing some of the world's largest beer makers, claiming they knowingly contributed to devastating alcohol-related problems on South Dakota's Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
Argentina slams British 'militarisation'
Argentina's president has accused Britain of "militarising the South Atlantic" and said she would complain to the United Nations, as tension rises ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Falklands war.
27pc of terror suspects rejoin fight - report
Of the 600 terror suspects released from Guantanamo Bay, 27 per cent reengaged in terrorist activities, a US report has found.
Derailed train ploughs into homes, cars
GEORGIA WILKINS - © Fairfax NZ News
A subway train has derailed near a children's playground in Santiago, Chile, smashing parked vehicles and crashing into an apartment building.Thrill killing US teen apologises, gets life
A US teenager who had described the slaying of a young neighbour girl as an "ahmazing" thrill has made an emotional apology to the girl's family.
Rescued dog bites TV host during broadcast
A dog rescued by a firefighter from a freezing pond has been impounded after biting a veteran US television anchor in the face during a live morning broadcast.
Outrage over underwear-clad boy in snow
Parents of four-year-old boy filmed in the snow wearing only underpants accused of cruelty.
Santorum claims momentum with upset wins
Republican US presidential contender Rick Santorum has claimed a surge of momentum and fundraising after his shocking sweep of three nominating contests that dealt a blow to front-runner Mitt Romney.
Rick Santorum wins Missouri primary
Former US senator Rick Santorum has defeated front-runner Mitt Romney in the non-binding Republican US presidential primary in Missouri, one of three states holding presidential nominating contests.
Argentina heads to United Nations over UK action
Argentina's president has accused Britain of "militarising the South Atlantic" as tension rises ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Falklands war.
Moustache film festival to be held in Maine
Move over, Cannes. Maine is to host to its first-ever international moustache film festival.
Woman kills baby with meth-laced milk
A California woman accused of killing her infant son by breastfeeding him after she used methamphetamine has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.
New York goes big to hail NFL champion Giants
JULIAN LINDEN - Reuters
When it comes to going big, few sporting teams in the world rival the New York Giants.No cigar as America's Cuba embargo turns 50
When it started, American teenagers were doing The Twist. The US had yet to put a man into orbit around the Earth. And a first-class postage stamp cost 4 cents.
US court cans gay marriage ban
A US court has declared California's same-sex marriage ban to be unconstitutional, setting the bitterly contested law on track for a Supreme Court showdown.
Deaths of 11 newborns investigated
Venezuelan health authorities are investigating the deaths of 11 newborns within four days at a single public hospital.
Eastwood's Super Bowl ad's political stir
COREY WILLIAMS - AP
People rarely pick a fight with Dirty Harry. But Chrysler's Halftime in America ad featuring quintessential tough guy Clint Eastwood has generated fierce debate about whether it accurately portrays the country's most economically distressed city or amounts to a campaign ad for President Barack Obama and the auto bailouts.Romney campaign takes aim at rival Santorum
Republican presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney has re-focused his campaign's firepower on Rick Santorum to head off the former senator's surge in nominating contests this week.
Colombian ex-militia chief nabbed in Venezuela
One of Colombia's most-wanted former paramilitary commanders with suspected links to the cocaine trade has been captured in neighbouring Venezuela, both nations said on Monday.
US judge asked to rule on orca 'slaves'
A federal judge, for the first time in US history, has heard arguments in a case that could determine whether animals enjoy the same constitutional protection against slavery as human beings.
Parents protest at disgraced US school
Many children stayed home while parents demanded more protection at a US primary school where two teachers are suspected of molesting students in class.
Dad planned horrifying fire for some time
Josh Powell boxed his boys' toys up and took them to a charity and then carried heavy cans of fuel inside his house in readiness for what would be their last visit.
Rocket cargo on ship that rips through bridge
The hulking cargo ship that tore through a US bridge is carrying millions of dollars of rocket components that will be used to blast satellites into space.
Killing 'pretty enjoyable' - US teen
A US teenager who admitted violently killing a young girl wrote in her journal that it was an "ahmazing" experience.
Intern reveals 18-month JFK affair
Former White House intern speaks out about an 18-month affair she had with JFK.
Blast kills husband, sons of missing woman
AP
Days after a judge ruled against him in a child custody hearing, a US man and his two young sons were killed when police said he intentionally blew up a house with all three inside.Gunmen publish Yemen president's photo by force
AP
A state-run Yemeni newspaper's office is being occupied by armed men who have kicked out the paper's staff and installed their own journalists.
Romney chalks up second straight victory
Republican presidential front-runner is announced the winner in Nevada's caucuses.
Sister left to die in chair
A southeastern Indiana woman has been charged after prosecutors say she left her morbidly obese sister alive and decomposing in a chair for three weeks.
Occupy site near White House cleared
Police have removed bedding and most tents at an "Occupy" protest site just blocks from the White House, enforcing a no-camping rule at a square that has housed protesters for months.
Gingrich raps New York's Bloomberg on religion issue
Republican US presidential candidate Newt Gingrich has waded into th edebate over religious groups using New York City schools.
US drops soldier's 'sport killing' case
The US Army has dropped all charges against a soldier accused of killing Afghan civilians for sport.
Army orders court-martial in WikiLeaks case
Wikileaks charges against US Private Bradley Manning have been referred to a court-martial.
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