Americas

Rick Perry criticised for fund-raising gifts

Saturday, 3 September 2011

Rick Perry, suddenly the front-runner in the Republican nomination stakes, last month described Washington as a "seedy place" he didn't care for.

Chile air force plane crashes in sea

Saturday, 3 September 2011

A Chilean air force plane disappeared near the Juan Fernandez islands off Chile's Pacific coast on Friday with 21 people aboard, local media reported.

More and more Americans call long-stay motels home

Saturday, 3 September 2011

In recession-gripped America, society's most vulnerable find themselves living in motels, writes Guy Adams.

WikiLeaks puts all its US cables online, unredacted

Saturday, 3 September 2011

WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange was at the centre of another political storm yesterday after more than 251,000 US diplomatic cables were published in their original form on the internet for anyone to read.

Policeman arrested over casino arson

Saturday, 3 September 2011

Federal police have arrested a state police officer in connection with an arson attack at a casino that killed 52 people in northern Mexico last month.

Professor accused of drug dealing goes on run

Saturday, 3 September 2011

A Californian university professor believed to be the leader of a motorcycle gang has gone on the run after being charged with operating a drug ring.

Pictures of the day: Chile's new pecking order

Saturday, 3 September 2011

More than 100 students have held a kiss-in in the Chilean capital Santiago as part of a peaceful protest demanding education reforms.

Stand-in twin denied prize after miracle hockey shot

Saturday, 3 September 2011

A boy who hit an ice hockey puck into a tiny hole from the rink's centre line 27 metres away has been denied $50,000 prize money, because his identical 11-year-old twin brother bought the ticket that allowed him to take the shot.

Finally, Ground Zero's new shape starts to emerge

Friday, 2 September 2011

David Usborne: After 10 years of wrangling, transformation of World Trade Centre site is gathering pace.

US employment figures raise recession fears

Friday, 2 September 2011

The number of people employed in the world's biggest economy was flat in August, its worst performance since last September.

Argentina hit by powerful earthquake

Friday, 2 September 2011

A magnitude-6.4 earthquake struck north-central Argentina, shaking things up enough to cause evacuations in the capital and be felt in much of the country's population centers. But people living near the epicenter didn't even notice it.

Mexico detains cop in deadly casino arson

Friday, 2 September 2011

Federal police arrested a state police officer in connection with last week's arson fire at a casino that killed 52 people in northern Mexico.

Steven Seagal killed my puppy

Friday, 2 September 2011

Guy Adams: So says Jesus Sanchez Llovera, an Arizona man whose home was raided by armed detectives filming a reality TV programme in which the veteran actor works as a volunteer police officer.

Obama address on jobs leads to scheduling row

Friday, 2 September 2011

The stakes over President Obama's new plan to revive the economy and create jobs grew higher yesterday after a spat between the White House and Republicans over the timing of his speech to set out his proposals – a row that banishes any naive belief in an outbreak of bipartisan sweetness and light when lawmakers return next week.

Drug lord Christopher Coke pleads guilty to racketeering

Friday, 2 September 2011

A Jamaican drug kingpin described by US authorities as one of the world's most dangerous dealers has pleaded guilty to racketeering and assault charges, admitting his leadership in an international criminal organisation.

Court case reveals CIA rendition outsourcing

Friday, 2 September 2011

The network of private American companies involved in the CIA's "extraordinary rendition" of terrorism suspects has been exposed by newly disclosed court documents.

Clinton aide mooted as Haitian PM

Friday, 2 September 2011

A one-time aide to the former US president Bill Clinton is being nominated to be the Haitian Prime Minister.

Wildfire strikes Texas holiday site

Friday, 2 September 2011

A wildfire in a popular Texas holiday spot has destroyed 39 homes, sweeping through the Possum Kingdom Lake area on Tuesday and Wednesday and scorching about 6,200 acres.

Gawker vs Fox News: media battle that divides America

Thursday, 1 September 2011

Guy Adams: Investigation into TV presenter's private life is latest episode in bitter rivalry.

Uncensored WikiLeaks cables posted online

Thursday, 1 September 2011

Uncensored copies of WikiLeaks' massive tome of US State Department cables circulated freely across the Internet, leaving a whole new batch of US sources vulnerable to embarrassment and potential retribution.

Jamaican drug dealer pleads guilty to racketeering

Thursday, 1 September 2011

Christopher Coke is described by US authorities as being among the world's most dangerous drug dealers.

Mexico volcano erupts

Thursday, 1 September 2011

Water, ash and rocks are flowing down the flanks of the Popocatepetl volcano southeast of Mexico City.

Woman, 90, savaged by alligator

Thursday, 1 September 2011

An alligator has attacked and severely injured a 90-year-old woman in south-west Florida.

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Martin Luther King quote makes him look a twit, says Maya Angelou

Thursday, 1 September 2011

Things carved in stone tend to stay that way forever, but that doesn't concern the poet Maya Angelou, who thinks a quotation attributed to Martin Luther King Jr that appears on a newly unveiled memorial in Washington should be changed because it makes him sound like a "twit".

US bosses earn more than their company's tax bill, report claims

Thursday, 1 September 2011

David Usborne: A new study into the accounting machinations of corporate America claims that 25 of the country's largest companies last year paid more to their chief executives than they paid Uncle Sam in taxes.