USA: Cooler temperatures help firefighters beat back wildfires
A drop in temperatures and lighter winds enabled firefighters to beat back a California wildfire that has sent thousands of evacuees fleeing from their homes in recent days and destroyed more than 80 residences.
UNITED STATES: Obama thinking of reviving Guantanamo trials
US President Barack Obama is thinking of reopening the military commission for the Guantanamo detainees, according to the Washington Post. The trials involving these prisoners are frozen until May 20.
OIL: Venezuela seizes major US oil project, local company assets
President Hugo Chavez tightened his grip on Venezuela's oil industry during tough economic times, seizing a major project from a U.S. firm and a range of assets from local service companies.
USA: Obama aide quits over New York plane scare
White House official Louis Caldera resigned Friday for failing to notify the relevant officials of an April 27 low-level jet flight over New York. The flyover sparked panicked memories of the 9/11 attacks and prompted several evacuations.
USA: Ex-soldier found guilty of Iraq rape, murders
A US federal jury has found former US private soldier Steven Green guilty of raping a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and then killing her and her family. Green faces a possible death sentence for his crimes. His sentencing hearing begins on Monday.
INFLUENZA A (H1N1): US health officials say cases doubled, due to better detection
US health authorities say the number of confirmed cases of swine flu in the country has almost doubled, to 1,639 in 43 states. They emphasise, however, that the increase does not mean the epidemic is worsening but that detection is improving.
USA: Immigration officials ask Demjanjuk to submit to deportation
US immigration officials have asked former Nazi guard John Demjanjuk (pictured) to submit to deportation in order to face charges at a German court in connection with the wartime murder of thousands of Jews, his son says.
SYRIA: US renews sanctions on Damascus over support for militants
US President Barack Obama has renewed sanctions against Syria based on continuing concerns about the role Damascus plays in supporting regional militants. US officials say, however, that Washington remains open to dialogue.
USA: Obama to address Muslim world in June speech
US President Barack Obama will deliver a speech in Egypt on June 4 aimed at launching a new era of relations and goodwill between the United States and the Muslim world, the White House has announced.
VENEZUELA: Chavez vows to take over oil services rapidly
Just hours after Venezuela's legislature approved a law allowing the nationalization of a group of oil service companies, President Hugo Chavez said the government will immediately start taking control of assets belonging to the companies.
USA: 'Stress tests' show banks need to raise $74.6 bln
Stress tests carried out by the US Treasury on 19 top US banks show that 10 of them need to raise $74.6 billion to build up capital to cushion any additional hard economic knocks.
INFLUENZA A (H1N1): Mexico City rumbles back to life after flu shutdown
Mexico's main cities returned to their usual crowded bustle as restaurants and public places reopened on Wednesday after five days of lockdown aimed at containing the deadly A (H1N1) flu virus. High schools and universities reopen Thursday.
TERRORISM: US chairs three-way summit to address Taliban, al Qaeda
US President Barack Obama chairs a mini-summit meeting in the White House Wednesday with the presidents of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The growing Taliban resurgence and the fight against al Qaeda are expected to top the agenda.
PANAMA: Supermarket mogul wins presidential election
Supermarket mogul Ricardo Martinelli, who ran for president as a pro-business conservative, has officially won the election, the electoral tribunal said Sunday. Martinelli's win marks a departure from a spate of leftist victories in Latin America.
INFLUENZA A (H1N1): US reports second swine flu death
U.S. authorities have announced a second death from the new H1N1 flu virus, while Mexico protested curbs on its citizens and pork products in response to the waning epidemic.
USA: Obama wants to tackle tax havens, outsourcing
President Barack Obama has announced the government's decision to clamp down on tax havens and curb job outsourcing. The measures may lead to savings amounting to $210 billion over the next 10 years.
VENEZUELA: Military helicopter crash kills 18 on Colombian border
A Venezuelan military helicopter crashed while patrolling the Colombian border, killing at least 17 soldiers and one civilian, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced in his weekly television programme "Hello Mr.President".
MEXICO: Notebook: Mexicans unveil the mask
The swine flu crisis has stabilised these past few days in Mexico City. Many people have stopped wearing their masks. The time may have come to evaluate the government's job in its handling of the crisis.
UNITED STATES: Obama thinking of reviving Guantanamo trials
US President Barack Obama is thinking of reopening the military commission for the Guantanamo detainees, according to the Washington Post. The trials involving these prisoners are frozen until May 20.