Honduras chief's return scorned
The interim government in Honduras dismisses the brief return of ousted President, Manuel Zelaya, as a stunt.

Obama regrets 'stupid' comments
US President Barack Obama tells reporters he should not have described the arrest of a black Harvard professor as "stupid".

California passes key budget deal
California lawmakers pass a plan to close a huge budget deficit and send the package to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Two toddlers shoot siblings in US
Two young children have been shot by their toddler siblings in the space of 24 hours in the United States, police say.

US car scrappage scheme unveiled
The US unveils its car scrappage scheme, aimed at persuading owners of "gas-guzzling" cars to buy greener ones.

Iraq PM hints at longer US role
Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki hints that US forces could stay in Iraq beyond the current deadline of 2011, during a visit to the US.

US corruption probe nets dozens
More than 40 people including politicians, officials and several rabbis are arrested in a major FBI operation in the US.

Outcry over disowned US rape girl
Offers of help pour in for an eight-year-old Liberian girl disowned by her family in Arizona, after being raped.

Four dead in US helicopter crash
A helicopter crashes on to a highway in the US state of Maryland, killing all four people on board.

Birthday fun for Bolivian boy who set football record
A Bolivian boy celebrates his 13th birthday just days after becoming South America's youngest ever professional footballer.

What am I bid? Nothing! Watergate Hotel fails to sell
An attempted auction of the Watergate Hotel, part of a complex known for a presidential scandal, attracts no bids.

FROM BBC SPORT >>
Jamaican athletes fail drug tests
Five Jamaican athletes have tested positive for a banned substance, the IAAF confirms.

FROM BBC SPORT >>
Windies stars end player boycott
West Indies' star players make themselves available for selection but their pay dispute continues.

UK waste prompts Brazil complaint
Brazil is to lodge a formal complaint over an illegal shipment of 1,400 tonnes of UK toxic waste, its government says.

Senate setback for health reform
The US Senate says it will not be able to vote on healthcare reform by August, in a setback to President Obama's timetable.

Jackson's doctor is probe target
Michael Jackson's personal doctor is the target of a manslaughter investigation into the singer's death, court papers say.

US pessimistic on Iran overtures
The US secretary of state tells the BBC Washington still wants to engage with Iran but political turmoil makes a response unlikely.

Microsoft profits down by a third
Microsoft reports disappointing results for the April to June quarter, with profits down by almost a third.

Black scholar arrest angers Obama
US President Barack Obama says police acted "stupidly" when arresting a black Harvard scholar outside his own home.

Obama defends healthcare reforms
President Barack Obama defends his plans for health reform in a news conference broadcast live in the US.

Israel sees Brazil help with Iran
Visiting Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman says Brazil can play a key role in talks on Iran's nuclear programme.

US Airways and Jet Blue in profit
Airlines US Airways and JetBlue have returned to profit but they said an industry recovery was not likely to come quickly.

Home sales in the US rise again
US home sales rose for the third month in a row, at a quicker rate than expected, an estate agent body says.

One-time gain boosts Ford results
Ford, the only one of the "Big Three" US carmakers not to have gone bankrupt, reports a quarterly profit of $2.3bn (£1.4bn).

Background to Honduran crisis
How splits in Honduras flared into a political crisis

American dream fails to match reality
How the US ranks in the social mobility stakes

US aims for Afghanistan
The US looks to make progress in a troubled country

Uruguay's green plans
A small town in Uruguay is going green

Mapping Yosemite
Tracking some of the world's oldest and tallest trees

Can Obama pass healthcare reform?
Can Obama's healthcare reforms pass?

Nicaragua's revolutionary legacy
As Nicaragua marks 30 years since the Sandinista revolution, people involved assess what the ensuing war achieved.

Race tensions
Professor's arrest highlights US 'racial profiling'

Tough love
Smiling Joe Biden chides Ukraine and Georgia

Healthcare debate
Kevin Connolly on what Americans want from reforms

Risky business
Gaming tycoon sees his $20bn fortune dwindle

Your views
US readers debate President Obama's health reforms

Clinton on Iran
How turmoil in Tehran may affect US relations