The mayor of the Canadian city of Toronto, Rob Ford, denies allegations that he has been caught on video smoking crack cocaine.

Senior US tax officials deny the extra scrutiny given to conservative political groups ahead of the 2012 election was motivated by partisan bias.

President Obama is coming under pressure to intervene in Syria by members of Congress

The talented Mr Ripley, and the meaning of evil

Alleged terrorists on witness protection could board flights because their new names were not updated on the US no-fly list, a watchdog finds.

US singer-songwriter Bob Dylan is made an honorary member of the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Letters.

A US hitchhiker whose descriptions of using a hatchet to stop an attacker became an internet sensation is charged with murder.

X Factor boyband One Direction have announced a 2014 worldwide stadium tour.

Todd McLellan's photographs of disassembled objects

Kentucky woman catches a killer, helped by a BBC reporter

Scientists unlock the secrets of Ice Age beasts

The US condemns recent remarks by Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto justifying Japan's war-time use of sex slaves as "outrageous and offensive".

President Obama calls for beefed-up embassy security and names a new head of the federal tax agency, as he seeks to steady an administration buffeted by recent political storms.

New York officials say they have busted a multi-million dollar cigarette smuggling ring, alleging three of the 16 accused had links to terrorists.

Investigators searching for clues to last month's deadly blast at a Texas fertiliser plant identify three possible causes, including arson.

A US man is convicted of murder on the evidence of his paralysed victim, who identified him by blinking as he lay dying in hospital.

What tsunami debris is washing up in Canada now?

The Boston bombing suspect wrote a message in a boat where he hid, describing victims of the attack as "collateral damage", US media report.

Police in the US city of New Orleans arrest two brothers over the shooting at a Mother's Day parade that injured 20, including two children.

Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield says he could not resist sharing his life in space on social media, in his first public appearance since landing.