Spurred by Japan, California mulls quake alert system
California has long been braced for the Big One, but now a proposed new early warning system seeks to give the US state's residents vital extra seconds before a major earthquake hits.
US Senate confirms Kerry as next secretary of state
The US Senate on Tuesday confirmed Senator John Kerry will be the next secretary of state, approving President Barack Obama's pick to replace Hillary Clinton as America's top diplomat.
Tech entrepreneur Musk offers to help Boeing
Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, founder of the electric carmaker Tesla and aeronautics firm SpaceX, has offered to help Boeing fix apparent problems with the batteries in its grounded 787 Dreamliner.
US police probe Chris Brown fight with rapper Ocean
Los Angeles police are investigating a fight between singer Chris Brown -- still on probation for beating girlfriend Rihanna in 2009 -- and rapper Frank Ocean.
Clinton says goodbye in global TV interview
Despite being grounded on doctor's orders after a bout of ill health, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Tuesday took a virtual round-the-world trip to say a final farewell.
Obama to harness immigration reform momentum
President Barack Obama heads to Las Vegas Tuesday to begin to mobilize the US public behind a comprehensive immigration reform drive that could provide a glittering second-term legacy achievement.
International donor conference for war-torn Mali opens
An international donor conference to drum up funds and troops to help the military operation against Islamist militants in Mali opened on Tuesday at the African Union headquarters in Ethiopia's capital.
Yahoo! shares bounce as profit tops expectations
Yahoo! shares bounced in after-hours trading Monday as the struggling Internet pioneer topped Wall Street expectations despite a slip in quarterly profit.
Cities affect weather thousands of kilometres away
Heat from large cities alters local streams of high-altitude winds, potentially affecting weather in locations thousands of kilometres (miles) away.
'Argo' wins top SAG award, in latest pre-Oscar boost
Iran hostage crisis drama "Argo" won the best film drama prize at the Screen Actors Guild awards Sunday, in yet another boost for its prospects at next month's all-important Oscars.
Clinton says can't predict her future, as 2016 looms
With only days left until she steps down as America's top diplomat, Hillary Clinton left the door open Sunday to a possible future run in the 2016 presidential elections.
Gritty drama 'Fruitvale' wins top Sundance prize
"Fruitvale," about a young black man shot by police in a gritty California neighborhood, won the top prize Saturday at the Sundance Film Festival, America's premier independent movie showcase.
Recycling entrepreneur stubs out cigarette garbage
Recycling entrepreneur Tom Szaky is stubbing out the world's cigarette problem -- one butt at a time.
Thousands march in Washington for gun control
Thousands of people marched in Washington on Saturday to demand stronger gun control legislation, in a solemn rally six weeks after the shock massacre of young children at a Connecticut school.
Apple loses world's most valuable company crown
Apple shares extended their losses Friday, ending a miserable week for the California tech giant as it surrendered its position as the world's biggest company based on market value.
New mutations may show how cancers grow: study
Scientists have discovered two new genetic mutations that occur together in 71 percent of malignant melanoma tumors, an aggressive and deadly cancer of the skin.
Hacker group Anonymous downs US government site
Hacker group Anonymous said it disabled the US Sentencing Commission's website Saturday in revenge for the death of Internet freedom advocate Aaron Swartz, and vowed to release government data.
'Django Unchained' dolls banned by eBay as 'offensive'
Online auction giant eBay has banned the sale of dolls linked to Quentin Tarantino's blood-soaked western about a freed slave "Django Unchained," describing them as "offensive".
US court throws out award in Bratz doll row
A US appeals court on Thursday threw out a multi-million dollar award against toy maker Mattel in a long-running dispute with rival MGA Entertainment over Bratz children's dolls.
J.J. Abrams to direct new 'Star Wars' film: report
Sci-fi and action filmmaker J.J. Abrams has been tapped to direct a seventh "Star Wars" movie expected to be released by Disney in 2015.