Scientists record most powerful quasar blast ever
US astronomers have detected the most powerful blast from a quasar ever recorded, offering the first proof of important theories about why the universe is shaped the way it is.
Clinton urges end to support for DR Congo rebels
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday called on all regional African leaders to halt any support for the M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
BP banned from US government contracts
British oil giant BP was temporarily banned from winning new US government contracts Wednesday after agreeing to plead guilty to criminal charges in the deadly 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster.
Pressure mounts on fiscal cliff, Obama urges fix
US President Barack Obama on Wednesday called for a pre-Christmas deal with Republicans to avert a year-end tax and deficit crunch, as pressure mounted from the business world and stock markets fluttered.
White men to head all committees in US House
US House Republicans, ruing a presidential election loss in which it failed to attract enough women and minorities, has picked leaders for the 19 committees in the upcoming Congress, and they are all white males.
WikiLeaks suspect may speak at pre-trial hearing
The US soldier accused of slipping a cache of classified documents to WikiLeaks is expected to take the stand for the first time during a new round of pre-trial hearings that began Tuesday.
Rare photo of Titanic iceberg coming up for auction
A rare original photograph of the iceberg suspected of sinking the Titanic in the icy North Atlantic in 1912 is coming up for auction next month.
Sandy costs top $42 bn in New York state: governor
Superstorm Sandy ran up a super bill of $42 billion across New York state, causing more damage than infamous Hurricane Katrina, Governor Andrew Cuomo said Monday, appealing for federal emergency funds.
Life where you'd least expect it: bacteria survive ice, dark
Researchers have found bacteria thriving beneath ice, in the dark and without oxygen in a lake in Antarctica, pushing the boundaries of what was thought necessary to sustain life on Earth.
US needs rethink of Mideast peace plan: experts
The US administration must radically rethink ways to achieve a sustainable Israeli-Arab peace deal or risk seeing the goal of a two-state solution slip away.
S. Korea sacks Jill Kelley over Petraeus scandal
South Korea said Tuesday it was dismissing Jill Kelley, the Florida socialite at the heart of the scandal that brought down CIA chief David Petraeus, from her post as an "honorary consul".
Jackman welcomes 'Les Miserables' Oscar buzz
The screen adaptation of "Les Miserables" is being talked about as Oscar material and its star Hugh Jackman has welcomed the buzz as recognition of how hard it is to transform a musical to the screen.
Oscars buzz for Bigelow's bin Laden film
Oscar-winning filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow's long-awaited movie about the hunt for and killing of Osama bin Laden is generating Academy Awards buzz, even before its release next month.
Cyber Monday sales sizzling: survey
Online retail sales were jumping for "Cyber Monday," the key Web shopping day following the US Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
US aims to keep 10,000 troops in Afghanistan: report
The administration of President Barack Obama aims to keep around 10,000 US troops in Afghanistan after formal combat operations in that country end in 2014.
Israel reports success in new missile defence test
Israeli and US defence officials have successfully tested the David's Sling missile defence system, completing the first phase of the weapon's development.
US breaks $1bn for first time in online Black Friday shopping
US shoppers spent heavily online on the crucial Black Friday shopping day, for the first time topping a billion dollars in online sales in a single day.
Large explosion reported in Massachusetts city
An explosion thought to have been triggered by a gas leak leveled a bar in downtown Springfield, Massachusetts on Friday, moments after dancers were warned to flee.
Climate talks resume amid warnings of looming calamity
Nearly 200 nations gather in Doha from Monday for a new round of climate talks as a rush of reports warn extreme weather events like superstorm Sandy may become commonplace if mitigation efforts fail.
US actor Larry Hagman dies at 81: family
US actor Larry Hagman, who became famous for his role of J.R. Ewing in the US television show "Dallas," has died at the age of 81 after losing a battle with cancer.