Americas

Crew members aboard the 'A Whale' in the Gulf of Mexico

Giant skimmer tested by BP to clean up oil spill

A ship described by its owners as the world's largest oil skimmer was tested in the Gulf of Mexico at the weekend – and represents the latest hope for relief workers trying to clean up the mess from BP's Deepwater Horizon oil well, which has now been spewing crude into the ocean for 76 days.

Inside Americas

Venezuela in diplomatic row with Washington  new

Monday, 5 July 2010

Venezuela's top diplomat accused US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of attacking his country for seeking Latin American unity and opposing US influence in international affairs.

Defending champion Joey Chestnut competes in Coney Island yesterday

54 hot dogs in 10 minutes help 'Jaws' chew up competitors

Monday, 5 July 2010

He came, he saw, he very nearly chundered. Joey "Jaws" Chestnut, a 26-year-old Californian with a famously-ferocious appetite, confirmed his standing as the world's greatest professional eater when he won America's most prestigious hot dog eating contest for the fourth consecutive time.

Bulletproof vests for candidates on Mexican poll day after drug hits

Monday, 5 July 2010

A dozen Mexican states held elections yesterday after a campaign marred by assassinations and scandals that displayed the power of drug cartels. The elections for governors, mayors and local posts are the biggest political challenge yet for the government of President Felipe Calderon, who is deploying troops and federal police to wrest back territory from drug-traffickers.

laboratory tests confirmed the cup was made of 11 kg of cocaine mixed with acetone or gasoline

World Cup replica made of cocaine

Monday, 5 July 2010

Fans worldwide have fashioned replicas of the World Cup trophy out of everything from papier-mache to plastic. But a crook in Colombia gets top prize for most original material: cocaine.

Submarine seized in anti-drugs swoop

Sunday, 4 July 2010

The US Drug Enforcement Administration said it helped Ecuador seize a submarine capable of transporting tons of cocaine.

Two Lanse Kod boys wear horns to terrify and carry ropes to symbolise their release from slavery

Sex, death and slaves: Haiti's horror carnival

Sunday, 4 July 2010

Blood and black magic flow through Haiti's history – as Leah Gordon discovered when she visited Jacmel...

Elin Woods signed a pre-nuptial agreement guaranteeing her $20m, but she's expected to get far more

Out of the Woods: Tiger's wife Elin to bag $100m and custody in divorce settlement

Sunday, 4 July 2010

To say that Tiger Woods has grown fond of behaving like a single man is a bit like observing he's pretty decent at golf. Now it may be even more redundant: this morning, for the first time in six years, the headline-prone sportsman is thought to be waking-up as a single man.

Warren Buffett gives away more of his fortune

Sunday, 4 July 2010

Warren Buffett, the world's third richest man, has announced a donation of $1.9bn (£1.25bn) worth of shares to charitable foundations.

An entire year's worth of rain falls on city in only three days

Sunday, 4 July 2010

Monterrey, Mexico, was recovering from Hurricane Alex after flooding destroyed homes, damaged bridges and left six people dead. More than a year's worth of rainfall fell in the space of three days, flooding the normally dry Santa Catarina riverbed near the city.

An artist rendering showing Patricia Mills, left, and Michael Zottoli, who are accused of being illegal spies for Russia

US judge orders three accused Russian spies held

Saturday, 3 July 2010

Two suspects have admitted they are Russian citizens and were living in US under assumed names.

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