A gas company employee dies as a giant fireball rips through a residential neighbourhood in the US city of Philadelphia.

A Philadelphia doctor performed thousands of illegal late-term abortions and murdered infants after inducing labour, prosecutors charge.

Brazil's central bank raises its key interest rate to 11.25% in a bid to cool inflation in one of the world's fastest growing economies.

A US Air Force sergeant is sentenced to eight years in prison for exposing sex partners to HIV at swinger parties, defying orders to wear a condom.

Fraudsters are targeting climate scientists with online invitations to book accommodation at fake conferences, often supposedly to be held in London.

India's Supreme Court says the practice of illegal funnelling wealth overseas by Indians is a "pure and simple theft of national money".

A hotel made entirely of rubbish - much of it found on European beaches - opens in the Spanish capital, Madrid.

A US astronaut loses his place on the next space shuttle mission next month, after falling off his bicycle.