Major carmakers agree new fuel efficiency standards proposed by the Obama administration in an effort to end the dominance of gas guzzlers.

The US House of Representatives passes a Republican bill proposed by Speaker John Boehner to increase the nation's debt ceiling and cut the budget deficit.

Naval forces from the US and Honduras recover 2.5 tonnes of cocaine from a semi-submersible craft intercepted off the Honduran coast.

Former Germany manager Jurgen Klinsmann is named as the new head coach of the United States national team following the sacking of Bob Bradley.

Police in northern California tear up 460,000 plants and make more than 100 arrests in a major operation against illegal marijuana cultivation.

Former Peruvian army officer Ollanta Humala is sworn in as president, vowing to tackle poverty and social exclusion in the country.

The left-wing Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, says he is willing to open up his political project to the middle classes and private sector.

The Libyan regime taunts the UK over the death of rebel military commander Gen Abdel Fattah Younes.