Former Brazilian President Lula da Silva has his hair and iconic beard shaved off ahead of his next session of chemotherapy for throat cancer.

Facing more scrutiny amid a poll surge, Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich defends his work for a federal mortgage lender reviled by the right.

US police say they have seized 14 tons of marijuana after finding a major tunnel under the border with Mexico used to smuggle drugs.

Dozens of Kuwaiti protesters briefly occupy parliament, as hundreds more demonstrate outside, demanding that the prime minister step down.

Shares in US banks tumble in late trading on Wall Street after ratings agency Fitch warns over their exposure to the eurozone.

US President Barack Obama tells Australia's parliament he will focus on the Asia-Pacific region as it is key to the future.

Google launches an Android-based online music store challenging Apple's dominance of the sector.

Non-whites make up a majority of Brazil's population for the first time in its history, results of the 2010 census show.