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Smoke dope and save the state of California, dude

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

It has been touted as a successful treatment for everything from insomnia and depression to Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis. Now supporters of legalised marijuana are making perhaps their most extravagant claim yet: that the drug can solve California's spiralling financial crisis.

'Playboy' wins rights to serialise lost Nabokov novella

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

In a symbolic marriage of high culture and low-brow titillation that recalls its glory days, Playboy is to serialise the final work of the Russian-born American novelist, Vladimir Nabokov, which has stayed hidden for more than 30 years.

Cyber attack targets include White House and the Pentagon

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:41:04 GMT

A powerful internet attack that overwhelmed computers at US and South Korean government agencies for days was even broader than initially realised: targets included the White House, the Pentagon and the New York Stock Exchange and other official websites in the most widespread cyber offensive of recent years.

Massive power outage hits west Los Angeles

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 06:01:21 GMT

A power outage lasting more than two hours caused massive traffic jams across west Los Angeles and trapped at least a dozen people in elevators.

Washington Post sorry after sale of political dinners turns sour

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Newspapers prefer to report the news, not generate it, and few more so than the Washington Post. But the publication which broke the Watergate story, which is in dire financial circumstances, has found itself in the middle of a very uncomfortable scandal entirely of its own making – and all because somebody upstairs had a (batty) brainwave to help mitigate the red ink.

'Post' sorry after sale of political dinners turns sour

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Polanski lawyers take case to US appeals court

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:25:39 GMT

Fugitive film director Roman Polanski has taken his bid to have a decades-old sex case thrown out to the US appeals court.

Pantless driver faces drink-driving charge

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:35:56 GMT

A man who claimed he lost his pants faces drunken driving charges after being stopped by police when naked from the waist down.

Glitz and glamour at Jackson's final show

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:01:56 GMT

They promised a circus, and a circus they got. First, Michael Jackson's gold-plated coffin was taken from a peaceful cemetery in the Hollywood Hills to the chaotic heart of downtown Los Angeles. Then, with all the sadness, sensation, and pantomime excess that defined his topsy-turvy career, the King of Pop's famous story was given a show-business ending.

Glitz and glamour at Jackson's final show

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:01:56 GMT

Jaci Stephen: 'Like snowflakes, every man is different. But an awful lot of them are alike'

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Maybe I got the wrong Staples, but when I went to the Michael Jackson party, I came away with a Hewlett-Packard laser printer.

Jackson's golden coffin takes centre stage

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:19:40 GMT

Michael Jackson took centre stage for one last time tonight in the biggest ever celebrity send-off.

Michael Jackson farewell brings LA to a standstill

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:52:43 GMT

Millions of mourners will bid farewell to Michael Jackson tonight in the biggest celebrity send-off of all time.

LA braced for Michael Jackson's farewell

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:03:03 GMT

The stage is set for Michael Jackson's final act - as Los Angeles was braced for what could be the biggest, most spectacular celebrity send-off of all time.

Police shoot dead Carolina serial killer

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 06:01:20 GMT

The serial killer who terrorised a South Carolina community by shooting dead five people before police killed him was a career criminal paroled just two months ago, authorities said today.

Police shoot dead serial killer

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 06:01:20 GMT

The serial killer who terrorised a South Carolina community by shooting dead five people before police killed him was a career criminal paroled just two months ago, authorities said today.

Vietnam War chief dies

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Former US Defence Secretary Robert McNamara who was vilified for prosecuting the Vietnam War died at home in Washington yesterday aged 93.

Coup leaders lock down Honduras

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Honduras was under lockdown last night as the coup leaders attempted to return the country to a state of order, while the ousted left-wing President Manuel Zelaya continued his efforts to return home.

What's your game, Sarah?

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Sarah Palin, the soon-to-be ex-Governor of Alaska, was rumoured to be fishing with her family yesterday, though firm information on her whereabouts was scant. So too intelligence on the question so many Americans were still waiting to hear answered: what was she thinking on Friday when she denounced quitters while quitting?

Vietnam War defence chief dies aged 93

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:31:26 GMT

Robert S. McNamara, the cerebral secretary of defence who was vilified for prosecuting the Vietnam War, then devoted himself to helping the world's poorest nations, died today. He was 93.

High noon in Honduras as Zelaya kept out

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Violent clashes erupted at the airport in the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa last night, as president Manuel Zelaya staged a dramatic attempt to return to the country, one week after being deposed in a coup.

Rupert Cornwell: Little hope of a new start with Russia

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

The American Vice President, Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton, the Secretary of State, want to press the "reset" button in US relations with Russia, after the tensions of the later Bush years. Alas, President Barack Obama's trip to Moscow is likely to prove how difficult this will be, especially when an authoritarian regime in the Kremlin hankers for Soviet-era "parity" with the US.

Mystery of married football star shot dead with woman

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Police are trying to unravel the relationship between the former NFL quarterback Steve McNair and his friend, a 20-year-old woman, both found shot to death in his downtown condominium.

High noon in Honduras

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

The American Dream? Not for all the pilgrims

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

The American Dream was fading almost before it began, says a study which shows a quarter of all pilgrims gave up on the New World to return to Britain.