Americas

By Agencies

Unrelenting rains and severe weather have lashed Guatemala, leaving at least 21 people dead over the past 24 hours, in what the country's president calls a "national tragedy".

Read more: Guatemala hit by severe weather

By Agencies

Engineers in Chile have assembled a faster drilling machine for the operation to rescue 33 miners trapped underground since August 5.

Read more: Chile mine rescue effort bolstered

By Agencies

Fidel Castro has warned against the dangers of nuclear war in his first public speech since undergoing surgery in 2006.

Read more: Fidel Castro warns of 'nuclear war'

By Agencies

At least 25 people have been killed in clashes between soldiers and suspected drug gang members near the northern Mexican city of Monterrey, local media have reported.

Read more: Dozens killed in Mexico shootout

By Agencies

An oil and gas platform in the US Gulf of Mexico has exploded, setting off a blaze and a small oil spill.Workers were forced to dive into the sea as fire engulfed the platform off the coast of Louisiana on Thursday.

Read more: Oil platform explodes off US coast