Betancourt: will now write play, video shows release

Ingrid Betancourt says she will return to Colombia to write a play being hostage as video shows her release from jungle

Barack Obama seeks God's help to attract more votes

Democrat reaches out to Christian voters with radio ads about how he felt beckoned by God's spirit

California wildfires threaten tourist haven of Big Sur

Wildfires engulfing the state for two weeks could be helped by a heatwave and threaten the coastal town of Big Sur

A-listers clamour to meet hottest couple in town

Just why are models, moguls and pop stars flocking to the fulcrum of Britain’s social scene, Uma Thurman and Arki Busson?

Daring sting freed Colombian hostages

Operation Checkmate, the rescue of Ingrid Betancourt from six years of captivity, was a masterclass in military stealth

Tragedy hits Betancourt’s saviour

Corporal William Perez, a nurse who saved her life in the jungle, emerged from captivity to news of a family tragedy

Mother wanted Reeve’s life support turned off

Christopher Reeve's mother at first asked doctors to turn off his life-support machine after he was crippled in a riding accident

John McCain finds cheerleader

America’s most famous, and feisty businesswoman, Carly Fiorina, is at the forefront of the Republican presidential race

Jesse Helms, right wing US senator, dies 86

The hardline senator of North Carolina, who retired in 2003 after 30 years in the job, has died at the age of 86

America's prostitutes fight the fuel crisis

Charging $100 in pre-paid petrol vouchers is a sign of the times

Grass roots fret as Obama pirouettes on policy

As presidential candidate Barack Obama assuages more conservative electorate, progressives say he may lose their support

Betancourt return soured by claims of payoff

Ingrid Betancourt praised President Sarkozy for saving her from likely death as questions arise over a US-financed ransom

Obama hints at backtrack on Iraq troop withdrawal

Democratic nominee admits he is ready to 'refine' his plan to pull-out all US combat troops within 16 months of taking office

'Pregnant man' gives birth to baby girl

Thomas Beatie, who conceived a child after a sex-change operation, has given birth to a healthy baby girl at a hospital

Chavez and Farc are the big losers

The bloodless operation to free 15 of the Farc’s most prominent hostages has triggered a surge of optimism in Colombia

Betancourt rescue: brilliant or sham?

Reports claim bloodless operation to was sham - but Colombian military furiously denied any ransom was paid to Farc

Betancourt returns as doubts emerge about rescue

Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni welcome freed hostage back to France, as Colombian military fiercely deny ransom was paid

How Colombian military rescued Ingrid Betancourt

The bloodless operation relied on the infiltration of the rebel group Farc at the highest level. Here's how it happened

Spurned model shames 'swinger spouse'

Christie Brinkley tells divorce court she 'felt like I was going to pass out' when told of Peter Cook's affair by father of girl, 19

Artist creates a circle of admirers

Californian artist has etched a giant geometric artwork using garden implements into Black Rock salt plain in Nevada