Texas Governor Rick Perry will join the race to become Republican presidential nominee in 2012, US media say, as rivals prepare for an Iowa debate.

The US military lost contact with an unmanned hypersonic aircraft shortly after it was launched atop a rocket in California, defence officials say.

France, Italy, Spain and Belgium ban short-selling on the shares of banks and other financial companies after market turmoil.

After a day of deadly attacks by left-wing Farc rebels, Colombian security officials meet to hammer out a new strategy to counter the guerrilla offensive.

A Philippine election candidate is declared winner of a Senate seat more than four years after the vote took place.

Police in Guatemala arrest two men suspected of involvement in the 1982 massacre of 268 people during the country's civil conflict.

Protesters clash with riot police in the Chilean capital, Santiago as thousands of students march to demand changes to the education system.

Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is set to hold a second formal meeting with a minister of the army-backed civilian government.