A US Army psychiatrist accused of the 2009 Fort Hood shooting says he will argue he shot soldiers as they posed a threat to Taliban leadership.

US President Barack Obama nominates three lawyers to an influential federal appeals court in Washington DC, daring Republicans to defy him.

Mass protests continue in Istanbul's Taksim Square after the deputy prime minister apologises for police response to initial demonstrations.

A prominent US Republican senator tells a hearing "hormone levels" of men in the military allows for the possibility of sexual assault.

Ohio State University's president says he will quit after off-colour remarks about "damn Catholics" and rival colleges' academic ability.

A deadly tornado near Oklahoma City last week was a record-breaking 2.6 miles (4.2 km) wide and packed winds of up to 295mph, weather officials say.

Brazil's Health Ministry removes a controversial health campaign from its website after criticism that it glorified prostitution.

Chrysler is refusing to heed a US government request to recall 2.7 million Jeeps that it says are at risk of fuel tank fires in collisions.