Regulators have shut down small banks in Florida and Texas, boosting to 18 the number of American bank failures this year, following the 140 closures in 2009 in the worst financial climate in decades.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation took over Marco Community Bank, with a single office on Marco Island, a wealthy barrier island near Naples on Florida's gulf coast. Also seized was single-branch La Coste National Bank of La Coste, Texas.
Mutual of Omaha Bank, a subsidiary of big insurance company Mutual of Omaha, agreed to assume the assets and deposits of Marco Community Bank. (PA)
Kentucky man's Obama 'poem threat'
A Kentucky man has been charged with posting a poem threatening President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama on a white supremacist website.
US Secret Service special agent Stephan Pazenzia said Johnny Spencer, 27, of Louisville, wrote and posted the poem, called The Sniper, on a page called news axon.org, described as an "online community for whites by whites" in August 2007.
Spencer, who is under house arrest, is currently on probation from a state drug conviction and could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the new charges. (PA)
Scientist 'was Anthrax killer'
The FBI sought to close the book on its long, frustrating hunt for the killer behind the 2001 anthrax letters, concluding that a mentally unhinged scientist killed five people.
After years of false leads, no arrests and public criticism, the FBI and US Justice Department said Dr Bruce Ivins, a government researcher, acted alone.
Ivins killed himself in 2008 as prosecutors prepared to indict him for the attacks. He had denied involvement, and his family and some friends continue to insist he was innocent. (PA)
Storms kill 25 on Portuguese island
Violent rainstorms left at least 25 people dead on the Portuguese Atlantic island of Madeira yesterday, Interior Minister Rui Pereira said.
The island's airport was closed and Funchal mayor Miguel Albuquerque advised residents to stay at home.
The overnight strong winds and heavy rain caused flooding and landslides and brought down trees, particularly in the south of Madeira, a resort island located 900 km southwest of the Portuguese mainland.
Local authorities said flooding had partially destroyed bridges and homes, while electricity and phone links had also been cut.
Winds exceeding 100 km/hour, high seas and blocked roads made things more difficult for energency services, though weathermen said the worst was over. (AFP)
Haig dies aged 85
Former US Secretary of State Alexander Haig, who served Republican presidents and ran for the office himself, has died.
The Haig family said he died yesterday at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore from complications associated with an infection. He was 85.
Mr Haig's long and decorated military service launched the Washington career for which he became better known. But he never lived down his televised response to the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.
Hours after the shooting, then-Secretary of State Haig went before the cameras intending, he said later, to reassure Americans that the White House was functioning.
"As of now, I am in control here in the White House, pending the return of the vice-president," Mr Haig said.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Patricia, his children Alexander, Brian and Barbara, eight grandchildren, and his brother, the Rev Francis R. Haig. (PA)
Obama 'loves Vegas'
US president Barack Obama set the record straight after infuriating Nevada officials by using Las Vegas as an example of how people should not spend irresponsibly in tough times - he says he loves the desert-gambling mecca.
During an overnight visit to the city, Mr Obama defended his comments that people saving for college should not blow their cash in Vegas, but told an audience of 650 business and tourism leaders: "That doesn't mean I don't love Vegas."
Mr Obama said his mother-in-law liked to visit Sin City and he outlined programmes he hoped would boost tourism there. Kara Kelley, chief executive officer of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, said his remarks were "appropriate and welcomed". (PA)
Laptop 'spy' probe
The FBI is investigating a Pennsylvania education authority accused of secretly activating webcams inside pupils' homes.
Agents will explore whether Lower Merion School District broke any wiretap or computer-intrusion laws, days after a student filed a lawsuit.
The district said it had remotely activated webcams 42 times in the past 14 months, but only to find missing school-supplied student laptops. It said it never did so to spy on pupils. (PA)