Diamond fetches record US$30M

A 118.28-carat white diamond has broken a world record, fetching more than US$30 million at a Hong Kong auction.

• Deal lifts markets but does little for US economy

  The temporary nature of the new deal means a cloud will remain over a sluggish US economy that was further slowed by the government's partial shutdown.

• Australian, 3 Tibetans die on Mount Everest

  An Australian tourist and three Tibetans have died in an avalanche on Mount Everest, state media report.

• Typhoon, mudslides kill 17 in Japan; 50 missing

  A typhoon caused deadly mudslides that buried people and destroyed homes on a Japanese island today.

• Deal reached to end US shutdown

  Democratic leader Harry Reid says Senate leaders have reached a bipartisan deal to avoid default and end the US government shutdown.

• Transcript: Jimmy Savile denied sex abuse claims

  British police have released a transcript of an interview with Jimmy Savile in which he denied allegations of sexual abuse.

• Fitch puts US credit rating on negative watch

  The Fitch credit rating agency has warned that it is reviewing the US government's AAA credit rating for a possible downgrade.

• UK police inundated with McCann-related calls

  British police say they've received 1000 calls following the broadcast of a reconstruction of the day Madeleine McCann went missing.

• Two arrested in bullying suicide case

  After a 12-year-old in Florida committed suicide last month, one of her tormenters continued to brag about the bullying, police say.

• Roo's trip to Melbourne Airport chemist

  A chemist at Melbourne Airport has had an unusual customer today, after a kangaroo hopped its way into the shop.

• Shutdown talks collapse as deadline looms

  With time growing desperately short, House Republican efforts to end the US government shutdown collapsed Tuesday night.

• Panda at Edinburgh Zoo no longer pregnant

  Disappointed officials at Edinburgh Zoo say giant panda Tian Tian, who was thought to be pregnant, apparently has suffered a miscarriage.

• White House rejects latest Republican proposal

  The White House has rejected a fiscal plan from Republicans in the House of Representatives to raise the debt ceiling.

• UK goes shopping in China for business

  Although China's economy is now growing at more modest 7 to 8 percent a year, it is still vitally important to Europe.

• Indians return home to cyclone damage

  Hundreds of thousands of people who fled a cyclone in India have returned home to scenes of devastation.

• UK police charge man with knife outside palace

  A man with a knife is facing charges after he tried to dart through a gate at Buckingham Palace.

• McCann suspect seen 'carrying child toward beach'

  British detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann say a man featured in two e-fit images was seen carrying a child towards the beach on the night she disappeared.

• UK councils fight luxury basement extensions

  Homeowners in some of London's most affluent neighbourhoods are adding value to their properties by digging down, but now the local councils are fighting back.

• Elderly woman's house infested with bees

  A 98-year-old woman has had thousands of bees removed from her house in Florida.

• Hopes renewed in Madeleine McCann case

  Scotland Yard's investigation has "significantly changed the timeline" and accepted version of events of the night Madeleine McCann vanished.

• US Army developing real-life Iron Man suit

  If you've ever watched an Iron Man film you've probably thought to yourself, "I wonder if this is actually possible?"