A mile-long oil sheen spread from an offshore oil platform burning in the Gulf of Mexico today.

More than 130 fisherman stranded for up to four hours on a miles-wide ice floe that broke away from Lake Erie’s shoreline were plucked to safety.

Fidel Castro threw his first punch at President Barack Obama after several weeks of praise for the new leader, demanding the US return Guantanamo Bay military base to Cuba and criticising the US defence of Israel.

Police in New Orleans supported by troops have begun to use force to remove people from their homes in the city.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry said eight British sailors and royal marines, detained for illegally entering Iranian waters, have been released.

Eight British servicemen detained for illegally entering Iran’s territorial waters will be released today, Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said.

Iranian television has shown footage of British royal navy sailors apparently admitting to illegally entering the country’s waters.

US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said tonight military officials plan to hold Taliban and al Qaida detainees at a navy base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.