Thousands of Iowa Republicans cast the first ballots of the 2012 presidential contest today, with front-runner Mitt Romney locked in a tight race with Rick Santorum and Ron Paul.

Karen McCarthy reports from New York on the trail of deceit as US presidential candidates take liberties with the truth.

An airliner was diverted to Fort Smith, Arkansas after four passengers behaved strangely on the flight, including at least three who locked themselves in a lavatory, possibly shaving their body hair.