Los Angeles arson suspect Harry Burkhart exploded in an expletive-laced anti-American court outburst after his mother was arrested on fraud charges from their native Germany.

An American judge has explained his decision to quash convictions against a Missouri mother for her role in an internet hoax directed at a 13-year-old neighbour who later committed suicide.

AN Arizona man who allegedly demanded more than $1 million not to publish Tom Cruise’s stolen wedding photographs has been arrested, the actor’s lawyer said yesterday.

A man who allegedly demanded more than $1m not to publish Tom Cruise’s stolen wedding photographs has been arrested, the actor’s lawyer said tonight.

A Romanian man has been indicted on charges of hacking into more than 150 US government computers, costing Nasa, the Energy Department and the Navy nearly $1.5m (€1.1m).