A Portland massage therapist accused former US Vice President Al Gore of "unwanted sexual contact" at a hotel during an October 2006 visit, but no charges were filed due to lack of evidence, law officials said yesterday.

The atmosphere both inside and outside the UN climate conference has become more tense after talks were suspended for most of yesterday's session, and police detained up to 200 protesters on Copenhagen's streets.

THIS decade is on track to become the warmest since records began in 1850, and 2009 could rank among the top-five warmest years, the UN weather agency reported yesterday on the second day of a pivotal 192-nation climate conference.

President Barack Obama today won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize for “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.”

UN chief Ban Ki-moon told a meeting of some 150 governments today that time is running out for a new climate deal to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Two American journalists freed from a North Korean labour camp were heading home today with their families “counting the seconds” until they met.

North Korea might release two convicted American journalists if the US offers a gesture such as an official apology, a US-based scholar who visited Pyongyang said in interviews released today.

North Korea has convicted two US journalists and sentenced them to 12 years in a labour camp.

US Democrat Barack Obama quickly took off the gloves and was again battering John McCain as little different from President George Bush as the race for the White House intensified.

Former Vice President Al Gore called for a “man on the moon” effort to switch all of the United States’ electricity production to wind, solar and other carbon-free sources within 10 years.

Former US Vice President Al Gore and U2 frontman Bono offered measured praise today for efforts in tackling climate change and global poverty, but warned that conditions were not improving as much as they could.

Any agreement hammered out by a massive United Nations climate change conference starting in Indonesia this week would not make sense without the participation of the US, the world’s top emitter of greenhouse gases, the UN’s climate chief said today.

US Senator Barack Obama has the aura of a rock star, according to George Clooney, who also had nice words for the other Democratic Party presidential candidates.

Pop queen Madonna got 70,000 people on their feet demanding action on climate change in a stunning finale to the London leg of Live Earth last night.

The Live Earth global concert series kicked off today with a Aboriginal Australian group dancing and singing a traditional welcome at the first venue in Sydney.

Former US Vice President Al Gore has hit back at Bob Geldof's criticisms of his forthcoming Live 8 concerts, insisting the super gigs will be a "wake-up call for the world".

Former US Vice President Al Gore warned that the drive to produce alternative fuels to combat global warming must not create new forms of environmental damage.

Argentina’s government is hopping on the biofuels bandwagon by offering tax incentives for new initiatives and saying five % of the nation’s fuel supply must be biodiesel- or ethanol-based in three years.

Former Pink Floyd star Roger Waters has dismissed speculation the rock supergroup will reform for former US Vice President Al Gore's upcoming Live Earth concert, insisting his ex-bandmates are not interested.

Former US Vice President Al Gore has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his climate campaign.

Justin Timberlake had to adopt an "in-your-face" attitude when releasing his song SexyBack in order to make it convincing.

Where are Eminem and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog when you need them?

Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Garner and Kirsten Dunst are reportedly locked in battle to star in the film adaptation of a novel written by former US Vice President Al Gore's daughter Kristin.

PRIVATE conversations with US President George W Bush secretly taped by an old friend before he was elected president appear to reveal that he acknowledged using marijuana.

Private conversations with George W. Bush secretly taped by an old friend before he was elected president show some of his political strategies and appear to reveal that he acknowledged using marijuana, The New York Times reported yesterday.

Eight Democratic presidential contenders have strongly disputed that Howard Dean is the party’s best chance for beating President George Bush, or that former Vice President Al Gore’s endorsement of the front-runner will seal the nomination.

US Senator John Edwards of North Carolina, a first-term Democrat, said yesterday he plans to run for the White House in 2004.

BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday sought to rally support for possible military action against Iraq, urging a recalled House of Commons not to shirk from doing what was “necessary and right”.

President George Bush prodded Congress today to “act now” and give him the go-ahead to confront the threat from Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

POLITICAL novice Bill McBride has pulled off a huge upset in beating former US Attorney General, Janet Reno, in a Florida Democratic primary marred

US President George W. Bush wants to persuade Russia to forge a new partnership between the former Cold War foes and abandon a three-decade-old ban on national missile defences.

Palm Beach County commissioners in Florida have approved spending up to $16m (£11m) to replace punch-card voting machines with ‘‘touch-screen’’ voting on ATM-like computer monitors.

Random House is suing an online publisher for selling electronic versions of novels it owns in paperback format.

Former US Vice President Al Gore is to teach at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, which administers the Pulitzer Prize.

Civil rights groups are to meet in Washington to discuss the alleged denial of blacks' voting rights during the US presidential election.