Science fiction writer Larry Niven shrewdly observed: "The dinosaurs became extinct because they didn't have a space programme."

FORT WAYNE, IN - Alexis Espinoza finished a single shy of the cycle and the West Michigan Whitecaps reduced their magic number to one with an 8-3 win over the Fort Wayne TinCaps on Saturday night at Parkview Field.

Aftershocks and winds buffeted Christchurch on Sunday as a clean-up got under way after the country's worst earthquake in 80 years.

Maria Lauro was a 99-weeker -- the slang term for people who have exhausted the 99 weeks of regular and emergency unemployment compensation. Ms. Lauro, 46, of Point Breeze, had been the public relations officer for the Wilkinsburg schools. Her job there wasn't just a paycheck, it had also provided her family's health benefits since her husband is an independent contractor.

WASHINGTON, Sept 5 — President Barack Obama, previewing a big push on the US economy next week, on Saturday defended policies that he said “have stopped the bleeding” and put the middle class on the road to recovery. Obama (picture), struggling to bring down the 9.6 per cent jobless rate, is to spend next week talking up proposals on improving the ...