US conservative activists have picked Tea Party favorite Senator Rand Paul as their choice to become the 2016 Republican presidential nominee as they wrapped up a major strategy gathering outside Washington.

Thousands of emotional supporters waited and wept after making a pilgrimage to the new tomb of former president Hugo Chavez, the face and leader of Latin America's left for over a decade.

The World Baseball Classic was thrown a curve ball earlier this week when Puerto Rico shocked the star-studded United States team 4-3, dashing the Americans' hope of reaching the semi-finals.

Jrue Holiday scored 27 points and added 12 assists while center Spencer Hawes had a rare starring role as the Philadelphia 76ers beat Indiana 98-91 in an NBA game.

The 27th edition of South by Southwest (SXSW) inched closer to its finale Saturday with a flock of big-name pop stars descending on the Texas state capital's pulsating beer-and-barbecue fest.

Syria's Omar Souleyman arrived literally at the 11th hour at South by Southwest (SXSW) for a benefit concert in the wee hours of Saturday for victims of the conflict in his homeland.

Former US vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin took center stage to speak before conservative activists Saturday, needling President Barack Obama and even fellow Republicans.

The surprise kingmaker in Israel's new governing coalition Yair Lapid is a former television star and political novice who will need all of his charisma as he takes the helm at the finance ministry.

Carlos Santana smacked a home run in the fifth inning and the Dominican Republic remained undefeated in the World Baseball Classic with a 2-0 victory over Puerto Rico in a seeding game on Saturday.

During Baghdad's darkest days, often the only light at night was that of gunfire and mortar rounds. But the Iraqi capital now looks a world apart, with packed restaurants, parks and even the odd nightclub.

Former Smiths frontman Morrissey has cancelled the rest of his US tour due to a string of medical problems, his publicist said on Saturday.

The Church of Scientology has lashed out at a new book by its leader's niece, which recounts a stolen childhood and how she was brainwashed and cut off from her family before eventually escaping.

Sri Lanka denied entry to a British tourist sporting a Buddha tattoo on his arm because he showed disrespect to Buddhism, a newspaper report said Saturday.

Grammy-winning rapper Lil Wayne tweeted Friday that he was "good," as record company executives dismissed a report that the singer had been in critical condition after a string of seizures.

Unrest in northern Mali has left Liya Ag Ablil living in exile for years, but as he takes his Saharan desert blues to the wider world, he looks forward to peace back home.

Record executives dismissed Friday a report that Grammy-winning rapper Lil Wayne was in critical condition in hospital after a string of seizures.

Grammy-winning hip hop star Lil Wayne was in critical condition after being re-admitted to hospital after a further bout of seizures, the TMZ celebrity news website reported.

A US judge cleared the way for a Filipina former nanny of Sharon Stone to go to trial against the US actress for wrongful dismissal and harassment, including racist abuse.

Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo was so excited at his side drawing Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals on Friday that he proposed to his girlfriend, live on television.

Two brothers from Australia pulled big crowds at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival with a novel app that lets anyone create a song just by crooning into a smartphone.