The Reverend Andrew Greeley, who was an outspoken Roman Catholic priest, best-selling author and newspaper columnist who criticised the hierarchy of his own church over the child sex-abuse scandal, has died aged 85.

While the news that a single ticket in Florida netted around $590 million (£390 million) in the latest Powerball lottery jackpot may be staggering, it is not the only case of large lottery wins, whether in America or the UK.

Boyfriend of Alisa Massaro is reported to have helped her fulfil her fantasy

The 'drugs talk' is supposed to be a mainstay of contemporary parenting, but parents who tell children of their own experience with drugs - even if meant as a warning - risk encouraging more drug-taking in the young, according to a new study.

Sometimes it can take the clear-sightedness of the outsider to fully articulate a situation. Whether François Hollande's socialist government shares such a view – following Maurice Taylor's blunt assessment of France's competitiveness – is open to question, however.

Family welcome the first lady's appearance

Police have recaptured a convicted murderer they freed by mistake at a northern Illinois home where he was found watching TV.

The budget laws that threatened the US with billions in tax hikes weren’t the only ones that were due to come into force in the new year, with some 400 state and local measures ranging from the sensible to (at first glance) the sublimely ridiculous also taking effect on 1 January.

Rachel D'Avino, a behavioural therapist working at Sandy Hook elementary who perished along with 25 other victims shot at the school would have received a marriage proposal on Christmas Eve, a friend has confirmed.

Has the apple fallen far from the tree?

Dick McBride was a poet of the Beat Generation who acted as a literary bridge between the United States and Britain, bringing the writings and spirit of the Beats to this country. In books and in performances of his own works and those of fellow writers, he sought to broaden awareness of the poets who had made such an impact on American writing.

Another great sporting event, and another shrewd piece of marketing by bookmakers Paddy Power, after the infamous "pantsgate" at the European Championships, when Denmark's Nicklas Bendtner showed his rather garish green Paddy Power boxer shorts to the world in celebration after he scored against Portugal. This time, the bookmakers have taken to the skies with a plan to give Team Europe some away support at the Medinah course, and attempt to silence those vociferous, red-blooded Americans.

The ongoing crisis in the eurozone may appear to confirm the direst prognostications of the sceptical fringe; but pro-Europeans need look no further than the Ryder Cup for evidence of where Britain's interests really lie.

Nicolas Colsaerts cleared the first hurdle towards gaining the last automatic spot in Europe's Ryder Cup team by firing a three-under 69 in the Johnnie Walker Championship first round at Gleneagles yesterday.