USA

It's been a rough few weeks for residents in Southern California. First a massive fire swept through the region, destroying homes and leaving the earth scorched and dry.

Then this week, rivers of mud… Audio

The true crime genre is booming because it offers the unique experience of being simultaneously in the place of the victim, the detective and the accused, says an academic and writer. Audio

One of the more interesting voices in independent video gaming right now is Nina Freeman. Her games favor narratives that often chronicle everyday life and conversations. Nina's been rather prolific… Video, Audio

Over in the States, the New Zealand example is often pointed to as why Californian residents shouldn't be allowed to keep ferrets. There's a passionate community of ferret-lovers in the golden state… Audio

Another bombshell this week for the Trump administration, an explosive new tell-all book which has thrown the White House into a frenzy.

Lawyers for Donald Trump moved to stop publication of the book… Audio

Star Trek and Dr. Seuss - a laughable pairing surely? Well maybe not. In the US a judge is allowing Dr. Seuss Enterprises to proceed with a lawsuit against the tiny ComicMix company. They're behind a… Audio

Music is great. But what if it could be nutritious as well? Simon Morton speaks to Daniel Battaglia, Music Director of the Long Island Vegetable Orchestra, about turning tubers into music makers. Audio, Gallery

An 11,000-year-old skeleton of two children, unearthed in Alaska, is yet another part of the story of where Native Americans come form.

The baby girl's bones have helped clear a few things up thanks… Audio

A former Australian deputy prime minister says the USA is perpetuating a diplomatic insult to his country by failing to appoint an ambassador to Canberra. Audio

The US president Donald Trump has distanced himself from former aid Steve Bannon after Mr Bannon was quoted in a new book describing a meeting between Mr Trump's son and a group of Russians as… Audio

When CRISPR hit the news a few years ago it sounded like magic - now we can turn on and off genes at will  and it was different to traditional GM technology that introduced genes from one species to… Audio

Even A Tree Can Shed Tears: Japanese Folk & Rock 1969-1973 is a compilation put together by archival music specialists Light In The Attic Records. For the keen crate digger, groups with names like… Audio

Writer and journalist Jon Ronson has made a career out of investigating unusual characters. He explores the porn industry in his podcast series The Butterfly Effect. Audio

Californians will be able to have a very chilled out New Year's Day, when recreational marijuana is legalised.

The state voted in favour of the move more than a year ago but it's taken this long for… Audio

New cannabis legislation 'slow progress' - patients; is cannabis law change all it's cracked up to be?; health bosses say Auckland mumps outbreak now an epidemic; moving Auckland Port's vehicle… Audio