A major US arts-and-crafts chain agrees to pay a $US3 million federal fine and forfeit thousands of ancient Iraqi artefacts smuggled from the Middle East it says it purchased because of a "passion for the Bible".

US public radio broadcaster NPR faces accusations of spreading propaganda after it marked the Fourth of July holiday by tweeting the Declaration of Independence line for line.

Seventy-eight people are killed and dozens more injured when a truck heavily loaded with goods and passengers crashes in Central African Republic, a health official says.

An overzealous Richie Porte made a big tactical mistake in the decisive final climb of the fifth stage at the Tour de France, according to three-time champ Greg LeMond.

For US President Donald Trump, there are no good options when it comes to dealing with North Korea, but Russia and China appear to be trying to extract a win by reducing US influence in the region, writes Ben Knight.