Gulf oil platform explodes, burning off La. coast
Earl undergoes change, strong winds extend farther
Feds sue Arizona sheriff in civil rights probe
Gunman shot as Discovery hostages planned escape
Man in Letterman blackmail plot freed from NY jail
Risks remain with Gulf well cap coming off
Chicago police chief criticized for 'gang summit'
Fired aide to ex-Mo. gov runs for gov's dad's seat
Senate upset erases Alaska seniority
Embattled Illinois prisons chief resigns


Gen. Petraeus calls relationship with Karzai sound
Google, Skype targeted in India security crackdown
Book says Nazi hunter Wiesenthal worked for Mossad
China census highlights growing rights awareness
Afghan official: Afghan govt will back Kabul Bank
Bundesbank seeking banker's removal over comments
Togo opposition leader claims police brutality
SAfrica to end amnesty for illegal Zimbabweans
Afghan president says airstrike killed civilians
Sudan's north-south faultline worries about war