WASHINGTON — In an atmosphere of high tension, a House panel has opened Congress' first hearing with BP CEO Tony Hayward answering questions about the catastrophic Gulf Coast oil spill.

JERUSALEM – Israel agreed Thursday to ease its three-year-old land blockade of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, hoping to quell international outrage over its deadly raid on a flotilla bound for the Palestinian territory.

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Finally, the World Cup has the injection of drama it needed. Switzerland, land of chocolate and cuckoo clocks, upset Spain, the European champion

WASHINGTON (AP) – Home construction plunged last month and building permits also fell, the latest signs that the construction industry won't fuel the economic recovery.

Fresh from admonishing BP before the world, President Barack Obama now gets his moment with the oil company's leaders.

WASHINGTON (NNPA) - As summer streets await energetic teens in search of wholesome activities, Black lawmakers continue pushing for summer jobs funding. But they face resistance from opponents wary of putting more strain on the nation's already record debt.

DENVER – An American construction worker has been detained in the mountains of Pakistan after authorities there found him carrying a sword, pistol and night-vision goggles on a solo mission to hunt down and kill Osama bin Laden.

HEIDELBERG, South Africa (AP) -- With the World Cup in full swing in South Africa, many rugby-obsessed Afrikaners are embracing soccer like never before.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- National anger rising, President Barack Obama is defending his efforts against the country's worst environmental disaster

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The State Department is quietly forming a small army to protect diplomatic personnel in Iraq after U.S. military forces leave the country at the end of 2011, taking their firepower with them.