Afghanistan rebuild army

President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during the international conference on Afghanistan on Tuesday in Kabul. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki is at left in the second row and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi is at right.

U.S. says,Oil leak OK But BP must monitor for leaks for 24 hours

The cap was used to bottle up the oil last week, engineers have been watching underwater cameras and monitoring pressure and seismic readings to see whether the well would hold or spring a new leak.Oil and gas started leaking late Sunday, but "we do not believe it is consequential at this time," said retired Coast Guard Adm.At an afternoon briefing in Washington, Allen said BP could keep the cap closed at least another 24 hours so long as the company remains alert for leaks.

Obama Blasts GOP For Holding Unemployed

President Obama urged Republican senators to set aside partisanship and vote for a package that would provide relief to 2.5-million out-of-work Americans.

Scientists battle, people die

BP Says Oil Has Stopped Leaking

BP has started testing the new cap on the leaking well in the Gulf of Mexico. Also, in Washington, the EPA is discussing the use of chemicals to break up the spilling oil.In latest update, BP said the well cap continues to hold more than 15 hours after being sealed. But the ruptured well isn't dead yet, prompting a cautious tone from President Barack Obama in his remarks on the spill.

Shahram Amiri's return to Iran

An Iranian scientist who defected to the U.S. returned home amid an escalating propaganda war between Tehran and Washington but without $5 million that a U.S. official says he had been paid for "significant" information about his country's nuclear programs.

Apple to address iPhone

Since its release June 24, Apple's iPhone 4 has been dogged by reports of reception problems, yet demand for the smartphone has outstripped Apple's ability to keep it in stores.The Cupertino, Calif., company has called a news conference at its headquarters to discuss the issue Friday. Apple doesn't plan to recall the phone, a person familiar with the matter said.