Another five insurgents were killed in a firefight in a southern province, said the U.S. military, which has vowed to keep up attacks throughout the winter to keep pressure on insurgents trying to overthrow Afghanistan's pro-Western government.

The fires had blackened more than 54 square kilometres since Thursday in parts of Los Angeles County, Riverside and Orange counties to the east, and Santa Barbara County to the northwest. More than 800 homes and apartments had been destroyed.

The suspension came as U.S.-led coalition troops reported killing 30 insurgents in fighting in southern Afghanistan and detaining two militant leaders — both in provinces near Pakistan's lawless border.

Residents in nearby coastal towns fled their homes in panic, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

Democratic leaders want to use $25-billion of the $700-billion financial industry bailout to help General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler LLC.

Barack Obama is being given ominous advice from leaders on both sides of the Atlantic to brace himself for an early assault from terrorists.General Michael Hayden, director of the CIA, this week acknowledged that there ...

The Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association has been advised to keep their eyes open for anything suspicious, or out of the ordinary related to missing or stolen fertilizer.The FBI informed the IFAC that several lawn ...

US intelligence officials are concerned the current financial crisis could weaken pro-Western governments around the world and diminish the US government's ability to respond to new security threats, The Washington Post reported Saturday.Citing unnamed US ...

Refugees in this crowded camp - where mass graves hold the victims of one of the bloodiest Sudanese government attacks against them - see little hope in a new drive for peace aimed at ending the nearly six-year war in

Iran called on OPEC Saturday to cut production by a further 1 million to 1.5 million barrels per day when it meets in Cairo later this month, state television's Web site reported Saturday.

Paul Rees: Martin Johnson sends a very different side out against Australia this weekend from those he used to captain

Simon Hoggart: With George Osborne presenting the awards it was no happy accident that Mandelson was up for Newcomer of the year

Alexander Chancellor: The whole process of bidding is distasteful - above all the fawning on the IOC

Michael White: No one knows what lies ahead as even news bulletins start to explain how nasty a bout of price deflation might be

Europe steps up attempts to reduce exposure to potential Russian blackmail over energy supplies, unveiling ambitious strategy aimed at weakening Gazprom

Former PM believes US could heal divisions with Europe by taking initiative on Middle East and climate change

Seven-page job questionnaire goes to extraordinary lengths to protect incoming administration from scandal

Former vice-presidential candidate appeals to the party's right wing in a disorganized ten-minute press conference

Josef Fritzl is accused of killing one of the seven children he fathered with the daughter he imprisoned in a cellar for 24 years

Russia's state controlled firm sets sights on Repsol YPF, one of the world's top 10 private oil companies