Obama seeks to woo nation

On the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s historic "I Have a Dream" speech, Democrat Barack Obama was set to make history Thursday by becoming the first black person to accept a major party's nomination for president.

Audit: China mismanaged $6.7 billion
China's central government misused or mismanaged more than $6.73 billion last year, including using disaster relief money to build government offices , the National Audit Office said .

Woman saves baby's life — by e-mail

It wasn't easy for Madeleine Robb to send an e-mail to another mom telling her that her baby might have a deadly eye cancer — but her warning may have saved the life of 1-year-old Rowan Santos. "I really had no option," Robb said.

Up to 10,000 defy order to end Thai protest

Thousands of demonstrators batons and bamboo sticks, defied a court order to end their occupation of the prime minister's office compound, vowing to remain until the country's leaders resign.

Gustav may raise gas 15 cents a gallon

Oil prices shot above $120 a barrel and then pulled back as traders bet the government would tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve if Tropical Storm Gustav disrupts production.

Japanese women shy from dual mommy role
As Japan's birthrate keeps dropping, experts worry about women's growing willingness to do without children - or childish husbands.

Tourists flee as storm nears Jamaica

Tropical Storm Gustav surged toward renewed hurricane force on Thursday as it started pounding Jamaica, while many miles away New Orleans watched it with a nervous eye.

Russia-U.S. nuclear deal on hold
A key civil nuclear agreement between Russia and the U.S. looks likely to be shelved until next year at the earliest amid mounting tensions over the fate of Georgia's breakaway republics.

Study: Life span tied to location

Major inequalities in health and life expectancy persist worldwide, according to an independent World Health Organization commission.