AP - Hurricane Ike's winds and massive waves destroyed oil platforms, tossed storage tanks and punctured pipelines. The environmental damage only now is becoming apparent: At least a half million gallons of crude oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico and the marshes, bayous and bays of Louisiana and Texas, according to an analysis of federal data by The Associated Press.

Reuters - China and the United States pledged on Friday to boost efforts to tackle the turmoil engulfing global markets and to continue high-level cooperation when President-elect Barack Obama takes office.

AP - LaDainian Tomlinson can still run the ball and his San Diego Chargers finally looked like world-beaters.

Reuters - A report on Friday expected to show the biggest monthly U.S. jobs loss in 26 years is set to pile more pressure on the Federal Reserve to slash rates again and add urgency to an automaker bailout as the global economic crisis deepens.

AFP - A security scare at New Delhi's international airport on Thursday highlighted jitters after the Mumbai attacks, as Pakistan vowed "strong action" if anyone was shown to be involved from its territory.