Associated Press

The State Department promised Blackwater USA bodyguards immunity from prosecution in its investigation of last month's deadly shooting of 17 Iraqi civilians, The Associated Press has learned. By Lara Jakes Jordan

The devastating wildfires in Southern California have caused at least $1 billion in damage in San Diego County alone, officials said Wednesday, as easing wind gave firefighters hope that they could begin to gain ground against the flames.

Several scientists agree 1 meter rise will happen as soon as 50 years from now. By Seth Borenstein

Carbon dioxide — the greenhouse gas considered most responsible for global warming — has been emitted into the Earth's atmosphere at a dramatically accelerating pace since 2000, researchers reported Monday. By Doyle Rice

Legendary Texas oilman and billionaire T. Boone Pickens sees the price of oil hitting $100 a barrel perhaps as soon as the fourth quarter but certainly sometime next year, a consequence of daily global production reaching its peak. By John Porretto

Plans to search for oil and natural gas in Brazil's remote western Amazon have raised concerns that one of the last untouched areas of the world's largest wilderness will be spoiled.

Companies that produce, refine and transport oil and natural gas will need as much as $21.4 trillion (€15.04 trillion) in capital expenditures between now and 2030 to meet sharply growing global demand for hydrocarbons forecast by experts, a new analysis shows.

Austria - Innsbruck — home to two Winter Olympics — is hosting a conference on how to cope with the warm winters and lackluster snowfall caused by global warming. By Veronika Oleksyn

When this quiet city in southern Sweden decided in 1996 to wean itself off fossil fuels, most people doubted the ambitious goal would have any impact beyond the town limits. By Karl Ritter

The State Department may phase out or limit the use of private security guards in Iraq, which could mean canceling Blackwater USA's contract or awarding it to another company in line with an Iraqi government demand, The Associated Press has learned. By Matthew Lee

China's and India's plans to produce more biofuels could cause shortages of water, which is needed for crops to feed their growing populations, according to study results released Thursday. By Michael Casey

At 89, Doris Haddock walked 3,200 miles across the country to draw attention to campaign finance reform. At 94, she waged a quixotic campaign for U.S. Senate. Now, at 97, she will see those feats on screen in a documentary. By Beverley Wang

There is just enough space for Lisa Rivera's family to sleep at Jessie's House homeless shelter. By Pat Eaton-Robb

There is just enough space for Lisa Rivera's family to sleep at Jessie's House homeless shelter. By Pat Eaton-Robb

Burmese troops occupied key Buddhist monasteries today to confine monks who have spearheaded anti-government protests.

People want their leaders to move boldly to help the environment but give them dismal grades for their actions so far, according to a poll released Wednesday that highlighted rampant pessimism on the issue. By Alan Fram

Two provisions of the USA Patriot Act are unconstitutional because they allow search warrants to be issued without a showing of probable cause, a federal judge ruled Wednesday. By William McCall

The leading Democratic White House hopefuls conceded Wednesday night they cannot guarantee to pull all U.S. combat troops from Iraq by the end of the next presidential term in 2013.

Iran closed major border crossings with northern Iraq on Monday to protest the U.S. detention of an Iranian official the military accused of weapons smuggling, a Kurdish official said.

The Qatar Investment Authority said Thursday it had acquired a 20 percent stake in the London Stock Exchange, the same day that Borse Dubai announced a deal to acquire the Nasdaq Stock Market's 28 percent stake in the LSE.

China - Typhoon Wipha weakened as it slammed China with strong winds and torrential rains, officials said Thursday. At least seven people were reported killed as the storm destroyed thousands of homes and triggered landslides.

President Bush said Wednesday he wants Congress to expand and make permanent a law that temporarily gives the government more power to eavesdrop without warrants on suspected foreign terrorists. By Deb Riechmann

A request by Iran's president to lay a wreath at the World Trade Center site next week has been turned down by police and blasted by U.S. diplomats as an attempt to turn ground zero into a "photo op." By Pat Milton

President Bush's claim that progress in Iraq justifies preserving a large U.S. military presence there for at least 10 more months was shadowed by discouraging developments on the security and political fronts. By Jennifer Loven

The Pentagon has released a censored audiotape of suspected Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed — deleting a part officials said could be used to recruit future terrorists. By Pauline Jelinek

The most common type of gorilla is now "critically endangered," one step away from global extinction, according to the 2007 Red List of Threatened Species released Wednesday by the World Conservation Union. By Erica Bulman

Reports that offer a bleak picture of Iraq's political climate and the performance of its security forces are providing fresh impetus for Democrats calling for U.S. troop withdrawals.

In a stinging assessment, congressional auditors say the Homeland Security Department has fallen far short of meeting its performance expectations in the first four years of its existence. By Eileen Sullivan

Retired Marine Corps Gen. James Jones, who led a 20-member panel studying Iraqi security forces, is to testify before Congress today. His report, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, said Iraq's security forces would be unable to take control of their country in the next 18 months.

Indonesia, conservationists have different views of palm oil plantations. By Chris Brummitt