Oil sheen spreads from Gulf platform after fire (Reuters) Reuters - An oil and gas platform operated by Mariner Energy burst into flames on Thursday and unleashed a mile-long oil sheen into the Gulf of Mexico, in the region's first major offshore disaster since BP's oil spill began in April.
U.S. sues Arizona sheriff in immigration probe (Reuters) Reuters - The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday sued an Arizona sheriff for refusing to cooperate with its investigation into allegations the sheriff discriminates against Hispanics in his program to crack down on illegal immigrants.
Elizabeth Warren schedule shift fuels talk on U.S. consumer job (Reuters) Reuters - A last-minute change in the fall course schedule of Harvard law professor Elizabeth Warren has fueled speculation the White House might soon nominate her to head the newly created U.S. consumer financial agency.
Israelis and Palestinians agree to more peace meetings (Reuters) Reuters - Israeli and Palestinian leaders opened direct peace talks under U.S. auspices on Thursday and agreed to meet every two weeks to try to forge a deal within a year to end a conflict that has boiled for six decades.
Davydenko joins seeded scrap heap at US Open (AFP) AFP - Russian sixth seed Nikolay Davydenko, twice a US Open semi-finalist, became the latest high-ranked contender ousted at the US Open, falling 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 Thursday to 38th-ranked Frenchman Richard Gasquet.
Federer beats Beck to move into Open's 3rd round (AP) AP - Five-time champion Roger Federer has breezed into the third round at the U.S. Open, serving 15 aces in beating 104th-ranked Andreas Beck of Germany 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.
