Gustav swells to dangerous Cat 3 storm off Cuba Gustav swelled to a fearsome Category 3 hurricane with winds of 120 mph (195 kph) as it shrieked toward the heartland of Cuba's cigar industry Saturday on a track to hit the U.S. Gulf Coast, three years after Hurricane Katrina.
Residents begin leaving Gulf Coast ahead of storm Hurricane Gustav strengthened into a dangerous storm Saturday, and as city officials started evacuation plans, some residents weren't waiting to be told to leave.
Evangelicals energized by McCain-Palin ticket Sarah Palin already has energized conservative religious leaders who had fretted that John McCain would pick an abortion rights supporter as his running mate. The Alaska governor was raised in a Pentecostal church and has called herself "as pro-life as any candidate can be."
Bush points to signs that economy is on upswing President Bush said Saturday that Americans may have cause this Labor Day weekend to start worrying less about the nation's - and their families' - economic health.
Obama ad: Despite Palin, McCain isn't change agent Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama begins airing an ad Saturday that responds to rival John McCain's selection of a running mate, carefully avoiding any direct criticism of Sarah Palin, the Alaska governor whom McCain chose for the GOP ticket.
Pressure grows on Thai prime minister to resign Thailand's prime minister vowed Saturday that he would not resign even as pressure mounted with anti-government protesters occupying his headquarters for a fifth day Saturday and disrupting rail and air service.
Source: Petraeus submitted report on troop cuts The top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, has given his military superiors and Defense Secretary Robert Gates his initial recommendation on when to resume a U.S. troop withdrawal and at what pace, a senior military officer close to the process said Friday.
Ron Paul followers gathering for own convention There's no room at the Xcel Energy Center for maverick Ron Paul, so his acolytes have packed their cars, hitched rides on "Ronvoys" and will pitch tents at Ronstock '08 in Minneapolis in defiance of next week's GOP convention in St. Paul, Minn.