A woman working at a Chicago charity shop was killed when a gun that was in dropped-off clothing accidentally discharged, hitting her in the chest.

As hopes faded for the 11 missing crew from the drilling rig that exploded in flames in the Gulf of Mexico, efforts turned to controlling an oil spill.

The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration today issued a record $87m (€59m) fine against oil giant BP for failing to correct safety hazards after a 2005 explosion killed 15 workers and injured 170 at its Texas City refinery.

A TOXIC spill flowing toward China’s southern business capital of Guangzhou has been stopped by a dam as the government rushed to protect water supplies to the city of seven million.

At least 14 people were killed and more than 100 were injured when a thunderous explosion tore through a BP oil refinery, shooting flames and billowing smoke into the sky and showering the area with ash and chunks of charred metal.