Local Time Line

The man who held three hostages at the Discovery Communications building in Maryland told NBC News in a brief telephone conversation that he had explosives. Discovery Communications – Maryland – NBC – United States – Police

President Barack Obama rejected criticism of his response to the Gulf oil spill Sunday, saying in an interview on “NBC Nightly News” that his administration jumped on the crisis immediately. Barack Obama – Oilspill – President – Gulf Oil – NBC Nightly News

In an interview with NBC’s Brian Williams, actor and musician Harry Connick Jr.

Sporadic loud blasts were heard in the Afghan capital early on Tuesday as dozens of foreign ministers, including U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, slept before a conference on the country’s future.

The owner of the Deepwater Horizon rig, which is spewing oil into the Gulf of Mexico, on Tuesday criticized President Barack Obama’s six-month ban on deepwater drilling. Barack Obama – Deepwater Horizon – BP – President of the United States – Gulf of Mexico