JERUSALEM (AP) ― Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday took a tough line toward an emerging Palestinian government ahead of a high-profile trip to Washington, saying “those that want to destroy us are not partners in peace.”Netanyahu reiterated a willingness to agree to a Palestinian state under certain conditions but made clear he did not believe it was possible if the Islamic milit

Both men have legitimate chances; upcoming public appearances suggest the race is getting seriousWASHINGTON (AP) ― A health care speech by Mitt Romney and a formal announcement that Newt Gingrich is running mark a turn toward the substantive in the Republican presidential race.The change cannot happen too soon for the party after a series of events that did little to suggest it is ready to take on

DETROIT (AP) ― Toyota should have owned the road this summer. When gas prices go up, American drivers go for smaller, fuel-efficient cars. The last time prices at the pump spiked in 2008, Toyota captured the title of world’s No. 1 automaker ― and has held it ever since.Now gas costs almost $4 a gallon again, but Toyota is struggling. It’s been hammered by supply disruptions from the Japan earthqua

 

 

Rapid spike in layoffs heightens concerns that pricier gas is slowing U.S. economyWASHINGTON (AP) ― A renewed rise in layoffs is the latest sign that higher fuel prices may be slowing the economy.A 23 percent spike in applications for unemployment benefits over the past month suggests that hiring may look weaker when the government issues the April jobs report Friday.Oil prices plummeted Thursday

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (AP) ― Of all the times Bill Haas has played Quail Hollow, he never had a round quite like this.Haas had stress-free birdies on all the par 5s and did little wrong on the rest of the holes Thursday in the Wells Fargo Championship, matching the tournament record for lowest opening round with an 8-under 64 for a two-shot lead.“I’ve got good feelings around this place,” Haas

WASHINGTON (AP) ― The data breach that hit Sony’s PlayStation Network resulted from a “very carefully planned, very professional, highly sophisticated criminal cyber-attack designed to steal personal and credit card information for illegal purposes,” a Sony executive said.In a letter to members of the House Commerce Committee released Wednesday, Kazuo Hirai, chairman of Sony Computer Entertainment

Intel claims computing breakthrough with three-dimensional chipsSAN FRANCISCO (AP) ― In the race to build a faster computer chip, there is literally nowhere to go but up. Today’s chip surfaces are packed with the tiniest electronic switches the laws of physics allow, but Intel Corp. says it is blowing past those limits with a breakthrough, three-dimensional transistor design it revealed Wednesday.

More people are turning over personal information to online retailers, social networksSAN FRANCISCO (AP) ― Week after week, thieves break into corporate computer systems to steal customer lists, email addresses and credit card numbers. Large data breaches get overshadowed by even larger ones.Yet people are turning over personal information to online retailers, social networks and other services in

Officials say bailout to be worth $115 billion over 3-year periodLISBON, Portugal (AP) ― Hard-up Portugal has negotiated an international bailout worth 78 billion euro ($115 billion) over a three-year period, officials said Tuesday.A government official, speaking on departmental rules of anonymity, told the Associated Press the amount includes aid for Portugal’s cash-strapped banks. The official d

ATHENS, Ohio (AP) ― With her baby fast asleep in the stroller, Valerie Githinji made her way up to the nurses’ station in O’Bleness Memorial Hospital’s maternity ward.She came bearing gifts. Stored in the bottom of the stroller, in a white plastic bag, were several containers totaling 5,670 grams ― more than 5.6 liters ― of frozen breast milk.Githinji, who works in student affairs at Hocking Colle

OMAHA, Nebada (AP) ― Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting on Saturday was dominated by somber topics, as Warren Buffett explained to roughly 40,000 shareholders how the company had been battered by a trusted former employee’s misdeeds and a string of natural disasters.Buffett assured the crowd at an Omaha convention center that Berkshire is strong enough to withstand both the David Sokol scandal an

WASHINGTON (AP) ― The economy and job creation have strengthened enough for the Federal Reserve to end on schedule a program of buying Treasury bonds to help the economy, the Fed said Wednesday.Ending a two-day meeting, the Fed made no changes to the program. The decision was unanimous. The bond purchases were intended to lower loan rates, encouraging spending and boost stock prices. But critics w

 

Yanukovych renews calls for funding for new containment shell over reactorKIEV (AP) ― Tough new guidelines could help prevent accidents like the massive Chernobyl meltdown, Russia’s president insisted Tuesday, defending nuclear energy during solemn ceremonies commemorating the 25th anniversary of the worst nuclear accident in history.Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Ukrainian President Viktor

 

BEIRUT (AP) ― Syrian security forces fired on funeral processions that drew tens of thousands Saturday, one day after the bloodiest crackdown so far in the uprising against President Bashar Assad. The shootings pushed the two-day death toll to more than 120 and two lawmakers and a religious leader resigned in disgust over the killings.The resignations were a possible sign of cracks developing in t