U.S. safety regulators are investigating a fuel tank problem that could affect more than 2.7 million Ford F-150 pickup trucks.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Monday that the steel straps holding up the truck's gas tank can rust and break, possibly causing a fuel spill and fire. No injuries have been reported from the possible defect.
The agency is looking into trucks from the 1997 through 2001 model years. NHTSA's investigations often lead to recalls.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman is telling graduates at the University of South Carolina that they must hold onto their optimism and that the United States' potential remains as strong as ever.
The potential Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. ambassador to China on Saturday said the world is looking to America for inspiration, both in business and in creativity. Huntsman's remarks largely stayed away from politics and he instead opted to use his first public appearance after stepping down as a diplomat to paint himself as an above-the-fray figure.
BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- In a rare public appeal, the father of a U.S. soldier held captive in the Afghan war has sought the help of Pakistan's military in securing the release of Spc. Bowe Bergdahl.
Idaho resident Bob Bergdahl, in a video post on YouTube, directly addresses Pakistan Army Chief of Staff Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Lieutenant-General Ahmad Shuja Pasha, the head of the country's intelligence service.
"Our family is counting on your professional integrity and your honor to secure the safe return of our son," he said. "And we thank you. Our family knows the high price that has been paid by your men in the army and the frontier corps. We give our condolences and thanks to the families of those who have fallen for Pakistan."
SAO PAULO (AP) -- Brazil's high court ruled that same-sex civil unions must be recognized, a decision welcomed as a watershed by gay activists who also hope it will cool rising violence against homosexuals in Latin America's most populous nation.
The ruling, however, stopped short of legalizing gay marriage in Brazil, which has more Roman Catholics than any other country. The Catholic Church fought the measure.
In a vote late Thursday, all but one of the 11 Supreme Court justices backed civil union rights for same-sex couple. One justice abstained.
HAVANA (AP) -- A Cuban court sentenced Chilean revolutionary-turned-businessman Max Marambio, long a friend of Fidel Castro, to 20 years in prison for fraud and bribery following a trial in absentia, official news media reported Thursday.
Communist Party newspaper Granma also said a 15-year sentence was handed down to Alejandro Roca Iglesias, who was removed as food minister in March 2009.
Officials gave few details about the scandal, but Granma said the court "found that the crimes committed were particularly grave and required an energetic penal response due to the considerable damage caused by the accused to the national economy."