Officials investigate fuel tank problem on F-150s

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.

Huntsman to graduates: Hold onto optimism

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.

Father of captured soldier seeks Pakistan's help

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."

Brazil top court recognized same-sex civil unions

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.

Cuba court sentences Chilean to 20 years for graft

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."

GM earns $3.2 billion in 1Q on higher sales

DETROIT (AP) -- General Motors says its first-quarter net income more than tripled on strong car sales in the U.S. and China.

The company's first-quarter net income totaled $3.2 billion, or $1.77 per share, one of its best performances since the SUV boom in the early 2000s. It was GM's fifth straight quarterly profit since late 2009, the year it emerged from bankruptcy.

Solo Osama hunter wants part of bin Laden bounty

GREELEY, Colo. (AP) -- The Colorado construction worker who flew last year to Pakistan on a one-man mission to hunt down Osama bin Laden says he played a part in bin Laden's death.

Gary Faulkner said Wednesday he'd like one-quarter of the $25 million reward that was offered for hunting down bin Laden. He said he'd use it for his nonprofit foundation.

Faulkner was found last year in the woods of northern Pakistan armed with a pistol, sword and night-vision goggles. The Greeley, Colo., man says he believes he had a hand in forcing bin Laden out of the mountains where he supposedly was hiding.

EU proposes revamping open-border continent

BRUSSELS (AP) -- Chipping away at European unity, the EU proposed revamping its unique system of unfettered cross-border travel Wednesday, bowing to the stresses generated by a flood of North African immigrants.

The EU Commission suggested reintroducing temporary national border checks "under very exceptional circumstances" after France and Italy had demanded changes to the so-called Schengen system, which erases many internal European borders for citizens and travelers.

EU Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem said these checks could take place when "part of the external border comes under heavy unexpected pressure."

Nuke agency under fire for confusion over Yucca

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Lawmakers from both parties criticized the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Wednesday for procedures they said were overly secretive, directing most of their ire at the agency chairman's handling of a divisive plan to shut down the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump in Nevada.

One lawmaker called the five-member commission "the most secretive agency" in Washington.

Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee described the nuclear panel as dysfunctional and accused its chairman, Gregory Jaczko, of acting unilaterally on the commission's behalf. They cited several examples, including Jaczko' s declaration in March that Japan's nuclear crisis constituted an emergency in the United States.