Libyan state TV says 48 killed, 150 wounded in allied assaultU.S., European forces launch cruise missiles, airstrikesBENGHAZI, Libya (AP) ― The U.S. and European nations pounded Moammar Gadhaf’s forces and air defenses with cruise missiles and airstrikes, launching the broadest international military effort since the Iraq war in support of an uprising that had seemed on the verge of defeat. Libyan

MIDDLETOWN, Pennsylvania (AP) ― Japan’s nuclear crisis has transported residents of central Pennsylvania back 32 years, when the partial meltdown of the Three Mile Island nuclear plant raised fears that a massive amount of radiation could be released into the atmosphere or the Susquehanna River.But there are stark differences between the disasters.“It’s probably not politically correct to say it,

KARAKUWA, Japan (AP) ― There may be no water, no power and no cell phone reception in this tsunami-struck town, but in the school that serves as a shelter, there are sizzling pans of fat, pink shrimp.Relief supplies have only trickled into the long strip of northeast Japan demolished by a powerful earthquake and the wave it unleashed a week ago, leaving affected communities to fend for themselves.

Optometrists: 3-D screen on Nintendo 3DS could help kids with vision disordersNEW YORK (AP) ― U.S. eye specialists are welcoming the Nintendo 3DS game device, dismissing the manufacturer’s warnings that its 3-D screen shouldn’t be used by children 6 or younger because it may harm their immature vision.On the contrary, the optometrists say, it’s a good idea to get your kids to try the 3-D screen, e

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― IBM has agreed to pay $10 million to settle charges it gave cash and gifts to Chinese and South Korean officials to win contracts for mainframe and personal computers and other products.The agreement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission calls for the U.S. computer titan to pay disgorgement of $5.3 million, interest of $2.7 million and a civil penalty of $2 million.Un

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― The United States on Saturday unleashed a barrage of Tomahawk missiles against the Libyan regime’s air defenses, but ruled out using ground troops in what President Barack Obama called a “limited military action.”After initially taking a cautious stance on armed intervention in Libya’s civil war, Obama ordered the strikes citing the threat posed to civilians by Moammar Gadhafi’s

Japan’s risk of becoming the first Group of Seven member to return to a recession after the global financial crisis eased as the G7 intervened to halt the yen’s appreciation.The G7’s yen sales sent the currency down the most since September, to 80.58 per dollar at the close Saturday in New York, compared with the postwar high of 76.25 reached March 17. Japan’s Vice Finance Minister Fumihiko Igaras

President emphasizes importance of trade with Brazil to economic growth back homeBRASILIA, Brazil (AP) ― Seeking to link his Latin American tour to job growth back home, President Barack Obama said Saturday the U.S. was eager to sell its goods and services to economically booming Brazil’s growing middle class. The president’s economic message, however, was overshadowed by events in Libya, where a

CAIRO (AP) ― Millions of Egyptians voted freely on Saturday for the first time in more than half a century, joyfully waiting for hours to cast their ballots on a package of constitutional changes eliminating much-hated restrictions on political rights and civil liberties.Young people traded mobile-phone pictures of ink-stained fingers that showed they voted. Others called relatives to boast of cas

A warplane is seen being shot down over the outskirts of Benghazi, eastern Libya, Saturday. (AP-Yonhap News)Libya says 48 killed in West's air and missile strikesTRIPOLI (AFP) - At least 48 people have died since the US, Britain and France began pounding Libya with air strikes and Tomahawk missiles, according to an initial toll given to AFP by a Libyan official early Sunday.Allies launch Libya for