WASHINGTON – The chiefs of five major oil companies defended the industry’s huge profits Wednesday at a Senate hearing where they were exhorted to explain prices and assure customers they’re not being gouged. There is a “growing suspicion that oil companies are taking unfair advantage,” Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., said, …

WASHINGTON – Scientists have discovered a biological brake for a hunger hormone: a competing hormone that seems to counter the urge to eat. The substance, named obestatin, has been tested just in laboratory rats so far. But if it pans out, the discovery of the dueling hormones could lead not …

WASHINGTON – A growing number of Iraqi troop battalions — nearly four dozen as of this week — are playing lead roles in the fight against the insurgency, and American commanders have turned over more than two dozen U.S.-established bases to government control, officials said Monday. Those are among signs …

BAGHDAD – Al-Jazeera broadcast video Tuesday of four Western peace activists held hostage by a previously unknown group, part of a new wave of kidnappings police fear is aimed at disrupting next month’s elections. The news station said the four were seized by the Swords of Righteousness Brigade, which claimed …

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican says homosexuals who are sexually active or support “gay culture” are unwelcome in the priesthood unless they have overcome their homosexual tendencies for at least three years, according to a church document posted on the Internet by an Italian Catholic news agency. The long-awaited document …

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Two women were elected to a chamber of commerce in Jiddah, the first to win any such post in Saudi Arabia, where women are largely barred from political life, officials said Wednesday. Lama al-Sulaiman and Nashwa Taher won seats on the Jiddah Trade and Industry Chamber, …

NEW YORK – Colgate-Palmolive Co. (CL), the maker of its namesake toothpaste and other consumer products, posted higher quarterly profit on Tuesday, helped by the first overall rise in prices in two years and strong oral-care sales. Profit excluding items rose to $369.7 million, or 67 cents per share, from …

NEW YORK – About 1,500 Boeing (BA) machinists went on strike at 12:01 a.m. Los Angeles time on Wednesday after last-minute talks broke down between their union and the company unit that operates the Delta rocket program, the Associated Press reported on Wednesday. A federal mediator was unable to broker …

OSHKOSH, Wis. – A 4-month-old girl died when her inebriated mother fell asleep on top of her while breast-feeding, prosecutors said. Lorinda Hawkins told police she fell asleep about 15 minutes after she started breast-feeding the baby Feb. 23 because of her intoxication, a criminal complaint said. When she woke …

WASHINGTON – A bipartisan group of senators told congressional leaders Thursday they will try to block reauthorization of the Patriot Act to protest the elimination of Senate-pushed protections against “unnecessary and intrusive government surveillance” in a House-Senate compromise. “If further changes are not made, we will work to stop this …