JERUSALEM – Israel’s chief rabbinate severed ties with the Vatican on Wednesday to protest a papal decision to reinstate a bishop who publicly denied 6 million Jews were killed during the Holocaust. The Jewish state’s highest religious authority sent a letter to the Holy See expressing “sorrow and pain” at …

You can saw it, you can sand it and, if you want to, you can carve your sweetheart’s name into it. But beware: Mementos etched into this park bench won’t last forever. That transient quality is one of the main selling points of recycled plastic “lumber” — vandals can’t touch …

BANGKOK, Thailand – It seemed like a good idea at the time: Remove all the feral cats from a famous Australian island to save the native seabirds. But the decision to eradicate the felines from Macquarie island allowed the rabbit population to explode and, in turn, destroy much of its …

DUNNELLON, Fla. – The Florida Highway Patrol says two men died in a crash with an ambulance. Killed in the crash were two 27-year-olds: Justin L. Corey of Beverly Hills, Calif., and Ryan S. Doyle of Danielson, Conn. The crash happened at about 2:30 a.m. Saturday north of Dunnellon in …

VINELAND, N.J. – Police say a New Jersey man posed as a female animal doctor, ran an illegal veterinary practice and set up a phony rescue agency that may have duped pet lovers out of thousands of dollars. Vineland police arrested 26-year-old Daniel C. Tyce on Friday and charged him …

A single daily pill that combines aspirin and four blood pressure and cholesterol medicines has passed its first big test, potentially offering a cheap, simple way to prevent both heart disease and stroke. The experimental “polypill” proved as effective as nearly all of its components taken alone, with no greater …

FLEMINGTON, N.J. – A judge in New Jersey may decide Thursday whether to return three children with Nazi-inspired names to their parents. Their mother, Deborah Campbell, was in family court in Hunterdon County. She and her husband, Heath, made headlines in December when a supermarket refused to decorate a birthday …

Originally my grandmother’s recipe, this cake is near and dear to my heart. It’s been a family favorite for years, but unfortunately the original recipe wasn’t one I could indulge in as often as I wanted to. Luckily, I was able to remake the traditional version into a much healthier …

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. – A Long Island, N.Y., karate instructor has admitted he molested a dozen boys in a plea agreement that will send him to prison for up to 18 years. James Bonfiglio pleaded guilty Friday to 60 counts including sexual abuse, possession of child pornography and endangering the welfare …

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan banned protests in two provinces and arrested scores of lawyers and opposition leaders Wednesday ahead of planned rallies threatening to batter the already-shaky rule of its pro-Western government. The crackdown by police and intelligence agencies will damage the democratic credentials of the ruling party of President Asif …