U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday urged Israelis and Palestinians to get back to peace talks but offered no new ideas on how they might do so, essentially abandoning his previous support of the Palestinian demand for Israel to halt settlement activity before negotiations resume.

In remarks likely to disappoint, if not infuriate, the Palestinians, Obama said the United States continues to oppose the construction of Jewish housing on land claimed by the Palestinians but stressed that issues of disagreement between the two sides should not be used as an "excuse" to do nothing. He said there would be no point to negotiations if differences had to be resolved before they start.

Missing four of its veteran players, Spain coach Vicente del Bosque could offer a glimpse of what the future holds in store for the world champions when they host Finland on Friday in a World Cup qualifier.

Iker Casillas, Xavi Hernandez, Carles Puyol and Fernando Torres — all four played key roles in Spain's run to the 2010 World Cup title and a pair of European Championships — will all be missing.

Freshly dumped hypodermic syringes litter alleys, cemeteries and shaded corners in Myitkyina, the provincial capital of Kachin state, on Myanmar's northern border with China.

Myitkyina is known for having one of the highest concentrations of drug addicts in the world. The Kachin Baptist Convention, an evangelical group with more than 300 churches in the state, says nearly 80 percent of ethnic Kachin youth are addicts. Their drug of choice is heroin.

It's been more than six months since Ryan Hunter-Reay became the first American driver in six years to win the IndyCar championship.

Finally, with a new season set to begin, he may finally get some attention for his achievement.

The most influential U.S. pediatrician's group has endorsed gay marriage, saying a stable relationship between parents regardless of sexual orientation contributes to a child's health and well-being.

The American Academy of Pediatrics' new policy, published online Thursday, cites research showing that the parents' sexual orientation has no effect on a child's development. Kids fare just as well in gay or straight families when they are nurturing and financially and emotionally stable, the academy says.

More than three-quarters of British doctors prescribe a treatment they know probably won't work at least once a week, like low-dose drugs, vitamins, nutritional supplements or an unnecessary exam, according to a new survey.

This use of placebo treatments directly contradicts advice from the British Medical Association, which deems them unethical.

As Jay Leno makes jokes about ratings-challenged NBC in his "Tonight" monologues, speculation is swirling the network is taking steps to replace the host with Jimmy Fallon next year and move the talk show from California to New York.

NBC confirmed Wednesday it's creating a new studio for Fallon in New York, where he hosts "Late Night." But the network did not comment on a report that the studio may become home to a transplanted, Fallon-hosted "Tonight."

A car bomb hit a Pakistani refugee camp Thursday, killing 13 people including women and children, raising further fears for the security of a May general election in the nuclear-armed state.

More than 30 other people were wounded when the bomb exploded in Jalozai, the largest refugee camp in Pakistan, as scores of people queued for rations handed out by a local charity in partnership with the United Nations and USAID.

Lady Gaga's manager says the pop star is "doing unbelievable" a month after she had hip surgery that caused her to cancel her U.S. tour.

Vincent Herbert said in an interview Tuesday the 26-year-old Grammy winner is "doing wonderful, doing great."

"Mad Men" star Jon Hamm is going mad over Justin Timberlake's suit and tie — the song and the singer's style.

"I'm a big fan of Justin Timberlake," Hamm said in a recent interview. "I think he's a trendsetter, as they say. But he's always been kind of a natty dresser."