DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Christine Song and China’s Simin Feng each shot 7-under 65 on Wednesday to share the first-round lead in the LPGA Tour Qualifying Tournament. Song and Feng opened on LPGA International’s Jones Course. South Korea’s Julie Yang was third after a 66 on the Hills Course, and Cydney Clanton had a … Continue reading
BERLIN (AP) — The European Space Agency launched a rocket Thursday carrying two cubes of gold and platinum almost a million miles from Earth so scientists can see how they’ll behave in a freefall — at a cost of more than $450 million. What may sound like a frivolous enterprise is actually the prelude to … Continue reading
LIMA, Peru (AP) — In the five years since she was paroled, Lori Berenson has lived in a limbo of sorts, trying to raise a young son in a society that largely refuses to forgive her for aiding Peru’s No. 2 leftist rebel group in the 1990s. Now a 46-year-old single mother, the woman who … Continue reading
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Impeachment proceedings were opened Wednesday against Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff by the speaker of the lower house of Congress, a sworn enemy of the beleaguered leader. A special commission in which all political parties are represented must now weigh the decision of speaker Eduardo Cunha to open proceedings against Rousseff … Continue reading
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Olympic sailor Erik Heil floated a novel idea to protect himself from the sewage-infested waters he and other athletes will compete in during next year’s games: He’d wear plastic overalls and peel them off when he was safely past the contaminated waters nearest shore. Heil, 26, was treated at a … Continue reading
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — When Argentines chose a new president in recent elections, many voters seemed more concerned about what would happen with the old one. Such is the hold of outgoing President Cristina Fernandez on the public imagination in this South American country, where the telegenic, combative and polarizing leader steps down Dec. … Continue reading
BARINAS, Venezuela (AP) — Asdrubal Chavez is a walking tribute to his still-revered cousin as he stumps for congress. Hugo Chavez’s eyes peer out from above the bill of his red baseball cap. The late president’s signature is emblazoned on his red shirt. But conjuring the image of the founder of Venezuela’s socialist revolution may … Continue reading
ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) — Pope Francis says he hopes to add the key Mexico-U.S. border city of Juarez to his Mexico itinerary next year, confirming the trip will have a strong immigration theme. Speaking to reporters en route home from Africa on Monday, Francis said he would begin his trip in the capital, … Continue reading
HAVANA (AP) — The Cuban government announced Tuesday that it is reimposing a hated travel permit requirement on many doctors, requiring them to get permission to leave the country in an attempt to counter a brain drain that it blames on the United States. It is the first major reverse in Cuba’s policy of allowing … Continue reading
LIMA, Peru (AP) — American activist Lori Berenson is finally heading home to New York, two decades after being found guilty of aiding leftist rebels in Peru. The 46-year-old has been living quietly in Lima with her 6-year-old son since her 2010 parole because she was barred from leaving the country until her 20-year sentence … Continue reading
TELOLOAPAN, Mexico (AP) â Carlos Sanchez lay in the backseat of a Honda sedan with his head in his wife’s lap, an oxygen tube in his nose, IV in his arm and three bullets in his body. The 36-year-old taco vendor cried out in pain at every bump on the pitch-dark highway to the city … Continue reading
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — A strong magnitude-6.8 earthquake struck north-central Chile on Saturday, causing buildings to sway in the capital of Santiago, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck at 4:31 a.m. about 29 miles (47 kilometers) southwest of Ovalle, a city 185 miles … Continue reading
MARIANA, Brazil (AP) — Searchers used small airplanes and a drone Saturday to look for 19 people confirmed as missing following the burst of two dams inside an iron ore mine, while authorities lowered the official death count to one. The Fire Department said officials were now not sure that a second body, which was … Continue reading
PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico (AP) — Hurricane Patricia roared ashore in southwestern Mexico as a Category 5 storm Friday evening, bringing lashing rains, surging seas and cyclonic winds hours after it peaked as one of the strongest storms ever recorded. There were early reports of some flooding and landslides as the storm moved over inland mountains … Continue reading
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Fugitive drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was flown to a mountainous region of his home state of Sinaloa following his daring July 11 escape from prison through a mile-long tunnel, a federal official said Saturday. Based on this information, the search for the world’s most wanted drug boss has focused … Continue reading
Spartan Echo 