Brazil oil spill may affect sensitive area

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The oil that allegedly leaked from a Japanese-operated rig last week could affect an environmentally sensitive region in Rio de Janeiro, the state environment secretary said Monday.

The 2,600 gallons (10,000 liters) of oil that leaked is much smaller than the nearly 3,000 barrels of oil that leaked from a Chevron well off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state in November.

But the official, Carlos Minc, told the Globo TV network that the oil has reached the Bonfim beach in Angra dos Reis, "a much more environmentally sensitive area that is a natural habitat for turtles, dolphins and other wildlife."

Minc's agency says the oil leaked from a ship-shaped …

Judge drops Dominguez doping charges

MADRID (AP) — World steeplechase champion Marta Dominguez has been provisionally cleared of doping charges.

The judge presiding over the case has dropped the charge accusing the two-time European 5,000-meter champion of providing a fellow athlete with a banned performance-enhancing substance.

The public prosecutor's office has five days to …

The emerging story

Notwithstanding the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs' perennial warnings about terrorist plots against holidaymakers in Sinai, my wife and I are back in Egypt for the fourth time this year. We're staying at Camp Ras ash-Shatein, a seaside oasis of "no-star" luxury 27 miles south of the Eilat-Taba border crossing on the Gulf of Aqaba.

The Arabic name, misunderstood by some as the "Devil's Head," signifies the promontory between twin beaches. The campground sprawls organically around a rock outcrop that divides two crescent-shaped bays protected by a coral reef.

Israelis who visited here under the IDF occupation of Sinai from 1967 to 1982 may still call the place Magama …

Randy Bachman, David Wilcox, Jack Bruce salute blind guitarist Jeff Healey

International music stars from the world of rock, blues and jazz celebrated the life of blind Canadian jazz and blues-rock guitarist Jeff Healey over the weekend by playing the songs he loved best.

Rocker Randy Bachman, guitarist David Wilcox, bluesman Colin James and singer Alannah Myles were among the artists who took the stage Saturday night in a tribute to Healey, who died in March at age 41 after a lifelong battle against a rare cancer of the eyes.

Healey rose to stardom as the leader of the Jeff Healey Band, a rock-oriented trio that gained international acclaim and platinum record sales with the 1988 album "See the Light." The album …

Iceland evacuates hundreds near volcano

Icelandic emergency officials evacuated hundreds of people near a restless volcano Wednesday amid strong signs of a second eruption.

Some 800 people near the Eyjafjallajokull (AYA-feeyapla-yurkul) glacier were evacuated after seismic activity suggested a second eruption, said Rognvaldur Olafsson, a chief inspector for the Icelandic Civil Protection Agency. The volcano, 75 miles (120 kilometers) east of Reykjavik, erupted March 20 after almost 200 years of silence.

"The volcano in question is under a glacier," Olafsson said. "If an eruption happens, there could be flash floods."

Heavy cloud cover was preventing scientists from …

Cubs hopeful flashy opening no shot in dark

PHILADELPHIA For right now at least, all is right in the Cubs'world.

The only trouble with the real world is that it keeps onspinning. As sure as there is the brightness of day, there is thedarkness of night.

Those not blinded by the Cubs' 4-3 Opening Day victory Tuesdayover the Phillies are keeping flashlight batteries ready.

In fact, for these Cubs, there might be more night than day.

The victory Tuesday, despite Sammy Sosa's defense, George Bell'spleasurable absence in the outfield, Mark Grace's sudden power, GregMaddux' typical toughness and Chuck McElroy's super save, was notwithout its flaws.

It almost seemed the Cubs won despite …

Iran orders hand amputation of confessed thief

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — An Iranian judge has ordered the amputation of the hand of a man who confessed to robbing a candy shop, local media reported Saturday.

Iran's semiofficial Fars news agency said the chief judge of a Tehran court also sentenced the 21-year-old man, who was not identified, to a year in jail and ordered him to return the stolen items.

The ruling comes days after Iranian authorities amputated the hand of another man convicted of theft in the northeastern city of Mashhad.

While …