Authorities in California say the capsizing of a sailboat that led to the drowning of two people was due to overcrowding on the vessel and its poor condition. The two men who drowned were among 10 people on board the boat when it capsized into the water in San Diego Bay in March. All 10 […]
Officials: Cuba Approves Havana-Tampa Flights
Posted July 27th, 2011 at 7:15 pm (UTC-5)
Officials in Tampa say Cuba has authorized air service between that city and Havana and that charter flights to the Caribbean island could begin as early as September 10. The flights would be on ABC Charters of Miami. The chief executive officer of Tampa International Airport said in a statement Wednesday that accessing “this vital […]
Obama to Announce Fuel Efficiency Standards for Cars, Trucks
Posted July 27th, 2011 at 6:50 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. President Barack Obama plans to announce new fuel efficiency standards for cars and light-duty trucks at an event in Washington Friday. A White House spokesman said Wednesday the standards will apply to vehicles for model years 2017 to 2025. He said the program will result in major cost savings for consumers at the fuel […]
Tropical Storm Don Forms Over Gulf of Mexico
Posted July 27th, 2011 at 5:50 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. weather forecasters say Tropical Storm Don has formed over the southern Gulf of Mexico and is expected to strengthen this week, though not likely into a hurricane. The National Hurricane Center in Miami says in its latest advisory Wednesday that the weather system is about 190 kilometers north of Cozumel, Mexico, and 1,220 kilometers […]
Washington Wrangles Over Debt As Deadline Grows Near
Posted July 27th, 2011 at 5:05 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. President Barack Obama, his Democratic party allies in Congress and opposition Republicans are still haggling over competing plans to raise the government borrowing limit, as an August 2 deadline draws closer. Without an agreement, Washington could default on some of its obligations. White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters if the deadline is not […]
US: Mexican Soldiers Crossed into Texas
Posted July 27th, 2011 at 4:40 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. officials say nearly three dozen Mexican soldiers in four military vehicles crossed the border into the United States in an incident being described as inadvertent. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials say the 33 soldiers crossed the new Donna-Rio Bravo International Bridge into southern Texas on Tuesday after being unable to turn around on […]
One-year Countdown to 2012 Olympics Begins
Posted July 27th, 2011 at 2:00 pm (UTC-5)
The British Foreign Office is holding events around the world to mark the one-year countdown to the beginning of the 2012 Olympic Games in London. At the United Nations in New York City, the British U.N. mission, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis unveiled an Olympic countdown clock. Lewis competed for […]
Locke Confirmed as U.S. Ambassador to China
Posted July 27th, 2011 at 11:55 am (UTC-5)
The U.S. Senate has confirmed Gary Locke as U.S. ambassador to China. The Senate voted unanimously on Wednesday to confirm U.S. President Barack Obama’s appointee. Locke, currently the U.S. Commerce Secretary, will become the nation’s first Chinese-American ambassador to China. He replaces Jon Huntsman, who left the post to launch a Republican bid for the […]
Famed U.S. Military Hospital Prepares to Close
Posted July 27th, 2011 at 11:10 am (UTC-5)
The U.S. Army’s flagship hospital in Washington, D.C., which has treated presidents and wounded service members from World War I to the war in Afghanistan, is holding a goodbye ceremony before it closes its doors for the last time. Walter Reed Army Medical Center retires its flags Wednesday as patients and staff prepare to move […]
