Former hairdresser chases hoop dream

SHIJIAZHUANG - At 11 am, when her classmates have completed their morning exercises and started their academic courses, Jessica Doolin is the only person in the training room, practicing with her hula hoops.

Cuba, China join for solar solution

PINAR DEL RIO, Cuba - With China's help, Cuba hopes to produce more solar panels as part of efforts to promote renewable energy and bring electricity to remote areas.

Retro trend lighting up London's labyrinth of neon

LONDON - Whether in search of a glowing skull or a bright red heart, God's Own Junkyard in London is a maze of multicolored neon of all shapes and sizes which is thriving on its retro reputation.

Comic-Con ovation as Spielberg previews sci-fi adventure movie

LOS ANGELES - Thousands of fans were treated to a first look at Steven Spielberg's hotly anticipated sci-fi adventure Ready Player One at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday.

Quake kills two, causes panic in holiday resorts

KOS, Greece - A powerful earthquake sent a building crashing down on tourists at a bar on the Greek holiday island of Kos and struck panic on the nearby shores of Turkey on Friday, killing two tourists and injuring nearly 500 people.

Blasting from New York to DC in 29 mins

NEW YORK - US entrepreneur Elon Musk said on Thursday he'd received "verbal approval" from the government to build a conceptual "hyperloop" system that would blast passenger pods down vacuum-sealed tubes from New York to Washington at near-supersonic speeds.

ROK presses DPRK on dialogue proposal

SEOUL - The Republic of Korea on Friday urged the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to make a positive response to dialogue overtures earlier this week to discuss military and humanitarian affairs.

Duterte loses patience with rebel peace talks

MANILA, Philippines - President Rodrigo Duterte said on Friday that peace talks with rebels are to cease, saying the government is just wasting money in negotiating with them.

IN BRIEF (Page 8)

Bank proves to be Philly's bride and joy

PHILADELPHIA - The Second Bank of the United States might not be the city's top tourist draw, having to compete with neighbors like Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, but its regal architecture is luring a whole different type of visitor: Wedding photographers and brides and grooms.

Musical miracle as guitarist strums through brain op

BANGALORE, India - It sounds surreal, but a musician strummed on his guitar at a Bangalore hospital as doctors performed brain surgery on him to cure his crippled fingers of a rare movement disorder.

Slaying of tragic lion's cub causes fresh outrage

JOHANNESBURG - A trophy hunter in Zimbabwe has shot dead a cub of Cecil the lion whose death in 2015 caused worldwide outrage, researchers tracking the pride confirmed on Friday.