MOSCOW – A giant sinkhole that appeared in the Russian city of Solikamsk nine months ago is growing in size. Local media reported earlier this week that the sinkhole which was caused by an accident at a potash mine in November has since quadrupled in size to 120 meters (395 …

HONG KONG – Chinese exports and imports have contracted in August in the latest sign of weakness for the world’s second-biggest economy. Customs data posted online Tuesday showed that shipments of goods last month shrank 6.1 percent in yuan terms compared with a year earlier. Imports tumbled by 14.3 percent …

HONOLULU – Detectives have found the spear that was taken from King Kamehameha’s (cah-MEH’-ha-MEH’-ha) statue on Hawaii’s Big Island. The top section of the spear held by a statue of the Hawaiian warrior was reported missing Sunday. Detectives returned to the scene to continue investigating Tuesday when they found the …

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – Police say a woman who was driving more than 30 mph over the speed limit pleaded with an officer to let her off with a warning. When she was handed the ticket, she said: “No wonder you people get shot.” Police say 62-year-old Joy Feinberg, of …

AUGUSTA, Ga. – The first day of the Masters didn’t last very long. Storms moved into the area just two hours after the gates opened at Augusta National for the first full day of practice. Players had to get off the golf course. Fans made a steady stream for the …

PARIS – Kei Nishikori of Japan put an end to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga’s bid for a World Tour Finals spot by defeating the Frenchman 1-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (7) on Tuesday in the second round of the Paris Masters. In other second-round matches, Richard Gasquet of France outlasted Fernando Verdasco of …

PINEHURST, N.C. – Rickie Fowler has a great sense of fashion. He knows how to work a crowd. Now, all he needs is a career-defining win. Fowler will play in the final group of a major for the first time after being one of just two players to break par …

EUGENE, Ore. – “Kenny Wheaton’s gonna score! Kenny Wheaton’s gonna score!” Twenty years later, announcer Jerry Allen’s classic call of The Pick against Washington is played at every Oregon game at Autzen Stadium. It remains a very big deal among football fans in the Pacific Northwest, where the rivalry between …

LONDON – Olympic athletes used to speed won’t be disappointed if they need medical treatment during the London Games, organizers say. The four-story, $36 million clinic in the newly built Olympic village should be able to treat up to 200 athletes and team officials every day. The patients will get …

BOISE, Idaho – Back in 2006 when Chris Petersen began his first year as head coach at Boise State, he drew up a pretty simple game plan for himself: Give this head coaching thing a try and re-evaluate at the end of the season. In so many ways, it’s safe …