Florida, March 4 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Latvia's Ernests Gulbis has won the ATP 250 tennis tournament in Delray Beach here, propelling him up the new rankings published Monday. Gulbis defeated France's Edouard Roger-Vasselin 7-6(3), 6-3 in the first ATP final since 2007 to be contested between two players outside the top 100, and as a result rises 42 places to world No.67. "I'm really happy

Santo Domingo, Feb 22 (IANS/EFE) Singer Martha Heredia was detained in possession of heroin as she prepared to board a flight at Cibao International Airport in the northern city of Santiago, Dominican authorities said. Heredia had nearly 2 kg of the drug hidden in the heels of her shoes and her baggage, Dominican media said, citing anonymous sources. The singer, who skyrocketed to fame after winning the 2009 season of the Argentine television talent contest Latin American Idol, recently accused her husband, hip-hop artist Vakero, of physical and psychological abuse

Santo Domingo, Feb 7 (IANS/EFE) Spanish investment in Latin America "is secure" and is producing good results, a top official said here Wednesday. The problems affecting Spanish firms in several Latin American countries are due, in part, to the elevated "intensity of relations" between Spain and those nations, Spain's secretary of state for International Cooperation and Ibero-America Jesus Gracia said in an interview with EFE in Santo Domingo

Caguas (Puerto Rico), Feb 2 (IANS/EFE) Puerto Rican reggaeton star Don Omar announced he is headed back to college to finish his studies and become a mechanic and professional racing-car driver. Before giving a motivational talk to 3,500 young people, William Omar Landron, Don Omar, told a press conference he was resuming his higher education at Mech-Tech College in Orlando, Florida

Santo Domingo, Dec 28 (IANS/EFE) Haitian President Michel Martelly will get back in touch with his musical roots when he joins Spanish crooner Julio Iglesias on stage for a benefit concert in the Dominican Republic. "Sweet Micky" Martelly, a music icon in Haiti before he entered politics, will perform two songs with Iglesias, concert promoter George Nader told Dominican media Thursday. The show is set for Friday in Altos de Chavon and the proceeds will help fund the charitable activities coordinated by the office of Haitian first lady Sophia Martelly.

Santo Domingo, Nov 16 (IANS/EFE) Salsa icon Marc Anthony will inaugurate the construction of an orphanage in the Dominican Republic next week, a project being financed by the non−profit organization that he and Colombian concert promoter Henry Cardenas lead. Anthony, who is of Puerto Rican descent, and Cardenas will be on hand Nov 23 for the groundbreaking ceremony of the "Ninos de Cristo" (Children of Christ) orphanage in the eastern Dominican province of La Romana, according to a statement issued Thursday

Santo Domingo, Oct 13 (IANS/EFE) Grassroots organizations protested here Friday against the Dominican government's proposal to raise taxes. Representatives of the groups gathered in front of Congress to denounce President Danilo Medina's fiscal plan and to demand sanctions against his predecessor, Leonel Fernandez, for having created the budget deficit that is being cited as the reason for tax increases.

Santo Domingo, July 24 (IANS/EFE) The plight of a pregnant teenager suffering from acute leukaemia stirred up anew Monday the controversy over abortion, which is barred by the Dominican Republic constitution even in cases where the mother's life is in danger. The 16-year-old is nine weeks pregnant and urgently needs to undergo chemotherapy for her illness, a treatment that will severely affect the foetus. The president of the Gynaecology Society, Ruddy Guerrero, said that doctors attending the patient are really at a crossroads, but said that the immediate task is to start treating the girl. The subject was discussed Monday by the Feminist Forum, which said that "first and most urgent is beginning chemotherapy" for Esperanza, as the teen is identified, and that doctors "should apply the protocols of attention universally established in such cases, without fear of reprisals of any kind". However, they said, "that alone is not enough. Esperanza's case will be repeated time after time until the legal regulations are changed that allow this kind of situation to arise". The group said that doctors should have started treating the teenager a week ago and warned that "the time wasted could mark the difference between life and death for this young woman, so we can do no less than ask: What are you waiting for?" "If the specialists consulted have recommended almost unanimously that chemo be started immediately, why the delay? If the girl, her mother, her doctors and even the public health minister (Bautista Rojas Gomez) have requested the start of treatment, why not go ahead with it?" the group's members asked. This case, they said, "once more spotlights the humanitarian dilemmas, political trickery and legal confusion created" by Article 37 of the new constitution enacted in 2010. --IANS/EFE rd

Paris, July 8 (IANS/CMC) American Tyson Gay has declared the 100 metres at the London Olympics an open affair after winning the event at the Paris Diamond League. The former World champion was away from the blocks slowly but accelerated in mid-race to overhaul compatriot Justin Gatlin in the final metres and cross the line first in 9.99 seconds Friday. "There are a lot of people now in the 100m, it is open for the Games," said Gay. "(Usain) Bolt, (Yohan) Blake, (Justin) Gatlin, my training partner (Keston) Bledman. It will be spectacular." His comments come on the heels of a double defeat for reigning Olympic champion Bolt, at the Jamaica Olympic trials last weekend in Kingston. Blake won the event in a world-leading 9.75 seconds before returning to also win the 200 metres in another world-leading 19.80. The defeats for Bolt have heightened speculation over a changing of the guard at the London Olympics which begin July 27. Friday, Gay struggled over the first part of the race as Gatlin stormed to the early lead in race six. Over the last 40 metres, Gay hit back out of lane five to edge Gatlin on the line. "I tried to be patient. I'm strong mentally and ready for challenges. Trials was a faster race but here a better one for me technically," Gay said. "I feel pretty good considering I came back and made the team. I was under a lot of stress, mentally and physically, early in the season, but I feel a lot better now." Jamaican Nickel Ashmeade was fourth in 10.14 seconds with countryman Michael Frater fifth in 10.14. Trinidadian Richard Thompson, who took silver at the Beijing Olympics four years ago, was one from last in the nine-man field in a time of 10.20 seconds. In the women's 400 metres, Novlene Williams-Mills of Jamaica clinched second in a time of 49.95 as Botswana's Amantle Montsho came home first in 49.77. Another Jamaican, Rosemarie Whyte, finished fifth in 49.03 seconds. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico's Javier Culston clocked a world-leading 47.78 seconds to win the men's 400m hurdles, with Trinidadian Jehue Gordon fifth in 49.03. --IANS/CMC bs/vm

San Juan, July 4 (IANS/EFE) Spanish singer Natalia Jimenez is continuing to actively pursue her musical career via collaborations with Franco de Vita and Puerto Rican Daddy Yankee after making her debut as a judge on a talent programme in Barcelona. Jimenez said Tuesday in an interview with EFE from her home in Miami that she taped "Tan solo tu" with De Vita and worked on "La noche de los dos" with Daddy Yankee, a number that will come out on the reggaeton star's next album entitled "Prestige". The former lead singer of La Quinta Estacion has also collaborated with Ricky Martin and Marc Anthony. Regarding her participation in the first edition of the program "El numero uno", along with Miguel Bose, Ana Torroja, Sergio Dalma and David Bustamante, the 30-year-old Jimenez said that she was very grateful for the chance to be part of the panel of judges. The experience of being a judge was "super-great" and, at the same time, it gave her more television visibility in her country, which - she said - helped more people to become familiar with her. Among her plans for the future, Jimenez said she is launching a new album and added that she is immersed in the song-writing process. In addition, soon she will begin a show tour through several US cities including Dallas, Chicago and Anaheim, California, as well as in Venezuela. --IANS/EFE rd