Miami coach to return to Philippines with NBA trophy

MANILA -- Filipino-American Erik Spoelstra is set for another homecoming next month but this time, he will bring along the prestigious Larry O’ Brien trophy for sending Miami Heat to its second franchise championship in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Enrile nixes manual 2013 elections

MANILA -- Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile said Filipinos should no longer write their bets in a sheet of paper for the 2013 midterm elections since the law provides for full automation.

Reacting to a statement by Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes, Enrile said reverting to manual elections is not the way to go even if the poll body received lower allocation than expected.

7 Mexican miners killed in explosion

PIEDRAS NEGRAS, Mexico — Emergency personnel recovered the bodies of seven miners killed in a gas explosion Wednesday at a coal mine in northern Mexico.

The miners, aged 20 and 39, suffered severe burns and were crushed by falling rock, said Francisco Contreras Obregon, the head of the civil defense force in that part of northern Coahuila state.

PepsiCo profit hit as turnaround efforts continue

NEW YORK — PepsiCo's second-quarter results had some fizz, but very little pop.

The maker of brands such as Frito-Lay chips and Tropicana juices said Wednesday that its net income fell 21 percent but beat Wall Street estimates as it spent more on advertising to cement its brands in consumers' minds so that it can continue to raise prices.

Bieber paparazzo faces criminal charges in pursuit

LOS ANGELES — A paparazzo photographer faces criminal charges in connection with a high-speed chase of Justin Bieber earlier this month, marking the first use of a California state law designed to clamp down on photographers' reckless pursuit of celebrities.

The City Attorney's office on Wednesday filed four charges against Paul Raef, 30, including reckless driving with the intent to capture pictures for commercial gain, reckless driving, failure to obey a peace officer and following another vehicle too closely.

Toy maker sues Lady Gaga over bungled doll deal

NEW YORK — A toy company is suing Lady Gaga for more than $10 million, claiming the pop star sabotaged a deal to make a doll in her likeness that would play snippets of her music.

In a suit filed in New York City on Tuesday, MGA Entertainment, the maker of the popular Bratz doll line, said it paid a $1 million advance to the company that handles Gaga's merchandizing and spent a mint racing to meet deadlines to ship the dolls this summer.

Muhammad Ali gala kicks off Olympic party season

LONDON — Muhammad Ali was the star of a London charity gala Wednesday that set off the Olympic party season - though with a gentle jog rather than an A-list burst out of the blocks.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie failed to put in a much-anticipated appearance on the red carpet at the Sports for Peace fundraiser, where attendance started at 2,500 pounds ($3,900) a head.

Twitter partners with NBC for event page

LONDON — Michael Phelps sends pictures of his dogs in swimming gear. Jordyn Wieber and the rest of the U.S. gymnasts posed for a snapshot with Ryan Lochte. Track star Lolo Jones updates her followers on her training and television habits.

Many of the top Olympians have active Twitter accounts, and the social media website is hoping to capitalize on its growing popularity during the London Games.

Maguindanao massacre witnesses placed under guard

MANILA — Several witnesses to a 2009 election-related massacre of 57 people have been placed under government protection following a spate of killings of other witnesses to the country's worst political bloodletting in recent years, officials said Wednesday.

State prosecutor Peter Medalle said six witnesses have been added to the Department of Justice's witness protection program to ensure their safety. Additional protection has been given to at least four other witnesses already in the program, he said.

House sets date on termination of RH bill debate

MANILA -- The fate of the reproductive health (RH) bill will be known next week, when leaders of the House of Representatives meet to decide whether or not to end the debate on the highly divisive measure.

"At least this will give both sides time to marshal their people," House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II said in an ambush interview Wednesday.