President Barack Obama announced Wednesday he is nominating former first daughter Caroline Kennedy as U.S. ambassador to Japan, offering the most famous living member of a prominent American family a new role of service to country.

Kennedy, an attorney and bestselling book editor, is being rewarded for helping put Obama in the White House, where her father served until his assassination 50 years ago. If confirmed, she would be the first woman in a post where many other prominent Americans have served to strengthen a vital Asian tie.

The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly approved continuing the National Security Agency's secret collection of hundreds of millions of Americans' phone records after a fierce debate pitting privacy rights against the government's efforts to thwart terrorism.

Wednesday night's 217-205 vote was unlikely to be the final word on government intrusion to defend the U.S. and Americans' civil liberties.

The broadcaster who has delivered British football results to global radio listeners for 40 years in a distinctive style has announced his final score.

James Alexander Gordon is retiring from the BBC because his voice is no longer strong enough following surgery to treat throat cancer, the broadcaster said Wednesday.

Barcelona fans were not the only ones surprised by the club's decision to appoint Gerardo Martino as coach.

Even the little known Argentine, who will replace Tito Vilanova, said he was caught off-guard when the club came calling.

A French inquiry into sports doping has uncovered proof that 1998 Tour de France champion Marco Pantani and runner-up Jan Ullrich used a banned blood booster to fuel their performances.

France's senate, after a five-month investigation focused on fighting sports doping, released a report Wednesday that demonstrates what many have long suspected: use of the banned substance EPO was rife in cycling in the late 1990s, before a test for the drug had been developed.

Early arrivals for the world championship diving in Barcelona are getting an odd treat this week: the chance to see eagles skimming over the azure water where divers will later launch themselves from up to 10 meters.

The birds' mission: patrol the airspace to keep away pesky seagulls and pigeons.

A year ago, Chad le Clos beat his idol Michael Phelps in the 200 butterfly at the London Olympics.

Now, with Phelps retired, the South African has to find new inspiration at the world championships, where the traditional pool events begin Sunday.

Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain arrived in Rome on Wednesday for a reported medical with Serie A runner-up Napoli.

The Argentina international was greeted by about 100 jubilant Napoli fans, waving club scarves and Argentina flags.

Olivia Munn's love for Wonder Woman may be no secret, but the actress doesn't think she'd be likely to play the superheroine on the big screen.

The Chinese-American Munn says she likely wouldn't be considered due to her heritage as well as competition from bigger-name actresses.

Juventus topped the 2012-13 Champions League prize money table, collecting more than 65.3 million euros ($86.3 million) from UEFA despite losing in the quarterfinals to eventual winner Bayern Munich.

UEFA published figures Tuesday showing that Bayern got 55 million euros ($77.7 million) in payments and bonuses, edging beaten finalist Borussia Dortmund (54.16 million euros; $71.55 million).