world news

Trump's Panama City hotel remains open despite problems

PANAMA CITY –  If you can overlook the intermittently running water, Friday's four-hour power outage and occasional police presence in the lobby, the Trump hotel in Panama City retains its status as one of the city's finest. The hotel remains…

Crossover candidate livens up Venezuela's presidential race

CARACAS, Venezuela –  In another year, Henri Falcon might be just another middle-of-the-pack presidential candidate in Venezuela. He's far from the most popular opposition leader. He's a dull speechmaker. The parties that back him are small. He's managed to irritate…

China says defense budget to rise to $173 billion in 2018

BEIJING –  China's finance ministry says that the country's defense budget this year will rise 6 percent to 1.1 trillion yuan ($173 billion). The figure released Monday's report to the ceremonial National People's Congress is an increase of about $10…

Investigation: Drug enhanced Wiggins performance in Tour win

LONDON –  A British parliamentary committee alleges in a doping investigation report that Bradley Wiggins used a banned powerful corticosteroid to enhance his performance while preparing to win the Tour de France in 2012. The report accuses Team Sky of…

Greek protesters attack new religious instruction textbooks.

ATHENS –  About 2,000 people have marched to the Greek parliament to protest new school books they claim endanger faith in Orthodox Christianity, Greece's official religion. The protesters on Sunday included many Greek Orthodox priests and bishops. Some participants at…

The Latest: Cardinal Pell wears clerical collar to court

MELBOURNE, Australia –  The Latest on the court appearance of Cardinal George Pell over sex abuse charges (all times local): 9:45 a.m. Cardinal George Pell arrived at the Melbourne Magistrates Court in Australia wearing a clerical collar. There had been…

Cardinal to face Australian court on sex abuse charges

MELBOURNE, Australia –  The most senior Vatican official ever charged in the Catholic Church sex abuse crisis will appear in an Australian court in a hearing to determine whether prosecutors have sufficient evidence to try him. Australian Cardinal George Pell's…

Russian presidential candidate doused with water

In this handout photo released by Russian presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak's press service, Ksenia Sobchak, center, walks with a police officer after she was doused with water and knocked to the ground in an assault in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, March…

Man arrested with severed head in bag was a 'mama's boy'

Yevgeniy Vasilievich Bayraktar  (New York Post) A New York tourist who was arrested in Japan while carrying the severed head of a woman in his suitcase was a so-called “mama’s boy” and former member of the U.S. Air Force, the…

The Latest: Slovak PM rejects govt changes over slaying

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia –  The Latest on the slaying of journalist Jan Kuciak in Slovakia (all times local): 6:50 p.m. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has dismissed the president's proposals to resolve the crisis the political crisis resulting from the slayings…

Thousands protest possible change of Macedonia's name

SKOPJE, Macedonia –  Several thousand protesters in Macedonia have demanded that the government call off ongoing talks with neighboring Greece over a decades-long name dispute. Civic organizations joined under the motto "We are Macedonia" to organize a rally in the…

Saudi's powerful crown prince visits Egypt

CAIRO –  Saudi Arabia's powerful crown prince has arrived in Egypt for a visit meant to deepen the alliance between two of the region's powerhouses. Soon after Prince Mohammed bin Salman touched down in Cairo Sunday, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's…

As Italy votes, Europe fears populist, euroskeptic gains

Polling station workers prepare ballots in Rozzano, near Milan, Italy, on Saturday.  (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Italians were voting Sunday in one of the most uncertain elections in years and one that could determine if Italy succumbs to the populist, euroskeptic…

Poland building collapse leaves 4 dead, 24 injured

WARSAW, Poland –  Officials in Poland say four people have died and 24 have been injured in the collapse of an apartment block in the western city of Poznan.  A spokesman for the local firefighters, Slawomir Brandt, said 24 teams…