Tokyo Olympics could cut ‘extras’ in face of soaring costs
TOKYO — Tokyo Olympic organizers and the IOC said Thursday they will cut some of the extras out of next year’s postponed games, an attempt to limit wh...
Belgian bluebells are too beautiful to see during pandemic
HALLE, Belgium — When nature is at its brightest this year, it needs to be hidden from sight.
Veteran’s garden walk raises $16M for UK health service
LONDON — A 99-year-old World War II veteran has completed his quest to walk 100 laps of his garden in eastern England and raised almost 13 million pou...
Israeli president asks parliament to choose prime minister
JERUSALEM — Israel’s president Thursday asked the Knesset to choose a new prime minister, giving parliament three weeks to agree upon a leader or plun...
With price high, Thais with dwindling incomes sell off gold
Bangkok — With gold prices rising to a seven-year high, many Thais have been flocking to gold shops to trade in their necklaces, bracelets, rings and ...
High-level North Korean defector wins South parliament seat
SEOUL, South Korea — A former senior North Korean diplomat won a constituency seat in South Korea’s parliamentary elections, the first such achievemen...
Coronavirus could erode global fight against other diseases
NEW DELHI — Lavina D’Souza hasn’t been able to collect her government-supplied anti-HIV medication since the abrupt lockdown of India's 1.3 billion pe...
Trump says new guidelines aim to lift some restrictions
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said he's prepared to announce new guidelines allowing some states to quickly ease up on social distancing even as...
South Korean ruling party wins vote held amid virus fears
SEOUL, South Korea — The ruling liberal party secured a resounding victory in South Korea’s parliamentary elections, which had the highest turnout in ...
AP Interview: Governor says Brazil has ‘Bolsonaro-virus’
SAO PAULO — After a heated confrontation with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro last month over his lackadaisical approach to the coronavirus, govern...
Chris Cuomo says his wife, like him, has the coronavirus
NEW YORK — Chris Cuomo, who late last month revealed he had tested positive for the coronavirus, said his wife Cristina has now also been infected.
Trump threatens to bypass Senate rules on nominees
WASHINGTON — Citing the coronavirus, Donald Trump is threatening unprecedented action — adjourning both houses of Congress — to entice the Senate to a...
Navy hospital ship in Los Angeles might scale back mission
WASHINGTON — The USNS Mercy hospital ship docked in Los Angeles may be able to scale back its medical operation a bit over the next week as the corona...
Navajo Nation extends weekend lockdowns as virus cases rise
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — The Navajo Nation has extended its weekend lockdowns preventing people from leaving their homes, except in emergencies, on the vast...
US judge cancels permit for Keystone XL pipeline from Canada
BILLINGS, Mont. — A U.S. judge canceled a key permit Wednesday for the Keystone XL oil pipeline that’s expected to stretch from Canada to Nebraska, an...
Guatemala expands testing of deportees arriving from US
GUATEMALA CITY — Guatemala has started testing all deportees arriving on flights from the United States for COVID-19 if anyone on their flight tests p...
Justice Dept. watchdog to inspect prisons amid virus spread
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department’s inspector general will conduct remote inspections of Bureau of Prisons facilities to ensure they are following b...
Thousands protest Michigan governor’s social distance order
LANSING, Mich. — Thousands of flag-waving, honking protesters drove past the Michigan Capitol on Wednesday to show their displeasure with Gov. Gretche...
Nevada gearing up for coronavirus, whether wave comes or not
RENO, Nev. — Nevada health officials are moving toward opening several hundred temporary hospital beds within days to handle a potential surge of coro...
France urging top powers to endorse UN virus cease-fire call
PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron says he hopes that “in the coming days” the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council can discuss a...
Powerful GOP allies propel Trump effort to reopen economy
WASHINGTON — Leading Republicans say the coronavirus shutdown cannot go on. Car-honking activists swarmed a statehouse Wednesday to protest stay-home ...
Explosion caught on video damages paper mill; no one hurt
PORTLAND, Maine — An explosion at a paper mill in Maine shook the ground Wednesday and produced a plume of black smoke that was visible for miles arou...
Soft-serve defiance: Ice cream trucks ply Brooklyn streets
NEW YORK — Usually a welcome harbinger of spring and summer, Mister Softee's signature jingle has made a startling juxtaposition to the piercing wails...
Commissioners tell VP no football before campuses open
The commissioners of the nation's major college football conferences held a 30-minute conference call Wednesday with Vice President Mike Pence and str...
WHO, allies lament Trump cut to US funding as virus rages
GENEVA — The head of the World Health Organization on Wednesday lamented the U.S. decision to halt funding for the U.N. agency, promising a review of ...
‘A crisis like no other’: IMF facing huge demand for support
WASHINGTON — The head of the International Monetary Fund said Wednesday that the lending agency is facing huge demand for support from its members dur...
Fed notes what most Americans see: A sharp economic downturn
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve is noting what most Americans are already acutely aware of: Economic activity contracted sharply and abruptly cross a...
Film Review: A sober diplomacy drama in ‘Sergio’
The United Nations diplomat Sérgio Vieira de Mello has been described as a cross between James Bond and Bobby Kennedy, which sounds like a compelling ...
WWE cuts wrestlers after Florida deems it ‘essential’
STAMFORD, Conn — WWE started releasing professional wrestlers on Wednesday in budget cuts related to the coronavirus pandemic.
Little League World Series faces 0-2 count amid coronavirus
Put them in, coach. The boys and girls of summer are ready to play.