Poor Albanian town pins tourism hopes on communist tunnels
March 31, 2023 GMTKUKES, Albania (AP) — If you'd like to walk for miles in concrete burrows built to defend an isolationist totalitarian regime that nobody wanted to attack, Kukes in northeastern Albania is the place for you.
Dior transforms Mumbai’s Gateway of India into fashion ramp
March 31, 2023 GMTMUMBAI, India (AP) — In a glittering splash of luxury fashion, Dior transformed Mumbai’s grand, historic Gateway of India monument into a runway laden with celebrity, beauty and craftsmanship.
52 years after capture, orca Lolita may return to Pacific
March 31, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — More than 50 years after the orca known as Lolita was captured for public display, plans are in place to return her from the Miami Seaquarium to her home waters in the Pacific Northwest, where a nearly century-old, endangered killer whale believed to be her mother still swims.
Gwyneth Paltrow’s ski trial defense leans heavily on experts
March 30, 2023 GMTPARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Gwyneth Paltrow's attorneys came close to wrapping up their case on Wednesday by relying on more experts to mount their defense on the seventh day of trial over her 2016 ski collision with a 76-year-old retired optometrist.
Louvre staff block entrances as part of pension protest
March 27, 2023 GMTPARIS (AP) — The Louvre Museum in Paris was closed to the public on Monday when its workers took part in the wave of French protest strikes against the government's unpopular pension reform plans.
Dozens of Louvre employees blocked the entrance, prompting the museum to announce it would be temporarily closed.
Strike over pay paralyzes rail, air travel in Germany
March 27, 2023 GMTBERLIN (AP) — Trains, planes and public transit systems stood still across much of Germany on Monday as labor unions called a major one-day strike over salaries in an effort to win inflation-busting raises for their members.
Lisa Marie Presley will be buried at Graceland next to son
January 13, 2023 GMTMEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Lisa Marie Presley will be buried at Graceland, the famed home of Elvis Presley that on Friday became a gathering place for fans distraught over her death a day earlier.
United Airlines flight makes emergency landing in Houston
March 29, 2023 GMTHOUSTON (AP) — A United Airlines flight bound from Houston to Rio de Janeiro has returned to Bush Intercontinental Airport for an emergency landing shortly after takeoff, the airline said.
Flight 129 returned to the airport Tuesday night because of “a mechanical issue,” according to a statement from United Airlines.
Buttigieg touts airport projects to boost safety, efficiency
March 30, 2023 GMTFORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — The federal government is spending more money on improvements at Dallas-Fort Worth International and other airports that officials say will increase safety by reducing the number of times that planes on the ground must taxi across active runways.
Queen and Adam Lambert eager for their post-pandemic tour
March 28, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Queen and Adam Lambert are hitting the road this fall for a North American expansion of their Rhapsody Tour, with a freshly minted knight onstage and plenty of post-pandemic energy.
US tourist shot in leg at Mexican resort of Puerto Morelos
March 29, 2023 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — A U.S. tourist was shot in the leg by unidentified assailants at a resort town on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, prosecutors in the coastal state of Quintana Roo said Tuesday.
They said the shooting occurred in the low-key town of Puerto Morelos, just south of Cancun.
Congress to consider new no-fly list for unruly passengers
March 29, 2023 GMTU.S. Senate and House members proposed a new no-fly list for unruly passengers on Wednesday, an idea that was pushed by airline unions but failed to gain traction last year.
The legislation would let the Transportation Security Administration ban people convicted or fined for assaulting or interfering with airline crew members.
Residents protest zipline on Rio’s iconic Sugarloaf Mountain
March 27, 2023 GMTSome 200 protesters gathered beneath Rio de Janeiro's world-famous Sugarloaf Mountain to protest the ongoing construction of ziplines aimed at boosting tourism, alleging it will cause unacceptable impacts.
Travel disruption hits Germany on eve of transport strike
March 26, 2023 GMTBERLIN (AP) — An increased number of travelers in Germany boarded trains and planes on Sunday, a day before a major one-day strike that aims to bring the country's transportation system to a standstill.
Technical issues at Lufthansa cause delays in Frankfurt
March 26, 2023 GMTBERLIN (AP) — Lufthansa's operations were disrupted Sunday at Frankfurt airport because of technical problems, German news agency dpa reported.
Check-in systems on the airline's website and at the counter, as well as boarding, were affected at Germany's biggest airport, a Lufthansa spokeswoman told dpa.
Jet pitched wildly, killing 1, amid cockpit warnings: NTSB
March 25, 2023 GMTHARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A business jet flying over New England violently pitched upward then downward, fatally injuring a passenger, after pilots responding to automated cockpit warnings switched off a system that helps keep the aircraft stable, U.S.
Short on planes, American will suspend some flights to Spain
March 25, 2023 GMTFORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — American Airlines said Friday that it will suspend flights between Philadelphia and Madrid for a few weeks this spring because of delays in receiving new Boeing jets that have been plagued by production problems.
Airline passenger honored for tackling man in flight attack
March 24, 2023 GMTEXETER, N.H. (AP) — An airline passenger who helped tackle a man trying stab a flight attendant with a broken metal spoon was honored Friday by his hometown police department in New Hampshire.
Jeff Neil, a former bouncer who now works for a software company, received the “Citizen Award” for his actions earlier this month, which were caught on video by another passenger.
Art duo Gilbert and George get their own gallery in London
March 24, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — Artists, if they have really made a mark, might get a gallery dedicated to their work once they are gone.
Gilbert and George don’t want to wait that long.
The dapper duo, who have been creating beguiling and unsettling art together for over half a century, have poured their own time and money into the Gilbert and George Center, a permanent exhibition and research space devoted to their work.
Review: Broadway’s ‘Bad Cinderella’ gets lost in the woods
March 24, 2023 GMTAs you settle into your seat at Broadway's “Bad Cinderella,” the subtle sound of piped-in birdsong greets you. Enjoy it while you can. The next few hours will be a frantic onslaught.
Feet for a king: Westminster Abbey to offer barefoot tours
March 24, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — People who visit London's Westminster Abbey after the coronation of King Charles III will be allowed to stand on the exact spot where he was crowned, but they will need to make sure they don't have holes in their socks for the shoeless tour, designed to protect the abbey's medieval mosaic floor.
German unions call for wide-ranging transport strike Monday
March 23, 2023 GMTBERLIN (AP) — German unions are calling on thousands of workers across the country's transport system to stage a one-day strike on Monday that is expected to bring widespread disruption to planes, trains and local transit.
Once a TV show, ‘Smash’ to make its Broadway bow in 2024
March 22, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — The glitzy, fictional Broadway musical about the life of Marilyn Monroe that formed the heart of the TV show “Smash” will make the leap to an actual Broadway stage next season.
Producers said Wednesday that “Smash” is slated for Broadway in the 2024-25 season, welcome news to many of the show's fans and the Broadway community who embraced its look at the inner workings of their industry.
After Greek rail disaster, trains gradually restart
March 22, 2023 GMTATHENS, Greece (AP) — Train services in Greece resumed Wednesday for the first time since a deadly rail disaster three weeks ago, and just a day after the embattled conservative prime minister announced an early election for May.
AP PHOTOS: Marseille carnival melds resistance with revelry
March 22, 2023 GMTMARSEILLE, France (AP) — On a sunny afternoon in the center of Marseille in southern France, traffic was stopped as the sound of drumming and a swarm of rollicking beasts filled the streets.
No telling how much more snow coming for Sierra Nevada
March 21, 2023 GMTRENO, Nev. (AP) — No one really knows how much snow fell on the infamous Donner Party when the pioneers were trapped atop the Sierra Nevada for months and dozens died near Lake Tahoe in the winter of 1846-47.
Get sett for delays: Badgers burrow under Dutch train tracks
March 21, 2023 GMTTHE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Badgers burrowing under rail tracks have halted trains in the northern and southern Netherlands, forcing lengthy cancellations on at least two lines.
All trains were halted Tuesday afternoon on a busy line between the southern cities of Den Bosch and Boxtel after the animals dug into a dike carrying rails.
Van Zweden to end NY Philharmonic tenure with Mahler’s 2nd
March 21, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Jaap van Zweden will conduct Mahler’s Second Symphony in his farewell concerts as the New York Philharmonic’s music director from June 6-8, 2024, ending a season that will spotlight the 100th anniversary of the orchestra’s Young People’s Concerts.
Miami Beach struggles with spring break violence, big crowds
March 20, 2023 GMTMIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) — For the third year in a row, Miami Beach finds itself struggling with spring break violence, including two fatal shootings and unruly crowds, despite a massive police presence and activities designed to give people alternatives to drinking alcohol and roaming the streets.
Mae Muller wrote a song, now represents UK at Eurovision
March 20, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — Mae Muller wrote a song. Only a few days later, Eurovision came calling.
“I Wrote a Song” is representing the U.K. at the Eurovision Song Contest, whose semifinals start in 50 days.
Lebanon to construct new terminal at Beirut airport
March 20, 2023 GMTBEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon will construct a $122 million terminal at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport to be operated by a leading Irish airport company when it's completed in four years, officials said Monday.
Their world was the oyster: Oldest pearl town found in UAE
March 20, 2023 GMTSINIYAH ISLAND, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Archaeologists said Monday they have found the oldest pearling town in the Persian Gulf on an island off one of the northern sheikhdoms of the United Arab Emirates.
2 skiers missing in avalanche near Mont Blanc
March 19, 2023 GMTROME (AP) — Rescue teams were searching Sunday for two skiers who were caught in an avalanche near Mont Blanc on Italy’s northern border with France, local authorities said.
Two surviving off-piste skiers sounded the alarm shortly after the 1 p.m.
Tourists hoping to see Arizona falls forced out by flooding
March 19, 2023 GMTPHOENIX (AP) — Shannon Castellano and Travis Methvin should have spent this weekend seeing world-famous waterfalls on the Havasupai Tribe Reservation in northern Arizona.
Instead, the two friends from San Diego spent Friday night along with 40 other hikers camped out on a helipad.
US warns about fake, dangerous pills being sold in Mexico
March 18, 2023 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — The U.S. State Department has issued a travel warning about dangerous counterfeit pills being sold at pharmacies in Mexico that often contain fentanyl.
The travel alert posted Friday says Americans should “exercise caution when purchasing medication in Mexico.”
1 dead, 1 hurt in shooting during Miami Beach spring break
March 18, 2023 GMTMIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Gunfire erupted in an area of Miami Beach crowded with people on spring break, killing one person, wounding another and sending dozens scrambling for safety, police said.
Two males were shot Friday night, and one person was detained at the scene, the Miami Beach Police Department tweeted.
Heathrow security guards to strike for 10 days over Easter
March 18, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — Security guards at London's Heathrow Airport will walk off their jobs for 10 days over the Easter break, the latest in a wave of strike action to affect the U.K.
Lights out for Philly’s famous Boathouse Row, for now
March 18, 2023 GMTThe bright lights of Philadelphia’s famous Boathouse Row — long one of the city’s signature nighttime sights — are going dark, at least for now.
Outlining a cluster of historic boathouses along the Schuylkill River near the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the twinkly lights reflect off the water and give definition to the unique architecture of each building.
In Rome, church and state agree to Pantheon entrance fee
March 16, 2023 GMTROME (AP) — Tourists in Rome checking out the Pantheon, Italy's most-visited cultural site, will soon be charged a 5-euro ($5.28) entrance fee under an agreement signed Thursday by Italian culture and church officials.
Iranians facing economic crisis find little New Year’s cheer
March 16, 2023 GMTDUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran's bazaars are packed ahead of the Persian New Year next week, but there's little holiday cheer as customers survey the soaring prices of meat and holiday treats, wondering if they can afford either.
Stephen Sondheim’s last musical finds a New York City stage
March 16, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — The late Stephen Sondheim's last stage musical — an adaptation of two films by Spanish surrealist director Luis Buñuel — will be given an off-Broadway stage this year, offering theatergoers a chance to see a new work by musical theater’s most venerated composer.
In low-wage Portugal, Europe’s housing crisis bites deep
March 16, 2023 GMTLISBON, Portugal (AP) — Like a growing number of people in Portugal, Georgina Simoes no longer earns enough money to afford a place to live.
Judge: Miami Beach can end liquor sales in area at 2 a.m.
March 15, 2023 GMTMIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Miami Beach officials can move forward with plans to end alcohol sales after 2 a.m. in certain parts of South Beach, an internationally famous tourist spot.
A Miami-Dade circuit judge ruled against a challenge by Story nightclub on Tuesday to an ordinance passed last month by Miami Beach city commissioners, according to court records.
Albania declares new national river park, backs airport plan
March 15, 2023 GMTTIRANA, Albania (AP) — The Albanian government on Wednesday formally designated the Vjosa River and its tributaries a national park, starting with an investment of some $80 million (75 million euros) to stop wastewater being poured into the river.
Electric car stores will be restricted in Mississippi
March 15, 2023 GMTJACKSON, Miss (AP) — Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves signed a bill Tuesday restricting electric car manufacturers from selling vehicles in person unless they open franchised dealerships.
Defying calls from some fellow Republicans in the Legislature to veto the measure, Reeves enacted into law House Bill 401, introduced by Republican Rep.
Garbage tarnishes Paris luster as pension strike continues
March 14, 2023 GMTPARIS (AP) — The City of Light is losing its luster with tons of garbage piling up on Paris sidewalks as sanitation workers were on strike for a ninth day Tuesday. The creeping squalor is the most visible sign of widespread anger over a bill to raise the French retirement age by two years.
Assault on archaeologist triggers protests in Greece
March 14, 2023 GMTATHENS, Greece (AP) — State-employed archaeologists in Greece launched strike action Tuesday to protest an assault on an archaeologist responsible for the resort island of Mykonos, an attack they say may have been linked to commercial pressure to extend tourism development.
China to reopen to tourists, resume all visas Wednesday
March 14, 2023 GMTHONG KONG (AP) — China will reopen its borders to tourists and resume issuing all visas Wednesday as it tries to revive tourism and its economy following a three-year halt during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Do-not-eat listing draws lawsuit from Maine lobster industry
March 13, 2023 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A coalition representing the Maine lobster industry is suing an aquarium on the other side of the country for recommending that seafood customers avoid buying a variety of lobster mostly harvested in their state.
Threat on United Airlines plane shuts down Vermont airport
March 13, 2023 GMTSOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A threat aboard a United Airlines aircraft prompted a massive emergency response that shut down Vermont's international airport for about three hours before authorities determined the plane to be safe.
Fire damages part of Cambodian king’s residence near temple
March 13, 2023 GMTPHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Fire damaged part of the provincial residence of Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni near a famous temple complex, officials said Monday. No injuries have been reported.
The blaze broke out on Sunday night in the northwestern city of Siem Reap, damaging the roof of one of the smaller buildings in the complex.
Thousands take part in new Greece protest over train crash
March 12, 2023 GMTATHENS, Greece (AP) — Thousands of people protested on Sunday against safety deficiencies in Greece’s railway network nearly two weeks after dozens were killed in the country's deadliest train crash.
2 foreign tourists die in Kenya nature reserve crash
March 12, 2023 GMTNAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Two foreign tourists, German and Swiss nationals, have died after the vehicle they were traveling in veered off the road and overturned in Kenya’s Maasai Mara national reserve, police said Sunday.
Storm breaches California river’s levee, thousands evacuate
March 12, 2023 GMTWATSONVILLE, Calif. (AP) — A Northern California agricultural community famous for its strawberry crop was forced to evacuate early Saturday after the Pajaro River’s levee was breached by flooding from a new atmospheric river that pummeled the state.
Burning eyes, dead fish; red tide flares up on Florida coast
March 11, 2023 GMTSARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Residents are complaining about burning eyes and breathing problems. Dead fish have washed up on beaches. A beachside festival has been canceled, even though it wasn't scheduled for another month.
Atmospheric river floods California towns, brings rain, snow
March 11, 2023 GMTSANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — More than 9,000 California residents were under evacuation orders Friday as a new atmospheric river brought heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds, swelling rivers and creeks and flooding several major highways and small rural communities.
Wife sues over meteorologist’s death in NC helicopter crash
March 10, 2023 GMTThe family of a meteorologist who was killed last year in a helicopter crash in North Carolina is suing a maintenance facility and the companies that owned and operated the aircraft.
Schools shut, drivers stuck as gales and blizzards batter UK
March 10, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — Trains were canceled, some schools were shut and drivers were stuck for hours on a major highway as a blast of snow and wind hit Britain on Friday for the second time in a week.
The weather system, named Storm Larisa by meteorologists, brought gales and blizzards to much of the country.
Mental evaluation ordered for man accused in flight attack
March 9, 2023 GMTBOSTON (AP) — A man charged with attacking a flight attendant and attempting to open an airliner’s emergency door on a cross-country flight over the weekend remained in custody Thursday after a federal court ordered him to undergo a mental health evaluation.
Indonesia unveils construction site of new capital city
March 9, 2023 GMTPENAJAM PASER UTARA, Indonesia (AP) — Orange-red ground has been broken in the jungle of East Borneo, where the Indonesian government has begun construction of its new capital city.
Berlin to let everyone go topless at public swimming pools
March 9, 2023 GMTBERLIN (AP) — Women in Berlin will soon be allowed to go topless at the city's public swimming pools, like men, the Berlin state government said Thursday.
The new bathing rules allowing everyone to go swimming without covering their torsos followed a discrimination complaint by a woman who was not allowed to go topless in a swimming pool in the capital.
Founder of Love’s Travel Stops dies in Oklahoma at age 85
March 8, 2023 GMTOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores says the founder of the truck stop chain known for its red and yellow heart logo, “Clean Places, Friendly Faces” motto and in-store showers has died.
How passengers teamed up to restrain man on chaotic flight
March 8, 2023 GMTBOSTON (AP) — A passenger who helped restrain a threatening man on a weekend flight from Los Angeles to Boston said Tuesday that the entire chaotic episode was over within seconds thanks to teamwork.
Eruption at Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano stops after 61 days
March 7, 2023 GMTHONOLULU (AP) — The latest eruption at Kilauea’s summit on Hawaii's has paused after 61 days of volcanic activity.
U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists said Tuesday lava was no longer flowing on the crater floor of Halemaumau, where all recent volcanic activity had been confined, Hawaii News Now reported.
Taylor Swift, Pink to be honored at 2023 iHeartRadio Awards
March 7, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Taylor Swift will receive the 2023 iHeartRadio Innovator Award at the iHeartRadio Music Awards later this month, which will feature performances by Kelly Clarkson, Keith Urban, Pat Benatar, Muni Long, Cody Johnson, Coldplay and Pink, who is this year's Icon Award recipient.
Man accused of trying to open jet’s door, attacking crew
March 7, 2023 GMTBOSTON (AP) — A Massachusetts man tried to open an airliner's emergency door on a cross-country flight from Los Angeles to Boston and then tried to stab a flight attendant in the neck with a broken metal spoon, federal prosecutors alleged Monday.
Californians still digging out from severe snowfall
March 7, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Residents of Southern California mountain towns have continued to struggle to dig out and get necessities in the aftermath of a record-setting blizzard last month that dumped so much snow that roads became impassable and roofs collapsed.
FAA says it fixed issue that delayed some Florida flights
March 7, 2023 GMTThe Federal Aviation Administration said Monday it fixed a radar issue that caused it to halt flights to and from parts of South Florida for about an hour.
The FAA did not describe the radar problem in detail, but a spokesman said it affected air-route traffic control centers in Miami and Jacksonville.
In ‘junk fee’ fight, US details airline family seating rules
March 6, 2023 GMTThe Transportation Department is rolling out a “dashboard” to let travelers see at a glance which airlines help families with young children sit together at no extra cost.
The announcement Monday comes as the department works on regulations to prevent families from being separated on planes.
Self-taught chefs win coveted stars from Michelin Guide
March 6, 2023 GMTSTRASBOURG, France (AP) — If your secret wish is to get a reward, not just family compliments, for your talents in the kitchen, then Georgiana Viou might serve as inspiration.
The self-taught chef from the west African country of Benin, who came to Paris dreaming of becoming an interpreter, was awarded a star on Monday by the Michelin Guide, the bible of gastronomy, for her cuisine at “Rouge,” a restaurant in the southwestern French city of Nimes.
Paris: Notre Dame Cathedral set to reopen in December 2024
March 6, 2023 GMTPARIS (AP) — The reconstruction of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is going fast enough to allow its reopening to visitors and faithful at the end of 2024, less than six years after a fire ravaged its roof, French officials said Monday.
Stationmaster charged in Greece train crash that killed 57
March 5, 2023 GMTATHENS, Greece (AP) — A stationmaster accused of causing Greece's deadliest train disaster was charged with negligent homicide and jailed pending trial Sunday, while Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis apologized for any responsibility Greece's government may bear for the tragedy.
1 killed when business jet encounters severe turbulence
March 4, 2023 GMTWINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. (AP) — A business jet was buffeted by severe turbulence over New England, causing a rare passenger death and forcing the aircraft to divert to Bradley International Airport in Connecticut, officials said Saturday.
Station master in Greece train crash delays court appearance
March 4, 2023 GMTATHENS, Greece (AP) — The station master involved in Greece’s deadliest train crash is set to appear before a prosecutor and an examining magistrate Sunday after his deposition was postponed Saturday.
Some California mountain residents could be snowed in a week
March 4, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Some residents stranded in Southern California mountain communities by a huge snowfall could be stuck for another week, an official said Friday.
A late-February blast of arctic air produced a rare blizzard east of Los Angeles in the San Bernardino Mountains, where thousands of people live at high elevations in forest communities or visit for year-round recreation.
John Mellencamp donates archives to Indiana University
March 3, 2023 GMTBLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Hoosier rocker John Mellencamp is donating an archived collection of his life and work to Indiana University, IU President Pamela Whitten announced Friday.
The collection will include original creative works, photographs, instruments and other significant memorabilia related to his music, artwork, social activism and philanthropy, Whitten said.
Close call, turbulent flight add to aviation safety concerns
March 2, 2023 GMTFederal officials have begun investigating a close call between planes in Boston, and they provided new details Thursday about a harrowing incident at an airport in Texas.
Meteorologist: West Coast snowfall is ‘once in a generation’
March 2, 2023 GMTPortland, Oregon received nearly a foot of snow in a single day in what proved to be its second-snowiest day in history. Mountainous areas of California experienced nearly unprecedented snowfall accumulations - more than 40 feet since the start of the season.
Lufthansa flight diverted after turbulence, 7 hospitalized
March 2, 2023 GMTDULLES, Va. (AP) — A Lufthansa flight that experienced “significant turbulence” was diverted to Washington Dulles International Airport and seven people on board were taken to area hospitals, officials said.