PHOTO COLLECTION: Spain Catalonia Human Tower

This German church is the tallest in the world. Until Spain's La Sagrada Familia is done, anyway

ULM, Germany (AP) — The Ulmer Münster in southern Germany is the world's tallest church. For now, anyway. The Gothic-style Lutheran church's reign — begun in May 31, 1890 — could end in 2025, when La Sagrada Familia Basilica's “Tower of Jesus Christ” in Spain is set to be...

US opts out of running for reelection on UN Human Rights Council

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has decided not to seek a second consecutive term on the much-maligned U.N. Human Rights Council, the State Department said Monday. The administration had made U.S. membership on the Geneva-based council a priority when it took office in...

Book Review: 'The Last Dream,' short stories scattered with the seeds of Pedro Almodovar films

The seeds of Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar's later cinematic work are scattered throughout the pages of “The Last Dream,” his newly published collection of short writings. The stories and essays were gathered together by Almodóvar's longtime assistant, including many...

Awareness of 'Latinx' increases among US Latinos, and 'Latine' emerges as an alternative

“Latino” and “Hispanic” have long been the most prominent terms used to describe people in the U.S. with roots in Latin America and Spain. But over the last several years, “Latinx” has become a de-facto gender neutral alternative to Latino and Hispanic, according to a new study by race...

IOC candidate Samaranch urges European lawmakers to invest in sport as a public health policy

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — IOC presidential candidate Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. has urged European lawmakers to regard investing in sport as a public health policy in his first keynote speech of a six-month Olympic leadership campaign. “Let’s make this simple: Sport saves lives...

Spain arrests suspect in February speedboat crash that killed 2 police officers

MADRID (AP) — Spanish authorities arrested a 32-year-old man for the death of two police officers in February when a speedboat suspected to belong to drug smugglers smashed into their patrol craft, Spain’s Civil Guard said Thursday. The incident occurred on Feb 9, when the Civil...

Portugal declares a state of calamity as wildfires rage out of control

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — More than 100 wildfires stretched thousands of firefighters to the limit in northern Portugal on Wednesday, with seven deaths since the worst spate of fires in recent years spread out of control over the weekend. Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro...

Venezuela's government says fourth US citizen was detained in alleged plot to kill President Maduro

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s government Tuesday announced the arrest of a fourth U.S. citizen in connection with an alleged plot to kill President Nicolás Maduro in which authorities claim the CIA, Spain’s intelligence agency, organized crime groups, sex workers and members of the...

Wildfires in Portugal blamed for at least six deaths as Europe sends aircraft to help

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Five thousand firefighters struggled Tuesday to contain multiple wildfires raging across northern Portugal that are blamed for causing at least six deaths including four firefighters and forcing an unknown number of residents to flee their homes. Some 100...