Mexican film wins top prize at Moscow International Film Festival while major studios boycott Russia

MOSCOW (AP) — A Mexican film has won the top prize Friday at the Moscow International Film Festival, which took place as major Western studios boycott the Russian market and as Russia's war in Ukraine grinds into its third year. “Shame,” a film by director Miguel Salgado and...

Antony Blinken meets with China's President Xi as US, China spar over bilateral and global issues

BEIJING (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Friday with Chinese President Xi Jinping and senior Chinese officials, stressing the importance of “responsibly managing” the differences between the United States and China as the two sides butted heads over a number of contentious...

Polish and Lithuanian leaders oversee military drills along their shared border

DIRMISKES, Lithuania (AP) — Polish President Andrzej Duda said Friday that “a potential aggressor must see our readiness" as he and his Lithuanian counterpart monitored a joint military drill along their shared border. Duda and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda met on the...

Third man is detained in a major bribery case that involves Russia's deputy defense minister

A third man has been detained in a bribery case involving one of Russia's most senior defense officials, Moscow's court service said Thursday. It said businessman Alexander Fomin is suspected of paying bribes to Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov, who was detained Wednesday, as...

Putin announces plans to visit China in May

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday he plans to visit China in May, in what could become the first foreign trip for the Russian leader after he extended his rule by six more years in an election that offered voters little real choice. Putin announced the plans for the...

Not every WNBA draft pick will make her team's roster. Here's why

The WNBA draft is over, and superstars like No. 1 pick Caitlin Clark are heading toward surefire pro careers. Not all 36 selections from his year's draft will have such assurances. The league has 144 coveted roster spots among 12 teams, and other options for pro careers in women’s...

A US citizen facing drug charges in Russia appears in court. His case was adjourned until mid-May

MOSCOW (AP) — A U.S. citizen arrested on drug charges in Moscow amid soaring Russia-U.S. tensions appeared in court on Thursday and had his case adjourned until mid-May. Robert Woodland is facing charges of trafficking large amounts of illegal drugs as part of an organized group...

German lawmakers assail far-right party over alleged China, Russia links following spying arrest

BERLIN (AP) — The German government and opposition lawmakers assailed the far-right Alternative for Germany for its alleged closeness to Russia and China Thursday after an assistant to a legislator for the party was arrested on suspicion of spying for Beijing. This week's arrest of...

A Russian actress who called for peace was fined for hosting an 'almost naked' party

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A Moscow court on Thursday imposed a 50,000-ruble ($560) fine on a TV presenter and actress who gained notoriety for hosting an “almost naked” party, saying her social media posts calling for peace discredited the military. Anastasia Ivleeva sparked an...

Russian attack on NATO would end in defeat for Moscow, Polish foreign minister says, but NATO must increase its defenses