VATICAN CITY – A Vatican archbishop on Thursday lamented a possible flood of prostitutes into Germany for the World Cup, saying it cheapened the dignity of women, “who cost less than a ticket to a soccer game.” Archbishop Agostino Marchetto, a top official of the pontifical council for the care …

SHANGHAI, China – Scientists using DNA samples have doubled their estimates of the wild panda population in a nature sanctuary in China, in a finding they say bodes well for the survival of one of the world’s endangered species. The researchers believe that as few as 66 and as many …

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – A former teacher who admitted killing a teenager and eating parts of his body 27 years ago still belongs in a secured mental ward, two psychiatrists told a judge. Dr. Khin Myo testified Wednesday that Albert Fentress did not currently display symptoms of major mental illness but …

MEXICO CITY – Mexico‘s presidential candidates wrapped up months of mudslinging with final campaign rallies Wednesday, with left-leaning Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and conservative Felipe Calderon locked in a tight race. Lopez Obrador, a former Mexico City mayor, chose Mexico City’s main square for his final appeal to voters, while …

CAIRO, Egypt – Usama bin Laden paid tribute to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in a new audio message Friday and said the slain Al Qaeda in Iraq leader had been under orders to kill Iraqis who supported U.S. forces in the country. In the 19-minute message, bin Laden also demanded that …

NEW YORK – As far as proms go, this one had a whole lot more to offer than slow-dances and Kool-Aid … or at least a group of pranksters said it did. Perplexed parents of students at Daniel Hand High School in Madison, Conn., were less than pleased when they …

JOHNSTON, R.I. – When the letter arrived at Dave Kane’s home, a single page of unadorned cursive script, he had to struggle through tears to read it to his wife. “To Nick O’Neill’s family and friends,” began the letter from Daniel Biechele. “Please allow me to start by apologizing for …

CHICAGO – Younger black women who get breast cancer are far more likely than other afflicted women to have a particularly aggressive and lethal form of the disease, a study found. The findings suggest that biology may help explain why breast cancer is deadlier in black women younger than 55 …

WASHINGTON – Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said Wednesday that while the country has been able to absorb sharp increases in oil prices, the high energy costs are beginning to stunt economic growth. But he also said that sharply higher oil prices have not produced any “serious erosion” of …

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The person who fatally shot the founder of SunCruz Casinos in 2001 was killed three years ago, a partner in the purchase of the gambling boat company reportedly told authorities. Adam Kidan, who purchased the casino with lobbyist Jack Abramoff in 2000, told authorities in a …