MADURO WINS MARRED VOTE IN VENEZUELA

» Venezuelan CARACAS, VENEZUELA officials declared socialist leader Nicolas Maduro the easy winner of Sunday’s presidential election, while his leading challenger questioned the legitimacy of a vote marred by irregularities and called for a new ballot to prevent a brewing social crisis from exploding.

The National Election Council announced that with almost 93 percent of polling stations reporting, Maduro won nearly 68 percent of the votes, beating nearest challenger Henri Falcon by more than 40 points.

The disputed victory is likely to heighten international pressure on Maduro, as voter turnout was the lowest in a presidential race since the start of Venezuela’s leftist revolution two decades ago. Even as voting was taking place Sunday, a senior State Department official warned that the U.S. might press ahead on threats of imposing crippling oil sanctions.

‘Deadpool 2’ ends Avengers’ box-office reign, rakes in $125M.

LOS

» Deadpool and ANGELES his foul-mouthed crew of misfits and malcontents have taken down the Avengers.

Fox's “Deadpool 2” brought in $125 million this weekend, giving it the second-highest opening ever for an R-rated movie and ending the threeweek reign of Disney’s “Avengers: Infinity War” at the top of the North American box office, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Insect ambassadors: Honeybees buzz on Berlin cathedral.

BERLIN

» On the roof of Berlin's cathedral, bees are buzzing.

Beekeeper Uwe Marth pulls out a honeycomb produced in the hive he tends beneath the dome of the neo-baroque landmark, a tourist magnet in the German capital — and home to perhaps 30,000 bees. On a warm but windy May day, the insects have been busy feeding on chestnut blossoms, the trees of the Unter den Linden boulevard and flowers on nearby rooftops.

The hive on the riverside Protestant cathedral is one of more than 15 on prominent Berlin buildings that are the brainchild of “Berlin is buzzing!”— an initiative launched in 2010 by biologist Corinna Hoelzer and her husband.

Ticket sold in New Jersey wins Powerball jackpot.

» Lottery TRENTON, N.J. officials say a single ticket sold at a New Jersey grocery store won the Powerball jackpot worth an estimated $315.3 million.

The New Jersey Lottery says the winning ticket for Saturday night's drawing was sold at a Shoprite in Hackensack, Bergen County. The ticket matched all five white balls and the Powerball to win the jackpot, which has a $183.2 million cash value.

Patricia Morison, Broadway and Hollywood star, dies at 103.

LOS ANGELES

» Patricia Morison, who originated the role of an overemotional diva in the Broadway musical "Kiss Me, Kate," starred on stage opposite Yul Brynner in "The King and I" and appeared in films alongside Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, died Sunday at age 103.

Morison died of natural causes at her home in Los Angeles, publicist Harlan Boll said. — The Denver Post