World Top Stories

• Hot off the press: Seen and heard in Cannes

  Associated Press journalists open their notebooks at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival:
  REV RUN, KING OF ... DJs?
  Rev Run is one of hip-hop's legendary rappers, but these days, he's spinning records - and is finding the experience may be even more enjoyable than rapping.

• Hard-line Afghan MPs block law protecting women

  Conservative religious lawmakers in Afghanistan blocked a law on Saturday that aims to protect women's freedoms, with some arguing that parts of it violate Islamic principles or encourage women to have sex outside of marriage.

• Chance of survivors declines at Indonesian mine

  Rescue officials say falling rocks are hampering their progress in reaching 23 trapped workers at a U.S.-owned gold and copper mine in Indonesia, and chances of finding any more survivors are declining.

• Denmark favorite to win Eurovision Song Contest

  An ethno-inspired flute and drum tune from Denmark is the bookmakers' favorite to win this year's Eurovision Song Contest, which also features a bizarre opera pop number from Romania and an Armenian rock song written by the guitarist of Black Sabbath.
  Yes, it's that time of the year again.

• SKorea says NKorea fires 3 short-range missiles

  

  North Korea fired three short-range guided missiles into its eastern waters on Saturday, a South Korean official said. It routinely tests such missiles, but the latest launches came during a period of tentative diplomacy aimed at easing tensions.

• Activists: Rebel groups kidnap in Syria's Aleppo

  

  Syrian activists say that a wave of tit-for-tat kidnappings between rival Islamic militant groups in the northern city of Aleppo risks sparking large-scale internal fighting between rebels.

• Gunmen raid home in Iraq, kill 5 people

  Iraqi authorities say gunmen have broken into the house of an anti-terrorism police officer in the southern suburbs of Baghdad, killing five people including him and his sleeping family.

• French president signs gay marriage into law

  French President Francois Hollande has signed a law authorizing gay marriage and adoption by same-sex couples, after months of nationwide protests and wrenching debate.

• Landing gear issue leads to plane's belly landing

  An airline official says a US Airways flight with 34 people aboard was forced to make a belly landing at Newark International Airport after experiencing landing gear trouble. No injuries were reported.

• Afghan police chief shot dead outside home

  Motorcycle-riding gunmen assassinated a police chief in front of his house after he led an anti-Taliban campaign in western Afghanistan, an official said Saturday.

• Top officials call to overhaul euro institutions

  Engineering a financial bailout for Cyprus in March was such a chaotic process that top European officials say it is time to rethink how the region manages its crisis - and who should be involved.

• Egyptians targeted with blasphemy charges

  The pale, young Christian woman sat handcuffed in the courtroom, accused of insulting Islam while teaching history of religions to fourth-graders. A team of Islamist lawyers with long beards sang in unison, "All except the Prophet Muhammad."

• China arrests man over fake plane bomb threats

  A man has been arrested for allegedly making fake bomb threats against several domestic flights bound for Shanghai, Chinese officials said Saturday.

• Canada abuzz over purported crack video of mayor

  A video purportedly of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford smoking crack has caused an uproar in Canada. Ford on Friday called the allegations "ridiculous."

• Myanmar leader frees prisoners ahead of US visit

  Myanmar's president has pardoned at least 20 political prisoners just ahead of a historic visit to the United States that will highlight the two sides' improved relations brought about by the former pariah nation's democratic reforms.