8 police kidnapped in western Iraq
BAGHDAD (AP) -- Police officials say gunmen have kidnapped eight Iraqi policemen who were guarding a post on the main highway to Jordan and Syria.... 5/18/2013 8:41 AM

Merkel and Francis talk about a 'strong' Europe
VATICAN CITY (AP) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel, mindful of the weight of Christian voters in September elections, has discussed with Pope Francis how Europe's economy should better serve people.... 5/18/2013 8:36 AM

Activists: Rebel groups clash in northern Syria
BEIRUT (AP) -- A wave of tit-for-tat kidnappings between rival Islamic militant groups in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo risks sparking large-scale internal fighting between rebels after clashes killed at least four militants earlier this week, activists said Saturday.... 5/18/2013 8:36 AM

Hot off the press: Seen and heard in Cannes
CANNES, France (AP) -- Associated Press journalists open their notebooks at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival:... 5/18/2013 8:16 AM

Hard-line Afghan MPs block law protecting women
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- 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.... 5/18/2013 8:03 AM

Chance of survivors declines at Indonesian mine
TIMIKA, Indonesia (AP) -- 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.... 5/18/2013 7:21 AM

Denmark favorite to win Eurovision Song Contest
MALMO, Sweden (AP) -- 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.... 5/18/2013 7:07 AM

SKorea says NKorea fires 3 short-range missiles
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- 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.... 5/18/2013 6:33 AM

French president signs gay marriage into law
PARIS (AP) -- 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.... 5/18/2013 4:15 AM

Landing gear issue leads to plane's belly landing
NEWARK, N.J (AP) -- 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.... 5/18/2013 4:11 AM

Afghan police chief shot dead outside home
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- 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.... 5/18/2013 3:50 AM

Top officials call to overhaul euro institutions
BERLIN (AP) -- 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.... 5/18/2013 3:06 AM

Egyptians targeted with blasphemy charges
CAIRO (AP) -- 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."... 5/18/2013 2:39 AM

China arrests man over fake plane bomb threats
BEIJING (AP) -- A man has been arrested for allegedly making fake bomb threats against several domestic flights bound for Shanghai, Chinese officials said Saturday.... 5/18/2013 2:11 AM

Canada abuzz over purported crack video of mayor
TORONTO (AP) -- A video purportedly of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford smoking crack has caused an uproar in Canada. Ford on Friday called the allegations "ridiculous."... 5/18/2013 1:38 AM

Myanmar leader frees prisoners ahead of US visit
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) -- 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.... 5/18/2013 12:55 AM

Southern China rains kill 55, leave 14 missing
BEIJING (AP) -- Chinese authorities say rainstorms that battered southern China this week have killed 55 people and left 14 others missing.... 5/17/2013 11:27 PM

UN panel: Sanctions delaying NKorea nuke program
UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- North Korea is still trying to import and export nuclear and ballistic missile-related items but financial and trade sanctions are slowing progress on development of their prohibited weapons, U.N. experts say in a new report.... 5/17/2013 10:17 PM

Caribbean talks conservation on Branson's island
NECKER ISLAND, British Virgin Islands (AP) -- Surrounded by a turquoise sea and a menagerie of exotic animals on a billionaire's private island, political and business leaders gathered Friday to back an initiative aimed at expanding protection for the Caribbean's imperiled coasts and waters.... 5/17/2013 9:13 PM

Mexico to create police unit to search for missing
MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Mexico's government says it will create a special investigative unit to search for the missing, heeding a request by relatives of the disappeared who have been on a hunger strike for nine days.... 5/17/2013 8:00 PM