Gunmen seize elderly father of Syria's deputy FM
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) -- Gunmen on Saturday abducted the elderly father of Syria's deputy foreign minister, his office and a Lebanese TV station said.... 5/18/2013 10:03 AM

Merkel and Pope talk about a 'strong' Europe
VATICAN CITY (AP) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel, mindful of the weight of Christian voters in September elections, made a quick trip to Rome Saturday for a private meeting with Pope Francis, focusing on how Europe's struggling economy should be at the service of the people.... 5/18/2013 10:03 AM

Afghan lawmakers block law on women's rights
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- Conservative religious lawmakers in Afghanistan blocked legislation on Saturday aimed at strengthening provisions for women's freedoms, arguing that parts of it violate Islamic principles and encourage disobedience.... 5/18/2013 9:58 AM

New board to oversee Trinidad's Caribbean Airlines
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) -- Trinidad's finance minister has appointed a new interim board to oversee Caribbean Airlines after announcing that the state-owned company posted losses of more than $70 million.... 5/18/2013 9:39 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 9:34 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 on Saturday, 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 9:29 AM

AP Impact: Myanmar sanctions list languishes
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) -- If you're American and want to do business in Myanmar, there's a list of people and companies you have to steer clear of by law. But it leaves off a former minister's son U.S. officials suspected of brokering arms deals with North Korea, and high-rolling relatives of the man who led the repressive military government for 19 years.... 5/18/2013 9:22 AM

Egypt Muslim-Christian clashes leave 1 dead
CAIRO (AP) -- Egyptian security officials say clashes between Muslims and Christians in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria left one man dead of a heart attack.... 5/18/2013 9:11 AM

64 including Saudi Arabian woman scale Everest
KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) -- Mountaineering officials say 64 climbers, including a Saudi Arabian woman, have successfully scaled Mount Everest from Nepal's side of the mountain.... 5/18/2013 9:01 AM

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

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

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

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

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