A Russian court on Thursday slapped a $10,000 fine on the election monitor Golos, in the first ruling against NGOs for purportedly violating new legislation forcing them to register as "foreign agents." Golos (Voice), a Moscow-based organisation that monitors Russian elections for violations, was given the fine by Moscow's Presnensky district court for failing to register as a "foreign agent" as required by new legislation. The organisation denies the label applies to them and said it will appeal the ruling.

Kim Novak, the star of Alfred Hitchcock's 1958 masterpiece "Vertigo" who turned her back on Hollywood, is to make a return to the red carpet at next month's Cannes film festival, organisers said on Monday. The US actress, 80, refused to accept the ironfisted rule of America's big studios and in 1965 largely abandoned film to devote herself to painting. She will be guest of honour at a special screening to mark the restoration of the film regarded as Hitchcock's finest work. Hitchcock once described the "Vertigo" as "a love story with a strange atmosphere".

Nine films will compete for the short film Palme d'Or at next month's Cannes film festival, including a Palestinian work for the first time, organisers said on Tuesday. New Zealand director Jane Campion, who won the Palme d'Or in 1993 for "The Piano" and the top short film prize in 1986 for "Peel" will head the jury. The short film selection committee sifted through over 3,500 submissions from filmmakers in 132 countries to pick just nine to compete at the film fest.

A relative of Mayor Jerome Alcantara of Donsol said Friday the cause of his death was a heart attack and not heat stroke as what was reported by the police in Donsol.