Death toll in northeast China coal mine blast jumps to 87, rescuers try to save 21 trapped
HEGANG, China (AP) -- Rescuers worked in frigid cold to reach 21 miners trapped underground Sunday as the death toll from a huge gas explosion in a northern Chinese mine jumped to 87 - the deadliest blast to hit the beleaguered industry in nearly two years....

Pope assures archbishop Vatican is seeking closer relations with Anglicans
VATICAN CITY (AP) -- After offering a home in his church to disaffected Anglicans, Pope Benedict XVI assured the archbishop of Canterbury on Saturday that he is still committed to seeking closer relations between Catholics and Anglicans....

Scientists get Big Bang machine working again, now plan to explore the depths of matter
GENEVA (AP) -- Scientists are preparing the world's largest atom smasher to explore the depths of matter after successfully restarting the $10 billion machine following more than a year of repairs....

Italian police arrest 2 Pakistanis who allegedly paid for phones used in Mumbai attacks
ROME (AP) -- Italian police on Saturday arrested a Pakistani father and son who allegedly spent just over $200 to set up a reliable and untraceable phone network that was used by the militants who carried out last year's terror attacks in Mumbai, India....

Beaten, held at bottom of well: Contractor's ordeal shows problems in rebuilding Afghan road
KABUL (AP) -- Khalid Khan stares through the dusty window pane, down across the rooftops of the capital, and wonders if they really know where he lives....

Atlantis astronaut finishes 1st spacewalk, still waiting for birth of daughter back on Earth
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- A spacewalking astronaut put aside the impending birth of his daughter and blazed through his first-ever venture outside the International Space Station on Saturday....

Hackers leak climate change e-mails from key research unit, stoke debate on global warming
LONDON (AP) -- Computer hackers have broken into a server at a well-respected climate change research center in Britain and posted hundreds of private e-mails and documents online - stoking debate over whether some scientists have overstated the case for man-made climate change....

Prosecutors request life in prison for American suspect at Italy murder trial
PERUGIA, Italy (AP) -- Prosecutors on Saturday requested life in prison for an American student and her ex-boyfriend accused in the fatal stabbing of her British roommate during a drug-fueled sex game - charges the U.S. woman dismissed as "pure fantasy."...

Rocket hits wall of luxury Serena Hotel in Afghanistan's capital, wounding 2
KABUL (AP) -- A rocket hit outside the luxury Serena Hotel in Afghanistan's capital late Saturday, wounding two people, the Interior Ministry said....

Iran to hold large-scale air defense war games to protect nuclear facilities
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iran will begin large-scale air defense war games Sunday aimed at protecting its nuclear facilities from possible attack, a senior military commander said Saturday, reflecting the country's concern that Israel could make good on threats to strike militarily....