Mom: Son in coma heard everything for 23 years
BRUSSELS (AP) -- A man who emerged from what doctors thought was a vegetative state says he was fully conscious for 23 years but could not respond because he was paralyzed, his mother said Monday....

Israel, Hamas near swap of prisoners for soldier
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) -- Israel and Hamas are close to a deal to swap 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for an Israeli soldier held for more than three years by the Islamic militant group, a Palestinian familiar with the talks said Monday....

Attack on election convoy kills 21 Filipinos
MANILA, Philippines (AP) -- Dozens of gunmen hijacked a convoy carrying journalists, and family and supporters of a candidate for provincial governor, killing at least 21 of the travelers Monday in the southern Philippines' worst political violence in years....

China activist who spoke out on quake gets 3 years
BEIJING (AP) -- A veteran dissident was sentenced Monday to three years in prison after casting a spotlight on poorly built schools that collapsed during China's massive earthquake last year, killing thousands of children - an apparent government attempt to squelch such information....

Big Bang atom smasher sends beams in 2 directions
GENEVA (AP) -- The world's largest atom smasher made another leap forward Monday by circulating beams of protons in opposite directions at the same time in the $10 billion machine after more than a year of repairs, organizers said....

McDonald's makes its logo more 'green' in Europe
BERLIN (AP) -- McDonald's is going green - swapping its traditional red backdrop for a deep hunter green - to promote a more eco-friendly image in Europe....

Brazil: World should engage, not isolate Iran
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) -- Engaging, not isolating Iran is the way to push for peace and stability in the Middle East, said Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva as he headed into private talks Monday with his increasingly alienated Iranian counterpart....

France shows off cutting-edge navy ship in Russia
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) -- A cutting-edge French warship sailed into St. Petersburg Monday to show off its capabilities to potential buyers in the Russian navy, whose pursuit of an amphibious assault capacity is frightening some neighboring countries....

Bombings, shooting kill 12 around Afghanistan
KABUL (AP) -- Bombings and shootings killed 12 people across Afghanistan, including four American troops and three children, as President Barack Obama convened his war council again Monday to fine-tune a strategy to respond to the intransigent violence....

Kangaroo tries to drown dog, attacks owner
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- A kangaroo startled by a man walking his dog attacked the pair, pinning the pet underwater and slashing the owner in the abdomen with its hind legs....