STOCKHOLM — An American and two Japanese scientists won the Nobel Prize in chemistry on Wednesday for finding new ways to bond carbon atoms together, methods now widely used to make medicines and in agriculture and electronics.

BELGRADE, Serbia — Serbian judges are postponing for a day the start of the trial of a former Serb college basketball player charged with beating an American student into a coma.

In new book, scientist Stephen Hawking asserts that God not needed to create the universe

At likely 1832 mass grave in Pa., unearthed bones show murder of Irish immigrant rail workers

Turkey: Orthodox Christians gather for first Mass in almost 90 years at ancient monastery

President Barack Obama speaks briefly on Afghanistan

British premier denies plan to take up Thatcher’s infamous policy on scrapping school milk

Britain denies plan to scrap free school milk

English schools protest nationwide tests for 11-year-olds, one-fourth skip the test entirely

Protests in England over tests for 11-year-olds

Tests show UK 11-year-olds a bit better at math, worse at reading; Schools protest tests

Tests: UK kids better at math, worse at reading

Pope grants broad powers to delegate for scandal-plagued Legionaries

Pope grants broad powers to Legionaries delegate

Syria bans full Islamic face veils at universities as similar bans spark debate in Europe

Syria bans full Islamic face veils at universities

Syria bans face veils at universities; similar bans spark debate in Europe

Syria bans face veils at universities

DAMASCUS, Syria — Syria has banned the face-covering Islamic veil from the country’s universities to prevent what it sees as a threat to its secular identity, as similar moves in Europe spark cries of discrimination against Muslims.

S.Africa holds education summit before final, trying to harness attention World Cup commands

Editorial Roundup: Excerpts From Recent Editorials in Newspapers in the US and Abroad

European court hears appeal by 9 governments over ruling against crucifixes in Italy’s schools

Ban on crucifixes in Italian schools is appealed

Ex-NY college basketball player accused of beating NYC student to go on trial in Serbia

Serb to go on trial for attack on NY student

US college returns long-lost letter by philosopher Descartes to French library

Descartes letter returned to French library

High school graduation speech by veteran journalist Helen Thomas canceled over Israel remarks

German court rules school not required to provide prayer room for Muslim student

School doesn’t have to provide Muslim prayer room

Swedish university invites Muhammad artist to complete lecture disrupted by protests

Swedish university re-invites Muhammad artist

Financial crisis threatens Europe’s cherished system of social welfare benefits

Fiscal crises threaten Europe’s generous benefits

Carey Mulligan gets Cannes education with premiere of ‘Wall Street’ sequel

Mulligan gets Cannes education with ‘Wall Street’

Princeton ex-president named head of scientific group to review work of UN climate panel

Top scientists named to review UN climate panel

In a conservative Turkish city, Iranian gays find an uneasy refuge from persecution at home

Iranian homosexuals carve out a refuge in Turkey

Vatican, opposed to embryonic cell use, finances adult stem cell study by American university

Vatican will finance adult stem cell research

Vatican finances adult stem cell research led by American university

Vatican finances adult stem cell research

ROME — The Vatican says it will finance new research into the potential use of adult stem cells in the treatment of intestinal and possibly other diseases.