Hackers try to enter Air Force computer network

FAIRBORN, Ohio -- Hackers operating outside the United States tried unsuccessfully to enter the computer network at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, officials said.

There were 125,000 attempts made early Friday, said Lt. Gen. Richard Reynolds, commander of the Aeronautical Systems Center.

"I don't know whether they wanted to get in and just get information, or whether they wanted to get in and cripple our network," Reynolds said.

Public affairs director Lt. Col. Ed Worley called it "a concerted and directed attack, and one of the most orchestrated we've seen in about the last six months, and by 'we' I mean the Air Force."

Germans OK landmark immigration legislation

BERLIN -- A fiercely debated immigration bill that would let German businesses recruit more foreigners to fill a growing need for skilled workers squeezed through parliament by a single vote Friday, handing an election-year victory to Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

The upper house, where Schroeder's government lacks a majority, unexpectedly approved the bill -- Germany's first comprehensive immigration law -- by a 35-34 vote.

"Germany needs this law," Schroeder said. As well as admitting refugees under tightened rules, "those that we need to maintain and increase our economic prosperity can come too," he said.

The law was drawn up after a government-appointed commission argued last year that Germany needs tens of thousands of new migrants each year to supplement its aging, shrinking population.

Pope: Doctors must honor terminally ill

VATICAN CITY -- Pope John Paul II told a group of doctors Saturday that resorting to extreme measures to try to keep alive the terminally ill at all costs does not respect the patient.

John Paul was addressing participants from a scientific congress on gastroenterology, a branch of medicine studying diseases of the stomach and the intestines.

The pontiff has familiarity with specialists from that field. Ten years ago, the pope had surgery to remove a bowel tumor his doctors said was close to turning cancerous.

While encouraging scientists to pursue research for new treatments, John Paul told his audience, "Certainly one cannot forget that man is a limited and mortal being."

Snow angel record targeted in North Dakota

BISMARCK, N.D. -- Nearly 1,800 people waved their arms and legs in a fresh snow on the state Capitol mall Saturday in hopes of creating a new world record for creating the most simultaneous snow angels.

The rows of people in heavy winter coats left imprints resembling angels on the ground, but it didn't take long for the event to degenerate into a massive snowball fight.

Bismarck broke a 108-year-old snowfall record Wednesday, receiving 5.4 inches on the first day of spring.

-- From wire reports