China's top diplomat said Monday he hoped Washington and Beijing could manage their differences "more rationally" as he met with visiting senior American lawmakers. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is the latest high-level US official to go to China as Washington seeks to ease tensions with Beijing, leading a six-person team that seeks to meet with leader Xi Jinping. Schumer noted that there were several issues of "great concern" he was seeking to raise during his visit.

SEE THE TOPICS SCHUMER HOPES TO ADDRESS WITH CHINA

Afghan villagers on Monday helped dig for survivors of a series of earthquakes that killed more than 2,000 people, as aid began trickling into the devastated region. Volunteers in trucks packed with food, tents and blankets flocked to hard-to-reach areas hit by a magnitude 6.3 quake Saturday and eight powerful aftershocks that continued into Monday. They also brought shovels to help dig through the rubble of flattened villages as hope dwindled that anyone may still be alive.

WHY RELIEF EFFORTS ARE HAMPERED BY POLITICAL CLIMATE

The Russian segment of the International Space Station sprung its third coolant leak in under a year Monday, raising new questions about the reliability of the country's space program even as officials said crew members weren't in danger. Flakes of frozen coolant spraying into space were seen in an official live feed of the orbital lab provided by NASA, and confirming in radio chatter between US mission control.

SEE WHY NASA OFFICIALS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT RUSSIA

How many astronauts from how many countries have visited the ISS?

Friday's answer: The Hartford (Conn.) Courant is the oldest continuously running newspaper in the US, debuting on Oct. 29, 1764.