North Korea has commended two soldiers who apprehended a pair of U.S. journalists earlier this year along the country's border with China, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported Thursday. Read More

For Staff Sgt. Byron Krepcho, it doesn't feel like Christmas. Read More

Two former aides to Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama were charged Thursday with falsifying reports of campaign contributions _ dashing the promise of the leader who vowed to usher in a new, cleaner era in the country's politics. Read More

Jamaican and U.S. authorities launched a probe Thursday examining whether the pilot of American Airlines Flight 331 could have avoided an accident that cracked open the plane and sent nearly 100 people to the hospital. Read More

Text from a letter that David Goldman wrote and was read to media, dated Dec. 24. Read More

Thailand's prime minister sought Thursday to quiet international concerns about the possible expulsion of 4,000 ethnic Hmong to Laos, amid objections from the U.S. and human rights groups who fear they could face persecution. Read More

President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday ordered reform of the country's Interior Ministry, saying it was a necessary response to police abuses that have angered Russians and eroded public trust in the government. Read More

Two rare Siberian tigers were among a group of big cats in a Russian traveling circus that died during a 20-hour truck journey this week, a circus administrator said Thursday. Read More

Christmas is bumping into Shiite Islam's most mournful ceremony this year, forcing Iraqi Christians to keep their celebrations under tighter wraps than usual. Read More

A man driving a horse-drawn cart laden with explosives detonated the cache Thursday outside a guest house frequented by foreigners in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, killing at least eight people including a child, police said. Read More

Gunmen killed an Israeli man in a shooting attack in the West Bank on Thursday as local attention was focused on Christmas celebrations in nearby Bethlehem. Read More

A suicide bomber struck a neighborhood home to government buildings and a church in Pakistan's main northwest city Thursday, killing four people and underscoring that militant groups retain strength despite being under siege by the army. Read More

A New Jersey man and his 9-year-old son were reunited Thursday in Brazil after a five-year international custody battle, and immediately headed home to spend the holidays in the U.S. Read More

Explosions killed at least 26 people across Iraq on Thursday, most of them Shiite pilgrims taking part in a holy mourning ceremony, authorities said, raising fears of further sectarian attacks at the approach of Shiite Islam's most solemn occasion. Read More

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi has written a Christmas letter to the pope saying Christian values guide his government's work, the latest evidence that the premier beset by a sex scandal is taking an increasingly pious tone as he eyes Catholic voters. Read More

Backed by U.S. intelligence, Yemeni forces struck a series of suspected al-Qaida hideouts Thursday, including a meeting of senior leaders, killing at least 30 militants in the country's stepped-up campaign against the terror network, the government said. Read More

A London restaurant has asked diners to sign away their right to sue before consuming Christmas pudding, a traditional Yuletide treat that sometimes contains coins or charms. Read More

Afghan police say at least 3 people killed in explosion near hotel in southern Kandahar city. Read More

A top Anglican cleric who was born in Uganda spoke out Thursday against a proposed law in his native country that would impose the death penalty on some gays. Read More

Five Belgians living in Israel filed a complaint here Thursday against the Hamas rulers of Gaza, saying militant rocket fire into Israel had violated their human rights. Read More