US envoy surprised that NKorea didn’t give ‘Christmas gift’
SEOUL, South Korea — The U.S. ambassador to South Korea said Thursday he was surprised and pleased that North Korea did not give the U.S. an unwelcome...
Orthodox church tensions in Montenegro on Christmas Eve
PODGORICA, Montenegro — Dozens of police on Monday were deployed in Montenegro for Orthodox Christmas Eve celebrations being held amid heightened tens...
Global markets mostly higher amid trade optimism
BEIJING — Global stock markets moved mostly higher on Friday amid optimism that U.S.-Chinese trade relations are improving and on early reports that o...
New Mexico police investigate killing of 4 on Christmas Day
RIO RANCHO, N.M. — Police in New Mexico on Thursday were investigating the shooting of four people found dead on Christmas Day in a home in a suburb o...
AP Explains: What is Boxing Day?
LONDON — In Britain and other countries like Australia and Canada, the day after Christmas is a secular national holiday known as Boxing Day. Here’s a...
Lindsey Vonn goes social with P.K. Subban marriage proposal
Lindsey Vonn popped the question to hockey star P.K. Subban.
Trumps wish Americans ‘Merry Christmas’ as they mark holiday
PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump are wishing Americans a Merry Christmas as they celebrate the holiday with thei...
Gala Christmas Day in country for Queen Elizabeth II, family
SANDRINGHAM, England — Queen Elizabeth II and her close family spent a gala Christmas Day at her palatial countryside retreat, feasting on locally-rea...
Pope offers hope against darkness in Christmas Day message
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis offered a Christmas message of hope Wednesday against darkness that cloaks conflicts and relationships in large parts of t...
Notre Dame rector: Fragile cathedral might not be saved
PARIS — The rector of Notre Dame Cathedral says the Paris landmark is still so fragile that there's a “50% chance” the structure might not be entirely...
Trumps attend music-filled church service on Christmas Eve
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attended a music-filled Christmas Eve service at Family Church in West Pal...
Pope marks joyful Christmas Eve after less-than-joyful year
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis assured the faithful on Christmas Eve that God loves everyone — “even the worst of us” — as he celebrated the joyous birth...
Pothole Christmas tree inspires pastor to write holiday song
McCOMB, Miss. — A scraggly metal Christmas tree planted in a pothole has inspired a Mississippi minister to pen a holiday song.
It takes a tech village to track Santa on Christmas Eve
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — Depending on which country they’re from, the kids may ask about Father Christmas, Papa Noel, Saint Nick or Santa Clau...
On the Money: Tips to make the best of post-holiday shopping
NEW YORK — Holiday shopping doesn’t end with Christmas.
Thousands mark Christmas in West Bank town of Bethlehem
BETHLEHEM, West Bank — Thousands of Christian pilgrims on Tuesday flocked to the West Bank town of Bethlehem, celebrating Christmas Eve in the traditi...
Home for the holidays: Prince Philip leaves hospital
LONDON — Prince Philip was discharged from a London hospital Tuesday and immediately taken by helicopter to join other senior royals at Queen Elizabet...
Holiday blues: French strikes hit Christmas shopping season
PARIS — Last year, it was the yellow vest protests. This year, it’s the strikes that have crippled Paris. The Christmas holidays aren’t proving to be ...
Israel to grant holiday travel permits to Gaza Christians
JERUSALEM — Israel announced on Sunday that it will allow Christians in the Gaza Strip to travel to Jerusalem and the West Bank for Christmas.
Poll: Americans grateful at holidays _ and a bit stressed
MINNEAPOLIS — Wade Holcomb has a lot to be grateful for this year. In addition to graduating college and getting a job, he also has a beautiful 4-mont...
Notre Dame Cathedral to miss first Christmas in centuries
PARIS — Notre Dame kept Christmas going even during two world wars — a beacon of hope amid the bloodshed.
US watching North Korea for ‘Christmas gift’ missile launch
WASHINGTON — The U.S. is closely watching North Korea for signs of a possible missile launch or nuclear test in the coming days that officials are ref...
Audubon’s annual Christmas Bird Count stronger than ever
Ít's been 120 years since New York ornithologist Frank Chapman launched his Christmas Bird Count as a bold new alternative to what had been a longtim...
AP PHOTOS: St. Nicholas and devils parade in Czech villages
VALASSKA POLANKA, Czech Republic — Dozens of people in grim reaper and devil costumes accompany St. Nicholas on his journey through the village of Val...
North Korea says it’s up to US to choose ‘Christmas gift’
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea on Tuesday repeated its assertions the Trump administration is running out of time to salvage nuclear negotiations, s...
Pope says Nativity scenes should go in town squares, schools
GRECCIO, Italy — Pope Francis on Sunday hailed Nativity scenes as “simple and admirable” signs of Christian faith and encouraged their placement in wo...
Relic thought to be from Jesus’ manger arrives in Bethlehem
BETHLEHEM, West Bank — A tiny wooden relic that some Christians believe to be part of Jesus' manger arrived Saturday in its permanent home in the bibl...
Holiday TV forecast: a sleighful of movies, music, a Grinch
LOS ANGELES — There are enough holiday TV movies to overturn Santa’s sleigh this season, with Oprah Winfrey’s OWN channel and a new streaming service ...
Empty stores along NYC’s 5th Avenue dressed for holidays
NEW YORK — Some vacant stores along New York City’s luxury shopping corridor will be dressed for Christmas as if retailers like Tommy Hilfiger and Ral...