PYONGYANG, North Korea, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- An activist who illegally crossed into North Korea from China to raise awareness of North Korea's human rights abuses likely was arrested, his parents said.
SAPPORO, Japan, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- The Japan Meteorological Agency said a 5-magnitude earthquake struck the island of Hokkaido and part of Aomori Prefecture early Monday.
BEIRUT, Lebanon, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers uncovered several crates of explosives during operations along the southern border with Israel.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., Dec. 28 (UPI) -- The Navajo Nation says it will build a $200 million wind farm near Flagstaff, Ariz., in conjunction with Foresight Wind Energy and Edison Mission Energy.
VATICAN CITY, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- The Vatican said Monday it will conduct a prompt investigation to determine if a woman should be charged for allegedly attacking Pope Benedict XVI.
SANAA, Yemen, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- The al-Qaida branch in Yemen called on citizens to rise up against foreign embassies and military bases in the country following airstrikes in the region.
TEHRAN, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- The body of Ali Mousavi, the nephew of Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, is missing following deadly weekend clashes during a Shiite holiday.
STARKVILLE, Miss., Dec. 28 (UPI) -- A coroner in Oktibbeha County, Miss., said an early morning fire Monday at an apartment complex in Starkville has left at least nine people dead.
TEHRAN, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Three U.S. nationals arrested while hiking in Iran will receive legal representation from a prominent attorney in Iran, their families say.
ST. GEORGE, Utah, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- A vice principal and teacher at a school in St. George, Utah, say legal claims against them stemming from the prop gun death of a student should be dismissed.
ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 28 (UPI) -- The founding president of the University of Central Florida and his wife remained hospitalized Monday after falling in their home, officials said.
OXFORD, England, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- The conventional wisdom says the modest recovery in the global economy will continue in 2010, hauled along by China and the emergent economies of the developing world. But that will depend on the looming argument over China's currency policies reaching critical mass.
WELCH, Okla., Dec. 28 (UPI) -- The mother of an Oklahoma girl who vanished 10 years ago at the age of 16 with her best friend hasn't given up hope her daughter will be found.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano backtracked Monday on earlier comments the U.S. air safety system "worked."
PRAGUE, Czech Republic, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- A Prague Archdiocese official says nearly all of the Czech Republic's 5,500 sacral facilities were robbed over the years since the communist regime collapsed.
BEIJING, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- A series of collisions involving at least 100 vehicles on a highway in China's Jiangxi province led to 10 deaths and 19 injuries Monday, officials said.
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Passenger check-in security is under intense scrutiny after the foiled attempt to blow up a plane en route from Amsterdam to Detroit, Dutch media report.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Philadelphia police say they are investigating the discovery of an animal sacrifice altar, found in a house along with bones from dozens of animals.
BEIJING, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- A man killed six relatives and injured four others before taking his own life Monday in China's Hebei province, local police said.
LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Philippines authorities, dismayed by tourists venturing into dangerous areas near the restive Mayon Volcano, are cracking down, reports indicate.
SAADA, Yemen, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- More than 500 Yemeni civilians have been slain and 485 others have been kidnapped by Houthi terrorist groups, a provincial governor says.
BEIJING, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Human-rights groups and governments have condemned the 11-year sentence of Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo despite Beijing claiming criticisms are interference in its internal affairs.
Fans react and hold up signs as floats carrying the New York Giants rides down the Canyon of Heroes for the Giants victory ticker tape parade 2 days after the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI in New York City on February 7, 2012 . UPI /John Angelillo
