US Vice President Mike Pence may have postponed his visit, but Palestinian Christians still say Washington's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital is spoiling their Christmas.

Turkish police confiscated thousands of historical artifacts in a giant operation against smugglers in Istanbul, the private Dogan news agency reported on Thursday.

Police detained 13 suspects and seized 26,456 artifacts, Dogan said.

The metallic green Christmas tree towers over the bombed-out heart of Syria's third city Homs, where residents are relishing a holiday cheer they haven't felt in years.

A set of ink-brush paintings by Chinese artist Qi Baishi has sold for $144 million, breaking all records for Chinese paintings, a Beijing auction house said Monday.

Niaz Ali is a deeply religious man: He prays five times a day and visits the mosque as frequently as possible. But he also loves to smoke hashish -- lots of it.

Pope Francis celebrated his 81st birthday Sunday with a hero cake and a message urging the world -- and children in particular -- to join in the holiday mood and be joyful.

The body of Italy's controversial king Victor Emmanuel III returned to Italy on Sunday, amid a row over where the monarch who abetted dictator Benito Mussolini should be buried.

Australia's first gay weddings took place Saturday, ushering in a new era after the country's marriage equality law came into effect this month.

The United States on Friday returned to Lebanese officials three relics stolen during Lebanon's civil war, including a statue once exhibited at New York's premier museum, officials said.

The ancient artifacts included a bull's head, which was recovered this summer from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it had been on loan.

The 14th Dalai Lama announced a new iPhone app which will allow devotees to watch live video of his teachings to his 16.6 million Twitter followers on Thursday.