N. Korea detains U.S. missionary
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea acknowledged it has detained an American for illegally entering the reclusive country, news welcomed by relatives of an Arizona missionary who feared they would never hear from him again after he sneaked across the border.
Activists say they last saw Robert Park as he slipped across the frozen Tumen River into North Korea on Christmas Day, carrying letters urging the country's absolute leader to step down and free the hundreds of thousands of people held in political camps.
After four days without any word, relatives of the 28-year-old Korean-American said Tuesday they were relieved when the communist country finally announced it had a U.S. citizen in custody — though analysts say Park's actions are likely to be seen as hostile to the regime and could draw a long prison sentence.
Thailand honors tsunami victims
PHUKET, Thailand (AP) — Buddhist monks in orange robes chanted on a Thai beach, an Indonesian mother mourned her children at a mass grave, and a man scattered flowers in now-placid waters to commemorate the 230,000 killed five years ago when a tsunami ripped across Asia.
An outpouring of aid that followed the Dec. 26, 2004, tsunami has helped replace homes, schools and entire coastal communities decimated by the disaster. But at Saturday's ceremonies, survivors spoke of the enduring wounds.
Thousands in Indonesia's Aceh province, which was hardest hit, held prayer services at mosques and beside the mass graves where tens of thousands were buried. The 167,000 people who died in Indonesia accounted for more than half the total death toll.
Swastikas painted on temple, church
OSHKOSH, Wis. (AP) — Black swastikas were found spray-painted on a Jewish temple and Methodist church in Oshkosh, and police say they're still looking for suspects.
The damage was discovered on Christmas Eve at B'Nai Israel Congregation and Algoma Methodist Church.
Avi Stern is the president of the Jewish temple. He says the swastika is a symbol of hate, but he doesn't think the attack was anti-Semitic since a church was also damaged.
Police Sgt. Andrew Lecker says the vandalism could be considered a hate crime, which would enhance the range of penalties.
Most of the vandalism has been cleaned up, and Stern says the healing has already begun. He tells WLUK-TV he's inspired that a number of strangers have called and e-mailed to pledge their support.
Plans to house homeless criticized
SUGAR NOTCH, Pa. (AP) — Officials in a small northeastern Pennsylvania borough are questioning a church's plan to house a group of homeless men for a week.
Holy Family Church in Sugar Notch, Luzerne County, wants to house around 40 homeless men for a week in January. The church got a notice from the borough saying that's a violation of local zoning laws punishable by a $500-a-day fine.
Borough Councilman Herman Balas said he's acting in the best interest of his constituents. He said some of the homeless men could be violent or drug users or have shady pasts.
Vince Kabacinski is director of VISION, a nonprofit organization that coordinates the temporary shelter program. He says dozens of area churches participate.
Safe stolen from Indiana church
NORTH VERNON, Ind. (AP) — Police say burglars stole a large safe during a break-in at a southern Indiana church.
The Jennings County Sheriff's Department told The Tribune in Seymour that St. Anne's Catholic Church near North Vernon was broken into either late Sunday or early Monday. Someone forced open a rear door of the church and took the safe estimated to weigh more than 700 pounds.
Police say the safe contained gold items valued at several thousand dollars.