Top Stories - AFP

BEIJING (AFP) - China said Thursday it will impose penalties on steel imported from the United States and Russia, claiming the countries were allowing it to be sold at a cut price. Full Story »

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AFP) - Gunmen on Thursday seized 65 people in an area of the southern Philippines where communist rebels are known to operate, the army said. Full Story »

OSLO (AFP) - US President Barack Obama landed in Norway on Thursday to accept his Nobel Peace Prize, amid controversy over his role as a "war president" and widespread doubts about whether he deserves the honor. Full Story »

SYDNEY (AFP) - Australia's economy was hailed as the "wonder from Down Under" on Thursday after a surprise fall in unemployment underlined a strong recovery from the global slowdown. Full Story »

LONDON (AFP) - A self portrait by Anthony van Dyck painted in the last months before he died sold for 8.3 million pounds in London, beating the previous auction record for his work, Sotheby's said. Full Story »

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US general who masterminded a troop surge in Iraq said that Afghanistan was "no more hopeless" than Iraq before the 2007 campaign there. Full Story »

CHICAGO (AFP) - A Pakistani-American pleaded not guilty to helping plan the deadly 2008 Mumbai attacks and plotting to attack a Danish newspaper which published cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. Full Story »

SEOUL (AFP) - South Korea's central bank Thursday froze its key interest rate at a record low 2.0 percent for a 10th month, saying uncertainties remain about the pace of the country's economic recovery. Full Story »

PARIS (AFP) - Holders Barcelona and Inter Milan secured their places in the Champions League knock out stages at the last throw of the dice on Wednesday. Full Story »