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Nigeria banker fears son is alleged plane attacker

ROMULUS, Mich. (AP) - An attempted terrorist attack on a Christmas Day flight began with a pop and a puff of smoke - sending passengers scrambling to tackle a Nigerian man who claimed to be acting on orders from al-Qaida to blow up the airliner, officials and travelers said. The commotion began as Northwest Airlines Flight 253, carrying 278 passengers and 11 crew members from Amsterdam, prepared to land in Detroit just before noon Friday. Travelers said they smelled smoke, saw a glow, and heard what sounded like firecrackers. At least one person climbed over others and jumped on the man, who officials say was trying to ignite an explosive device.

Failed Xmas attack raises new security concerns

WASHINGTON (AP) —U.S. counterterrorism officials are scrambling to assess a potential new threat from an explosive mixture that evaded detection aboard a Detroit-bound airliner but failed to bring down the plane. Multiple law enforcement officials said the suspected attacker — identified as a Nigerian man named Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab — claimed to have acted on instructions from al-Qaida to detonate the explosive device over U.S. soil. The law enforcement officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case.

Officials: Blast wounds 19 in south Pakistan

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) - Officials say an explosion has wounded 19 people in Pakistan's southern city of Karachi. The cause was unclear. The blast also destroyed a car and occurred near a procession of minority Shiite Muslims for the Islamic holy month of Muharram.

House and Senate look to final health care talks

WASHINGTON (AP) - How many Americans will get subsidized medical coverage - plus who will pay for it - will be front-burner issues when Congress returns next month to complete President Barack Obama's health care remake. Pocketbook concerns join abortion and whether Uncle Sam should peddle insurance as the top bones of contention for negotiators who must resolve difference between the House and Senate bills.

Activist: US missionary crosses border into NKorea

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A Christian missionary from the U.S. has entered North Korea carrying a letter to leader Kim Jong Il in order to call attention to the tens of thousands of political prisoners believed held in the communist state, an activist said Saturday. Robert Park, a 28-year-old Korean-American, crossed the frozen Tumen River into North Korea from China on Christmas Day to urge Kim to release political prisoners and shut down the "concentration camps" where they are held, said the activist, who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the issue's sensitivity.

Monks, tourists, villagers mark Asian tsunami

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 Saturday 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.

Report: Iranian forces, demonstrators clash

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iranian security forces beat protesters in central Tehran on Saturday, a sign of mounting tensions ahead of planned opposition rallies to mark a religious festival and the death of a dissident cleric a week ago, a reformist Web site said. The Rah-e-Sabz site said forces, including the elite Revolutionary Guard and the paramilitary Basijis, used tear gas and pepper spray in an attempt to disperse demonstrators, and broke the windows of cars that were honking horns in protest.

Shoppers return to malls, looking for deals

Steady crowds of shoppers across returned to malls across the country Saturday, rummaging through thinly stocked shelves hunting for deals, next year's Christmas gifts and, for most, gifts for themselves. Retailers made a push to woo gift-card-toting shoppers by slashing prices and advertising doorbuster deals — at some stores as more than 60 percent off clothing like pajamas, sweaters and ties before 1 p.m. — often reserved for the day after Thanksgiving.

Actor Charlie Sheen arrested in Colorado

ASPEN, Colo. (AP) - Charlie Sheen spent the better part of Christmas Day in a Colorado jail cell after being arrested on domestic violence allegations. The 44-year-old actor was taken into custody Friday morning by officers responding to a 911 call from a house in this ski resort town about 200 miles west of Denver.

Fans throw foam on court in Lakers' loss to Cavs

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Until the foam started flying, the Cleveland Cavaliers had everything under control while dealing the defending NBA champions a loss they should remember until summer. And not even the slightly surreal sight of frustrated Los Angeles fans chucking dozens of freebie foam hands on the court could dampen an encouraging 102-87 victory over the Lakers for LeBron James and his Cavs on Friday.

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