ISLAMABAD, Dec. 26, 2009 (Reuters) -- Taliban insurgents had planned to use five Americans detained in Pakistan, who had contacted the militant group through the Internet, to carry out attacks inside the U.S. ally, a police official said on Saturday. ... > read full story

TEHRAN, Dec. 26, 2009 (Reuters) -- An Iranian opposition website said security forces clashed with opposition supporters in southern Tehran on Saturday, as the Islamic Republic marked an emotive Shi'ite religious ritual. ... > read full story

PATONG, Thailand, Dec. 25, 2009 (Reuters) -- Thousands of saffron-robed Thai monks chanted and prayed for victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami on Saturday as Asia marked the fifth anniversary of one of history's worst natural disasters. ... > read full story

SEOUL, Dec. 25, 2009 (Reuters) -- A U.S. human rights activist trying to raise global attention about the suffering of the North Korean people has crossed into the reclusive state, other activists and South Korean media said on Saturday. ... > read full story

KAILUA, HAWAII, Dec. 25, 2009 (Reuters) -- The United States believes an incident, which news reports said involved a small explosion aboard a Delta flight arriving in Detroit was terrorism related, a White House official said on Friday. ... > read full story

KAILUA, Hawaii, Dec. 25, 2009 (Reuters) -- President Barack Obama, who is on vacation in Hawaii, was "actively monitoring" the situation with a Delta flight on which a man reportedly set off firecrackers, the White House said on Friday. ... > read full story