Washington, D.C.: Alert continues into new year
The nation approached the New Year much as it ended the old, on a heightened state of alert for possible terrorist attacks.
It has been nearly a month since the government issued its most recent terrorist alert, but U.S. officials said Dec. 17 they would keep it in effect at least through the holiday season.
The government knows of no new threat, Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for the office of Homeland Security Chief Tom Ridge, said Monday.
Johndroe said December's alert was tied to the holidays with no specific ending date.
Paris: Air France flight to U.S. makes emergency landing
An Air France jet carrying 240 passengers from Paris to Washington made an emergency landing Monday after its crew found a suspicious substance on board, company officials said.
The Boeing 777 landed late Monday in the western French city of Brest, said the officials. There were no reports of any injuries.
Air France's spokesman in New York, Jim Faulkner said a flight attendant found a powdery substance in one of the kitchens.
A Paris-based company official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it turned out to be harmless but declined to provide further details. He said the flight was to resume.
Earlier in the day, the plane's takeoff from Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris had been delayed up to three hours because of security concerns, the official said, but he would not elaborate on those concerns.
Washington, D.C.: EPA completes fumigation of Senate office building
An extended four-day effort to kill trace amounts of anthrax spores from part of the closed Hart Senate Office Building was brought to an end Monday. Officials said they hope it is the last time they have to pour poisonous gas into the building that normally houses the offices of half the Senate's 100 members.
Liquid and foam decontaminants and special particle-filtering vacuums are still being used in 11 senators' offices in the building.
The initial plan had been to fumigate for two or three days, but the operation ran into problems early Monday. After the gas was spread, a second chemical, sodium bisulfite, was used to break down the gas, which also quickly dissipates. The EPA monitored the air outside and reported no dangerous releases.
Afghanistan: New peacekeepers arrive
More British troops arrived Monday in the capital, Kabul, after an agreement was signed detailing the operation of an international peacekeeping force under Afghanistan's new government, officials said.
A convoy carrying about 70 British soldiers rolled into Kabul to reinforce an initial deployment that has been patrolling the capital and providing security to an interim government sworn in on Dec. 22.
The first deployment of peacekeepers British Royal Marines arrived days before the inauguration of the country's six-month administration.
No comments
Commenting is turned off for this story.