■ United States
Terror suspects to be freed
The US will release two dozen prisoners from its naval base in Guantanamo Bay in the coming weeks, an American envoy said. More than 600 prisoners -- accused of ties to al-Qaeda or the former Taliban regime in Afghanistan -- have been held incommunicado in Guantanamo Bay following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Pierre-Richard Prosper, the US ambassador at large for war crimes, declined on Friday to say what nationalities the detainees were, or to specify the date of their expected release. Several dozen other prisoners will be sent to their home countries for a lengthy process of investigation, detention and prosecution, Prosper said.
■ United States
Terror warning issued
The US government is warning that a surge in terrorist violence overseas and the end of the Muslim Ramadan holy month increases the possibility of attacks on American interests abroad. A classified bulletin was sent on Thursday to law enforcement and government officials. It says the spate of bombings in Istanbul and elsewhere signal al-Qaeda's continued desire to attack US interests abroad, according to a senior law enforcement official. There are no plans so far for the government to raise the US color-coded terror threat level beyond its current "yellow," or elevated, position, the midpoint on a five-level scale, officials said.
■ United States
Hoax disrupts flight
A passenger plane bound for London returned to Kennedy International Airport early Friday after a flight attendant found a threatening note on a passenger seat in the plane, officials said. Airline officials later called the note a hoax. The Virgin Atlantic Airways jet departed from Kennedy at midnight but returned at 1:20am, airline officials said Friday. The 234 passengers aboard the plane were taken off and screened by airport security officials for possession of explosives or weapons. The plane was then searched Port Authority Police.
■ United States
Students, convicts face off
The university students beat the convicts -- but not all of them -- in chess matches Friday that pitted inmates against four Princeton University students, including the son of a Nobel laureate. In the end, two New Jersey State Prison inmates managed to defeat the students, while four others played them to draws. Fifty-eight inmates took part. "I beat one of those guys," said Terrance Manley, 28, who is serving time for manslaughter. "And now I'm ready for the next one." Prison officials touted the match as a way to enhance the players' life skills.
RSS