Security breach at Newark airport investigated

NEWARK, New Jersey (Reuters) - Officials searched for clues on Monday into a security breach at Newark Liberty International Airport that prompted a massive shutdown during the hectic holiday weekend that experts said was unavoidable given heightened concern over a potential attack. The man, who has neither been found nor identified, walked the wrong way through a security checkpoint at 5:20 p.m. (2220 GMT) on Sunday at the busy New York City-area airport.

Manufacturing posts best showing since 2006

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. manufacturing sector grew at its fastest pace in nearly four years in December, its fifth consecutive month of expansion, data showed on Monday, adding to hopes of economic improvement in 2010. That coincided with other data on Monday showing world factory activity expanded last month at its greatest clip in nearly four years.

Vegas courthouse gunfire illustrates more threats facing judges

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Threats against U.S. judges and federal prosecutors rose almost 12 percent in fiscal 2008, the government said in a report released on Monday hours before a man opened fire with a shotgun in a Las Vegas courthouse. Judges, court officials and prosecutors reported 1,278 threats in the fiscal year ending on September 30, 2008, up from 1,145 in fiscal 2007 and more than double the 592 reported in 2003, according to the report by the Justice Department's inspector general.

NYC tourism down in 2009 but growth seen in 2010

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Tourist visits to New York City fell 3.9 percent in 2009 but the city's tourism suffered less from the recession than other U.S. cities', becoming the most popular destination and forecasting a 3.2 percent rise for 2010. The number of visitors fell to 45.25 million, and tourists spent $28 billion in New York, down $2 billion from the previous year, but the decline was less than the projected 10 percent and New York overtook Orlando, Florida, as the leading U.S. destination, officials said on Monday.

Power outage halts flights at Washington DC airport

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A power outage on Monday temporarily halted flights and security operations at Washington Reagan National Airport, airport officials said. The midday power failure affected all terminals and departing flights at the suburban Virginia airport across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. Security screening was halted for about 50 minutes.

September 11 conspirator loses U.S. court appeal