The outer bands of rain from Hurricane Rita began falling in New Orleans today, and forecasts of between 8 and 13 centimetres of rainfall in the coming days raised fears the patched levee system could fail and flood the city all over again.

GERMANY’S third busiest airport was closed yesterday after receiving several bomb threats, forcing around 64,000 holiday travellers to be rerouted, German authorities said.

Germany’s third busiest airport was closed today after receiving several bomb threats, forcing some 64,000 holiday travellers to be re-routed, German authorities said.