Partial remains of several victims of the September 11 2001 attacks on the United States were incinerated by a military contractor and sent to a landfill site, a government report said.

Capping a decade of delays and embarrassing missteps, the US Air Force awarded to Boeing one of the biggest defence contracts ever, a $35bn deal to build nearly 200 giant airborne refuelling tankers.

The US Air Force discharged three North Dakota ballistic missile crew members who fell asleep while holding classified launch code devices.

"Decisive and urgent steps" are needed to restore the US Air Force's respect for nuclear weapons after three ballistic missile crew members fell asleep while holding classified launch code devices, US authorities said today.