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WASHINGTON (AP) — Passengers at some overseas airports that offer U.S.-bound flights will be required to power on their electronic devices in order to board their flights, the Transportation Security Administration said Sunday.

The TSA said it is requiring some overseas airports to have passengers turn on devices such as cellphones before boarding. It says devices that won't power up won't be allowed on planes, and those travelers may have to undergo additional screening.

"As the traveling public knows, all electronic devices are screened by security officers," the TSA said in the release announcing the new steps.

American intelligence officials have been concerned about new al-Qaida efforts to produce a bomb that would go undetected through airport security. There is no indication that such a bomb has been created or that there's a specific threat to the U.S.

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson recently ordered the TSA to call for extra security measures at some international airports with direct flights to the United States. TSA does not conduct screening abroad, but has the ability to set screening criteria and processes for flights flying to the U.S. from abroad, according to a Department of Homeland Security official, who was not allowed to discuss the changes publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

During an interview aired Sunday on NBC'S "Meet The Press," Johnson declined to speculate on whether new security procedures called for overseas will be required at domestic airports in the future

"We continue to evaluate things," he said. "The screening we have right domestically from one domestic airport to another is pretty robust as the American traveling public knows. In this instance we felt that it was important to crank it up some at the last point of departure airports and we'll continually evaluate the situation."

TSA will not disclose which airports will be conducting the additional screening, although it will be at some airports with direct flights to the U.S. Industry data show that more than 250 foreign airports offer nonstop service to the U.S.

Aviation remains an attractive target to global terrorists, who are consistently looking for ways to circumvent aviation security measures, the DHS official said. Some details on specific enhancements and locations are sensitive because U.S. officials do not want to give information "to those who would do us harm," the official said.

American intelligence officials said earlier this week that they have picked up indications that bomb makers from Yemen-based al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula have traveled to Syria to link up with the al-Qaida affiliate there.

Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula long has been fixated on bringing down airplanes with hidden explosives. It was behind failed and thwarted plots involving suicide bombers with explosives designed to be hidden inside underwear and explosives secreted inside printer cartridges shipped on cargo planes.

Over the past year, Americans and others from the West have traveled to Syria to join the fight against the Syrian government. The fear is that fighters with a U.S. or other Western passport, who therefore are subject to less stringent security screening, could carry such a bomb onto an American plane.

POPE VALLEY, Calif. (AP) — Crews have worked through the night to build containment lines around a wildfire in rural Northern California that has burned more than 4 square miles, damaged five structures and prompted mandatory evacuations.

State fire spokeswoman Stacie McCambridge says the blaze began shortly before noon Tuesday in the Pope Valley area of Napa County. It grew to 2,700 acres by late Tuesday.

State firefighters and crews from Napa, Lake and Solano counties spent the day working in 90-degree weather as they contained 30 percent of the fire.

McCambridge says several residents living in two communities have been evacuated because nearly 200 homes are threatened.

Five structures have also been damaged, but it wasn't immediately clear whether they were homes or other buildings.

No injuries have been reported. The cause of the fire is unknown.

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (AP) — Still coping with the loss of its biggest star, Brazil is trying to find ways to remain upbeat about its prospects at the World Cup.

The medical helicopter that took Neymar home with a back injury also carried away much of the country's hopes for a sixth world title, but the tournament isn't over yet and Brazil is just days away from a difficult semifinal against Germany.

"We have to try to be mature in a moment like this," Brazil defender David Luiz said. "We are sad because we are missing an important player and someone who was trying to fulfill his dream of winning this title."

One of the tournament's main attractions, Neymar had been decisive for Brazil until the devastating injury late in the team's 2-1 win over Colombia in the quarterfinals on Friday. He was crucial on the field and an essential part of the group trying to win the title at home. He was seen as the joyful youngster who was admired and respected by everyone.

A meeting with the team's psychologist was scheduled with the players on Sunday to discuss the striker's absence.

"We will talk about what needs to be done to make sure the players understand that we can still win the World Cup despite of what happened," Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said.

Brazil doctor Jose Luiz Runco said the players were "shocked and saddened" when they heard Neymar would miss the rest of the World Cup.

"It's sad because we know how hard he worked to be here with us," striker Fred said. "We know how important he was for us. But we have to look at our group and realize that it still has a lot of quality."

Everyone knows it won't be easy replacing Neymar. Brazil thrived when he played well and struggled when he didn't live up to expectations.

"It's difficult to lose a player who is so crucial to our team," veteran right back Maicon said.

It will be up to Scolari to find a replacement for the 22-year-old striker and to keep the team in contention for a sixth world title.

The team's other forwards have been struggling since the competition began, and nobody else in the squad has the characteristics of the Barcelona star.

Instead of using reserve strikers Bernard or Jo, it's likely that Scolari will pick one of his midfielders to play in the match against Germany on Tuesday in Belo Horizonte. Willian, Hernanes and Ramires are the most probable options.

Making matters worse for Scolari is the fact that captain and central defender Thiago Silva will also be missing because of a yellow card suspension.

"We don't know who is going to come in, but we know that we have a lot of quality players in our squad," Silva said. "We are sad for Neymar and because I'm not going to play, but we have to be prepared despite these absences."

One way for Brazil to try to stay positive may be to look to its past.

It's not the first time Brazil's national team lost its best player to injury during the World Cup. It happened to Pele and Brazil still won the title.

"I was also injured during the 1962 World Cup in Chile, and I was out for the rest of the tournament," Pele said. "But God helped Brazil continue on to win the championship."

When Pele hurt a muscle in the second match of the tournament in Chile, most in Brazil said the chances of a world title had diminished significantly. But the team won its next four matches to clinch its second consecutive trophy.

"I hope the same will happen with our Selecao in this World Cup," Pele said.

Runco added that Neymar's absence can work in Brazil's favor.

"I think this will help make this group become stronger, it will motivate them to reach the final and win the title," the doctor said. "They will want to honor this teammate who always helped the team."

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July 03, 2014 8:03 AM ET