i'm candy crowley. here are today's cop stories. the u.s. state department issued a travel alert for u.s. citizens in europe. the alert is based on information that suggests that al qaeda and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks in european cities.senate. history suggests we'll lose seats. some of the seats are ruby red districts that democrats won in '06 and '08, we'll retain a great many seats. >> a minimum of 45 and north of that in the house so i think republican also capture control. i think we'll be very close in the senate. i think we'll probably have a net gain of eight governorships and ten legislative chambers around the country that flip from democratic to republican. it's going to be a very big wave election. >> my personal opinion is it's going to be a really exciting one. ed gillespie, donna brazile, thank you so much. >> thank you. up next a check of today's top headlines. time for a check of today's top stories. the u.s. state department has issued a travel alert for u.s. citizens in europe. the alert is based on information that suggests that al qaeda and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks in european cities. european governments have also stepped up security to guard against a terrorist attack. the afghan government has formally banned eight private security firms including the company formerly called blackwater. at a press conference sunday a spokesman for president hamid karzai said the security firms have handed over their weapons and they will be prevented from operating inside the country. also in afghanistan, government officials say a nato veiginherert rgeting a taib inn3 idriavarst ô nxtonssid'tte3 %p did get done before leaving town. iran's intelligence minister says authorities have arrested