Hurricane Dorian is on track to strengthen to a powerful Category 4 hurricane with possible life-threatening storm surge and dangerous winds.

Florida braces for Hurricane Dorian, expands state of emergency

Hurricane Dorian is expected to strengthen into a dangerous Category 3 storm on August 30 with winds of at least 111 mph (178 km/h) as it heads towards Florida's Atlantic coast.

Florida Braces for Hurricane Dorian

Hurricane Dorian is expected to strengthen into a dangerous Category 3 storm on Friday with winds of at least 111 mph (178 km/h) as it heads towards Florida's Atlantic coast.

Dorian is forecast to swell later into a powerful Category 4 storm with violent winds topping 130 mph (210 km/h) before it makes landfall on Labor Day.

The entire state of Florida is under a declaration of emergency and Governor Ron DeSantis activated 2,500 National Guard troops with another 1,500 on standby.

No evacuations were ordered as of early Friday, but many are expected as the storm's path become clearer before it makes landfall on Monday.

Dorian was a Category 2 storm early on Friday with winds of 105 mph and its 12 mph (9 kph) trajectory could slow down allowing it to crawl across the warm coastal waters, a recipe for storm fuel.

It is expected to become a Category 4 by Monday on the 5-step Saffir-Simpson scale for measuring hurricane intensity.

Recent weather models from the National Hurricane Center show it smacking into the center of the state.

And then it is expected roll inland to Orlando on Tuesday, as it weakens into a Category 1 storm with maximum winds of 95 mph (177 km/h).

Other NHC weather models show the storm tracking south toward Miami in south Florida before it hits the peninsula, or heading north to the Georgia coast.

With the dangerous winds, the storm is expected to drop 5-to-10 inches of rain on the state with some areas getting as much as 15 inches.

"This rainfall may cause life-threatening flash floods," forecasters said.

US President Donald Trump cancelled a planned trip to Poland, sending Vice President Mike Pence in his place, so he can make sure federal resources are properly directed for the storm.

"Now it's looking like it could be an absolute monster," Trump said in a video posted on Twitter, adding that food and water was being shipped to Florida.

DeSantis said that Floridians need to take the storm seriously.

"Hurricane #Dorian is moving slowly &amp; gaining strength," DeSantis wrote on Twitter. "Now is the time to get prepared &amp; have a plan."

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency in 12 counties to assist with storm readiness, response and recovery.

It was unclear if Florida's famed theme parks including Disney World would close, as they have done during previous hurricanes, such as Irma in 2017.

But Harris Rosen, owner of the Central Florida hotel chain Rosen Hotels and Resorts, is offering discount rates at 8 hotels for people and their pets who flee the coast to Orlando, the company announced on its website.

'Not looking good'

Angela Johnson, a 39-year-old bar manager in South Florida, said: "We're worried. This is not looking good for us."

"We woke up a lot more scared than we went to bed last night, and the news is not getting any better," said Johnson, who manages Coconuts On The Beach, a bar and restaurant on the surfing beach in the town of Cocoa Beach.

Officials were making piles of sand available for Cocoa Beach residents to fill sandbags starting on Friday.

Dorian could churn across dozens of launchpads owned by NASA, the US&nbsp;Air Force and companies such as Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin.

The Miami-based NHC said hurricane watches could be issued for portions of the Bahamas on Friday and the risk of "devastating hurricane-force winds along the Florida east coast late this weekend and early next week continues to increase."

Tropical storm-force winds could be felt in parts of the state as early as Saturday evening.

Hurricane Dorian is expected to strengthen into a dangerous Category 3 storm on Friday with winds of at least 111 mph (178 km/h) as it heads towards Florida's Atlantic coast.

Hurricane Dorian is expected to strengthen into a dangerous Category 3 storm on Friday with winds of at least 111 mph (178 km/h) as it heads towards Florida's Atlantic coast. Dorian is forecast to swell later into a powerful Category 4 storm with violent winds topping 130 mph (210 km/h) before it makes landfall on Labor Day. The entire state of Florida is under a declaration of emergency and Governor Ron DeSantis activated 2,500 National Guard troops with another 1,500 on standby. No evacuations were ordered as of early Friday, but many are expected as the storm's path become clearer before it makes landfall on Monday. Dorian was a Category 2 storm early on Friday with winds of 105 mph and its 12 mph (9 kph) trajectory could slow down allowing it to crawl across the warm coastal waters, a recipe for storm fuel. It is expected to become a Category 4 by Monday on the 5-step Saffir-Simpson scale for measuring hurricane intensity. Recent weather models from the National Hurricane Center show it smacking into the center of the state. And then it is expected roll inland to Orlando on Tuesday, as it weakens into a Category 1 storm with maximum winds of 95 mph (177 km/h). Other NHC weather models show the storm tracking south toward Miami in south Florida before it hits the peninsula, or heading north to the Georgia coast. With the dangerous winds, the storm is expected to drop 5-to-10 inches of rain on the state with some areas getting as much as 15 inches. "This rainfall may cause life-threatening flash floods," forecasters said. US President Donald Trump cancelled a planned trip to Poland, sending Vice President Mike Pence in his place, so he can make sure federal resources are properly directed for the storm. "Now it's looking like it could be an absolute monster," Trump said in a video posted on Twitter, adding that food and water was being shipped to Florida. DeSantis said that Floridians need to take the storm seriously. "Hurricane #Dorian is moving slowly & gaining strength," DeSantis wrote on Twitter. "Now is the time to get prepared & have a plan." Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency in 12 counties to assist with storm readiness, response and recovery. It was unclear if Florida's famed theme parks including Disney World would close, as they have done during previous hurricanes, such as Irma in 2017. But Harris Rosen, owner of the Central Florida hotel chain Rosen Hotels and Resorts, is offering discount rates at 8 hotels for people and their pets who flee the coast to Orlando, the company announced on its website. 'Not looking good' Angela Johnson, a 39-year-old bar manager in South Florida, said: "We're worried. This is not looking good for us." "We woke up a lot more scared than we went to bed last night, and the news is not getting any better," said Johnson, who manages Coconuts On The Beach, a bar and restaurant on the surfing beach in the town of Cocoa Beach. Officials were making piles of sand available for Cocoa Beach residents to fill sandbags starting on Friday. Dorian could churn across dozens of launchpads owned by NASA, the US Air Force and companies such as Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin. The Miami-based NHC said hurricane watches could be issued for portions of the Bahamas on Friday and the risk of "devastating hurricane-force winds along the Florida east coast late this weekend and early next week continues to increase." Tropical storm-force winds could be felt in parts of the state as early as Saturday evening.

Hurricane Dorian gains strength as Florida braces for direct hit

Hurricane Dorian took aim at the Bahamas and the Florida coast on Thursday, spurred on by warm Atlantic waters as it threatens to strengthen into a dangerous Category 3 storm.

Dorian earlier sideswiped the Caribbean without doing major damage but is expected to strengthen and slam the Bahamas and the southeastern United States with rain, strong winds and life-threatening surf over the next few days, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said in an advisory.

US President Donald Trump urged Floridians to heed official warnings. Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency on Wednesday and asked residents along the state's east coast to stock up with at least seven days worth of supplies such as food and water.

"Hurricane Dorian looks like it will be hitting Florida late Sunday night," Trump wrote on Twitter. "Be prepared and please follow State and Federal instructions, it will be a very big Hurricane, perhaps one of the biggest!"

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Hurricane Dorian looks like it will be hitting Florida late Sunday night. Be prepared and please follow State and Federal instructions, it will be a very big Hurricane, perhaps one of the biggest!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1167030041303310336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The US&nbsp;Coast Guard on Wednesday said that all pleasure boats at the Port of Key West should seek safe harbour before the Labor Day weekend begins and ocean-going vessels should make plans to leave the port ahead of the storm.

Dorian, currently a Category 1 storm, is expected to grow into a Category 3 on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale of intensity, with winds greater than 111 mph (178 km/h) by the time it makes landfall, most likely on Florida's eastern coast on Monday, before lingering over central Florida on Tuesday, forecasters at the National Hurricane Center said.

Early on Thursday, the hurricane centre said Dorian was packing maximum sustained winds of 85 miles per hour (137 km per hour) some 150 miles (240 km) north-northwest of San Juan, and about 425 miles (685 km) east-southeast of the southeastern Bahamas.

"On this track, Dorian should move over the Atlantic well east of the southeastern and central Bahamas today and on Friday," forecasters said, "and approach the northwestern Bahamas on Saturday."

Dorian is expected to become a major hurricane by Friday afternoon and continue to gain strength until it makes landfall.

Trump issued an emergency declaration on Wednesday night for the US&nbsp;Virgin Islands, ordering federal assistance with disaster relief for the US&nbsp;territory. On Tuesday, he made a similar declaration for Puerto Rico, and also renewed a feud with island officials over how disaster relief funds from previous hurricanes.

Puerto Rico is still struggling to recover from back-to-back hurricanes in 2017 that killed about 3,000 people soon after the island filed for bankruptcy. On Wednesday, it escaped fresh disaster as Dorian avoided the territory and headed northwest toward Florida.

Preparations were mounted in the Bahamas, which could be hard hit.

Jeffrey Simmons, the country's acting director of the Department of Meteorology, said severe weather could strike the southeast Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands on Friday.

Hurricane Dorian took aim at the Bahamas and the Florida coast on Thursday, spurred on by warm Atlantic waters as it threatens to strengthen into a dangerous Category 3 storm.

Hurricane Dorian took aim at the Bahamas and the Florida coast on Thursday, spurred on by warm Atlantic waters as it threatens to strengthen into a dangerous Category 3 storm. Dorian earlier sideswiped the Caribbean without doing major damage but is expected to strengthen and slam the Bahamas and the southeastern United States with rain, strong winds and life-threatening surf over the next few days, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said in an advisory. US President Donald Trump urged Floridians to heed official warnings. Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency on Wednesday and asked residents along the state's east coast to stock up with at least seven days worth of supplies such as food and water. "Hurricane Dorian looks like it will be hitting Florida late Sunday night," Trump wrote on Twitter. "Be prepared and please follow State and Federal instructions, it will be a very big Hurricane, perhaps one of the biggest!" Hurricane Dorian looks like it will be hitting Florida late Sunday night. Be prepared and please follow State and Federal instructions, it will be a very big Hurricane, perhaps one of the biggest! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 29, 2019 × The US Coast Guard on Wednesday said that all pleasure boats at the Port of Key West should seek safe harbour before the Labor Day weekend begins and ocean-going vessels should make plans to leave the port ahead of the storm. Dorian, currently a Category 1 storm, is expected to grow into a Category 3 on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale of intensity, with winds greater than 111 mph (178 km/h) by the time it makes landfall, most likely on Florida's eastern coast on Monday, before lingering over central Florida on Tuesday, forecasters at the National Hurricane Center said. Early on Thursday, the hurricane centre said Dorian was packing maximum sustained winds of 85 miles per hour (137 km per hour) some 150 miles (240 km) north-northwest of San Juan, and about 425 miles (685 km) east-southeast of the southeastern Bahamas. "On this track, Dorian should move over the Atlantic well east of the southeastern and central Bahamas today and on Friday," forecasters said, "and approach the northwestern Bahamas on Saturday." Dorian is expected to become a major hurricane by Friday afternoon and continue to gain strength until it makes landfall. Trump issued an emergency declaration on Wednesday night for the US Virgin Islands, ordering federal assistance with disaster relief for the US territory. On Tuesday, he made a similar declaration for Puerto Rico, and also renewed a feud with island officials over how disaster relief funds from previous hurricanes. Puerto Rico is still struggling to recover from back-to-back hurricanes in 2017 that killed about 3,000 people soon after the island filed for bankruptcy. On Wednesday, it escaped fresh disaster as Dorian avoided the territory and headed northwest toward Florida. Preparations were mounted in the Bahamas, which could be hard hit. Jeffrey Simmons, the country's acting director of the Department of Meteorology, said severe weather could strike the southeast Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands on Friday.

Hurricane Dorian expected to strengthen into dangerous Category 3 storm

Florida braces for Hurricane Dorian. Watch more to know.

Your Story: Florida braces for Hurricane Dorian

A Florida man who mailed pipes filled with explosives to prominent Democrats and critics of<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-nominee-sparks-worries-of-intelligence-politicization-239554"> US President Donald Trump </a>was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Monday.

Cesar Sayoc, 57, who pleaded guilty in March to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-indicts-chinese-nationals-for-dealings-with-north-korean-companies-in-producing-weapons-of-mass-destruction-238031">using weapons of mass destruction</a> and other crimes, began crying when US District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan read the sentence.

Prosecutors had asked Rakoff to sentence Sayoc to life in prison, while Sayoc's lawyers had sought a sentence of 10 years plus one month.

Ian Marcus Amelkin, one of Sayoc's lawyers, argued that Sayoc's crimes were caused by paranoid, delusional thinking brought on by heavy use of steroids.

He said Sayoc, who was living in a van at the time of his arrest last year, had struggled all his life with severe learning disabilities, the effects of childhood abuse and social isolation.

Sayoc, Amelkin said, saw Trump as a "father figure" and became obsessed with conspiracy theories about people he perceived as being enemies of the president.

"We believe that the president's rhetoric contributed to Mr Sayoc's behaviour," he said.

Assistant US Attorney Jane Kim, one of the prosecutors, argued that Sayoc was a danger to the public and that his crimes warranted severe punishment.

"The defendant here set out to terrorise people," she said.

Sayoc expressed remorse shortly before the sentencing. "I am so very sorry for what I did," he said.

Sayoc sent packages containing pipes stuffed with explosives, wires and alarm clocks to 16 intended targets, including former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, US Senators Cory Booker and Kamala Harris, billionaire investor and Democratic donor George Soros, former Central Intelligence Agency director John Brennan, actor Robert De Niro and CNN.

All of the devices were intercepted and none exploded.

A report by federal investigators concluded they had no mechanism to trigger an explosion and "would not have functioned as designed."

Prosecutors argued that Sayoc nonetheless meant to injure his targets, while his lawyers said he meant only to inspire fear.

Sayoc himself said in a handwritten letter to Rakoff after his guilty plea that the bombs were a "hoax."

Rakoff said he believed Sayoc.

"He hated his victims. He wished them no good, but he was not so lost as to wish them dead, at least not by his hand," the judge said.

Still, the judge said, Sayoc's crimes were "far too horrible" for a "relatively lenient" 10-year sentence.

A Florida man who mailed pipes filled with explosives to prominent Democrats and critics of US President Donald Trump was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Monday.

A Florida man who mailed pipes filled with explosives to prominent Democrats and critics of US President Donald Trump was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Monday. Cesar Sayoc, 57, who pleaded guilty in March to using weapons of mass destruction and other crimes, began crying when US District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan read the sentence. Prosecutors had asked Rakoff to sentence Sayoc to life in prison, while Sayoc's lawyers had sought a sentence of 10 years plus one month. Ian Marcus Amelkin, one of Sayoc's lawyers, argued that Sayoc's crimes were caused by paranoid, delusional thinking brought on by heavy use of steroids. He said Sayoc, who was living in a van at the time of his arrest last year, had struggled all his life with severe learning disabilities, the effects of childhood abuse and social isolation. Sayoc, Amelkin said, saw Trump as a "father figure" and became obsessed with conspiracy theories about people he perceived as being enemies of the president. "We believe that the president's rhetoric contributed to Mr Sayoc's behaviour," he said. Assistant US Attorney Jane Kim, one of the prosecutors, argued that Sayoc was a danger to the public and that his crimes warranted severe punishment. "The defendant here set out to terrorise people," she said. Sayoc expressed remorse shortly before the sentencing. "I am so very sorry for what I did," he said. Sayoc sent packages containing pipes stuffed with explosives, wires and alarm clocks to 16 intended targets, including former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, US Senators Cory Booker and Kamala Harris, billionaire investor and Democratic donor George Soros, former Central Intelligence Agency director John Brennan, actor Robert De Niro and CNN. All of the devices were intercepted and none exploded. A report by federal investigators concluded they had no mechanism to trigger an explosion and "would not have functioned as designed." Prosecutors argued that Sayoc nonetheless meant to injure his targets, while his lawyers said he meant only to inspire fear. Sayoc himself said in a handwritten letter to Rakoff after his guilty plea that the bombs were a "hoax." Rakoff said he believed Sayoc. "He hated his victims. He wished them no good, but he was not so lost as to wish them dead, at least not by his hand," the judge said. Still, the judge said, Sayoc's crimes were "far too horrible" for a "relatively lenient" 10-year sentence.

Twenty year sentence for Florida man who sent explosives to Trump critics

India head into their all-format tour of the West Indies this weekend with more on their mind than simply winning a couple of T20s.&nbsp;

For Virat Kohli's side - and indeed for the West Indies - it is a chance to pick up the pieces after a disappointing one-day international (ODI) World Cup in England and put behind them the recent talk of splits in the camp.

Kohli's confidant Ravi Shastri is on borrowed time before the appointment of a new coach, former captain MS Dhoni has skipped the tour to do military service while Kohli this week has had to dismiss talk of a rift with prolific opening batsman Rohit Sharma.&nbsp;

"It baffles you as a leader, as a coach, and as a team when lies are being floated around," Kohli told reporters this week.&nbsp;

"And they are made to look believable. We have had no issues."

India, unexpectedly beaten by New Zealand in the World Cup semi-final last month, are likely to find plenty of support during the first two T20s on Saturday and Sunday with expatriate Indians expected to outnumber West Indian fans at the delightful Central Broward Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida.

Lauderhill, home of (USA) cricket&nbsp;

The stadium hosted its first internationals back in 2010 when New Zealand played Sri Lanka in two T20s.&nbsp;

West Indies and India played a T20 there three years ago and produced real fireworks, with KL Rahul smashing a century off 46 balls and Evin Lewis responding for the West Indies with a ton off 49 balls. The Indians won by just one run.

Rahul will be hoping to replicate that form in Lauderhill and the third T20 and ODI series in Guyana and Trinidad but the Indians will miss the experience of Dhoni as well as all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who has been rested, and fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who will join the squad for the tour-ending Test matches.

The Tests in Antigua and Jamaica will have a special significance as they will mark the first round of matches for each side in the new World Test Championship.

Unlike the visitors, the West Indies went into the World Cup as one of the outsiders and despite a resounding victory over Pakistan to open their campaign, they slid down to ninth in the final standings amid much disaffection and rancour among their diehard supporters over the repeated manner in which they surrendered potential winning positions.

Their meeting with India at Old Trafford ended in a crushing 125-run defeat. &nbsp;

Now, with an eye on building towards the defence of their World T20 title in Australia in 15 months, they have welcomed back experienced franchise globetrotters in all-rounder Kieron Pollard and spinner Sunil Narine. Carlos Brathwaite is back as captain.

There is no Chris Gayle in Florida as he is hard at work in the Global T20 event in Canada. But the big-hitting opener has been selected for the ODI leg of the tour, perhaps as a final farewell in front of home fans. Already 39, he is hardly likely to feature in the next World Cup in India in 2023.

India will start favourites across all three formats although the West Indies are expected to be at their most competitive and explosive in the T20s.

India head into their all-format tour of the West Indies this weekend with more on their mind than simply winning a couple of T20s. For Virat Kohli's side - and indeed for the West Indies - it is a chance to pick up the pieces after a disappointing one-day international (ODI) World Cup in England and put behind them the recent talk of splits in the camp.

India head into their all-format tour of the West Indies this weekend with more on their mind than simply winning a couple of T20s. For Virat Kohli's side - and indeed for the West Indies - it is a chance to pick up the pieces after a disappointing one-day international (ODI) World Cup in England and put behind them the recent talk of splits in the camp. Kohli's confidant Ravi Shastri is on borrowed time before the appointment of a new coach, former captain MS Dhoni has skipped the tour to do military service while Kohli this week has had to dismiss talk of a rift with prolific opening batsman Rohit Sharma. "It baffles you as a leader, as a coach, and as a team when lies are being floated around," Kohli told reporters this week. "And they are made to look believable. We have had no issues." India, unexpectedly beaten by New Zealand in the World Cup semi-final last month, are likely to find plenty of support during the first two T20s on Saturday and Sunday with expatriate Indians expected to outnumber West Indian fans at the delightful Central Broward Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida. Lauderhill, home of (USA) cricket The stadium hosted its first internationals back in 2010 when New Zealand played Sri Lanka in two T20s. West Indies and India played a T20 there three years ago and produced real fireworks, with KL Rahul smashing a century off 46 balls and Evin Lewis responding for the West Indies with a ton off 49 balls. The Indians won by just one run. Rahul will be hoping to replicate that form in Lauderhill and the third T20 and ODI series in Guyana and Trinidad but the Indians will miss the experience of Dhoni as well as all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who has been rested, and fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who will join the squad for the tour-ending Test matches. The Tests in Antigua and Jamaica will have a special significance as they will mark the first round of matches for each side in the new World Test Championship. Unlike the visitors, the West Indies went into the World Cup as one of the outsiders and despite a resounding victory over Pakistan to open their campaign, they slid down to ninth in the final standings amid much disaffection and rancour among their diehard supporters over the repeated manner in which they surrendered potential winning positions. Their meeting with India at Old Trafford ended in a crushing 125-run defeat. Now, with an eye on building towards the defence of their World T20 title in Australia in 15 months, they have welcomed back experienced franchise globetrotters in all-rounder Kieron Pollard and spinner Sunil Narine. Carlos Brathwaite is back as captain. There is no Chris Gayle in Florida as he is hard at work in the Global T20 event in Canada. But the big-hitting opener has been selected for the ODI leg of the tour, perhaps as a final farewell in front of home fans. Already 39, he is hardly likely to feature in the next World Cup in India in 2023. India will start favourites across all three formats although the West Indies are expected to be at their most competitive and explosive in the T20s.

India-West Indies series: Virat Kohli-led Team India begin the tour with Florida T20Is

'One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind': 50 years of historic Apollo 11 mission

A powerful explosion from a suspected gas leak ripped through a shopping mall in Florida on Saturday, injuring 21 people, the fire department said.

The explosion sent debris flying across the parking lot of the Fountain Plaza shopping centre, damaging an LA Fitness gym, numerous cars and blowing holes in neighbouring buildings in the city of Plantation, about 50 kilometres north of Miami.

"We got our workout in, picked up the kids, walked out, got in the car, drove away and as we drove away everything exploded. It was a pretty crazy scene," said Jessi Walasheck, who witnessed the explosion.

Deputy fire chief Joel Gordon told reporters two of the injured were in serious condition after the blast, one of whom had potentially life-threatening injuries.

"We found patients scattered all around the debris area," he said, but added the injuries generally "are not as severe as what we thought they would be."

His department initially called it a gas explosion and Gordon said ruptured gas lines were found in the debris, but the cause of the blast has not been confirmed.

No one has been reported missing.

"As bad it was, it could have been a lot worse," he said.

A major avenue running past the mall was shut down as a rescuer aided by a dog combed through the wreckage.

A powerful explosion from a suspected gas leak ripped through a shopping mall in Florida on Saturday, injuring 21 people, the fire department said. The explosion sent debris flying across the parking lot of the Fountain Plaza shopping centre, damaging an LA Fitness gym, numerous cars and blowing holes in neighbouring buildings in the city of Plantation, about 50 kilometres north of Miami.

A powerful explosion from a suspected gas leak ripped through a shopping mall in Florida on Saturday, injuring 21 people, the fire department said. The explosion sent debris flying across the parking lot of the Fountain Plaza shopping centre, damaging an LA Fitness gym, numerous cars and blowing holes in neighbouring buildings in the city of Plantation, about 50 kilometres north of Miami. "We got our workout in, picked up the kids, walked out, got in the car, drove away and as we drove away everything exploded. It was a pretty crazy scene," said Jessi Walasheck, who witnessed the explosion. Deputy fire chief Joel Gordon told reporters two of the injured were in serious condition after the blast, one of whom had potentially life-threatening injuries. "We found patients scattered all around the debris area," he said, but added the injuries generally "are not as severe as what we thought they would be." His department initially called it a gas explosion and Gordon said ruptured gas lines were found in the debris, but the cause of the blast has not been confirmed. No one has been reported missing. "As bad it was, it could have been a lot worse," he said. A major avenue running past the mall was shut down as a rescuer aided by a dog combed through the wreckage.

Gas explosion at US mall in Florida injures 21

An explosion obliterated a vacant restaurant at a shopping center in South Florida on Saturday, injuring at least 21 people and showering the parking lot with debris. Firefighters found a ruptured natural gas line, but authorities said the cause of the explosion in Plantation, Florida, about six miles west of Fort Lauderdale, was still under investigation. Video shows the force of the blast blew out several windows at a nearby L.A. Fitness gym, sending patrons running for the exits. Two people suffered serious injuries and were taken to the trauma center at a local hospital, Joel Gordon, the city's deputy fire chief, said at a news conference.

Florida Blast: At Least 23 Nearby Complexes Sustain Significant Damage

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-iran-to-resume-talks-over-nuclear-deal-and-its-consequences-233670">France, Iran to resume talks over nuclear deal and its consequences</a>

French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday told his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani of his "strong concern over the risk of weakening the nuclear agreement" and of the consequences that would follow, his office announced.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gas-explosion-at-us-mall-in-florida-injures-21-233671">Gas explosion at US mall in Florida injures 21</a>

A powerful explosion from a suspected gas leak ripped through a shopping mall in Florida on Saturday, injuring 21 people, the fire department said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jair-bolsonaro-defends-child-labour-in-brazil-sparking-outcry-233674">Jair Bolsonaro defends child labour in Brazil, sparks outcry</a>

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, no stranger to controversy, sparked a new brouhaha this week by repeatedly defending the practice of child labour.

"I've been working since I was eight years old... and today I am what I am," the far-right leader said during his weekly live forum on Facebook.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/archie-baby-son-of-uks-prince-harry-and-meghan-markle-christened-at-windsor-castle-233673">Archie, baby son of UK's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, christened at Windsor Castle</a>

Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, the two-month-old son of Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, was christened on Saturday, in a small private ceremony at Windsor Castle.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/leadership-issue-comes-up-at-meeting-of-congress-leaders-no-names-discussed-233676">Leadership issue comes up at the meeting of Congress leaders, no names discussed</a>

The issue of leadership in Congress came up briefly at the informal meeting of party leaders here held to discuss the political developments in Karnataka but no names were discussed, party sources said.

France, Iran to resume talks over nuclear deal and its consequences French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday told his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani of his "strong concern over the risk of weakening the nuclear agreement" and of the consequences that would follow, his office announced.

France, Iran to resume talks over nuclear deal and its consequences French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday told his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani of his "strong concern over the risk of weakening the nuclear agreement" and of the consequences that would follow, his office announced. Gas explosion at US mall in Florida injures 21 A powerful explosion from a suspected gas leak ripped through a shopping mall in Florida on Saturday, injuring 21 people, the fire department said. Jair Bolsonaro defends child labour in Brazil, sparks outcry Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, no stranger to controversy, sparked a new brouhaha this week by repeatedly defending the practice of child labour. "I've been working since I was eight years old... and today I am what I am," the far-right leader said during his weekly live forum on Facebook. Archie, baby son of UK's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, christened at Windsor Castle Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, the two-month-old son of Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, was christened on Saturday, in a small private ceremony at Windsor Castle. Leadership issue comes up at the meeting of Congress leaders, no names discussed The issue of leadership in Congress came up briefly at the informal meeting of party leaders here held to discuss the political developments in Karnataka but no names were discussed, party sources said.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Secretary of state Mike Pompeo's visit to UAE was mainly focused on maritime security and countering Iran. watch the full video to know more.

Mike Pompeo talks to UAE leader about countering Iran

More than a year before the 2020 US presidential election, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-first-2020-event-biden-sets-up-battle-with-trump-over-union-vote-214640">President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden</a> went toe-to-toe in Iowa on Tuesday, trading barbs, testing their messages and providing a glimpse of a potential matchup between the two.

Trump and Biden, the Democratic front-runner, were in Iowa on the same day for the first time during the presidential race. Biden held a series of campaign stops in the state, which will hold the first nominating contest for Democrats next February. Trump appeared at an event promoting biofuels and then spoke at a state Republican Party fundraiser.

“We didn’t plan it this way,” Biden joked at one event.

But there was little levity between the two men throughout the day. Just four years apart in age, they exhibited dramatically different political styles.

As has long been his approach, Trump, 72, early in the day belittled a potential opponent with a series of insults, mocking Biden’s age, appearance and intelligence, and calling him a “loser.”

Biden, 76, hit back, but in a more restrained way, preferring to focus on Trump’s actions as president. At a stop in Ottumwa, he referred to Trump as “a threat to our core values.”

The exchanges illustrated the challenge Trump poses for Biden. Rather than focusing on any single policy issue, Biden's campaign is centred on the notion of a return to public decency and political modesty. Much of his stump speech is devoted to what he terms national values.

“We have to be a lot more civil in the way we engage one another,” Biden told reporters in Mount Pleasant. “The system isn’t broken. The politics are broken.”

Trump takes a much more aggressive political approach. He has remade the nature of the presidency in his own fashion, using social media with characteristic bluntness, challenging longtime US allies and questioning Washington traditions once viewed as sacrosanct.

On the campaign trail, Biden often says he views Trump’s first term as president as an “aberration.” A second term, he warns, “will fundamentally change who we are as a nation.”

Biden seems to worry out loud that might already be occurring.

“Some say this is an old-fashioned way of doing things,” he said in Ottumwa. “If it’s old fashioned ... we’re in real trouble.”

Bygone Days

Unlike his Democratic rivals, who routinely blast Republicans as Trump lackeys, Biden expresses nostalgia for the

Republican Party that existed before Trump arrived. “It would be nice if they start to vote like they used to,” Biden said at an event last week in New Hampshire.

But at a Republican fundraiser in West Des Moines on Tuesday night, the president received a fervent welcome, suggesting his near-absolute grip on the party.

"We are going to show this president that we believe in him and we love him," said the chair of the Iowa Republican Party, Jeff Kaufmann.

Trump demonstrated why he will likely be a formidable candidate next year, focusing his remarks at the event on the strong US economy and talking up his recent deal with Mexico on migration. He notably did not mention Biden by name and touted his administration's record.

"We've turned it all around," he said.

Iowa will serve as a key battleground in the November 2020 election, a swing state that went for Trump on 2016 but for Democrat Barack Obama the two previous elections.

Trump has long been running for re-election but will hold an official kickoff event next week in Florida. No Republican has challenged him for his party’s nomination.

Before Biden can win the Democratic nomination to face him next year, he must solidify his support in Iowa.

A statewide Des Moines Register/CNN/Mediacom poll released last week showed Biden with 24 per cent of the vote among Democrats in the state, a lower level of support than he has shown in other early states. Close behind were US Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana.

In a head-to-head fight, Biden, who has a history of strong union support, would be competing with Trump for the same white, working-class voters in Iowa and elsewhere who helped Trump win the 2016 election.

Farmers in Iowa and elsewhere, a key Trump constituency, have been hit particularly hard by Trump's 10-month tariff war with China.

Biden made a direct appeal to them on Tuesday.

"It’s really easy to be tough when someone else absorbs the pain," he said.

More than a year before the 2020 US presidential election, President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden went toe-to-toe in Iowa on Tuesday, trading barbs, testing their messages and providing a glimpse of a potential matchup between the two.

More than a year before the 2020 US presidential election, President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden went toe-to-toe in Iowa on Tuesday, trading barbs, testing their messages and providing a glimpse of a potential matchup between the two. Trump and Biden, the Democratic front-runner, were in Iowa on the same day for the first time during the presidential race. Biden held a series of campaign stops in the state, which will hold the first nominating contest for Democrats next February. Trump appeared at an event promoting biofuels and then spoke at a state Republican Party fundraiser. “We didn’t plan it this way,” Biden joked at one event. But there was little levity between the two men throughout the day. Just four years apart in age, they exhibited dramatically different political styles. As has long been his approach, Trump, 72, early in the day belittled a potential opponent with a series of insults, mocking Biden’s age, appearance and intelligence, and calling him a “loser.” Biden, 76, hit back, but in a more restrained way, preferring to focus on Trump’s actions as president. At a stop in Ottumwa, he referred to Trump as “a threat to our core values.” The exchanges illustrated the challenge Trump poses for Biden. Rather than focusing on any single policy issue, Biden's campaign is centred on the notion of a return to public decency and political modesty. Much of his stump speech is devoted to what he terms national values. “We have to be a lot more civil in the way we engage one another,” Biden told reporters in Mount Pleasant. “The system isn’t broken. The politics are broken.” Trump takes a much more aggressive political approach. He has remade the nature of the presidency in his own fashion, using social media with characteristic bluntness, challenging longtime US allies and questioning Washington traditions once viewed as sacrosanct. On the campaign trail, Biden often says he views Trump’s first term as president as an “aberration.” A second term, he warns, “will fundamentally change who we are as a nation.” Biden seems to worry out loud that might already be occurring. “Some say this is an old-fashioned way of doing things,” he said in Ottumwa. “If it’s old fashioned ... we’re in real trouble.” Bygone Days Unlike his Democratic rivals, who routinely blast Republicans as Trump lackeys, Biden expresses nostalgia for the Republican Party that existed before Trump arrived. “It would be nice if they start to vote like they used to,” Biden said at an event last week in New Hampshire. But at a Republican fundraiser in West Des Moines on Tuesday night, the president received a fervent welcome, suggesting his near-absolute grip on the party. "We are going to show this president that we believe in him and we love him," said the chair of the Iowa Republican Party, Jeff Kaufmann. Trump demonstrated why he will likely be a formidable candidate next year, focusing his remarks at the event on the strong US economy and talking up his recent deal with Mexico on migration. He notably did not mention Biden by name and touted his administration's record. "We've turned it all around," he said. Iowa will serve as a key battleground in the November 2020 election, a swing state that went for Trump on 2016 but for Democrat Barack Obama the two previous elections. Trump has long been running for re-election but will hold an official kickoff event next week in Florida. No Republican has challenged him for his party’s nomination. Before Biden can win the Democratic nomination to face him next year, he must solidify his support in Iowa. A statewide Des Moines Register/CNN/Mediacom poll released last week showed Biden with 24 per cent of the vote among Democrats in the state, a lower level of support than he has shown in other early states. Close behind were US Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana. In a head-to-head fight, Biden, who has a history of strong union support, would be competing with Trump for the same white, working-class voters in Iowa and elsewhere who helped Trump win the 2016 election. Farmers in Iowa and elsewhere, a key Trump constituency, have been hit particularly hard by Trump's 10-month tariff war with China. Biden made a direct appeal to them on Tuesday. "It’s really easy to be tough when someone else absorbs the pain," he said.

Trump, Biden show distinct styles in potential 2020 preview

United States President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) said that he will officially announce his bid for a second term as president in 2020 on June 18 during a rally in Florida.

First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence will also be part of the event in Orlando, Trump said on Twitter.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/big-democratic-field-taking-shape-for-2020-us-presidential-race-213249">Big Democratic field taking shape for 2020 US presidential race</a>

Trump wrote on his official Twitter handle, "I will be announcing my Second Term Presidential Run with First Lady Melania, Vice President Mike Pence, and Second Lady Karen Pence on June 18th in Orlando, Florida, at the 20,000 seat Amway Center. Join us for this Historic Rally!".

In November 2016, Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton to win the White House.

Trump had made it clear that he would seek re-election shortly after he assumed office in January 2017. Since then, he has conducted numerous political rallies, the first in February 2017, CNN reported.

If re-elected, Trump will become the 16th US President to retain office after completing the first term.&nbsp;

United States President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) said that he will officially announce his bid for a second term as president in 2020 on June 18 during a rally in Florida.

United States President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) said that he will officially announce his bid for a second term as president in 2020 on June 18 during a rally in Florida. First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence will also be part of the event in Orlando, Trump said on Twitter. Also read: Big Democratic field taking shape for 2020 US presidential race Trump wrote on his official Twitter handle, "I will be announcing my Second Term Presidential Run with First Lady Melania, Vice President Mike Pence, and Second Lady Karen Pence on June 18th in Orlando, Florida, at the 20,000 seat Amway Center. Join us for this Historic Rally!". In November 2016, Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton to win the White House. Trump had made it clear that he would seek re-election shortly after he assumed office in January 2017. Since then, he has conducted numerous political rallies, the first in February 2017, CNN reported. If re-elected, Trump will become the 16th US President to retain office after completing the first term.

Trump to announce second term run at June Florida rally

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/crew-capsule-destroyed-during-april-test-accident-confirms-spacex-215535">SpaceX</a> on Thursday launched a rocket containing the first 60 satellites of its "Starlink" constellation, which is intended to provide internet from space and could one-day number 12,000 satellites.

One of the company's Falcon 9 rockets took off without incident from Cape Canaveral in Florida around 10:30 pm.

The second stage of the rocket will begin to release them one hour after launch, at an altitude of&nbsp; &nbsp;440 kilometres, and then the satellites will use their thrusters to take up their places in a relatively low orbit of 550 kilometres.

That's slightly higher than the International Space Station, but well below the majority of terrestrial satellites, the highest of which sits in a geostationary orbit of 36,000 kilometres.

The launch was originally scheduled for last week but was postponed, first due to high winds and then due to the need for a software update.

Billionaire Elon Musk's firm, which is leading the private space race when it comes to rocket launches, is now looking to seize a chunk of the future space internet market.

The launch will make it an early forerunner, along with rival OneWeb, a startup, but well ahead of Amazon's Project Kuiper, the brainchild of Musk's space rival Jeff Bezos.

Each of the satellites weighs just 227 kilograms (500 pounds) and was built in-house in Redmond, near Seattle.

Starlink will become operational once 800 satellites have been activated, which will require a dozen more launches.

SpaceX on Thursday launched a rocket containing the first 60 satellites of its "Starlink" constellation, which is intended to provide internet from space and could one-day number 12,000 satellites.

SpaceX on Thursday launched a rocket containing the first 60 satellites of its "Starlink" constellation, which is intended to provide internet from space and could one-day number 12,000 satellites. One of the company's Falcon 9 rockets took off without incident from Cape Canaveral in Florida around 10:30 pm. The second stage of the rocket will begin to release them one hour after launch, at an altitude of 440 kilometres, and then the satellites will use their thrusters to take up their places in a relatively low orbit of 550 kilometres. That's slightly higher than the International Space Station, but well below the majority of terrestrial satellites, the highest of which sits in a geostationary orbit of 36,000 kilometres. The launch was originally scheduled for last week but was postponed, first due to high winds and then due to the need for a software update. Billionaire Elon Musk's firm, which is leading the private space race when it comes to rocket launches, is now looking to seize a chunk of the future space internet market. The launch will make it an early forerunner, along with rival OneWeb, a startup, but well ahead of Amazon's Project Kuiper, the brainchild of Musk's space rival Jeff Bezos. Each of the satellites weighs just 227 kilograms (500 pounds) and was built in-house in Redmond, near Seattle. Starlink will become operational once 800 satellites have been activated, which will require a dozen more launches.

SpaceX launches first satellites of its internet network

A Boeing 737 jet carrying 136 people on board, slid into a river in Florida after shooting off the runway. Blackbox of the plane being examined. Watch the full video to know more.

Boeing 737 skids off runway, Blackbox of the plane being examined

A Boeing 737 commercial jet with 136 people on board slid into the St. Johns River near Jacksonville, Florida after landing on Friday.

Breaking: Boeing 737 slides into Florida river with 136 on board, no fatalities

A Boeing 737 jet carrying 136 people on board, slid into a river in Florida after shooting off the runway. Watch the full video to know more.

Boeing 737 jet skids off runway into St. Johns river in Florida

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spacex-falcon-heavy-rocket-launches-first-commercial-flight-209697">Elon Musk's SpaceX</a> suffered an anomaly in one of its Crew Dragon capsules while conducting engine tests at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Saturday, the company said.

"The initial tests completed successfully but the final test resulted in an anomaly on the test stand," the company said in a statement.

The issue was earlier reported by Florida Today, which said orange smoke was seen rising above SpaceX's facilities, and that the anomaly was contained with no injuries.

SpaceX said its teams are investigating and are working closely with US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) partners.

"NASA has been notified about the results of the SpaceX Static Fire Test and the anomaly that occurred during the final test," its administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a tweet.

"This is why we test. We will learn, make the necessary adjustments and safely move forward with our Commercial Crew Program," he added.

NASA has awarded SpaceX and Boeing Co a total of $6.8 billion to build competing rocket and capsule systems to launch astronauts into orbit from American soil.

In March, the privately owned SpaceX successfully completed its mission of sending an unmanned capsule to the International Space Station and returned safely to Earth, a mission seen as crucial to NASA's plans to resume human space flight from US soil.

SpaceX's first crewed test flight is slated to launch in July with US astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken.

Elon Musk's SpaceX suffered an anomaly in one of its Crew Dragon capsules while conducting engine tests at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Saturday, the company said.

Elon Musk's SpaceX suffered an anomaly in one of its Crew Dragon capsules while conducting engine tests at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Saturday, the company said. "The initial tests completed successfully but the final test resulted in an anomaly on the test stand," the company said in a statement. The issue was earlier reported by Florida Today, which said orange smoke was seen rising above SpaceX's facilities, and that the anomaly was contained with no injuries. SpaceX said its teams are investigating and are working closely with US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) partners. "NASA has been notified about the results of the SpaceX Static Fire Test and the anomaly that occurred during the final test," its administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a tweet. "This is why we test. We will learn, make the necessary adjustments and safely move forward with our Commercial Crew Program," he added. NASA has awarded SpaceX and Boeing Co a total of $6.8 billion to build competing rocket and capsule systems to launch astronauts into orbit from American soil. In March, the privately owned SpaceX successfully completed its mission of sending an unmanned capsule to the International Space Station and returned safely to Earth, a mission seen as crucial to NASA's plans to resume human space flight from US soil. SpaceX's first crewed test flight is slated to launch in July with US astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken.

SpaceX suffers capsule anomaly during Florida tests

The most powerful operational rocket in the world, SpaceX's Falcon Heavy, launched its first commercial mission on Thursday (April 11) from Florida in a key demonstration for billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's space company in the race to grasp lucrative military launch contracts.

SpaceX's Falcon Heavy conducts first commercial flight

A Chinese woman carrying multiple cellphones and a thumb drive containing malware was arrested on Saturday at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-vote-on-healthcare-can-wait-until-after-2020-election-207350">US President Donald Trump</a>'s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida while he was staying there, court documents revealed Tuesday.

An arrest document in the federal district court of Palm Beach, Florida said Zhang Yujing tried to gain entry into Mar-a-Lago on Saturday, first presenting herself as a member and saying she was headed to the pool -- despite not having a swimsuit. Then, she claimed to be attending a non-existent Chinese-American friendship event.&nbsp;

After she was detained, she offered an additional story: that she was asked by a Chinese friend named Charles to travel from Shanghai to attend the event and attempt to speak to a member of the president's family about US-China economic relations, the document said.

The woman carried two passports from the People's Republic of China, according to the US Secret Service which arrested her. The charge documents mistakenly identified them as being from the "Republic of China," the official name of Taiwan.

Secret Service agents at the scene found four cellphones, a laptop computer, an external hard drive and a thumb drive that "contained malicious software", according to the document.

Zhang was arrested and charged with making false statements to federal officers and knowingly entering a restricted building -- which Mar-a-Lago becomes while Trump is in residence.

Trump owns the luxurious beachside club in the wealthy Atlantic coast city of Palm Beach, and travels there frequently on weekends to play golf and meet friends.

He keeps a residence in a private area of the club, but was reportedly golfing at a nearby course around the time Zhang was there.

While Zhang's story of attending an event that was not on the club schedule raised suspicions, the Miami Herald reported that there might have been substance to it.

Two events had been recently advertised at Mar-a-Lago for March 30 by a local Chinese-American businesswoman, Cindy Yang, on Chinese language social media, the Herald said.

Yang is a Mar-a-Lago member who built and later sold a chain of massage parlours in Florida, which were recently raided by police over prostitution. In recent years she has promoted herself as a path of access to the US president, his family, and other decision-makers.

Yang's website featured pictures of her with Trump and other members of his family and senior administration officials.

The Herald also said that an event promoter who Yang worked with was named Charles Lee.

A Chinese woman carrying multiple cellphones and a thumb drive containing malware was arrested on Saturday at US President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida while he was staying there, court documents revealed Tuesday.

A Chinese woman carrying multiple cellphones and a thumb drive containing malware was arrested on Saturday at US President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida while he was staying there, court documents revealed Tuesday. An arrest document in the federal district court of Palm Beach, Florida said Zhang Yujing tried to gain entry into Mar-a-Lago on Saturday, first presenting herself as a member and saying she was headed to the pool -- despite not having a swimsuit. Then, she claimed to be attending a non-existent Chinese-American friendship event. After she was detained, she offered an additional story: that she was asked by a Chinese friend named Charles to travel from Shanghai to attend the event and attempt to speak to a member of the president's family about US-China economic relations, the document said. The woman carried two passports from the People's Republic of China, according to the US Secret Service which arrested her. The charge documents mistakenly identified them as being from the "Republic of China," the official name of Taiwan. Secret Service agents at the scene found four cellphones, a laptop computer, an external hard drive and a thumb drive that "contained malicious software", according to the document. Zhang was arrested and charged with making false statements to federal officers and knowingly entering a restricted building -- which Mar-a-Lago becomes while Trump is in residence. Trump owns the luxurious beachside club in the wealthy Atlantic coast city of Palm Beach, and travels there frequently on weekends to play golf and meet friends. He keeps a residence in a private area of the club, but was reportedly golfing at a nearby course around the time Zhang was there. While Zhang's story of attending an event that was not on the club schedule raised suspicions, the Miami Herald reported that there might have been substance to it. Two events had been recently advertised at Mar-a-Lago for March 30 by a local Chinese-American businesswoman, Cindy Yang, on Chinese language social media, the Herald said. Yang is a Mar-a-Lago member who built and later sold a chain of massage parlours in Florida, which were recently raided by police over prostitution. In recent years she has promoted herself as a path of access to the US president, his family, and other decision-makers. Yang's website featured pictures of her with Trump and other members of his family and senior administration officials. The Herald also said that an event promoter who Yang worked with was named Charles Lee.

Chinese woman arrested at Trump's resort with malware on thumb drive

A Boeing 737 MAX aircraft operated by Southwest Airlines made <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boeing-looking-to-return-737-max-to-service-invites-pilots-regulators-to-briefing-205467">an emergency landing</a> Tuesday after experiencing an engine problem as it was being ferried from Florida to California, the US Federal Aviation Agency said.

"The aircraft returned and landed safely in Orlando," the FAA said in a statement, adding that no passengers were on board the aircraft, which was being transferred to Victorville, California for storage.

"The FAA is investigating," added the agency, which grounded the Boeing 737 MAX on March 13 following two deadly accidents involving Ethiopian Airlines and Lion Air but continues to allow the planes to be ferried from airport to airport.

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Southwest said the plane experienced an engine problem "shortly after takeoff."

"The crew followed protocol and safely landed back at the airport" around 3:00 pm (1900 GMT), spokesman Chris Mainz said.&nbsp;

"The Boeing 737 MAX 8 will be moved to our Orlando maintenance facility for a review."

It was the latest setback for Boeing's flagship narrow-body plane following October's Lion Air crash and the Ethiopian Airlines accident earlier this month, which together killed 346 people.&nbsp;

The accidents, which shared similarities, led authorities across the world to ground the aircraft.

Boeing has since conducted test flights of its 737 MAX to evaluate a fix for the MCAS stall prevention system targeted as a potential cause for the deadly crashes, two sources familiar with the matter said.

The system has been criticized since it can malfunction and make it difficult for pilots to control the aircraft. Both of the recent crashes occurred moments after takeoff.&nbsp;

A Senate Commerce Committee panel will hold a hearing Wednesday to question FAA Acting Administration Daniel Elwell and Transportation Department Inspector General Calvin Scovel

The officials are expected to face questions from lawmakers on the FAA's certification of the 737 MAX and whether regulators have become too cozy with the company, and fast-tracked some approvals.

The session is expected to be followed by a second hearing at a later date with Boeing, airline pilots and other stakeholders, the committee said.

A Boeing 737 MAX aircraft operated by Southwest Airlines made an emergency landing Tuesday after experiencing an engine problem as it was being ferried from Florida to California, the US Federal Aviation Agency said.

A Boeing 737 MAX aircraft operated by Southwest Airlines made an emergency landing Tuesday after experiencing an engine problem as it was being ferried from Florida to California, the US Federal Aviation Agency said. "The aircraft returned and landed safely in Orlando," the FAA said in a statement, adding that no passengers were on board the aircraft, which was being transferred to Victorville, California for storage. "The FAA is investigating," added the agency, which grounded the Boeing 737 MAX on March 13 following two deadly accidents involving Ethiopian Airlines and Lion Air but continues to allow the planes to be ferried from airport to airport. Southwest Airlines said the plane experienced an engine problem 'shortly after takeoff' × Southwest said the plane experienced an engine problem "shortly after takeoff." "The crew followed protocol and safely landed back at the airport" around 3:00 pm (1900 GMT), spokesman Chris Mainz said. "The Boeing 737 MAX 8 will be moved to our Orlando maintenance facility for a review." It was the latest setback for Boeing's flagship narrow-body plane following October's Lion Air crash and the Ethiopian Airlines accident earlier this month, which together killed 346 people. The accidents, which shared similarities, led authorities across the world to ground the aircraft. Boeing has since conducted test flights of its 737 MAX to evaluate a fix for the MCAS stall prevention system targeted as a potential cause for the deadly crashes, two sources familiar with the matter said. The system has been criticized since it can malfunction and make it difficult for pilots to control the aircraft. Both of the recent crashes occurred moments after takeoff. A Senate Commerce Committee panel will hold a hearing Wednesday to question FAA Acting Administration Daniel Elwell and Transportation Department Inspector General Calvin Scovel The officials are expected to face questions from lawmakers on the FAA's certification of the 737 MAX and whether regulators have become too cozy with the company, and fast-tracked some approvals. The session is expected to be followed by a second hearing at a later date with Boeing, airline pilots and other stakeholders, the committee said.

Boeing 737 MAX makes emergency landing in US: FAA

A rocket took off from Cape Canaveral in Florida on Thursday night carrying Israel's Beresheet spacecraft, aiming to make history twice - as the first private-sector landing on the Moon, and the first from the Jewish state.

The 585-kilogram (1,290-pound) Beresheet, which means "Genesis" in Hebrew, lifted off at 8:45 pm (0145 GMT Friday) atop a Falcon 9 rocket from the private US-based SpaceX company of entrepreneur Elon Musk.

Take-off was followed live back in Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu watching alongside engineers from the control center of the Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI).

The Israeli craft has been placed in Earth orbit, from where it will use its own engine to undertake a seven-week trip to reach the Moon and touch down on April 11 in a large plain.&nbsp;

The rocket also contains an Indonesian satellite and a satellite of the US Air Force Research Laboratory.

The unmanned mission is part of renewed global interest in the Moon, sometimes called the "eighth continent" of the Earth, and comes 50 years after American astronauts first walked on the lunar surface.&nbsp;

"This is history in the making - and it's live! Israel is aiming for the #moon and you're all invited to watch," said a Twitter message from SpaceIL, the non-profit organization that designed the Israeli craft.

It was backed notably by businessman and philanthropist Morris Kahn, who financed the development of a craft. "Make us proud," he said Thursday.

Entrepreneurs, not government space agencies, financed the mission, which was initially projected at $10 million but eventually grew to $100 million.

Other partners are Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Israel's space agency, and the country's Ministry of Science and Technology.

So far, only Russia, the United States and China have made the 384,000-kilometer (239,000-mile) journey and landed spacecraft on the Moon.

China's Chang'e-4 made the first-ever soft landing on the far side of the Moon on January 3, after a probe sent by Beijing made a Lunar landing elsewhere in 2013.

Americans are the only ones to have walked on the lunar surface, but have not been there since 1972.

For Israel, the landing itself is the main mission, but the spacecraft also carries a scientific instrument to measure the lunar magnetic field, which will help understanding of the Moon's formation.

Technically, it is far from a trivial mission.

After its initial boost from the Falcon 9, the Beresheet's British engine will have to make several ignitions to place the spacecraft on the correct trajectory to the Moon.&nbsp;

When it arrives, its landing gear must cushion the descent onto the lunar surface to prevent Beresheet from crashing.

India plans to follow

Beresheet carries a "time capsule" loaded with digital files containing a Bible, children's drawings, Israeli songs, memories of a Holocaust survivor and the blue-and-white Israeli flag.

At a cost of $100 million, "this is the lowest-budget spacecraft to ever undertake such a mission. The superpowers who managed to land a spacecraft on the Moon have spent hundreds of millions of dollars in government funding," IAI said in an earlier statement.

"Beresheet is the first spacecraft to land on the Moon as a result of a private initiative, rather than a government."&nbsp;

After China earlier this year, and now Israel, India hopes to become the fifth lunar country in the spring with its Chandrayaan-2 mission. It aims to put a craft with a rover onto the Moon's surface to collect data.

Japan plans to send a small lunar lander, called SLIM, to study a volcanic area around 2020-2021.&nbsp;

As for the Americans, a return to the Moon is now the official policy of NASA, according to guidelines issued by President Donald Trump in 2017.&nbsp;

"This time, when we go to the Moon, we're actually going to stay," NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said last week.&nbsp;

To achieve this, the US space agency is changing its model and no longer wants to design the missions itself.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, which has installed equipment on Beresheet to upload its signals from the Moon, said last week it aims to land instruments later this year or next year and that it is inviting private sector bids to build and launch the US probes.

The US space agency plans to build a small space station, dubbed Gateway, in the Moon's orbit by 2026, and envisages a manned mission to Mars in the following decade.&nbsp;

A rocket took off from Cape Canaveral in Florida on Thursday night carrying Israel's Beresheet spacecraft, aiming to make history twice - as the first private-sector landing on the Moon, and the first from the Jewish state.

A rocket took off from Cape Canaveral in Florida on Thursday night carrying Israel's Beresheet spacecraft, aiming to make history twice - as the first private-sector landing on the Moon, and the first from the Jewish state. The 585-kilogram (1,290-pound) Beresheet, which means "Genesis" in Hebrew, lifted off at 8:45 pm (0145 GMT Friday) atop a Falcon 9 rocket from the private US-based SpaceX company of entrepreneur Elon Musk. Take-off was followed live back in Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu watching alongside engineers from the control center of the Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI). The Israeli craft has been placed in Earth orbit, from where it will use its own engine to undertake a seven-week trip to reach the Moon and touch down on April 11 in a large plain. The rocket also contains an Indonesian satellite and a satellite of the US Air Force Research Laboratory. The unmanned mission is part of renewed global interest in the Moon, sometimes called the "eighth continent" of the Earth, and comes 50 years after American astronauts first walked on the lunar surface. "This is history in the making - and it's live! Israel is aiming for the #moon and you're all invited to watch," said a Twitter message from SpaceIL, the non-profit organization that designed the Israeli craft. It was backed notably by businessman and philanthropist Morris Kahn, who financed the development of a craft. "Make us proud," he said Thursday. Entrepreneurs, not government space agencies, financed the mission, which was initially projected at $10 million but eventually grew to $100 million. Other partners are Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Israel's space agency, and the country's Ministry of Science and Technology. So far, only Russia, the United States and China have made the 384,000-kilometer (239,000-mile) journey and landed spacecraft on the Moon. China's Chang'e-4 made the first-ever soft landing on the far side of the Moon on January 3, after a probe sent by Beijing made a Lunar landing elsewhere in 2013. Americans are the only ones to have walked on the lunar surface, but have not been there since 1972. For Israel, the landing itself is the main mission, but the spacecraft also carries a scientific instrument to measure the lunar magnetic field, which will help understanding of the Moon's formation. Technically, it is far from a trivial mission. After its initial boost from the Falcon 9, the Beresheet's British engine will have to make several ignitions to place the spacecraft on the correct trajectory to the Moon. When it arrives, its landing gear must cushion the descent onto the lunar surface to prevent Beresheet from crashing. India plans to follow Beresheet carries a "time capsule" loaded with digital files containing a Bible, children's drawings, Israeli songs, memories of a Holocaust survivor and the blue-and-white Israeli flag. At a cost of $100 million, "this is the lowest-budget spacecraft to ever undertake such a mission. The superpowers who managed to land a spacecraft on the Moon have spent hundreds of millions of dollars in government funding," IAI said in an earlier statement. "Beresheet is the first spacecraft to land on the Moon as a result of a private initiative, rather than a government." After China earlier this year, and now Israel, India hopes to become the fifth lunar country in the spring with its Chandrayaan-2 mission. It aims to put a craft with a rover onto the Moon's surface to collect data. Japan plans to send a small lunar lander, called SLIM, to study a volcanic area around 2020-2021. As for the Americans, a return to the Moon is now the official policy of NASA, according to guidelines issued by President Donald Trump in 2017. "This time, when we go to the Moon, we're actually going to stay," NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said last week. To achieve this, the US space agency is changing its model and no longer wants to design the missions itself. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, which has installed equipment on Beresheet to upload its signals from the Moon, said last week it aims to land instruments later this year or next year and that it is inviting private sector bids to build and launch the US probes. The US space agency plans to build a small space station, dubbed Gateway, in the Moon's orbit by 2026, and envisages a manned mission to Mars in the following decade.

Israel's first Moon mission blasts off from Florida

After year of action, silence marks Florida school shooting

In pics: All decked up, countries gear for New Year celebrations

After Democrat Andrew Gillum <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-midterm-polls-republican-martha-mcsally-loses-arizona-senate-seat-176966">conceded race for Florida governor </a>to his Republican rival, Ron DeSantis, Republican Rick Scott narrowly won the US Senate seat from Florida beating Democrat Bill Nelson.

The vote had gone into a recount which was being conducted by hand in a long-drawn out battle of nerves resulted in Scott's favour who won &nbsp;over 10,000 votes, or 50.05 percent to 49.93 percent.

"I just spoke with Senator Bill Nelson, who graciously conceded, and I thanked him for his years of public service," Scott said.

President Trump was quick to react on his fellow Republicans win, saying: "From day one Rick Scott never wavered. He was a great Governor and will be even a greater Senator in representing the People of Florida."&nbsp;

"Congratulations to Rick on having waged such a courageous and successful campaign!"&nbsp;

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From day one Rick Scott never wavered. He was a great Governor and will be even a greater Senator in representing the People of Florida. Congratulations to Rick on having waged such a courageous and successful campaign!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1064246787161145346?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The elections which were held on November 6th had led to a bitter war of words between the Democrats and Republicans with President Trump accusing&nbsp;Florida authorities of fraud although no evidence was found of voter fraud in the state.

After his victory, Scott said: "We must do what Americans have always done: come together for the good of our state and our country," adding,"my focus will not be on looking backward, but on doing exactly what I ran on: Making Washington Work."

Earlier on Saturday, Democrat Andrew Gillum had lost the Governor's race. In Georgia, Democrat Stacey Abrams lost to Republican Brian Kemp, Georgia's secretary of state with a one percentage point win.

After Democrat Andrew Gillum conceded race for Florida governor to his Republican rival, Ron DeSantis, Republican Rick Scott narrowly won the US Senate seat from Florida beating Democrat Bill Nelson.

After Democrat Andrew Gillum conceded race for Florida governor to his Republican rival, Ron DeSantis, Republican Rick Scott narrowly won the US Senate seat from Florida beating Democrat Bill Nelson. The vote had gone into a recount which was being conducted by hand in a long-drawn out battle of nerves resulted in Scott's favour who won over 10,000 votes, or 50.05 percent to 49.93 percent. "I just spoke with Senator Bill Nelson, who graciously conceded, and I thanked him for his years of public service," Scott said. President Trump was quick to react on his fellow Republicans win, saying: "From day one Rick Scott never wavered. He was a great Governor and will be even a greater Senator in representing the People of Florida." "Congratulations to Rick on having waged such a courageous and successful campaign!" From day one Rick Scott never wavered. He was a great Governor and will be even a greater Senator in representing the People of Florida. Congratulations to Rick on having waged such a courageous and successful campaign! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 18, 2018 × The elections which were held on November 6th had led to a bitter war of words between the Democrats and Republicans with President Trump accusing Florida authorities of fraud although no evidence was found of voter fraud in the state. After his victory, Scott said: "We must do what Americans have always done: come together for the good of our state and our country," adding,"my focus will not be on looking backward, but on doing exactly what I ran on: Making Washington Work." Earlier on Saturday, Democrat Andrew Gillum had lost the Governor's race. In Georgia, Democrat Stacey Abrams lost to Republican Brian Kemp, Georgia's secretary of state with a one percentage point win.

US midterm elections: Republican Rick Scott wins Florida Senate race

US President Donald Trump on Monday urged Florida election officials to abandon <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/florida-gubernatorial-candidate-andrew-gillum-recalls-concession-after-state-orders-vote-recount-176586">recount efforts</a>, declare his fellow Republicans the winners and, without evidence, cast doubt on vote tallies as state officials scrambled to review more than 8 million ballots by a Thursday deadline.

Leads by the Republican candidates in two key contested races - one for a seat in the US Senate and one for the governor's office - shrank as more ballots were tallied following last Tuesday's election.

Trump's call to end the recount, which is mandated by Florida law because of the closeness of the races, came even though state rules allow election officials to wait 10 days for absentee ballots submitted by registered voters living outside the United States, including active-duty military personnel.

Over the weekend, a machine recount began in the race between outgoing Republican Florida Governor Rick Scott and incumbent Democratic US&nbsp;Senator Bill Nelson, with another recount underway for the Florida gubernatorial race between Republican Ron DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum.

Gillum shot back at Trump on Twitter, saying, "You sound nervous. #CountEveryVote."

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You sound nervous.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CountEveryVote?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CountEveryVote</a> <a href="https://t.co/9kRvTqUmwM">https://t.co/9kRvTqUmwM</a>
— Andrew Gillum (@AndrewGillum) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrewGillum/status/1061985295862808576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Republicans are eager to cement victories in a key battleground state after maintaining their control of the U.S. Senate in last week's midterm congressional elections, while Democrats are eyeing another possible state governorship win. Both parties accused the other of trying to subvert democracy.

Scott has filed a number of lawsuits over the recounts amid ongoing election drama echoing Florida's dramatic role in the 2000 US presidential vote recount. On Sunday, Scott asked a judge to order police to impound voting machines and ballots when not in use.

Nelson has also filed a federal lawsuit.

Trump, whose Mar-a-Lago resort is located in West Palm Beach, repeated his complaints over the Florida races in an early morning post on Twitter on Monday.

Instead of counting all the votes, the president instead called on state authorities to go with the initial totals. Trump alleged that voter fraud had taken place, but provided no evidence.

'MASSIVELY INFECTED'

"The Florida Election should be called in favour of Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis in that large numbers of new ballots showed up out of nowhere, and many ballots are missing or forged. An honest vote count is no longer possible-ballots massively infected. Must go with Election Night!" he wrote.

Studies have found no evidence of large-scale voter fraud in the United States, though through the nation's history courts have found evidence of policies intended to suppress voting by minorities.

Florida law gives local election officials until the Saturday after an election to submit their first round of unofficial election results. It is common for elections supervisors to process results well after election night, regardless of whether television networks or candidates have called the winners or losers in an election.

In addition, thousands of ballots mailed by overseas military service members and civilians may still be in transit. The deadline for them to be received by local elections offices is not until Friday.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which has said it will review allegations of criminal fraud, stated that it had no active investigations as of late Friday.

Some Florida officials have said it may not be possible to recount all ballots by Thursday's 3 p.m. (2000 GMT) deadline.

Scott has said he won the Senate race even as the ballots are tallied again, telling Fox News in an interview on Monday morning: "I want to make sure there's a free and fair election. But there's laws. Comply with the laws."

"It's frustrating, but we won. We're going to win the recount because it's never been overturned before," Scott said.

In a statement on Sunday, Nelson accused Scott of seeking to suppress votes and that if the governor wanted every vote counted he would abandon his lawsuits.

Separately, neighbouring Georgia's gubernatorial race also remains undecided as does the US&nbsp;Senate contest in Arizona. Several US House of Representative races are also still too close to call. Democrats seized control of the House in last week's election.

US President Donald Trump on Monday urged Florida election officials to abandon recount efforts, declare his fellow Republicans the winners and, without evidence, cast doubt on vote tallies as state officials scrambled to review more than 8 million ballots by a Thursday deadline.

US President Donald Trump on Monday urged Florida election officials to abandon recount efforts, declare his fellow Republicans the winners and, without evidence, cast doubt on vote tallies as state officials scrambled to review more than 8 million ballots by a Thursday deadline. Leads by the Republican candidates in two key contested races - one for a seat in the US Senate and one for the governor's office - shrank as more ballots were tallied following last Tuesday's election. Trump's call to end the recount, which is mandated by Florida law because of the closeness of the races, came even though state rules allow election officials to wait 10 days for absentee ballots submitted by registered voters living outside the United States, including active-duty military personnel. Over the weekend, a machine recount began in the race between outgoing Republican Florida Governor Rick Scott and incumbent Democratic US Senator Bill Nelson, with another recount underway for the Florida gubernatorial race between Republican Ron DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum. Gillum shot back at Trump on Twitter, saying, "You sound nervous. #CountEveryVote." You sound nervous.#CountEveryVote https://t.co/9kRvTqUmwM — Andrew Gillum (@AndrewGillum) November 12, 2018 × Republicans are eager to cement victories in a key battleground state after maintaining their control of the U.S. Senate in last week's midterm congressional elections, while Democrats are eyeing another possible state governorship win. Both parties accused the other of trying to subvert democracy. Scott has filed a number of lawsuits over the recounts amid ongoing election drama echoing Florida's dramatic role in the 2000 US presidential vote recount. On Sunday, Scott asked a judge to order police to impound voting machines and ballots when not in use. Nelson has also filed a federal lawsuit. Trump, whose Mar-a-Lago resort is located in West Palm Beach, repeated his complaints over the Florida races in an early morning post on Twitter on Monday. Instead of counting all the votes, the president instead called on state authorities to go with the initial totals. Trump alleged that voter fraud had taken place, but provided no evidence. 'MASSIVELY INFECTED' "The Florida Election should be called in favour of Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis in that large numbers of new ballots showed up out of nowhere, and many ballots are missing or forged. An honest vote count is no longer possible-ballots massively infected. Must go with Election Night!" he wrote. Studies have found no evidence of large-scale voter fraud in the United States, though through the nation's history courts have found evidence of policies intended to suppress voting by minorities. Florida law gives local election officials until the Saturday after an election to submit their first round of unofficial election results. It is common for elections supervisors to process results well after election night, regardless of whether television networks or candidates have called the winners or losers in an election. In addition, thousands of ballots mailed by overseas military service members and civilians may still be in transit. The deadline for them to be received by local elections offices is not until Friday. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which has said it will review allegations of criminal fraud, stated that it had no active investigations as of late Friday. Some Florida officials have said it may not be possible to recount all ballots by Thursday's 3 p.m. (2000 GMT) deadline. Scott has said he won the Senate race even as the ballots are tallied again, telling Fox News in an interview on Monday morning: "I want to make sure there's a free and fair election. But there's laws. Comply with the laws." "It's frustrating, but we won. We're going to win the recount because it's never been overturned before," Scott said. In a statement on Sunday, Nelson accused Scott of seeking to suppress votes and that if the governor wanted every vote counted he would abandon his lawsuits. Separately, neighbouring Georgia's gubernatorial race also remains undecided as does the US Senate contest in Arizona. Several US House of Representative races are also still too close to call. Democrats seized control of the House in last week's election.

US midterm polls: Trump urges Florida to halt vote recount, hand races to Republicans

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/100-years-of-end-of-wwi-trump-cancels-trip-to-memorial-because-of-rain-176591">100 years of </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/100-years-of-end-of-wwi-trump-cancels-trip-to-memorial-because-of-rain-176591">end</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/100-years-of-end-of-wwi-trump-cancels-trip-to-memorial-because-of-rain-176591"> of WWI: Trump cancels memorial service for fallen US soldiers — because of rain</a>

President Donald Trump could not attend a commemoration in France for US soldiers and marines killed during World War One on Saturday because rain made it impossible to arrange transport, the White House said.

The last minute cancellation prompted widespread criticism on social media and from some officials in Britain and the United States that Trump had "dishonoured" US servicemen.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/jk-army-soldier-killed-in-sniper-fire-along-line-of-control-176587">J&amp;K: In </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/jk-army-soldier-killed-in-sniper-fire-along-line-of-control-176587">2nd</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/jk-army-soldier-killed-in-sniper-fire-along-line-of-control-176587"> attack in 2 days, Indian Army soldier killed in sniper fire along Line of Control</a>

An Army soldier was killed Saturday in sniper fire by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesman said.

The spokesman identified the soldier as rifleman Varun Kattal (21), a resident of Mawa-Rajpura area of Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir. He is survived by his parents, father Anchal Singh and mother Pinki Rani.

This was the second sniper attack along the LoC in two days. An Army porter lost his life in a similar attack in Akhnoor sector of Jammu Friday.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/florida-gubernatorial-candidate-andrew-gillum-recalls-concession-after-state-orders-vote-recount-176586">US midterms: After Florida orders recount, Democratic candidate recalls concession from Governor's race</a>

Florida authorities on Saturday ordered a statewide recount in the contentious races for US Senate and governor, amid tit-for-tat accusations of fraud from the candidates -- plunging the state once again into election uncertainty.

Eighteen years after the Sunshine State found itself at the heart of a battle for the US presidency, it was once again in the spotlight after Tuesday's vote, which left the contests for statewide offices undecided.

Florida's 67 counties had been given until midday (1700 GMT) on Saturday to submit unofficial totals.&nbsp;

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/death-toll-in-california-fire-rises-to-23-report-176596">California forest fires: Death toll rises to 23</a>

The death toll in California fire rose to 23 on Saturday after rescue workers recovered several bodies of people killed in the devastating fire; news agency AFP reported while quoting a sheriff.

"Today 14 additional bodies were located, which brings our total number to 23," Sheriff Kory Honea said.

The bodies were recovered in and around Paradise, California, a mountain community some 90 miles (145 km) north of Sacramento left devastated by the 'Camp Fire'.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-chokes-a-quality-remained-severe-on-sunday-construction-ban-extended-till-november-12-176593">Delhi: Air quality remains hazardous, construction ban extended to Nov 12</a>

Delhi air quality remained hazardous on Sunday, with Air Quality Index (AQI) at 633 at Mundka.&nbsp;

AQI remained well above 300 in most parts of the city which poses a major health risk.&nbsp;

On Saturday too, the air quality remained 'severe' and though the pollution level dipped marginally for a brief period in the morning, it turned severe again by evening. &nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

100 years of end of WWI: Trump cancels memorial service for fallen US soldiers — because of rain President Donald Trump could not attend a commemoration in France for US soldiers and marines killed during World War One on Saturday because rain made it impossible to arrange transport, the White House said.

100 years of end of WWI: Trump cancels memorial service for fallen US soldiers — because of rain President Donald Trump could not attend a commemoration in France for US soldiers and marines killed during World War One on Saturday because rain made it impossible to arrange transport, the White House said. The last minute cancellation prompted widespread criticism on social media and from some officials in Britain and the United States that Trump had "dishonoured" US servicemen. J&K: In 2nd attack in 2 days, Indian Army soldier killed in sniper fire along Line of Control An Army soldier was killed Saturday in sniper fire by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesman said. The spokesman identified the soldier as rifleman Varun Kattal (21), a resident of Mawa-Rajpura area of Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir. He is survived by his parents, father Anchal Singh and mother Pinki Rani. This was the second sniper attack along the LoC in two days. An Army porter lost his life in a similar attack in Akhnoor sector of Jammu Friday. US midterms: After Florida orders recount, Democratic candidate recalls concession from Governor's race Florida authorities on Saturday ordered a statewide recount in the contentious races for US Senate and governor, amid tit-for-tat accusations of fraud from the candidates -- plunging the state once again into election uncertainty. Eighteen years after the Sunshine State found itself at the heart of a battle for the US presidency, it was once again in the spotlight after Tuesday's vote, which left the contests for statewide offices undecided. Florida's 67 counties had been given until midday (1700 GMT) on Saturday to submit unofficial totals. California forest fires: Death toll rises to 23 The death toll in California fire rose to 23 on Saturday after rescue workers recovered several bodies of people killed in the devastating fire; news agency AFP reported while quoting a sheriff. "Today 14 additional bodies were located, which brings our total number to 23," Sheriff Kory Honea said. The bodies were recovered in and around Paradise, California, a mountain community some 90 miles (145 km) north of Sacramento left devastated by the 'Camp Fire'. Delhi: Air quality remains hazardous, construction ban extended to Nov 12 Delhi air quality remained hazardous on Sunday, with Air Quality Index (AQI) at 633 at Mundka. AQI remained well above 300 in most parts of the city which poses a major health risk. On Saturday too, the air quality remained 'severe' and though the pollution level dipped marginally for a brief period in the morning, it turned severe again by evening.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/2-dead-including-shooter-at-florida-yoga-studio-police-175197">3 dead, including </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/2-dead-including-shooter-at-florida-yoga-studio-police-175197">shooter</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/2-dead-including-shooter-at-florida-yoga-studio-police-175197">, at Florida yoga studio: Police</a>

A gunman has killed two people and wounded five others at a yoga studio in Florida's capital before killing himself, officials said.Tallahassee Police Chief Michael DeLeo told reporters Friday night that the man shot six people and pistol-whipped another after walking into the studio, which is part of a small Tallahassee shopping center.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-details-new-sanctions-in-maximum-pressure-hit-on-iran-economy-175195">'Sanctions are Coming', tweets Trump as </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-details-new-sanctions-in-maximum-pressure-hit-on-iran-economy-175195">US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-details-new-sanctions-in-maximum-pressure-hit-on-iran-economy-175195"> reimposes all sanctions on Iran</a>

The United States will add 700 individuals and entities to its Iran blacklist and pressure the global SWIFT banking network to cut off Tehran when expanded sanctions are put in place next week.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/khashoggi-killing-turkey-president-erdogan-accuses-highest-levels-of-saudi-government-175194">Turkey President Erdogan says </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/khashoggi-killing-turkey-president-erdogan-accuses-highest-levels-of-saudi-government-175194">murder</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/khashoggi-killing-turkey-president-erdogan-accuses-highest-levels-of-saudi-government-175194"> of Khashoggi came from 'highest levels' of Saudi govt</a>

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the order to&nbsp;murder Jamal Khashoggi&nbsp;came from "the highest levels" of the Saudi government Friday as he promised no let-up in the hunt for his killers.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-risks-trade-concessions-if-any-back-sliding-on-rights-eu-ambassador-175164">Sri Lanka risks trade concessions if any back-sliding on rights: EU ambassador</a>

The European Union will consider stripping Sri Lanka of its duty-free access if it backs off commitments on rights, the EU ambassador said, amid worries stoked by the president's replacing of the elected premier by a wartime nationalist.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/alec-baldwin-charged-in-new-york-after-punching-man-175198">Alec Baldwin charged in New York after 'punching' man</a>

Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin was arrested and charged with assault on Friday after allegedly punching a 49-year-old man in the face during a New York parking dispute, police said.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

3 dead, including shooter, at Florida yoga studio: Police A gunman has killed two people and wounded five others at a yoga studio in Florida's capital before killing himself, officials said.

3 dead, including shooter, at Florida yoga studio: Police A gunman has killed two people and wounded five others at a yoga studio in Florida's capital before killing himself, officials said.Tallahassee Police Chief Michael DeLeo told reporters Friday night that the man shot six people and pistol-whipped another after walking into the studio, which is part of a small Tallahassee shopping center. 'Sanctions are Coming', tweets Trump as US reimposes all sanctions on Iran The United States will add 700 individuals and entities to its Iran blacklist and pressure the global SWIFT banking network to cut off Tehran when expanded sanctions are put in place next week. Turkey President Erdogan says murder of Khashoggi came from 'highest levels' of Saudi govt Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the order to murder Jamal Khashoggi came from "the highest levels" of the Saudi government Friday as he promised no let-up in the hunt for his killers. Sri Lanka risks trade concessions if any back-sliding on rights: EU ambassador The European Union will consider stripping Sri Lanka of its duty-free access if it backs off commitments on rights, the EU ambassador said, amid worries stoked by the president's replacing of the elected premier by a wartime nationalist. Alec Baldwin charged in New York after 'punching' man Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin was arrested and charged with assault on Friday after allegedly punching a 49-year-old man in the face during a New York parking dispute, police said.

A gunman has killed two people and wounded five others at a yoga studio in Florida's capital before killing himself, officials said.

Tallahassee Police Chief Michael DeLeo told reporters Friday night that the man shot six people and pistol-whipped another after walking into the studio, which is part of a small Tallahassee shopping center.

The suspect fatally shot himself, DeLeo said. City spokesman Jamie Van Pelt said the shooting appeared to be a part of a domestic dispute.

DeLeo said police haven't identified the shooter and are asking for anyone who saw something unusual around the time of the shooting to contact police. He said the shooter acted alone.

"We're all very saddened and shocked by the events that occurred, but it's important that people understand that there is no immediate threat outside of what has already occurred this evening," DeLeo said.

A major commuter intersection was blocked off and businesses in the plaza were on lockdown as police investigated.

City Commissioner Scott Maddox was on the scene. He said on Facebook, "In my public service career I have had to be on some bad scenes. This is the worst. Please pray."

Elle Welling said she was leaving a liquor store across the street from the shopping centre and saw at least three people loaded into ambulances.

"You don't think about this in Tallahassee and now you have to," said Welling, 26, who lives in the neighborhood. The plaza is home to popular restaurants, a jewellery store, a framing shop, a hair salon and other businesses.

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, who is the Democratic nominee for governor, tweeted that he's breaking off the campaign trail to return to Tallahassee. He earlier appeared at a campaign event with former president Barack Obama.

"I'm deeply appreciative of law enforcement's quick response to the shooting at the yoga facility in Tallahassee today. No act of gun violence is acceptable. I'm in close communication with law enforcement officials and will be returning to Tallahassee tonight," Gillum tweeted.

Republican Gov. Rick Scott, who is challenging Democratic Senator Bill Nelson, called DeLeo and the head of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to get details of the shooting.

"I will remain in constant communication with law enforcement. We have offered state assistance," Scott tweeted.

Tallahassee's crime and murder rate has been an issue in the governor's race, with Gillum's opponent, Republican former US Representative Ron DeSantis, calling the capital Florida's most crime-ridden city, a claim that is incorrect.

A gunman has killed two people and wounded five others at a yoga studio in Florida's capital before killing himself, officials said. Tallahassee Police Chief Michael DeLeo told reporters Friday night that the man shot six people and pistol-whipped another after walking into the studio, which is part of a small Tallahassee shopping center.

A gunman has killed two people and wounded five others at a yoga studio in Florida's capital before killing himself, officials said. Tallahassee Police Chief Michael DeLeo told reporters Friday night that the man shot six people and pistol-whipped another after walking into the studio, which is part of a small Tallahassee shopping center. The suspect fatally shot himself, DeLeo said. City spokesman Jamie Van Pelt said the shooting appeared to be a part of a domestic dispute. DeLeo said police haven't identified the shooter and are asking for anyone who saw something unusual around the time of the shooting to contact police. He said the shooter acted alone. "We're all very saddened and shocked by the events that occurred, but it's important that people understand that there is no immediate threat outside of what has already occurred this evening," DeLeo said. A major commuter intersection was blocked off and businesses in the plaza were on lockdown as police investigated. City Commissioner Scott Maddox was on the scene. He said on Facebook, "In my public service career I have had to be on some bad scenes. This is the worst. Please pray." Elle Welling said she was leaving a liquor store across the street from the shopping centre and saw at least three people loaded into ambulances. "You don't think about this in Tallahassee and now you have to," said Welling, 26, who lives in the neighborhood. The plaza is home to popular restaurants, a jewellery store, a framing shop, a hair salon and other businesses. Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, who is the Democratic nominee for governor, tweeted that he's breaking off the campaign trail to return to Tallahassee. He earlier appeared at a campaign event with former president Barack Obama. "I'm deeply appreciative of law enforcement's quick response to the shooting at the yoga facility in Tallahassee today. No act of gun violence is acceptable. I'm in close communication with law enforcement officials and will be returning to Tallahassee tonight," Gillum tweeted. Republican Gov. Rick Scott, who is challenging Democratic Senator Bill Nelson, called DeLeo and the head of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to get details of the shooting. "I will remain in constant communication with law enforcement. We have offered state assistance," Scott tweeted. Tallahassee's crime and murder rate has been an issue in the governor's race, with Gillum's opponent, Republican former US Representative Ron DeSantis, calling the capital Florida's most crime-ridden city, a claim that is incorrect.

3 dead, including shooter, at Florida yoga studio: Police

A Florida fan of Donald Trump was arrested and charged Friday with mailing 13 bombs to opponents of the US president in a brazen, week-long spree that inflamed the country ahead of key elections.

Cesar Sayoc, 56, a registered Republican with a criminal history and reported past as a stripper, was born in New York and lived in a van covered in pro-Trump and anti-liberal stickers. He was arrested outside a Florida mall.

The van was impounded and Sayoc charged with five federal crimes, including mailing of explosives and threats against former presidents, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced.

If put on trial and convicted, he faces up to 48 years in prison in what politicians on both sides of the aisle have condemned as domestic terrorism.

"We do believe that we've caught the right guy but... there's a lot of work still to be done, which means there are still plenty of unanswered questions," FBI director Christopher Wray told a news conference.

The 13 bombs were sent through the mail, many of them through a US Postal Service processing centre in Florida, and Sayoc was tracked down based on fingerprint and possible DNA evidence, agents said.

The Republican president congratulated law enforcement for what he called a "fantastic job."

Speaking before his supporters at a North Carolina campaign rally later Friday, Trump called the attempted attacks "terrorist actions" that must be punished "to the fullest extent of the law."

"Political violence must never ever be allowed in America and I will do everything in my power to stop it."

In southern Florida, FBI agents and police swarmed the strip mall in Plantation, where an AFP photographer saw a van covered in blue tarpaulin loaded onto a truck by authorities and driven away.

Trump denies blame 
Sayoc is accused of mailing explosives to 11 prominent Democrats or liberal critics of the president, including former president Barack Obama and Trump's opponent in the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton.

The other targets were ex vice president Joe Biden, Hollywood star Robert De Niro, billionaire donor George Soros, former CIA director John Brennan, former intelligence chief James Clapper, former attorney general Eric Holder, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and Senators Cory Booker and Kamala Harris.

Waters and Biden were each sent two packages. All the targets are loathed by Trump supporters for their public opposition to the US president and for being the recipients of his toxic remarks in the past.

The president acknowledged the suspect's political allegiance, but denied any responsibility that his incendiary rhetoric could have played a role in motivating the spree.

"I heard he was a person that preferred me over others," he told reporters. "There is no blame," he insisted, despite being hounded by political opponents for his response to the crisis in which he lashed out at the media.

"The media has been unbelievably unfair to Republicans, conservatives, and certainly to me," he said Friday. "But with all of that being said, we're winning. So I like that."

Asked about the role that rhetoric could have played, the FBI demurred.

"It's too early at this stage for us to be discussing motivation in this particular case," Wray told reporters in Washington.&nbsp;

A laywer for the suspect's family, Ron Lowy, told CNN that Sayoc prior "had no interest in politics," and that he was more into "bodybuilding, nightclub events."

US media reported Sayoc had once danced as a male stripper, and The New York Daily News quoted an event promoter as saying the suspect would dance at strip clubs and ran a show called "Girls Night Out."

"It is my opinion that he was attracted to the Trump formula of reaching out," lawyer Lowy said. "Trump reaching out to these types of outsiders, people who don't fit in, telling them they have a place at the table."

Each of the homemade bombs included six inches of PVC pipe, a small clock, a battery, wiring and energetic material, defined by Wray as potentially explosive.

The first package was intercepted Monday at Soros's Bedford, New York home. The most recent ones on Friday in California, Florida and New York.

Obama marked with red X 
The Clapper and Brennan packages were marked care of CNN, a television network often critical of the administration and long provoking Trump's ire.

Trump has come under fire for his response to the spree, which politicians on all sides have branded domestic terrorism, stretching from New York, Maryland, Florida, Delaware and Los Angeles.

On Friday, shortly before news of the arrest broke, he complained that the packages were slowing momentum for his Republican Party ahead of the November 6 elections, remarks that enraged his opponents.

Double Oscar winner and biting Trump critic De Niro on Friday urged people to vote in the midterms, one day after a device was discovered at the Manhattan offices of his production company.

"I thank God no one's been hurt, and I thank the brave and resourceful security and law enforcement people for protecting us," he said. "There's something more powerful than bombs, and that's your vote. People MUST vote!"

The packages were sent in manila envelopes lined with bubble wrap, each stamped with six postage stamps bearing the picture of an American flag.

Each envelope listed Debbie Wasserman Schultz, former chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, as the sender, and misspelt Florida as "Florids," according to the criminal complaint.

The typed addresses included misspellings in Clinton, Obama and Waters's first names. The package destined for the former president included a photograph of Obama marked with a red X, according to the criminal complaint.

A Florida fan of Donald Trump was arrested and charged Friday with mailing 13 bombs to opponents of the US president in a brazen, week-long spree that inflamed the country ahead of key elections.

A Florida fan of Donald Trump was arrested and charged Friday with mailing 13 bombs to opponents of the US president in a brazen, week-long spree that inflamed the country ahead of key elections. Cesar Sayoc, 56, a registered Republican with a criminal history and reported past as a stripper, was born in New York and lived in a van covered in pro-Trump and anti-liberal stickers. He was arrested outside a Florida mall. The van was impounded and Sayoc charged with five federal crimes, including mailing of explosives and threats against former presidents, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced. If put on trial and convicted, he faces up to 48 years in prison in what politicians on both sides of the aisle have condemned as domestic terrorism. "We do believe that we've caught the right guy but... there's a lot of work still to be done, which means there are still plenty of unanswered questions," FBI director Christopher Wray told a news conference. The 13 bombs were sent through the mail, many of them through a US Postal Service processing centre in Florida, and Sayoc was tracked down based on fingerprint and possible DNA evidence, agents said. The Republican president congratulated law enforcement for what he called a "fantastic job." Speaking before his supporters at a North Carolina campaign rally later Friday, Trump called the attempted attacks "terrorist actions" that must be punished "to the fullest extent of the law." "Political violence must never ever be allowed in America and I will do everything in my power to stop it." In southern Florida, FBI agents and police swarmed the strip mall in Plantation, where an AFP photographer saw a van covered in blue tarpaulin loaded onto a truck by authorities and driven away. Trump denies blame Sayoc is accused of mailing explosives to 11 prominent Democrats or liberal critics of the president, including former president Barack Obama and Trump's opponent in the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton. The other targets were ex vice president Joe Biden, Hollywood star Robert De Niro, billionaire donor George Soros, former CIA director John Brennan, former intelligence chief James Clapper, former attorney general Eric Holder, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and Senators Cory Booker and Kamala Harris. Waters and Biden were each sent two packages. All the targets are loathed by Trump supporters for their public opposition to the US president and for being the recipients of his toxic remarks in the past. The president acknowledged the suspect's political allegiance, but denied any responsibility that his incendiary rhetoric could have played a role in motivating the spree. "I heard he was a person that preferred me over others," he told reporters. "There is no blame," he insisted, despite being hounded by political opponents for his response to the crisis in which he lashed out at the media. "The media has been unbelievably unfair to Republicans, conservatives, and certainly to me," he said Friday. "But with all of that being said, we're winning. So I like that." Asked about the role that rhetoric could have played, the FBI demurred. "It's too early at this stage for us to be discussing motivation in this particular case," Wray told reporters in Washington. A laywer for the suspect's family, Ron Lowy, told CNN that Sayoc prior "had no interest in politics," and that he was more into "bodybuilding, nightclub events." US media reported Sayoc had once danced as a male stripper, and The New York Daily News quoted an event promoter as saying the suspect would dance at strip clubs and ran a show called "Girls Night Out." "It is my opinion that he was attracted to the Trump formula of reaching out," lawyer Lowy said. "Trump reaching out to these types of outsiders, people who don't fit in, telling them they have a place at the table." Each of the homemade bombs included six inches of PVC pipe, a small clock, a battery, wiring and energetic material, defined by Wray as potentially explosive. The first package was intercepted Monday at Soros's Bedford, New York home. The most recent ones on Friday in California, Florida and New York. Obama marked with red X The Clapper and Brennan packages were marked care of CNN, a television network often critical of the administration and long provoking Trump's ire. Trump has come under fire for his response to the spree, which politicians on all sides have branded domestic terrorism, stretching from New York, Maryland, Florida, Delaware and Los Angeles. On Friday, shortly before news of the arrest broke, he complained that the packages were slowing momentum for his Republican Party ahead of the November 6 elections, remarks that enraged his opponents. Double Oscar winner and biting Trump critic De Niro on Friday urged people to vote in the midterms, one day after a device was discovered at the Manhattan offices of his production company. "I thank God no one's been hurt, and I thank the brave and resourceful security and law enforcement people for protecting us," he said. "There's something more powerful than bombs, and that's your vote. People MUST vote!" The packages were sent in manila envelopes lined with bubble wrap, each stamped with six postage stamps bearing the picture of an American flag. Each envelope listed Debbie Wasserman Schultz, former chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, as the sender, and misspelt Florida as "Florids," according to the criminal complaint. The typed addresses included misspellings in Clinton, Obama and Waters's first names. The package destined for the former president included a photograph of Obama marked with a red X, according to the criminal complaint.

US: Florida man charged with mailing 13 bombs to Trump critics

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