Severe wind and rain in the northeastern United States left thousands without power on Monday and into early Tuesday, even as a record-breaking heatwave ebbed.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/end-in-sight-for-us-heat-wave-that-set-temperature-records-237573">heatwave blanketing about a third of the US population</a> brought thunderstorms along with cooling rain when it burst on Monday, the National Weather Service said.

The hardest-hit area was New Jersey, with about 300,000 customers still without power early on Tuesday, tracking site PowerOutage.us showed.

"There are numerous reports of wind damage from downed trees hitting powerlines and transformers, through New Jersey and southern New York," said Bob Oravec of the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center in Maryland.

Some winds gusted as high as 80 mph (129 kph), he added.

"The good news is that the heatwave is over," Oravec said. "It's cooled down. Today it'll be about 76 degrees Fahrenheit (24.4°C) in New York City and roughly in the high 70s to low 80s through New Jersey and the northeast."

Many New Yorkers experienced their second successive weekend of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nearly-150-million-people-sweltering-through-deadly-us-heatwave-237355">blackouts</a> after a July 13 outage left more than 73,000 homes and businesses without power for about three hours.

About 18,000 customers were without power in New York City, media said, for a total of 22,000 in the metro area by early Tuesday.

Some residents have been without power since Sunday night when Con Edison shut off the supply to about 50,000 customers in New York City and Westchester to avert strain on the system, even as temperatures soared to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8°C).&nbsp;

The shutdown was necessary for repairs by Con Edison to prevent a bigger outage, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Twitter at the time, tasking city personnel to take generators to nursing homes and open cooling centres for residents.

On Monday, he criticized Con Edison for not taking preventive measures before the latest outrage, telling a news conference the forecast of a heatwave meant the situation had been predictable, and therefore preventable.

In Michigan, about 150,000 homes and businesses were still without power early on Tuesday after weekend thunderstorms knocked out power in much of the metro Detroit area.

Temperatures in the Detroit area are forecast at about 78 degrees Fahrenheit (25.6°C).

On Saturday, at least half-a-dozen locations saw one-day temperature records, including a high of 99 F (37.2°C) at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and a high of 97 F (36.1°C) at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

Severe wind and rain in the northeastern United States left thousands without power on Monday and into early Tuesday, even as a record-breaking heatwave ebbed. The heatwave blanketing about a third of the US population brought thunderstorms along with cooling rain when it burst on Monday, the National Weather Service said.

Severe wind and rain in the northeastern United States left thousands without power on Monday and into early Tuesday, even as a record-breaking heatwave ebbed. The heatwave blanketing about a third of the US population brought thunderstorms along with cooling rain when it burst on Monday, the National Weather Service said. The hardest-hit area was New Jersey, with about 300,000 customers still without power early on Tuesday, tracking site PowerOutage.us showed. "There are numerous reports of wind damage from downed trees hitting powerlines and transformers, through New Jersey and southern New York," said Bob Oravec of the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center in Maryland. Some winds gusted as high as 80 mph (129 kph), he added. "The good news is that the heatwave is over," Oravec said. "It's cooled down. Today it'll be about 76 degrees Fahrenheit (24.4°C) in New York City and roughly in the high 70s to low 80s through New Jersey and the northeast." Many New Yorkers experienced their second successive weekend of blackouts after a July 13 outage left more than 73,000 homes and businesses without power for about three hours. About 18,000 customers were without power in New York City, media said, for a total of 22,000 in the metro area by early Tuesday. Some residents have been without power since Sunday night when Con Edison shut off the supply to about 50,000 customers in New York City and Westchester to avert strain on the system, even as temperatures soared to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8°C). The shutdown was necessary for repairs by Con Edison to prevent a bigger outage, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Twitter at the time, tasking city personnel to take generators to nursing homes and open cooling centres for residents. On Monday, he criticized Con Edison for not taking preventive measures before the latest outrage, telling a news conference the forecast of a heatwave meant the situation had been predictable, and therefore preventable. In Michigan, about 150,000 homes and businesses were still without power early on Tuesday after weekend thunderstorms knocked out power in much of the metro Detroit area. Temperatures in the Detroit area are forecast at about 78 degrees Fahrenheit (25.6°C). On Saturday, at least half-a-dozen locations saw one-day temperature records, including a high of 99 F (37.2°C) at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and a high of 97 F (36.1°C) at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

As heat wave breaks across US northeast, thousands left without power

A hedge fund billionaire has been arrested on sex trafficking charges in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rainbows-fill-new-yorks-streets-as-gay-pride-parade-celebrates-50-year-anniversary-of-stonewall-riots-231855">New York area</a>, after having long been followed by accusations of molesting young girls, US media reported.

Jeffrey Epstein, who is expected to appear before a federal magistrate on Monday, was arrested Saturday at a New Jersey airport after arriving from Paris in his private jet, CBS Miami reported.

A source familiar with the case told the television station Epstein was charged with one count of sex trafficking and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.

Epstein had long been the subject of accusations of paying young girls for sexual massages at his Palm Beach, Florida mansion.

A police investigation found that he had engaged in sex with underage girls, some as young as 13, according to reporting by the Miami Herald.

But Epstein avoided federal prosecution in those cases with a 2007 plea deal negotiated by R&nbsp;Alexander Acosta, now the US labour secretary and at the time the top federal prosecutor in Miami.

Under the deal, he pleaded guilty to a state charge of soliciting prostitution from a minor and was sentenced to 18 months in the county jail.

The Miami Herald investigation found that Epstein was granted work release privileges that allowed him to leave jail for 12 hours a day, six days a week, and that he was released after 13 months.

The revelations threw a spotlight on Epstein, a well-connected financier whose friends included US President Donald Trump and former president Bill Clinton.

It also drew attention to Acosta's role in negotiating the plea deal.

A hedge fund billionaire has been arrested on sex trafficking charges in the New York area, after having long been followed by accusations of molesting young girls, US media reported.

A hedge fund billionaire has been arrested on sex trafficking charges in the New York area, after having long been followed by accusations of molesting young girls, US media reported. Jeffrey Epstein, who is expected to appear before a federal magistrate on Monday, was arrested Saturday at a New Jersey airport after arriving from Paris in his private jet, CBS Miami reported. A source familiar with the case told the television station Epstein was charged with one count of sex trafficking and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. Epstein had long been the subject of accusations of paying young girls for sexual massages at his Palm Beach, Florida mansion. A police investigation found that he had engaged in sex with underage girls, some as young as 13, according to reporting by the Miami Herald. But Epstein avoided federal prosecution in those cases with a 2007 plea deal negotiated by R Alexander Acosta, now the US labour secretary and at the time the top federal prosecutor in Miami. Under the deal, he pleaded guilty to a state charge of soliciting prostitution from a minor and was sentenced to 18 months in the county jail. The Miami Herald investigation found that Epstein was granted work release privileges that allowed him to leave jail for 12 hours a day, six days a week, and that he was released after 13 months. The revelations threw a spotlight on Epstein, a well-connected financier whose friends included US President Donald Trump and former president Bill Clinton. It also drew attention to Acosta's role in negotiating the plea deal.

United States billionaire Jeffrey Epstein arrested on sex trafficking charges: Reports

A United Airlines flight made an emergency landing and blew out two tires at New Jersey's Newark Airport on Saturday, causing the airport briefly to suspend flights, officials said.

Flight 2098 took off from New York City's LaGuardia Airport bound for Houston and a short time later experienced hydraulic problems, prompting the emergency landing, Scott Ladd, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, said in an email.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the crew of the Airbus A319 reported a brake problem and that two left main tires blew out when landing.

"Our pilots reacted quickly to ensure the safety of the aircraft and our customers, who deplaned using deployed slides after landing," United Airlines said in a statement, adding that there were 128 customers on board and no one was injured.

The plane was damaged and Port Authority crews had to clear the runway at Newark Liberty International Airport, Ladd said.

The FAA said it will investigate the incident.

On June 15, tires on a United Airlines Boeing 757 blew out as it landed at Newark, causing delays but no injuries.

Two planes from the same airline blowing out tires within two weeks at the same airport were just a coincidence, said aviation analyst Mike Boyd, president and chief executive officer of the Colorado-based Boyd Group International.

"It's just a different set of situations," Boyd said by phone, adding that the forced emergency landing in the latest incident was another factor.

"When a pilot wants to get a plane down, he wants to get it down and he could care less about the rubber on the wheels," Boyd said.

The incident caused delays for inbound and outbound flights at Newark, according to tracking firm FlightAware. But by Saturday afternoon, the runway where the plane made its emergency landing had been re-opened, the FAA said.

United said it was making arrangements to get the passengers aboard the plane to their final destinations.

It also issued a travel waiver for passengers, allowing any of its customers travelling to or from Newark or connecting there to make changes to their flights at no cost.

 
&nbsp;

A United Airlines flight made an emergency landing and blew out two tires at New Jersey's Newark Airport on Saturday, causing the airport briefly to suspend flights, officials said.

A United Airlines flight made an emergency landing and blew out two tires at New Jersey's Newark Airport on Saturday, causing the airport briefly to suspend flights, officials said. Flight 2098 took off from New York City's LaGuardia Airport bound for Houston and a short time later experienced hydraulic problems, prompting the emergency landing, Scott Ladd, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, said in an email. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the crew of the Airbus A319 reported a brake problem and that two left main tires blew out when landing. "Our pilots reacted quickly to ensure the safety of the aircraft and our customers, who deplaned using deployed slides after landing," United Airlines said in a statement, adding that there were 128 customers on board and no one was injured. The plane was damaged and Port Authority crews had to clear the runway at Newark Liberty International Airport, Ladd said. The FAA said it will investigate the incident. On June 15, tires on a United Airlines Boeing 757 blew out as it landed at Newark, causing delays but no injuries. Two planes from the same airline blowing out tires within two weeks at the same airport were just a coincidence, said aviation analyst Mike Boyd, president and chief executive officer of the Colorado-based Boyd Group International. "It's just a different set of situations," Boyd said by phone, adding that the forced emergency landing in the latest incident was another factor. "When a pilot wants to get a plane down, he wants to get it down and he could care less about the rubber on the wheels," Boyd said. The incident caused delays for inbound and outbound flights at Newark, according to tracking firm FlightAware. But by Saturday afternoon, the runway where the plane made its emergency landing had been re-opened, the FAA said. United said it was making arrangements to get the passengers aboard the plane to their final destinations. It also issued a travel waiver for passengers, allowing any of its customers travelling to or from Newark or connecting there to make changes to their flights at no cost.

Emergency landing by United flight briefly closes Newark Airport

At least 10 people were injured in a shooting incident outside a bar in New Jersey on Saturday.

The incident happened at about 12:25 am (local time) on the Brunswick Avenue of Trenton city, reported SputnikTrenton police spokesman Captain Stephen Varn said that five men and five women injured in the gunfire were rushed to the hospital.

One of the victims was critically injured and taken into emergency service. An investigation into the shootout has begun.

The incident comes nearly a year after a shooting incident occurred inside the `Art All Night` event in Trenton, in which one person was killed and twenty-two others sustained injuries.

At least 10 people were injured in a shooting incident outside a bar in New Jersey on Saturday. The incident happened at about 12:25 am (local time) on the Brunswick Avenue of Trenton city, reported SputnikTrenton police spokesman Captain Stephen Varn said that five men and five women injured in the gunfire were rushed to the hospital.

At least 10 people were injured in a shooting incident outside a bar in New Jersey on Saturday. The incident happened at about 12:25 am (local time) on the Brunswick Avenue of Trenton city, reported SputnikTrenton police spokesman Captain Stephen Varn said that five men and five women injured in the gunfire were rushed to the hospital. One of the victims was critically injured and taken into emergency service. An investigation into the shootout has begun. The incident comes nearly a year after a shooting incident occurred inside the `Art All Night` event in Trenton, in which one person was killed and twenty-two others sustained injuries.

United States: 10 injured in shooting incident outside bar in New Jersey

Frank DeVita a World War II veteran remembers the D-Day invasion.

US D-Day vet tells his story: 'Why am I alive?'

Reports of drone sightings in northern New Jersey temporarily halted arrivals at Newark Liberty International Airport on Tuesday, but normal operations had since been resumed, officials said.

A spokesman from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) earlier said flights into Newark - the 11th busiest US airport - were briefly suspended after two drones were seen flying at 3,500 feet over nearby Teterboro Airport, a small regional airport about 17 miles away that mostly handles corporate jets and private planes.

The federal agency said information about the drone sightings was turned over to law enforcement.

The FAA's Air Traffic Control System Command Center briefly issued a ground stop at Newark citing "drone activity," according to a document posted on its website.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates both the Newark and Teterboro airports, later said on Twitter that normal operations had resumed and that it was coordinating with the FAA and law enforcement authorities as they investigate the incident.

United Airlines, the largest carrier at Newark, said it was aware of the reports of drone activity and was working with the airport and the FAA. It said the impact on its operations had been minimal.

The issue of drones impacting commercial air traffic has taken on new urgency after reports of drone sightings in the United Kingdom impacted air travel.

Earlier this month, flights from London’s Heathrow airport were halted for about an hour after a drone was sighted near Europe’s busiest air hub.

Gatwick Airport, London’s second busiest airport, was severely disrupted in December when drones were sighted on three consecutive days, resulting in about 1,000 flights being cancelled or diverted and affecting 140,000 passengers.

Both airports responded to the Gatwick incident by ordering military-grade anti-drone technology.

Earlier this month, the US Transportation Department proposed rules that would allow drones to operate over populated areas and end a requirement for special permits for night use, long-awaited actions that are expected to help speed commercial use.

The Trump administration noted there are nearly 1.3 million registered drones in the United States and more than 116,000 registered drone operators. But officials say there are hundreds of thousands of additional drones that are not registered.

The US Congress last year gave the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security new powers to disable or destroy threatening drones after officials raised concerns about the use of drones as potential weapons.

In September 2017, a small civilian drone struck a US Army UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter near Staten Island, New York. The helicopter landed safely but there was some damage.

Reports of drone sightings in northern New Jersey temporarily halted arrivals at Newark Liberty International Airport on Tuesday, but normal operations had since been resumed, officials said.

Reports of drone sightings in northern New Jersey temporarily halted arrivals at Newark Liberty International Airport on Tuesday, but normal operations had since been resumed, officials said. A spokesman from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) earlier said flights into Newark - the 11th busiest US airport - were briefly suspended after two drones were seen flying at 3,500 feet over nearby Teterboro Airport, a small regional airport about 17 miles away that mostly handles corporate jets and private planes. The federal agency said information about the drone sightings was turned over to law enforcement. The FAA's Air Traffic Control System Command Center briefly issued a ground stop at Newark citing "drone activity," according to a document posted on its website. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates both the Newark and Teterboro airports, later said on Twitter that normal operations had resumed and that it was coordinating with the FAA and law enforcement authorities as they investigate the incident. United Airlines, the largest carrier at Newark, said it was aware of the reports of drone activity and was working with the airport and the FAA. It said the impact on its operations had been minimal. The issue of drones impacting commercial air traffic has taken on new urgency after reports of drone sightings in the United Kingdom impacted air travel. Earlier this month, flights from London’s Heathrow airport were halted for about an hour after a drone was sighted near Europe’s busiest air hub. Gatwick Airport, London’s second busiest airport, was severely disrupted in December when drones were sighted on three consecutive days, resulting in about 1,000 flights being cancelled or diverted and affecting 140,000 passengers. Both airports responded to the Gatwick incident by ordering military-grade anti-drone technology. Earlier this month, the US Transportation Department proposed rules that would allow drones to operate over populated areas and end a requirement for special permits for night use, long-awaited actions that are expected to help speed commercial use. The Trump administration noted there are nearly 1.3 million registered drones in the United States and more than 116,000 registered drone operators. But officials say there are hundreds of thousands of additional drones that are not registered. The US Congress last year gave the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security new powers to disable or destroy threatening drones after officials raised concerns about the use of drones as potential weapons. In September 2017, a small civilian drone struck a US Army UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter near Staten Island, New York. The helicopter landed safely but there was some damage.

Newark Airport resumes normal operations after drone sightings temporarily halt traffic

Scandal-hit Democrat Menendez re-elected to Senate: US networks

US midterm polls: Democrat Mike Sherril wins in New Jersey

Bob Menendez, 64, has held the seat<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/i-believe-in-fact-based-campaigning-and-reality-based-governance-obamas-dig-at-trump-175652"> for more than a decade as a powerful force</a> in Washington, while representing a state that has not sent a Republican to the US Senate in 46 years.

But June's Democratic nominating contest exposed his potential weakness: a virtually unknown challenger who spent zero dollars in the race got almost 40 per cent of the vote.

He is now locked in a tough and expensive race with former pharmaceutical executive Bob Hugin, a Republican who has hammered Menendez as weak on ethics after the long-serving senator's federal corruption trial last year.

New Jersey's other Democratic US senator, Cory Booker, seen as a potential 2020 White House contender, spent Sunday crisscrossing the state alongside Menendez, telling voters that re-electing his colleague would help block Republican President Donald Trump's agenda.

The contest is crucial to the Democrats' slim hopes of taking control of the Senate, which depend on winning two Republican-held seats while defending 10 Senate seats in states that Trump won in 2016.

A loss in New Jersey, a Democratic bastion in the US Northeast, could be a fatal blow to those hopes.

Democrats remain favourites to win the 23 seats they need to capture the US House of Representatives.

Menendez's corruption trial ended in November 2017 when the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict.

US prosecutors then dropped the case, but Menendez was censured by a Senate committee for accepting gifts from a wealthy longtime friend in exchange for official favours.

Hugin, a US Marine Corps veteran and the former executive chairman of Celgene Corp, has poured $36 million of his own money into his campaign, airing a barrage of television commercials attacking Menendez.

"If there were any other normal candidate who was not self-funding, I think Menendez would be ahead by 20 points," said Brigid Harrison, a political science professor at Montclair State University. "Money matters."

The Cook Political Report, an independent group that analyzes congressional races, moved the race to "toss-up" from "leans Democrat" 10 days ago.

Menendez in recent years has been a high-profile Democratic voice in foreign policy, weighing in on sensitive subjects from nuclear talks with Iran to US relations with Cuba as the senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The Democratic-aligned Senate Majority PAC has spent more than $7.5 million to boost Menendez, including running ads in the waning days of the campaign, a signal the party is concerned about the incumbent's position.

Another super PAC, Patients for Affordable Drugs Action, has spent nearly $3.5 million to attack Hugin, saying he kept cancer drug prices artificially high.

Bob Menendez, 64, has held the seat for more than a decade as a powerful force in Washington, while representing a state that has not sent a Republican to the US Senate in 46 years.

Bob Menendez, 64, has held the seat for more than a decade as a powerful force in Washington, while representing a state that has not sent a Republican to the US Senate in 46 years. But June's Democratic nominating contest exposed his potential weakness: a virtually unknown challenger who spent zero dollars in the race got almost 40 per cent of the vote. He is now locked in a tough and expensive race with former pharmaceutical executive Bob Hugin, a Republican who has hammered Menendez as weak on ethics after the long-serving senator's federal corruption trial last year. New Jersey's other Democratic US senator, Cory Booker, seen as a potential 2020 White House contender, spent Sunday crisscrossing the state alongside Menendez, telling voters that re-electing his colleague would help block Republican President Donald Trump's agenda. The contest is crucial to the Democrats' slim hopes of taking control of the Senate, which depend on winning two Republican-held seats while defending 10 Senate seats in states that Trump won in 2016. A loss in New Jersey, a Democratic bastion in the US Northeast, could be a fatal blow to those hopes. Democrats remain favourites to win the 23 seats they need to capture the US House of Representatives. Menendez's corruption trial ended in November 2017 when the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict. US prosecutors then dropped the case, but Menendez was censured by a Senate committee for accepting gifts from a wealthy longtime friend in exchange for official favours. Hugin, a US Marine Corps veteran and the former executive chairman of Celgene Corp, has poured $36 million of his own money into his campaign, airing a barrage of television commercials attacking Menendez. "If there were any other normal candidate who was not self-funding, I think Menendez would be ahead by 20 points," said Brigid Harrison, a political science professor at Montclair State University. "Money matters." The Cook Political Report, an independent group that analyzes congressional races, moved the race to "toss-up" from "leans Democrat" 10 days ago. Menendez in recent years has been a high-profile Democratic voice in foreign policy, weighing in on sensitive subjects from nuclear talks with Iran to US relations with Cuba as the senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The Democratic-aligned Senate Majority PAC has spent more than $7.5 million to boost Menendez, including running ads in the waning days of the campaign, a signal the party is concerned about the incumbent's position. Another super PAC, Patients for Affordable Drugs Action, has spent nearly $3.5 million to attack Hugin, saying he kept cancer drug prices artificially high.

Midterm elections: US Senate poll in New Jersey crucial for Democrats

100 Indian American candidates for US mid term poll

A student and a teacher were killed and 43 others injured when a school bus with preteens on a field trip collided with a dump truck on a New Jersey highway on Thursday, ripping the bus apart and leaving students dangling by seat belts, officials said.

The crash occurred about 10:20 a.m. in Mount Olive Township in northern New Jersey`s Morris County, Governor Phil Murphy told a news conference. The bus was carrying 38 students and seven adults, including the driver.

"Some patients are in critical condition and currently undergoing surgery, so please keep everybody in your prayers," Murphy said.&nbsp

“There is an awful lot we just don’t know,” the governor said, adding details of the crash were not being released pending an investigation.

The front end of the bus was severed from the vehicle and the body of the bus was separated from its chassis, which remained on the highway. The dump truck seemed to be mostly intact.

The bus was carrying students from East Brook Middle School in Paramus to Waterloo Village, a restored 19th century canal town, officials said.

“The bus flew off of the wheels, but it hit the metal thing on the side of the highway,” fifth-grader Theo Ancevski said. He told reporters he escaped through an emergency door on the bus.

"A lot of people (inside the bus) were screaming and they were like, hanging from their seat belts," he added. US fifth-graders are generally aged 10 or 11.

The crash temporarily shut all westbound lanes of I-80, State Police said.

"The children were all over, outside," said Morris County Office Of Emergency Management Director Jeff Paul.

"We had every injury type that you can imagine for a scenario like this. It`s tragic," he told reporters.

Two other buses in the field trip convoy also carrying fifth-graders on the same trip returned to Paramus, officials said.

The operator of the dump truck, Mendez Trucking, had 33 units that drive 1.9 million miles (3.1 million km) in total in 2017 and had been involved in seven crashes over the past two years, US Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration records showed.

Company officials were not immediately available for comment.

The National Transportation Safety Board, which investigates accidents involving buses, was gathering information but was not investigating the collision, it said on Twitter.

Paramus is about 10 miles west (15 km) of upper Manhattan. Mount Olive is about 40 miles (64 km) west of Paramus.&nbsp

 
&nbsp

The crash occurred about 10:20 a.m. in Mount Olive Township in northern New Jersey`s Morris County, Governor Phil Murphy told a news conference. The bus was carrying 38 students and seven adults, including the driver

A student and a teacher were killed and 43 others injured when a school bus with preteens on a field trip collided with a dump truck on a New Jersey highway on Thursday, ripping the bus apart and leaving students dangling by seat belts, officials said. The crash occurred about 10:20 a.m. in Mount Olive Township in northern New Jersey`s Morris County, Governor Phil Murphy told a news conference. The bus was carrying 38 students and seven adults, including the driver. "Some patients are in critical condition and currently undergoing surgery, so please keep everybody in your prayers," Murphy said. “There is an awful lot we just don’t know,” the governor said, adding details of the crash were not being released pending an investigation. The front end of the bus was severed from the vehicle and the body of the bus was separated from its chassis, which remained on the highway. The dump truck seemed to be mostly intact. The bus was carrying students from East Brook Middle School in Paramus to Waterloo Village, a restored 19th century canal town, officials said. “The bus flew off of the wheels, but it hit the metal thing on the side of the highway,” fifth-grader Theo Ancevski said. He told reporters he escaped through an emergency door on the bus. "A lot of people (inside the bus) were screaming and they were like, hanging from their seat belts," he added. US fifth-graders are generally aged 10 or 11. The crash temporarily shut all westbound lanes of I-80, State Police said. "The children were all over, outside," said Morris County Office Of Emergency Management Director Jeff Paul. "We had every injury type that you can imagine for a scenario like this. It`s tragic," he told reporters. Two other buses in the field trip convoy also carrying fifth-graders on the same trip returned to Paramus, officials said. The operator of the dump truck, Mendez Trucking, had 33 units that drive 1.9 million miles (3.1 million km) in total in 2017 and had been involved in seven crashes over the past two years, US Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration records showed. Company officials were not immediately available for comment. The National Transportation Safety Board, which investigates accidents involving buses, was gathering information but was not investigating the collision, it said on Twitter. Paramus is about 10 miles west (15 km) of upper Manhattan. Mount Olive is about 40 miles (64 km) west of Paramus.

Two dead, 43 injured in New Jersey school bus torn apart in crash

An Indian-American has pleaded guilty to charges of launching a cyber attack on a US university&#39;s computer network, officials said today.

Paras Jha, 21, of New Jersey along with two others Josiah White, 20, from Pennsylvania and Dalton Norman, 21, from Louisiana also pleaded guilty to creating and operating two botnets, which targeted &#39;Internet of Things&#39; (IoT) devices, the Department of Justice announced Tuesday.

&quot;Paras Jha has admitted his responsibility for multiple hacks of the Rutgers University computer system,&quot; Acting US Attorney William Fitzpatrick said in a statement.

&quot;These computer attacks shut down the server used for all communications among faculty, staff and students, including assignment of coursework to students, and students? submission of their work to professors to be graded,&quot; he said.

&quot;The defendant&#39;s actions effectively paralysed the system for days at a time and maliciously disrupted the educational process for tens of thousands of Rutgers&#39; students.

Today, the defendant has admitted his role in this criminal offence and will face the legal consequences for it,? Fitzpatrick said.

In a guilty plea before US District Judge Michael Shipp in Trenton federal court in New Jersey, Paras accepted of violating the Computer Fraud &amp; Abuse Act.

According to court documents, between November 2014 and September 2016, Paras executed a series of attacks on the networks of Rutgers University.

His attacks effectively shut down Rutgers University?s central authentication server, which maintained, among other things, the gateway portal through which staff, faculty, and students delivered assignments and assessments.

At times, he succeeded in taking the portal offline for multiple consecutive periods, causing damage to Rutgers University, its faculty, and its students.

The count to which Jha pleaded guilty is punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of USD250,000, or twice the gross amount of any pecuniary gain or loss derived from the offence, whichever is greater. 
Sentencing is scheduled for March 13, 2018.

Earlier on December 8, Jha, White and Norman pleaded guilty to the criminal information in the District of Alaska charging them each with conspiracy to violate the Computer Fraud &amp; Abuse Act in operating the Mirai Botnet.&nbsp;

According to court documents, between November 2014 and September 2016, Paras executed a series of attacks on the networks of Rutgers University.

An Indian-American has pleaded guilty to charges of launching a cyber attack on a US university's computer network, officials said today. Paras Jha, 21, of New Jersey along with two others Josiah White, 20, from Pennsylvania and Dalton Norman, 21, from Louisiana also pleaded guilty to creating and operating two botnets, which targeted 'Internet of Things' (IoT) devices, the Department of Justice announced Tuesday. "Paras Jha has admitted his responsibility for multiple hacks of the Rutgers University computer system," Acting US Attorney William Fitzpatrick said in a statement. "These computer attacks shut down the server used for all communications among faculty, staff and students, including assignment of coursework to students, and students? submission of their work to professors to be graded," he said. "The defendant's actions effectively paralysed the system for days at a time and maliciously disrupted the educational process for tens of thousands of Rutgers' students. Today, the defendant has admitted his role in this criminal offence and will face the legal consequences for it,? Fitzpatrick said. In a guilty plea before US District Judge Michael Shipp in Trenton federal court in New Jersey, Paras accepted of violating the Computer Fraud & Abuse Act. According to court documents, between November 2014 and September 2016, Paras executed a series of attacks on the networks of Rutgers University. His attacks effectively shut down Rutgers University?s central authentication server, which maintained, among other things, the gateway portal through which staff, faculty, and students delivered assignments and assessments. At times, he succeeded in taking the portal offline for multiple consecutive periods, causing damage to Rutgers University, its faculty, and its students. The count to which Jha pleaded guilty is punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of USD250,000, or twice the gross amount of any pecuniary gain or loss derived from the offence, whichever is greater. Sentencing is scheduled for March 13, 2018. Earlier on December 8, Jha, White and Norman pleaded guilty to the criminal information in the District of Alaska charging them each with conspiracy to violate the Computer Fraud & Abuse Act in operating the Mirai Botnet.

Indian pleads guilty to launching cyber-attack on varsity computers

Former President Barack Obama, back on the campaign trail on Thursday for the first time since he left the White House, called on voters to reject a growing &quot;politics of division&quot; that he said was corroding American democracy.

Without mentioning Republican President Donald Trump by name, Obama told campaign rallies in New Jersey and Virginia that voters could send a powerful message about the type of politics they want by backing Democrats in November 7 elections in the two states.

&quot;What we can&#39;t have is the same old politics of division that we have seen so many times before, that dates back centuries,&quot; Obama told a cheering crowd in Newark, New Jersey, that chanted: &quot;Four more years.&quot;

&quot;Some of the politics we see now, we thought we put that to bed. That&#39;s folks looking 50 years back,&quot; Obama said. &quot;It&#39;s the 21st century, not the 19th century.&quot;

At a later stop in Richmond, Virginia, Obama said modern politics increasingly did not reflect basic American values of inclusiveness and were driving people away from the process.

&quot;We&#39;ve got folks who are deliberately trying to make folks angry, to demonise people who have different ideas, to get the base all riled up because it provides a short-term tactical advantage. Sometimes that feels frustrating,&quot; Obama said.

Many of Obama&#39;s comments appeared to be thinly veiled swipes at Trump, whose combative style and inflammatory rhetoric have led to frequent controversy and stoked political tensions.

Obama made the remarks just hours after former President George W&nbsp;Bush, a Republican, also took an indirect swing at Trump with a speech decrying &quot;bullying and prejudice&quot; while defending immigrants and trade.&nbsp;

Obama&#39;s appearances were aimed at driving up Democratic turnout in New Jersey and Virginia, the only two states holding elections for governor this year. 
 
Democrats hope Obama can bring some of the young, minority and infrequent voters who powered his two elections to the White House out to the polls in off-year elections.

Closely watched contests

The two contests will be closely watched to see if Democrats can convert the grassroots resistance to Trump into electoral wins after falling short earlier this year in four competitive special congressional elections.

The governor&#39;s races, and a special election in December for a US&nbsp;Senate seat in Alabama, could offer clues to the national political mood ahead of next year&#39;s congressional elections, when all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 33 of the Senate`s 100 seats will be up for grabs. Republicans currently control both chambers.

Since leaving the White House in January, Obama has frequently been forced to defend his record as Trump and Republicans have tried to gut his signature healthcare law and roll back his immigration and environmental policies.

While he has rarely spoken out about politics in the past nine months, Obama said it was critical that supporters get their friends and families to vote.

In Newark, he said no one should assume victory just because opinion polls show Phil Murphy, a former investment banker and U.S. ambassador to Germany, has a comfortable lead on Republican opponent Kim Guadagno, the state`s lieutenant governor.

&quot;I don&#39;t know if you all noticed that, but you can`t take any election for granted,&quot; he said in a reference to Democrat Hillary Clinton`s surprise loss last year in the presidential race.

In the political battleground of Virginia, polls show a close contest between Democrat Ralph Northam, the state`s lieutenant governor, and Republican Ed Gillespie, a former Republican National Committee chairman who has been endorsed by Trump.

Obama carried Virginia in both 2008 and 2012, and Democrat Hillary Clinton won the state over Trump by 5 percentage points in 2016.

Obama's appearances were aimed at driving up Democratic turnout in New Jersey and Virginia, the only two states holding elections for governor this year

Former President Barack Obama, back on the campaign trail on Thursday for the first time since he left the White House, called on voters to reject a growing "politics of division" that he said was corroding American democracy. Without mentioning Republican President Donald Trump by name, Obama told campaign rallies in New Jersey and Virginia that voters could send a powerful message about the type of politics they want by backing Democrats in November 7 elections in the two states. "What we can't have is the same old politics of division that we have seen so many times before, that dates back centuries," Obama told a cheering crowd in Newark, New Jersey, that chanted: "Four more years." "Some of the politics we see now, we thought we put that to bed. That's folks looking 50 years back," Obama said. "It's the 21st century, not the 19th century." At a later stop in Richmond, Virginia, Obama said modern politics increasingly did not reflect basic American values of inclusiveness and were driving people away from the process. "We've got folks who are deliberately trying to make folks angry, to demonise people who have different ideas, to get the base all riled up because it provides a short-term tactical advantage. Sometimes that feels frustrating," Obama said. Many of Obama's comments appeared to be thinly veiled swipes at Trump, whose combative style and inflammatory rhetoric have led to frequent controversy and stoked political tensions. Obama made the remarks just hours after former President George W Bush, a Republican, also took an indirect swing at Trump with a speech decrying "bullying and prejudice" while defending immigrants and trade. Obama's appearances were aimed at driving up Democratic turnout in New Jersey and Virginia, the only two states holding elections for governor this year. Democrats hope Obama can bring some of the young, minority and infrequent voters who powered his two elections to the White House out to the polls in off-year elections. Closely watched contests The two contests will be closely watched to see if Democrats can convert the grassroots resistance to Trump into electoral wins after falling short earlier this year in four competitive special congressional elections. The governor's races, and a special election in December for a US Senate seat in Alabama, could offer clues to the national political mood ahead of next year's congressional elections, when all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 33 of the Senate`s 100 seats will be up for grabs. Republicans currently control both chambers. Since leaving the White House in January, Obama has frequently been forced to defend his record as Trump and Republicans have tried to gut his signature healthcare law and roll back his immigration and environmental policies. While he has rarely spoken out about politics in the past nine months, Obama said it was critical that supporters get their friends and families to vote. In Newark, he said no one should assume victory just because opinion polls show Phil Murphy, a former investment banker and U.S. ambassador to Germany, has a comfortable lead on Republican opponent Kim Guadagno, the state`s lieutenant governor. "I don't know if you all noticed that, but you can`t take any election for granted," he said in a reference to Democrat Hillary Clinton`s surprise loss last year in the presidential race. In the political battleground of Virginia, polls show a close contest between Democrat Ralph Northam, the state`s lieutenant governor, and Republican Ed Gillespie, a former Republican National Committee chairman who has been endorsed by Trump. Obama carried Virginia in both 2008 and 2012, and Democrat Hillary Clinton won the state over Trump by 5 percentage points in 2016.

Obama back on campaign trail, urges voters to reject 'politics of division'

A 19-year-old British man has been charged for trying to grab a police officer&#39;s gun at a Donald Trump rally in Las Vegas in a bid to kill the Republican presidential nominee. 
 
According to a complaint filed in federal court in Nevada, Michael Sandford tried to disarm the officer at Saturday&#39;s rally at the Mystere Theatre in the Treasure Island Casino before being overpowered. 
 
It said that the young man told a Secret Service agent after his arrest that he had driven from California to Las Vegas &quot;to kill Trump,&quot; and had been to a range a day earlier to learn to shoot as he had never fired a gun before. 
 
&quot;Sandford acknowledged that he would likely only be able to fire one to two rounds and stated he was convinced he would be killed by law enforcement during his attempt on Trump&#39;s life,&quot; the complaint said. 
 
It added that Sandford told investigators he had purchased tickets for a rally in Phoenix, where he &quot;would try again to kill Trump&quot; in the event his plan in Las Vegas failed. 
 
Video of his arrest carried by US media show a skinny man with short brown hair and a grey T-shirt being escorted out of the rally by police officers with his hands behind his back. 
 
The prosecutor&#39;s office said Sandford was ordered held without bond, as he was considered dangerous and represented a flight risk. 
 
Britain&#39;s Foreign Office is &quot;providing assistance&quot; in the case, a spokesman said. 
 
&#39;Would try this again&#39; 
 
The complaint said Sandford had told investigators that he had been in the United States for about 18 months, and had lived in Hoboken, New Jersey, before traveling to California. 
 
&nbsp;Sandford told investigators that he had targeted officer Ameel Jacob&#39;s gun because it was in an unlocked position and would be the easiest way to gain access to a weapon at the rally where those attending had to go through metal detectors. 
 
&quot;Sandford further stated that if he were on the street tomorrow, he would try this again,&quot; according to the complaint. 
 
It said Sandford told the Secret Service that he had been plotting to kill Trump for about a year and finally decided to act on Saturday, as &quot;he finally felt confident to do it.&quot; 
 
His arrest comes amid one of the nastiest US presidential campaigns in recent history, dominated by violent rhetoric, with Trump lashing out at Mexicans, Muslims and other groups. 
 
The real estate billionaire enjoys Secret Service protection but also has his own private security detail that has been accused of using unnecessary force to remove people from events. 
 
A number of protesters have been arrested at his rallies where riot police are deployed in force and there have been mounting demonstrations during his campaign appearances in recent months. 
 
Sandford is due to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on July 5. He faces more than 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if found guilty on the charge of &quot;act of violence on restricted grounds.&quot; 
(AFP)

The man had apparently driven from California to Las Vegas to kill Trump and had visited a shooting range a day earlier to learn to shoot

A 19-year-old British man has been charged for trying to grab a police officer's gun at a Donald Trump rally in Las Vegas in a bid to kill the Republican presidential nominee. According to a complaint filed in federal court in Nevada, Michael Sandford tried to disarm the officer at Saturday's rally at the Mystere Theatre in the Treasure Island Casino before being overpowered. It said that the young man told a Secret Service agent after his arrest that he had driven from California to Las Vegas "to kill Trump," and had been to a range a day earlier to learn to shoot as he had never fired a gun before. "Sandford acknowledged that he would likely only be able to fire one to two rounds and stated he was convinced he would be killed by law enforcement during his attempt on Trump's life," the complaint said. It added that Sandford told investigators he had purchased tickets for a rally in Phoenix, where he "would try again to kill Trump" in the event his plan in Las Vegas failed. Video of his arrest carried by US media show a skinny man with short brown hair and a grey T-shirt being escorted out of the rally by police officers with his hands behind his back. The prosecutor's office said Sandford was ordered held without bond, as he was considered dangerous and represented a flight risk. Britain's Foreign Office is "providing assistance" in the case, a spokesman said. 'Would try this again' The complaint said Sandford had told investigators that he had been in the United States for about 18 months, and had lived in Hoboken, New Jersey, before traveling to California. Sandford told investigators that he had targeted officer Ameel Jacob's gun because it was in an unlocked position and would be the easiest way to gain access to a weapon at the rally where those attending had to go through metal detectors. "Sandford further stated that if he were on the street tomorrow, he would try this again," according to the complaint. It said Sandford told the Secret Service that he had been plotting to kill Trump for about a year and finally decided to act on Saturday, as "he finally felt confident to do it." His arrest comes amid one of the nastiest US presidential campaigns in recent history, dominated by violent rhetoric, with Trump lashing out at Mexicans, Muslims and other groups. The real estate billionaire enjoys Secret Service protection but also has his own private security detail that has been accused of using unnecessary force to remove people from events. A number of protesters have been arrested at his rallies where riot police are deployed in force and there have been mounting demonstrations during his campaign appearances in recent months. Sandford is due to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on July 5. He faces more than 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if found guilty on the charge of "act of violence on restricted grounds." (AFP)

19-year-old Briton tries to grab cop's gun and kill Trump, charged

An explosive device blew up early on Monday when a bomb squad robot cut a wire on the mechanism, one of as many as five potential bombs found near a train station in Elizabeth, New Jersey, officials said. 
 
No injuries were reported. The blast comes after a series of attacks in the United States in the last two days, including Saturday&#39;s Manhattan bombing that left 29 injured. 
 
The device that went off in Elizabeth was foud in a backpack that was left in a trash can,&nbsp;Mayor Christian Bollwage told reporters.&nbsp; 
 
A total of five potential explosive devices were found the backpack, Bollwage said. 
 
Police had already been investigating the Manhattan bombing, a Minnesota mass stabbing and a New Jersey pipe bomb blast. 
 
&quot;I can imagine that if all five of them went off at the same time, that the loss of life could have been enormous if there was an event going on,&rdquo; Bollwage told reporters.&nbsp; 
 
Bollwage said it is unclear whether Elizabeth, was targeted or if the backpack might have been discarded to elude investigators. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies) 
 
 
 
 
&nbsp;

No one was injured in the blast that followed a series of attacks in the United States over the weekend

An explosive device blew up early on Monday when a bomb squad robot cut a wire on the mechanism, one of as many as five potential bombs found near a train station in Elizabeth, New Jersey, officials said. No injuries were reported. The blast comes after a series of attacks in the United States in the last two days, including Saturday's Manhattan bombing that left 29 injured. The device that went off in Elizabeth was foud in a backpack that was left in a trash can, Mayor Christian Bollwage told reporters. A total of five potential explosive devices were found the backpack, Bollwage said. Police had already been investigating the Manhattan bombing, a Minnesota mass stabbing and a New Jersey pipe bomb blast. "I can imagine that if all five of them went off at the same time, that the loss of life could have been enormous if there was an event going on,” Bollwage told reporters. Bollwage said it is unclear whether Elizabeth, was targeted or if the backpack might have been discarded to elude investigators. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Device explodes near New Jersey station as robot tries to disarm it, no casualties

A pipe bomb exploded in a New Jersey beach town on Saturday along the route of a charity race to benefit military veterans, but no injuries were reported in what investigators were treating as a possible act of terrorism. 
 
The explosive device went off in a trash can about 30 minutes after the scheduled start of the race, which coincidentally was delayed, in Seaside Park, a resort about 80 miles (129 km) south of New York City, officials said. 
 
No damage to surrounding structures was reported, and no runners or bystanders were in close proximity to the 9:30 am (1335 GMT) blast, so no one was hurt, authorities said. 
 
Even so, the explosion stirred dark memories of the bomb blasts at the finish line of the Boston Marathon in 2013 that killed three people and wounded more than 260 others. 
 
The Federal Bureau of Investigation&#39;s so-called joint terrorism task force assumed the lead role in searching for clues to Saturday&#39;s bombing, asking members of the public for any tips that might lead to arrests in the case. 
 
The race, dubbed the Seaside Semper Five 5K, was immediately canceled, and authorities closed the beach and several surrounding blocks while evacuating dozens of nearby homes as a search for more devices ensued. 
 
Initial reports of a second bomb planted in another trash proved untrue, according to a statement issued by New Jersey state police several hours later. 
 
Brad Cohen, special agent in charge of the FBI&#39;s Newark field office, said at an early evening news conference that investigators had determined there was no longer any threat to the community. Police chief Francis Larkin said residents forced from their homes were allowed to return. 
 
Matter of minutes 
 
Authorities said the lag in the start of the race, reportedly because of late registrations, proved fortuitous, as the bomb went off before runners were on the race course. 
 
&quot;It&rsquo;s obvious it was meant to affect the run, the fact that it went off at 9:35,&quot; Al Della Fave, a spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor&#39;s Office, said in an interview on CNN. 
 
The charity run was organised to benefit military veterans and the families of those lost in military service. The run&#39;s name is a reference to Semper Fidelis, Latin for &quot;always loyal,&quot; the motto of the US Marine Corps. 
 
Asked if Marines and their families had been targeted, Della Fave said, &quot;I think we can assume that, considering the location of the device right along the run route where, if it was just a matter of minutes in terms of difference, there would have been a good number of people running past that explosive device.&quot; 
 
The trash can contained several &quot;pipe bomb-type devices&quot; wired together, Della Fave said. &quot;The one went off, and the others did not,&quot; he said. 
 
Law enforcement authorities said they did not know the motive for the blast. 
 
The explosive went off near the boardwalk by the intersection of Ocean Avenue and D Street, authorities said. According to a course map for the race, runners would have passed near the intersection twice: once 0.7 miles into the race and again 0.7 miles from the finish. 
 
About 5,000 people were set to run the 5 km race in Seaside Park, a family-oriented resort known for its beachside boardwalk, a local NBC affiliate reported. 
 
At the 2013 Boston Marathon, two brothers of Chechen ethnicity who professed allegiance to Islamist militants planted homemade bombs near the finish line of the renowned race. The subsequent explosions killed and maimed dozens of bystanders in the most high profile attack on US soil since Sept. 11, 2001. 
 
(Reuters)

The explosive device went off in a trash can about 30 minutes after the scheduled start of the race; there were no casualties

A pipe bomb exploded in a New Jersey beach town on Saturday along the route of a charity race to benefit military veterans, but no injuries were reported in what investigators were treating as a possible act of terrorism. The explosive device went off in a trash can about 30 minutes after the scheduled start of the race, which coincidentally was delayed, in Seaside Park, a resort about 80 miles (129 km) south of New York City, officials said. No damage to surrounding structures was reported, and no runners or bystanders were in close proximity to the 9:30 am (1335 GMT) blast, so no one was hurt, authorities said. Even so, the explosion stirred dark memories of the bomb blasts at the finish line of the Boston Marathon in 2013 that killed three people and wounded more than 260 others. The Federal Bureau of Investigation's so-called joint terrorism task force assumed the lead role in searching for clues to Saturday's bombing, asking members of the public for any tips that might lead to arrests in the case. The race, dubbed the Seaside Semper Five 5K, was immediately canceled, and authorities closed the beach and several surrounding blocks while evacuating dozens of nearby homes as a search for more devices ensued. Initial reports of a second bomb planted in another trash proved untrue, according to a statement issued by New Jersey state police several hours later. Brad Cohen, special agent in charge of the FBI's Newark field office, said at an early evening news conference that investigators had determined there was no longer any threat to the community. Police chief Francis Larkin said residents forced from their homes were allowed to return. Matter of minutes Authorities said the lag in the start of the race, reportedly because of late registrations, proved fortuitous, as the bomb went off before runners were on the race course. "It’s obvious it was meant to affect the run, the fact that it went off at 9:35," Al Della Fave, a spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, said in an interview on CNN. The charity run was organised to benefit military veterans and the families of those lost in military service. The run's name is a reference to Semper Fidelis, Latin for "always loyal," the motto of the US Marine Corps. Asked if Marines and their families had been targeted, Della Fave said, "I think we can assume that, considering the location of the device right along the run route where, if it was just a matter of minutes in terms of difference, there would have been a good number of people running past that explosive device." The trash can contained several "pipe bomb-type devices" wired together, Della Fave said. "The one went off, and the others did not," he said. Law enforcement authorities said they did not know the motive for the blast. The explosive went off near the boardwalk by the intersection of Ocean Avenue and D Street, authorities said. According to a course map for the race, runners would have passed near the intersection twice: once 0.7 miles into the race and again 0.7 miles from the finish. About 5,000 people were set to run the 5 km race in Seaside Park, a family-oriented resort known for its beachside boardwalk, a local NBC affiliate reported. At the 2013 Boston Marathon, two brothers of Chechen ethnicity who professed allegiance to Islamist militants planted homemade bombs near the finish line of the renowned race. The subsequent explosions killed and maimed dozens of bystanders in the most high profile attack on US soil since Sept. 11, 2001. (Reuters)

Pipe bombing at New Jersey race probed as possible terrorism

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