A&nbsp;chain-reaction&nbsp;crash&nbsp;involving a tour bus, three tractor-trailers and a passenger car killed&nbsp;five&nbsp;people and injured about&nbsp;60&nbsp;others on the&nbsp;Pennsylvania&nbsp;Turnpike&nbsp;near Pittsburgh early on Sunday, state police said.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators began arriving hours later in Mount Pleasant Township, about 40 miles (64 km) southeast of Pittsburgh, to determine the cause of the pre-dawn pileup.

The accident forced the closure of an 86-mile (138-km) stretch of the&nbsp;turnpike, a major east-west highway across the state, in both directions between the exits for New Stanton and Breezewood, adding to post-holiday travel woes in the region.

The highway was reopened about 16 hours after the&nbsp;crash, state police said.

The tour bus was headed downhill when it swerved into an embankment at a bend in the road and rolled over on its side, state police spokesman Stephen Limani told a news conference hours later.

Two tractor-trailers then plowed into the bus and a third big rig slammed into the other trucks in a&nbsp;chain&nbsp;reaction&nbsp;that also involved a car, Limani said. All three trucks, at least one belonging to FedEx Corp, were hauling shipments of packages, he said.

Five&nbsp;people from the entangled vehicles were killed and about&nbsp;60&nbsp;others were injured, two of them described as critically hurt, although all of those taken to hospitals were expected to survive, according to Limani. Three area hospitals took in a total of 57 patients from the accident, according to a state police tally.

Limani said the bus, owned by Z&amp;D Tour Inc, was en route from Rockaway, New Jersey, where the company is based, to Cincinnati. But Z&amp;D owner Chen Dan Yu said the ill-fated bus trip originated from Manhattan's Chinatown district and was headed to multiple Ohio destinations, the New York Times reported.

Chen told the Times that Z&amp;D had contracted with a Chinatown company called Ohio Coach for ticket sales on that route, which he said his company drives daily.

Emergency personnel also faced a language barrier as some of the bus passengers spoke only Japanese, while others spoke only Spanish, Limani said. The injured ranged in age from seven years old to some believed to be their&nbsp;60s, he said.

The cause of the&nbsp;crash&nbsp;remained under investigation. But Limani said some motorists reported deteriorating weather conditions at the time of the accident in an area that lies in the snow belt of western&nbsp;Pennsylvania.

"There was some precipitation that was coming down, and I'm sure that could have played a factor," he told reporters. A state transportation official told reporters that road crews had been out overnight applying salt and ash to icy spots on the highway.

NTSB spokesman Eric Weiss said&nbsp;crash&nbsp;investigators would be looking to see if the bus was equipped with an electronic data recorder similar to the "black boxes" carried on aeroplanes.

A chain-reaction crash involving a tour bus, three tractor-trailers and a passenger car killed five people and injured about 60 others on the Pennsylvania Turnpike near Pittsburgh early on Sunday, state police said.

A chain-reaction crash involving a tour bus, three tractor-trailers and a passenger car killed five people and injured about 60 others on the Pennsylvania Turnpike near Pittsburgh early on Sunday, state police said. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators began arriving hours later in Mount Pleasant Township, about 40 miles (64 km) southeast of Pittsburgh, to determine the cause of the pre-dawn pileup. The accident forced the closure of an 86-mile (138-km) stretch of the turnpike, a major east-west highway across the state, in both directions between the exits for New Stanton and Breezewood, adding to post-holiday travel woes in the region. The highway was reopened about 16 hours after the crash, state police said. The tour bus was headed downhill when it swerved into an embankment at a bend in the road and rolled over on its side, state police spokesman Stephen Limani told a news conference hours later. Two tractor-trailers then plowed into the bus and a third big rig slammed into the other trucks in a chain reaction that also involved a car, Limani said. All three trucks, at least one belonging to FedEx Corp, were hauling shipments of packages, he said. Five people from the entangled vehicles were killed and about 60 others were injured, two of them described as critically hurt, although all of those taken to hospitals were expected to survive, according to Limani. Three area hospitals took in a total of 57 patients from the accident, according to a state police tally. Limani said the bus, owned by Z&D Tour Inc, was en route from Rockaway, New Jersey, where the company is based, to Cincinnati. But Z&D owner Chen Dan Yu said the ill-fated bus trip originated from Manhattan's Chinatown district and was headed to multiple Ohio destinations, the New York Times reported. Chen told the Times that Z&D had contracted with a Chinatown company called Ohio Coach for ticket sales on that route, which he said his company drives daily. Emergency personnel also faced a language barrier as some of the bus passengers spoke only Japanese, while others spoke only Spanish, Limani said. The injured ranged in age from seven years old to some believed to be their 60s, he said. The cause of the crash remained under investigation. But Limani said some motorists reported deteriorating weather conditions at the time of the accident in an area that lies in the snow belt of western Pennsylvania. "There was some precipitation that was coming down, and I'm sure that could have played a factor," he told reporters. A state transportation official told reporters that road crews had been out overnight applying salt and ash to icy spots on the highway. NTSB spokesman Eric Weiss said crash investigators would be looking to see if the bus was equipped with an electronic data recorder similar to the "black boxes" carried on aeroplanes.

Chain-reaction crash kills five, injures 60 on Pennsylvania Turnpike

Turkey has ordered the detention of 133 military personnel over suspected links to a network Ankara accuses of organising an attempted coup in 2016, the state-run Anadolu news agency said on Tuesday.

The suspects are being sought in an operation centred in the western coastal province of Izmir, Anadolu said, adding that 82 of them were serving members in the military.

Ankara blames US-based&nbsp;Muslim cleric<a href="https://www.wionews.com/west-asia/turkey-orders-295-military-personnel-arrested-over-gulen-links-198961"> Fethullah Gulen</a>, who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999, of masterminding the failed putsch on July 15, 2016. He has denied any involvement.

In the three-year purge since the coup attempt, more than 77,000 people have been jailed pending trial and about 150,000 civil servants, military personnel and others have been sacked or suspended from their jobs. Widespread arrests are still carried out routinely.

Turkey's Western allies and rights groups have criticised the massive crackdown, saying <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tayyip-erdogan-renews-syria-air-and-ground-operation-threat-253960">President Tayyip Erdogan</a> has used the abortive coup as a pretext to quash dissent.

Ankara has defended the measures as a necessary response to the scale of the security threat facing Turkey and has vowed to eradicate Gulen's network.

Turkey has ordered the detention of 133 military personnel over suspected links to a network Ankara accuses of organising an attempted coup in 2016, the state-run Anadolu news agency said on Tuesday.

Turkey has ordered the detention of 133 military personnel over suspected links to a network Ankara accuses of organising an attempted coup in 2016, the state-run Anadolu news agency said on Tuesday. The suspects are being sought in an operation centred in the western coastal province of Izmir, Anadolu said, adding that 82 of them were serving members in the military. Ankara blames US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999, of masterminding the failed putsch on July 15, 2016. He has denied any involvement. In the three-year purge since the coup attempt, more than 77,000 people have been jailed pending trial and about 150,000 civil servants, military personnel and others have been sacked or suspended from their jobs. Widespread arrests are still carried out routinely. Turkey's Western allies and rights groups have criticised the massive crackdown, saying President Tayyip Erdogan has used the abortive coup as a pretext to quash dissent. Ankara has defended the measures as a necessary response to the scale of the security threat facing Turkey and has vowed to eradicate Gulen's network.

Turkey orders detention of 133 military personnel over suspected Gulen links - Anadolu

American Kyle Giersdorf, alias "Bugha," became the first Fortnite world champion in the solo division, winning $3 million at age 16 on Sunday.

Originally from Pennsylvania, the young gamer took the lead in the first of six games and never looked back.

"It's insane," the young millionaire said after the final, during which he scored almost double the points of his closest opponent (59 to 33).

Aside from the second of six games, Bugha was remarkably consistent despite playing in the first world cup final, with millions of dollars on the line, in the Arthur Ashe stadium, where the US Open tennis tournament takes place.

"This morning he was worriless, energetic, having fun to make sure he wasn't stressed at all," his best friend Colin Bradley told AFP after the final.

In the game, users are dropped onto an island where they must search for weapons and other resources while eliminating other players -- all while trying to stay alive.

A sense of placement, a talent for building, brilliance in close combat and rock-solid self-control -- Bugha had it all in the final.

"He's one of the smartest players. He knows when to attack, when not to attack, to stay high ground. He's a strategic player," Bradley said.

Having a high position is often a decisive advantage, especially in the closing stages of the game, making it easier to shoot other players.

"A lot of people think it's just a game, but he is practising, dedicated, determined," said Bugha's aunt, Dawn Seiders.

"I think he's the definition of a professional."

'It's massive'

Epic Games -- Fortnite's creators -- have spent a whopping $100 million on the inaugural event, including staging 10 weeks of qualifying culminating in this weekend's tournament.

Over the three-day tournament, Epic Games gave out $30 million in prize money.

Every competitor is guaranteed to leave with $50,000, making them the envy of the schoolyard when they return home.

On Saturday, gamers using the pseudonyms "Nyhrox" and "aqua" became the first Fortnite world champions in the duo division, winning $1.5 million each.

During Sunday's final, the crown jewel of the tournament, three players in addition to Bugha also became millionaires: "Psalm" ($1.8 million), "Epikwhale" ($1.2 million) and Kreo ($1.05 million), all Americans.

Argentinian player Thiago Lapp, alias "King," made a splash at only 13 years old. He just missed the million-dollar mark ($900,000) and finished fifth, employing an ultra-aggressive style that helped him eliminate 21 competitors over six matches, the best after Bugha (23).

"It's better than watching on TV or Twitch," said Anthony Peralta, who attended the final.

During the weekend's highlights, attendees filled about two-thirds of the Arthur Ashe stadium, which has a seating capacity of 23,000.

"I didn't think it would be this much fun," said Carlos Dacosta, another final audience member.

"The level of competition that these guy have, it's crazy."

"It's massive, what they've done," said French gamer "Kouto," whose real name is Issam Taguine and is a member of France's Team MCES.

"Especially everything they've invested in the players."

After placing second during the "Creative Mode" final on Friday, which offers players new game modes they can discover, Kouto will leave New York with $86,000, which he plans to give to his mother.

For him, the popularity of the game -- which is free to play and has 250 million users worldwide -- is higher than ever, thanks to its fast-paced updates.

"It's the game with the most changes," he said.

"So you can come back four months later and you'll never feel like you've played the same game. That's what gives the game life."

American Kyle Giersdorf, alias "Bugha," became the first Fortnite world champion in the solo division, winning $3 million at age 16 on Sunday. Originally from Pennsylvania, the young gamer took the lead in the first of six games and never looked back.

American Kyle Giersdorf, alias "Bugha," became the first Fortnite world champion in the solo division, winning $3 million at age 16 on Sunday. Originally from Pennsylvania, the young gamer took the lead in the first of six games and never looked back. "It's insane," the young millionaire said after the final, during which he scored almost double the points of his closest opponent (59 to 33). Aside from the second of six games, Bugha was remarkably consistent despite playing in the first world cup final, with millions of dollars on the line, in the Arthur Ashe stadium, where the US Open tennis tournament takes place. "This morning he was worriless, energetic, having fun to make sure he wasn't stressed at all," his best friend Colin Bradley told AFP after the final. In the game, users are dropped onto an island where they must search for weapons and other resources while eliminating other players -- all while trying to stay alive. A sense of placement, a talent for building, brilliance in close combat and rock-solid self-control -- Bugha had it all in the final. "He's one of the smartest players. He knows when to attack, when not to attack, to stay high ground. He's a strategic player," Bradley said. Having a high position is often a decisive advantage, especially in the closing stages of the game, making it easier to shoot other players. "A lot of people think it's just a game, but he is practising, dedicated, determined," said Bugha's aunt, Dawn Seiders. "I think he's the definition of a professional." 'It's massive' Epic Games -- Fortnite's creators -- have spent a whopping $100 million on the inaugural event, including staging 10 weeks of qualifying culminating in this weekend's tournament. Over the three-day tournament, Epic Games gave out $30 million in prize money. Every competitor is guaranteed to leave with $50,000, making them the envy of the schoolyard when they return home. On Saturday, gamers using the pseudonyms "Nyhrox" and "aqua" became the first Fortnite world champions in the duo division, winning $1.5 million each. During Sunday's final, the crown jewel of the tournament, three players in addition to Bugha also became millionaires: "Psalm" ($1.8 million), "Epikwhale" ($1.2 million) and Kreo ($1.05 million), all Americans. Argentinian player Thiago Lapp, alias "King," made a splash at only 13 years old. He just missed the million-dollar mark ($900,000) and finished fifth, employing an ultra-aggressive style that helped him eliminate 21 competitors over six matches, the best after Bugha (23). "It's better than watching on TV or Twitch," said Anthony Peralta, who attended the final. During the weekend's highlights, attendees filled about two-thirds of the Arthur Ashe stadium, which has a seating capacity of 23,000. "I didn't think it would be this much fun," said Carlos Dacosta, another final audience member. "The level of competition that these guy have, it's crazy." "It's massive, what they've done," said French gamer "Kouto," whose real name is Issam Taguine and is a member of France's Team MCES. "Especially everything they've invested in the players." After placing second during the "Creative Mode" final on Friday, which offers players new game modes they can discover, Kouto will leave New York with $86,000, which he plans to give to his mother. For him, the popularity of the game -- which is free to play and has 250 million users worldwide -- is higher than ever, thanks to its fast-paced updates. "It's the game with the most changes," he said. "So you can come back four months later and you'll never feel like you've played the same game. That's what gives the game life."

American teen 'Bugha' becomes solo Fortnite champ, winning $3 million

US President<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-vote-on-healthcare-can-wait-until-after-2020-election-207350"> Donald&nbsp;Trump's&nbsp;campaign</a>&nbsp;believes he can turn Republicans' biggest liability from last year's congressional elections - the debate about the future of&nbsp;healthcare&nbsp;in America - into a winning issue for his reelection.

That would have appeared highly unlikely just months ago when Democrats seized upon the issue of coverage for pre-existing medical conditions to capture control of the US House of Representatives.

Since then, the&nbsp;2020&nbsp;Democratic presidential field has been locked in a debate about how far to go to transform the US healthcare&nbsp;system. Some candidates have suggested abolishing private insurance in favour of a single government-run plan, sometimes referred to as "Medicare for All," while others favour more modest reforms.

Trump's&nbsp;campaign&nbsp;is betting that whoever emerges with the Democratic nomination next year will have been forced to embrace a sweeping&nbsp;healthcare&nbsp;reform proposal that may spook moderate voters.

"The president has taken the issue back," Tim Murtaugh,&nbsp;Trump's&nbsp;campaign&nbsp;communications director, told Reuters in an interview. "(Democrats are) taking the Blue Cross (private insurance) card out of your wallet and making it worthless."

About half of the dozen top-tier of Democratic hopefuls vying for the nomination have endorsed some form of Medicare for All, according to a Reuters analysis of&nbsp;campaign&nbsp;positions.

Democrats could end up ceding political ground if they nominate a candidate who advocates for universal&nbsp;healthcare, said Drew Altman, president of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a non-partisan&nbsp;healthcare&nbsp;advocacy group.

"The polls show very clearly that the Democrats have a very substantial advantage on health and all the health issues," Altman said. "If the Democrat is a candidate who is a big advocate for Medicare for All, it will play a little differently."

Some voters will be leery of losing their private insurance, but Democrats are still likely to win over those concerned about pre-existing conditions and abortion access, Altman said.

TOUTING REFORMS

Trump&nbsp;has yet to set forth his long-promised&nbsp;healthcare&nbsp;reform plan.

But he is speaking about&nbsp;healthcare&nbsp;more frequently. At a rally in Pennsylvania on Monday,&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;repeated his promise to keep protections for people with pre-existing conditions.

He also is likely to tout what the White House and his&nbsp;campaign&nbsp;say are meaningful changes the administration has made to help small businesses and to try to reduce the price of prescription drugs for US&nbsp;consumers. His administration recently mandated pharmaceutical companies include list prices of drugs in television ads in a bid to get them to lower prices.

His administration argued in a report released in February that it has made&nbsp;healthcare&nbsp;markets more efficient by de-regulating some aspects of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

Those included doing away with the law's mandate to purchase health insurance and expanding coverage options through association plans, which allow small businesses to band together to purchase insurance.

"The president can point to real results on&nbsp;healthcare," Murtaugh said.

But&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;also has provided Democrats with fodder they are likely to use to challenge his&nbsp;healthcare&nbsp;claims, and they are sure to argue that&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;will cost millions of Americans their coverage.

The president already backed a proposal in Congress that would have reduced protections for pre-existing conditions - despite his continued insistence that he does not want to eliminate those rules. And he has proposed reductions to Medicaid and Medicare funding.

His&nbsp;campaign&nbsp;will be forced to navigate those decisions as well as dispel voters' worry that&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;wants to gut the existing Obamacare framework with no effective replacement.

Trump&nbsp;said in a local media interview in Pennsylvania this week he would roll out a new&nbsp;healthcare&nbsp;plan soon. The White House did not respond to a request for comment on the timing.

Providing such a plan will be critical to winning over voters next year, said Michael Steel, a former top aide to former Republican House Speaker John Boehner.

Steel said that while he thinks Democrats are "overreaching" on the issue, "we'll need our own conservative cost-containment plan to truly go on offence. And we don't have that yet."

WORRIED VOTERS

Chris Kofinis, a Democratic strategist and former chief of staff to Senator Joe Manchin, a moderate from West Virginia,&nbsp;

said&nbsp;Trump's&nbsp;campaign&nbsp;underestimates the depth of voter anxiety over&nbsp;healthcare&nbsp;costs and coverage.

Branding Democratic proposals as "socialist" will not be persuasive, he said.

"They're wrong if they think they can win this as an ideological debate," Kofinis said, adding that his own work with voter groups has shown some appetite for a large-scale overhaul of the US&nbsp;healthcare&nbsp;system.

Kofinis warned that Democrats risk losing their edge on the issue, however, if they fail to heed the lesson of the 2018 midterm elections and instead become preoccupied with investigations of&nbsp;Trump.

Last year, Democrats took 40 seats to regain the House, a victory largely fueled by voter concerns over losing coverage if Republicans dismantled Obamacare.

Murtaugh believes that Democrats did not act quickly enough to turn their electoral victories into action.

"The big conversation was about&nbsp;healthcare&nbsp;and what are they talking about? Impeachment," Murtaugh said. "They won the election, but they haven't done a damn thing with it."

US President Donald Trump's campaign believes he can turn Republicans' biggest liability from last year's congressional elections - the debate about the future of healthcare in America - into a winning issue for his reelection.

US President Donald Trump's campaign believes he can turn Republicans' biggest liability from last year's congressional elections - the debate about the future of healthcare in America - into a winning issue for his reelection. That would have appeared highly unlikely just months ago when Democrats seized upon the issue of coverage for pre-existing medical conditions to capture control of the US House of Representatives. Since then, the 2020 Democratic presidential field has been locked in a debate about how far to go to transform the US healthcare system. Some candidates have suggested abolishing private insurance in favour of a single government-run plan, sometimes referred to as "Medicare for All," while others favour more modest reforms. Trump's campaign is betting that whoever emerges with the Democratic nomination next year will have been forced to embrace a sweeping healthcare reform proposal that may spook moderate voters. "The president has taken the issue back," Tim Murtaugh, Trump's campaign communications director, told Reuters in an interview. "(Democrats are) taking the Blue Cross (private insurance) card out of your wallet and making it worthless." About half of the dozen top-tier of Democratic hopefuls vying for the nomination have endorsed some form of Medicare for All, according to a Reuters analysis of campaign positions. Democrats could end up ceding political ground if they nominate a candidate who advocates for universal healthcare, said Drew Altman, president of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a non-partisan healthcare advocacy group. "The polls show very clearly that the Democrats have a very substantial advantage on health and all the health issues," Altman said. "If the Democrat is a candidate who is a big advocate for Medicare for All, it will play a little differently." Some voters will be leery of losing their private insurance, but Democrats are still likely to win over those concerned about pre-existing conditions and abortion access, Altman said. TOUTING REFORMS Trump has yet to set forth his long-promised healthcare reform plan. But he is speaking about healthcare more frequently. At a rally in Pennsylvania on Monday, Trump repeated his promise to keep protections for people with pre-existing conditions. He also is likely to tout what the White House and his campaign say are meaningful changes the administration has made to help small businesses and to try to reduce the price of prescription drugs for US consumers. His administration recently mandated pharmaceutical companies include list prices of drugs in television ads in a bid to get them to lower prices. His administration argued in a report released in February that it has made healthcare markets more efficient by de-regulating some aspects of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Those included doing away with the law's mandate to purchase health insurance and expanding coverage options through association plans, which allow small businesses to band together to purchase insurance. "The president can point to real results on healthcare," Murtaugh said. But Trump also has provided Democrats with fodder they are likely to use to challenge his healthcare claims, and they are sure to argue that Trump will cost millions of Americans their coverage. The president already backed a proposal in Congress that would have reduced protections for pre-existing conditions - despite his continued insistence that he does not want to eliminate those rules. And he has proposed reductions to Medicaid and Medicare funding. His campaign will be forced to navigate those decisions as well as dispel voters' worry that Trump wants to gut the existing Obamacare framework with no effective replacement. Trump said in a local media interview in Pennsylvania this week he would roll out a new healthcare plan soon. The White House did not respond to a request for comment on the timing. Providing such a plan will be critical to winning over voters next year, said Michael Steel, a former top aide to former Republican House Speaker John Boehner. Steel said that while he thinks Democrats are "overreaching" on the issue, "we'll need our own conservative cost-containment plan to truly go on offence. And we don't have that yet." WORRIED VOTERS Chris Kofinis, a Democratic strategist and former chief of staff to Senator Joe Manchin, a moderate from West Virginia, said Trump's campaign underestimates the depth of voter anxiety over healthcare costs and coverage. Branding Democratic proposals as "socialist" will not be persuasive, he said. "They're wrong if they think they can win this as an ideological debate," Kofinis said, adding that his own work with voter groups has shown some appetite for a large-scale overhaul of the US healthcare system. Kofinis warned that Democrats risk losing their edge on the issue, however, if they fail to heed the lesson of the 2018 midterm elections and instead become preoccupied with investigations of Trump. Last year, Democrats took 40 seats to regain the House, a victory largely fueled by voter concerns over losing coverage if Republicans dismantled Obamacare. Murtaugh believes that Democrats did not act quickly enough to turn their electoral victories into action. "The big conversation was about healthcare and what are they talking about? Impeachment," Murtaugh said. "They won the election, but they haven't done a damn thing with it."

Trump campaign views healthcare as a 2020 campaign weapon

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-vows-to-appeal-us-judges-decision-on-sharing-financial-records-with-congress-220248">US President Donald Trump</a>, facing a potentially difficult path to winning a second term in November 2020, on Monday told supporters in Pennsylvania that his trade war had strengthened the battleground state's steel industry and jobs.

Although Trump does not launch his re-election bid officially until next month, his appearance at a raucous rally in an airport hangar in northeastern Pennsylvania, using Air Force One as a backdrop, had the hallmarks of a campaign event.

He took aim at Democratic front-runner and former Vice President Joe Biden. "Sleepy Joe said that he's running to 'save the world.' ... He's going to save every country but ours," Trump said.

The president previewed the arguments he will make to voters in the 2020 election, crediting his trade stance with helping the US economy.

"When you have the best employment numbers in history, when you have the best unemployment numbers in history, when you have the best economy probably that we've ever had, I don't know - how the hell do you lose this election, right?" he said.

Trump has waged a high-stakes trade dispute with China, and tariffs imposed by both countries on a range of goods have raised fears of a global economic slowdown.

Trump last year also imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum. He claims that the move saved and created jobs at US mills as well as spurred investment such as by US Steel in Pennsylvania. Many economists say that those benefits are outweighed by higher costs to US companies and consumers.

Trump was stumping for a special House of Representatives election in Pennsylvania, one of three "Rust Belt" states he won in 2016 with votes from white, blue-collar voters who had previously voted Democratic.

His campaign sees the state as key to keeping control of the White House, along with Michigan and Wisconsin. A Quinnipiac University poll last week showed the president trailing the main Democratic contenders in Pennsylvania in particular.

"I'll be seeing a lot of you over the next year," Trump said. "Gotta win this state."

'Troublesome' trio of states

Trump has already been raising money for his re-election and holding political rallies for many months. But he plans an official rollout for his campaign in mid-June, the four-year anniversary of when he rode the escalator at Trump Tower down to a crowd of supporters and announced his candidacy.

He is likely to hold a rally in Florida, possibly on June 15, to mark the occasion, sources said. The Trump campaign declined to comment.

Trump, who considers Florida to be something of a second home, won the state in 2016. But as is the case for Trump in many battleground states, his victory is not assured there in 2020, and he will likely face a fight to win it again.

The Trump campaign has privately expressed concern about the trio of upper Midwest swing states that provided his 2016 margin of victory, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.

A source close to the campaign called Trump's position in those states "troublesome."

"They're awakening to the fact that they've got a problem. They have a solid base among Republicans but a lot of independent voters that gave them the margin in these states are not doing well," the source said.

'Sleepy Joe'

Since Trump took over as president in early 2017, the United States has had low unemployment and strong growth. Typically, presidents with an economy this vibrant would be strong bets for re-election.

But Trump's polarizing presidency has given hope to a host of Democratic contenders that he can be denied a second term.

Biden has sounded a unifying theme to try to rally Americans behind his candidacy. In second place in the Democratic polls is democratic socialist Bernie Sanders.

Biden has put his campaign headquarters in Philadelphia and has held two rallies in the state during the past month.

Trump has dubbed Biden "Sleepy Joe" to try to undermine him, in much the same way as he gave Republican contender Jeb Bush the nickname "low-energy Jeb" in 2016.

US President Donald Trump, facing a potentially difficult path to winning a second term in November 2020, on Monday told supporters in Pennsylvania that his trade war had strengthened the battleground state's steel industry and jobs.

US President Donald Trump, facing a potentially difficult path to winning a second term in November 2020, on Monday told supporters in Pennsylvania that his trade war had strengthened the battleground state's steel industry and jobs. Although Trump does not launch his re-election bid officially until next month, his appearance at a raucous rally in an airport hangar in northeastern Pennsylvania, using Air Force One as a backdrop, had the hallmarks of a campaign event. He took aim at Democratic front-runner and former Vice President Joe Biden. "Sleepy Joe said that he's running to 'save the world.' ... He's going to save every country but ours," Trump said. The president previewed the arguments he will make to voters in the 2020 election, crediting his trade stance with helping the US economy. "When you have the best employment numbers in history, when you have the best unemployment numbers in history, when you have the best economy probably that we've ever had, I don't know - how the hell do you lose this election, right?" he said. Trump has waged a high-stakes trade dispute with China, and tariffs imposed by both countries on a range of goods have raised fears of a global economic slowdown. Trump last year also imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum. He claims that the move saved and created jobs at US mills as well as spurred investment such as by US Steel in Pennsylvania. Many economists say that those benefits are outweighed by higher costs to US companies and consumers. Trump was stumping for a special House of Representatives election in Pennsylvania, one of three "Rust Belt" states he won in 2016 with votes from white, blue-collar voters who had previously voted Democratic. His campaign sees the state as key to keeping control of the White House, along with Michigan and Wisconsin. A Quinnipiac University poll last week showed the president trailing the main Democratic contenders in Pennsylvania in particular. "I'll be seeing a lot of you over the next year," Trump said. "Gotta win this state." 'Troublesome' trio of states Trump has already been raising money for his re-election and holding political rallies for many months. But he plans an official rollout for his campaign in mid-June, the four-year anniversary of when he rode the escalator at Trump Tower down to a crowd of supporters and announced his candidacy. He is likely to hold a rally in Florida, possibly on June 15, to mark the occasion, sources said. The Trump campaign declined to comment. Trump, who considers Florida to be something of a second home, won the state in 2016. But as is the case for Trump in many battleground states, his victory is not assured there in 2020, and he will likely face a fight to win it again. The Trump campaign has privately expressed concern about the trio of upper Midwest swing states that provided his 2016 margin of victory, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. A source close to the campaign called Trump's position in those states "troublesome." "They're awakening to the fact that they've got a problem. They have a solid base among Republicans but a lot of independent voters that gave them the margin in these states are not doing well," the source said. 'Sleepy Joe' Since Trump took over as president in early 2017, the United States has had low unemployment and strong growth. Typically, presidents with an economy this vibrant would be strong bets for re-election. But Trump's polarizing presidency has given hope to a host of Democratic contenders that he can be denied a second term. Biden has sounded a unifying theme to try to rally Americans behind his candidacy. In second place in the Democratic polls is democratic socialist Bernie Sanders. Biden has put his campaign headquarters in Philadelphia and has held two rallies in the state during the past month. Trump has dubbed Biden "Sleepy Joe" to try to undermine him, in much the same way as he gave Republican contender Jeb Bush the nickname "low-energy Jeb" in 2016.

Trump tells Pennsylvania voters that trade war has helped economy

US President Donald Trump on Monday claimed that former Vice President Joe Biden "deserted" Pennsylvania. Trump and Biden have made Pennsylvania front and centre in the efforts to win the presidency in 2020.

Trump tells Penn. rally: 'Biden deserted you'

Tornadoes, wind gusts of up to 70 mph and pounding hail remained threats early on Monday from eastern New York and into New England, as the remnants of a deadly storm push out to sea, the National Weather Service said.

More than 79,000 homes and businesses were without power in Virginia, according to the tracking site PowerOutage US, with 89,000 more outages reported across Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Michigan, Maryland and New York.

The affected areas will get heavy rains, winds with gusts of up to 70 mph (110 kph) and the possibility of hail, NWS Weather Prediction Center in Maryland said.

"This is an ongoing threat," said Brian Hurley, from the centre.

"There are short spin-ups, pockets of heavy rain and damaging winds that can still hit before this pushes offshore."

The weekend's storm brought tornadoes that killed at least five people, including three children, in the US South, officials said.

The massive storm system sped from Texas eastward with dozens of twisters reported as touching down across the South from Texas through Georgia into Pennsylvania.

Nearly 2,300 US flights were cancelled by Sunday evening, more than 90 per cent of them at airports in Chicago; Houston, Texas; Charlotte, North Carolina; Pittsburgh; Columbus, Ohio and a dozen major airports on the Eastern Seaboard, according to FlightAware.com.

But no major flight delays were reported on the east coast before 6 am Monday.

The storm's cold front brought snow to Chicago on Sunday, with 1 to 3 inches (2.5-7.6 cm) reported in central Illinois.

Two children, siblings aged three and eight, were killed on Saturday when a tree fell on the car in which they were sitting in Pollok, Texas, said a spokeswoman for the Angelina County Sheriff's Department.

A third child, Sebastian Omar Martinez, 13, drowned late on Saturday when he fell into a drainage ditch filled with flash floodwaters near Monroe, Louisiana, said Deputy Glenn Springfield of the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office.

In another storm death nearby, an unidentified victim's body was trapped in a vehicle submerged in floodwaters in Calhoun, Louisiana, Springfield said.

In Mississippi, Governor Phil Bryant said one person was killed and 11 injured over the weekend as tornadoes ripped through 17 counties and left 26,000 homes and businesses without electricity.

In addition, three people were killed when a private jet crashed in Mississippi on Saturday, although Bryant said it was unclear whether it was caused by the weather.

Soaking rains could snarl the Monday morning commute on the East Coast before the storm moves off to sea.

"The biggest impact rush hour-wise probably will be Boston, around 7 to 8 o'clock in the morning, and around New York City around 5 or 6 o'clock, before sunrise," NWS meteorologist Bob Oravec said.

Tornadoes, wind gusts of up to 70 mph and pounding hail remained threats early on Monday from eastern New York and into New England, as the remnants of a deadly storm push out to sea, the National Weather Service said.

Tornadoes, wind gusts of up to 70 mph and pounding hail remained threats early on Monday from eastern New York and into New England, as the remnants of a deadly storm push out to sea, the National Weather Service said. More than 79,000 homes and businesses were without power in Virginia, according to the tracking site PowerOutage US, with 89,000 more outages reported across Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Michigan, Maryland and New York. The affected areas will get heavy rains, winds with gusts of up to 70 mph (110 kph) and the possibility of hail, NWS Weather Prediction Center in Maryland said. "This is an ongoing threat," said Brian Hurley, from the centre. "There are short spin-ups, pockets of heavy rain and damaging winds that can still hit before this pushes offshore." The weekend's storm brought tornadoes that killed at least five people, including three children, in the US South, officials said. The massive storm system sped from Texas eastward with dozens of twisters reported as touching down across the South from Texas through Georgia into Pennsylvania. Nearly 2,300 US flights were cancelled by Sunday evening, more than 90 per cent of them at airports in Chicago; Houston, Texas; Charlotte, North Carolina; Pittsburgh; Columbus, Ohio and a dozen major airports on the Eastern Seaboard, according to FlightAware.com. But no major flight delays were reported on the east coast before 6 am Monday. The storm's cold front brought snow to Chicago on Sunday, with 1 to 3 inches (2.5-7.6 cm) reported in central Illinois. Two children, siblings aged three and eight, were killed on Saturday when a tree fell on the car in which they were sitting in Pollok, Texas, said a spokeswoman for the Angelina County Sheriff's Department. A third child, Sebastian Omar Martinez, 13, drowned late on Saturday when he fell into a drainage ditch filled with flash floodwaters near Monroe, Louisiana, said Deputy Glenn Springfield of the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office. In another storm death nearby, an unidentified victim's body was trapped in a vehicle submerged in floodwaters in Calhoun, Louisiana, Springfield said. In Mississippi, Governor Phil Bryant said one person was killed and 11 injured over the weekend as tornadoes ripped through 17 counties and left 26,000 homes and businesses without electricity. In addition, three people were killed when a private jet crashed in Mississippi on Saturday, although Bryant said it was unclear whether it was caused by the weather. Soaking rains could snarl the Monday morning commute on the East Coast before the storm moves off to sea. "The biggest impact rush hour-wise probably will be Boston, around 7 to 8 o'clock in the morning, and around New York City around 5 or 6 o'clock, before sunrise," NWS meteorologist Bob Oravec said.

Deadly storms leave thousands without power in eastern US

US President Donald Trump on Sunday sent greetings to the world's Jews on the first day of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, while pledging "love and support" for the victims of an attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue in October.

"Melania and I send our warmest greetings to our Jewish brothers and sisters in the United States, in Israel, and around the world celebrating Hanukkah," Trump, whose daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner are Jewish, said in a statement.

"We remember all those from the Tree of Life —- Or L'Simcha Congregation -- whose lives were tragically taken in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this past October.

"As one Nation, we pledge our continued love and support for the victims, their families, and the community, and we pray that the victims' families find some measure of peace and comfort during this holiday season."

Every year, the White House lights a giant menorah over the festival's eight days.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday sent greetings to the world's Jews on the first day of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, while pledging "love and support" for the victims of an attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue in October.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday sent greetings to the world's Jews on the first day of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, while pledging "love and support" for the victims of an attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue in October. "Melania and I send our warmest greetings to our Jewish brothers and sisters in the United States, in Israel, and around the world celebrating Hanukkah," Trump, whose daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner are Jewish, said in a statement. "We remember all those from the Tree of Life —- Or L'Simcha Congregation -- whose lives were tragically taken in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this past October. "As one Nation, we pledge our continued love and support for the victims, their families, and the community, and we pray that the victims' families find some measure of peace and comfort during this holiday season." Every year, the White House lights a giant menorah over the festival's eight days.

Trump pledges 'love and support' to Pittsburgh synagogue victims on Hannukah

US midterm polls: Democrat Mary Gay Scanlon wins Pennsylvania House district

Donald Trump's stunning 2016 White House win got a major boost from sagging Democratic enthusiasm in Pennsylvania, but now the party is poised for big wins on Tuesday in congressional races in the state that could signal which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives.

A court-ordered overhaul of Pennsylvania voting districts and stubbornly low approval ratings for Trump in the state have placed Democrats within striking distance of claiming at least half of Pennsylvania's 18 congressional seats in a test of the party's ability to win back working-class voters.

Republicans are scrambling.

Take Republican incumbent Keith Rothfus. He won the election in 2012 in Pennsylvania's current 12th district outside Pittsburgh, which includes some staunch Republican strongholds. The 56-year-old attorney was reelected twice by constituents who favoured Trump by over 20 percentage points in 2016.

But redistricting has forced Rothfus into a new 17th district, where only 36 per cent of voters are Republicans and nearly half are Democrats.

Opinion polls now show Rothfus trailing moderate Democrat Conor Lamb, a 34-year-old former Marine who gained political stardom by winning a special House election in a solidly Republican district last spring. Lamb has support from more than half of likely voters.

The change in Democratic fortunes increases the party's hopes of making the net gain of 23 seats it needs to control the House and stall much of Trump's agenda. Republicans are favoured to hold the Senate.

"Pennsylvania is going to be the bellwether. It is ground zero if you're looking at who's going to control the House," said Mike DeVanney, a Pittsburgh-based Republican strategist.

MORE SEATS IN PLAY

Democrats, who currently hold six of Pennsylvania's House seats, could win at least nine, according to the University of Virginia Center for Politics, which tracks House and Senate races.

"Anything more than that probably would reflect an outcome in which Democrats won significantly more than the 23 net seats they need," said Center analyst Kyle Kondik.

All told, at least seven House Republican seats once considered safe are now in play as a result of the redrawn map in Pennsylvania.

"We were having elections that did not have two candidates running in them in many of these districts. That doesn't give people a real choice," Lamb told Reuters in an interview. "A citizen deserves to have a competitive election."

Rothfus, who was not available for an interview, has campaigned largely on economic issues, a position that won him an endorsement on Friday from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

"The healthy economy we're seeing is a result of a combination of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the deregulation of small businesses," Rothfus said last month on Twitter. "That's what is putting hard-working Americans to work, and that's what is putting more money in their pockets."

Republicans and Democrats have both tried to use district lines to maximize their power.

The last redistricting wave began eight years ago when the conservative Tea Party movement, driven by opposition to Democratic former President Barack Obama, gave Republicans control of the U.S. House and 10 new governorships.

The dynamics underlying this year's House races in Pennsylvania, including anger among Democratic and independent voters over Trump, could give Democrats a shot at exceeding their state sweep in 2006, which was a banner year nationally for the party.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered the state's new district map earlier this year in a ruling that later survived a Republican challenge to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Under the new map, two Republican-held House seats outside Philadelphia where Republican incumbents are stepping down are seen as likely Democratic or safe Democratic wins, according to a Reuters analysis of a trio of political forecasting groups: Cook Political Report, Inside Elections and the University of Virginia's Center for Politics.

A third Republican seat with a retiring incumbent, near the eastern city of Allentown, is rated as leaning Democratic.

Meanwhile, Trump's political style looks to be becoming a liability.

A Franklin &amp; Marshall College survey of likely Pennsylvania voters conducted Oct. 22-28 found that 52 per cent preferred Democratic House candidates. Two out of three viewed that choice as a vote against Trump, who has a 36 per cent approval rate in the state.

At least three other House Republican incumbents - Mike Kelly, Scott Perry and Brian Fitzpatrick - are in tight reelection battles.

Democrat George Scott needs Republican support to defeat Perry in a district including the state capital, Harrisburg. On Thursday, he was able to showcase Republican backing by appearing with about a dozen Republicans, including a former state senator, a former state representative and a staffer to a former Republican governor. Several said Perry had become too partisan in Washington, where he joined the hardline conservative House Freedom Caucus.

Perry, whose campaign declined an interview request, has defended membership in that group.

"It is not a right-wing organization. We take anybody that comes," Perry said in a debate last month, according to local media.

The critics expressed concern over Perry's votes to repeal the Affordable Care Act - Obama's signature health care program - and its insurance protections for people with preexisting medical conditions.

Former state Representative Steve Nickol told Reuters that he supported Perry during his first run for Congress but was dismayed to see him become "radically partisan" in Washington.

"I've talked to even some elected (Republican) officials who are kind of upset with the way things are and feel that Scott (Perry) is a little too extreme in some of his positions," Nickol said.

"They're not about to come out and endorse George, even though they've told me in private that they'll vote for him."

Donald Trump's stunning 2016 White House win got a major boost from sagging Democratic enthusiasm in Pennsylvania, but now the party is poised for big wins on Tuesday in congressional races in the state that could signal which party controls the U.

Donald Trump's stunning 2016 White House win got a major boost from sagging Democratic enthusiasm in Pennsylvania, but now the party is poised for big wins on Tuesday in congressional races in the state that could signal which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives. A court-ordered overhaul of Pennsylvania voting districts and stubbornly low approval ratings for Trump in the state have placed Democrats within striking distance of claiming at least half of Pennsylvania's 18 congressional seats in a test of the party's ability to win back working-class voters. Republicans are scrambling. Take Republican incumbent Keith Rothfus. He won the election in 2012 in Pennsylvania's current 12th district outside Pittsburgh, which includes some staunch Republican strongholds. The 56-year-old attorney was reelected twice by constituents who favoured Trump by over 20 percentage points in 2016. But redistricting has forced Rothfus into a new 17th district, where only 36 per cent of voters are Republicans and nearly half are Democrats. Opinion polls now show Rothfus trailing moderate Democrat Conor Lamb, a 34-year-old former Marine who gained political stardom by winning a special House election in a solidly Republican district last spring. Lamb has support from more than half of likely voters. The change in Democratic fortunes increases the party's hopes of making the net gain of 23 seats it needs to control the House and stall much of Trump's agenda. Republicans are favoured to hold the Senate. "Pennsylvania is going to be the bellwether. It is ground zero if you're looking at who's going to control the House," said Mike DeVanney, a Pittsburgh-based Republican strategist. MORE SEATS IN PLAY Democrats, who currently hold six of Pennsylvania's House seats, could win at least nine, according to the University of Virginia Center for Politics, which tracks House and Senate races. "Anything more than that probably would reflect an outcome in which Democrats won significantly more than the 23 net seats they need," said Center analyst Kyle Kondik. All told, at least seven House Republican seats once considered safe are now in play as a result of the redrawn map in Pennsylvania. "We were having elections that did not have two candidates running in them in many of these districts. That doesn't give people a real choice," Lamb told Reuters in an interview. "A citizen deserves to have a competitive election." Rothfus, who was not available for an interview, has campaigned largely on economic issues, a position that won him an endorsement on Friday from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "The healthy economy we're seeing is a result of a combination of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the deregulation of small businesses," Rothfus said last month on Twitter. "That's what is putting hard-working Americans to work, and that's what is putting more money in their pockets." Republicans and Democrats have both tried to use district lines to maximize their power. The last redistricting wave began eight years ago when the conservative Tea Party movement, driven by opposition to Democratic former President Barack Obama, gave Republicans control of the U.S. House and 10 new governorships. The dynamics underlying this year's House races in Pennsylvania, including anger among Democratic and independent voters over Trump, could give Democrats a shot at exceeding their state sweep in 2006, which was a banner year nationally for the party. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered the state's new district map earlier this year in a ruling that later survived a Republican challenge to the U.S. Supreme Court. Under the new map, two Republican-held House seats outside Philadelphia where Republican incumbents are stepping down are seen as likely Democratic or safe Democratic wins, according to a Reuters analysis of a trio of political forecasting groups: Cook Political Report, Inside Elections and the University of Virginia's Center for Politics. A third Republican seat with a retiring incumbent, near the eastern city of Allentown, is rated as leaning Democratic. Meanwhile, Trump's political style looks to be becoming a liability. A Franklin & Marshall College survey of likely Pennsylvania voters conducted Oct. 22-28 found that 52 per cent preferred Democratic House candidates. Two out of three viewed that choice as a vote against Trump, who has a 36 per cent approval rate in the state. At least three other House Republican incumbents - Mike Kelly, Scott Perry and Brian Fitzpatrick - are in tight reelection battles. Democrat George Scott needs Republican support to defeat Perry in a district including the state capital, Harrisburg. On Thursday, he was able to showcase Republican backing by appearing with about a dozen Republicans, including a former state senator, a former state representative and a staffer to a former Republican governor. Several said Perry had become too partisan in Washington, where he joined the hardline conservative House Freedom Caucus. Perry, whose campaign declined an interview request, has defended membership in that group. "It is not a right-wing organization. We take anybody that comes," Perry said in a debate last month, according to local media. The critics expressed concern over Perry's votes to repeal the Affordable Care Act - Obama's signature health care program - and its insurance protections for people with preexisting medical conditions. Former state Representative Steve Nickol told Reuters that he supported Perry during his first run for Congress but was dismayed to see him become "radically partisan" in Washington. "I've talked to even some elected (Republican) officials who are kind of upset with the way things are and feel that Scott (Perry) is a little too extreme in some of his positions," Nickol said. "They're not about to come out and endorse George, even though they've told me in private that they'll vote for him."

Democrats' road to controlling US House runs through Pennsylvania

Three people were killed on Saturday night after a car exploded in downtown Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Some residents near the scene have been asked to evacuate and are being sheltered nearby.

Police said that the incident appeared to be isolated and that there was no ongoing danger to the public.

Although victims had not yet been identified, the perpetrator appeared to be among those killed in the explosion, news agency Reuters reported.

An investigation regarding what exactly caused the explosion has been launched.

Three people were killed on Saturday night after a car exploded in downtown Allentown, Pennsylvania. Some residents near the scene have been asked to evacuate and are being sheltered nearby.

Three people were killed on Saturday night after a car exploded in downtown Allentown, Pennsylvania. Some residents near the scene have been asked to evacuate and are being sheltered nearby. Police said that the incident appeared to be isolated and that there was no ongoing danger to the public. Although victims had not yet been identified, the perpetrator appeared to be among those killed in the explosion, news agency Reuters reported. An investigation regarding what exactly caused the explosion has been launched.

Car explosion kills three in Pennsylvania

Southwest Airlines Company confirmed Friday it has sent $5,000 checks to passengers aboard a flight that made an emergency landing this week after an engine failed, killing a passenger.&nbsp;

The airline confirmed news reports from passengers it had sent the checks along with $1,000 travel vouchers. "We can confirm the communication and gesture are authentic and heartfelt," the company said in a brief statement on Friday.

The CFM56 jet engine on Southwest flight 1380 blew apart over Pennsylvania on Tuesday, about 20 minutes after the Dallas-bound flight left New York’s LaGuardia Airport with 149 people on board. The engine debris shattered a window on the Boeing 737 plane, killing a passenger - the first death in a US&nbsp;airline accident since 2009. The plane made an emergency landing in Philadelphia.

The Federal Aviation Administration said late on Wednesday it was working to quickly finalise an airworthiness directive within the next two weeks that had been proposed in August 2017 after a similar engine failure in a Southwest plane in 2016, which it said would apply to 220 engines.

National Transportation Safety Board investigators on the scene were expected to wrap up their work in Philadelphia on Saturday, the agency said on Friday.

Southwest said after the incident that it was accelerating its existing engine inspection programme "out of an abundance of caution" and expected to complete it over the next 30 days.

The company has declined to answer questions about the status of those inspections and whether the engine that failed had previously been inspected or whether the inspections have turned up any evidence of defects or metal fatigue.

The FAA order will require ultrasonic inspection within the next six months of the fan blades on all CFM56-7B engines that have accrued a certain number of takeoffs. Others more recently serviced will require inspections within 18 months, the FAA draft order said.&nbsp;

Airlines told the FAA last year that because fan blades may have been repaired and moved to other engines, the order would affect far more than 220 CFM56-7Bs, which are made by a partnership of France’s Safran SA and General Electric Company.

Southwest Airlines Company confirmed Friday it has sent $5,000 checks to passengers aboard a flight that made an emergency landing this week after an engine failed, killing a passenger

Southwest Airlines Company confirmed Friday it has sent $5,000 checks to passengers aboard a flight that made an emergency landing this week after an engine failed, killing a passenger. The airline confirmed news reports from passengers it had sent the checks along with $1,000 travel vouchers. "We can confirm the communication and gesture are authentic and heartfelt," the company said in a brief statement on Friday. The CFM56 jet engine on Southwest flight 1380 blew apart over Pennsylvania on Tuesday, about 20 minutes after the Dallas-bound flight left New York’s LaGuardia Airport with 149 people on board. The engine debris shattered a window on the Boeing 737 plane, killing a passenger - the first death in a US airline accident since 2009. The plane made an emergency landing in Philadelphia. The Federal Aviation Administration said late on Wednesday it was working to quickly finalise an airworthiness directive within the next two weeks that had been proposed in August 2017 after a similar engine failure in a Southwest plane in 2016, which it said would apply to 220 engines. National Transportation Safety Board investigators on the scene were expected to wrap up their work in Philadelphia on Saturday, the agency said on Friday. Southwest said after the incident that it was accelerating its existing engine inspection programme "out of an abundance of caution" and expected to complete it over the next 30 days. The company has declined to answer questions about the status of those inspections and whether the engine that failed had previously been inspected or whether the inspections have turned up any evidence of defects or metal fatigue. The FAA order will require ultrasonic inspection within the next six months of the fan blades on all CFM56-7B engines that have accrued a certain number of takeoffs. Others more recently serviced will require inspections within 18 months, the FAA draft order said. Airlines told the FAA last year that because fan blades may have been repaired and moved to other engines, the order would affect far more than 220 CFM56-7Bs, which are made by a partnership of France’s Safran SA and General Electric Company.

Southwest gives $5,000 to passengers on accident flight

A new twist to the lovey-dovey Valentine&#39;s Day is tending with the confectioners - death-themed confections.

Small businesses are putting out macabre looking chocolates and other bakery items to poke a fun at the Hallmark holiday, according to The Guardian.

It has come to light that a bakery in Pennsylvania, has been selling out black, heart-shaped box of chocolates called &#39;Fatally Yours&#39; for Valentine&#39;s Day.

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Be3SQRdBY6M/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">&ldquo;Put me down, put me out of misery I&#39;m fatally yours...&rdquo; @matttskiba ???????? Nearly sold out, a handful left in stock and that&rsquo;s it.</a>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vegantreats/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Vegan Treats, Inc.</a> (@vegantreats) on <time datetime="2018-02-06T17:38:00+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Feb 6, 2018 at 9:38am PST</time>
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&nbsp;

This year&#39;s chocolate box has been modelled after an Ouija board and features white chocolate skeletal hands, among other creepy looking chocolate treats.

The bakery is named Vegan Treats by Danielle Konya and is one of the biggest sellers for Valentine&#39;s Day confectionaries in the area.

Konya, the founder of Vegan Treats, said, &quot;On a holiday that survived on stuffed bears and roses, it satisfies the black heart in all of us. When I think of a black heart, it&#39;s the adversary to the traditional red heart symbol of love. The black heart is complex . occasionally feels a little dead on the inside and listens to sad songs&quot;.

It has come to light that a bakery in Pennsylvania, has been selling out black, heart-shaped box of chocolates called 'Fatally Yours' for Valentine's Day.

A new twist to the lovey-dovey Valentine's Day is tending with the confectioners - death-themed confections. Small businesses are putting out macabre looking chocolates and other bakery items to poke a fun at the Hallmark holiday, according to The Guardian. It has come to light that a bakery in Pennsylvania, has been selling out black, heart-shaped box of chocolates called 'Fatally Yours' for Valentine's Day. “Put me down, put me out of misery I'm fatally yours...” @matttskiba ???????? Nearly sold out, a handful left in stock and that’s it. A post shared by Vegan Treats, Inc. (@vegantreats) on Feb 6, 2018 at 9:38am PST × This year's chocolate box has been modelled after an Ouija board and features white chocolate skeletal hands, among other creepy looking chocolate treats. The bakery is named Vegan Treats by Danielle Konya and is one of the biggest sellers for Valentine's Day confectionaries in the area. Konya, the founder of Vegan Treats, said, "On a holiday that survived on stuffed bears and roses, it satisfies the black heart in all of us. When I think of a black heart, it's the adversary to the traditional red heart symbol of love. The black heart is complex . occasionally feels a little dead on the inside and listens to sad songs".

New twist to Valentine's Day: Death-themed confections

Five people were killed and one was wounded after a gunman opened fire at a western Pennsylvania car wash early on Sunday, state police said. The attacker was believed to be among the dead.

Shots rang out about 2:40 am at Ed&#39;s Car Wash in Melcroft, about 53 miles (85 km) southeast of Pittsburgh, police said.

The shooting at the coin-operated facility was still under investigation, and the motive was unknown, police said.

Pittsburgh television station WPXI reported the dead as three men and two women, but state police declined to confirm that information.

Five people were killed, including a man believed to be the shooter, and one was wounded, police said.

&ldquo;There is no continued threat to the community,&rdquo; a police spokesman said.

Five people were killed, including a man believed to be the shooter, and one was wounded, police said

Five people were killed and one was wounded after a gunman opened fire at a western Pennsylvania car wash early on Sunday, state police said. The attacker was believed to be among the dead. Shots rang out about 2:40 am at Ed's Car Wash in Melcroft, about 53 miles (85 km) southeast of Pittsburgh, police said. The shooting at the coin-operated facility was still under investigation, and the motive was unknown, police said. Pittsburgh television station WPXI reported the dead as three men and two women, but state police declined to confirm that information. Five people were killed, including a man believed to be the shooter, and one was wounded, police said. “There is no continued threat to the community,” a police spokesman said.

Five shot dead, one wounded at western Pennsylvania car wash

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

About 20 people were injured by a fire at a home for seniors that in the Philadelphia area late on Thursday (November 16), local media reported.

The fire was reported at about 11 p.m. local time at Barclay Friends Senior Living Community in West Chester, Pennsylvania, about 35 miles west of Philadelphia, local ABC affiliate WPVI-TV reported.

About 20 people were hurt and were taken to local hospitals, the station reported. About 140 people live at home, and all appeared to have been evacuated and have been accounted for, spokeswoman Faith Woodward told CBS news.

Dozens of people wrapped in blankets and sitting in wheelchairs waited on the street near the blaze, video from local news showed.

The fire broke out in the Philadelphia area

About 20 people were injured by a fire at a home for seniors that in the Philadelphia area late on Thursday (November 16), local media reported. The fire was reported at about 11 p.m. local time at Barclay Friends Senior Living Community in West Chester, Pennsylvania, about 35 miles west of Philadelphia, local ABC affiliate WPVI-TV reported. About 20 people were hurt and were taken to local hospitals, the station reported. About 140 people live at home, and all appeared to have been evacuated and have been accounted for, spokeswoman Faith Woodward told CBS news. Dozens of people wrapped in blankets and sitting in wheelchairs waited on the street near the blaze, video from local news showed.

US: Fire breaks out in seniors' community, 20 injured

Chile advanced to the Copa America quarter-finals on Tuesday after two goals in the first half from Eduardo Vargas and two in the second from Alexis Sanchez gave them a 4-2 win over Panama, while Argentina took top spot by beating Bolivia 3-0 in Group D. 
 
Defending champions Chile will play Mexico in the next round on Saturday with Argentina facing Venezuela the same day. 
 
&ldquo;This was important for me and for the team,&rdquo; said Chile&#39;s Vargas. &ldquo;It has boosted our confidence for the games to come. 
 
&ldquo;We are Copa America champions but we haven&rsquo;t played as well as we did in the last Copa America and this will give us confidence.&rdquo; 
 
Chile went behind to an early goal but roared back thanks tooutstanding performances from their front pair, who ran the Panamanian defence ragged. 
 
Panama took the lead in the fourth minute after a mistake by Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, who let Miguel Camargo&#39;s shot from almost 30 yards squirm through his hands and into the net. 
 
Chile fought back and were soon 2-1 up. 
 
Artur Vidal and Sanchez worked a one-two in the box after 14 minutes and Sanchez&#39;s shot was only parried by Jaime Penedo and Vargas followed up to smash it home. 
 
Three minutes before half time striker Vargas rose to glance home a header to put Chile ahead. 
 
Sanchez was in captivating form and scored one of the goals of the tournament after 49 minutes. 
 
Vargas was the provider this time, creating space for himself in the box before chipping to Sanchez, who volleyed home in spectacular fashion. 
 
Panama kept fighting and pulled one back after 74 minutes and again Bravo was at fault, failing to stop Abdiel Arroyo&#39;s header from going in at his near post. 
 
Sanchez had the last word, however, when he rose unmarked to head home a cross with two minutes left to make it 4-2. 
 
ONE UP ON OBATISTUTA?&nbsp; 
In Seattle, few were expecting anything other than an Argentine win over already-eliminated Bolivia and most of the attention was focused on whether Lionel Messi would surpass Gabriel Batistuta&#39;s record of 54 goals for his country. Needing one to tie the mark, Messi came on as a second-half substitute with his team already 3-0 up through Erik Lamela, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Victor Cuesta. 
 
The closest Messi came to scoring was from a free kick in the 61st minute but his curled effort sailed just wide. 
 
(Reuters)

Defending champions Chile will play Mexico on Saturday, Argentina will take on Venezuela.

Chile advanced to the Copa America quarter-finals on Tuesday after two goals in the first half from Eduardo Vargas and two in the second from Alexis Sanchez gave them a 4-2 win over Panama, while Argentina took top spot by beating Bolivia 3-0 in Group D. Defending champions Chile will play Mexico in the next round on Saturday with Argentina facing Venezuela the same day. “This was important for me and for the team,” said Chile's Vargas. “It has boosted our confidence for the games to come. “We are Copa America champions but we haven’t played as well as we did in the last Copa America and this will give us confidence.” Chile went behind to an early goal but roared back thanks tooutstanding performances from their front pair, who ran the Panamanian defence ragged. Panama took the lead in the fourth minute after a mistake by Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, who let Miguel Camargo's shot from almost 30 yards squirm through his hands and into the net. Chile fought back and were soon 2-1 up. Artur Vidal and Sanchez worked a one-two in the box after 14 minutes and Sanchez's shot was only parried by Jaime Penedo and Vargas followed up to smash it home. Three minutes before half time striker Vargas rose to glance home a header to put Chile ahead. Sanchez was in captivating form and scored one of the goals of the tournament after 49 minutes. Vargas was the provider this time, creating space for himself in the box before chipping to Sanchez, who volleyed home in spectacular fashion. Panama kept fighting and pulled one back after 74 minutes and again Bravo was at fault, failing to stop Abdiel Arroyo's header from going in at his near post. Sanchez had the last word, however, when he rose unmarked to head home a cross with two minutes left to make it 4-2. ONE UP ON OBATISTUTA? In Seattle, few were expecting anything other than an Argentine win over already-eliminated Bolivia and most of the attention was focused on whether Lionel Messi would surpass Gabriel Batistuta's record of 54 goals for his country. Needing one to tie the mark, Messi came on as a second-half substitute with his team already 3-0 up through Erik Lamela, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Victor Cuesta. The closest Messi came to scoring was from a free kick in the 61st minute but his curled effort sailed just wide. (Reuters)

Argentina wins group, goes to the Copa quarters along with Chile

As part of an effort to protect and restore American jobs, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Tuesday vowed to force Canada and Mexico to re-negotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) pact with the United States (US), if elected.&nbsp; 
 
Criticising the free trade agreement as a &lsquo;US job killer&rsquo;, Trump said he would be willing to scrap the pact if Canada and Mexico were unwilling to budge. He also tried to link Democratic rival Hillary Clinton to the deal on the eve of a meeting in Ottawa of the &quot;three amigos,&quot; the leaders of the three NAFTA signatories: the United States, Mexico and Canada. 
 
Trump trying to cash in on voter anxiety?&nbsp; 
 
In his most detailed speech on trade, the presumptive Republican nominee said he would pull the United States out of negotiations for a deal among 12 Pacific Rim nations and promised to use executive power to resolve trade disputes with China. 
 
Trump also pledged to revive the US steel and aluminium industry, speaking at an aluminium scrap company in Monessen, Pennsylvania, nearly 30 miles (50 km) south of Pittsburgh, the one-time American steelmaking capital. 
 
Trump has identified Pennsylvania as a state he believes he can wrest from the Democrats in the November 8 election. He also campaigned on Tuesday in Ohio which like Pennsylvania is a Rust Belt state. 
 
Democratic President Barack Obama won both states in 2008 and 2012, but manufacturing job losses have led to voter anxiety in the region. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m going to tell our NAFTA partners that I intend to immediately re-negotiate the terms of that agreement to get a better deal for our workers. And I don&#39;t mean just a little bit better, I mean a lot better,&quot; Trump said in Pennsylvania. 
 
If Canada and Mexico do not agree to re-negotiate the pact, Trump said he would notify them under the agreement&#39;s terms &quot;that America intends to withdraw from the deal.&quot; 
 
He tried to tie his Democratic rival to the pact, approved in 1993 during the administration of her husband, President Bill Clinton, as he called NAFTA one of the &quot;worst legacies&quot; of the Clinton years. 
 
On MSNBC after Trump&#39;s speech, Clinton spokeswoman Kristina Schake called the wealthy New York businessman the &quot;king of outsourcing&quot;, in an apparent reference to Trump-branded products such as suits and ties made overseas. 
 
&quot;It was full of hypocrisy and misstatements and outright lies,&quot; Schake said. 
 
Trade has been a vulnerability for Clinton, who struggled for white, blue-collar votes in her Democratic primary race against US Senator Bernie Sanders, who criticised her for supporting trade deals and said she was too close to Wall Street. 
 
Trump dubs Trans-Pacific Partnership as &ldquo;death-blow&rdquo; for American manufacturing&nbsp; 
 
Echoing Sanders&#39; criticism on Tuesday, Trump stressed Clinton supported the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, while she was secretary of state and only opposed it once she was running for president. Clinton&#39;s campaign, however, said she opposed the agreement because it was not strong enough on currency manipulation and other areas. 
 
It may also be pertinent to note Clinton has said she will evaluate each trade deal on its merits, but does not believe the TPP is good for US workers. Sanders now says he will vote for Clinton in November even though he has not formally withdrawn from the race. 
 
Trump, however, commented he saw no way to fix the TPP, calling it a &quot;death blow&quot; for American manufacturing. Although China is not part of the agreement, Trump said Beijing might try to enter it &quot;through the back door&quot; later on.&nbsp;Later, during a rally in St. Clairsville, Ohio, Trump said the deal was &quot;just a continuing rape of our country.&quot; 
 
Just hours before Trump spoke, Clinton allies sought to pre-empt the planned trade speech by saying Trump&#39;s policies amounted to empty promises. 
 
Earlier, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka told a trade conference in Washington that &quot;Trump embodies everything that is wrong with our current trade policy. He has consistently sent American jobs overseas to line his own pockets.&quot; 
 
The AFL-CIO, which collectively represents more than 12 million workers, making it the largest U.S. labour federation, endorsed Clinton this month. 
 
Brexit vote could reverberate in US elections&nbsp; 
 
Both Clinton and Trump have acknowledged that Britain&#39;s vote to leave the European Union signalled a global economic frustration among working-class voters that could reverberate in the US election. 
 
&quot;There is a lot of legitimate anxiety, fear and even anger in many parts of our country because people feel like the economy has failed them,&quot; Clinton said in Denver on Tuesday. &quot;I think this is going to be one of the defining issues in this election.&quot; 
 
Trump has seized on the historic Brexit vote to bolster his argument that voters are rising up against establishment leaders, saying Americans would reject the &quot;global elite&quot; and support his presidential candidacy. 
 
But Trump has broken with Republican Party orthodoxy in criticising trade deals and has threatened to slap tariffs on Mexican and Chinese imports. His rhetoric has drawn criticism from many economists who say such practices could spark trade wars. 
 
As Trump spoke, the United States Chamber of Commerce, which is usually in sync with prominent Republicans on trade policy, said on Twitter: &quot;Under Trump&#39;s trade plans, we would see higher prices, fewer jobs, and a weaker economy.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

Under Trump's trade plans, we will see higher prices, fewer jobs, and a weaker economy: US Chamber of Commerce

As part of an effort to protect and restore American jobs, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Tuesday vowed to force Canada and Mexico to re-negotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) pact with the United States (US), if elected. Criticising the free trade agreement as a ‘US job killer’, Trump said he would be willing to scrap the pact if Canada and Mexico were unwilling to budge. He also tried to link Democratic rival Hillary Clinton to the deal on the eve of a meeting in Ottawa of the "three amigos," the leaders of the three NAFTA signatories: the United States, Mexico and Canada. Trump trying to cash in on voter anxiety? In his most detailed speech on trade, the presumptive Republican nominee said he would pull the United States out of negotiations for a deal among 12 Pacific Rim nations and promised to use executive power to resolve trade disputes with China. Trump also pledged to revive the US steel and aluminium industry, speaking at an aluminium scrap company in Monessen, Pennsylvania, nearly 30 miles (50 km) south of Pittsburgh, the one-time American steelmaking capital. Trump has identified Pennsylvania as a state he believes he can wrest from the Democrats in the November 8 election. He also campaigned on Tuesday in Ohio which like Pennsylvania is a Rust Belt state. Democratic President Barack Obama won both states in 2008 and 2012, but manufacturing job losses have led to voter anxiety in the region. "I'm going to tell our NAFTA partners that I intend to immediately re-negotiate the terms of that agreement to get a better deal for our workers. And I don't mean just a little bit better, I mean a lot better," Trump said in Pennsylvania. If Canada and Mexico do not agree to re-negotiate the pact, Trump said he would notify them under the agreement's terms "that America intends to withdraw from the deal." He tried to tie his Democratic rival to the pact, approved in 1993 during the administration of her husband, President Bill Clinton, as he called NAFTA one of the "worst legacies" of the Clinton years. On MSNBC after Trump's speech, Clinton spokeswoman Kristina Schake called the wealthy New York businessman the "king of outsourcing", in an apparent reference to Trump-branded products such as suits and ties made overseas. "It was full of hypocrisy and misstatements and outright lies," Schake said. Trade has been a vulnerability for Clinton, who struggled for white, blue-collar votes in her Democratic primary race against US Senator Bernie Sanders, who criticised her for supporting trade deals and said she was too close to Wall Street. Trump dubs Trans-Pacific Partnership as “death-blow” for American manufacturing Echoing Sanders' criticism on Tuesday, Trump stressed Clinton supported the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, while she was secretary of state and only opposed it once she was running for president. Clinton's campaign, however, said she opposed the agreement because it was not strong enough on currency manipulation and other areas. It may also be pertinent to note Clinton has said she will evaluate each trade deal on its merits, but does not believe the TPP is good for US workers. Sanders now says he will vote for Clinton in November even though he has not formally withdrawn from the race. Trump, however, commented he saw no way to fix the TPP, calling it a "death blow" for American manufacturing. Although China is not part of the agreement, Trump said Beijing might try to enter it "through the back door" later on. Later, during a rally in St. Clairsville, Ohio, Trump said the deal was "just a continuing rape of our country." Just hours before Trump spoke, Clinton allies sought to pre-empt the planned trade speech by saying Trump's policies amounted to empty promises. Earlier, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka told a trade conference in Washington that "Trump embodies everything that is wrong with our current trade policy. He has consistently sent American jobs overseas to line his own pockets." The AFL-CIO, which collectively represents more than 12 million workers, making it the largest U.S. labour federation, endorsed Clinton this month. Brexit vote could reverberate in US elections Both Clinton and Trump have acknowledged that Britain's vote to leave the European Union signalled a global economic frustration among working-class voters that could reverberate in the US election. "There is a lot of legitimate anxiety, fear and even anger in many parts of our country because people feel like the economy has failed them," Clinton said in Denver on Tuesday. "I think this is going to be one of the defining issues in this election." Trump has seized on the historic Brexit vote to bolster his argument that voters are rising up against establishment leaders, saying Americans would reject the "global elite" and support his presidential candidacy. But Trump has broken with Republican Party orthodoxy in criticising trade deals and has threatened to slap tariffs on Mexican and Chinese imports. His rhetoric has drawn criticism from many economists who say such practices could spark trade wars. As Trump spoke, the United States Chamber of Commerce, which is usually in sync with prominent Republicans on trade policy, said on Twitter: "Under Trump's trade plans, we would see higher prices, fewer jobs, and a weaker economy." (Reuters)

Trump labels NAFTA 'worst legacy of Clinton years?, vows re-negotiation

A solar-powered airplane finished crossing the United States on Saturday, landing in New York City after flying over the Statue of Liberty during its historic bid to circle the globe, the project team said. 
 
The spindly, single-seat experimental aircraft, dubbed Solar Impulse 2, arrived at New York&#39;s John F. Kennedy International Airport at about 4 a.m. local time after it took off about five hours beforehand at Lehigh Valley International Airport in Pennsylvania, the team reported on the airplane&#39;s website. 
 
&quot;Such a pleasure to land in #NYC! For the 14th time we celebrate sustainability,&quot; said the project&#39;s co-founder Andre Borschberg on Twitter after flying over the city and the Statue of Liberty during the 14th leg of the trip around the globe. 
 
The Swiss team flying the aircraft in a campaign to build support for clean energy technologies hopes eventually to complete its circumnavigation in Abu Dhabi, where the journey began in March 2015. 
 
The solar craft&#39;s cruising speed, akin to that of a car, required pilots to take up meditation and hypnosis in training to stay alert for long periods. 
 
Borschberg alternates with fellow pilot Bertrand Piccard at the controls for each segment of what they hope will be the first round-the-world solar-powered flight. 
 
On April 24, Piccard landed in San Francisco, completing a trans-Pacific crossing after a nearly three-day trip that began in Hawaii. The flight took more than three times the 18 hours Amelia Earhart took to fly solo from Hawaii to California in the 1930s. 
 
The propeller-driven Solar Impulse flies without a drop of fuel and its four engines are powered solely by energy collected from more than 17,000 solar cells built into its wings. 
 
Surplus power is stored in four batteries during the day, to keep the plane aloft on extreme long-distance flights. 
 
The carbon-fiber plane, with a wingspan exceeding that of a Boeing 747 and the weight of a family car, is unlikely to set speed or altitude records. It can climb to 28,000 feet (8,500 m), and cruise at 34 to 62 mph (55 to 100 kph). 
 
In a precursor of their globe-circling quest, the two men completed a multi-flight crossing of the United States with an earlier version of the solar plane in 2013.

The plane collects energy from more than 17,000 solar cells built into its wings. It can climb to 28,000 feet and cruise at 34 to 62 mph

A solar-powered airplane finished crossing the United States on Saturday, landing in New York City after flying over the Statue of Liberty during its historic bid to circle the globe, the project team said. The spindly, single-seat experimental aircraft, dubbed Solar Impulse 2, arrived at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport at about 4 a.m. local time after it took off about five hours beforehand at Lehigh Valley International Airport in Pennsylvania, the team reported on the airplane's website. "Such a pleasure to land in #NYC! For the 14th time we celebrate sustainability," said the project's co-founder Andre Borschberg on Twitter after flying over the city and the Statue of Liberty during the 14th leg of the trip around the globe. The Swiss team flying the aircraft in a campaign to build support for clean energy technologies hopes eventually to complete its circumnavigation in Abu Dhabi, where the journey began in March 2015. The solar craft's cruising speed, akin to that of a car, required pilots to take up meditation and hypnosis in training to stay alert for long periods. Borschberg alternates with fellow pilot Bertrand Piccard at the controls for each segment of what they hope will be the first round-the-world solar-powered flight. On April 24, Piccard landed in San Francisco, completing a trans-Pacific crossing after a nearly three-day trip that began in Hawaii. The flight took more than three times the 18 hours Amelia Earhart took to fly solo from Hawaii to California in the 1930s. The propeller-driven Solar Impulse flies without a drop of fuel and its four engines are powered solely by energy collected from more than 17,000 solar cells built into its wings. Surplus power is stored in four batteries during the day, to keep the plane aloft on extreme long-distance flights. The carbon-fiber plane, with a wingspan exceeding that of a Boeing 747 and the weight of a family car, is unlikely to set speed or altitude records. It can climb to 28,000 feet (8,500 m), and cruise at 34 to 62 mph (55 to 100 kph). In a precursor of their globe-circling quest, the two men completed a multi-flight crossing of the United States with an earlier version of the solar plane in 2013.

Solar plane lands in New York City during bid to circle the globe

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