Tropical storm Ian has strengthened into a hurricane set to unleash significant winds, flash floods and mudslides in Florida, Cuba and Jamaica, weather experts have warned.
The weather system is about 90 miles (150km) southwest of the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean Sea, according to the latest advisory issued by the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) on Monday.
Authorities in Cuba’s Pinar del Rio province, about two hours southwest of capital Havana, are preparing to evacuate people before the storm is expected to hit the western part of the island en route to Florida.
A hurricane warning is in place in Grand Cayman, the largest of the Cayman Islands, together with Pinar del Rio and other Cuban provinces including Isla de Juventud and Artemisa.
The NHC tweeted on Monday morning: “Life-threatening storm surge and hurricane-force winds are expected in portions of western Cuba beginning late today, and Ian is forecast to be at major hurricane strength when it is near western Cuba.
“Efforts to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.”
Florida governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency amid mounting concerns over the impact of the hurricane, with residents urged to monitor the storm’s evolving path and prepare for heavy rainfall, high winds and rising tides, leading to widespread disruption including power outages.
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Weather models predict the hurricane will travel in the direction of Florida’s west coast or Panhandle region – but forecasters are currently unsure where it will make landfall.
Governor DeSantis told a news conference on Sunday: “We’re going to keep monitoring the track of this storm.
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“But it really is important to stress the degree of uncertainty that still exists,” he warned.
Image: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warned the storm would have ‘broad impacts through the state’. Pic: Tallahassee Democrat / AP
“Even if you’re not necessarily right in the eye of the path of the storm, there’s going to be pretty broad impacts through the state.”
US President Joe Biden has also declared an emergency, as authorities begin co-ordinating disaster relief and providing assistance to protect lives and property.
Mr Biden also delayed a planned trip to Florida on Tuesday due to the storm.
Senior hurricane specialist at the NHC, John Cangialosi, urged people to begin gathering supplies – amid reports of a rush on water and generators.
Image: Residents in Tampa, Florida, queue for two hours to fill sandbags on Sunday. Pic: Tampa Bay Times via AP
Image: Empty shelves stripped of water at a supermarket in Tampa, Florida. Pic: Tampa Bay Times / AP
“It’s a hard thing to say stay tuned, but that’s the right message right now,” he said.
“But for those in Florida, it’s still time to prepare.
“I’m not telling you to put up your shutters yet or do anything like that, but it’s still time to get your supplies.”
The approaching storm also delayed another planned attempt on Tuesday to launch NASA’s Artemis moon mission from Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
Dr Reinhard Schiemann, associate professor at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science at the University of Reading, warned of the impact climate change could have on tropical cyclones including Ian.
“Although the total number of tropical cyclones may not change much, or could even decrease, we expect to see increased peak wind speeds so that the fraction of category 4 and 5 cyclones – the worst and potentially most destructive – will increase.
“It is likely that the average rate of rainfall in tropical cyclones will also increase, because warmer air can hold more water and because at higher wind speeds the rate of moisture supply to a rainy area increases.
“We also expect that the most intense phase of tropical cyclones will tend to occur at higher latitudes than we have seen in the past.”
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A charging document from prosecutors has revealed new details about Charlie Kirk’s suspected shooter, including incriminating messages he allegedly sent to his roommate.
The details came after Tyler Robinson, 22, appeared in court via video link from prison, having been charged with aggravated murder, weapon, and obstruction of justice offences.
He was arrested following a two-day manhunt after right-wing influencer Kirk, 31, was killed at one of his rallies at Utah Valley University (UVU) last Wednesday.
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Kirk murder suspect appears in court
Here are some of the key details included in Robinson’s charging document:
What was in the texts between Robinson and his roommate?
Investigators and prosecutors, including the Utah’s Republican governor, Spencer James Cox, have said Robinson was in a relationship with his roommate, a biological male in the process of transitioning.
The document reveals some of the exchanges between the pair, which prosecutors say were provided to the police by the roommate, despite Robinson allegedly demanding that they deleted them.
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What we know about the case against Tyler Robinson
On the day of the shooting, Robinson allegedly sent the roommate a text which read: “Drop what you are doing, look under my keyboard.”
Prosecutors say the roommate looked under his keyboard and found a note that stated: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”
Robinson added he was hoping to be home soon and apologised for “involving” the roommate, adding he had “hoped to keep this secret till [sic] I died of old age”.
When his roommate asked if he was the “one who did it”, Robinson allegedly replied: “I am, I’m sorry.”
Robinson is said to have written in another text: “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”
He supposedly wrote that he had planned the shooting for “a bit over a week” and later instructed the roommate to “delete this exchange”.
Children present while bullet ‘passed closely’ by questioner
The shooting happened during Kirk’s “prove me wrong” series, which saw the father of two visit campuses and debate contentious subjects; in this case, he was discussing mass shootings.
The prosecutors say the bullet which struck Kirk’s neck “passed closely to several other individuals”, including the person questioning him as part of the event.
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How Tyler Robinson turned himself in
One of the seven counts against Robinson is for “violent offence committed in the presence of a child”, as prosecutors say there were children near the stage when Kirk was shot. The charge states that there was a child younger than 14 years old present.
Campus police officer started investigating immediately after shooting
The document details how one UVU police officer quickly uncovered the position where Kirk is believed to have taken the shot from.
It says the officer was watching the crowd from an elevated vantage point when the shot was fired, and that he began to scan the area for threats as soon as he heard it go off.
The officer assumed the shot came from a rifle based on its sound, and started looking for sniper positions.
Image: A drone view shows the reported location of the shooter on the rooftop. Pic: Reuters
He noted the roof area where the shot could have been taken from. He rushed there and confirmed a clear shooting corridor between the position and Kirk’s seat.
“He also noticed markings in the gravel rooftop consistent with a sniper having lain on the roof – impressions in the gravel potentially left by the elbows, knees, and feet of a person in a prone shooting position,” the document states.
Image: A drone view shows the scene where Kirk was shot. Pic: Reuters
Prosecutors say the discovery led the authorities to review footage covering the roof, which later helped them identify the suspect.
Targets with bullet holes found at suspect’s home
Police said they found several targets with bullet holes when they searched Robinson’s home, along with a shell casing with etchings in it.
Giant projections of Donald Trump alongside paedophile Jeffrey Epstein have been beamed on to Windsor Castle by protesters as the US president arrived in the UK for his second state visit.
Mr Trump has faced mounting questions about his relationship with the disgraced late billionaire after messages allegedly sent to him by the US president were published by Congress earlier this month.
Image: The US president’s mugshot was projected on the castle too
The apparent notes – which Mr Trump denies having written – appeared in a 2003 “birthday book” for Epstein.
Four people were arrested on “suspicion of malicious communications” after the images of Mr Trump and Epstein appeared on the landmark, Thames Valley Police said.
Two men were also arrested for breaching airspace restrictions in place for Mr Trump’s visit.
Image: Donald Trump, Melania Trump and Jeffrey Epstein
Image: Pic: Reuters
The president is being feted with a stay in Windsor Castle, where he will be hosted by the King and treated to a ceremonial welcome on Wednesday and later, a lavish state banquet.
The Prince and Princess of Wales will meet the president and first lady Melania Trump in the grounds of the Windsor estate, where he will spend the day, before heading to the prime minister’s country residence Chequers on Thursday.
It is hoped the Queen – who pulled out of attending the Duchess of Kent’s funeral on Tuesday after suffering from acute sinusitis – will recover in time to attend the busy run of royal events.
There are no public-facing engagements for the president throughout his 48-hour state visit, with thousands of people expected to take part in a major protest against his stay in central London today.
The Metropolitan Police said it is preparing for “a significant operation” with as many as 50 protest groups expected to take part.
More than 1,600 officers will be deployed, including 500 assisting from other forces.
What will happen today?
The Prince and Princess of Wales will greet the president and his wife in the grounds of the Windsor estate in the morning, before accompanying them to meet the King and Queen for an open-air greeting.
Mr and Mrs Trump, the King, Camilla, William, and Kate will then take part in a carriage procession through the estate to the castle, with the carriage ride joined by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, which will provide a Sovereign’s Escort, as well as members of the armed forces and three military bands.
A ceremonial welcome with a guard of honour will be staged in the quadrangle of the castle, as is customary, followed by lunch with the royal family and a visit to see a Royal Collection exhibition within the castle.
The president and his wife will then visit St George’s Chapel privately on Wednesday afternoon to lay a wreath on the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II, whom they both met on their first state visit.
They will then be treated to a flypast by the Red Arrows alongside UK and US F-35 military jets on the east lawn at Windsor Castle, as well as a special Beating Retreat military ceremony.
They will then be treated to a flypast by the Red Arrows alongside UK and US F-35 military jets on the east lawn at Windsor Castle, as well as a special Beating Retreat military ceremony.
The traditional grand state banquet is set to follow in the castle’s St George’s Hall in the evening, with both Mr Trump and the King to give speeches as the event gets under way.
A small group of protesters from the Stop Trump Coalition were in Windsor on Tuesday night.
Two protesters from the activist group Fossil Free London were escorted out of a dinner organised by Republicans Overseas UK at Windsor Guildhall in the Berkshire town.
They chanted “how many will you kill if you drill baby drill” and unfurled a banner that said: “Oily Money Kills” at the event.
Image: Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump disembark Air Force One. Pic: Reuters
Speaking to reporters mid-flight, Mr Trump said: “My relationship is very good with the UK, and Charles, as you know, who’s now King, is my friend.
“It’s the first time this has ever happened where somebody was honoured twice. So, it’s a great honour.”
He told the journalists “everybody is looking forward to it. You’re going to have the best pictures”.
Tyler Robinson has been charged with the murder of right-wing US influencer Charlie Kirk.
The 22-year-old, from Washington, Utah, was charged with aggravated murder, weapon, and obstruction of justice offences ahead of a court appearance later on Tuesday.
Prosecutors said they would seek the death penalty and that Robinson’s DNA was found on the trigger of the alleged murder weapon.
A note was also found under his keyboard which said: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it,” according to a charging document from prosecutors.
It is also alleged that the suspect ordered his roommate to delete “incriminating texts” about the killing and to stay silent if questioned by police.
When his roommate texted to ask if he was the “one who did it”, Robinson replied: “I am, I’m sorry,” prosecutors allege.
Robinson is said to have written in another text: “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”
He also allegedly wrote he had been planning the shooting for just over a week.
The political activist, a close ally of US President Donald Trump, died after being shot in the neck with a bullet.
County attorney Jeff Gray said “aggravating factors” in the killing included that the “defendant is believed to have targeted Charlie Kirk based on his political expression and did so knowing children were present and would witness the homicide”.
The obstruction of justice charges relate to allegations that Robinson disposed of the weapon used in the killing, along with clothing he is said to have worn at the time.
Robinson has been held without bail since his arrest.
Investigators have spoken to Robinson’s relatives and have carried out a search at his family home, 240 miles (385km) southwest of where the shooting took place.
Image: Charlie Kirk moments before he was shot. Pic: Reuters/Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune
Mr Gray said Robinson had accused Kirk of “spreading hate” during a conversation with his father. He also allegedly described the university as a “stupid venue” for the influencer to hold an event.
After the shooting, the county attorney said the suspect confessed to his parents after they confronted him, telling them he shot Kirk because “there is too much evil in the guy”.
Robinson’s mother told police that her son had become more political and had “started to lean more to the left” in the past year or so, Mr Gray said.
He added that the 22-year-old had become more “pro-gay and trans-rights oriented”, according to his parents.
His mother said he had started to date his roommate, who was “transitioning genders”, prompting “discussions” with his father who had very different political views.
Robinson allegedly wrote in another message to his roommate that “since Trump got into office [my father] has been pretty diehard Maga”.