Former media mogul Conrad Black may remain free on bond pending sentencing on last week’s conviction of fraud and obstruction of justice, a federal judge ruled today.

Rain from Tropical Storm Ernesto swept across parts of the vulnerable Florida Keys today as residents hurried to fill petrol tanks, gather emergency supplies and board up windows before the main body of the storm strikes.

Newly formed Tropical Storm Gamma threatened the coasts of Belize and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula today after its rains killed two people and forced evacuations across much of Central America.

Hurricane Wilma crashed ashore early today as a strong Category 3 storm, battering south-west Florida with 125 mph winds and pounding waves as it began a dash across the state.

Rain pounded Key West early today as Hurricane Wilma accelerated towards storm-weary Florida, threatening residents with 115mph winds, tornadoes and a surge of seawater that could flood the Keys and the state’s south-west coast.

Residents evacuated, owners boarded up homes and businesses and emergency officials prepared rescue and relief plans as forecasters predicted Hurricane Wilma would pick up speed on a course toward Florida.

Mexico’s popular Cancun resort area has taken a battering from Hurricane Wilma as tourists huddled in hotels and shelters amid howling winds and shattering glass.

Hurricane Wilma pounded the Mexico coast today as terrified tourists sought shelter from its furious winds and rain.

Thousands began fleeing Florida once again today as Hurricane Wilma hurtled towards the US coast.

Hurricane Wilma weakened slightly as it roared toward Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula and southern Florida today, leaving at least 12 people dead in its wake and forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands in coastal areas from Honduras to the Florida Keys.

OIL steadied above $63 (€52.63) a barrel yesterday as Hurricane Wilma seemed to set its course away from vulnerable rigs and refineries in the Gulf of Mexico.

Hurricane Wilma has rapidly strengthened into a Category 5 storm, posing a significant threat to the Caribbean and Florida coastline.

Thousands of residents fled the Florida Keys as Tropical Storm Rita barrelled toward land, poised to grow into a hurricane with a potential nine-foot storm surge and sparking fears it could eventually ravage the Gulf Coast.

Officials today ordered residents to evacuate from the lower Florida Keys as a strengthening Tropical Storm Rita headed toward the island chain, threatening to grow into a hurricane with a potential eight-foot storm surge.

Officials ordered residents evacuated from the lower Florida Keys today as Tropical Storm Rita churned toward the exposed island chain, bringing with it a potential 8-foot storm surge.

Nekesa Mumbi Moody, Miami

Rock was resplendent at the MTV Video Music Awards today, as the veteran punk group Green Day took home seven moonmen and newcomers The Killers and Fall Out Boy won one each.

FIVE people were killed, a family of five was missing at sea and more than a million homes and businesses lost power after Hurricane Katrina crashed ashore in southern Florida early yesterday.

TROPICAL storm Katrina strengthened into a hurricane yesterday and deluged Florida’s densely populated south-east coast with rain, heightening fears of flooding.

Cuban Parliament Speaker Ricardo Alarcon has called on the US government to release five Cuban men serving long prison terms on espionage conspiracy charges after a US federal appeals court threw out their convictions and sentences.

The first rain from Hurricane Dennis started falling on the Florida Keys today as the storm barrelled towards the Gulf of Mexico, and forecasters warned that it might score a direct hit on the island chain.

Ten-foot waves crashed ashore in Jamaica and hundreds of islanders fled flooded homes for shelters today as Hurricane Dennis lashed Caribbean coastlines with winds whipped up to 110 mph.

Heavy rain drenched parts of Florida early today and heavy surf pounded beaches as Tropical Storm Arlene plodded toward the south-eastern US, chasing a few weather-weary residents into shelters.

BROWARD COUNTY in Southern Florida can’t be explained like any other place in America, even the vast sprawls of suburbia that you get only in America.

WEAKENED but persistent, Tropical Storm Frances swept into north-western Florida yesterday as its successor, Hurricane Ivan, gathered in the Caribbean, threatening Barbados and St Lucia.

Weakened but persistent, Tropical Storm Frances took aim at north-western Florida today as its successor – Hurricane Ivan -gathered in the Caribbean, threatening Barbados and St Lucia.

Police closed a 20 mile stretch of road in southern Florida after detaining three men suspected of terrorist activity.

American authorities today revealed they have arrested and deported dozens of young Israelis they suspect were part of a giant spy ring.

Hurricane Michelle gathered strength for a strike on Cuba as it crept across the western Caribbean today on a course that could also take it to Florida or the Bahamas.

A man was today in custody after raising fears of bio-terrorism when he sprayed a mystery substance into the air on a subway just outside the US capital, Washington DC.

A US Navy fighter jet has been reported missing in southern Florida.