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(CNN) Like all of President Donald Trump's enemies, Kim Jong Un now has a catchy nickname -- "Rocket Man." Trump will always be Trump, no matter international protocol or the gravity of a national security crisis. Yet mocking Kim, as Trump did on Sunday in a tweet, cannot disguise a sobering reality that the North Korean dictator is winning his race to twin a nuclear bomb and a long-range missile that could hit US soil. Meanwhile, White House aides who have said that diplomacy is the preferred US option are talking tough -- escalating their rhetoric as Trump debuts at the United Nations General Assembly. "If North Korea keeps on with this reckless behavior, if the United States has to defend itself or defend its allies in any way, North Korea will be destroyed," US envoy to the UN Nikki Haley said on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday. Despite using an Elton John hit to demean Kim, Trump, who critics say has worsened the crisis wi...

Dominica has suffered "widespread damage" from Hurricane Maria, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says. "We have lost all that money can buy," he said in a Facebook post. The hurricane strengthened to a "potentially catastrophic" category five storm before making landfall on the Caribbean island. Earlier Mr Skerrit had posted live updates as his own roof was torn off, saying he was "at the complete mercy of the hurricane". "My greatest fear for the morning is that we will wake to news of serious physical injury and possible deaths as a result of likely landslides triggered by persistent rains," he wrote after being rescued. Latest updates on Hurricane Maria PM's Facebook posts detail storm drama Maria is moving roughly along the same track as Irma, the hurricane that devastated the region this month. It currently has maximum sustained winds of 250km/h (155mph) and has been downgraded to a category four hurricane, b...

Trump chafes at Kelly constraints but looks forward to results (CNN) Touring his recently purchased Plaza Hotel in the late 1980s, Donald Trump noticed an armoire that offended him. Fuming, Trump accused his staff of making him look bad. In an expletive-laced explosion, he ripped the door off the subpar piece of furniture, a former senior Trump Organization employee recounted to CNN on Friday. Thirty years later, the antique armoires at the White House remain intact. But Trump's temper -- honed over years as a public and political persona -- hasn't waned. Attorney General Jeff Sessions bore the brunt of Trump's most recently disclosed upbraiding. The New York Times reported this week that Trump, in front of multiple people, called his long-time supporter an "idiot." In the West Wing, Trump can be a temperamental commander-in-chief, prone to bursts of anger that dissipate as quickly as they came on. The rage is an extension of what many say ...

St Louis police killing: Fresh protest breaks out in city Hundreds have marched in the Missouri city for a second day, chanting "Black lives matter!" More than 33 protesters were arrested and 11 police officers were injured in Friday night's scuffles. The defendant, Jason Stockley, 36, was cleared of murdering Anthony Lamar Smith, 24, after a car chase. Mr Stockley, a serving police officer at the time, was recorded during the pursuit saying: "Gonna kill this [expletive], don't you know it." On Saturday evening, police were out in force as demonstrators rallied in St Louis. Crowds marched through a shopping centre in the Des Peres suburb, blocking one major road. So far there have been no reports of violence. Friday's disturbances began in the afternoon as protesters took to the streets after the court verdict. The home of St Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson suffered considerable damage, police say, as protesters ignored orders to disperse. By...

Paris climate deal: US denies it will stay in accord The US has insisted it will leave the Paris climate accord, despite reports that it may be softening its stance. Officials who met a White House representative on Saturday said afterwards the US would either stay in the 2015 accord or change its approach. The White House said "there has been no change" in the US position "unless we can re-enter on terms that are more favourable to our country". President Donald Trump said in June he wanted a new "fair" deal for the US. He added it was important a new deal would not disadvantage US businesses, but opponents say withdrawing from the accord is an abdication of US leadership on a key global challenge. The Paris agreement commits the US and 187 other countries to keeping rising global temperatures "well below" 2C above pre-industrial levels and "endeavour to limit" them even more, to 1.5C. Only Syria and Nicaragua ...

Parsons Green: Police hunt bomber behind Tube attack A manhunt is under way to find the person behind Friday's rush hour Tube bombing in south-west London. Police said they were "chasing down suspects" and had hundreds of officers trawling through CCTV following the District Line attack, which injured 29. The UK terror threat has been raised to critical - the highest level - meaning an attack may be imminent. The Islamic State group has said it was behind the bomb, which was detonated at 08:20 BST at Parsons Green station. Latest updates: Incident at Parsons Green What do we know about the bomb? Witnesses describe what happened The station reopened in the early hours of Saturday. The Metropolitan Police's Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said it was "very routine" for IS to claim the attack "whether or not they've had any previous engagement with the individuals involved". He asked the public to remain "vigilant...

St Louis officer cleared in shooting of Anthony Lamar Smith A white former Missouri policeman has been found not guilty of murdering a black man by shooting him five times after a car chase. A judge acquitted Jason Stockley of first-degree murder over the 2011 shooting of 24-year-old Anthony Lamar Smith in the city of St Louis. Mr Stockley, 36, was recorded during the pursuit saying: "Gonna kill this [expletive], don't you know it." There were scuffles as protesters took to the streets after the verdict. St Louis police later said 13 people were arrested, and four officers were injured during the protests. Demonstrators were pepper sprayed after officers said they were attacked with rocks and water bottles. Missouri Governor Eric Greitens said earlier this week the state's National Guard had been activated to safeguard city residents and property. The Republican said the step was "a necessary precaution". Mr Smith was a new father and...

Trump revives criticism of 'both sides' in Charlottesville Sourch :theguardian Donald Trump on Thursday reverted to his controversial “both sides” rhetoric about white supremacist violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, that led to the death of a woman last month. 'No Fascist USA!': how hardcore punk fuels the Antifa movement  Read more A spokesperson for Tim Scott, the African American Republican senator from South Carolina who met Trump at the White House on Wednesday to discuss America’s racist past and present, said in response: “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” In August, far-right groups protesting the removal of statues of Confederate leaders from the University of Virginia campus were opposed by counter-protesters. Trump faced bipartisan criticism when he first condemned violence – in which the 32-year-old civil rights activist Heather Heyer was killed – “on many sides”. Two days later, Trump gave a statement in which he said: “Racism is evil...

North Korea launches missile over Japan (CNN)In a major show of defiance to the international community, North Korea fired a ballistic missile over the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido Friday. The launch is the second to fly over Japan in less than a month, and the first since North Korea's sixth nuclear test and new United Nations sanctions on the country. North Korean state media has yet to reference the launch, but a commentary published in the Rodong Sinmun newspaper Friday said "no matter how strong the pressure is, it doesn't work on us." Tokyo and Washington will be seeking to up that pressure at the United Nations Friday, with the two governments calling a snap meeting of the Security Council for Friday afternoon, ahead of the General Assembly next week. Sirens sound in Japan after second missile threat Sirens sound in Japan after second missile threat 00:56 Speaking after the launch, the first since North Korea's sixth nuclear test,...