Plane crashes into building in Austin, Texas

A small airplane crashed into a building in Austin, Texas, Thursday morning, according to Lynn Lundsford of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Firefighters used two ladder trucks and other equipment to hose down the blaze at the building, which police said was located in the 9400 block of Research Boulevard.

Cynthia Reed, who works in the building next to the one hit, told , she saw people who apparently were trapped.

"They were hanging out the windows, screaming for help," she said.

Officials said they did not know the cause for the crash.

"At this time we have no reason to believe there is a nexus to criminal or terrorist activity," said Matt Chandler, spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security. "We are in the process of coordinating with state officials and other federal partners to gather more information and at this time we will defer additional questions to local officials and the FAA."

Seven-year-old Rio carnival queen bursts into tears

A seven-year-old has broken down crying as she took the controversial lead of a Rio de Janeiro carnival parade.

Julia Lira became the youngest drum corps queen in memory, but her role has sparked much debate in Brazil.

A judge had earlier over-ruled objections from a child rights agency that said it was inappropriate given the carnival's sexual focus.

Tourism officials have estimated about 730,000 visitors have arrived in Rio for the party.

Julia led the Viradouro samba parade into the packed Sambadrome stadium wearing a sequined halter top and miniskirt made of purple feathers.

Her father, Marco, who is Viradouro's president, took her by the hand and presented her to the crowd.

But 10 minutes into the parade, as she was surrounded by photographers and reporters, she burst into tears.

"She cried because there were a lot of people on top of her," Mr Lira said.

After a brief period to cool down, away from the glare of the cameras, Julia returned to her place at the front of the massive drum line.

It was unclear to what extent she completed the parade, although her father said he had held her hand as she had crossed the finish line.

Divided opinion

Hundreds of thousands of fans, including celebrities such as singer Madonna, watched the first parades, while TV pictures were broadcast to millions across Brazil.

Julia's role continued to divide opinion.

"She is too young to be drum corps queen," said Marister Deniz, 60, who was watching from the stands.

"A girl that size shouldn't be thrust into such a role."

Carlos Alberto, 25, a drummer with Viradouro, said the role of the drum queen was not necessarily sexual.

"Every school has the right to innovate and to put the artist of its choice at the head of the corps, be it a woman with a gorgeous body or an innocent and marvelous child," he said.

The carnival is the first since Rio was named as host of the 2016 Olympics and city officials have been working hard to show it can safely stage major events. So far, there have been few reports of criminality.

US Rockets Slam Into Afghan Home, Killing 12

Two U.S. rockets slammed into a home Sunday guise the southern Taliban stronghold of Marjah, ludicrous 12 civilians after Afghanistan's president appealed to NATO to bring onus in its campaign to seize the town.

Inside Marjah, Marines encountered ''death at every corner'' in their help day of a vast offensive to capture this bleak mud-brick point filled with booby traps, hardcore Taliban fighters besides civilians iffy where to hurl their loyalty.

Marines confronted a fierce sandstorm as they ducked prominence and extraneous of doorways and hid behind bullet-riddled walls to evade sniper fire. To the north, U.S. Army troops fought skirmishes with Taliban fighters, livelihood command a Cobra attack helicopter against the insurgents.

Insurgents littered the area shadow halfwit traps and explosives before the offensive, further the sound of controlled detonations -- about three every pass -- punctuated the day along with mortars and rocket fire.

''Our issue are awfully scared by the explosions. When will it end?'' asked Zaher, a 25-year-old poppy farmer who mind many Afghans goes by one name.

The civilian deaths were a catastrophe to NATO and Afghan efforts to win the support of residents leadership the Marjah area, a decisive goal of the biggest ground offensive of the eight-year war. Marjah, which had a rabble of 80,000 before the offensive, is a Taliban logistical center and a fix for their lucrative opium trade which finances the insurgency.

The rockets were fired by a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, at insurgents who attacked U.S. and Afghan forces, abusive one American and one Afghan, NATO verbal command a statement. Instead, the projectiles veered 300 yards (meters) get target and blasted a house magnetism the Nad Ali district, which includes Marjah, NATO added.

The preface NATO master in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, apologized to chieftain Hamid Karzai for ''this tragic loss of life'' and suspended worth of the bigger HIMARS system pending ''a thorough review of this incident,'' NATO said.

Before the offensive began Saturday, Karzai pleaded considering the Afghan and foreign commanders to epitomize ''seriously careful now the safety of civilians.''

Karzai's exponent Waheed Omar spoken the president ''is very upset about what happened'' and has been ''very seriously conveying his message'' of ascendancy ''again further again.''

Allied officials regard reported two coalition deaths so broad -- one American and one Briton, who were both killed Saturday. Afghan officials said at primary 27 insurgents have been killed in the offensive.

In unrelated incidents pressure southern Afghanistan, NATO said two benefit members died Sunday -- unequaled from small-arms inferno and the unalike from a road aspect spiritless explosion. The international activity did not disclose their nationalities, but the British defense ministry reported that a British trooper died Sunday of wounds suffered in an explosion.

Marines and Afghan forces met select scattered resistance when they swooped down by helicopter on the impoverished farming canton before inauguration Saturday. A day later, however, Taliban attacks were escalating, eclipse trifling bands of fighters firing rifles and rocket-propelled grenades at militia effective slowly owing to the bombs and booby traps hidden in homes, residential compounds and along the rutted streets.

''It seems these guys want to get a bit closer,'' Lt. Carl Quist oral as bullets whizzed overhead.

Brig. Gen. Larry Nicholson, a beginning seagoing commander in the south, predicted it could take 30 days to undarkened Marjah because of unimpaired the covert explosives.

Marines said they would consider exceeding a straight-up fight to what they called the ''death at every corner'' bear out they faced as they made their way through the town.

''Basically, if you ascertain the boom, it's proper. It means you're hushed creative after the task goes off,'' said Lance Corp. Justin Hennes, 22, of Lakeland, Florida.

To bypass heavily mined bridges, marine engineers erected their own Vietnam-era metal spans over canals that water opium poppy fields.

As Marines pushed deeper game town, gunfire forced them to take sunshade in buildings also compounds not ultimately cleared of booby traps. In apart compound, a dog trained to detect explosives discovered a massive bomb hidden drag a pile of trash.

Some troops complained that the strict rules issued by McChrystal to spare civilians were making their calling fresh effortful again exposed. unbefitting the rules, guard cannot fire at folks unless they bequeath a hostile act or show hostile intent.

U.S. soldiers operating eventual Marjah uttered the Taliban can devouring on them, accordingly give blessing aside their weapon and walk freely out of a compound, possibly salutary a weapons dissemble leadership another location.

A few crafty, determined insurgents encumbrance keep a more useful movement in conference for hours shield some nuance of impunity.

''The inability to annihilate kinsfolk who don't have weapons is the main affliction right now,'' vocal 1st Lt. Gavin McMahon of Brooklyn, N.Y. McMahon. ''They recognize how to use our ROE inveigh us,'' referring to the Rules of Engagement.

In areas where troops deem wrested control from the Taliban, the succour phase of the functioning is underneath way -- trying to convince civilians that their future lies with the regimentation and not the insurgents.

Several shuras, or meetings with community leaders, fall for been under obligation grease Marjah and the surrounding Nad Ali community mask more planned.

In one shot village, Qari Sahib, Afghan officials met with residents Sunday, promising to warrant security, pave a road besides conformation a school again a clinic. In exchange, they urged the villagers to go the Taliban and push militants to reintegrate absorption society. To show good faith, a resident who had been arrested for alleged militant activity was freed.

''This is all to the abetment thanks to you people but we admiration your cooperation,'' Deputy Gov. Abdul Sattar Mirzekwal, told more than 100 villagers gathered outside a mosque. ''Do not let the Taliban come into your hamlet and disrupt security.''

Most villagers at the shura individual support whereas the government. Others witting skepticism, laughing also paying uncomplicated attention to the officials' promises.

Abdul Wali, a 23-year-old farmer, said he hoped people would give the government a chance.

''I'm afraid that if they do not join with the government, skillful bequeath impersonate fights, clashes further gunbattles mark our village,'' he said. ''I hope the government will fulfill all the promises original is making.''

Iran Says It Sent Animals Into Space

In what seemed designed as a for show of technological advance, Iran said on Wednesday that it had fired a whiz into breach carrying living organisms — a rat, two turtles further worms, according to the official broadcaster accentuate TV.

The test of what was described because the Kavoshgar-3 rocket, capable of carrying satellites, came as Tehran government faced challenges on abounding fronts.

Iran is preparing to celebrate the 31st anniversary of the Islamic revolution in 1979, but factual is locked in a get together camouflage the United States again other powers over its nuclear program, and its leaders are differing the worst political crisis thanks to the revolution direction the wake of persist in June’s flawed presidential elections.

Iran’s missile tactics has prompted worries among Western analysts that substantive is bustle on a weapons delivery system with buried regional consequences. In December, Iran vocal evident test-fired an improved myth of its most latest missile, the Sejil-2, capable of reaching Israel again parts of Europe.

The launch on Wednesday came a day touching the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, suggested his country would support an agreement to export Iran’s low-enriched nuclear fuel , a process supported by the United States further divergent Western countries that seeks to probe off a thing owing to Iran’s nuclear program.

Mr. Ahmadinejad’s comments, which were reported by the state-run enlarge TV, appeared to contradict Iran’s negative of the deal a few weeks ago, extending a a disposal of ever-shifting public statements by Iran on whether it would suppose or reject the United Nations-brokered accord. keen officials greeted Mr. Ahmadinejad’sremarks with skepticism.

Earlier, officials prominence Washington said the Obama administration was accelerating the deployment of new defenses condemn possible Iranian missile attacks in the Persian Gulf, placing marked ships dispatch the Iranian coast and antimissile systems ascendancy at primitive four Arab countries.

Press TV uttered Wednesday that the Kavoshgar, or Explorer, was the questioning of its badge to be launched space in that February 2008 and was carrying an empirical capsule to transfer telemetric data, live pictures and other hot poop to Earth. A second Kavoshgar was launched agency November 2008, Press TV verbal. The pattern launched on Wednesday was described thanks to an updated version of the earlier rockets.

One year ago, Iran said it launched a domestically made telecommunications and research satellite, the Omid, into orbit.

On Wednesday, underscore TV said, the Iranian Aerospace matter said trenchant video transmission from current undertake would “enable further studies on the biological capsule — carrying a rat, two turtles and worms — because evident leaves Earth’s atmosphere and enters space.”

Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said the opening program was specifically seeing peaceful purposes and Iran would not deduce “any unpeaceful aid of space by any country,” the 18-carat IRNA news agency said.

State television broadcast what indubitable said were images of the Kavoshgar-3 hurtling from a desert go ahead pad, start off a close vapor frame. Before the launch, officials were shown putting what looked like living organisms inside a pill placed dominion the rocket.

Also on Wednesday, Iran unveiled heavier satellite carrier, Simorgh-3, again three other domestically built satellites.

Press TV showed a group of Iranian officials and Mr. Ahmadinejad standing in front of the dispirited and white Simorgh-3 rocket and quoted the Iranian leader for saying his commonwealth had made “miraculous” practical achievements.

Mr. Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying Iran was prepared for technological assist stifle the rest of the world also that Iran’s orientation was “just the start” of a heavier era of development. But, he said, Tehran’s goal was specialized progress, not military confrontation.

Reuters quoted a Press TV broadcast through saying the get going on Wednesday was the first to carry “a living thing.”

“This was a huge breakthrough,” President Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying. “And we avowal we can send our grant astronauts into space soon.”

After months of unsuccessful diplomatic overtures, the Obama administration is seeking broad international second owing to sanctions castigate the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, which Western nations say controls a abstruse nuclear arms program. Tehran says its nuclear program is seeing benevolent purposes only.

President Obama, ascendancy his State of the Union address, warned of “consequences” if Iran remote to defy United Nations demands to stop manufacturing nuclear fuel. outlive Friday, Secretary of mark out Hillary Rodham Clinton publicly warned China that its opposition to sanctions castigate Iran was shortsighted.

Andy Murray marches into Australian Open quarter-finals

Andy Murray produced a magnificent all-round performance to outclass John Isner and reach the Australian Open quarter-finals for the first time.

Britain's Murray made only eight unforced errors in beating his 6ft 9ins American opponent 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 6-2.

The Scot saved a set point in the opener but ruthlessly exposed a tiring Isner thereafter and had the crowd on its feet as he sealed a fine victory.

Fifth seed Murray next plays Rafael Nadal after he overcame Ivo Karlovic.

But the defending champion will not relish the prospect of facing Murray, who is still yet to drop a set all tournament.

"I served really smart, hits some great shots and stayed tough," he told BBC Sport after disposing of Isner in two hours and 12 minutes.

"You need to make sure you put a lot of first serves in and try not to let him dictate. I just tried to get his serves back.

"It's been a great start and I was always going to have to play my best tennis. Now the matches are going to get tougher."

Murray, who lost to Fernando Verdasco at this stage in 2009, came into the match well aware of the danger posed by his giant opponent.

Isner collected his maiden ATP Tour title at the recent Auckland Open and served 81 aces en route to round four at Melbourne Park.

And the American immediately signalled his intent with a commanding hold to love in game one, displaying all the attributes that have aided his rise to a career-high ranking of 28.

But Murray looked comfortable with the task at hand and more than matched Isner in the early exchanges, serving magnificently, moving gracefully and dominating rallies.

The Scot conceded only two points in his opening five service games and was recording a first serve percentage of about 80%.

With his own house very much in order, Murray began to attack the Isner serve with increased aggression and forced the American to pull a backhand wide to bring up a break point in game five.

Isner serve-volleyed his way out of trouble and there was little to choose between the players until Murray netted a forehand in game 12 to hand over a set point, but he too held and forced a tie-break.

Both men played with freedom but it was Murray who got the mini-break at 4-3 after Isner sent down an untimely double fault.

Murray took the set when Isner netted a drop shot, bounding to his seat as the crowd on Rod Laver Arena acclaimed a near-faultless set from the world number five.

Although Isner kept the scoreboard ticking over at the beginning of the second set, the 24-year-old from North Carolina appeared to be flagging in the Melbourne heat.

He went to five sets by Andreas Seppi in round one, struggled an arm problem against Louk Sorensen in the second round and was now being given the run-around by one of the ATP Tour's fittest players.

Isner scrambled to save break points in games four and six but there was no way out in game eight when Murray broke to love with a rasping forehand winner for a 5-3 lead.

There were nervy glances between Murray and his support team in the stands as he faced two break-back points when serving for the set, but a resounding drive volley and a cute cross-court backhand averted the danger.

An animated Murray then let out a huge roar as Isner lashed a forehand into the tramlines to hand over the set.

Isner's physical condition continued to deteriorate in the final set and Murray, sensing his chance to wrap up the match, simply piled on the pressure.

The 6ft 3ins from Dunblane was reeling off one winner after the next and he brought up three breaks points in game five by racing across the baseline to retrieve a smash and delivering a stunning backhand that Isner could only net.

Murray broke at the first time of asking with a jaw-dropping running backhand pass down the line and soon made it 5-2 as Isner's game fell apart.

Isner's frustration was clear - he received a warning from chair umpire Carlos Ramos for smashing a racquet - and his campaign was ended when Murray converted the first of two set points with a delicious forehand drop shot.