US race car driver killed in high-speed crash

Washington: US race car driver Jessi Combs, dubbed the "fastest woman on four wheels" after she set a record with a jet-powered car, died in a crash while attempting to set a new land speed record, officials said. Combs, also a TV personality, died on Tuesday in Alvord Desert in southeast Oregon, the Harney County Sheriff's Office said. She was 39. In a statement, the family said they remembered her "bright smile (and) positivity", the BBC reported. She earned the "fastest woman on four wheels" title in 2013 at the North American Eagle Supersonic Speed Challenger, when she set a record of 398 mph (641km/h). IANS

Overweight, seven Nepal Army officers face action

Kathmandu: The Nepal Army has taken action against seven of its senior officers after they were found to be overweight, a media report said on Thursday. Three of the officers were denied promotions while four others were not allowed to take part in the United Nations peacekeeping missions as their Body Mass Index was found to be much higher than permissible, said  Bigyan Dev Pandey, spokesperson for the Nepal Army. Pandey said three months to three years is given to maintain body weight. PTI

Hurricane heads towards Florida after Caribbean strike

Miami (US): Hurricane Dorian posed an increasing menace to Florida as it pushed over open waters on Thursday after leaving limited damage in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The US National Hurricane Center said Dorian was expected to grow into a potentially devastating Category 3 hurricane before hitting the US mainland late Sunday or early Monday somewhere between the Florida Keys and southern Georgia. Across much of Florida's east coast, residents began flocking to the grocery stores and gas stations, stocking up in anticipation of the storm. AP