US Howling wind and torrential rain lashed the US state of Florida as Hurricane Wilma roared toward its southwestern coast, gaining strength and speed. Iraq Twelve Iraqi building workers were gunned down, police said, as the US death toll since the invasion neared 2,000, heightening pressure on President George W. Bush. Britain A South American parrot that died in Britain from the lethal H5N1 strain of bird flu apparently picked up the virus from Taiwanese birds with which it shared quarantine, officials said. SAsia Tensions flared in Kashmir after Indian forces battled suspected militants near the de facto border, where aid was being prepared for desperate survivors of the South Asian earthquake. Nigeria Nigeria began three days of national mourning as investigators sought to find out why a passenger airline had crashed to earth and been ripped apart, killing all the 117 passengers and crew on board. Rwanda A man accused of planning Rwanda's 1994 genocide took the stand in his own defense before a UN-backed tribunal. Myanmar Myanmar's pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi marked what her supporters said is a total of 10 years in detention, as campaigners overseas pushed the United Nations to take strong action. Nepal-France Nepalese Sherpas have joined rescue teams attempting to reach Kangaru mountain in northwestern Nepal where seven French climbers and their local guides are missing, feared killed. France The French government was due to announce the sale of 15 percent of capital in the national electricity company EDF, despite strong opposition from the trade unions to the part privatisation of the huge firm. Poland Staunchly Catholic Conservative Lech Kaczynski was set to become Poland's next president, according to partial election results. Brazil Voters overwhelmingly rejected a measure to ban gun sales in Brazil, which has one of the world's highest murder rates. Argentina President Nestor Kirchner got a boost in Argentina's mid-term elections, whose Senate candidates included his wife, a former first lady and two ex-presidents.