THIS IS AP NEWSMINUTE

PREPARATIONS AND MANDATORY EVACUATIONS WERE UNDERWAY TUESDAY IN CUBA AS HURRICANE MELISSA WAS EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL LATE TUESDAY OR EARLY WEDNESDAY.

THE STORM HAS ALREADY BEEN BLAMED FOR SEVEN DEATHS IN THE CARIBBEAN.

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EXPLOSIONS WERE SEEN OVER THE GAZA SKYLINE ON TUESDAY NIGHT.

IT CAME AFTER ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAID HE HAD ORDERED THE ARMY TO IMMEDIATELY CARRY OUT “POWERFUL STRIKES” IN THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORY.

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INDIAN AUTHORITIES ON TUESDAY CARRIED OUT A CLOUD-SEEDING EXPERIMENT OVER SMOG-CHOKED NEW DELHI IN AN ATTEMPT TO INDUCE RAINFALL AND CLEAR THE CITY’S TOXIC AIR.

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AND VISITORS TO PRAGUE ZOO COULD SEE HIPPOS AND TORTOISES PLAYING WITH AND EATING PUMPKINS ON TUESDAY. THE ZOO ORGANIZES THIS TRADITIONAL "PUMPKIN FEAST" DURING THE HALLOWEEN SEASON.