Kenyan church blasts leave 16 dead

• NEW: Garissa is near the Somali border
• The number of injuries in the explosions at Garissa town is unclear
• Attacks have escalated since Kenyan forces invaded Somalia to battle militants
• The grenade attacks have mostly targeted Nairobi, Mombasa and border areas

(CNN) -- Blasts hit two churches in northeastern Kenya on Sunday, leaving scores injured in the latest attack in the East African nation, the Red Cross said.

The exact number of injuries in the explosions at Garissa town was unclear, the Red Cross said.

CNN affiliate NTV said the blasts killed at least nine people, but CNN was not able to independently confirm the report.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the incidents.

Attacks have escalated since Kenyan forces invaded neighboring Somalia last year to battle Islamist militant group al-Shabaab, which it blamed for kidnappings of foreigners in the nation.

When Kenya pursued the militants, the terror group threatened with retaliatory attacks, saying it considers the incursion an affront to Somalia's sovereignty.

Since the invasion in October, Kenya has been targeted by a series of grenade attacks blamed on al-Shabaab or its supporters.

The grenade attacks have mostly targeted the capital of Nairobi, the port city of Mombasa and northeastern towns and refugee camps near the border with Somalia.

Garissa is close to the Somali border and the Dadaab refugee camp, where gunmen kidnapped four aid workers and killed a driver last week.

Al-Shabaab is linked to al Qaeda and has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States.

U.S. officials have issued warnings of potential attacks in the country since the incursion.

CNN's Faith Karimi and Elizabeth Joseph contributed to this report

Sleeping for you part 3.4

Zon part 30

50 million

Deadly blasts hit two churches in Kenya

• NEW: Garissa is near the Somali border
• The number of injuries in the explosions at Garissa town is unclear
• Attacks have escalated since Kenyan forces invaded Somalia to battle militants
• The grenade attacks have mostly targeted Nairobi, Mombasa and border areas

(CNN) -- Blasts hit two churches in northeastern Kenya on Sunday, leaving scores injured in the latest attack in the East African nation, the Red Cross said.

The exact number of injuries in the explosions at Garissa town was unclear, the Red Cross said.

CNN affiliate NTV said the blasts killed at least nine people, but CNN was not able to independently confirm the report.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the incidents.

Attacks have escalated since Kenyan forces invaded neighboring Somalia last year to battle Islamist militant group al-Shabaab, which it blamed for kidnappings of foreigners in the nation.

When Kenya pursued the militants, the terror group threatened with retaliatory attacks, saying it considers the incursion an affront to Somalia's sovereignty.

Since the invasion in October, Kenya has been targeted by a series of grenade attacks blamed on al-Shabaab or its supporters.

The grenade attacks have mostly targeted the capital of Nairobi, the port city of Mombasa and northeastern towns and refugee camps near the border with Somalia.

Garissa is close to the Somali border and the Dadaab refugee camp, where gunmen kidnapped four aid workers and killed a driver last week.

Al-Shabaab is linked to al Qaeda and has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States.

U.S. officials have issued warnings of potential attacks in the country since the incursion.

CNN's Faith Karimi and Elizabeth Joseph contributed to this report

Scorching U.S. heatwave, storms leave 12 dead

• Excessive heat warnings are issued for 14 states
• Forecasters warn of another round of storms Sunday
• "This is not a one-day situation; it is a multiday challenge," Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell says

(CNN) -- Forecasters issued another round of excessive heat warnings Sunday for large swaths of the Midwest and Southeast as the regions dug out from deadly storms that left millions without power.

At least 12 people were killed, from Ohio to New Jersey, as a result of downed trees and power lines, according to officials. The destruction prompted state of emergency declarations by governors of Maryland, Ohio, West Virginia and Virginia.

"This is not a one-day situation; it is a multiday challenge," said Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, who called it the largest power outage unrelated to a hurricane in the state's history.

The National Weather Service issued warnings in 14 states, from Illinois to Georgia, indicating dangerous conditions for those unable to find refuge in a cool locale -- an advisory complicated by widespread power outages.

Forecasters, meanwhile, warned of another round of storms Sunday in areas hit hard by thunderstorms that barreled through Friday and Saturday and downed power lines.

Temps soar across the U.S.

America is having a heat wave

Storms leave millions without power

Triple digit highs scorch the U.S.

Nearly 4 million people were without power across the affected states at one point Saturday, a number that dropped by early Sunday morning to around 3 million.

In Ohio, where 900,000 were still without power late Saturday night, the governor was asking for federal help to get ice, gas and generators.

"I'm very concerned with the problems created by the combination of power outages and severe heat," said Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who said it could take up to a week to get the power back up to everybody in the state.

Kasich also called out the National Guard to check on and help the state's most vulnerable, primarily the elderly and the ill.

In West Virginia, power outages forced the closure of a large number of gas stations after pumps were rendered inoperable.

Brian Duckworth waited in line for gas for nearly two hours in Vienna, along the West-Virginia-Ohio border.

"I wouldn't even be here because I have plenty of gas in my truck," Duckworth told CNN affiliate WTAP. "But I have to get gas for my generators and some backup gas."

The storm also affected Amtrak service, including shutting down service between Washington and Philadelphia on Saturday morning.

But those most inconvenienced were aboard a train that ended up grinding to a halt Friday night in Prince, West Virginia, after trees blocked tracks both in front of and behind it, Amtrak spokesman Steve Kulm said.

By late Saturday night, the 232 passengers -- who stayed aboard the Chicago-bound train, which had air conditioning and food -- had been taken off and put on buses so they could reach their final destinations, according to Kulm.

Neighboring Virginia was also hard hit, with six deaths. At one point, the state had about 1 million power outages -- more than any other state.

The storms raced east Friday and into Saturday from Indiana through Ohio and into West Virginia and the nation's capital, carrying winds gusting as strong as 80 miles per hour.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said there was a particular need for fuel, generators and communications equipment following the storm that caused enormous damage.

Those killed included two cousins in New Jersey, ages 2 and 7, who'd huddled with their families in a tent in Parvin State Park when strong winds felled a pine tree, crushing them. Their relatives all survived relatively unscathed, said Larry Ragonese, a spokesman for New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection.

In Washington, a couple was electrocuted after they went outside to check on downed power lines. The husband was killed while the wife -- who is in critical condition at a local hospital with burns -- is expected to survive, said police spokesman Araz Alali.

Emergency rooms in Prince George's County, Maryland, filled up over the weekend by people looking to escape the heat, said Fran Phillips, deputy secretary for the state's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. She noted that libraries and community centers across the state would stay open late to act as cooling centers.

Even in places where power was not disrupted, people with no air-conditioning were advised to spend the day in a library, a cooling center or some other such place to avoid heat exhaustion.

In Atlanta, where temperatures hit a record-breaking 106 degrees on Saturday and were projected to hit 103 degrees on Sunday, cooling centers were ordered open across the city.

CNN's Moni Basu, Greg Botelho and Nick Valencia contributed to this report.

Protests in Hong Kong during Hu's visit

• President Hu Jintao is in the territory for a three-day visit
• Hong Kong has prospered since Britain handed it over to China in 1997
• However, some Hong Kong residents are concerned about Beijing's intentions
• He will mark the handover's anniversary but also be the focus of protests

Hong Kong (CNN) -- Hong Kong protesters took to the streets Sunday as Chinese President Hu Jintao visited the former British colony to mark the 15th anniversary of its return to Beijing rule.

Hu also attended the inauguration of the Hong Kong chief executive amid growing discontent toward Beijing over its human rights records, among others.

Small planes flew overhead with flags of China and Hong Kong during the ceremony.

Protesters criticized last month's death of Li Wangyang, a high-profile dissident who spent decades in prison for his support of the Tiananmen Square student rallies in 1989.

Hong Kong has prospered since its last British governor, Chris Patten, bade the territory a tearful farewell on July 1, 1997.

Hong Kong 15 years later

Open Mic: Hong Kong's identity

China and Hong Kong: Who needs whom?

Hu marks Hong Kong handover

The Chinese territory has benefited from its position as a financial and commercial gateway, riding the mainland's spectacular economic boom of the past two decades.

But the economic rewards are mixed with unease about Beijing's intentions for Hong Kong in the long term, including concerns about possible threats to freedom of speech and the rule of law.

Some Hong Kong residents have expressed reservations about the effect mainland Chinese residents have on property prices and public services in the city.

Nonetheless, Hong Kong has its own borders and immigration control even with China. It has its own currency, its own police force and system of law courts. It also enjoys a freedom of expression and demonstration to a degree unheard on the mainland.

The Chinese president is scheduled to attend a string of other events over the next three days, including a fireworks display and a parachute jump by members of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

Hu also attended the inauguration of chief executive of Hong Kong, Leung Chun-ying, the Beijing-backed leader who took office Sunday.

In addition to human rights issues and Li's death, protesters have demanded greater democracy and called for Beijing to stop intervening in local affairs.

Li was found hanging in his hospital room in Hunan province on June 6. Local authorities said he had committed suicide, but friends of the deaf and blind labor rights activist have denied the claim.

Hong Kong government officials have also questioned whether Li committed suicide.

CNN's Jethro Mullen, Tim Schwarz and Hilary Whiteman contributed to this report.