Hurricane Joaquin weakens as heads towards Bermuda

Joaquin was downgraded to a Category Three hurricane Sunday, as it headed towards Bermuda where it is expected to dump rain and generate damaging winds as it swirls nearby, forecasters said. The hurricane's center is expected to pass near Bermuda in the afternoon, the US National Hurricane Center said in its latest statement. Joaquin's outer rainbands were already thrashing the island early Sunday, with dangerous winds forecast to follow, the NHC said.