Mom thought Spears pregnancy was joke

2008-09-17T20:16+0200

Lynne Spears said on NBC's "Today" show Wednesday that Jamie Lynn -- 16 years old at the time -- handed her the note and told her to go into the bedroom and read it. The note said she was pregnant but "everything was gonna be OK, mom" and that she and boyfriend Casey Aldridge were going to raise the baby.

Nigeria militants threaten broader delta "oil war"

2008-09-17T20:14+0200

17 Sep 2008 17:46:27 GMT Source: Reuters (Adds impact on oil output, paragraph 8-9) By Austin Ekeinde PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Nigerian militants threatened on Wednesday to broaden their "oil war ...

16 dead in car bomb, ambush at US Embassy in Yemen

2008-09-17T20:14+0200

SAN'A, Yemen (AP) -- Suspected militants armed with automatic weapons, rocket-propelled grenades and at least one suicide car bomb assaulted the U.S. Embassy in the Yemeni capital on Wednesday. The co...

Water pours over Rio Grande levee, into Texas town (AP)

2008-09-17T20:08+0200

AP - The swelling Rio Grande flowed over a levee Wednesday, sending water cascading onto the golf course and some ranch land in this dusty-turned-muddy West Texas border town.

Ike's US toll hits 51; search team leaves island (AP)

2008-09-17T20:08+0200

AP - Hurricane Ike's death toll in the U.S. climbed past 50 on Wednesday and appeared to level off in Texas, where search teams pulled out of Galveston having searched the entire island for survivors.

Spears says she learned ofJamie Lynn's pregnancy in a note (AP)

2008-09-17T20:08+0200

AP - The mother of Britney and Jamie Lynn Spears says Jamie Lynn told her she was pregnant in a note.

Cubans line up for chance to use idle state land (AP)

2008-09-17T20:08+0200

AP - Cuba has begun accepting applications from private farmers — both with and without experience — who want to till idle government land.

Gold soars as safe haven from Wall Street

2008-09-17T20:06+0200

NEW YORK - Gold prices surged by almost 8 percent on Wednesday and oil recovered, as fears that the bailout of U.S. insurer AIG would not end the turmoil on Wall Street restored the luster of an established safe haven. Gold was on track for the biggest daily gain in more than eight years, leading a....

Professor uncovers the detail in retail

2008-09-17T20:05+0200

By Mark Mulligan Published: August 18 2008 13:51 | Last updated: August 26 2008 13:44 About 15 years ago José Luis Nueno, a young Spanish marketing professor and business consultant, was asked to research the men’s affordable fashion market in Spain, with particular reference to a competitor....

Who"ll Bail Out Uncle Sam?

2008-09-17T19:53+0200

As the government keeps showing up to bail out failing banks, it begs the question: Where does the federal government go when it needs a bailout? Taxpayers need only look in the mirror, Mark Knoller reports.

Hurricane Ike shakes Galveston's economic boom

2008-09-17T19:43+0200

17 Sep 2008 17:36:09 GMT Source: Reuters By Carey Gillam GALVESTON, Texas, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Long-time Galveston resident Sylvia Hernandez has survived several hurricanes in her 72 years. But after riding out Hurricane Ike's wall of ...

Could McCain's Crusade Against Pork Backfire?

2008-09-17T19:43+0200

had requested as Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska , including a dubious agricultural processing facility designed to promote local produce. In fact, Palin has a consistent record of chasing the bacon that McCain has fought for years. She pulled in $27 million in earmarks as mayor, requested $450 million in....

Fidel Castro: El papel de bueno, ¿a costa de quién?

2008-09-17T19:39+0200

LA HABANA (PL) - El líder de la Revolución cubana, Fidel Castro, afirmó que la crisis económica que golpea a Estados Unidos, y como consecuencia a los demás pueblos del mundo, no tiene respuesta definitiva; en cambio...

Recibió presidente cubano a vicepresidente de Rusia

2008-09-17T19:39+0200

LA HABANA (PL) - El presidente cubano, Raúl Castro, recibió el lunes pasado al vicepresidente de Gobierno de la Federación de Rusia, Igor Ivanovich Sechín, quien realizó una visita de trabajo a la Isla.

Grupos de solidaridad apoyan recuperación de Cuba tras huracanes

2008-09-17T19:39+0200

PINAR DEL RIO (PL) - Movimientos internacionales de solidaridad con Cuba respaldan hoy las labores de recuperación en la Isla, azotada por dos huracanes que dejaron pérdidas superiores a los cinco mil millones de dólares.

Haïti-Secours : L’USAID annonce l’augmentation de l’aide américaine à Haïti

2008-09-17T19:39+0200

PORT AU PRINCE (HPN) - 7 millions de dollars d’aide alimentaire et 2 millions pour la réparation des routes et des ponts sont les nouveaux montants qui viendront augmenter l’aide américaine à Haïti, selon Henrietta Fore, administratrice de l’USAID.

Dozens dead in wake of Ike

2008-09-17T19:39+0200

The death toll from Hurricane Ike has risen to 30 in Texas alone as the US authorities count the cost of the storm.

Spears tells how Jamie Lynn revealed pregnancy (AP)

2008-09-17T19:38+0200

AP - The mother of Britney and Jamie Lynn Spears says Jamie Lynn told her she was pregnant in a note.

Storm rages over Yar'Adua's 'planned resignation'

2008-09-17T19:37+0200

From Martins Oloja, Madu Onuorah, (Abuja) Kabir Alabi Garba and Michael Orie (Lagos) I T started as a rumour. And it took on a life of its own. The air-waves were abuzz with the enquiry - 'The President has resigned? Initially, Special Adviser to the President (Communications), Mr.

Hurricane aid problems bring Michael Chertoff to Houston

2008-09-17T19:36+0200

The Homeland Security chief's scheduled meeting with local officials follows reports of food and water distribution problems to affected residents. HOUSTON -- Amid mounting criticism that mistakes made by the Federal Emergency Management Agency caused thousands of area residents to be turned away....

BlackBerry Storm pre-launch datasheet surfaces

2008-09-17T19:34+0200

Filed under: Cellphones Let's be honest here -- there's precisely two three things you still need to know about the BlackBerry Storm. Launch date, price and whether it'll play Doom. Sadly, we're no closer to helping you on those last two, but the datasheet you see above does give us a general idea of when we'll see this puppy in stores.

16 dead after U.S. Embassy in Yemen hit

2008-09-17T19:27+0200

Suspected militants armed with automatic weapons, rocket-propelled grenades and at least one suicide car bomb assaulted the U.S. ...

Hurricane Ike death toll rises to 55

2008-09-17T19:17+0200

Hurricane Ike's death toll climbed to 55 as 6 more deaths were reported Wednesday in Texas, including the first in Galveston.

Fidel Castro says dignity stops Cuba taking U.S. aid

2008-09-17T19:16+0200

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba, devastated in recent weeks by two powerful hurricanes, has too much dignity to accept aid from the United States, former leader Fidel Castro said in a column published on Wednesday.

Green issues dominate election

2008-09-17T19:15+0200

The focus on green issues is exemplified by a row over the Green party's participation in televised debates scheduled for the first week of October. Despite having a member of parliament and more than 5% support in polls (the usual criteria for participating in the event), when Green leader....

Tree teams work to save South

2008-09-17T19:12+0200

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — Hurricanes that whip the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of Southern states take a human toll, but they also claim another victim on an enormous scale the majestic trees, man...

Militants threaten oil war

2008-09-17T19:12+0200

NIGERIAN militants threatened to broaden their "oil war" to offshore oilfields, after attacking another Shell-operated oil flow station in the Niger Delta.

Tidal surges hit Bangladesh

2008-09-17T19:12+0200

"The Bay has been very rough since Monday, when dozens of boats managed to return to the shores, but about 400 others are still unaccounted for," one fisherman said. Tidal waves spawned by the stor...

16 dead in US Embassy attack

2008-09-17T19:12+0200

Islamic Jihad in Yemen took responsibility for two car bombs which hit the front gate of the US Embassy in Yemen and reportedly killed 16 people on Wednesday morning, Reuters reported.

Hurricane Ike death toll rises to 55

2008-09-17T19:12+0200

Hurricane Ike's death toll climbed to 55 as 6 more deaths were reported Wednesday in Texas, including the first in Galveston.

16 dead after U.S. Embassy in Yemen hit by car bomb

2008-09-17T19:12+0200

Yemeni soldiers take positions in front of the U.S. Embassy in San'a, Yemen Sept. 17 after a car bomb targeting the Embassy hit the front gate of the compound.

Cuba Biosphere Safe after Hurricanes

2008-09-17T19:09+0200

PINAR DEL RIO (PL) - The Guanahacabibes peninsula, one of Cuba's six biosphere reserves, is safe despite havoc caused by hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

Galveston ends 'look and leave' policy

2008-09-17T19:07+0200

Galveston residents were blocked from returning to the island city after officials shelved a "look and leave" policy because so many people tried to return.

Ike's US toll climbs to 50 with latest Texas death (AP)

2008-09-17T19:07+0200

AP - Hurricane Ike's death toll in the U.S. is up to 50 as authorities on the Texas coast are reporting another fatality from the storm.

Ike Death Toll Rises As Does Victims' Pain

2008-09-17T19:07+0200

Hurricane Ike's death toll in the U.S. is up to 55 as authorities on the Texas coast are reporting six more fatalities from the storm. Meanwhile, millions of people from Texas through the Midwest remained without power.

CONCACAF Champions League

2008-09-17T19:05+0200

PRELIMINARY ROUND First Leg Tuesday, Aug. 26 Joe Public (Trindad and Tobago) 2, New England (United States) 1 Tauro (Panama) 2, Chivas USA (United States) 0 Cruz Azul (Mexico) 6, Hankook Verdes (Belize) 0 Wednesday, Aug. 27 Montreal Impact (Montreal) 1, Real Esteli (Nicaragua) 0 Alajuelense (Costa....

Russia to help Cuba build space centre

2008-09-17T19:01+0200

Moscow is ready to help Cuba develop its own space centre, Russia's space agency chief said today after talks in Caracas with Venezuelan and Cuban officials.

Crude Oil Rises as AIG Rescue Plan Eases Economic Slowdown Risk - Bloomberg - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-17T18:57+0200

Sept. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Crude oil rebounded from the biggest two-day decline in almost four years after the Federal Reserve agreed to rescue American International Group Inc., easing concern of a further economic slowdown in the U.S. Oil rose as the Fed bailout prevented the bankruptcy of the....

MEND Destroy More Facilities As â€œOil Warâ€ Escalates - Times of Nigeria - Fastnews: Local Nigerian News

2008-09-17T18:57+0200

Armed Nigerian militants who have declared an "oil war" in the restive south of the country claimed Wednesday to have blown up a major pipeline in their latest attack on oil installations in the region. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), the most prominent of the groups....

Oil prices rebound on AIG bailout, weaker dollar - Houston Chronicle - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-17T18:57+0200

NEW YORK Oil prices rebounded Wednesday as a government rescue of American International Group Inc. soothed skittish investors who feared the insurer's collapse could have triggered a wholesale exodus from commodities. Light, sweet crude for October delivery rose $1.45 to $92.60 a barrel in early trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Oil prices rebound on AIG bailout, weaker dollar - Philadelphia Inquirer - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-17T18:57+0200

NEW YORK - Oil prices rebounded Wednesday as a government rescue of American International Group Inc. soothed skittish investors who feared the insurer's collapse could have triggered a wholesale exodus from commodities. Light, sweet crude for October delivery rose $1.45 to $92.60 a barrel in early trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Oil prices up nearly $3; local gas prices near record high - Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-17T18:57+0200

The price of regular gasoline crept up to an average of $3.890 on Wednesday. That compared with $3.889 the previous day, AAA reported. The $3.89 is within 17 cents of the July 17 record price of $4.058. Analysts said the delcine in oil prices may have been overdone. Prices also got a boost on news of the U.

Oil prices rebound on AIG bailout, weaker dollar - Forbes - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-17T18:57+0200

Oil prices rebound on AIG bailout, weaker dollar - San Francisco Chronicle - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-17T18:57+0200

Light, sweet crude for October delivery rose $1.45 to $92.60 a barrel in early trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Meanwhile at the pump, retail gas prices were virtually flat compared with the previous session as more Gulf Coast refineries began ramping up operations after the passage of Hurricane Ike.

Now financial crisis takes toll in Russia

2008-09-17T18:47+0200

The global financial chaos as well as the fallout from the Kremlin's war in the Caucasus have combined to plunge Russia's markets into financial turmoil.

HBOS latest financial victim

2008-09-17T18:47+0200

The global financial firestorm claimed a fresh victim Wednesday as top British mortgage lender HBOS said it was in takeover talks after a huge US bailout of insurer AIG helped underpin volatile share prices. "In the light of market speculation, the Board of HBOS plc confirms that it is in advanced....

U.S. may seek IEA's emergency gasoline supplies

2008-09-17T18:46+0200

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration was considering asking the International Energy Agency to release emergency gasoline and diesel fuel inventories into the U.S. market after Hurricanes Ike and Gustav disrupted domestic supplies, a cabinet official said on Wednesday.

Landry's Restaurants, Inc. ('LNY'/NYSE) Announces Restaurant Closures Due to Hurricane Ike and Interim Financial Results

2008-09-17T18:46+0200

HOUSTON, Sept. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Landry's Restaurants, Inc., announced that 14 Houston area restaurants remain closed as a result of Hurricane ...

MMS Reports on Ike Damage Assessments

2008-09-17T18:42+0200

Minerals Management Service (MMS) reports that as of September 15, 2008, 28 of the 3,800 offshore oil and gas production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico have been destroyed by Hurricane Ike. Several other platforms have been reported as significantly damaged; information on those facilities is being compiled and will be released in the near term.

Conrad Reports Hurricanes Gustav and Ike Impact

2008-09-17T18:42+0200

Conrad Industries, Inc. announced the impacts of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Johnny Conrad, President and CEO said “In the wake of the devastation on the Gulf Coast caused by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of these disasters. Our shipyards incurred.

Touch screen BlackBerry details leaked

2008-09-17T18:42+0200

Details of the BlackBerry Storm have been leaked around the internet, apparently coming from internal documents and one video presentation, showing how RIM plans to take on the iPhone. The handset, previously rumoured to be called "Thunder", will apparently be exclusive to Verizon in the USA and....

Coast Guard Responding to Ike Related Pollution Incidents

2008-09-17T18:42+0200

U.S. Coast Guard units operating in the Houston - Galveston area of responsibility have as of 4 p.m. Tuesday processed 51 reports of pollution and repaired or replaced 40 percent of critical aids to navigation damaged or missing in the wake of Hurricane Ike.Of the 51 pollution reports, 15 incidents.

Rowan Reports Fleet Status Following Ike

2008-09-17T18:42+0200

Rowan Companies has completed an initial aerial survey of its nine rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. All of the Company's rigs were on location, with the exception of the Rowan-Anchorage. The Company is undertaking efforts to locate the rig but believes it may have capsized and sunk at its pre-storm location offshore Louisiana.

Banking crisis strikes London

2008-09-17T18:41+0200

THE global banking crisis struck London last night, with government authorities forced to vouch for the viability of Britain's biggest home loan provider amid fears it was facing collapse.

IRAC meets on gas prices

2008-09-17T18:39+0200

The Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission is meeting Wednesday to decide whether to drop the price of gas on P.E.I.

Fidel Castro: Playing the Good Guy Role at Our Expense?

2008-09-17T18:39+0200

HAVANA (PL) - Cuban Revolution leader Fidel Castro stated that there is no final answer to the economic crisis hitting the United States, and consequently every other country in the world, but,...

Ike's US toll climbs to 55 with 6 deaths in Texas (AP)

2008-09-17T18:37+0200

AP - Hurricane Ike's death toll in the U.S. is up to 55 as authorities on the Texas coast are reporting six more fatalities from the storm.

Arroyo: RP to ride out financial storm

2008-09-17T18:35+0200

MANILA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressed confidence Wednesday the Philippines will ride out the global financial market turmoil with its strong domestic economy bolstered by reforms. In the economic forum organized by the government, President Arroyo admitted the US subprime mortgage crisis has not spared the Philippines.

"NOT VERY INTERESTING" - Haiti, New Orleans And Media Hypocrisy

2008-09-17T18:34+0200

US actor Matt Damon, center, stands by Haitian-born singer Wyclef Jean who speaks into a microphone as they visit cuts up a tree felled by severe weather from Tropical Strom Hanna in Kenscoff, Haiti. Ten people were killed as Tropical Storm Hanna socked the north of Haiti Tuesday and officials....

Storm damage may speed Cuba reforms: economists

2008-09-17T18:34+0200

“The $5 billion represents around 10.5 percent of GDP (gross domestic product),” state-run television's top economic commentator, Ariel Terrero, said on Tuesday. “Last year the economy grew 7.5 percent, which means that in just 10 days this country lost more than everything it added to the economy last year,” he said.

Houston food bank 'overwhelmed,' director says

2008-09-17T18:31+0200

Grocery store shelves are bare. Food left in refrigerators has rotted in the absence of electricity. Houston and Galveston are hungry.

Offshore drilling up to Senate after House passage

2008-09-17T18:31+0200

Offshore oil drilling, which has dominated energy debates in the presidential campaign, is now coming to the Senate.

Russia suspends stock, bond trading as market dives

2008-09-17T18:26+0200

Russian stock exchanges halted stock and bond trading Wednesday after one of the worst falls since the country's 1998 financial ...

Life a struggle for many Texans after Hurricane Ike

2008-09-17T18:23+0200

Thousands of Texas residents were still waiting for basic supplies in the aftermath Wednesday of Hurricane Ike as they struggled to cope with property damage from the weekend storm.

Fyffes profits double

2008-09-17T18:23+0200

Fyffes Plc, the world's fourth- biggest banana distributor, said first-half profit more than doubled on a gain from the settlement of an insider-trading case.

FEMA Wasted Millions In Katrina Recovery

2008-09-17T18:21+0200

The government wasted millions of dollars on four no-bid contracts it handed out for Hurricane Katrina work, including paying $20 million for a camp for evacuees that was never inspected and proved to be unusable, investigators say.

JTF, MEND clash at Shell's flow-station

2008-09-17T18:18+0200

-160908 By Yetunde Ebosele (Lagos) and Kelvin Ebiri (Port Harcourt) M ILITANTS in oil-rich Niger Delta yesterday attacked a Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) gas plant and field logistics base, the Alakiri flow station in Rivers State.

Turmoil Continues

2008-09-17T18:15+0200

Turmoil in international Markets continues despite the channeling of 85 billion dollars by the US Central Bank to AIG to prevent its collapse

Oil prices rebound on AIG bailout

2008-09-17T18:14+0200

Still, recent rallies often have been followed by sharp selloffs as oil market traders try to wring whatever money they can out of the quickly deflating oil bubble. Wednesday's oil gain was energized by the bailout of AIG. The Federal Reserve on Tuesday agreed to pump $85-billion in taxpayer money into the insurance giant in return for a 79.

U.S.: Strike on Yemen embassy was attempt to breach its walls

2008-09-17T18:11+0200

WASHINGTON - The United States said Wednesday that a vicious attack on its embassy in the Yemeni capital earlier in the day was a failed attempt to breach the compound's walls. ...

Russia to help Cuba build space center

2008-09-17T18:07+0200

Moscow is ready to help Cuba develop its own space center, Russia's space agency chief said on Wednesday after talks in Caracas with Venezuelan and Cuban officials, Itar-Tass news agency reported.

Cuba. U.S. bypasses embargo, sells food to Havana

2008-09-17T18:03+0200

Bypassing its trade embargo on communist Cuba, the United States yesterday announced $250 million in "farm sales" to Havana after hurricanes Gustav and Ike devastated Cuba's crops. The licences for agricultural sales, which include food and construction materials, were approved after Ike lashed Cuba....

United Church launches appeal for Caribbean hurricane relief

2008-09-17T18:03+0200

Attention News Editors: United Church launches appeal for Caribbean hurricane relief TORONTO, Sept. 17 /CNW/ - The United Church of Canada announced today that it is launching an emergency financial appeal for hurricane relief. The appeal focuses on Haiti, Cuba, and other Caribbean countries that....

Tidal surges hit Bangladesh, hundreds missing

2008-09-17T17:58+0200

Storm-whipped waves from the Bay of Bengal swept Bangladesh's vast coastline. -Reuters

Finance storm sweeps on after US$85b AIG rescue

2008-09-17T17:58+0200

Stock markets around the world focused on who might follow Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch & AIG. -AFP

Oil prices up after crude supplies fall sharply

2008-09-17T17:54+0200

NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices are rising after the government said U.S. crude supplies fell far more than expected last week.

'Flee or die' warning as Ike roars towards Texas

2008-09-17T17:52+0200

Hurricane Ike heaved towards Texas yesterday, sending the Gulf of Mexico surging into coastal communities as weather officials gave warning that residents who stayed behind in vulnerable areas "face certain death".

Hurricane Ike closes in on Texas

2008-09-17T17:52+0200

The United States is facing a potentially catastrophic storm-strike as Hurricane Ike bears down on Texas.

US braced for worst as storm kills 500

2008-09-17T17:52+0200

After ravaging the Turks and Caicos Islands, Hurricane Ike was heading towards the Bahamas, Cuba and the US Gulf Coast, as Tropical Storm Hanna continues to batter the eastern seaboard.

Ike leaves trail of ruin as it heads for Gulf

2008-09-17T17:52+0200

HURRICANE Ike moved over warm Caribbean water, off the Cuban coast last night, after blowing off roofs, toppling trees and flattening sugar cane fields like a giant lawn mower on a path toward US oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico.

Curfew ordered as clean-up begins

2008-09-17T17:52+0200

Recovery teams picked their way through debris and inundated streets in coastal Texas yesterday after Hurricane Ike flooded hundreds of miles of US coastline, cut power to millions and pummelled the oil hub of Houston.

Coordinated bombing kills 18 in crowded New Delhi shopping districts

2008-09-17T17:52+0200

A coordinated series of explosions yesterday struck a park and crowded shopping areas across New Delhi, the Indian capital, killing at least 18 people and wounding at least 61 more, officials said. A Muslim militant group claimed responsibility for the bombings.

Era of 'massive bent erection'

2008-09-17T17:52+0200

IN the week before Christmas 2003, the then Minister of State, Tom Parlon, trumpeted a proposed development for Dublin which he said would "transform" the area around Kilmainham and Heuston Station.

Florida, Caribbean Eyeing Dangerous Ike

2008-09-17T17:51+0200

Hurricane Ike slammed into Turks and Caicos as a powerful Category 4 storm, as residents in Floridan and elsewhere in the Caribbean braced for possible impact. Meanwhile, Cuba rejected U.S. aid in the wake of Gustav.

Devastated Texans Struggle To Recover

2008-09-17T17:51+0200

Hanna Brings Rain, Flooding Along Coast

2008-09-17T17:51+0200

Tropical Storm Hanna buffeted predawn tourist beaches on the North-South Carolina border Saturday at the start of a run up the Eastern Seaboard forecast to dump heavy weekend rain from Virginia to New England.

In Gulf, Bush Warns Of "Disaster Fatigue"

2008-09-17T17:51+0200

President Bush urged Americans to give money to help people recover from Hurricane Ike's battering of the Gulf Coast, warning against letting "disaster fatigue" slow donations when the need remains great.

1784 shipwreck discovered, say divers

2008-09-17T17:45+0200

The wreck of a treasure-laden ship that sank more than two centuries ago claiming the life of a famous British opera singer has been found, two divers said today.

The Nancy shipwreck of 1784 is 'found'

2008-09-17T17:45+0200

A shipwreck which has eluded treasure hunters for more than 200 years has been found two divers have claimed.

Nigeria militants threaten broader "oil war" in delta

2008-09-17T17:37+0200

17 Sep 2008 15:09:39 GMT Source: Reuters (Adds analyst comments, edits) By Austin Ekeinde PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Nigerian militants threatened on Wednesday to broaden their "oil war" to offshore oilfields ...

Galveston stops 'look and leave' policy

2008-09-17T17:37+0200

Galveston residents are no longer allowed back on the devastated island after officials shelved a "look and leave" policy Wednesday because so many people tried to get into the city.

Nigeria militants threaten broader "oil war" in delta (Reuters)

2008-09-17T17:36+0200

Reuters - Nigerian militants threatened on Wednesday to broaden their "oil war" to offshore oilfields and announced attacks on a crude oil pipeline in the Niger Delta and another Shell-operated facility.

Myanmar: ECHO donates critical funds for WFP's protracted relief operations

2008-09-17T17:32+0200

YANGON – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a donation of US$1.9 million from the European Community's Humanitarian Office (ECHO) which will be used for food assistance operations in Northern Rakhine State (NRS) in Myanmar. Heightened vulnerability and chronic poverty in the....

Oil prices up after crude supplies fall sharply

2008-09-17T17:31+0200

NEW YORK — Oil prices are rising after the government said U.S. crude supplies fell far more than expected last week. The Energy Information Administration said Monday that U.S. crude stocks fell by 6.3 million barrels for the week ending Sept. 12, much bigger than the 3.

Christofias’ settler remark raises storm

2008-09-17T17:30+0200

By Elias Hazou President Christofias’ remarks last week on the number of Turkish settlers remaining post-settlement have sparked a huge row, with critics slamming the head of state as a poor negotiator. Diko deputy Nicholas Papadopoulos, son of the former President, unleashed an all-out assault on....

Yemen: 16 dead in US Embassy attack

2008-09-17T17:30+0200

None of those killed embassy workers; Islamic Jihad in Yemen claims bombing, threatens more attacks.

Officials: 16 dead after U.S. Embassy in Yemen hit by car bomb

2008-09-17T17:29+0200

Suspected militants armed with automatic weapons, rocket-propelled grenades and at least one suicide car bomb assaulted the U.S. ...

It's payback time

2008-09-17T17:26+0200

Reserve Bank governor says it is time for Australians to stop their big-spending ways.

Villar undercuts Lacson attack with Erap dinner

2008-09-17T17:24+0200

By Christine F. Herrera BELEAGUERED Senate President Manuel Villar wined and dined with deposed President Joseph Estrada at the old Laurel ...

Shell accused of 'project splitting'

2008-09-17T17:24+0200

ANTI-SHELL protesters yesterday accused the company of "development by stealth" and "project splitting" as they reacted to further changes to the controversial site in Mayo.

RP banks caught holding collapsed Lehman notes

2008-09-17T17:24+0200

By Eileen A. Mencias and Lawrence Agcaoili AT least three local banks have set aside funds to cover billions in potential losses resulting ...

In brief: Six thought dead in bridge collapse

2008-09-17T17:24+0200

Soldiers and rescuers are searching for victims of a bridge collapse along the banks of a raging river, as Typhoon Sinlaku churns toward Japan.

Giants of Wall Street come tumbling down

2008-09-17T17:24+0200

Shares tumbled across the globe yesterday as US banking giant Lehman Brothers became the biggest victim of the worldwide credit crisis.

Security was tight but the bad news still got in

2008-09-17T17:24+0200

Another happy soul was Transport Minister Noel Dempsey , who practically skipped into the hotel. It was a "wonderful" day, he said. Despite the grim portents pouring forth from the US ? "Wonderful news," babbled Noel delightedly. So everything's glowing in Noel's own world? "Everything," he concluded to the bemusement of his audience.

Cowen delivers gloomiest prediction yet to the faithful

2008-09-17T17:24+0200

Taoiseach Brian Cowen yesterday delivered his darkest assessment of the economy to date as he warned ordinary people will suffer from the tough decisions ahead.

Wetter, warmer and wild times lie ahead

2008-09-17T17:24+0200

IRELAND can expect to see average temperatures rise by over three degrees by the end of the century as a consequence of global warming, Met Eireann warned yesterday.

Nervous Investors Rattled by Lehman

2008-09-17T17:23+0200

The markets took another hit Monday as grim economic news from the United States and a fall in crude oil prices sent banking and energy shares tumbling once again, after they had staged something of a recovery on Friday.

Sechin Takes Team to Venezuela

2008-09-17T17:23+0200

Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin arrived in Venezuela on Tuesday on the second leg of a Latin American tour aimed at boosting economic ties.

Markets Post Record Single-Day Losses

2008-09-17T17:23+0200

The ruble-denominated MICEX Index fell by 17.5 percent Tuesday, a single-day record, as the country’s oil-driven stock market was severely battered by the global economic hurricane spreading from the United States.

Tropical Troparyovsky

2008-09-17T17:23+0200

One of the city's most beautiful, but least known parks, is the Troparyovsky Forest. It stretches into the far southwest of the city, yet is less than half an hour by metro from the center of town. The park boasts lush vegetation, including banks of wild summer flowers, maple trees and the sinister....

Food that is a little too fast

2008-09-17T17:22+0200

Provided by 7DAYS.ae An Australian pizza delivery man gave fast food a new meaning when he was caught, and fined, for driving 53kph over the speed limit. The 20-year-old man, driving on a provisional driver’s licence, said he was speeding because he was 20 minutes late with his delivery in the tropical northern town of Townsville.

Headline: RP will weather crisis

2008-09-17T17:21+0200

THE GOVERNMENT YESTERDAY SOUGHT to assuage concerns over increased turmoil in global financial markets, insisting that the economy remained sound and that local institutions were prepared to weather the crisis.

Lynn Spears' Book Is No Bombshell

2008-09-17T17:20+0200

The day before Lynn Spears' memoir "Through the Storm" about her famous daughters Britney and Jamie Lynn Spears was to be released, the Spears women, along with Jamie Lynn's 3-month-old baby Maddie, were photographed sitting on the curb outside Britney's Los Angeles home looking relaxed and affectionate with smiles on their faces.

Thousands Rescued in Texas as Ike Strikes

2008-09-17T17:18+0200

GALVESTON, Texas — As teams persisted in the biggest search and rescue operation in Texas history, a new phase of the disaster wrought by Hurricane Ike was only beginning while thousands of people faced long stays in crowded shelters because their homes were damaged or destroyed.

Micex Falls Amid Global Storm

2008-09-17T17:18+0200

MOSCOW — Russia’s Micex Index slumped, led by Russia’s biggest banks, as global credit market turmoil pushed Lehman Brothers into bankruptcy and Merrill Lynch to accept a takeover.

Texans warned to stay away from areas hit by Hurricane Ike

2008-09-17T17:17+0200

'It's going to take weeks and months to get this place cleaned up,' Galveston City Manager Steve LeBlanc says. The road leading onto this barrier island was a jumble of crushed homes, splintered boat docks and mounds of sand. City officials who had ordered residents to leave ahead of Hurricane Ike....

Israel's Kadima voting for new leader

2008-09-17T17:17+0200

Two members of the Cabinet of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert -- Tzipi Livni and Shaul Mofaz -- are the chief candidates to succeed him at the centrist party's helm. Members of Israel's ruling party head for the polls today to elect a new leader, pitting a top peace negotiator against a tough-talking....

A bird's-eye view of Hurricane Ike's handiwork along Texas coast

2008-09-17T17:17+0200

Coast Guardsmen get a searing look at what's left standing, and what isn't, as they assess damage from the air. The big orange Jayhawk chopper banked hard to the left, revealing what remained of a stretch of beach on the Bolivar Peninsula south of Houston.

UPDATE 1-NYMEX natgas up 5 pct early on crude, damage fears

2008-09-17T17:17+0200

NEW YORK NEW YORK, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Natural gas futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange rallied about 5 percent early Wednesday, backed by a firmer ...

Command Center Deploys Hundreds of Workers Daily in Aftermath of Hurricane Ike

2008-09-17T17:17+0200

Command Center, Inc. (OTCBB:CCNI), an emerging provider of on-demand, reliable labor solutions, announced that its rapid-response program, Command-on-Demand, ...

Gen. Ray Odierno takes command of U.S. troops in Iraq

2008-09-17T17:17+0200

Odierno focuses on provincial elections and the strength of Iraqi forces as Gen. David Petraeus leaves to take control of the U.S. Central Command. Army Gen. Ray Odierno took command of American troops here Tuesday with words that made it clear he wants the Iraqis to take a bigger role in security....

Hurricane Ike holdouts band together

2008-09-17T17:17+0200

Survivors who defied mandatory evacuation orders find themselves stranded on Bolivar Peninsula, which is now an island. Still tough and stalwart at 80, Claude Kahla survived Hurricane Ike. His hardware store did not.

Stormy weather

2008-09-17T17:13+0200

Asif Ali Zardari becomes president with Pakistan-US relations at their lowest point in seven years, writes Graham Usher in Islamabad

A decade of infamy

2008-09-17T17:13+0200

International solidarity committees are speaking out in 109 countries against the continued detention of the Cuban Five, writes Faiza Rady

The gloves come off

2008-09-17T17:13+0200

With the race to the White House now starting in earnest, McCain's choice of running mate reveals much about Republican strategy, writes James Zogby

Obituary: Field Marshal Abdel-Halim Abu Ghazala (1930-2008)

2008-09-17T17:13+0200

President Hosni Mubarak attended Abu Ghazala's funeral last Sunday, alongside senior officials and military commanders, some of whom worked closely with Abu Ghazala when he was minister of defence and war production, later deputy prime minister and then assistant to the president.

Rescue operations continue after Ike strike

2008-09-17T17:11+0200

RESCUE crews in high-wheel trucks, helicopters and boats ventured out to pluck people from their homes in an all-out search for thousands of Texans who stubbornly ignored warnings of “certain death” and tried to ride out Hurricane Ike.

Hurricane Ike wipes out Texas neighbourhoods

2008-09-17T17:11+0200

Thousands of victims of Hurricane Ike huddled in shelters for what could be weeks and others queued wearily for food, water, ice and petrol as the misery of the disaster along the Texas coast became increasingly clear.

'Car bomb' blast outside US embassy

2008-09-17T17:11+0200

EXPLOSIONS and gunfire were heard in the vicinity of the US embassy in San’a, the capital of Yemen, today, a security official said.

Obama prepares to unleash Biden on McCain

2008-09-17T17:11+0200

DEMOCRATIC presidential candidate Barack Obama temporarily toned down his campaign as Hurricane Ike made its devastating sweep across Texas, while his running mate Joe Biden prepared to take on a more prominent role in criticising his old friend and now rival, Republican John McCain.

US stocks plummet amid credit crisis

2008-09-17T17:10+0200

United States stocks were in a dramatic sell-off on Monday morning amid a widening credit crisis.

Texas rushes Ike relief as health crisis looms

2008-09-17T17:10+0200

Texas officials warned on Monday of a possible health crisis and urged thousands to leave the island city of Galveston.

No meeting as Anwar 'will make up stories'

2008-09-17T17:10+0200

Malaysia PM Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Anwar would not be seeking meeting if he had enough MPs behind him. -NST

Nigeria militants threaten broader 'oil war' in delta

2008-09-17T17:10+0200

Nigerian militants threatened on Wednesday to broaden their "oil war" to offshore oilfields.

Global market crisis: 'SA will weather the storm'

2008-09-17T17:10+0200

SA financial markets have not been shielded from a global market crisis, but will weather the storm, Treasury Director General Lesetja Kganyago says.

Bush pledges swift aid to hurricane-hit Texas

2008-09-17T17:10+0200

United States President George Bush pledged swift federal aid for millions of storm-struck Texans on Tuesday.

Taiwan typhoon toll rises to 12

2008-09-17T17:10+0200

TAIPEI, Sept 17 (Reuters) - A slow-moving typhoon that hit Taiwan over the weekend, dumping up to 1,400 mm (55 inches) of rain in some areas, killed 12 people and left 10 missing in a tunnel collapse, mudslides and raging rivers, officials said. Typhoon Sinlaku hit Taiwan on Saturday with wind gusts as high as 162 kph (101 mph).

Oil rebounds after 2-day tumble

2008-09-17T17:10+0200

(AP) _ Oil prices rebounded Wednesday as traders viewed a two-day $10 drop as overdone and driven more by recent market jitters than by fundamentals. Sentiment got a boost on prices rebounded Wednesday in Asia as traders viewed a two-day $10 drop as overdone and driven more by market jitters than by fundamentals.

Woffles: My wife is 'plain', 'boring', 'one-track minded'

2008-09-17T17:10+0200

One's flashy, the other is quiet. But their love for films brought Woffles Wu and wife Lim Juay Yong together.

Bali is not just Kuta Beach

2008-09-17T17:10+0200

Bali's natural beauty is another reason why tourists keep returning to this island paradise. -NST

Taiwan typhoon toll rises to 12

2008-09-17T17:10+0200

Slow-moving Typhoon Sinlaku, which hit Taiwan over the weekend, dumping up to 1 400mm of rain in some areas, killed 12 people.

Broncos inquiry hinges on consent

2008-09-17T17:09+0200

THE police investigation into three Brisbane Broncos footballers alleged to have sexually assaulted a woman in a nightclub toilet on Saturday night will centre on conflicting accounts of whether consent was given to the players.

UBS takes another hit

2008-09-17T17:07+0200

The Swiss stock exchange was seeing red for the second consecutive day, with banks – notably UBS – and insurance companies feeling the brunt of investors' panic.

Irish banks could weather economic storm

2008-09-17T17:06+0200

THE collapse of Lehman Brothers after 158 years in investment banking has added to the growing credit crunch horror story.

Divers tackle debris as Ike recovery gears up (AP)

2008-09-17T17:06+0200

AP - Divers prepared Wednesday to clear debris clogging navigation routes into Houston and crews kept up the search for bodies on the coast, as residents entered a fifth day after Hurricane Ike without reliable access to power or gasoline.

Tidal surges hit Bangladesh

2008-09-17T17:05+0200

Storm-whipped waves have swept Bangladesh's vast coastline leaving two children dead and thousands marooned.

10 dead in car bombing at US Embassy in Yemen

2008-09-17T17:01+0200

A car bomb exploded at the front gate of the U.S. Embassy in Yemen's capital Wednesday, killing six Yemeni guards and four civilians, officials said.

Tidal surges hit Bangladesh

2008-09-17T17:01+0200

Storm-whipped waves have swept Bangladesh's vast coastline leaving two children dead and thousands marooned.

Estonian Air fights its corner

2008-09-17T16:58+0200

TALLINN - Estonian Air, the national carrier, showed that it has weathered the economic storm so far by opening new domestic routes and announcing increased passenger numbers. The airline began selling tickets on the Tallinn-Kuressaare route in all its sales channels, including 13 sales representa

10 dead in Yemen US embassy blasts

2008-09-17T16:51+0200

Interior ministry staff and civilians killed as five explosions rock US complex in Sana'a

Steinmeier Bares Teeth In Run For Germ. Chancellor

2008-09-17T16:43+0200

She knows her office is only lent to her by voters and voters will award the job anew in September 2009.

Financial storm rages with HBOS as latest victim (AFP)

2008-09-17T16:30+0200

AFP - The global financial firestorm claimed a fresh victim Wednesday as top British mortgage lender HBOS said it was in takeover talks after a huge US bailout of insurer AIG helped underpin volatile share prices.

Gov't. First Year Review: Major Emphasis on Roads and Bridges

2008-09-17T16:30+0200

The Ministry of Transport and Works, under Minister Michael Henry, has been upgrading and repairing the road network, building bridges and started plans to re-introduce the railway system, since the new Government was sworn into office in September last year.

Financial storm rages with HBOS as latest victim (AFP)

2008-09-17T16:30+0200

Financial storm rages with HBOS as latest victim

2008-09-17T16:27+0200

LONDON (AFP) - The global financial firestorm claimed a fresh victim Wednesday as top British mortgage lender HBOS said it was in takeover talks after a huge US bailout of insurer AIG helped underpin volatile share prices.

Karl Wolf nominated for prestigious MTV EMA Award

2008-09-17T16:21+0200

Dubai-raised R&B singer, songwriter and producer Karl Wolf has been nominated as “Best MTV Arabia New Act” at the prestigious EMA music awards (MTV’s European Music Awards). Fans across the globe are voting for Karl to represent Middle East talent in Liverpool on November 6.

National Algae Association to Extend Early Registration Due to Hurricane Ike

2008-09-17T16:17+0200

The National Algae Association announced early today that it had agreed to extend early registration for its next Commercialization Business Roundtable, ...

Houston food bank 'overwhelmed,' director says

2008-09-17T16:16+0200

Grocery store shelves are bare. Food left in refrigerators has rotted in the absence of electricity. Houston and Galveston are hungry.

Hurricanes cause 5-billion USD damage for Cuba

2008-09-17T16:13+0200

17/09/2008 08:51 PM Preliminary report disclosed by the Cuban government on September 16 showed that the damage caused by hurricanes Gustav and Ike to the country has reached almost 5 billion USD.

The contagion spreads: Russia

2008-09-17T16:13+0200

RUSSIA: 'Full-fledged financial panic' sees stocks dive 11.5% before trading is halted

Finance storm sweeps on, HBOS is fresh victim

2008-09-17T16:09+0200

LONDON - The global financial firestorm claimed a fresh victim Wednesday as top British mortgage lender HBOS said it was in takeover talks after a huge US bailout of insurer AIG helped underpin volatile share prices.

Industry watchers say 3 in 10 retail investors are pulling out of markets

2008-09-17T16:09+0200

SINGAPORE: Industry watchers say that 3 in 10 retail investors are pulling out of the markets to cut their losses.

Ike's Homeless Bide Time In Shelters Across Texas

2008-09-17T16:09+0200

All over Texas, the Red Cross has opened shelters to house people whose homes were destroyed in Hurricane Ike. About 42,000 people slept in the shelters Saturday, and many are still using the cots lined up in gymnasiums, schools and churches including a church in Brazoria, a small town about an hour south of Houston.

Russian Markets Suspend Trading Amid Fall

2008-09-17T16:07+0200

MOSCOW (Reuters) -- Russian bourses have halted stock and bond trading, amid the worst falls since the country's 1998 financial collapse and the Finance Ministry pledged a total of $60 billion of funds to help local banks.Investors have dumped Russia ...

SA to weather global crisis

2008-09-17T16:05+0200

South Africa's markets will weather the impact of the global financial crisis thanks to a strong regulatory framework, says the Treasury director-general.

Nigeria: Govt Closes TV Channel Over Yar'Adua Report

2008-09-17T16:03+0200

Early yesterday, editors thought they had got the story of the year when a "newsflash" was sent to their e-mail addresses from "Newsagency Nigeria", through newsagency nig@yahoo.com, announcing that "President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua may resign after carbinate (cabinet) reshuffle, on health ground".

Officials to Evacuees: You Can't Go Home

2008-09-17T15:56+0200

As traffic snarled on I-45 South Tuesday, with residents attempting to take advantage of the "look and leave" policy before a dusk curfew, waiting motorists became increasingly frustrated when they were told they had to turn around and that the island would be closed.

Bush surveys damage in Texas

2008-09-17T15:55+0200

More Hurricane Ike relief was on the way for evacuees Tuesday as tens of thousands of people waited for food, water and ice, for the electricity to return to their homes or for their first hot meal and shower. President Bush viewed devastated areas, and urged people across the country to donate money to speed recovery.

Midwest underwater months after 1st deluge

2008-09-17T15:55+0200

Just a few months after near-record flooding across the Midwest, roads were underwater again Tuesday in Missouri and elsewhere as utility crews were struggling to restore electrical service to thousands of customers after enduring the remnants of Hurricane Ike.

Arroyo: Philippines to ride out financial storm (8:52 p.m.)

2008-09-17T15:51+0200

Wednesday, September 17, 2008 Arroyo: Philippines to ride out financial storm (8:52 p.m.) MANILA - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo expressed confidence Wednesday the country will ride out the global financial market turmoil with its strong domestic economy bolstered by reforms. The U.S.

16 Dead in Car Bomb, Ambush at US Embassy in Yemen

2008-09-17T15:50+0200

SAN'A, Yemen, (AP) – Suspected militants armed with automatic weapons, rocket-propelled grenades and at least one suicide car bomb assaulted the U.S. Embassy in the Yemeni capital on Wednesday.

16 dead in car bomb, ambush at US Embassy in Yemen

2008-09-17T15:45+0200

Oil rebounds after two-day tumble to sit just under US$94 a barrel - KBS Radio - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-17T15:09+0200

Hurricane Ike has left Texas devastated and many people without houses to live in. Some are taking refuge at Red Cross shelters across the state. Cots are still lined up in gymnasiums, churches and schools, including in the small town of Brazoria.

'Rough conditions' for Ike survivors

2008-09-17T15:05+0200

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff was due back in hurricane-ravaged Texas to check on recovery efforts Wednesday as misery dragged on for many going into their fifth day after Ike.

Nigeria militants threaten broader "oil war" in delta (Reuters)

2008-09-17T14:58+0200

Arroyo: Philippine economy to withstand external shocks

2008-09-17T14:53+0200

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Wednesday expressed her confidence in the country's economy although it has been "hit hard" by the global economic crisis in the past year. During her mid-year briefing on the national economy, President Arroyo said the country's economic fundamentals....

Texas to Ike Holdouts: Please Leave Now

2008-09-17T14:49+0200

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff was due back in hurricane-ravaged Texas for a second time to check on recovery efforts Wednesday as misery dragged on for many going into their fifth day after Ike. In Houston, most residents in the nation's fourth-largest city remained without power,....

Chick-lit For Teens: Empowering or Shallow?

2008-09-17T14:49+0200

They are eager, focused –- and all dressed up. Lisi Harrison is the leader of this clique. She created it with her best-selling book series that has taken young American women by storm. Watch the story tonight on "Nightline" at 11:35 p.m. ET At a recent bookstore signing for "The Clique" series in Laguna Beach, Calif.

Russia Suspends Stock,Bond Trading As Market Dives

2008-09-17T14:41+0200

First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said further measures would be announced throughout the day.

Templeton's Mobius sees bargains amid turmoil

2008-09-17T14:38+0200

Attractive stocks available in Brazil, Thailand and Turkey, investment manager says

Oil rebounds in broad market rally after AIG rescue

2008-09-17T14:36+0200

LONDON - Oil rebounded on Wednesday after the $85 billion US government rescue of insurer American International Group appeared to reassure global financial markets. US light crude for October delivery was up $2.70 at $93.85 a barrel at 1044 GMT after a session high of $95.00.

Time to panic? Actually, it’s really not

2008-09-17T14:35+0200

There is not enough room on page one of the nation's newspapers for all of this week's news. Any of the major business stories — the Lehman bankruptcy, a sale of Merrill Lynch, AIG capital needs, plummeting oil prices or new Fed lending facilities — could be above-the-fold headline news.

Workers from 31 states converge on Texas to restore electricity

2008-09-17T14:35+0200

In the wake of Hurricane Ike, officials fear it could take weeks to restore power in some places, including Galveston and the towns near the Louisiana border.

Death toll rises in storm-hit Texas amid health hazard

2008-09-17T14:35+0200

The death toll in the wake of Hurricane Ike rose to 30 in Texas on Tuesday as officials in Galveston warned of a growing health threat on the island city that took a direct hit from the huge storm.

'Dengue" cases increasing rapidly in India's national capital

2008-09-17T14:34+0200

With twenty fresh cases of dengue were reported in India's national capital city, Delhi on Wednesday, taking the number of infected people to 294 this season. Talking to IRNA, Dr. Niha Ranjan Das, Deputy Municipal Health Officer of Municipal Corporation of Delhi said: "Twenty more patients tested....

INTERNATIONAL: Should force be used to provide aid?

2008-09-17T14:32+0200

EVENT: The UN principle known as the 'responsibility to protect' (R2P) -- what it is and why it matters. SIGNIFICANCE: The R2P principle was endorsed by heads of state and government at the United Nations World Summit in 2005, but claims that it represents a new 'norm' of international conduct have been strongly resisted.

Stella shows she's in great shape

2008-09-17T14:31+0200

London Fashion Week might have been criticised for a lack of healthy role models but there were plenty of athletic bodies at Stella McCartney's show of sportswear for Adidas which opened yesterday's proceedings.

'I only read the Bible'

2008-09-17T14:31+0200

Mariah Carey says the only book she ever reads is the Bible, and is worried about her former producer's book.

World › 10 dead in car bombing at U.S. Embassy in Yemen

2008-09-17T14:30+0200

A car bomb exploded at the front gate of the U.S. Embassy in Yemen's capital Wednesday, killing six Yemeni guards and four civilians, officials said.…

Miserable post-Ike life won't change soon for many (AP)

2008-09-17T14:27+0200

AP - Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff was due back in hurricane-ravaged Texas for a second time to check on recovery efforts Wednesday as misery dragged on for many going into their fifth day after Ike.

Finance storm sweeps on after AIG's $85bln rescue (AFP)

2008-09-17T14:27+0200

AFP - The global finance storm swept up a new victim Wednesday as HBOS, Britain's biggest mortgage lender, was reportedly forced into takeover talks after the US government's 85-billion-dollar rescue of AIG.

Offshore drilling up to Senate after House passage

2008-09-17T14:24+0200

Offshore oil drilling, which has dominated energy debates in the U.S. presidential campaign, is now coming to the Senate.

Finance storm sweeps on after AIG's $85bln rescue

2008-09-17T14:22+0200

LONDON (AFP) - The global finance storm swept up a new victim Wednesday as HBOS, Britain's biggest mortgage lender, was reportedly forced into takeover talks after the US government's 85-billion-dollar rescue of AIG.

Ike's Moldy Aftermath Is an Allergy Hazard

2008-09-17T14:19+0200

And if the aftermath of Katrina is any indication, this mold will likely leave some gasping for air and others with a new allergy to contend with. "There's going to be lots and lots of mold," said Harriet Burge, a former professor at Harvard University and the University of Michigan who now serves....

Typhoon toll rises, more missing

2008-09-17T14:11+0200

Typhoon Sinlaku's death toll has reportedly risen to 11 with another 11 people missing after the powerful storm lashed the island.

10 dead in Yemen US embassy blasts

2008-09-17T14:08+0200

Interior ministry staff and civilians killed as two explosions rock US complex in Sana'a

New Pacific disaster risk management website launched

2008-09-17T14:07+0200

The Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission is launching a new disaster risk management website for the Pacific region.

Pump prices down in Nova Scotia

2008-09-17T14:01+0200

The price of gasoline is down by about 10 cents a litre as the province uses its interrupter clause.

10 dead in car bombing at US Embassy in Yemen (AP)

2008-09-17T13:57+0200

AP - A car bomb exploded at the front gate of the U.S. Embassy in Yemen's capital Wednesday, killing six Yemeni guards and four civilians, officials said. No American personnel were reported hurt.

Ike's Texas-Sized Tales Of Survival

2008-09-17T13:53+0200

Many years from now, a small group of Hurricane Ike survivors will probably still be telling the story of how, on the night the storm flattened their island, they took sanctuary in a church - with a lion.

Oil rebounds after 2-day tumble

2008-09-17T13:53+0200

Oil prices rebounded Wednesday as traders viewed a two-day $10 drop as overdone and driven more by recent market jitters than by fundamentals.

US Embassy in Yemen hit by car bomb

2008-09-17T13:48+0200

A car bomb targeting the U.S. Embassy hit the front gate of the compound in Yemen's capital on Wednesday, causing unspecified casualties, a U.S. spokesman said.

10 dead in car bombing at US Embassy in Yemen

2008-09-17T13:45+0200

SAN'A, Yemen (AP) -- A car bomb exploded at the front gate of the U.S. Embassy in Yemen's capital Wednesday, killing six Yemeni guards and four civilians, officials said. No American personnel were reported hurt....

Two explosions rock US embassy in Yemen

2008-09-17T13:45+0200

Gunfire heard after car bombing at gates of compound in Sana'a. Two explosions have rocked the US embassy in Yemen causing an unknown number of casualties, an embassy spokesman said today. Heavy gunfire was also heard near the compound, in the country's capital, Sana'a.

Automakers likely will get $25 billion in federal loans

2008-09-17T13:45+0200

WASHINGTON — Among the few bills likely to actually become law before Congress closes shop for the elections is a plan to give struggling U.S. automakers $25 billion in federal loans.

Oil rebounds after $10 drop

2008-09-17T13:44+0200

SINGAPORE — Oil prices rebounded Wednesday as traders viewed a two-day $10 (U.S.) drop as overdone and driven more by recent market jitters than by fundamentals. Sentiment got a boost on news that the U.S. Federal Reserve agreed to provide an $85-billion emergency loan to rescue insurance giant....

16 said killed in car bombing at U.S. embassy in Yemen

2008-09-17T13:41+0200

At least 16 people were reported killed Wednesday in a car bomb attack outside the heavily fortified U.S. embassy in the Yemen capital of Sanaa. A Yemeni security source said that six attackers were among the dead in a series of explosions triggered by the initial bomb. ...

Deadly explosions rock US embassy in Yemen

2008-09-17T13:35+0200

• Interior ministry staff and civilians killed• Children reported wounded at nearby housing complex

Yemen: 10 killed in blast near US Embassy

2008-09-17T13:34+0200

At least one car bomb hits front gate of American embassy in San'a, killing six guards and four civilians outside, US spokesman and senior Yemeni security official say

U.S. mood lifts, but worries remain: Reuters poll

2008-09-17T13:34+0200

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Americans remain worried about the U.S. economy and their personal finances, but their outlook brightened for the second consecutive month, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday.

Yemen: 10 killed in blast near US Embassy

2008-09-17T13:31+0200

At least one car bomb hits front gate of American embassy in San'a, killing six guards and four civilians outside, US spokesman and senior Yemeni security official say

Life a struggle for many in Texas after Hurricane Ike

2008-09-17T13:30+0200

Thousands of Texas residents were still waiting for basic supplies in the aftermath Wednesday of Hurricane Ike as they struggled to cope with property damage from the weekend storm.

Yemen: 16 dead in US Embassy bombing

2008-09-17T13:29+0200

None of those killed embassy workers; Islamic Jihad in Yemen claims bombing, threatens more attacks.

Official: 10 Dead in Attack on US Embassy in Yemen

2008-09-17T13:27+0200

SAN'A, Yemen, (AP) – A car bomb targeting the U.S. Embassy hit the front gate of the compound in Yemen's capital Wednesday, a U.S. spokesman said. A senior Yemeni security official said six Yemeni

U.S. mood lifts, but worries remain: Reuters poll (Reuters)

2008-09-17T13:25+0200

Reuters - Americans remain worried about the U.S. economy and their personal finances, but their outlook brightened for the second consecutive month, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday.

At least 10 killed in Embassy attack

2008-09-17T13:23+0200

At least 10 people died as terrorists exploded a huge car bomb followed by a machine gun attack on the US Embassy in Yemen today, an Embassy spokeswoman said.

Officials: 10 dead after U.S. Embassy in Yemen hit by car bomb

2008-09-17T13:22+0200

A car bomb targeting the U.S. Embassy hit the front gate of the compound in Yemen's capital on Wednesday, causing unspecified ...

Price of oil rebounds after two-day tumble

2008-09-17T13:20+0200

Oil prices rebounded Wednesday in Asia as traders viewed a two-day $10 drop as overdone and driven more by market jitters than by fundamentals.

Senate, Reps Bicker Over Constitution Amendment

2008-09-17T13:19+0200

By Adetutu Folasade-Koyi, Snr Correspondent, Abuja Crisis looms as the House of Representatives is poised for a showdown with the Senate over a scheduled inauguration of the Joint Constitution Review Committee (JCCR). Senate President, David Mark, had announced on resumption on September 9 after a....

Mark Set To Juggle Senate Committees

2008-09-17T13:19+0200

By Adetutu Folasade-Koyi, Snr Correspondent, Abuja Chairman of the Senate Selection Committee, David Mark, has concluded plans to restructure the 53 standing committees, exactly two months after the Appeal Court in Jos, Plateau State, upheld his election as Senate President.

Oil Rebounds Near $95 after Sell-Off on AIG Rescue - Asharq Alawsat - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-17T13:13+0200

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil rebounded to nearly $95 a barrel on Wednesday, after two days of free fall, as an $85 billion bailout of American International Group sparked a relief rally on Wall Street. Fresh attacks on Nigerian oil installations and supply disruptions in the United States after....

Nigeria militants threaten broader "oil war" in delta - Reuters Nigeria - Fastnews Nigerian Oil & Gas News

2008-09-17T13:13+0200

(Adds pipeline attack) By Austin Ekeinde PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Nigerian militants threatened on Wednesday to broaden their "oil war" to offshore oilfields and announced attacks on a crude oil pipeline in the Niger Delta and another Shell-operated facility.

Planet Resource Recovery, Inc. Weathers Hurricane Ike

2008-09-17T13:13+0200

Planet Resource Recovery, Inc. (Pink Sheets:PRRY), developer, manufacturer and marketer of PetroLuxus(TM), is pleased to report that both its corporate ...

Oil price rebounds to over $95 a barrel

2008-09-17T13:08+0200

Oil rebounded today after the $85 billion US government rescue of insurer American International Group appeared to reassure global financial markets.

Oil Rebounds In Market Rally After AIG Rescue

2008-09-17T13:07+0200

U.S. light crude for October delivery was up $2.77 at $93.92 a barrel at 0958 GMT after a session high of $95.00.

Yemen: 13 dead in US Embassy bombing

2008-09-17T12:59+0200

None of those killed embassy workers; Islamic Jihad in Yemen claims bombing, threatens more attacks.

Gas prices up 38% from July

2008-09-17T12:53+0200

Gas prices edged higher, rising for the eighth straight day, according to a nationwide survey of credit card swipes at gasoline stations.

Ike holdouts told to leave beach area

2008-09-17T12:48+0200

The few hundred holdouts on Texas' ravaged Bolivar Peninsula will be required to leave, and officials said Tuesday they will use emergency powers to empty the area flattened by Ike.

Nigeria militants threaten broader "oil war" in delta

2008-09-17T12:47+0200

17 Sep 2008 10:11:58 GMT Source: Reuters (Adds pipeline attack) By Austin Ekeinde PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Nigerian militants threatened on Wednesday to broaden their "oil war" to offshore oilfields and ...

Hunger's global hotspots: 17 September 2008

2008-09-17T12:47+0200

17 Sep 2008 09:41:00 GMT Source: WFP Facts, figures and the lastest updates from WFP's high profile emergencies.

Official: 10 dead in attack on US Embassy in Yemen

2008-09-17T12:44+0200

SAN'A, Yemen (AP) -- A car bomb targeting the U.S. Embassy hit the front gate of the compound in Yemen's capital Wednesday, a U.S. spokesman said. A senior Yemeni security official said six Yemeni guards and four civilians were killed....

Lynn Spears Book No Bombshell

2008-09-17T12:44+0200

14 dead in Islamic Jihad bombing of U.S. Embassy in Yemen

2008-09-17T12:41+0200

Six Yemen troops were killed in the attack on the U.S. embassy in the Yemeni capital on Wedneday morning taking the death toll to at least 14, said a Yemeni security source. ...

Petrol prices 'should follow oil'

2008-09-17T12:40+0200

Falls in the world price of oil have not been reflected at the petrol pumps, the AA has said.

Tidal Surges Hit Bangladesh, Hundreds Missing

2008-09-17T12:37+0200

Two children have drowned in Cox`s Bazar beach district, where fishing community leaders said around 400 fishermen were missing.

Chloé Leprince: Antisemitism or just bad taste?

2008-09-17T12:33+0200

Chloé Leprince: Antisemitism or just bad taste? A cartoonist's remark about Sarkozy's son has divided French opinion

Russia to help Cuba build space center

2008-09-17T12:31+0200

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Moscow is ready to help Cuba develop its own space center, Russia's space agency chief said on Wednesday after talks in Caracas with Venezuelan and Cuban officials, Itar-Tass news agency reported.

Taxpayers have $800 billion at risk so far

2008-09-17T12:24+0200

A specialist on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange directed trading yesterday at the post that handles AIG.It is still unclear how much taxpayers will end up paying to help the financial system ...

2008-09-17T12:15+0200

Sharp drop in crude prices is further fallout from the Wall St crisis. Stocks 52 Week: High, Low | Gainers & Losers: BSE, NSE | Only: Buyers, Sellers

Ike's Moldy Aftermath: Allergy Hazard?

2008-09-17T12:15+0200

Texas to Ike Holdouts: Please Leave

2008-09-17T12:15+0200

Up in Houston, most residents in the nation's fourth-largest city remained without power into Wednesday morning, making it tough to track the latest information on where to pick up supplies. For most, the electricity wasn't expected back on for at least another week.

Hip Hop & R&B

2008-09-17T12:08+0200

President George Bush Tuesday said the U.S. government will pay for debris removal from Hurricane Ike and emergency preparedness in Texas.

Russia Ready To Help Cuba Build Space Centre-Tass

2008-09-17T12:06+0200

Russian officials have said they want to renew Cuban ties that were neglected after the Soviet Union`s collapse.

VIDEO: Nigeria Militants Threaten `Oil War`

2008-09-17T12:06+0200

Some security forces in the oil industry estimate more than 100 people may have been killed in recent clashes.

Blasts rock US embassy in Yemen

2008-09-17T12:03+0200

Two explosions rocked the US embassy in Yemen this morning, an embassy spokesman said. Local television networks reported that one of the embassy buildings in the capital, Sana'a, caught fire after a car bomb exploded at the gates to the compound. A second blast detonated shortly afterwards, followed by gunfire lasting around 10 minutes.

Fed hangs tough by holding rates steady

2008-09-17T12:02+0200

Despite pressure from the financial markets to cut interest rates, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke sent a strong signal that he is hanging tough by keeping rates just where they are.

Official: US Embassy in Yemen Hit by Car Bomb

2008-09-17T11:56+0200

SAN'A, Yemen, (AP) - A car bomb targeting the U.S. Embassy hit the front gate of the compound in Yemen's capital on Wednesday, causing unspecified casualties, a U.S. spokesman said. Ryan Gliha, the

:If Banks Are Sound We Should Say So

2008-09-17T11:48+0200

Wednesday, September 17, 2008 Restoring confidence - If banks are sound we should say so THE world’s most famous hockey mom, Sarah Palin, wants creationism taught in America’s classrooms and, as unsentimental, unforgiving capitalist evolution topples masters-of-the-universe financiers, it is easy to....

Official: US Embassy in Yemen hit by car bomb

2008-09-17T11:44+0200

SAN'A, Yemen (AP) -- A car bomb targeting the U.S. Embassy hit the front gate of the compound in Yemen's capital on Wednesday, causing unspecified casualties, a U.S. spokesman said....

20,000 evacuated due to heavy rains

2008-09-17T11:43+0200

Over 20,000 people have been evacuated from Orissa's coastal districts and moved to safer places as a wind storm in the Bay of Bengal caused heavy rains and tidal waves.

Russian strategic bombers in Venezuela prepare for flight home

2008-09-17T11:40+0200

Two Russian Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers have landed at an airfield near Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, to prepare for their long flight home, a Russian Air Force spokesman said on Wednesday.

Russia begins elbowing Ukraine out from Brazil's space program

2008-09-17T11:40+0200

MOSCOW. (Yury Zaitsev for RIA Novosti) - "Germany, Brazil and Argentina have all expressed an interest in using the Ukrainian launch vehicle Cyclone-4 for orbiting their satellites," said Eduard Kuznetsov, deputy general director of Ukraine's National Space Agency. He said protocols were already drawn up for using it in 2011-2014.

Islamic Jihad in Yemen claims responsability for U.S. Embassy bombing

2008-09-17T11:39+0200

Islamic Jihad in Yemen have claimed responsability for the bombing of the U.S. Embassy in the Yemeni capital on Wednesday morning. ...

Two explosions rock US embassy in Yemen

2008-09-17T11:33+0200

Heavy gunfire was heard in the vicinity of the compound in the country's capital, San'a

US Embassy in Yemen hit by car bomb

2008-09-17T11:32+0200

Blasts, heavy gunfire heard in vicinity of American embassy in San'a; embassy spokesman reports of unspecified casualties

Blasts heard near US embassy

2008-09-17T11:29+0200

Explosions and gunfire have been heard in the vicinity of the US embassy in the Yemeni capital and police swiftly cordoned off the area.

US Embassy in Yemen hit by car bomb

2008-09-17T11:28+0200

Blasts, heavy gunfire heard in vicinity of American embassy in San'a; embassy spokesman reports of unspecified casualties

Nigerian rebels hit Shell facility

2008-09-17T11:27+0200

AFP A Nigerian militant group said it acted with a new ally to stage an attack, which destroyed a Royal Dutch Shell oil flow station, in the African nation's main producing region. As with other attacks since the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). . . .

US Embassy in Yemen hit by car bombs

2008-09-17T11:25+0200

Yemeni security official says heavy gunfire followed the two blasts; unspecified casualties reported.

Official: US Embassy in Yemen hit by car bomb (AP)

2008-09-17T11:23+0200

AP - A car bomb targeting the U.S. Embassy hit the front gate of the compound in Yemen's capital on Wednesday, causing unspecified casualties, a U.S. spokesman said.

Flood threatens West Texas border town (AP)

2008-09-17T11:23+0200

AP - A levee holding back the swelling Rio Grande near this West Texas border town is in danger of bursting as the river continues to rise.

House approves offshore drilling

2008-09-17T11:21+0200

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The House voted late Tuesday to open waters off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to oil and gas drilling but only 50 or more miles out to sea and only if a state agrees to energy dev...

Official: blasts heard near US Embassy in Yemen

2008-09-17T11:21+0200

Explosions and heavy gunfire were heard Wednesday morning near the U.S. Embassy in the Yemeni capital and police swiftly cordoned off the area, according to a government security official.

Official: US Embassy in Yemen hit by car bomb

2008-09-17T11:21+0200

A car bomb targeting the U.S. Embassy hit the front gate of the compound in Yemen's capital on Wednesday, causing unspecified casualties, a U.S. spokesman said.

Explosions, gunfire heard around U.S. Embassy in Yemen

2008-09-17T11:20+0200

Explosions and heavy gunfire were heard Wednesday morning in the vicinity of the U.S. Embassy in the Yemeni capital and police ...

Norway is a safe economic haven

2008-09-17T11:19+0200

In the present financial storm, economic analysts describe Norway as a safe haven.

Whirlwind Tour Beats Out Hurricane

2008-09-17T11:11+0200

P resident Bush yesterday toured parts of Texas devastated by Hurricane Ike, saying that government at all levels is working hard to mitigate the effects of a storm that Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff warned last week could present a "worst-case scenario."

Stocks end higher after Fed holds rates steady

2008-09-17T11:02+0200

Wall Street ended another tumultuous session with a sizable gain Tuesday, partly recovering from its worst sell-off in years after the Fed said it was keeping rates steady.

US embassy hit in Yemeni blast

2008-09-17T10:59+0200

A number of people were injured when a car bomb exploded at the front gate of the American Embassy in Yemen today, a US spokesman said.

The Orange Coalition Applied for Collapse

2008-09-17T10:58+0200

The ruling Orange Coalition of pro-president’s Our Ukraine-People’s Self-Defense and Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc ceased to exist yesterday. It was the Supreme Rada Speaker Arseny Yatsenyuk that announced the collapse. Nowadays, lawmakers have a month to build up new majority.

Fears grow for the Halifax as shares plunge ANOTHER 40% in just one hour

2008-09-17T10:56+0200

Fears for Britain's biggest mortgage lender deepened today as its shares plunged another 40 per cent. Shares in HBOS, which owns Halifax, shares have now more than halved in value in three days.

Nigeria: Country's External Reserves Intact, Says Bankers' Committee

2008-09-17T10:55+0200

The Bankers' Committee said yesterday that Nigeria's external reserves in the United States were not affected by the storm that recently hit the US financial system, thus confirming THISDAY's exclusive story of yesterday.

Death toll rises in storm-hit Texas amid health hazard

2008-09-17T10:53+0200

The death toll in the wake of Hurricane Ike rose to 30 in Texas on Tuesday. Officials in Galveston warned of a growing health threat on the island city that took a direct hit from the huge storm.

Nigeria militants threaten broader "oil war" in delta (Reuters)

2008-09-17T10:52+0200

Reuters - Nigerian militants threatened on Wednesday to broaden their "oil war" to offshore oilfields, after attacking another Shell-operated oil flow station in the Niger Delta.

Militants threaten oil war

2008-09-17T10:52+0200

NIGERIAN militants threatened to broaden their "oil war" to offshore oilfields, after attacking another Shell-operated oil flow station in the Niger Delta. 6:13pm (AEST)

'Car bomb' blast outside US Embassey

2008-09-17T10:51+0200

Explosions and gunfire were heard in the vicinity of the US Embassy in San'a, the capital of Yemen, today, a security official said.

Fuel shortages in US energy capital

2008-09-17T10:50+0200

By Sheila McNulty Published: September 16 2008 18:19 | Last updated: September 16 2008 19:37 Petrol prices were reported to have hit an unprecedented $5 a gallon around the US’s energy capital on Tuesday, as the people of Houston competed for fuel at the few stations still open after hurricane Ike.

Lombard: Victim of Lehman Logic

2008-09-17T10:50+0200

Let’s call it Lehman Logic. Take a stunning upward spike in funding costs. Add a bank with high exposure to property that could feasibly face liquidity problems. Set it against a backdrop of the sudden death of too-big-to-fail banking supervision. What do you get? A 40 per cent intra-day sell-off in shares.

US Embassy in Yemen hit by car bomb

2008-09-17T10:48+0200

A car bomb targeting the U.S. Embassy hit the front gate of the American Embassy in Yemen Wednesday morning and there were unspecified casualties, a U.S. spokesman said. read more

Nigerian oil rebels hit new Shell facility

2008-09-17T10:42+0200

AFP Lagos - A Nigerian militant group said that it acted with a new ally to stage an attack which destroyed a Royal Dutch Shell oil flow station in the African nation's main producing region. As with other attacks since the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta. . . .

Fears for the Halifax as shares plunge 40% despite $85bn bailout of U.S. insurance giant

2008-09-17T10:41+0200

Fears for Britain's biggest mortgage lender deepened today as its shares plunged another 40 per cent. Shares in HBOS, which owns Halifax, shares have now more than halved in value in three days.

Nigeria militants threaten broader "oil war" in delta

2008-09-17T10:38+0200

17 Sep 2008 08:12:53 GMT Source: Reuters (Updates oil price, adds background) By Austin Ekeinde PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Nigerian militants threatened on Wednesday to broaden their "oil war" ...

U.S. Embassy in Yemen under lockdown after explosions, gunfire heard in vicinity

2008-09-17T10:38+0200

Casualties In U.S. Embassy Attack In Yemen

2008-09-17T10:37+0200

An official at the U.S. Embassy in the Yemeni capital has told CBS News that a car bomb exploded at the gates to the complex, leaving an unclear number of people wounded or killed.

Rescuers reach scenes of devastation

2008-09-17T10:36+0200

Thousands of victims of Hurricane Ike are huddled in shelters for what could be weeks and others queued wearily for food, water, ice and petrol as the misery of the disaster

Explosions heard around US Embassy in Yemen

2008-09-17T10:31+0200

Blasts, heavy gunfire sounded in vicinity of American embassy in San'a; government security official says 'there has been a security incident'

Blasts near US embassy in Yemen

2008-09-17T10:30+0200

Embassy official confirms 'security incident' as local TV networks say building set on fire by car bomb

Nigeria militants threaten broader "oil war" in delta

2008-09-17T10:30+0200

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria (Reuters) - Nigerian militants threatened on Wednesday to broaden their "oil war" to offshore oilfields, after attacking another Shell-operated oil flow station in the Niger Delta.

Explosions heard around US Embassy in Yemen (3:44 p.m.)

2008-09-17T10:29+0200

SAN'A, Yemen (AP) - Explosions and heavy gunfire were heard Wednesday morning in the vicinity of the US Embassy in the Yemeni capital and police swiftly cordoned off the area, according to a government security official. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media, had no more details.

US Embassy in Yemen hit by car bomb

2008-09-17T10:28+0200

A US spokesman says the American Embassy in the Yemeni capital San'a was hit by a car bomb and that there are unspecified casualties.

Explosions heard around US Embassy in Yemen

2008-09-17T10:26+0200

Blasts, heavy gunfire sounded in vicinity of American embassy in San'a; government security official says 'there has been a security incident'

Nigeria: Committees - Senate Seeks Members' Input

2008-09-17T10:25+0200

The Senate leadership has asked members to raise memoranda to the Selection Committee on what they consider to be lapses in the constitution and operations of the various committees in which they have served in the last fourteen months.

Nigeria: Country Loses N12 Billion Daily as Oil Prices Tumble

2008-09-17T10:25+0200

Nigeria's oil revenue is down by N12 billion as a result of the fall in oil prices from an all time high of $147 on July 11 to $91 a barrel yesterday, Daily Trust can report.

Nigeria: Oil Prices Drop, Country's Output Falls

2008-09-17T10:25+0200

Nigeria went to bed on Monday unscathed from the raging financial storm in the United States and capital markets worldwide, but steep losses in crude oil prices signalled yesterday that the country may take a hit after all.

US Embassy in Yemen hit by car bomb (AP)

2008-09-17T10:22+0200

AP - A U.S. spokesman says the American Embassy in Yemen was hit by a car bomb and that there were unspecified casualties.

U.S. hurricane evacuees anxious about home, future

2008-09-17T10:13+0200

Hurricane Ike has disappeared from U.S. soil, but the recovery process is just beginning. For hundreds of thousands of people who evacuated their hometowns before Ike's landfall on Sept. 13, they are caught in a dilemma of being unable to go home. That is particular true for evacuees from Galveston and Houston, the two cities hit very hard by Ike.

Cuba takes step to normalise ties with EU

2008-09-17T10:10+0200

The move is a direct response to the EU foreign ministers' decision in June to lift diplomatic sanctions on Havana, which were adopted in 2003 after the jailing of 75 dissidents and the execution of three people attempting to flee to the US. The ministers took the line that member states may renew....

MEND threatens 'hurricane of violence'

2008-09-17T10:08+0200

Nigerian militants have threatened to broaden their "oil war" to offshore oilfields.

Tidal surges hit Bangladesh, hundreds missing

2008-09-17T10:07+0200

17 Sep 2008 08:00:52 GMT Source: Reuters DHAKA, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Two children drowned, about 400 fishermen were missing and thousands of people were marooned after storm-whipped waves from the Bay of Bengal swept Bangladesh's vast ...

MYANMAR: Health of cyclone-affected children improves

2008-09-17T10:07+0200

17 Sep 2008 07:43:17 GMT Source: IRIN The health of children under five in cyclone-affected Myanmar is improving, say specialists, despite huge challenges.

Public servants' super 'safe'

2008-09-17T10:07+0200

QUEENSLAND Treasurer Andrew Fraser has assured the State's public servants that their superannuation remains secure despite a $30 million exposure to collapsed US investment bank Lehman Brothers. 5:33pm (AEST)

A&L investors give backing to takeover by Spanish bank

2008-09-17T10:05+0200

Shareholders in Alliance & Leicester yesterday approved its takeover by Spain's Banco Santander after being told the deal would provide "certainty and stability#3

Fears for the Halifax as shares plunge 30% despite U.S. bank's $85bn bailout of insurance giant

2008-09-17T10:03+0200

Shares in HBOS were back under pressure today after a short-lived recovery for London's leading share index. Britain's biggest mortgage lender saw its stock suddenly plunge 30 per cent.

Oil rallies after AIG bailout - The Age - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-17T09:56+0200

Crude oil rallied 3%, bouncing off a seven-month low after the Federal Reserve extended AIG $US85 billion ($107 billion) for a nearly 80% stake and Barclays agreed to buy parts of the bankrupt Lehman Brothers. Crude oil for October delivery, which has tumbled $US10 since last Friday and over a third since mid-July, climbed $US3.

Nigeria militants threaten broader "oil war" in delta - Reuters Nigeria - Fastnews: Local Nigerian News

2008-09-17T09:56+0200

(Changes dateline, adds military comments, background) By Austin Ekeinde PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Nigerian militants threatened on Wednesday to broaden their "oil war" to offshore oilfields, after attacking another Shell-operated oil flow station in the Niger Delta.

Hurricane Ike Survivors forced out of homes so clean up can begin

2008-09-17T09:53+0200

At least 250 people who survivied Hurricane Ike on a coastal sliver of land face being forced out of their homes so crews can begin the recovery effort.

Miserable post-Ike life won't change soon for many (AP)

2008-09-17T09:51+0200

AP - Life after Ike has come to mean misery by degree for many along the Texas coast.

MYANMAR: Health of cyclone-affected children improves

2008-09-17T09:47+0200

YANGON , 17 September 2008 (IRIN) - The health of children under five in cyclone-affected Myanmar is improving, say specialists, despite huge challenges.

Official: blasts heard near US Embassy in Yemen

2008-09-17T09:44+0200

SAN'A, Yemen (AP) -- Explosions and heavy gunfire were heard Wednesday morning near the U.S. Embassy in the Yemeni capital and police swiftly cordoned off the area, according to a government security official....

U.S. approves 'farm sales' to storm-ravaged Cuba

2008-09-17T09:41+0200

Bypassing its trade embargo on Communist Cuba, the United States yesterday announced it has approved $250-million in ''farm sales'' to Havana after hurricanes Gustav and Ike devastated Cuba's crops.

THE CONTAGION SPREADS

2008-09-17T09:41+0200

The global market meltdown has triggered a flight to safety in markets around the world, but no country has been hit harder than Russia.The pummelling of energy and commodity prices, combined with a growing lack of confidence in Russia's ability to manage its economic affairs and to provide a....

Slow recovery process begins in wake of Gustav

2008-09-17T09:38+0200

Even as recovery efforts continue, it is evident that the full impact of the devastation caused by Tropical Storm Gustav is yet to be determined. While preliminary estimates put the death toll at 12, a clear picture of the overall damage to the island’s agricultural sector, road network, utility infrastructure and other areas is yet to emerge.

VIETNAM: Exploring local initiatives to confront climate change

2008-09-17T09:35+0200

17 Sep 2008 07:21:50 GMT Source: IRIN About 30 villagers gathered in a communal hall in Quang Nam Province as part of an initiative by the US non-governmental organisation, the East Meets West Foundation, to assess how climate change was affecting rural communities in the region.

Indian palm oil buyers seek deferments: Traders

2008-09-17T09:35+0200

INDIAN palm oil buyers asked Malaysian and Indonesian suppliers this week to defer 25,000 tonnes of crude palm oil meant for September delivery to October and November, Indian traders said today. “Small to medium firms are seeing a significant erosion in their margins and there has been quite a few....

Storm victims left hungry in Caribbean

2008-09-17T09:32+0200

Hurricanes a 'tremendous blow' to Haiti, Cuba food production Rice paddies in this northwest village lie submerged in pools of water, some of them the size of lakes. In the south, entire groves of plantain trees have toppled. And in the central plateau, wilted beanfields and cornfields limp in ruin....

VoxPop

2008-09-17T09:23+0200

Days after Jamaica's stunning performance at the Beijing Olympics, the Government announced that it's undertaking a massive celebration for the athletes, but Tropical Storm Gustav soon battered Jamaica causing loss of lives and widespread damage.

Offshore drilling up to Senate after House passage (AP)

2008-09-17T09:21+0200

AP - Offshore oil drilling, which has dominated energy debates in the presidential campaign, is now coming to the Senate.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008 HAVANA, Cuba (CMC) - Cuba yesterday said the damage caused by two hurricanes earlier this month could reach US$5 billion and that more than 400,000 houses had been damaged or destroyed by the storms.

2008-09-17T09:20+0200

The official Cuban news agency, Prensa Latina, said that preliminary reports indicate that Hurricanes Gustav and Ike were the most devastating in the history of the island and that 440,000 houses had been "partially or totally damaged, including the total collapse of 63,249 of them".

VIETNAM: Exploring local initiatives to confront climate change

2008-09-17T09:17+0200

QUANG NAM, 17 September 2008 (IRIN) - About 30 villagers gathered in a communal hall in Quang Nam Province as part of an initiative by the US non-governmental organisation, the East Meets West Foundation, to assess how climate change was affecting rural communities in the region.

Umfragewerte: Die Union zieht der SPD weiter davon

2008-09-17T09:07+0200

Der Wechsel in der Führungsebene der SPD hat für einen kurzzeitigen Aufschwung in der Gunst der Wähler geführt. Doch der Bonus der Erneuerung scheint verspielt. Neuen Umfragen zufolge verlieren die Sozialdemokraten an Stimmen und die Union baut ihren Vorsprung weiter aus.

NEW YORK, Sept 16, (Agencies): Stocks swung Tuesday as investors worried whether the world’s largest insurer would survive, a day after a stunning upheaval in the American financial system sent shock

2008-09-17T08:56+0200

waves through the global market, producing the worst day on Wall Street in seven years. A report saying the Federal Reserve was considering providing financing to American International Group, Inc temporarily perked up the market, but it later retreated after the Fed kept interest rates unchanged.

NEW YORK, Sept 16, (Agencies): Oil prices dropped another 5 percent to a seven-month low on Tuesday, extending the steepest two-day slide since 2004 as mounting economic turmoil sent investors fleeing

2008-09-17T08:56+0200

to safer havens. The losses came despite US supply disruptions after Hurricane Ike crashed through the Gulf of Mexico last week and left a quarter of the nation’s energy output idled. “People are getting out of commodities and getting into safer havens, like bonds,” said Andy Lebow, broker at MF Global in New York.

4 US coalition troops killed in Afghanistan

2008-09-17T08:47+0200

The U.S.-led coalition says four of its troops were killed in a roadside bomb attack in eastern Afghanistan.

Oil price rebounds to $94 on AIG bailout

2008-09-17T08:38+0200

Oil rebounded to near $94 a barrel today, after two days of free fall, as an $85 billion bailout of American International Group sparked a relief rally on Wall Street.

Supplies Scarce, Patience Thin Around Houston

2008-09-17T08:36+0200

HOUSTON, Sept. 16 -- For the past four days, since Hurricane Ike plowed across Houston, knocking down power lines and wreaking havoc, home for the Hawkins family has mostly been their Chevy Malibu in the parking lot. Their apartment, in a complex called Concord, has no electricity and is stifling in.

Oil rebounds over $3 after sell-off on AIG rescue

2008-09-17T08:35+0200

dives to seven-month low on economic turmoil * Several offshore U.S. oil platforms toppled by Ike * U.S. Federal Reserve holds rates steady (Updates prices, adds Fed decision) By Richard Valdmanis NEW * Traders eye weak demand as Gustav threat eases * Storms Hanna, Ike developing in Atlantic * U.S.

"NOT VERY INTERESTING" - Haiti, New Orleans And Media Hypocrisy

Falls in the world price of oil have not been reflected at petrol pumps, the AA has claimed. Average UK petrol prices have barely fallen in a month despite oil prices going back below $100 a barrel m...

US eases embargo on storm-hit Cuba

2008-09-17T07:14+0200

House approves offshore drilling

2008-09-17T07:14+0200

Death toll rises in storm-hit Texas amid health hazard

2008-09-17T07:14+0200

GALVESTON, Texas (Reuters) - The death toll in the wake of Hurricane Ike rose to 30 in Texas on Tuesday as officials in Galveston warned of a growing health threat on the island city that took a direc...

Shell flow station destroyed in Nigeria: militant group

2008-09-17T07:09+0200

LAGOS, (AFP) - The most prominent armed group in southern Nigeria said early Wednesday it has destroyed the Orubiri flow station operated by the Shell Petroleum Development Company in Rivers state.

Thomson Financial Europe AM at a glance share guide: Shares mixed; dollar up

2008-09-17T07:06+0200

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - U.S. SUMMARY: Shares, dollar gain Index Change Percent change *DJIA 11059.02 +141.51 +1.30 *Nasdaq 2207.90 +27.99 +1.28 ...

Wall Street gloom lifts on possible AIG rescue

2008-09-17T07:03+0200

THE US Federal Reserve pumped another $50bn into the banking system yesterday, but not in time to stop the disaster engulfing world markets. By late last night, however, at least some of the gloom had been lifted by a rally in US stocks, helped by reports that the Fed would step in to save insurance....

Wall Street fears push oil below $90 a barrel

2008-09-17T07:03+0200

Bloomberg NEW YORK — Brent crude oil futures fell yesterday, dipping below $90 a barrel and taking a two-day decline to more than $10 on concern that turmoil on Wall Street may weaken the global economy and reduce demand. Oil fell after American International Group’s credit rating was cut,....

Headlines in Major Malaysian newspapers

2008-09-17T07:02+0200

The following headlines appeared in major Malaysian newspapers on Wednesday: *** THE NEW STRAITS TIMES: - Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim is sticking to his decision to quit - Ministries working out details of new race law - Najib launches website - Ukraine's....

Stable bank sector helps Australia weather storm

2008-09-17T06:54+0200

Australia's stable banking sector will help it weather the global financial storms, the head of Australia's central bank says.

Rebel destroy Shell facility in Nigeria

2008-09-17T06:54+0200

The most prominent armed group in southern Nigeria says it has destroyed the Orubiri flow station operated by Shell in Rivers state.

National › Typhoon near islands of Okinawa

2008-09-17T06:53+0200

Typhoon Sinlaku was in the East China Sea near the islands of Okinawa Prefecture on Wednesday, threatening to approach the southern part of Kyushu around…

Ike Holdouts Will Be Forced From Home

2008-09-17T06:52+0200

About 250 people who withstood Hurricane Ike on a coastal sliver of land will be forced off it so crews can begin the recovery effort, authorities said Tuesday, vowing to invoke emergency powers to make it happen.

Oil Prices Stage a Retreat

2008-09-17T06:49+0200

In the past two months, the world�s total energy costs have dropped by more than $4 billion a day.

Oil prices fall on demand concerns - The Punch - Fastnews Nigerian Banking

2008-09-17T06:47+0200

Crude oil prices fell more than four per cent on Tuesday on rising concern that turmoil in the global financial markets will further undermine fuel demand and send investors into safer havens. The United States crude traded down $3.96 to $91.75 a barrel in afternoon trading just off a seven-month low of $90.

Adoption of indigenous technology, catalyst for speedy agric ... - Nigerian Tribune - Fastnews Nigerian Power & Steel News

2008-09-17T06:47+0200

Adoption of indigenous technology, catalyst for speedy agric development By Seye Adeniyi - updated: Wednesday 17-09-2008 Mr. Tony Egba If we think we can make headway and find a lasting and meaningful solutions to the nation’s agricultural problems without, the adoption of our indigenous....

Lessons in disaster management - Nigerian Tribune - Fastnews Nigerian Oil & Gas News

2008-09-17T06:47+0200

Lessons in disaster management updated: Wednesday 17-09-2008 When Tropical Storm Fay hit the south east coast of United States, I was next door to Cape Carnevral in Orlando, central Florida. During seven days, August 1824, 2008, 14 people died and thousands of homes plus roads were damaged, from....

US Navy seizes cocaine-laden sub off Costa Rica

2008-09-17T06:46+0200

A Costa Rican official says U.S. authorities have intercepted a submarine-like vessel packed with tons of cocaine.

Hirst sale takes art back to drawing board

2008-09-17T06:30+0200

auction of new works by Damien Hirst and throwing down a challenge to the way art is sold. More than £111m of work changed hands in the two-day auction, well above Sotheby’s estimate of £98m. Mr Hirst said that he was “exhausted and amazed that my art is selling while banks are falling”.

RP banks caught holding collapsed Lehman notes

2008-09-17T06:25+0200

By Eileen A. Mencias and Lawrence Agcaoili AT least three local banks have set aside funds to cover billions in potential losses resulting from their investments in Wall Street giant Lehman Brothers, which went bankrupt Monday.

Villar undercuts Lacson attack with Erap dinner

2008-09-17T06:25+0200

By Christine F. Herrera BELEAGUERED Senate President Manuel Villar wined and dined with deposed President Joseph Estrada at the old Laurel Mansion Saturday night, in a move widely seen as an attempt to blunt an intense attack by Senator Panfilo Lacson Jr.

House goes for offshore drilling

2008-09-17T06:15+0200

The House voted late Tuesday to open waters off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to oil and gas drilling but only 50 or more miles ...

Pizza man fined for delivering too fast

2008-09-17T06:13+0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - An Australian pizza delivery man gave fast food a new meaning when he was caught, and fined, for driving 53 km (33 miles) over the speed limit.

Deaths from Typhoon Sinlaku rise to eleven

2008-09-17T06:13+0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - Typhoon Sinlaku's death toll in Taiwan has risen to 11 with another 11 people still unaccounted for after the powerful storm lashed at the island, authorities said yesterday.

Bush to visit affected Texas areas as Ike relief rolls in

2008-09-17T06:13+0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - President George W. Bush will view storm-struck areas of Texas on Tuesday as the energy hub of Houston and other areas struggle to recover from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Ike.

Bush urges donations for Ike victims

2008-09-17T06:13+0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - U.S. President George W. Bush on Tuesday urged Americans to donate to relief funds for victims of Hurricane Ike and other deadly storms, fretting the public may have andquot;disaster fatigue.andquot;

Inspect before finding responsibility for bridge collapse: PM

2008-09-17T06:13+0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - Premier Liu Chao-schiuan did not want to talk about the responsibility for a deadly bridge collapse at Fengyuan, in which one media worker was killed with five other people reported missing and presumed dead.

U.S. regrets Cuba rejecting hurricane aid

2008-09-17T06:13+0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - The U.S. State Department said Monday it regretted that Cuba has rejected its offer of up to five million dollars in aid for the victims of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

Oil drops 4 percent on financial market turmoil

2008-09-17T06:13+0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - Oil fell more than 4 percent on Tuesday on rising concern that turmoil in global financial markets will further undermine fuel demand and send investors into safer havens.

Tough talks seen ahead in Ukraine

2008-09-17T06:13+0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - Ukraine's pro-Western coalition was dissolved on Tuesday, opening the way to tough talks on finding a viable alternative to govern the country.

Scots banks take a battering

2008-09-17T06:12+0200

A second day of tumult in the world's share markets took its toll on UK financial institutions, with Scottish giants HBOS and Royal Bank of Scotland at the forefront of another battering meted out to ...

Texas residents told to stay away

2008-09-17T06:12+0200

OFFICIALS in Texan coastal communities flattened by Hurricane Ike have begged residents to stay away, insisting that it may be months before the area has basic services like clean water.

Bolivian troops arrest governor of rebellious region

2008-09-17T06:02+0200

The governor, Leopoldo Fernández of Pando, was arrested amid growing concern in Washington over the safety of American citizens in Bolivia.

Letter: An open letter on the Hurricane Ike disaster in Turks and Caicos

2008-09-17T05:48+0200

This correspondence is being sent to you with the utmost gravity, frustration, and heaviness of spirit when I see what Hurricane Ike has done to the one piece of real estate that I call home. That is Turks & Caicos. The majority of people are left destitute with literally no roofs over their head,

Russian deputy PM visits Cuba to assess Ike damage

2008-09-17T05:48+0200

HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin made his second visit to Cuba in two months on Monday in what Cuban state-run press said was a one-day trip to evaluate hurricane damage and strengthen commercial ties. Sechin came with representatives from several ministries.

On the scene: 60 Hours in Ike-ravaged Turks and Caicos

2008-09-17T05:48+0200

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands: Within 24 hours of Hurricane Ike raging through the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) during the early-morning hours of Sunday, 7 September, staff of the Net News Group began working on a special hurricane supplement to deliver to that country.

Turks and Caicos Islander pleads with British government to intervene

2008-09-17T05:48+0200

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands: In the wake of Hurricane Ike, the conditions in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) are not improving according to some residents, and one TCIslander has reached out to the British government, pleading for immediate intervention.

Turks and Caicos governor praises progress of relief efforts

2008-09-17T05:48+0200

GRAND TURK, Turks and Caicos Islands; On Monday, Gordon Wetherell, governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) issued a statement praising the relief efforts and the progress made since Hurricane Ike delivered history-making devastation to the Islands. It is now one week since Hurricane Ike hit the TCI.

Storm damage may speed Cuba reforms, say economists

2008-09-17T05:48+0200

HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Hurricanes Ike and Gustav largely spared Cuba's main economic engines while wreaking widespread damage to the island. But the communist government may have to speed up reforms to avoid public frustration during what is likely to be a slow recovery, local economists said.

Cuba says entire sugar crop affected by hurricanes

2008-09-17T05:48+0200

HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Cuba's entire sugar crop was flattened and flooded by Hurricanes Ike and Gustav this month, according to a preliminary government report on the two storms damage to the country, broadcast by state-run television on Monday. The harvest is still three months away.

OAS reaffirms commitment to the people of Haiti

2008-09-17T05:48+0200

WASHINGTON, USA: Organization of American States’ (OAS) Assistant Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin concluded a two-day visit to Haiti, during which he expressed the Organization’s solidarity with the people of Haiti, and delivered a monetary and in-kind contribution.

House approves offshore drilling

2008-09-17T05:44+0200

The House voted late Tuesday to open waters off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to oil and gas drilling but only 50 or more miles out to sea and only if a state agrees.

Petrol hits $5 a gallon in Houston

2008-09-17T05:15+0200

Petrol prices were reported yesterday to have hit an unprecedented $5 a gallon in some areas around the US's energy capital yesterday, as people in Houston competed for fuel at the few stations open after hurricane Ike. Some power supplies in the fourth biggest US city were not expected to be....

Chertoff seeks 'direct line' in Texas

2008-09-17T05:15+0200

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff is going to Texas for a firsthand look at Hurricane Ike's aftermath and the government's ...

On Texas' coast, a scramble for basic needs amid 'chaos'

2008-09-17T05:15+0200

Even as they struggled to meet basic needs, residents along the Texas coast began putting back together the lives Hurricane Ike ...

Taiwan typhoon toll rises to 12, with 10 missing

2008-09-17T04:57+0200

17 Sep 2008 02:29:12 GMT Source: Reuters TAIPEI, Sept 17 (Reuters) - A slow-moving typhoon that hit Taiwan over the weekend, dumping up to 1,400 mm (55 inches) of rain in some areas, killed 12 people and left 10 missing in a tunnel collapse ...

In the Path of the Wall Street Hurricane

2008-09-17T04:57+0200

The benchmark KOSPI plummeted 90.17 points on Tuesday to fall below the 1,400 level. The 6.1 percent drop caused W51 trillion (US$1=W1,160) to disappear from the market. Most Asian stock markets dropped between 4 and 7 percent on Tuesday. Over in New York on Monday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 504 points (4.

Signs of market stability emerge in U.S. after global rout

2008-09-17T04:48+0200

Investors were relieved by further aggressive injections of cash into the markets from central banks, and analysts noted moderating inflation in the United States and a positive economic survey in Germany.

House approves offshore drilling (AP)

2008-09-17T04:47+0200

AP - The House voted late Tuesday to open waters off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to oil and gas drilling but only 50 or more miles out to sea and only if a state agrees to energy development off its shore.

House approves offshore drilling

2008-09-17T04:46+0200

The House has voted to allow oil drilling off the nation's Atlantic and Pacific coasts if states agree _ but only 50 or more miles out. Republicans called the bill a ruse, saying that's well beyond where most of the estimated 18 billion barrels of oil is located.

Ike's rain swells Midwest floods

2008-09-17T04:46+0200

As much as 10 inches of rain fell in Indiana, Illinois and Missouri after Ike hit Texas over the weekend. Hurricane-force wind blew in Ohio and Kentucky and a tornado in Arkansas damaged several buildings. Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels declared a disaster in two flooded counties Tuesday after surveying waterlogged communities.

Stocks slump 4.47% in global battering

2008-09-17T04:46+0200

SHANGHAI: Hit by the latest ripple effect of the US financial crisis, the benchmark index tumbled 4.47 percent to 1986.64, dipping below 2000 points for the first time in 22 months. The Shanghai Composite Index plunged 93.04 points, and the smaller Shenzhen Component Index dropped 61.46 points, or 0.

Millons of Texans still without electricity after hurricane

2008-09-17T04:46+0200

Millions of Texans are still living without power despite intensified efforts to restore the electricity grid, local media reported Tuesday. Some 2.6 million people in Texas are having to make do without power after Hurricane Ike hit the Gulf Coast last Saturday.

Bush scraps statement about latest market briefing

2008-09-17T04:46+0200

With little explanation, President Bush on Tuesday scrapped a statement he planned to give on the tumultuous financial markets, abandoning any press coverage of his meeting with key economic advisers as more developments roiled Wall Street.

Gasoline supplies to be tight through September in Texas

2008-09-17T04:46+0200

Due to damage caused by Hurricane Ike, gasoline supplies will be tight throughout September in Texas, local media said Tuesday. In Texas, which accounts for 22 percent of the nation's refining capacity, refineries remain closed. Primary assessments show that 14 Gulf Coast refineries sustained only....

U.S. Fed holds key interest rate steady at 2%

2008-09-17T04:46+0200

The Federal Reserve decided Tuesday to hold a key interest rate steady at 2 percent even as the collapse of the nation's fourth-biggest investment Lehman Brothers sent financial markets at home and abroad tumbling. The U.S. central bank has kept the interbank overnight interest rate unchanged at 2....

'Look & Leave' Policy a Logistical Nightmare

2008-09-17T04:36+0200

Galveston, one of the areas hardest hit by the storm's 100 mph winds, is now filled with obliterated homes. Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas announced today that residents could return to see what was left of their homes and businesses and "gather important belongings" as part of a "look and leave" re-entry plan for 12 hours a day.

So Ji-sub Is Optimistic -- but Only Just

2008-09-17T04:26+0200

How would So Ji-sub rate his acting? ¡°Fifty-one out of 100.¡± It is not the first time that the 32-year old has mentioned the score. He already said he would give himself 51 points when he was shooting KBS drama ¡°I¡¯m Sorry, I Love You,¡± which made him a top star in 2004.

Bush scraps statement about latest market briefing (AP)

2008-09-17T04:17+0200

AP - With little explanation, President Bush on Tuesday scrapped a statement he planned to give on the tumultuous financial markets, abandoning any press coverage of his meeting with key economic advisers as more developments roiled Wall Street.

Hot air and bizarre thunderstorms --

2008-09-17T04:15+0200

One newspaper talked of stationary clouds. The Met Office suggested that the rainfall was normal for this time of the year. The Government minister differed, suggesting that it was "bizarre" and that many factors were responsible. Various opposition politicians blamed the Government. Many blamed the condition of the water courses.

Promoting tourism despite hurricanes --

2008-09-17T04:15+0200

caribbean tourism officials are working overtime to reassure reluctant travellers that plenty of sun-soaked islands were untouched by a recent spate of deadly tropical cyclones. Potential visitors may assume the entire region was ravaged by four storms that pummeled several islands since mid-August....

Matadors score first victory --

2008-09-17T04:15+0200

THE highlight of the weekendÂ·s action in the Norman Mungroo Windall Cricket (NMWC) competition was undoubtedly the fantastic performance of young Matadors, who scored an impressive 20-run success over seasoned campaigners Ah Cricket Side against all odds on Sunday at Tacarigua.

Spurs sink 'Sand Storm' with goal spree --

2008-09-17T04:15+0200

Mayaro Football League leaders Mayaro Spurs blew away Sand Storm Strikers to set a new record for the number of goals scored in the League last week at 24. For all their goalscoring, though, Spurs did not keep a clean sheet, conceding one goal during the encounter.

Wall Street turmoil changes campaign fortunes as Palin factor is devalued

2008-09-17T04:15+0200

John McCain embarked on a desperate – but defiant – damage-control exercise yesterday as he sought to justify his claim that despite violent convulsions in America’s financial markets the “fundamentals of our economy are strong”.

Bush suddenly scraps comments on financial markets

2008-09-17T04:08+0200

WASHINGTON (AP) -- With little explanation, President Bush on Tuesday scrapped a statement he planned to give on the tumultuous financial markets, abandoning any press coverage of his meeting with key...

Ukraine ruling coalition collapses

2008-09-17T04:08+0200

UKRAINE'S governing coalition has collapsed in a crisis that threatens to knock the ex-Soviet country of 47 million people off its pro-Western course and back into Moscow's orbit.

Governor Arrested for "Porvenir Massacre"

2008-09-17T04:08+0200

LA PAZ, Sep 16 (IPS) - The governor of the northern Bolivian province of Pando was detained by the military Tuesday and is being flown to the capital to face prosecution for allegedly instigating the ...

Ike Holdouts To Be Forced From Home

2008-09-17T04:06+0200

US lifts Cuba trade embargo for hurricane aid

2008-09-17T03:53+0200

The US has bypassed its trade embargo on communist Cuba with an aid offer of $A315 million in 'farm sales', to the hurricane-battered island nation.

Entertainment › Hideaki Ito introduces new disaster film '252'

2008-09-17T03:46+0200

2008-09-17T03:40+0200

...[TOP/O]) TOKYO, Sept 17 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures bounced back from a seven-month low hit the previous day, as growing expectations of a Federal Reserve-led rescue of insurer American International Group Inc pushed up prices. * Front-month U.S. crude for October delivery was up $2.

Oil prices slip to US$90

2008-09-17T03:30+0200

NEW YORK: Oil prices fell Tuesday flirting with the US$90 mark to reach new seven-month lows amid turmoil on the financial markets which could spur lower energy demand, traders said.

Hurricane Ike Cuts Oil Production, Hurts Insurance Companies

2008-09-17T03:20+0200

Hurricane Ike roared through vital parts of the U.S. oil industry, boosted gasoline prices, and probably cost insurance companies billions of dollars Saturday. Oil company officials say they are sending workers to assess damage at off-shore oil rigs and coastal refineries. U.S.

2008-09-17T03:02+0200

Last night George Soros, one of the world's most powerful financiers, warned that the world was 'heading into a storm'. Mr Soros said the worst was far from over.

Death toll rises in storm-hit Texas amid health hazard

2008-09-17T02:54+0200

Oil Prices Drop, Nigeria�s Output Falls

2008-09-17T02:53+0200

Nigeria�s External Reserves Intact, Says Bankers� C�ttee

2008-09-17T02:53+0200

The Bankers� Committee said yesterday that Nigeria�s external reserves in the United States were not affected by the storm that recently hit the US financial system, thus confirming THISDAY�s exclusive story of yesterday. A 158-year-old investment bank, Lehman Brothers, stiffled by credit crises and....

CUBA: "Few Deaths Do not Mean Storm Damages Were not Massive"

2008-09-17T02:52+0200

HAVANA , Sep 16 (IPS) - More than 2.5 million Cubans were evacuated by the civil defence system when hurricane Ike lashed the island this month. And although only seven people were killed, more than one million no longer have an intact home to return to.

Death toll rises in storm-hit Texas amid health hazard (Reuters)

2008-09-17T02:45+0200

Reuters - The death toll in the wake of Hurricane Ike rose to 30 in Texas on Tuesday as officials in Galveston warned of a growing health threat on the island city that took a direct hit from the huge storm.

No meeting as Anwar ‘will make up stories’

2008-09-17T02:43+0200

KEPALA BATAS: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said there was no reason for him to meet opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to discuss the alleged crossover of members of parliament. "If he has the names, he should reveal them. "Let all Malaysians know... the voters also want to know.

Swear, it’s going to be funny

2008-09-17T02:43+0200

CHANGING of the times. This is going to be the crux of Comedy Court’s duo, Allan Perera and Indi Nadarajah’s new play. To be held at The Actors Studio in Kuala Lumpur from Sept 22 to 28, We Don’t Swear will be based on the Malaysian political cauldron since the general election on March 8.

Wall Street finishes higher after big sell-off

2008-09-17T02:39+0200

Federal Reserve keeps interest rates steady as market waits to learn fate of troubled insurer AIG.

Petrol price fall expected - AA

2008-09-17T02:39+0200

Falls in the world price of oil have not been reflected at petrol pumps, the AA has said.

Oil prices continue downward slide

2008-09-17T02:38+0200

OIL PRICES dropped another 4 per cent yesterday, extending their steepest two-day slide since 2004 as mounting economic turmoil sent investors fleeing to safer havens.

Niger Delta Senators bicker over anti-terrorism bill

2008-09-17T02:30+0200

The violence in the Niger Delta region came to fore in the Senate yesterday as Senators from the region strongly opposed an anti-terrorism bill which they said could be directed at the region. The anti-terrorism bill sponsored by Senator Manzo Anthony (PDP, Taraba North) aimed at curbing violent....

Theatre review: Three Sisters / Royal Exchange, Manchester

2008-09-17T02:24+0200

Three Sisters sits between Hamlet and Waiting for Godot as one of the great dramas of deferral, procrastination and disappointment - yet it is virtually impossible for any production not to succumb to entropy after a while. I defy even the most passionate advocate of Chekhov to deny that there does....

Death toll rises in storm-hit Texas amid health hazard

2008-09-17T02:24+0200

Death toll rises in storm-hit Texas amid health hazard

2008-09-17T02:23+0200

16 Sep 2008 23:53:15 GMT Source: Reuters * Texas death toll reaches 30 * Bush surveys damage to Texas coast * Several offshore oil platforms damaged By Tabassum Zakaria and Carey Gillam GALVESTON, Texas, Sept 16 (Reuters) - The death ...

Commodities fail to benefit from flight from equities

2008-09-17T02:19+0200

Investors seek refuge in cash and risk-free assets, pulling down crude oil, gold and grains.

Spivs, sharks and why the champagne corks were popping on Meltdown Monday

2008-09-17T02:16+0200

The fall of Lehman Brothers will eventually hit thousands of savers, pension investors, and home owners in Britain. But not everyone was a loser, and some of the 'winners' wanted Lehmans to crash.

British climber freezes to death in snowstorm on Mont Blanc

2008-09-17T02:16+0200

A British climber froze to death near the summit of Europe's highest mountain after becoming trapped for two nights in a snow hole.

:Who Would Lend an American Bank Money These Days?”

2008-09-17T02:15+0200

But they say the decision by the US financial authorities not to bail out Lehman may signal the beginning of the end of the financial crisis. It will force the world's financial insitutions to get their own houses in order rather than relying on taxpayers' money to bail them out.

:The Lipstick has Come Off This Economic Pig

2008-09-17T02:15+0200

Whenever markets really tank, I phone my friend Laura. "Help," I said yesterday. "What's happening?" "The lipstick has come off the pig," she said. Laura Wallace manages people's money. Her job is to hold their hands when everyone is panicking and the big arrows are pointing down. This pig is the giant asset bubble that was created as U.

I feel your pain, says Barclays chief Robert Diamond as he swoops on Lehman assets

2008-09-17T02:14+0200

Barclays is understood to have agreed to buy Lehman Brothers’ North American Investment Banking business for about $2 billion in the first of several sales of the ailing broker$’s regional businesses.

Pak Lah calls Anwar’s bluff

2008-09-17T02:09+0200

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has described Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s claims of having enough Barisan Nasional MPs to form a Government as a mirage and a dream.

Wall Street finishes higher after big sell-off

2008-09-17T02:09+0200

Wall Street ended another tumultuous session with a sizable gain Tuesday, partly recovering from its worst sell-off in years after the Federal Reserve said it was keeping interest rates steady.

Tributes for climber who froze to death in mountain storm

2008-09-17T02:03+0200

TRIBUTES have been paid to a British climber who froze to death after getting caught in a storm on Mont Blanc.

Riding out Ike on an island, with a lion

2008-09-17T01:59+0200

Many years from now, a small group of Hurricane Ike survivors will probably still be telling the story of how, on the night the ...

US gives green light to food sales to hurricane-hit Cuba

2008-09-17T01:59+0200

HAVANA (AFP) - Bypassing its trade embargo on communist Cuba, the United States has approved 250 million dollars in "farm sales" to Havana, including food and construction materials in an aid offer after Hurricanes Gustav and Ike devastated Cuba's crops leaving potential for a food crisis, US diplomats said.

Galveston Faces Health Crisis as Authorities Begin Recovery from Hurricane Ike

2008-09-17T01:57+0200

People who remain in some stricken areas without clean water or sewage systems could face major health risks

Is Halifax next? Crunch time as Britain's biggest mortgage leader loses a third of its value in 48 hours

2008-09-17T01:54+0200

Britain's biggest mortgage lender has suffered another catastrophic day on the stock market. Shares in HBOS, owner of the Halifax, dropped 40 per cent before staging a partial recovery.

Nigeria�s External Reserves Safe, As Financial Storm Hits Wall Street

2008-09-17T01:53+0200

By Bisi Ojediran and Ayodele Aminu, 09.16.2008 It was a sigh of relief last night following revelations that the storm that hit the United States financial system may not have affected the country�s external reserves in the US after all. In a season of natural storms tormenting US coastal cities,....

C�ttees: Senate Seeks Members� Input

2008-09-17T01:53+0200

AGF May Get Power to Detain Suspected Terrorists

2008-09-17T01:53+0200

After a hot and exhaustive debate, the Senate yesterday referred the bill which seeks to outlaw terrorism and terrorists activities in the country to the Committees for further legislative action, thus setting the stage for its third reading. The Bill, sponsored by Senators Anthony Manzo, Victor....

Pizza man fined for very fast takeaway

2008-09-17T01:50+0200

An Australian pizza deliveryman gave fast food a new meaning when he was caught, and fined, for driving 53 km (33 miles) over the speed limit. The 20-year-old man, driving on a provisional driver’s license, said he was speeding because he was 20 minutes late with his delivery in the tropical northern town of Townsville.

Riding out Ike on an island, with a lion (AP)

2008-09-17T01:44+0200

AP - Many years from now, a small group of Hurricane Ike survivors will probably still be telling the story of how, on the night the storm flattened their island, they took sanctuary in a church — with a lion.

Authorities vow to force holdouts off Texas coast (AP)

2008-09-17T01:44+0200

AP - About 250 people who withstood Hurricane Ike on a coastal sliver of land will be forced off it so crews can begin the recovery effort, authorities said Tuesday, vowing to invoke emergency powers to make it happen.

NZ shares firm after positive Wall St day

2008-09-17T01:41+0200

The New Zealand sharemarket opened today's trading slightly lower, as turmoil continued throughout the global financial system. Shortly after the sharemarket's 10am opening, the benchmark NZSX-50 index was down 6.38 points, or...

MAIL COMMENT: These nobodies are rebels without a cause

2008-09-17T01:39+0200

As the economy crumbles, and another high street bank comes under pressure, Labour rebels have their minds on other matters. In what looks increasingly like a coordinated campaign, nonentities are crawling out of the woodwork to demand a challenge to Gordon Brown's leadership.

World Canals Conference Kicks Off In Kingston, Ontario (AHN)

2008-09-17T01:37+0200

(AHN) - A storm and powerful winds toppled power lines in Kingston, Ontario as the city hosts the World Canals Conference. Kingston is the host of this year's World Canals Conference, with 184 delegates from 11 nations. It's theme is "Managing Canal Corridors in the 21st Century.

Hawaii tourist industry fears fallout from financial crisis

2008-09-17T01:32+0200

Reverberations from Wall Street's dramatic plunge and other bad economic news yesterday figure to further weaken Hawai'i's already shaky visitor industry as people hold off on vacations and other large purchases.

Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley say they can still stay independent

2008-09-17T01:29+0200

Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, the last two remaining major independent Wall Street brokerages, each rebutted suggestions that their days as standalone institutions could be numbered, as they presented investors with lower, but better-than-expected, profits for third quarter.

Spacewatch

2008-09-17T01:24+0200

From Saturday the International Space Station will be visible in our evening sky as it is follows its spectacular path

Hurricane Ike: Bush tours devastation in Texas

2008-09-17T01:24+0200

At least 40 people killed and thousands homeless after third storm in a month hits US coast

CHRISTOPHER HART: £10m for this? The greed of the art world is more obscene than the City's

2008-09-17T01:24+0200

The world's economy staggers from one disaster to another, each worse than the last, like storms in the hurricane season. Airlines and travel companies go bust, stock exchanges panic and yo-yo, and those bastions of pure capitalism, investment banks, are crumbling.

Sarah Palin: Ice queen of the Arctic

2008-09-17T01:24+0200

Sarah Palin, the Republican party's vice-president nominee, governs an oil-rich area that has seen some of the most dramatic effects of climate change. So what's her record on environmental concerns? By Britt Collins

iReporters track Ike's damage

2008-09-17T01:23+0200

It reads like a folksy Christmas letter, updating everyone on the latest -- but the news was a grim recitation of homes obliterated and damaged by Hurricane Ike in the small Texas town of Smith Point.

Oil Prices Continue Precipitous Drop

2008-09-17T01:21+0200

Oil prices extended their retreat Tuesday, shedding $10 a barrel in a violent, two-day slide as tumult on Wall Street dims hopes for a swift economic recovery and signals another drop in U.S. energy demand.

Leading article: Can the surge in Iraq work for Afghanistan?

2008-09-17T01:13+0200

The most impressive quality of General David Petraeus, who stood down yesterday as the US military commander in Iraq, has been his modesty about his own success. While the outgoing President, George Bush, and his would-be Republican successor, John McCain, have embraced Gen Petraeus almost as a....

Now fear stalks British banks

2008-09-17T01:13+0200

The storm sweeping the financial world crossed the Atlantic yesterday, with Halifax Bank of Scotland, the UK's largest mortgage provider, hit hard by a cyclone of speculation. Having watched a series of major US institutions previously thought invincible, such as Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae and Freddie....

Countdown to the Ryder Cup: The Faldo factor

2008-09-17T01:13+0200

No matter how well a man anticipates the punch there is still the shock of its impact and though Nick Faldo had plainly been waiting for this one since he was appointed three-and-a-half years ago much of the blood in the face of Europe's Ryder Cup captain still drained away.

The Big Question: What was Roosevelt's New Deal, and is something like it needed today?

2008-09-17T01:13+0200

Why are we asking this now? The current financial and economic turmoil is increasingly likened to the crisis that began with the Wall Street crash of 1929, paving the way to the Great Depression of the 1930s. That slump, the deepest and most prolonged economic downturn of modern times, continued through much of the decade.

Fed signals it's hanging tough

2008-09-17T01:11+0200

Despite pressure from the financial markets to cut interest rates, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke sent a strong signal that he is hanging tough by keeping rates just where they are.

Many head home to see what Ike left

2008-09-17T01:11+0200

Many Texans are now on an exodus back home — to communities that may have no power or water, or even houses to live in.

Isle of Pines shipment leaves Sunday

2008-09-17T01:06+0200

Donations continued to be deposited at drop off points in George Town and West Bay to help hurricane victims in Cuba's Isle of Pines throughout the weekend.

Food, baths elude Ike survivors

2008-09-17T01:06+0200

HOUSTON (AP) - More Hurricane Ike relief was on the way for evacuees Tuesday as tens of thousands of people waited for food, water and ice, for the electricity to return to their homes or for their first hot meal and shower.

Cuba damage at $5 billion

2008-09-17T01:06+0200

HAVANA (AP) - Gustav and Ike together delivered the worst hurricane-related blow in Cuba's storm-battered history, causing $5 billion in damages, the communist government said Monday night.

Oil closes below $100 a barrel

2008-09-17T01:06+0200

NEW YORK (AP) - Oil prices closed below $100 a barrel for the first time in six months Monday, tumbling in another dramatic sell-off as the demise of Lehman Brothers and the sale of Merrill Lynch deepened worries about the U.S. economy.

Ready or Not: Ike Victims Return Home

2008-09-17T01:05+0200

They left not knowing just how destructive the storm might be. On Tuesday, they ignored warnings to stay away and made the long journey home to find out. "We're driving back because our house is already flooded. We know that there's water inside," Nancy said as tears spilled from her eyes.

KCA witnesses brisk trading session

2008-09-17T01:03+0200

Staff Report KARACHI: Trading activities remained brisk amid firm spot rate at the Karachi cotton market, traders said Tuesday. A senior trader, Ghulam Rabbani said the spot rate at KCA remained firm and the settlement was declared at Rs 4,000 per maund with fine lint in focus during trading at Sindh stations.

Oil prices dive to 7-month low

2008-09-17T01:03+0200

LONDON: Oil fell more than four percent on Tuesday on rising concern that turmoil in global financial markets will further undermine fuel demand and send investors into safer havens. Reports that US oil infrastructure had escaped major damage from Hurricane Ike also weighed on markets, which fell....

Flood fears rise in Midwest

2008-09-17T00:58+0200

Just a few months after near-record flooding across the Midwest, roads in the region were under water again Tuesday and more ...

Residents of flattened Texan towns told to stay away

2008-09-17T00:52+0200

Officials in Texas coastal communities flattened by Hurricane Ike have begged residents to stay away, insisting that it may be months before the area has basic services like clean water. Galveston County administrator Jim Yarbrough said he would resort to "whatever means necessary" to remove some....

Texas struggles to recover in Ike's wake

2008-09-17T00:45+0200

As President Bush visited storm-damaged Houston and Galveston today, thousands of people remained in shelters in Texas and more than 1.5 million customers were without power. The Houston Food Bank says it is "utterly overwhelmed" and needs 500,000 pounds of food a day for the next six weeks.

Texans assessing hurricane damage in wake of Ike (AFP)

2008-09-17T00:44+0200

AFP - The Houston Texans are still assessing damage at their home stadium in the wake of Hurricane Ike, the National Football League team said Tuesday.

Bush suddenly scraps comments on financial markets

Leslie Johnson came home Tuesday to strewn boxes, water-stained walls and soggy, ruined furniture in her first-floor apartment in Bayou Vista, Texas.

Bush scraps statement about latest market briefing

2008-09-17T00:14+0200

Bush suddenly scraps comments on financial markets (AP)

2008-09-17T00:13+0200

A Surge To Restore Power In Texas

2008-09-17T00:05+0200

Half a million people have electricity again in parts of Texas ravaged by Hurricane Ike. But nearly 4 million people are still without power, and energy companies say they are working furiously to restore full power to the Houston area.

Wall St.'s Tumultuous Day Ends With Gain

2008-09-17T00:05+0200

Wall Street ended another tumultuous session with a sizable gain after the Federal Reserve announced it was keeping interest rates unchanged, sending a signal to the markets that the economy is not in dire straits.

Bush returns to Gulf Coast, this time for Ike

2008-09-17T00:01+0200

HOUSTON (AP) -- President Bush urged Americans on Tuesday to give money to help people recover from Hurricane Ike's battering of the Gulf Coast, warning against letting "disaster fatigue" slow donatio...

iReporters track Ike's damage in Smith Point, Texas

2008-09-17T00:00+0200

Chief’s pride as game goes down a storm

2008-09-16T23:59+0200

By Ben Fenton, Andrew Parker and Ben Hall Published: September 16 2008 22:53 | Last updated: September 16 2008 22:53 When Jean-Bernard Lévy comes across his teenage son playing World of Warcraft on his computer late at night, he experiences a different emotion from most fathers: pride.

Aegon nets key UK tennis deal

2008-09-16T23:59+0200

By Roger Blitz, Leisure Industries Correspondent Published: September 16 2008 22:38 | Last updated: September 16 2008 22:38 took a break from the storm sweeping the insurance industry and joined forces with British tennis, announcing a £25m sponsorship deal with the Lawn Tennis Association.

Street rallies after Fed holds steady

2008-09-16T23:56+0200

Wall Street ended another tumultuous session with a sizable gain, partly recovering from its worst sell-off in years after the Federal Reserve said it was keeping interest rates steady.

Ike-hit Texans urged to stay away

2008-09-16T23:51+0200

Officials in Texas coastal communities flattened by Hurricane Ike have begged residents to stay away saying it may be months before the area has basic services.

WFP triples aid deliveries in storm-ravaged Haiti

2008-09-16T23:50+0200

16 Sep 2008 20:41:00 GMT Source: WFP The amount of food being sent to tens of thousands of people on the storm-ravaged island of Haiti has tripled over the past week as the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has accelerated its hurricane response.

Fed hangs tough by holding rates steady

2008-09-16T23:41+0200

Despite pressure from the financial markets to cut interest rates, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke sent a strong signal that he is hanging tough by keeping rates just where they are.

Bush Heads to Survey Ike's Impact

2008-09-16T23:35+0200

President Bush got a firsthand look Tuesday at the fury that Hurricane Ike unleashed on the Gulf Coast, and was greeted by a virtual ghost town here where it made landfall. He urged frustrated storm evacuees to keep it that way until local officials say it is safe to return. "I know a lot of people are anxious to get back in," Bush said.

Crude continues steep slide

2008-09-16T23:30+0200

Two-day drop of $10 puts oil at just above $91 a barrel as traders see further drop in demand

Ukraine ruling coalition collapses

2008-09-16T23:29+0200

UKRAINE'S governing coalition has collapsed in a crisis that threatens to knock the ex-Soviet country of 47 million people off its pro-Western course and back into Moscow's orbit. 6:35am (AEST)

Wall Street finishes higher after big sell-off

2008-09-16T23:26+0200

Wall Street ended another tumultuous session with a sizable gain Tuesday, partly recovering from its worst sell-off in years after the Federal Reserve said it was keeping interest rates steady. read more

Message means more than messenger

2008-09-16T23:25+0200

The debate over Gordon Brown’s future is now fully out in the open. The coded phrases of July and August have been replaced by the public statements of September. The resignation of David Cairns from an unnecessary post in the redundant Scotland Office is irrelevant in itself; he is merely the....

Message means more than messenger

NEW YORK - Oil prices extended their retreat Tuesday, shedding $10 a barrel in a violent, two-day slide as tumult on Wall Street dims hopes for a swift economic recovery and signals another drop in U.S. energy demand. Light, sweet crude for October delivery fell $4.56 to settle at $91.

Bush returns to Gulf Coast to survey Ike damage

2008-09-16T22:58+0200

Bush flies over a destroyed residential area near Galveston, Texas, on Tuesday while touring Hurricane Ike damage. By Jim Watson, AFP/Getty Images

Wall Street turmoil changes campaign fortunes as Palin factor is devalued

2008-09-16T22:55+0200

John McCain embarked on a frantic damage-control exercise yesterday as he sought to justify his insistence 24 hours earlier that despite violent convulsions in America’s financial markets, the “fundamentals of our economy are strong”.

Bush surveys storm-hit Texas as death toll rises

2008-09-16T22:53+0200

Bush surveys storm-hit Texas as death toll rises

2008-09-16T22:53+0200

Tiger roaming hurricane-ravaged streets

2008-09-16T22:51+0200

US authorities busy trying to clean up Texas after Hurricane Ike have a new problem on their hands: There's a tiger loose, and he's hungry.

2008-09-16T22:43+0200

OFFICIALS in Texan coastal communities flattened by Hurricane Ike have begged residents to stay away, insisting that it may be months before the area has basic services like clean water. 5:40am (AEST)

Bush surveys storm-hit Texas as death toll rises (Reuters)

2008-09-16T22:41+0200

All three Cayman Islands open for business

2008-09-16T22:40+0200

GEORGE TOWN, Grand Cayman - All three Cayman Islands are now open for business after the lifting of restrictions on visitors travelling to Little Cayman following the passage of Hurricane Gustav.

Oil plunges to $92 amid U.S. economy fears

2008-09-16T22:38+0200

As conditions on Wall Street deteriorated, evidence mounted that U.S. consumers and businesses were bracing for a protracted economic downturn that should guarantee more of the money-saving energy conservation measures of the past year: "The economic slowdown is completely unavoidable now and people....

Sympathy for gas stations? Maybe after reading this

2008-09-16T22:36+0200

Canadians are not being gouged at the pumps because gasoline isn't quite like other commodities, says analyst Michael Ervin of M.J. Ervin & Associates.

In Galveston, Texas, Hospital Weathers Storm

2008-09-16T22:35+0200

In Galveston, University of Texas Medical Branch staff evacuated all patients before Hurricane Ike and stayed through the storm. They used lessons learned during Hurricane Rita. Now, they are preparing to receive new patients.

Fed Keeps Key Interest Rate Unchanged

2008-09-16T22:35+0200

The Federal Reserve kept its target for the federal funds rate, the interest that banks charge on overnight loans, unchanged at 2 percent. It said, however, that strains in financial markets had "increased significantly."

Olympiakos Edge Out Nordsjælland

2008-09-16T22:34+0200

The win virtually assures the Greeks of qualification for the UEFA Cup group stages barring a miracle during the return leg in Piraeus. However, they were made work hard for their victory against a determined and well-organized Danish outfit. It was the home side that in fact started the game....

Typhoon Kills at Least Seven in Taiwan

2008-09-16T22:28+0200

Typhoon Sinlaku also brought down a section of a bridge in Kaohsiung county in southern Taiwan, but no one died.

Cuba Accepts Political Dialogue With EU

2008-09-16T22:28+0200

Dialogue between Cuba and Europe broke off when the EU imposed diplomatic sanctions against the Caribbean island in 2003.

Day in Photos - September 16

2008-09-16T22:28+0200

The bankrupty of the Lehman Brothers was the subject of the day all over the world. The broker world has suffered a shock.

Ike holdouts told to get out, or else

2008-09-16T22:25+0200

The few hundred holdouts on Texas' ravaged Bolivar Peninsula will be required to leave, and officials said Tuesday they will use emergency powers to empty the area flattened by Ike.

French commandos storm yacht to free couple held hostage by Somali pirates

2008-09-16T22:21+0200

The frogmen from the Commando Hubert, modelled on Britain’s Special Boat Service, were sent into action by President Sarkozy from the Élysée Palace in Paris, 5,000 miles away. It was after midnight, southeast of Somalia, when the helicopter began ferrying commandos from le Courbet , a frigate that....

Arctic ice melts to second-lowest level-scientists

2008-09-16T22:17+0200

16 Sep 2008 19:47:03 GMT Source: Reuters By Deborah Zabarenko, Environment Correspondent WASHINGTON, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Arctic sea ice melted to its second-lowest level this summer, rising slightly from 2007's record but still showing a ...

Ike-related death toll in Texas rises to 30-report

2008-09-16T22:17+0200

16 Sep 2008 19:58:21 GMT Source: Reuters HOUSTON, Sept 16 (Reuters) - The death toll in Texas related to Hurricane Ike rose to 30, local news reports and a county official said on Tuesday. Local TV station KTRK said 20 people had died in ...

Oil prices sink below $93 on falling demand - Marketplace - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-16T22:13+0200

AP Oil prices sink below $93 on falling demand By STEVENSON JACOBS AP Business Writer NEW YORK Tuesday, September 16, 2008 01:09:09 PM PT Oil prices extended their steep losses Tuesday, tumbling below $92 a barrel as a worsening economy suggested U.S. energy demand will keep falling despite crude's return to year-ago levels.

Cuba artists ask US to ease sanctions after storms

2008-09-16T22:13+0200

Hundreds of Cuban writers, musicians and artists are asking the U.S. to ease trade restrictions and speed the import of food and building supplies to help the island rebuild after Hurricanes Ike and Gustav.

Oil prices sink below $93 on falling demand - The Associated Press - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-16T22:13+0200

Oil prices sink below $93 on falling demand By STEVENSON JACOBS 1 hour ago NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices extended their steep losses Tuesday, tumbling below $92 a barrel as a worsening economy suggested U.S. energy demand will keep falling despite crude's return to year-ago levels. Gas prices edged higher at the pump, topping $3.

Oil Prices Sink Below $93 On Falling Demand - CBS 11 - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-16T22:13+0200

Oil Prices Sink Below $92 On Falling Demand NEW YORK (AP) ― Oil prices extended their retreat Tuesday, shedding $10 a barrel in a violent, two-day slide as tumult on Wall Street dims hopes for a swift economic recovery and signals another drop in U.S. energy demand.

Cuba artists ask US to ease sanctions after storms (AP)

2008-09-16T22:11+0200

AP - Hundreds of Cuban writers, musicians and artists are asking the U.S. to ease trade restrictions and speed the import of food and building supplies to help the island rebuild after Hurricanes Ike and Gustav.

French commandos storm yacht to free couple held hostage by Somali pirates

2008-09-16T22:09+0200

Oil in steepest two-day slide since 2004

2008-09-16T22:09+0200

The losses came despite supply disruptions after Hurricane Ike crashed through the Gulf of Mexico and left a quarter of US' energy output idled. Top oil producers

Running for cover

2008-09-16T22:00+0200

As insurance giant AIG teeters on brink, Wall Street takes worst tumble since 9/11. Oil prices crash, and ripples spread to India with rupee suffering steepest fall in 10 years.

Indian investment bankers on guard

2008-09-16T22:00+0200

With a few strong stumps still standing after the US sub-prime storm swept the globe, investment bankers in India are picking up the pieces and absorbing the learnings on how not to do a Lehman Brothers or Merril Lynch in India.

Running for cover

2008-09-16T21:59+0200

As insurance giant AIG teeters on brink, Wall Street takes worst tumble since 9/11. Oil prices crash, and ripples spread to India with rupee suffering steepest fall in 10 years.

Indian investment bankers on guard

2008-09-16T21:59+0200

MSC Napoli's salvage suspended

2008-09-16T21:57+0200

The Napoli salvage operation is suspended for the winter because of "increasingly treacherous" conditions.

Food or slaughter Bushmeat fuels wildlife debate

2008-09-16T21:56+0200

+ ] By Tansa Musa YAOUNDE (Reuters) - An acrid stench of burning hair hangs in the air as a whole monkey roasts over an open fire, a victim of the trade in tropical "bushmeat" that conservationist...

Bush returns to Gulf Coast, this time for Ike

2008-09-16T21:56+0200

Remnants of Hurricane Ike cause Midwest misery

2008-09-16T21:53+0200

Story Highlights Midwest hit with high winds, heavy rain caused by remnants of Hurricane Ike In Ohio, hundreds of thousands are without power since Sunday's storm After two days of record rainfall, more rain from Ike causes flooding in Indiana iReport.

Ike's rain swells Midwest floods

2008-09-16T21:53+0200

"The old-timers knew it was wise to leave the sandbags," said Arnold City Manager Matthew Unrein, whose town south of St. Louis still has the sandbag defenses it built when it was threatened by floods in March. The Meramec River was expected to reach 18 feet above flood stage in Arnold on Thursday.

Parker Drilling Company Reports No Damage to Gulf of Mexico Barge Rig Fleet Following Hurricane Ike

2008-09-16T21:46+0200

HOUSTON, Sept. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Parker Drilling Company reported today that all barge rigs operating in the Gulf of Mexico are accounted for ...

Oncor Expects to Fully Restore Power by Week's End

2008-09-16T21:46+0200

As of 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oncor has restored electricity to two-thirds of the homes and businesses in its service area that lost power after Hurricane Ike ...

Sectores dominicanos organizan voluntariado de ayuda a Cuba y Haití

2008-09-16T21:38+0200

SANTO DOMINGO (PL) - Sectores sociales, profesionales, religiosos y empresariales dominicanos llamaron hoy a la solidaridad con Cuba y Haití a través de un voluntariado que anunció actividades para recaudar fondos.

Ike 'Holdouts' Ordered to Leave

2008-09-16T21:34+0200

The few hundred holdouts on Texas' ravaged Bolivar Peninsula will be required to leave in the next few days, and officials said Tuesday they are ready to use emergency powers to empty the barrier island scraped clean by Hurricane Ike. Judge Jim Yarbrough, the top elected official in Galveston....

Dominican Government sends RD$17M worth of aid to Cuba

2008-09-16T21:33+0200

SANTO DOMINGO.- The Dominican Government will send RD$17 million worth in aid to Cuba, including 500 tons of food and construction teams, as a gesture of solidarity after the damages undergone by that nation during hurricane Ike’s passage.

More Than 3 Million Still Without Power After Ike

2008-09-16T21:28+0200

Nearer to Texas, about 60,000 customers in Louisiana and 33,500 in Arkansas remained without power on Tuesday morning.

More than 3 million still without power after Ike

2008-09-16T21:23+0200

HOUSTON (Reuters) - More than 3 million homes and businesses remained without power in eight states on Tuesday after Hurricane Ike, federal officials said.

Iraq’s oil exports reduced to 860,000 bpd

2008-09-16T21:18+0200

BAGHDAD (Trade Arabia)-- Iraq shipped oil exports at less than half the typical rate on Monday as bad weather slowed the main southern Basra terminal and a blast idled the northern pipeline to Turkey, officials and shippers said. Oil exports flowed at around 860,000 barrels per day (bpd), down from....

Officials order Ike-scarred resdients to leave (AP)

2008-09-16T20:09+0200

Oil plunges to $92 amid U.S. credit fears

2008-09-16T20:00+0200

Ukrainian Orange Coalition Over, Tough Talks Ahead

2008-09-16T19:58+0200

The `orange` coalition collapsed this month when the president`s allies walked out.

Ike victims wait in line for food, water and gas

2008-09-16T19:51+0200

HOUSTON (AP) -- Thousands of victims of Hurricane Ike settled in at shelters for what could be weeks, and others waited wearily in line for food, water, ice and gasoline Monday as it became increasing...

Bush returns to Gulf Coast, this time for Ike

2008-09-16T19:40+0200

President Bush urged Americans on Tuesday to give money to help people recover from Hurricane Ike's battering of the Gulf Coast, warning against letting "disaster fatigue" slow donations when the need remains great.

President Bush Receive a Briefing on Hurricane Ike Damage

2008-09-16T19:39+0200

President Bush on Tuesday said, "We're fixing to go down to Galveston and obviously are going to see a devastated part of this fantastic state. And it'll give the Governor and me and the Congressmen and Senator and others a chance to express our heartfelt sympathies for those whose lives have been, you know, disrupted.

AIG speculation grips market; Goldman disappoints (Reuters)

2008-09-16T19:38+0200

Reuters - Speculation about a possible rescue of American International Group Inc held Wall Street in its grip on Tuesday as disappointing quarterly results from Goldman Sachs Group Inc added to the gloom.

Web guru: Social networking is the new porn

2008-09-16T19:38+0200

Social networking sites are the hottest attraction on the Internet, dethroning pornography and highlighting a major change in how people communicate, according to a web guru.

George W. Bush travelled to Houston on Tuesday to give reassurances that the government was working as quickly as possible to restore normality to Texas, as residents of the US’s energy capital competed for fuel at the few stations still open

2008-09-16T19:25+0200

Fuel shortages in US energy capital By Sheila McNulty in Houston Published: September 16 2008 18:19 | Last updated: September 16 2008 18:19 Petrol prices hit an unprecedented $5 a gallon, with isolated reports of $10 a gallon, around the US’s energy capital on Tuesday, as the people of Houston....

Texans may wait weeks for power

2008-09-16T19:22+0200

More Ike relief was on the way for evacuees Tuesday as tens of thousands of people waited for food, water and ice, for the electricity to return to their homes or for their first hot meal and shower.

Oil drops below $92 on credit crisis fears

2008-09-16T19:22+0200

Oil prices extended their steep losses, tumbling below $92 a barrel as a worsening economy suggested U.S. energy demand will keep falling despite crude’s return to year-ago levels.

Is this the way to contain Google? Really?

2008-09-16T19:20+0200

Add the World Association of Newspapers to the list of organizations asking the trust busters to fight their battle against Google.

Russian bombers' S American coast patrols

2008-09-16T19:20+0200

16/09/2008 13:55 MOSCOW, September 16 (RIA Novosti) - The two Russian Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers that landed in Venezuela last week have successfully carried out a patrol mission along the South American coast, a Russian Air Force spokesman said on Tuesday.

Bush urges Americans to donate for Ike victims (AFP)

2008-09-16T19:08+0200

AFP - US President George W. Bush on Tuesday urged Americans to donate to relief funds for victims of Hurricane Ike and other deadly storms, fretting the public may have "disaster fatigue."

Bush warns of 'disaster fatigue'

2008-09-16T19:07+0200

President Bush on Tuesday was on his third trip to survey Gulf Coast hurricane damage in two weeks, urging people displaced by Ike to listen to local officials before returning home.

N1.3tr Transportation Expenditure: Senate Summons George, Agagu ... - Times of Nigeria - Fastnews: Local Nigerian News

2008-09-16T19:06+0200

The Senate has summoned Governor Olusegun Agagu of Ondo State, his Bauchi counterpart, Isa Yuguda; Foreign Affairs Minister, Ojo Maduekwe, and Ambassador Kema Chikwe to explain their roles in an estimated N1.3 trillion expenditure in the Transportation Ministry between 1999 and 2007.

Oil slips to USD 91.79 a barrel - Financial Express - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-16T19:06+0200

Oil tumbled over 4 per cent to a seven-month low on Tuesday, in free fall for a second day as Lehman Brothers' collapse made investors ditch oil for safe-haven assets, and on fears the credit crisis will hurt the real economy. Reports that Hurricane Ike caused minor damage to US oil platforms and....

Caribe/Huracanes : Foro Social Mundial de las Migraciones pide “repuesta política”

2008-09-16T19:05+0200

PORT AU PRINCE (AlterPresse) - Resolución sobre situacion migrantes en paises caribenos impactados por recientes fenomenos naturales

President Bush Visiting Hurricane-Ravaged Texas

2008-09-16T19:02+0200

George Bush is visiting Texas to inspect the destruction caused by Hurricane Ike in the cities of Galveston and Houston

Battle of Britain RAF pilot's charred notebook for sale

2008-09-16T19:01+0200

Belongings of young pilot missing for 30 years after being shot down in Battle of Britain up for auction.

French troops storm yacht, rescue hostages

2008-09-16T18:52+0200

French troops stormed a yacht hijacked by Somali pirates, killing one, capturing six others and freeing their two French hostages in a raid that France's president said Tuesday was a warning to criminals on the high seas.

Ike survivors may wait weeks for hot meals, baths

2008-09-16T18:51+0200

The number of distribution centres was to be quadrupled to 60 by the end of the day to deliver food, water and ice; risk of disease spreads on Galveston Island

Chevron Commits $3 Million To Hurricane Relief Efforts

2008-09-16T18:44+0200

Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) today announced it is making a commitment of $3 million to support recovery efforts in the communities affected by hurricanes ...

ATP Announces Minimal Impact from Hurricane Ike

2008-09-16T18:44+0200

ATP Oil & Gas Corporation (NASDAQ: ATPG) today announced minimal impact from Hurricane Ike based on preliminary inspections of its production and ...

Blanket ban on bushmeat disastrous

2008-09-16T18:43+0200

, 16 September - An upsurge in hunting bushmeat in tropical forests and blanket ban on bushmeat poses a serious threat to food security for poor inhabitants of forests in Africa, a new report from Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) has warned.

Cubans Recover Vital Sectors

2008-09-16T18:35+0200

HAVANA (PL) - Cubans are plunged into intense recovery efforts after billions in damages from hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

'Orange' coalition over

2008-09-16T18:31+0200

Ukraine's pro-Western coalition has been dissolved, opening the way to tough talks on finding a viable alternative to govern the country.

Hurricane Ike Topples Several US Oil Platforms

2008-09-16T18:27+0200

Huge waves and howling winds from Hurricane Ike damaged several offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, a sign a full recovery of oil and natural gas production in the region could be a long way off. Threats from hurricanes since late August have already cut more than 20 million barrels of oil....

Corporate News: Alliance Global growth target on track despite world turmoil

2008-09-16T18:25+0200

ALLIANCE GLOBAL Group, Inc. is on track to end the year with record profits as it banks on brisk property sales, despite a global financial crisis that may hit demand.

The Economy: Logistics firms press policy changes amid difficulties

2008-09-16T18:25+0200

LOGISTICS FIRMS around the world will continue to face tough times as a result of high prices of goods, which have not only raised costs, but has slowed demand for their services.

President Bush heads to Texas to survey damage from Hurricane Ike

2008-09-16T18:21+0200

The storm forced thousands from their homes and left millions more without electricity

Justice v. politics

2008-09-16T18:18+0200

It is often tempting to suspend justice in exchange for promises to end a conflict.

Crude oil continues decline

2008-09-16T18:18+0200

Crude oil prices fell to $91.39 a barrel in early trading on Tuesday, after closing under the symbolic $100-a-barrel threshold on Monday.

U.S. stocks stable after steep falls in Europe and Asia

2008-09-16T18:18+0200

U.S. stock indexes posted moderate gains Tuesday as a glimmer of stability seeped into the market after European and Asian had tumbled.

Russians face $45bn debt backlog

2008-09-16T18:09+0200

A backlog of $45bn in foreign debt held by Russian companies and banks needs to be refinanced by the end of the year amid increasingly difficult conditions as western investors reprice the risk of doing business in the country. Many Russian companies held off raising debt this summer in the hope....

Editorial comment: Stagflation threat dwindles

2008-09-16T18:09+0200

For the past year, policymakers in the high-income countries have been caught in a painful dilemma. Do they focus on the financial crisis or do they concentrate on rising headline inflation? For good or, more probably, ill, the dilemma is on its way to resolution. Contractionary forces are winning. If so, this does at last clarify priorities.

El Gobierno enviará alimentos y materiales de construcción a Cuba

2008-09-16T18:05+0200

SANTO DOMINGO (CIG) - Por instrucciones del presidente Leonel Fernández, el Gobierno dominicano enviará 500 toneladas de alimentos y materiales de construcción a Cuba, con una inversión de 17 millones de pesos

Galveston Residents Stay Put Despite Devastation

2008-09-16T18:04+0200

Galveston, Texas, is moving from the search-and-rescue phase to the cleanup phase after taking a big hit from Hurricane Ike. The death toll so far has been low, but conditions are degrading. And some who weathered the storm on the island despite dire evacuation orders from officials remain defiant.

Fed considers rate cut to quell market turmoil

2008-09-16T18:04+0200

The Federal Reserve will consider cutting US interest rates to boost confidence in battered financial markets but policy-makers may keep rates on hold in the hopes that already low rates and expanded central bank lending will stabilise the economy.

Ike Forces Historic Recovery Efforts In Texas

2008-09-16T18:04+0200

Hurricane Ike delivered a tremendous beating to the Gulf area, but now Texas faces the biggest recovery effort in state history. The Rev. Rudy Rasmus and Univision correspondent Fernando Pizarro discuss how everyday people of Houston are dealing with the devastation of the storm.

Cuba estimates Gustav, Ike damages at US$5 billion

2008-09-16T18:01+0200

HAVANA - Hurricanes Gustav and Ike together delivered the worst hurricane-related blow in Cuba's storm-battered history, causing "around US$5 billion" in collective damage, the communist government announced Monday night. Nearly 450,000 homes were damaged and more than 63,000 of those completely wiped out.

Haiti fears more food riots

2008-09-16T18:01+0200

PORT-AU-PRINCE -- Haiti faces a deepening crisis after storms destroyed much of the impoverished country's rice crop, sparking fears of a repeat of the deadly food riots earlier this year that brought down the government. The storms killed hundreds of people and forced tens of thousands out of their homes in the port city of Gonaives.

Cuba rejects U.S. supplies, asks for suspension of trade emb

2008-09-16T18:01+0200

A civilian aircraft was ready to be loaded with supplies to help residents of this hard-hit province and fly out of Miami Tuesday, but Havana rejected the U.S. humanitarian assistance offer -- repeating that what it really needs is a temporary suspension of the trade embargo.

Cuba estimates Gustav, Ike damages at US$5 bn

2008-09-16T18:01+0200

HAVANA: Hurricanes Gustav and Ike together delivered the worst hurricane-related blow in Cuba's storm-battered history, causing "around US$5 bn" in collective damage, the communist government announced Monday night. Nearly 450,000 homes were damaged and more than 63,000 of those completely wiped out.

Haiti could face new food crisis

2008-09-16T18:01+0200

Sep 16, 2008 12:37 PM | Haiti faces a deepening crisis after storms destroyed much of the impoverished country's rice crop, sparking fears of a repeat of the deadly food riots earlier this year that b... (photo: UN / Logan Abassi )

Ike resurrects river flooding fears across Midwest

2008-09-16T17:59+0200

ARNOLD, Mo. (AP) — Just a few months after near-record flooding in the Midwest, authorities in towns along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers fear a soggy repeat following heavy rain from the remnants of Hurricane Ike.

Wall Street turmoil causes oil prices to tumble

2008-09-16T17:59+0200

Sept. 16 (Bloomberg) — Crude oil tumbled below $91 a barrel, taking its two-day decline to more than $10, on concern that turmoil on Wall Street may weaken the global economy and cut fuel demand.

Taiwan typhoon death toll rises to 11

2008-09-16T17:59+0200

TAIPEI: Rescuers on Tuesday continued search operations after Typhoon Sinlaku pounded Taiwan over the weekend, leaving at least 11 people dead, officials said.

Lula’s new lucre: Brazil may keep full control of offshore oil

2008-09-16T17:54+0200

It is hard to be precise about the size of the new finds, known as the “pre-salt” fields because they are trapped beneath a layer of salt. The one field that has been measured with any accuracy contains 5bn-8bn barrels – as much as the remaining reserves of Norway.

Philip Stephens: Forget the promises: Taxes are going up

2008-09-16T17:54+0200

Britain’s politicians are promising tax cuts. Pay no attention. Even before the latest hurricane on global financial markets, there was one safe prediction to be made about the next government: whatever its political colour or pre-election promises, it will raise taxes. We will hear a rather different message at this month’s party conferences.

Bush pledges swift aid to hurricane-hit Texas

2008-09-16T17:52+0200

HOUSTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush pledged swift federal aid for millions of storm-struck Texans on Tuesday as the energy hub of Houston and other areas struggle to recover from Hurricane Ike's mighty punch.

Oil drops 3 percent on financial market turmoil

2008-09-16T17:52+0200

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil fell 3 percent on Tuesday on rising concern that turmoil in global financial markets will further undermine fuel demand and send investors into safer havens.

Bush pledges swift aid to hurricane-hit Texas

2008-09-16T17:52+0200

HOUSTON (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush pledged swift federal aid for millions of storm-struck Texans on Tuesday as the energy hub of Houston and other areas struggle to recover from Hurricane Ike's mighty punch.

Cuba rejects hurricane aid from US

2008-09-16T17:51+0200

Cuban government says it cannot accept help from a country with an economic embargo against it

Studie: Urwälder wichtige CO2-Speicher

2008-09-16T17:50+0200

Urwälder in der nördlichen Erdhalbkugel tragen dazu bei, den CO2-Anteil in der Atmosphäre zu senken, aber sind nicht durch internationale Abkommen geschützt. Das geht aus neuen von der EU finanzierten Forschungen hervor, deren Ergebnisse in der Zeitschrift Nature veröffentlicht wurden.

Ondo Assembly impeaches Speaker

2008-09-16T17:49+0200

UPDATED AT 16.00 GMT Ondo Assembly impeaches Speaker Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Bakitta Olufowobi Bello was on Tuesday impeached by other members of the legislature on grounds of incompetence, greed and high-handedness. Bakitta, who represents Akoko North West 1 Constituency, was....

Bush pledges swift aid to hurricane-hit Texas

2008-09-16T17:48+0200

Ike Renews Flood Fears In Midwest

2008-09-16T17:47+0200

Just a few months after near-record flooding in the Midwest, authorities in towns along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers fear a soggy repeat following heavy rain from the remnants of Hurricane Ike.

Bahamian hoteliers feeling economic slump

2008-09-16T17:45+0200

By CANDIA DAMES, Guardian News Editor The dismal performance of the tourism industry in 2008 is being reflected in a newly released Bahamas Hotel Association (BHA) survey, which confirms that profits and staffing levels are being negatively impacted by current economic conditions.

Bush says Feds to pay for Ike debris removal

2008-09-16T17:45+0200

President Bush heads to hurricane-ravaged south Texas on Tuesday with a message that the federal government will be there with aid and support.

Bush pledges swift aid to hurricane-hit Texas (Reuters)

2008-09-16T17:37+0200

Reuters - President George W. Bush pledged swift federal aid for millions of storm-struck Texans on Tuesday as the energy hub of Houston and other areas struggle to recover from Hurricane Ike's mighty punch.

Midwest fears more Ike flooding

2008-09-16T17:35+0200

Just a few months after near-record flooding in the Midwest, towns along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers fear a soggy repeat following heavy rain from the remnants of Ike.

Appeal Launched for TCI, Cuba and Haiti

2008-09-16T17:34+0200

CASTRIES – Over the past few weeks we have watched as the sister territories of Cuba and Haiti have been devastated by the storms Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike.

Investors sell risky asset as financal fears rise

2008-09-16T17:33+0200

NEW YORK - Investors dumped equities, oil and emerging market assets today and rushed into safe-haven debt as insurer American International Group took centre stage in an escalating global financial crisis. Government debt prices jumped on heightened fears about the global financial system and....

Galveston Residents Defy Official's Call To Evacuate

2008-09-16T17:33+0200

Galveston, Texas, is moving from the search-and-rescue phase to the clean-up phase after taking a big hit from Hurricane Ike. The death toll so far has been low, but conditions are degrading. And some who weathered the storm on the island despite dire evacuation orders from officials remain defiant.

In Gulf, Bush Warns Of "Disaster Fatigue"

2008-09-16T17:32+0200

President Bush is making his third trip to survey U.S. Gulf Coast hurricane damage in two weeks, and he says he fully expects to meet plenty of frustrated people when he gets to Texas.

Bush surveys damage in Gulf Coast

2008-09-16T17:32+0200

President Bush says that people displaced by Hurricane Ike need to listen to local officials before returning home.

I am the Angry American.

2008-09-16T17:24+0200

I am angry that the country I love so dearly, that has so much strength, so many resources, and so many good, honest, and hard-working citizens, that has so much to offer the world and the human species, has been hijacked for so long by a power-hungry man representing a power-hungry party.

Porn loses as Web's killer activity

2008-09-16T17:16+0200

Social networking sites are the hottest attraction on the Internet, author says, dethroning pornography and highlighting a major change in how people communicate

Sales, profit grow for Kroger

2008-09-16T17:16+0200

Largest conventional grocer in the U.S. says rising costs are causing more people to eat at home

TFN NEWS BRIEFING: Banking and insurance highlights to 15:45 BST

2008-09-16T17:12+0200

2008-09-16 15:30:57 AIG jitters grip Wall St.; eyes on Fed NEW YORK, Sept 16 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell on Tuesday as investors worried about insurer ...

Engineers to assess Morton's damage

2008-09-16T17:12+0200

By JUAN MCCARTNEY, Guardian Senior Reporter Reiterating claims that Morton Bahamas Limited plans to rebuild its operation on Inagua after being hammered by Hurricane Ike, Morton Managing Director Glenn Bannister said yesterday that the salt manufacturer's parent company, Rohm and Haas, sent an....

TFN NEWS BRIEFING: Oil and utilities highlights to 15:45 BST

2008-09-16T17:12+0200

2008-09-16 15:13:53 6-Oil drops 4 percent on financial market turmoil LONDON, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Oil fell more than 4 percent on Tuesday on rising concern ...

Biminites to protest high power bills

2008-09-16T17:12+0200

By KEVA LIGHTBOURNE, Guardian Senior Reporter The high electricity rate on Bimini has finally taken its toll, forcing the island's residents to plan a street demonstration in a bid to have their concerns addressed. A massive demonstration in front of the government-owned Bahamas Electricity Corporation has been planned for Wednesday.

Peso back near 47-$1 even as oil sinks to $94

2008-09-16T17:09+0200

SINGAPOREOil prices fell below $95 a barrel on Monday after hurricane Ike inflicted minimal damage to oil installations on the Texas coast. ...

Bush returns to Gulf Coast, this time for Ike (AP)

2008-09-16T17:06+0200

AP - President Bush says that people displaced by Hurricane Ike need to listen to local officials before returning home.

Fed considers rate cut as AIG crisis deepens

2008-09-16T17:04+0200

Oil falls amid economic concerns

2008-09-16T16:57+0200

Oil prices decline further amid concerns that a slowdown in the global economy will dent demand.

Ike Damages Several US Offshore Platforms

2008-09-16T16:56+0200

There appears to be some long-term damage in the Gulf of Mexico which is going to make a mark on inventories.

Powerful Typhoon Sinlaku leaves 11 dead in Taiwan

2008-09-16T16:51+0200

Typhoon Sinlaku's death toll in Taiwan rose to 11 with another 11 people missing after the powerful storm lashed at the island, ...

How the Masters of the Universe ran amok and cost us the earth

2008-09-16T16:50+0200

SLAM. Slam. Slam. Slam. Like a scene from a gathering of Mafia dons, the doors of 30 black Lincolns slammed shut as their besuited occupants stepped out into a Manhattan downp

IDB to Fund Construction of New Hope River Bridge

2008-09-16T16:39+0200

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Senator Don Wehby, has announced that the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will be funding the construction of a new bridge to replace the Hope River Bridge, in Harbour View, St. Andrew. The bridge was destroyed during the passage of Tropical Storm Gustav last month.

AIG tumbles, worsening financial carnage (Reuters)

2008-09-16T16:36+0200

Reuters - American International Group Inc shares tumbled 50 percent after the giant U.S. insurer's credit ratings were slashed, feeding market fears as top U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs reported sharply lower quarterly earnings.

Islamic Foundation contributes US $2,000 to victims in Haiti

2008-09-16T16:34+0200

CAY HILL - The Islamic Foundation of St. Maarten, in efforts to assist the hurricane victims in Haiti, contributed a cheque of US $2000 to the Foundation Evangelic Churches of St. Maarten

Time to fill 'er up? Gas prices dip

2008-09-16T16:21+0200

What a difference 12 hours can make. Overnight, the price of gas in some parts of Canada fell between six and nine cents a litre, and on international markets, the price of oil plummeted to below $92 US a barrel.

'Ant from Mars' found in Amazon jungle

2008-09-16T16:20+0200

A unique and strange subterranean ant has been fortuitously rediscovered – specimens found previously had crumbled into dust

Are humans to blame for Arctic meltdown?

2008-09-16T16:20+0200

With just weeks to go before the Arctic ice reaches its summer minimum, we take a look at the reasons behind its dramatic melt

Hurricane Ike's repair bill

2008-09-16T16:20+0200

1 / 15 West Orange: Fish remain stuck in a fence as flood waters caused by hurricane Ike recede Photograph: Eric Gay/AP ....

Bush lands in Texas as Galvestonians urged to leave

2008-09-16T16:15+0200

President Bush arrived in hurricane-ravaged south Texas on Tuesday with a message that the federal government will be there with aid and support.

Battle of Britain RAF pilot's charred notebook for sale

2008-09-16T16:10+0200

The story of a Battle of Britain pilot who was missing for 30 years after being shot down by a Luftwaffe pilot is to emerge at an auction of his surviving possessions.

Gas prices going down? Wait and see

2008-09-16T16:06+0200

The minister responsible for gas price regulation in Nova Scotia is not making any promises about lower prices at the pump.

Food or slaughter? Bushmeat fuels wildlife debate

2008-09-16T16:02+0200

16 Sep 2008 13:41:07 GMT Source: Reuters By Tansa Musa YAOUNDE, Sept 16 (Reuters) - An acrid stench of burning hair hangs in the air as a whole monkey roasts over an open fire, a victim of the trade in tropical "bushmeat" that ...

Oil dives $4, hammered for second day by bank woes - Reuters Nigeria - Fastnews Nigerian Banking

2008-09-16T15:58+0200

* Oil dives to seven-month low on Lehman, banking turmoil * Minor damage seen from Hurricane Ike * Markets await U.S. Federal Reserve rate decision (Updates prices) LONDON, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Oil fell more than 4 percent on Tuesday on rising concern that turmoil in global financial markets will....

Oil Falls Below $92 A Barrel - WILM News Radio - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-16T15:58+0200

Get the latest news, video, and polls! LONDON (Reuters) - Oil fell more than 4 percent on Tuesday on rising concern that turmoil in global financial markets will further undermine fuel demand and send investors into safer havens. Reports that U.S. oil infrastructure had escaped major damage from....

Old-growth forests important carbon sinks, says study

2008-09-16T15:57+0200

Old-growth forests of the northern hemisphere act as global carbon sinks but are not protected by international treaties, according to new EU-funded research published in the journal .

Talking with Ayatollah Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah

Markets Face Continuing Troubles As AIG Teeters

2008-09-16T15:33+0200

Market woes continued Tuesday amid news that another U.S. financial giant, insurer American International Group, was veering closer to bankruptcy. The two biggest Asian stock markets Tokyo and Hong Kong plummeted.

Many In Galveston Wiped Out By Hurricane Ike

2008-09-16T15:33+0200

Galveston, Texas, is among the areas most affected by Hurricane Ike. The island community is cleaning up the damage from the storm.

Texas Livestock A Casualty Of Hurricane Ike

2008-09-16T15:33+0200

Many small towns in Texas have been devastated by Hurricane Ike. The agricultural community of Fannett, Texas, was flattened by the storm. Residents are returning in hopes of reclaiming what was left behind. But many are finding their valuable livestock dead.

Coast Guard Assesses Damage Along Ike's Path

2008-09-16T15:33+0200

The U.S. Coast Guard is among the agencies assessing the damage caused by Hurricane Ike. Helicopter crews fly around South Texas, checking on everything from the ferry dock at Galveston to oil platforms hundreds of miles out in the Gulf.

'Allergic Girl' teaches how to eat out with allergies

2008-09-16T15:30+0200

Since 2½-year-old Ava Zinna ended up in the emergency room this summer after an allergic reaction to peanuts, her mother, Tara, has worried about her daughter's food whenever they eat out. But when the family went to Blue Smoke restaurant Sunday afternoon in New York, someone had already asked to hold the peanuts.

Troops storm pirate-held yacht

2008-09-16T15:30+0200

French troops stormed a yacht hijacked by Somali pirates, killing one, capturing six others and freeing their hostages. President Nicolas Sarkozy, who authorised the rescue, urged the world to mobilise against maritime piracy, calling it a "genuine industry of crime".

Social Services Head Resigns Over Gustav

2008-09-16T15:29+0200

Embattled social services secretary resigns amid criticism over Gustav response.

Alliance & Leicester shareholders approve £1.3 billion takeover

2008-09-16T15:27+0200

Shareholders in Alliance & Leicester today approved its takeover by Spain's Banco Santander after being told the deal would provide "certainty and stability" amid the global credit crunch. A&L's acting chairman Roy Brown told shareholders attending an extraordinary general meeting in Birmingham that the 1.

Islamic Foundation contributes US $2,000 to victims in Haiti

2008-09-16T15:25+0200

CAY HILL--The Islamic Foundation of St. Maarten, in efforts to assist the hurricane victims in Haiti, contributed a cheque of US $2000 to the Foundation Evangelic Churches of St. Maarten, which is coordinating a drive to accumulate funds to disburse to Haiti. (click headline for more)

Fears for Britain's biggest mortgage lender as HBOS shares fall 30% in the wake of Meltdown Monday

2008-09-16T15:21+0200

There were fears Britain's biggest mortgage lender could become the next victim of the credit crunch today after its shares fell more than 30 per cent in just two days.

Troops storm pirate-held yacht

2008-09-16T15:16+0200

French troops stormed a yacht hijacked by Somali pirates, killing one, capturing six others and freeing their hostages.

Asian stocks hit by U.S. turmoil

2008-09-16T15:14+0200

Fears about financial contagion from the turmoil engulfing Wall Street sent Asian stocks tumbling, while European indexes posted slightly more moderate declines.

Amid difficult sanitary conditions, Texas recovery efforts are under way

2008-09-16T15:14+0200

While geological surveys show that Hurricane Ike destroyed most houses on Bolivar Peninsula and that sanitary conditions had worsened on Galveston Island, the U.S. government started distributing food and water in southeast Texas.

Cameroononline almost fully up and running

2008-09-16T15:14+0200

It's not quite yet business as usual in Houston after Hurricane Ike knocked out power to millions , shattered skyscraper windows and wiped out water pressure in the nation's energy hub. But we are glad to report that Cameroon online operations are almost back to normal, meaning that we have almost....

Oil prices fall amid market turmoil

2008-09-16T15:14+0200

Oil fell 3 percent on Tuesday to about $93 a barrel on rising concern global financial markets will further undermine fuel demand.

Economy under siege as HBOS shares fall by a third and FTSE plummets to three-year low

2008-09-16T15:13+0200

There were fears Britain's biggest mortgage lender could become the next victim of the credit crunch today after its shares fell more than 30 per cent in just two days.

Taiwan typhoon death toll rises to 11 (AFP)

2008-09-16T15:06+0200

AFP - Rescuers on Tuesday continued search operations after Typhoon Sinlaku pounded Taiwan over the weekend, leaving at least 11 people dead, officials said.

Coast Guard Traces Ike's Route

2008-09-16T15:03+0200

The U.S. Coast Guard was out following Hurricane Ike's path Monday. The crew was assessing the storm's damage, including pollution and leaking oil rigs and platforms.

Ike Survivors May Wait Weeks for Baths

2008-09-16T14:59+0200

Tens of thousands of residents first hunkered down to wait for Hurricane Ike's brutal punch. Those survivors on the wrecked Texas coast must now wait again — for food, water and ice, for the electricity to return to their homes, for that first hot meal and shower. For some, the wait could be days. For others, it could be weeks.

Prices slide further as investors shun risk

2008-09-16T14:58+0200

LONDON/SINGAPORE - The financial meltdown on Wall Street gripped commodity markets on Tuesday as investors sought refuge in cash and risk-free assets, pulling down crude oil 3 percent, gold 1 percent and grains 2.5 percent. As Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy, the sale of Merrill Lynch and a struggling....

New U.S. commander takes over in Iraq

2008-09-16T14:58+0200

Petraeus took over in February 2007, a month in which six U.S. helicopters were shot down, deadly bombings were common and nearly 500 bodies turned up in the capital. Since then, the "surge" has become a buzzword in American politics. The temporary influx of 31,000 U.S. troops is credited, in part, with reducing violence across Iraq.

Bush returns to Gulf Coast to survey Ike damage

2008-09-16T14:46+0200

President George W. Bush is making his third trip to survey U.S. Gulf Coast hurricane damage in two weeks, and he says he fully ...

MNA Waseem Akhtar inspects construction of Khalid Bin Walid road

2008-09-16T14:44+0200

KARACHI, Sept 16 (APP): Former Home Minister, Waseem Akhtar MNA, accompanied by Nazim Jamshed Town Javed Ahmed, inspected the reconstruction work of Khalid Bin Walid Road. On the occasion Town Nazim informed that the project will cost Rs 120 million out of which Rs 16 million are being spent on....

Nigeria: Country's External Reserves Safe, As Financial Storm Hits Wall Street

2008-09-16T14:43+0200

It was a sigh of relief last night following revelations that the storm that hit the United States financial system may not have affected the country's external reserves in the US after all.

Alliance & Leicester takeover given the go-ahead

2008-09-16T14:39+0200

Shareholders in Alliance & Leicester today approved its takeover by Spain’s Banco Santander after being told the deal would provide “certainty and stability” amid the global credit crunch.

Typhoon Sinlaku leaves 11 dead in Taiwan

2008-09-16T14:38+0200

TAIPEI: Typhoon Sinlaku's death toll in Taiwan rose to 11 with another 11 people missing after the powerful storm lashed at the island,...

Burma seeks help to revive cyclone-affected rice region

2008-09-16T14:36+0200

Burma's junta is seeking foreign help for seeds and fertiliser to revive its main rice-growing region, devastated by Cyclone Negris last May.

Oil falls to 7-month lows on banking crisis

2008-09-16T14:33+0200

Oil fell over 4 per cent to a seven-month low today, sliding for a second day as Lehman Brothers' collapse raised concern the credit crisis will hurt the economy and undermine fuel demand.

Pizza guy fined over very fast food

2008-09-16T14:31+0200

An Australian pizza delivery man gave fast food a new meaning when he was caught, and fined, for driving 33 miles over the speed limit.

Bush Returns To Gulf, This Time For Ike

2008-09-16T14:30+0200

President Bush is making his third trip to survey U.S. Gulf Coast hurricane damage in two weeks, and he says he fully expects to meet plenty of frustrated people when he gets to Texas.

Ban says Global network necessary to confront c...

2008-09-16T14:29+0200

First published: 20080916 7:52:12 AM EST Ultimate Media The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said that, cooperation from all sectors of society is essential to tackle the crisis of climate change that affects society today. Global warming as a result of climate change has been blamed for....

Oil Falls Bellow USD 100 a Barrel

2008-09-16T14:23+0200

After more than six months in triple-digit territory, the price of crude oil tumbled below USD 100 per barrel closing at USD 95.71 on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Oil prices peaked at USD 145.29 a barrel in July but have since been falling as oil consumption has slowed markedly in Western coun..

Oil drops 4 percent on financial market turmoil

2008-09-16T14:18+0200

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil fell more than 4 percent on Tuesday on rising concern that turmoil in global financial markets will further undermine fuel demand and send investors into safer havens.

Bush to visit Hurricane Ike victims

2008-09-16T14:15+0200

President Bush heads to hurricane-ravaged south Texas on Tuesday with a message that the federal government will be there with aid and support.

New U.S. commander takes over in Iraq

2008-09-16T14:15+0200

Gen. David Petraeus, who oversaw a reversal in rising violence in Iraq, turned over control of U.S. forces in the country to Gen. Ray Odierno on Tuesday.

Porn passed over as Web users become social--author

2008-09-16T14:13+0200

Social networking sites are the hottest attraction on the Internet, dethroning pornography and highlighting a major change in how people communicate, according to a web guru. CANBERRA--Social networking sites are the hottest attraction on the Internet, dethroning pornography and highlighting a major change in how people communicate, according to.

Fears for Britain's biggest mortgage lender as HBOS shares fall 30% in the wake of Meltdown Monday

2008-09-16T14:13+0200

There were fears Britain's biggest mortgage lender could become the next victim of the credit crunch today after its shares fell more than 30 per cent in just two days.

The Dismal Science Becomes Gloomier

2008-09-16T14:09+0200

Our world cannot support 6 billion people living at the consumptive level of the United States. The economy cannot be predicted by useless non-scientific formulas, notes Jim Miles .

Military Industrial Complex 2.0

2008-09-16T14:09+0200

As we prepare to close the book on the Bush presidency, it is worth exploring just how, in the last seven-plus years, the long War on Terror has actually helped build a new, privatized version of the Pentagon, notes Frida Berrigan .

Oil drops 4 percent on financial market turmoil (Reuters)

2008-09-16T14:05+0200

Reuters - Oil fell more than 4 percent on Tuesday on rising concern that turmoil in global financial markets will further undermine fuel demand and send investors into safer havens.

Wall St woes to take shine off New Yorker's lavish lifestyles

2008-09-16T13:57+0200

The deepening upheaval on Wall Street has rippled throughout New York's business community, hurting everyone from luxury goods stores to charities to Manhattan restaurants, store owners and experts say.

Lex: Pouring oil on the water

2008-09-16T13:51+0200

Should central banks be cutting interest rates now? One important difference between the Bear Stearns and bankruptcies is the oil price. When Bear Stearns collapsed, oil prices stood at $110 per barrel – and were rising. Today, by contrast, crude oil for New York delivery trades at $94 and is falling – despite disruptions caused by Hurricane Ike.

Cardiff couple’s hurricane holiday horror

2008-09-16T13:47+0200

HERE’S a picture of the idyllic Cuban resort where a South Wales couple were enjoying a relaxing two-week break – and here is another picture after the worst storm of the Atlantic hurricane season hit it.

Nigeria: Militants Attack Shell Flow Station

Russian delegation visits Venezuela for partnership talks

2008-09-16T13:10+0200

A Russian governmental delegation has arrived in Venezuela to hold talks on bilateral cooperation. The delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin includes representatives from large Russian companies and economic-related ministries.

US regrets that Cuba rejects five million dollars in US hurricane aid

2008-09-16T13:09+0200

WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): The US State Department said Monday it regretted that Cuba has rejected its offer of up to five million dollars in aid for the victims of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. The United States has tense and limited relations with its communist southern island neighbour.

Haiti could face new food crisis after storms

2008-09-16T13:09+0200

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters): Haiti faces a deepening crisis after storms destroyed much of the impoverished country's rice crop, sparking fears of a repeat of the deadly food riots earlier this year that brought down the government. The storms killed hundreds of people and forced tens of thousands out of their homes.

Defiant Malaysian PM rejects fresh opposition claim on power

2008-09-16T13:07+0200

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Tuesday rejected the opposition's declaration that it has signed up enough defecting lawmakers to seize power, accusing it of "political lies".

Drivers' hope as oil price plunges

2008-09-16T12:57+0200

DRIVERS can expect big cuts in pump prices after the price of oil plunged yesterday.

Bush Heads to Survey Ike's Impact

2008-09-16T12:55+0200

President Bush is making his third trip to survey Gulf Coast hurricane damage in two weeks, and he says he fully expects to meet plenty of frustrated people when he gets to Texas. "My message will be that we hear you, and we'll work as hard and fast as we can to help you get your lives back up to normal," the president said.

Frantic search for Ike victims

2008-09-16T12:51+0200

Galveston - The biggest search and rescue operation in Texas history is under way and thousands of people face long stays in crowded shelters because their homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Ike. The death toll from Ike rose to 30 in eight states, many of them far to the north of Texas's....

Nigeriaâ€™s External Reserves Safe, As Financial Storm Hits Wall Street - THISDAY - Fastnews Nigerian Commodity News

2008-09-16T12:49+0200

Nigeria’s External Reserves Safe, As Financial Storm Hits Wall Street By Bisi Ojediran and Ayodele Aminu, 09.16.2008 It was a sigh of relief last night following revelations that the storm that hit the United States financial system may not have affected the country’s external reserves in the US after all.

Oil dives $4, hammered for second day by bank woes - Reuters Nigeria - Fastnews: Local Nigerian News

2008-09-16T12:49+0200

* Oil dives to seven-month low on Lehman, banking turmoil * Technical support next seen below $90 a barrel * Minor damage seen from Hurricane Ike (Previous SINGAPORE, updates prices) LONDON, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Oil fell over 4 percent to a seven-month low on Tuesday, sliding for a second day as....

>>Investment: Over 40 Japanese Investor Storm Nigeria - LeadershipNigeria - Fastnews Nigerian Oil & Gas News

2008-09-16T12:49+0200

Investment promotion in Nigeria has received a major boost with the arrival of more than 40-member Japanese entrepreneurs. The team led by Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Member of the House of Representative, Yasutoshi Nishimura, yesterday paid a courtesy visit on the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC).

Obudu Cattle Ranch Resort:Tourism Hotspot In Africa - LeadershipNigeria - Fastnews: Local Nigerian News

2008-09-16T12:49+0200

The Obudu Cattle Ranch Resort in Cross River State is regarded as one of the finest and most exotic tourist destinations in the world. Our corresopondent, Christiana Esebonu, who visited the Ranch recently, explains why it is said to be a well kept secret Oh! what a beautiful sight to behold: Obudu....

Life After Ike: A Test of Endurance

2008-09-16T12:44+0200

GALVESTON, Tex., Sept. 15 -- Tommy LeCroy, proprietor of Bistro LeCroy, supervises the grilling of steaks and sausages, washed down with fine wine, on the deck of a loft overlooking a street buried in mud. This is the historic restaurant and retail district known as the Strand. The neighborhood is...

ADB Predicts Slowdown in Growth, Sharp Rise in Inflation for Asia

2008-09-16T12:38+0200

Bank says high oil and food prices and a prolonged slowdown in industrial countries are casting a shadow on the economic outlook

Oil falls to 7-month lows on banking crisis

2008-09-16T12:33+0200

Oil fell over 4 per cent to a seven-month low today, sliding for a second day as Lehman Brothers' collapse raised concern the credit crisis will hurt the economy and undermine fuel demand.

Red Cross Asks Congress For Millions in Storm Aid

2008-09-16T12:29+0200

The American Red Cross, which is plunging into debt to provide relief after back-to-back Gulf Coast hurricanes, said yesterday that it has asked Congress for $150 million in emergency funding to replenish its disaster relief reserves.

Apple releases bumper patch batch

2008-09-16T12:29+0200

Apple has published a major security patch. Mac OS X 10.5.5 is the sixth substantial security update from the company this year. The patch cycle also includes fixes for version 10.4 of Apple's software, addressing flaws in both desktop and server software.

Hurricane Hell: When Everything's Destroyed

2008-09-16T12:25+0200

"It don't look good back at home," said Carroll in a phone call to his family. "We've lost everything." Walking through the soaked floors in his home, Carroll showed ABC's "Good Morning America" how all of his belongings had been destroyed. "Everything in here was just floating," said Carroll. "The washer and dryer were upside down.

Ike victims face long wait for normality

2008-09-16T12:14+0200

Tens of thousands of Texas residents who hunkered down ahead of Hurricane Ike are waiting for food, water and ice, for electricity to return to their homes, and for that first hot meal and shower.

Ike wipes out Texas neighbourhoods

2008-09-16T12:14+0200

Ike wipes out Texas neighbourhoods

2008-09-16T12:12+0200

Wall St woes to take shine off New Yorker's lavish lifestyles

2008-09-16T12:07+0200

Ike resurrects river flooding fears across Midwest (AP)

2008-09-16T12:04+0200

AP - Just a few months after near-record flooding in the Midwest, authorities in towns along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers fear a soggy repeat following heavy rain from the remnants of Hurricane Ike.

Tourism to benefit from €120m in EU funds

2008-09-16T11:59+0200

A total of €120 million in EU funds are being made available to the tourism industry up to 2013, Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco said this morning. He told a press conference at the Aviation Museum that Malta up to last year had used...

Russian bombers conduct patrols along South American coast

2008-09-16T11:58+0200

MOSCOW, September 16 (RIA Novosti) - The two Russian Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers that landed in Venezuela last week have successfully carried out a patrol mission along the South American coast, a Russian Air Force spokesman said on Tuesday. "The aircraft took off from the Libertador airbase....

Relief operations ramp up in storm-hit Texas

2008-09-16T11:57+0200

A huge relief effort accelerated in storm-struck Texas yesterday as the big oil center of Houston struggled to get back to business after it was battered by Hurricane Ike. About 2,000 people had

Four dead in Taiwan typhoon

2008-09-16T11:57+0200

Four people were killed and seven reported missing yesterday after Typhoon Sinlaku brought winds of up to 160 kph

Stocks stumble as Lehman crumbles

2008-09-16T11:57+0200

The tragic end of Lehman Brothers, the fourth-biggest investment bank in the United States, has sent shockwaves across the interlinked global financial system, battering stocks and ratt

Typhoon kills at least seven in Taiwan

2008-09-16T11:51+0200

16 Sep 2008 09:37:42 GMT Source: Reuters (Adds details, changes missing person count) TAIPEI, Sept 16 (Reuters) - A typhoon which brought down parts of two bridges and dumped as much as 1,400 mm (55 inches) of rain in parts of Taiwan has ...

:America Says Goodbye To Pure Capitalism

2008-09-16T11:41+0200

The United States as keeper of the Holy Grail of capitalism – those times appear to have disappeared. In an emergency, the basic tenets of capitalism are jettisoned. Nationalization, regulatory madness, more and more billions freely handed out: the strong state is on the march in the USA.

AIG can borrow own money to stay afloat

2008-09-16T11:37+0200

American International Group will be allowed to use $20bn (€14bn) of assets held by its subsidiaries to provide cash needed for the troubled insurer to stay in business.

Texas in mass post-Ike rescue

2008-09-16T11:34+0200

The largest search and rescue in Texas history gets under way to find the thousands of people hit by Hurricane Ike.

A day of reckoning (Politico)

2008-09-16T11:33+0200

Politico - Wall Street analysts and headline writers are describing the collapse of Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch with words like “historic,” “tragic,” “meltdown” and “calamity.”

Bush heads to Texas for first-hand look at hurricane damage

2008-09-16T11:31+0200

U.S. President George W. Bush was expected on Tuesday to visit the two cities in Texas hardest hit by Hurricane Ike on the weekend.

Out of power and 'unsafe,' Galveston starts long cleanup

2008-09-16T11:30+0200

As Galveston's leaders on Monday repeatedly urged its residents to stay away, people who never left tried to make the best of their muggy, tree-strewn, powerless city.

U.S. regrets Cuba's refusal of hurricane relief aid

2008-09-16T11:28+0200

WASHINGTON, September 16 (RIA Novosti) - Washington regrets Cuba's refusal to accept $5 million in aid to deal with the aftermath of two recent hurricanes, a State Department official has said. Cuba was hit by Hurricane Ike this month and Hurricane Gustav in late August, which severely damaged the....

Housing is weakest link as more banks falter.

2008-09-16T11:26+0200

A horrid day on Wall Street and in the international markets ended with experts predicting even more carnage for banks and other financial institutions. The topics were largely limited to "how mu...

A Crisis, But How Bad

2008-09-16T11:26+0200

LEHMAN BROTHERS, one of the most venerable brokerage houses on Wall Street, survived the Civil War, various economic panics of the late 1800s, the Great Depression and the Nazi blitzkrieg through Euro...

Malaysia PM rebuffs Anwar claim

2008-09-16T11:26+0200

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has rejected the opposition's claim it has enough support to seize power, saying he is "here to stay". Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim had vowed to be a...

Millions stranded in Ike

2008-09-16T11:26+0200

US authorities raced today to help millions of people stranded without water and power in the wake of devastating Hurricane Ike, which left more than 17 dead across nine states.

Ike washes away Texas town

2008-09-16T11:20+0200

The small town of Gilchrist, Texas, may as well have had a target on it when Hurricane Ike slammed ashore early Saturday morning.

Inside the Beltway

2008-09-16T11:20+0200

Imagine if it were possible for 16 of this nation's most distinguished presidents, past and present, to come together in a relaxed setting, roll up their shirtsleeves, and sit down for a few friendly rounds of poker.

Russian delegation visits Venezuela for partnership talks

2008-09-16T11:13+0200

A Russian governmental delegation has arrived in Venezuela to hold talks on bilateral cooperation.

World markets tumble after U.S. storm

2008-09-16T10:57+0200

Global stock markets tumbled Tuesday amid growing fears of a global financial crisis as investors reacted to the demise of two of Wall Street's biggest names, Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch.

Ike destroys thousands of tons of food, citric fruit in Cuba

2008-09-16T10:55+0200

Hurricane Ike destroyed more than 4,000 tons of stored food and 135,000 tons of citric fruit when it hit Cuba, the local press reported on Monday. Cuban Interior Minister Marino Murillo told the local press that the losses were caused when the roofs of many storage houses were battered by the hurricane.

Ousted leader's kin eyed for top post

2008-09-16T10:50+0200

Thailand's ruling party endorsed the brother-in-law of a controversial former leader Monday as its nominee to become the next prime minister, paving the way for more strife with anti-government demonstrators.

Briefly

2008-09-16T10:50+0200

A suspected Syrian terrorist who has spent seven years in mostly segregated custody in Canada is claiming that his indefinite detention without charge or trial amounts to cruelty, his lawyer said Sunday.

French, Spanish And Japanese Storm Through Zagreb

2008-09-16T10:50+0200

According to official figures of the Zagreb Tourist Board, 7 percent more foreign tourists visited Zagreb in relation to last year.

Faldo fired up for Ryder Cup defence

2008-09-16T10:42+0200

Europe's Ryder Cup captain Nick Faldo predicts an "electrifying" week as his side arrive in the United States ahead of the contest starting on Friday.

Ghana: Bush Hosts Kufuor for State Visit

2008-09-16T10:40+0200

President Bush praised Ghanaian President John Kufuor for his strong leadership and for active support in conflict resolution across Africa.

Bush to survey hurricane-damaged Gulf Coast (AP)

2008-09-16T10:32+0200

AP - President Bush is making his third trip to survey Gulf Coast hurricane damage in two weeks, and he says he fully expects to meet plenty of frustrated people when he gets to Texas.

Gay bar becomes a haven in storm-ravaged Galveston (Reuters)

2008-09-16T10:32+0200

Reuters - As Galveston told its remaining residents on Monday to leave the Texas island devastated by Hurricane Ike, Robert's Lafitte, a gay bar, was planning a pre-curfew drag show and Tina Turner sing-along.

Asia is one supply shock away from another food price spike, says ADB

2008-09-16T10:23+0200

Developing Asian countries must implement structural reforms that support the agricultural sector or else face another dramatic rise in food prices, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) warns in a new major report.

Bush to survey hurricane-damaged Gulf Coast

2008-09-16T10:20+0200

President Bush is making his third trip to survey Gulf Coast hurricane damage in two weeks, and he says he fully expects to meet plenty of frustrated people when he gets to Texas.

Pizza delivery just too fast

2008-09-16T10:18+0200

He had a pizza getting cold in the front seat and was 20 minutes late... so what do you think this 20-year-old driver did?

South Africa: Plunging Oil Prices Bring Cheer

2008-09-16T10:10+0200

OIL prices dived more than 5% to a seven-month low below $92 a barrel yesterday, providing SA with a silver lining to the thundercloud that has struck global markets.

U.S. Urges Cuba to Accept Aid

2008-09-16T10:08+0200

The Bush administration has asked the Cuban government to reconsider its rejection of emergency hurricane aid from the United States, including an unprecedented offer to send assistance directly to the government in Havana aboard civilian aircraft.

Fire destroys community's rebuilt arena

2008-09-16T10:07+0200

Fire has devastated a community in northwest Alberta, destroying the arena it had rebuilt five years ago after another disaster.Flames tore through the arena yesterday morning, causing the building to collapse and forcing the evacuation of a nearby elementary school and seniors lodge. No one was injured.

Hurricane Ike George Bush to visit damaged areas

2008-09-16T10:04+0200

George W Bush is making his third trip to survey Gulf Coast hurricane damage in two weeks as residents of the worsthit areas have been warned it may take months before they can return home.

Oil prices fall to six-month low at $97

2008-09-16T10:03+0200

Oil prices fell below $100 a barrel yesterday for the first time in nearly six months.

It's sport, not sex

2008-09-16T10:03+0200

Wearing sportswear reminiscent of Olympic gymnasts rather than skimpy leotards, girls performed gravity-defying dance routines based around two six-metre poles - one rotating, one fixed. "Everything which we do requires so much strength. You train your legs and your muscles. It has nothing to do with eroticism.

Russian delegation visits Venezuela for partnership talks

2008-09-16T09:56+0200

A Russian governmental delegation has arrived in Venezuela to hold talks on bilateral cooperation.

Ike Survivors May Wait Weeks for Hot Meals, Baths

2008-09-16T09:51+0200

Texans persevere through Ike's fury, but may wait weeks for hot meals, showers, electricity

White House State Dinner Guests

2008-09-16T09:49+0200

Guest list for White House state dinner in honor of Ghanaian President John Agyekum Kufuor, as provided by the White House.

Hurricane remnants blamed for 15 deaths in Midwest

2008-09-16T09:41+0200

Losing its devastating punch as a major hurricane, Ike nevertheless drubbed the Midwest with powerful winds and floodwaters that ...

US insurer wins deal to stay afloat

2008-09-16T09:40+0200

American International Group will be allowed to use 20 billion dollars (£11.1bn) of assets held by its subsidiaries to provide the cash needed for the troubled insurer to stay in business.

Global network necessary to confront climate change crisis, says Ban Ki-moon

2008-09-16T09:37+0200

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 16 (APP): With media interest in climate change waning since last year, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday underscored the importance of the crisis and called for cooperation from all sectors of society to tackle it. Global warming “is less in the news than last year,” Ban....

Oil dives $3, hammered for second day by bank woes - ReportonBusiness.com - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-16T09:36+0200

By Annika Breidthardt SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil tumbled by as much as 4 percent to a seven-month low on Tuesday, in free fall for a second day as Lehman Brothers' collapse made investors ditch oil for safe-haven assets, and on fears the credit crisis will hurt the real economy. Reports that Hurricane Ike caused minor damage to U.

Oil plummets as energy output unharmed - Independent-Bangladesh - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-16T09:36+0200

AP, NEW YORK -- Oil prices plunged to a seven-month low Monday as the Gulf Coast energy infrastructure appeared relatively unharmed after Hurricane Ike and traders bet that Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy could ignite a massive liquidation of commodities. Light, sweet crude for November delivery fell $4.

â€¢Flow station blown up - Daily Champion - Fastnews Nigerian Oil & Gas News

2008-09-16T09:36+0200

20 dead as soldier, militant clash •Flow station blown up •We had upper hand —JTF TONY ITA ETIM and CHINEDU NWOSU, Port Harcourt and NAPOLEON EHIREMEN, Warri Over 20 persons were yesterday feared dead, when soldiers and militants engaged in a shoot-out in Port Harcourt.

Ogbulafor inaugurates Anambra PDP peace panel - Daily Champion - Fastnews Nigerian Political News

2008-09-16T09:36+0200

Ogbulafor inaugurates Anambra PDP peace panel National chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, yesterday in Abuja, charged the Prof. Jerry Gana-led Anambra peace and reconciliation committee to avoid taking bribes on matters relating to the crises in the party’s chapter in the state.

Hurricane Ike's US death toll reaches 30 as millions remain without power

2008-09-16T09:32+0200

The death toll from Hurricane Ike rose to 30 in eight states yesterday as the storm slogged across the mid-United states, leaving a trail of flooding and destruction.

PARIS, Sept 15, (Agencies): World stock markets turned sharply lower Monday after a double-fisted blow from Wall Street — news that Lehman Brothers had filed for bankruptcy and Merrill Lynch would be

2008-09-16T09:32+0200

sold to Bank of America. In Europe, the FTSE-100 share index closed down 3.9 percent in London, the Paris CAC-40 was off 3.7 percent and Germany’s DAX 30 index of blue chips sagged 2.7 percent. In Russia, where stocks were already suffering from falling oil prices and worries about political interference in business, the MICEX index was down 6.

Two killed in Hamas. Gaza clan clashes

2008-09-16T09:31+0200

GAZA CITY: At least two people were killed on Tuesday when Hamas-run security forces clashed with a powerful local family in Gaza City,...

Ike survivors may wait weeks for hot meals, baths (AP)

2008-09-16T09:30+0200

AP - Tens of thousands of residents first hunkered down to wait for Hurricane Ike's brutal punch. Those survivors on the wrecked Texas coast must now wait again — for food, water and ice, for the electricity to return to their homes, for that first hot meal and shower.

US insurer wins deal to stay afloat

2008-09-16T09:29+0200

American International Group will be allowed to use 20 billion dollars (£11.1bn) of assets held by its subsidiaries to provide the cash needed for the troubled insurer to stay in business. The move comes as New York-based AIG reviews its operations and discusses alternatives with outside parties,....

‘ISA is good, enforcement should be fair’ (updated)

2008-09-16T09:26+0200

The Internal Security Act (ISA) is good but its enforcement should be rational and fair, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Europe braces for financial storm

2008-09-16T09:22+0200

The bad news this morning is heading our way from Asia, where Tokyo is down by five percent and Hong Kong six. It comes as the markets digest the Lehman and Merrill news from the U.S..

National › Typhoon approaches Okinawa, Amami, Kyushu

2008-09-16T09:22+0200

Typhoon Sinlaku threatens to approach the Okinawa and Amami islands as well as Japan's southernmost main island of Kyushu from Wednesday through Thursday, the Japan…

A new world on Wall Street

2008-09-16T09:20+0200

For the better part of a century, their names have been synonymous with Wall Street and red suspenders, a group of fiercely independent brokerage houses that masterminded some of the largest corporate deals in U.S. history.

Sewage spills flush away clam harvesters' income

2008-09-16T09:20+0200

Clam harvesters in southwestern Nova Scotia are furious after repeat sewage spills caused them to miss months of their season.The spills have had the double effect of reducing harvesters' immediate income while also making it harder for them to work enough to qualify for full employment insurance benefits.

Shuswap residents fight megamall project on Salmon River flood plain

2008-09-16T09:20+0200

A development proposal to pave and infill the Salmon River flood plain with an estimated 70,000 truckloads of gravel has sparked a new battle in the Shuswap, barely four months after a controversial plan to build a marina at the mouth of the Adams River was withdrawn.

Oil loses appeal as hedge against risk

2008-09-16T09:20+0200

Once viewed as a safe haven, crude oil has lost its lustre as investors bet that the crisis in financial markets will hurt an already weakened global economy and drive down petroleum demand.

Tourist bus crashes in Egypt, killing 12

2008-09-16T09:18+0200

Tuesday, September 16, 2008 - Web posted at 7:14:20 AM GMT Tourist bus crashes in Egypt, killing 12 CAIRO - A speeding truck collided with a tourist bus in Egypt's Sinai peninsula early yesterday, killing 12 people and injuring 33, according to officials.

Ike victims wait in line for food, water and gas

2008-09-16T08:52+0200

Lines of cars stretched two hours or longer at Texas Southern University for packages of bottled water and bags of ice.

Typhoon Kills at Least Seven in Taiwan

2008-09-16T08:49+0200

Typhoon Sinlaku also brought down a section of a bridge in Kaohsiung county in southern Taiwan, but no one died.

Relief efforts intensified, Texans struggle with Ike aftermath

2008-09-16T08:37+0200

Two days after Hurricane Ike landed on Texas, U.S. authorities intensified relief efforts but many Texans are still struggling in a slow recovery process. The National Weather Service said the remnants of Ike have left the United States later Monday after leaving a path of destruction through the Gulf coast in the south to the Great Lakes in north.

Malaysia PM rebuffs Anwar claim

2008-09-16T08:34+0200

Malaysia's PM Abdullah Badawi rejects claims by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim that he is poised to take power.

Porn passed over as Web users become social-author (Reuters)

2008-09-16T08:30+0200

Reuters - Social networking sites are the hottest attraction on the Internet, dethroning pornography and highlighting a major change in how people communicate, according to a web guru.

Pizza man fined for very fast takeaway (Reuters)

2008-09-16T08:30+0200

Reuters - An Australian pizza delivery man gave fast food a new meaning when he was caught, and fined, for driving 53 km (33 miles) over the speed limit.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008 WORK is to begin this week on another ford across the Hope River at Harbour View in St Andrew, to allow heavy duty vehicles 24-hour access to the eastern end of the island.

2008-09-16T08:28+0200

WORK is to begin this week on another ford across the Hope River at Harbour View in St Andrew, to allow heavy duty vehicles 24-hour access to the eastern end of the island. A ford built by St Thomas quarry operators in St Thomas, who were badly affected following the collapse of the Hope River....

Anwar misses deadline to take power

2008-09-16T08:25+0200

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has missed his self-imposed deadline to oust Malaysia's entrenched government but vowed it would happen soon.

Oil prices decline, trading below $100

2008-09-16T08:25+0200

After more than six months in triple-digit territory, oil prices dropped sharply on Monday, falling under the symbolic $100-a-barrel threshold as Wall Street's woes raised concerns about a slowing economy and slackening oil demand. Oil futures in New York settled at $95.71 a barrel, down $5.47, their lowest level since February.

POLITICS-MALAYSIA: Security Law Against Dissent - Protests Rise

2008-09-16T08:23+0200

KUALA LUMPUR, Sep 16 (IPS) - Under relentless opposition since losing massively at the March general elections, the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has resorted to invoking a draconian security law to check political dissent.

Bloomberg Warns NY`s Economy Has Yet to Hit Bottom

2008-09-16T08:18+0200

The mayor added that New York City is well-positioned to ride out the economic storm because he had already slashed spending.

Billions in storm damage claims may strain Texas insurance pool

2008-09-16T08:17+0200

Hurricane Ike caused as much as $16 billion in property damage, by some estimates, but the state-led insurance pool that will pay much of the cost has only $2.3 billion, leaving the Texas government o...

Texas rushes Ike relief as health crisis looms

2008-09-16T08:17+0200

GALVESTON, Texas (Reuters) - Texas officials warned on Monday of a possible health crisis and urged thousands to leave the island city of Galveston, where relief supplies were scarce after the onslaug...

Typhoon kills at least seven

2008-09-16T08:17+0200

A TYPHOON which brought down parts of two bridges and dumped as much as 1400mm of rain in parts of Taiwan killed at least seven people with 14 missing, rescue workers and newspapers said today.

No swift return to storm-battered Galveston island

2008-09-16T08:17+0200

GALVESTON, Texas : As emergency workers continued to evacuate people and search for others who were killed or stranded in Hurricane Ike, city, state and U.S. government officials said they were faced ...

Typhoon death toll rises to five in Taiwan

2008-09-16T08:15+0200

2008-09-16T08:02+0200

Crude prices shed more than $5 a barrel and have now given up virtually all their gains for the year, extending a steep, two-month slide from record levels above $147 a barrel. Light, sweet crude for October delivery fell $5.47 to settle at $95.71 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange -- oil's first settlement under $100 since March 4.

2008-09-16T07:43+0200

Ike expands reach, havoc

2008-09-16T07:40+0200

Emergency crews on Monday reached some of the beach towns most devastated by Hurricane Ike, which left a giant disaster zone ...

Headlines in Major Malaysian newspapers

2008-09-16T07:39+0200

The following headlines appeared in major Malaysian newspapers on Tuesday: *** THE NEW STRAITS TIMES: - Anwar: Public will know crossover list today - Possibility of power change only in 2010 - Iran still stalling on nuclear probe, IAEA says - PKR to break 'good news' *** BUSINESS TIMES: - US....

JTF, MEND clash at Shell's flow station

2008-09-16T07:36+0200

Global financial system rattled as U.S. firm declares self bankrupt

2008-09-16T07:36+0200

Cuba rejects US aid

2008-09-16T07:32+0200

AFP The US State Department said it regrets Cuba rejecting its offer of up to five million dollars, in aid for the victims of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. The United States has tense and limited relations with its communist neighbour, which has been under a US embargo for more. . . .

Hurricane aid rushed to Texas amid health fears

2008-09-16T07:31+0200

US President George W. Bush will view storm-struck areas of Texas today as the energy hub of Houston and other areas struggle to recover from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Ike.

Bush to visit Texas as Ike relief rolls in (Reuters)

2008-09-16T07:29+0200

Reuters - President George W. Bush will view storm-struck areas of Texas on Tuesday as the energy hub of Houston and other areas struggle to recover from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Ike.

Malaysian PM rejects Anwar power claim

2008-09-16T07:25+0200

Malaysian PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has rejected the opposition's claim it has enough support to seize power and says he's under no pressure to resign.

Rush to aid millions in US after Ike

2008-09-16T07:25+0200

US authorities are racing to help millions stranded without water and power in the wake of devastating Hurricane Ike, which left 17 dead across nine states.

Awareness Week targets safe hospitals

2008-09-16T07:19+0200

Update: 4:52PM The organisers of this year's Disaster Awareness week are trying to drive the message of having safe and sound hospitals that can guarantee proper care and high quality medical services for victims with little or no hindrances during disasters.

Typhoon death toll rises to five in Taiwan

2008-09-16T07:18+0200

2008-09-16T07:10+0200

16 Sep 2008 04:41:00 GMT Source: Reuters Sep. 15 - The clean up from Hurricane Ike continues in Texas and Louisiana At least three bodies were found in Galveston, which sustained some of the worst damage of the storm. Deborah Lutterbeck ...

VIDEO: Texas after Ike

2008-09-16T07:10+0200

16 Sep 2008 04:39:00 GMT Source: Reuters Sep 15 - With 110-miles-per-hour winds, Hurricane Ike has left the Texas coast ravaged. Now facing the daunting task of cleaning up, officials still advise residents to stay away. President George ...

Bush to visit Texas as Ike relief rolls in

2008-09-16T07:10+0200

16 Sep 2008 05:06:51 GMT Source: Reuters * Bush to visit affected areas on Tuesday * Millions remain without power * FEMA pledge to deliver 7.5 million meals to needy By Ed Stoddard HOUSTON, Sept 16 (Reuters) - President George W. ...

Defiant Malaysian PM rejects opposition claim on power (AFP)

2008-09-16T06:59+0200

AFP - Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Tuesday rejected the opposition's claim that it has enough support to seize power as "mere dreams," saying he was under no pressure to resign.

Typhoon kills at least seven in Taiwan

2008-09-16T06:59+0200

TAIPEI: A typhoon which brought down parts of two bridges and dumped as much as 1,400 mm of rain in parts of Taiwan...

There is no shelter for Canada from the gathering economic storm

2008-09-16T06:58+0200

The Canadian campaign has been woefully lacking in debate about the fundamentals

The lipstick has come off this economic pig

2008-09-16T06:58+0200

This financial crisis is the last nail in the coffin of the George W. Bush era. How could so many smart people be so wrong?

Latest News : Oil prices tumble under $93

2008-09-16T06:58+0200

LONDON (AFP) — Oil prices plunged on Monday to seven-month lows below 93 dollars on prospects of weaker energy demand amid a worsening global financial crisis after Lehman Brothers’ bankruptcy, analysts said. In London, Brent North Sea crude for delivery in October tumbled 4.81 dollars to 92.77 dollars a barrel -- the lowest level since February.

What Wall Street’s carnage means for the rest of us

2008-09-16T06:47+0200

THE wreckage on Wall Street is unbelievable — there is no other word for it. Two more top US banks — Merrill Lynch and Lehman Brothers — have gone only days after Washington was forced to bale out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and before the dust had even settled on the grave of Bear Stearns.

Plunging oil prices bring cheer

2008-09-16T06:47+0200

OIL prices dived more than 5% to a seven-month low below $92 a barrel yesterday, providing SA with a silver lining to the thundercloud that has struck global markets.

Galveston's recovery difficult despite decades of practice

2008-09-16T06:39+0200

In what has become a morbid routine in the 169-year history of this coastal Texas city, Galveston residents are cleaning up, ...

Malaysian PM rejects opposition claim on power

2008-09-16T06:38+0200

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Tuesday rejected the opposition's claim it has enough support to seize power, and said he was not under pressure to resign.

Obama rips into McCain as Wall Street reels

2008-09-16T06:38+0200

PUEBLO, Colorado: Democrat Barack Obama said Monday the gathering storm on Wall Street exposed White House rival John McCain's economic philosophy as bankrupt and out of touch.

Billions in storm damage claims may strain Texas insurance pool

2008-09-16T06:28+0200

Hurricane Ike caused as much as $16 billion in property damage, but the state-led insurance pool has only $2.3 billion, leaving the Texas government potentially on the hook.

Big storms are taking heavy toll on U.S. Midwest

2008-09-16T06:28+0200

Communities across the Midwest were reeling after storms left at least 17 people dead, homes and businesses without power and roadways flooded.

As skies clear, relief efforts and anxious evacuees in Texas

2008-09-16T06:28+0200

The government began distributing food and water in southeast Texas, and surveys showed that Hurricane Ike had destroyed most houses on Bolivar Peninsula.

'The US has not shut terror havens in Pakistan'

2008-09-16T06:08+0200

U nited States Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama created a storm when he told American television commentator Bill O'Reilly recently that Pakistan is using money the United States gave it to fight terrorism to 'prepare for a war against India'. After the 9/11 attacks, the US gave Pakistan over $10.

Malaysian PM rejects opposition claims as 'mere dreams'

2008-09-16T06:07+0200

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has rejected the opposition's claim it has enough support to seize power, and says he is not under pressure to resign.

U.S. Urges Cuba to Accept Aid

PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi rejected the opposition's claim it has enough support to seize power, and said he was not under pressure to resign.

JTF, Militants Trade Claims over Shell Flow Station

2008-09-16T05:44+0200

Nigeria�s External Reserves Safe, As Financial Storm Hits Wall Street

2008-09-16T05:44+0200

'Not much of anything left in Crystal Beach'

2008-09-16T05:39+0200

Texas officials report "total devastation" as they reach some of the hardest-hit areas for the first time after Hurricane Ike. ...

Typhoon kills at least seven in Taiwan (Reuters)

2008-09-16T05:27+0200

Reuters - A typhoon which brought down parts of two bridges and dumped as much as 1,400 mm (55 inches) of rain in parts of Taiwan killed at least seven people with 14 missing, rescue workers and newspapers said on Tuesday.

Inside the Trades, Tumbles and Turmoil

2008-09-16T05:20+0200

The Dow Jones had its biggest single-point drop for 2008, losing 504.48 points (-4.42 percent) to close at 10,917.51. It was the sixth-biggest point drop in the history of the index, the biggest point drop since the first day of trading after Sept. 11 and the biggest percentage drop since July 19, 2002.

After Ike: A Test of Endurance

2008-09-16T05:18+0200

The hurricane was terrifying, but for many the aftermath is worse. Galveston "is in ruins."

US authorizes $5 million in aid to Cuba

2008-09-16T05:17+0200

The United States is providing $1.5 million to relief organizations helping Cuba's recovery after Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, US officials said Monday. But so far, Cuba has rejected any direct aid from the US government. The United States says that it has authorized $5 million in total aid, including....

Typhoon kills at least seven

2008-09-16T05:11+0200

A TYPHOON which brought down parts of two bridges and dumped as much as 1400mm of rain in parts of Taiwan killed at least seven people with 14 missing, rescue workers and newspapers said today. 12:55pm (AEST)

Typhoon kills at least seven in Taiwan

2008-09-16T05:10+0200

TAIPEI (Reuters) - A typhoon which brought down parts of two bridges and dumped as much as 1,400 mm (55 inches) of rain in parts of Taiwan killed at least seven people with 14 missing, rescue workers and newspapers said on Tuesday.

Typhoon kills at least seven in Taiwan

2008-09-16T05:06+0200

16 Sep 2008 02:38:03 GMT Source: Reuters TAIPEI, Sept 16 (Reuters) - A typhoon which brought down parts of two bridges and dumped as much as 1,400 mm (55 inches) of rain in parts of Taiwan killed at least seven people with 14 missing, rescue ...

Stormy start to Ryder Cup week

2008-09-16T04:52+0200

The European and US Ryder Cup teams were heading to Kentucky ahead of Friday morning's opening foursomes in the biennial inter-continental team golf showdown.

Texas struggles to provide relief to hurricane victims

2008-09-16T04:46+0200

The U.S. state of Texas was struggling to provide relief to its residents who have been badly hit by the Hurricane Ike on Monday, as the storm moved to Canada. According to a CNN report, the Hurricane Ike has moved into Canada after it left a trail of destruction from the U.S. Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes.

Wall Street plunges amid U.S. financial crisis

2008-09-16T04:46+0200

New York stocks made landslide losses on Monday with Dow Jones shedding more than 500 points, as the U.S. financial turmoil battered investors' confidence in the health of economy. Lehman Brothers, the fourth biggest U.S. investment bank, filed for bankruptcy Monday after two most serious buyers....

Russian strategic bombers to fly over Caribbean Sea

2008-09-16T04:46+0200

Two Russian strategic bombers will patrol over the neutral water of the Caribbean Sea amid increasing tension between Moscow and Washington, Itar-Tass news agency reported on Monday, citing a senior Air Force officer. The two Tupolev Tu-160 are temporarily staying at the Libertador airbase in Venezuela for a joint military drill.

Crude oil plunges below 96 U.S. dollars

2008-09-16T04:46+0200

Crude oil tumbled below 96 U.S. dollars a barrel Monday morning as the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers sparked concerns about demand and Hurricane Ike spared the Gulf refineries. Light, sweet crude for October delivery slid 5.63 dollars to 95.55 dollars a barrel as of 09:35 EST (1335 GMT) on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Paulson: Lehman bailout was never an option

2008-09-16T04:46+0200

U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said Monday that he has never considered to use taxpayer money to bail out Lehman Brothers, which was choked by the credit crisis and falling real estate values. While briefing reporters at the White House, Paulson said he "never once" considered that it was....

Spokesman: U.S. aid to Cuba rejected

2008-09-16T04:46+0200

The United States confirmed on Monday that Cuba has rejected its five million dollars in relief assistance for rebuilding for recovery after Hurricanes Ike and Gustav. The United States is "committed to trying to assist the Cuban people with a humanitarian crisis," State Department spokesman Sean....

Photo gallery, videos of Ike's rampage

2008-09-16T04:45+0200

If the United States neglects to rethink its purpose informed by the genius and practice of the Founding Fathers, it is destined to self-destruct like every other empire from hubris and overreach. At present, the Republic is undergoing a metamorphosis into executive despotism featuring escalating....

Rescuers race to help thousands stranded by Ike

2008-09-16T04:45+0200

UPDATED: Rescue crews canvassing neighborhoods with dump trucks, helicopters and airboats have saved nearly 2,000 residents who ignored evacuation orders and stayed to face Hurricane Ike, authorities said Sunday.

DoD News: Contracts for September 15, 2008

2008-09-16T04:42+0200

NAVY Caddell Yates Joint Venture, Montgomery, Ala., is being awarded a $181,882,000 firm-fixed-price contract for design and construction of the Wallace Creek Regimental Complex at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. The work to be performed provides for a new, four battalion Regimental Complex in conjunction with the Grow the Force initiative.

Pump watcher predicts gas-price drop

2008-09-16T04:37+0200

Gas prices will drop nearly a dime Tuesday after a record one-day jump last week, a Liberal MP predicts. Dan McTeague, a long-time gas-price watcher, predicts the price in the Greater Toronto Area will drop by an average of nine cents a litre. Ottawa will drop 8.1 cents, Montreal 6.8, and Calgary 6.3, averages on Mr.

Oil hits 7-month low

2008-09-16T04:34+0200

Oil prices slumped nearly $3 to a seven-month low on Tuesday as the collapse of Lehman Brothers ignited fears that the credit crisis may weaken the global economy and further depress energy demand.

Stay inside: The storm is not over yet --

2008-09-16T04:22+0200

Over the period 2003-2006 economic growth in the USA has averaged 3.2 per cent, peaking at 4.4 per cent in 2004, falling somewhat in 2005 and rising moderately in 2006. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its most recent semi-annual World Economic Outlook (WEO) has scaled back its growth rate forecasts for the USA in 2008 to 1.

Are we ready for economic storm? --

2008-09-16T04:22+0200

I sometimes wonder if my information sources are defective. My information suggests that most of the developed economies in the world are in deep crisis. Major US corporations, e.g. Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac etc, had to be bailed out by the US federal authorities who baulked at bailing out Lehman Bros.

Local experts: We can learn from this experience --

2008-09-16T04:22+0200

A top local banker and three stock market and financial experts yesterday agreed that Trinidad and Tobago could learn valuable lessons from the deepening financial crisis in the United States. One of them also cautioned Government to slow down its fiscal expenditure or the country could face a similar financial meltdown of its own down the line.

Children of Prometheus --

2008-09-16T04:22+0200

Two hundred years ago the Haitians defeated the armies of Europe's major powers, Napoleon's France (twice), Britain and Spain, destroying slavery and precipitating the birth of capitalism, destroying European empire in the Western hemisphere and helping launch the United States as a world power.

Donut Prince looks sweet --

2008-09-16T04:22+0200

DONUT PRINCE was the only Royal Oak Derby contender to do any significant work over the last two days and the Carib Brewery Guineas winner looked in fine fettle Sunday at Santa Rosa Park, Arima. The Harriram Gobin-trained Jamaica-bred chestnut, who is expected to be the favourite in the feature....

Defence HQ dismisses MEND's â€˜oil warâ€™ - Vanguard - Fastnews Nigerian Oil & Gas News

2008-09-16T04:06+0200

*Says it's propaganda, *Shell shuts Alakiri flow station, *Security beef-up in Bayelsa THE Defence Headquarters dismissed, yesterday, any suggestion of an “oil war,” the type the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) claimed to have declared on Sunday.

Oil plummets as Ike largely spares energy output - The West Australian - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-16T04:06+0200

Oil prices plunged to a seven-month low Monday as the Gulf Coast energy infrastructure appeared relatively unharmed after Hurricane Ike and traders bet that Lehman Brothers’ bankruptcy could ignite a massive liquidation of commodities. Light, sweet crude for November delivery fell $5.67 to $95.

Leaders & Success - Investor's Business Daily (subscription) - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-16T04:06+0200

BY BRIAN J. ARTHURS INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY Posted 9/15/2008 David Beckham's landing in America last year to play in Major League Soccer kicked up a media storm. The British star drew sellout crowds and inspired U.S. fans to follow the world's most popular sport. If that story sounds familiar, it's because it is.

Oil closes below $100 for first time in 6 months - Bismarck Tribune - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-16T04:06+0200

NEW YORK - Oil prices closed below $100 a barrel for the first time in six months Monday, tumbling in another dramatic sell-off as the demise of Lehman Brothers and the sale of Merrill Lynch deepened worries about the U.S. economy. Crude prices shed more than $5 a barrel and have now given up....

Crude oil prices plunge on US financial crisis - Adelaidenow - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-16T04:06+0200

CRUDE oil prices plunged overnight amid global market jitters after financial developments stoked concerns about the health of the US economy. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for October, plummeted a hefty $US5.47 to close at $US95.71 a barrel. In London, Brent North Sea crude for October delivery tumbled $US5.

Oil closes below $100 for first time in 6 months - WTHR - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-16T04:06+0200

New York - Oil prices closed below $100 a barrel for the first time in six months Monday, tumbling in another dramatic sell-off as the demise of Lehman Brothers and the sale of Merrill Lynch deepened worries about the U.S. economy. Crude prices shed more than $5 a barrel and have now given up....

Oil Slips Back Below $100 - Forbes - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-16T04:06+0200

It was hardly business as usual on Wall Street on Monday and oil trading proved no exception. Crude settled below $100 a barrel for the first time in six months despite concerns that Hurricane Ike and Nigerian rebel attacks could significantly disrupt oil production. Hurricane Ike sidestepped important U.

Anambra: Donâ€™t collect money, Ogbulafor warns Gana - Vanguard - Fastnews: Local Nigerian News

2008-09-16T04:06+0200

ABUJATHE National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, yesterday warned the Professor Jerry Gana led Peace and Reconciliation Committee that if they must achieve result in Anambra State, it must, in all its ramifications, resist the temptations of collecting money.

Russian deputy inspects Ike damage

2008-09-16T04:05+0200

RUSSIAN Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin made his second visit to Cuba in two months overnight in what Cuban state-run press said was a one-day trip to evaluate hurricane damage and strengthen commer...

2008-09-16T02:58+0200

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has declared an “oil war” in response to attacks the Joint military Task Force (JTF) launched against militants at the weekend.

Bush insists markets can survive crisis

2008-09-16T02:58+0200

US POLITICAL REACTION:AS US president George W Bush insisted yesterday that the US economy was strong enough to weather the storm on Wall Street, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama blamed White House policies and Republican John McCain called for better regulation of financial institutions.

Cuba postpones military exercise to focus on storm relief

2008-09-16T02:56+0200

and Wire Reports Cuba said Saturday that it is postponing a military exercise so soldiers can focus on helping the country recover and rebuild from the devastation of hurricanes Gustav and Ike. A story in the Communist Party newspaper Granma said President Raúl Castro had decided to put off....

Cameroononline fully up and running

2008-09-16T02:49+0200

Galveston officials: 'Stay away' after Ike

2008-09-16T02:45+0200

The remnants of Hurricane Ike moved into Canada early Monday after the storm left a trail of destruction and 27 people dead from the U.S. Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes.

ContentType:Spot Development; ContentElement:FullStory; Breaking:True;

2008-09-16T02:43+0200

McCain spokesman says Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin won't meet with 'Troopergate' investigator

Crude oil falls below US$100 a barrel

2008-09-16T02:34+0200

Crude oil has fallen below US$100 a barrel for the first time in months and analysts are expecting the price to drop further despite warnings by Opec to stablise the market.

2008-09-16T02:07+0200

CNN Student News: Ten Questions

2008-09-16T02:07+0200

(CNN Student News) September 16, 2008 1. What type of companies are Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch? What step did Lehman Brothers take yesterday in an effort to solve its financial problems? 2. What company has decided to buy Merrill Lynch? Why do you think that it chose to take this action? 3.

Shell Counts Losses, Evacuates More Workers After Attacks

2008-09-16T02:05+0200

By Ofonime Umanah and Paul Arhewe Shell Petroleum Development Commission (SPDC) has moved out more expatriate oil workers from various flow stations and platforms apparently for fear of more attacks by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND).

N1.3tr Transportation Expenditure: Senate Summons George, Agagu, Maduekwe, Others

2008-09-16T02:05+0200

By Adetutu Folasade-Koyi, Senior Correspondent, Abuja The Senate has summoned Governor Olusegun Agagu of Ondo State, his Bauchi counterpart, Isa Yuguda; Foreign Affairs Minister, Ojo Maduekwe, and Ambassador Kema Chikwe to explain their roles in an estimated N1.3 trillion expenditure in the Transportation Ministry between 1999 and 2007.

Australian stocks set to slide on Wall St plunge

2008-09-16T01:58+0200

MELBOURNE, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Australian shares is expected to open sharply lower on Tuesday after U.S. stocks slumped on fears about banking instability ...

Entergy Utilities Working to Restore Power on Three Fronts After Ike

2008-09-16T01:58+0200

NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire/ - Entergy Corporation utilities Sunday and Monday restored power to 254,936 of the 705,400 customers in Texas, Louisiana ...

Latest News : Militant group in Niger Delta declares war on oil industry

2008-09-16T01:51+0200

LAGOS (AFP) -- The most prominent militant group in oil-rich southern Nigeria on Sunday said it had declared an ""oil war"" and threatened all international industry vessels that approach the region. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta ( MEND ) said in an email to the media it has code-named its operation Hurricane Barbarossa.

The Nightmare on Wall Street: Inside the Trades, Tumbles and Turmoil

2008-09-16T01:49+0200

The Dow Jones had its biggest single point drop for 2008, losing 504.48 points (-4.42%) to close at 10917.51. It was the sixth biggest point drop in the Dow Jones history, the biggest point drop since the first day of trading after 9/11 on September 17, 2001, and the biggest percentage drop since July 19, 2002.

Mend Accuses JTF of 'Unprovoked Attack' - AllAfrica Nigerian News

2008-09-16T01:46+0200

(Abuja) 14 September 2008 Posted to the web 15 September 2008 From Henry Omunu Port Harcourt The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has declared an all out offensive following the shoot-out between its fighters and a detachment of the special military Joint Task Force (JTF)....

National › Typhoon approaches Okinawa

2008-09-16T01:45+0200

Typhoon Sinlaku is expected to turn in the East China Sea north of Taiwan and approach the Japanese archipelago later this week, the Japan Meteorological…

Defence HQ dismisses MEND's ‘oil war’

2008-09-16T01:43+0200

Anambra: Don’t collect money, Ogbulafor warns Gana

2008-09-16T01:43+0200

Defence chiefs plan equipment cuts amid £2bn hole in budget

2008-09-16T01:38+0200

Prestigious procurement programmes were agreed without consideration given to funding, senior officials say

Manic Monday: world reacts to the collapse of the colossus Lehman Brothers

2008-09-16T01:38+0200

'The shock was because people felt confident that when push came to shove a rescue would be arranged'

Joseph Stiglitz: The financial crisis is the fruit of dishonesty on the part of financial institutions

2008-09-16T01:38+0200

Joseph Stiglitz: Dishonesty in the finance sector dragged us here, and Washington looks ill-equipped to guide us out

Polly Toynbee: As the storms roll in, Brown is left politically naked

2008-09-16T01:38+0200

Polly Toynbee: The rebels' biggest task is to find a new leader who can dismiss the days of laissez-faire and make the case for a strong state

Beset by storms, Gordon Brown avoids visit to Belfast's Titanic Quarter

2008-09-16T01:38+0200

Henry McDonald: Brown, once regarded as as invincible and resilient as the Titanic itself, flies into Northern Ireland today hoping to find a lifeline not only for his own premiership but also the survival of the power-sharing executive at Stormont

Larry Elliott: This week the crash went nuclear, and Britain will feel the worst of the fallout

2008-09-16T01:38+0200

Larry Elliott: The UK is badly exposed, and the financial system is broken beyond repair

Comedy: The Mighty Boosh, Pavilion, Glasgow

2008-09-16T01:38+0200

Pavilion, GlasgowThose besotted with the TV show may be whooping too loudly to notice. The rest of us will be underwhelmed, says Brian Logan

How the Masters of the Universe ran amok and cost us the earth

2008-09-16T01:36+0200

SLAM. Slam. Slam. Slam. Like a scene from a gathering of Mafia dons, the doors of 30 black Lincolns slammed shut as their besuited occupants stepped out into a Manhattan downp

RIM's BlackBerry Bold, Storm Aren't Fighting iPhone--Yet

2008-09-16T01:33+0200

Research In Motion's much-anticipated Bold and Storm iPhone-killer smart phones are still no-show in the U.S market.

What the Lehman collapse means for us all

2008-09-16T01:31+0200

Borrowers The collapse of Lehman Brothers is confirmation that the credit crunch is far from over. Although mortgage rates have been coming down, there is now every chance they will start to rise again as banks grow nervous about lending to each other once more.

Repairs begin after Ike cuts up roughon course

2008-09-16T01:31+0200

A clean-up operation was under way at the Ryder Cup venue yesterday after the remnants of Hurricane Ike ripped through Louisville. Kentucky's governor, Steve Beshear, declared a state of emergency when winds gusting up to 90mph on Sunday afternoon caused two deaths one a 10-year-old boy mowing the....

Crash! Collapse of Lehman Brothers sends share prices tumbling around the globe

2008-09-16T01:31+0200

In London and in Manhattan, the twin cities of global finance, thousands of investment bankers were loading their belongings into boxes and heading out to an uncertain future, the first casualties of a worldwide banking crisis that was last night threatening to spiral out of control.

James Lawton: Calm after savage storm should induce a sense of perspective in Valhalla captains

2008-09-16T01:31+0200

In the interests of perspective a commodity not always rampantly apparent at the Ryder Cup the captains of America and Europe might usefully open their first official team talks this morning with a weather report.

Wall St. has worst drop since 2001

2008-09-16T01:30+0200

Stocks tanked today as investors reeled amid the fallout from the largest financial crisis in years after Lehman Brothers filed for the biggest bankruptcy in history and Bank of America said it would buy Merrill Lynch. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 500 points, according to early tallies.

Russian deputy PM visits Cuba to assess Ike damage

2008-09-16T01:28+0200

15 Sep 2008 23:12:53 GMT Source: Reuters HAVANA, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin made his second visit to Cuba in two months on Monday in what Cuban state-run press said was a one-day trip to evaluate hurricane ...

Grim scenes greet rescuers in hardest-hit areas (AP)

2008-09-16T01:25+0200

AP - Entire subdivisions obliterated. Oil and chemical slicks in the surf where vacationers once frolicked. Longhorn cattle roaming desolate streets. But, most stunning of all, no more deaths.

Ike victims wait in line for food, water and gas (AP)

2008-09-16T01:25+0200

AP - Thousands of victims of Hurricane Ike settled in at shelters for what could be weeks, and others waited wearily in line for food, water, ice and gasoline Monday as it became increasingly clear the disaster along the Texas coast would be measured not by its death toll but by the misery it spread.

Texas rushes Ike relief as health crisis looms (Reuters)

2008-09-16T01:25+0200

Reuters - Texas officials warned of a health crisis on Monday and urged thousands of people to leave Galveston, where relief supplies were scarce for hungry, exhausted residents of the island city ravaged by Hurricane Ike.

Late-season slump: Brewers fire manager Ned Yost (AP)

2008-09-16T01:25+0200

AP - The Milwaukee Brewers fired manager Ned Yost on Monday, hoping to pull out of another late-season slump that has jeopardized the team's chance of making the playoffs for the first time since 1982.

Strains mounting in shelters for Ike evacuees (AP)

2008-09-16T01:25+0200

AP - As search-and-rescue continued along a storm-ravaged coastline, thousands of evacuees converged Monday on emergency shelters all across Texas with all the belongings they could carry and an unanswerable question: What now?

No swift return to storm-battered Galveston island

2008-09-16T01:22+0200

The sludge left in homes and on roads as flood waters recede represents a "toxic soup" that poses serious health risks, officials said.

Don't Allow Anambra To Swallow You, Ogbulafor Warns Gana Committee

2008-09-16T01:19+0200

By Tom Chiahemen , Asst Editor, Abuja National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Vincent Ogbulafor, inaugurated the Anambra Peace and Reconciliation Committee in Abuja on Monday, with a warning to the members not to allow "thorny Anambra State" to swallow them.

Dems, GOP blame each other for Wall Street turmoil

2008-09-16T01:15+0200

WASHINGTON — Members of Congress reacted today to the latest turmoil on Wall Street largely by blaming each other for the nation's financial troubles.

Kuba: Havana odmieta finančný dar od USA, žiada prístup k úverom

2008-09-16T01:10+0200

Havana 16. septembra (TASR) - Kuba opäť odmietla ponuku USA ohľadne pomoci po ničivých hurikánoch Gustav a Ike. Namiesto toto zopakovala vláda komunistickej krajiny požiadavku, aby Washington prechodne zrušil reštrikčné opatrenia vyplývajúce z desaťročia trvajúceho embarga voči Kube, čo by umožnilo....

Aggreko set to surge ahead by bringing power to the people

2008-09-16T01:09+0200

Amid yesterday’s turmoil in world financial markets, it was easy for London investors to overlook the effects of physical disturbance further afield – specifically, the fallout from Hurricane Ike, which prompted Texas to launch the largest flood rescue operation in its history.

Meltdown Monday: How much worse will it get?

2008-09-16T01:08+0200

The momentous impact of Meltdown Monday will hit every saver, pension investor and homeowner in Britain, experts warn. A chilling reality dawned after the worst 48 financial hours since the Wall Street Crash.

Gold price up after Lehman news

2008-09-16T01:07+0200

* Platinum and palladium also slipped sharply LONDON: Gold was higher on safe haven buying after Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy protection and as the dollar slipped, but retreated from highs after oil prices fell more than $7 a barrel. Platinum and palladium also slipped sharply as investors....

Oil drops 7 percent on financial turmoil, Ike

2008-09-16T01:07+0200

LONDON: Oil plunged $7 on Monday as investors fled to safer havens, due to turmoil in the US financial system, and on early signs Hurricane Ike had spared key US energy infrastructure. US crude dropped $7 to $94.18 barrel at 1135 GMT, the lowest level in seven months.

Relief operations ramp up in storm-hit Texas

2008-09-16T01:07+0200

* Floodwaters begin receding HOUSTON: A huge relief effort was accelerating in storm-struck Texas on Monday as the big oil center of Houston struggled to get back to business after it was battered by Hurricane Ike. About 2,000 people had been rescued from flooded areas in the largest such effort in....

Britain’s leading share index plunges 5 percent

2008-09-16T01:07+0200

* FTSE 100 slumps 36 percent to, an all-time low LONDON: Britain’s leading share index tumbled five percent by midday on Monday, dragged down by bank stocks after US investment bank Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy protection. By 1115 GMT, the FTSE 100 fell 277.4 points to 5,140.

Bali to offer million-dollar bonus in WTA revamp

2008-09-16T01:07+0200

NUSA DUA: Winners of WTA International events in 2009 will have the chance of a million-dollar bonus at the new season-ending Bali Tournament of Champions, the WTA announced on Monday. A player who wins three International tournaments plus the wrap-up round-robin Bali event on this tropical island will earn the bonus on top of her prize money.

Rain king Rossi eyes world title after Indy drama

2008-09-16T01:07+0200

INDIANAPOLIS: Italy’s Valentino Rossi moved to within a point of an eighth world title when he won a rain-shortened Indianapolis MotoGP on Sunday. Rossi was declared the winner after 20 laps when the race, the first at the legendary Brickyard since 1909, was red-flagged as heavy rain and galeforce....

Grains fall on US banking turmoil, crude

2008-09-16T01:07+0200

* London November wheat was down 1.75 pounds or 1.6% to 108.25 pounds per tonne LONDON: Grain futures turned lower with other commodity markets on Monday on turmoil in the US banking system and a slide in crude oil prices, and traders said markets risked getting oversold and prices could soon move up again.

Lehman bankruptcy shakes world financial system

2008-09-16T01:07+0200

NEW YORK: Lehman Brothers declared itself bankrupt Monday and Wall Street rival Merrill Lynch had to be taken over in a new financial earthquake that sent global markets into a slump. The US Federal Reserve, European Central Bank and Bank of England injected tens of billions of dollars into money....

2008-09-16T01:00+0200

Military Tackles Militants in Air, Sea, Ground Battle - AllAfrica Nigerian News

2008-09-16T01:00+0200

(Abuja) 14 September 2008 Posted to the web 15 September 2008 Nick Uweru Barely two days after the creation of a ministry for the Niger Delta region, a militant group yesterday engaged men of the Joint Task Force in a full-fledged armed offensive. Reports indicated that men of the JTF might have....

Niger Delta Militants Declare 'Oil War' - AllAfrica Nigerian News

2008-09-16T01:00+0200

(Lagos) 15 September 2008 Posted to the web 15 September 2008 Emma Amaize & Jimitota Onoyume MOVEMENT for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said, yesterday, it had launched an "oil war" in response to Saturday's aerial and massive bombardments on one of its positions by the military.

Govt, Militants in New Clashes in Rivers State - AllAfrica Nigerian News

2008-09-16T01:00+0200

(Abuja) 15 September 2008 Posted to the web 15 September 2008 Henry Omunu Port-Harcourt The special military Joint Task Force (JTF) and militants clashed for the second successive day in Rivers State with claims and counter claims of heavy losses being suffered by both sides as fighting between the....

Oil closes below $100 for first time in 6 months - Lansing State Journal - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-16T01:00+0200

Westbrook may be more receiver than RB

2008-09-16T00:57+0200

ONE THING you witnessed in the opener almost certainly won't happen again tonight when the Eagles visit the Cowboys: If the Birds manage 414 passing yards, Brian Westbrook will be responsible for mo...

Texas rushes Ike relief as health crisis looms

2008-09-16T00:57+0200

15 Sep 2008 22:36:41 GMT Source: Reuters * Galveston tells people to leave, health crisis looms * Texas presses for sufficient federal aid * Four deaths in Galveston By Tim Gaynor GALVESTON, Texas, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Texas officials ...

Bush says economy strong enough to handle turmoil

2008-09-16T00:57+0200

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Bush administration signaled strongly on Monday that troubled Wall Street shouldn't expect more rescues from Washington. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson declared that the curre...

Texas begins mass post-Ike rescue

2008-09-16T00:57+0200

Texas has begun what is being described as the biggest search and rescue effort in its history following Hurricane Ike. At least 2,000 people have been rescued but many thousands more are believed to...

US rush to aid millions hit by Hurricane Ike

2008-09-16T00:57+0200

GALVESTON, Texas: US authorities battled on Monday to reach millions of people stranded without water and power in the wake of devastating Hurricane Ike, which left more than 17 dead across nine state...

Gavin Floyd would look good with Phillies now

2008-09-16T00:57+0200

ON A DAY and night fraught with postseason implications, I couldn't help thinking about Gavin Floyd. Brett Myers went for the Brewers' spurting jugular last night on 3 days' rest, which is only a bi...

Shattered homes greet Galveston iReporters

2008-09-16T00:57+0200

Galveston residents may not be able to come home for weeks iReporter Carlos Ortega says beachfront houses are gone in his neighborhood iReporter Matteu Erchull rode out storm and lost everything Are y...

Ike sends Phila. region gas prices up

2008-09-16T00:57+0200

The price of gas went up from $3.62 to $3.99 a gallon at a gas station in Madisonville, Ky., on Friday - before Hurricane Ike made landfall. A spokeswoman for AAA Mid-Atlantic warned that even motoris...

Hydrocarbons Daily Record Monday, 15 September 2008

2008-09-16T00:53+0200

15 September 2008 Crude prices declined significantly today due to Hurricane Ike not doing as much damage to offshore and onshore installations as first thought.

Cubs sweep Astros

2008-09-16T00:43+0200

Houston had won 14 of 15 coming into series, but Cubs leave Astros 2 1/2 games back in NL wild card race

Huntsman Preparations Prevent Significant Damage to Texas Gulf Coast Plants

2008-09-16T00:27+0200

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Peter R. Huntsman, President and CEO of Huntsman Corporation announced today that initial assessments ...

Ike pushes U.S. retail gasoline price -gov't

2008-09-16T00:27+0200

15 Sep 2008 22:02:10 GMT Source: Reuters (Updates prices, damage assessment, adds regional gasoline price details, paragraphs 4-13; adds byline) By Ayesha Rascoe WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Constrained fuel supplies in the wake of ...

Point Grace Ready to Welcome Guests Despite Hanna and Ike

2008-09-16T00:27+0200

Point Grace, a luxury boutique hotel located in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos, is pleased to announce it will be ready to welcome guests in mid-October, ...

Rush to aid millions in US after Hurricane Ike (AFP)

2008-09-16T00:25+0200

AFP - US authorities raced Monday to help millions of people stranded without water and power in the wake of devastating Hurricane Ike, which left more than 17 dead across nine states.

Markets Tumble on Wall Street Shakeup

2008-09-16T00:23+0200

U.S. stocks plunged this morning as investors took stock of a weekend that saw the failure of one major Wall Street firm and the surprise take over of another, a shakeup whose repercussions were felt on markets throughout the world.

Ike victims recall 8-mile slog to safety

2008-09-16T00:22+0200

Roommates from a Texas beach town recall how they and neighbors were caught by surprise and then had to walk eight miles through waves and high water to get to safety.

Rush to aid millions in US after Hurricane Ike

2008-09-16T00:22+0200

HOUSTON, Texas (AFP) - US authorities raced Monday to help millions of people stranded without water and power in the wake of devastating Hurricane Ike, which left more than 17 dead across nine states.

Ike’s force still being felt at the gas pump

2008-09-16T00:22+0200

Gasoline prices spiked for a third straight day Monday even as power was restored to a number of massive refineries along the Gulf Coast, and industry officials said it may be several weeks before the nation's refining capacity is restored.

Lehman Brothers announces bankruptcy

2008-09-16T00:21+0200

WASHINGTON: US investment giant Lehman Brothers announced its bankruptcy early on Monday as the Federal Reserve and major global banks moved to shore

Haiti could face new food crisis

2008-09-16T00:21+0200

PORT-AU-PRINCE: Haiti faces a deepening crisis after storms destroyed much of the impoverished country’s rice crop, sparking fears of a repeat of the

Oil drops $5 on financial turmoil, Ike

2008-09-16T00:21+0200

LONDON: Oil plunged $5 on Monday as investors fled to safer havens due to turmoil in the US financial system and on early signs Hurricane Ike had spar

Oil prices plunge US$5 on US financial meltdown

2008-09-16T00:07+0200

NEW YORK: Crude oil prices plunged on Monday amid global market jitters after Wall Street investment bank Lehman Brothers collapsed and financial developments stoked concerns about the health of the US economy.

Hurricane leaves 21 dead in U.S.

2008-09-16T00:05+0200

HOUSTON: Hurricane Ike has left 21 dead in Texas and adjoining States in the U.S., even as millions of people remained without power and water. — ...

Bloomberg warns NYC's economy has yet to hit bottom

2008-09-16T00:03+0200

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York City cannot cut its way out of a $2.3 billion budget deficit spawned by Wall Street's sliding profits and might have to look at other ways to raise revenues, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said on Monday.

Hurricane Ike Victims Line Up For Ice, Water, Food

2008-09-15T23:58+0200

In the wake of Hurricane Ike, Federal Emergency Management Agency officials began handing out supplies at distribution points around Houston. At one site, people waited for hours in lines that stretched around the block.

Wall St woes to take shine off lavish NY lifestyles

2008-09-15T23:56+0200

15 Sep 2008 21:41:44 GMT Source: Reuters By Michelle Nichols and Nicole Maestri NEW YORK, Sept 15 (Reuters) - The deepening upheaval on Wall Street has rippled throughout New York's business community, hurting everyone from luxury goods ...

Cuba storm recovery goes on without U.S. aid

2008-09-15T23:56+0200

15 Sep 2008 21:44:18 GMT Source: Reuters By Jeff Franks HAVANA, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Cuba is scrambling to recover from the twin hits of hurricanes Ike and Gustav as aid flows in from an assortment of countries but not the one who could ...

Ike victims search for food, water, gas

2008-09-15T23:52+0200

Rescuers flew for the first time Monday into Texas coastal areas cut off by Ike and found a scene of devastation, with whole subdivisions obliterated, and began evacuating survivors.

Wall Street has worst day since 9/11 aftermath

2008-09-15T23:51+0200

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Stocks tanked Monday, as investors reeled amid the fallout from the largest financial crisis in years after Lehman Brothers filed for the biggest bankruptcy in history and Bank of America said it would buy Merrill Lynch in a $50 billion deal.

Analysis: Lots of blame to go around in crisis

2008-09-15T23:41+0200

WASHINGTON (AP) - Who's to blame? The government should have done more _ or did it do too much? Alan Greenspan encouraged a housing boom that was destined to collapse. The White House and Congress were lax in overseeing the captains of finance. People bought homes they couldn't afford.

Iraq's oil exports down to 860,000 bpd: Report

2008-09-15T23:37+0200

Published Date: September 16, 2008 BAGHDAD/DUBAI: Iraq shipped oil exports at less than half the typical rate yesterday as bad weather slowed the main southern Basra terminal and a blast idled the northern pipeline to Turkey, officials and shippers said.

Gay bar becomes a haven in storm-ravaged Galveston

2008-09-15T23:31+0200

GALVESTON (Reuters) - As Galveston told its remaining residents on Monday to leave the Texas island devastated by Hurricane Ike, Robert's Lafitte, a gay bar, was planning a pre-curfew drag show and Tina Turner sing-along.

Experts: 'Irrational' behavior drives gas prices more than Ike

2008-09-15T23:30+0200

Gas prices across the Southeast and Midwest soared over the weekend, and while many would blame Hurricane Ike, human nature may be a more likely scapegoat.

Financial crisis 'worst I have ever seen': BMO economist

2008-09-15T23:28+0200

It might not have had the visual impact of Hurricane Ike in Texas, but Monday's shakeup on Wall Street likely is a similarly "once-in-lifetime" event.

Ike Victims Line Up For Ice, Water, Food

2008-09-15T23:28+0200

In the wake of Hurricane Ike, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials began handing out food, ice and water at distribution points around Houston. At one site, people waited for hours in lines that stretched around the block.

Typhoon to veer toward Japan later this week

2008-09-15T23:25+0200

Typhoon Sinlaku is expected to turn in the East China Sea north of Taiwan and approach the Japanese archipelago later this week, the Japan Meteorological Agency said Monday. The agency said the typhoon, the season's 13th, may come close to Okinawa Prefecture, the Amami Islands and western Japan areas from Wednesday to Thursday.

U.S. says Cuba rejects $5 million in hurricane aid

2008-09-15T23:24+0200

15 Sep 2008 21:15:06 GMT Source: Reuters (Adds details from USAID chief) WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Cuba has rejected an offer from the United States of $5 million in relief aid for hurricane victims, the U.S. State Department said on ...

Recovery Fund visits Sisters

2008-09-15T23:22+0200

The Cayman Islands National Recovery Fund is planning assistance to those on the Sister Islands who were adversely affected by Hurricane Gustav.

Storm shutter motion passes

2008-09-15T23:22+0200

The Legislative Assembly passed a Private Member's Motion last week calling on the government to consider several resolutions relating to hurricane shutter assistance.

Finance up, tourism off

2008-09-15T23:22+0200

The Cayman Islands economy held steady in what was a turbulent 2007 internationally, according to a report released by the government earlier this week.

Ike survivors clamour for goods

2008-09-15T23:22+0200

GALVESTON, Texas (AP) - Rescuers flew into a hard-to-reach area of the swamped Gulf Coast Monday and uncovered a devastated landscape: Hurricane Ike had swamped entire subdivisons, and emergency crews feared they would find more victims than survivors.

Markets Tumble on Wall Street Shakeup

2008-09-15T23:22+0200

TCI receives aid

2008-09-15T23:22+0200

A Cayman Airways flight left for the Turks and Caicos Islands Thursday loaded with some 24,500 pounds of relief supplies.

'Ant from Mars' emerges from its 120 million-year anonymity

2008-09-15T23:16+0200

A new species of insect, nicknamed “the ant from Mars” because of its strange and unique physical characteristics, has been discovered in the Amazon rainforest.

Oil closes below $100

2008-09-15T23:15+0200

Crude prices have now given up virtually all their gains for the year, extending a steep, two-month slide from record levels above $147 a barrel. Oil's pullback -- prices tumbled as much as $7 in a special trading session Sunday -- also came as early signs suggested that Hurricane Ike delivered less....

'Ant from Mars' emerges from its 120 million-year anonymity

2008-09-15T23:10+0200

A new species of insect, nicknamed “the ant from Mars” because of its strange and unique physical characteristics, has been discovered in the Amazon rainforest.

Rescuers discover devastated landscape, neighbourhoods

2008-09-15T23:10+0200

It is still unclear if Ike killed anyone on the island, since authorities still don't know how many people may have tried to ride out the storm. But emergency crews said they feared they would find more victims than survivors. “They had a lot of devastation over there,” task force leader Chuck Jones said.

Gold rises on safe-haven buying

2008-09-15T23:10+0200

NEW YORK, LONDON — Gold ended sharply higher Monday as fearful investors sought a safe haven after U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy protection. Platinum and palladium also tumbled on concerns that Lehman's insolvency could destabilize the financial sector. Spot gold was at $783.

Hurricane leaves 21 dead in U.S.

2008-09-15T23:09+0200

HOUSTON: Hurricane Ike has left 21 dead in Texas and adjoining States in the U.S., even as millions of people remained without power and water. — ...

NEMA accepts $100,000 in building supplies for Inagua reconstructions

2008-09-15T23:08+0200

NASSAU, The Bahamas (BIS) – Commander Stephen Russell, director of The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, said he was pleased with the level of public response to the relief effort for residents of Inagua who suffered during Hurricane Ike.

Fear, doubt across U.S. amid Wall Street storm

2008-09-15T23:02+0200

CHICAGO (Reuters) - The turmoil on Wall Street sparked fear and anger on Monday as Americans watched markets tumble amid a make-over of financial giants whose names once seemed as good as gold.

Retail gasoline price rises 19 cents: government

2008-09-15T23:02+0200

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Constrained fuel supplies in the wake of Hurricane Ike pushed the average U.S. retail price for gasoline up 19 cents in the latest week, the federal Energy Information Administration said on Monday.

Bush to meet top markets advisers on Tuesday

2008-09-15T23:02+0200

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush will meet on Tuesday with his Working Group on Financial Markets for a briefing on market conditions, the White House said on Monday, amid a major shakeup on Wall Street.

Global Oil Prices Fall

2008-09-15T23:00+0200

Price of a barrel of oil goes down to $94.13 in New York trading, lowest price since February

Officials survey swamped potato fields

2008-09-15T22:57+0200

Officials from Agriculture Canada tromped through muddy fields Monday on Prince Edward Island following rains from the storm that was once Hurricane Hanna.

Weingarten Realty Reports Limited Damage from Hurricane Ike

2008-09-15T22:56+0200

HOUSTON, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Weingarten Realty is pleased to report that its associates and their families appear to have weathered Hurricane ...

Brookfield Properties Reports Minimal Damage to Houston Office Portfolio Following Hurricane Ike

2008-09-15T22:56+0200

Brookfield Properties Corporation (BPO: NYSE, TSX) today reported that physical evaluations are currently underway on its portfolio of office buildings ...

Ensco International Updates Contract Status of Offshore Rig Fleet

2008-09-15T22:56+0200

Ensco International Incorporated (NYSE: ESV) announced today that its Contract Status of Offshore Rig Fleet Report has been updated as of September 15, ...

NY allows AIG to borrow from subsidiaries

2008-09-15T22:55+0200

American International Group Inc. will be allowed to use $20 billion of assets held by its subsidiaries to provide cash needed for the troubled insurer to stay in business, New York Gov. David Paterson said today.

FACTBOX-Hurricane Ike's impact on Texas coast

2008-09-15T22:53+0200

15 Sep 2008 20:48:26 GMT Source: Reuters Sept 15 (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike halted nearly all crude oil and natural gas output from the Gulf of Mexico when it roared ashore on Saturday near Houston, the U.S. energy hub. The powerful storm ...

Gay bar becomes a haven in storm-ravaged Galveston

2008-09-15T22:53+0200

15 Sep 2008 20:48:58 GMT Source: Reuters GALVESTON, Texas, Sept 15 (Reuters) - As Galveston told its remaining residents on Monday to leave the Texas island devastated by Hurricane Ike, Robert's Lafitte, a gay bar, was planning a pre-curfew ...

U.S. retail gasoline price rises 19 cents - gov't

2008-09-15T22:53+0200

15 Sep 2008 20:33:12 GMT Source: Reuters WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Constrained fuel supplies in the wake of Hurricane Ike pushed the average U.S. retail price for gasoline up 19 cents in the latest week, the federal Energy Information ...

Dow falls 500 points in worst day since 2001

2008-09-15T22:51+0200

A dramatic makeover of Wall Street sent stocks falling precipitously Monday, with the Dow Jones industrials sliding 500 points in their worst point drop since the September 2001 terrorist attacks.

JAK@USA: Eight million to receive medicines

2008-09-15T22:51+0200

From Kwaku Osei Bonsu, GNA Special Correspondent, Washinton DC Washington DC, Sept. 15, GNA - Ghana and the United States (US), starting this September, would begin distributing medicines to about eight million people as part of a new initiative to fight neglected tropical diseases, President George Bush, has announced.

Rescues continue in Texas; millions without power

2008-09-15T22:44+0200

Thousands of people were rescued from flood-ravaged towns in the largest rescue operation in Texas history following Hurricane Ike.

Gates's Iraq visit marked by bombings

2008-09-15T22:44+0200

Defense Secretary Robert Gates declared that the mission in Iraq had now transformed into one of expanding upon recent security gains.

U.S. death toll from Hurricane Ike rises to 33

2008-09-15T22:39+0200

Rescuers went door-to-door hunting for Hurricane Ike survivors in Texas on Monday, as authorities confirmed the storm was responsible for at least 34 deaths in nine states.

Dow falls 500 points

2008-09-15T22:37+0200

Venezuela volcada a ayudar Haití y Cuba

2008-09-15T22:36+0200

CARACAS (PL) - La sociedad venezolana continúa volcada hoy en la campaña de solidaridad y recolección de bienes para Haití y Cuba, recién afectadas por fenómenos naturales que causaron enormes pérdidas materiales y humanas en esos países y el Caribe.

Haiti/Cyclones : Gonaives, une vaste rivière de boue

2008-09-15T22:36+0200

PORT AU PRINCE [AlterPresse] - Deux semaines après le passage successif de plusieurs cylones en Haiti, la ville des Gonaives (Nord) est toujours inondée.

Haïti-Intempéries: rétablir les voies de communication, une priorité selon Préval

2008-09-15T22:36+0200

PORT AU PRINCE (HPN) - Le président haïtien, René Préval, qui a pris part samedi au Téléthon réalisé par le secteur privé en faveur des victimes des récentes inondations, a indiqué que le rétablissement des voies de communication est prioritaire.

4 killed as typhoon pounds Taiwan

2008-09-15T21:39+0200

TAIPEI: Four people were killed and 11 are missing after typhoon Sinlaku pounded Taiwan with fierce winds and torrential rain on ...

Hurricane Ike leaves 8 dead in Texas

2008-09-15T21:39+0200

National Guard Begins Hurricane Ike Recovery Phase

2008-09-15T21:32+0200

GALVESTON, Texas (Reuters) - Texas urged thousands of people to leave Galveston on Monday as relief supplies failed to meet the needs of hungry and exhausted residents of the island city ravaged by Hurricane Ike and millions struggled to cope without power in the U.S. energy hub of Houston.

NYC mayor warns against slashing spending too deeply

2008-09-15T21:32+0200

Houston Residents Wait Hours For Supplies

2008-09-15T21:28+0200

Following Hurricane Ike, thousands are still without power, food and water. We visit a FEMA distribution center where families have been waiting in line for upwards of three hours for ice, water and food. With supplies running scarce, one store charged $21 for a bag of charcoal, a woman says.

Isle of Capri Casinos' Property in Lake Charles, Louisiana to Open Following Hurricane Ike

2008-09-15T21:24+0200

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. announced today that it will reopen its property in Lake Charles at 6 p.m. today ...

Texas races to bring relief to hurricane victims (Reuters)

2008-09-15T21:24+0200

Reuters - Texas urged thousands of people to leave Galveston on Monday as relief supplies failed to meet the needs of hungry and exhausted residents of the island city ravaged by Hurricane Ike and millions struggled to cope without power in the U.S. energy hub of Houston.

PNM Mutual Assistance Crew Dispatched to Gulf Coast

2008-09-15T21:24+0200

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Sept. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - PNM dispatched a team to Texas this weekend to assist with the impact of Hurricane Ike and help restore ...

Oil closes below $100 for first time in 6 months (AP)

2008-09-15T21:24+0200

AP - Oil prices have closed below $100 a barrel for the first time in six months, tumbling more than $5 after the demise of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and the sale of Merrill Lynch & Co. fed worries about the U.S. economy and sparked another dramatic sell-off.

Parkway Properties Releases Hurricane Ike Update on Houston Properties

2008-09-15T21:24+0200

JACKSON, Miss., Sept. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - PARKWAY PROPERTIES, INC. released the following statement today related to Hurricane Ike and the preliminary ...

US rush to aid millions hit by Hurricane Ike (AFP)

2008-09-15T21:24+0200

AFP - US authorities battled Monday to reach millions of people stranded without water and power in the wake of devastating Hurricane Ike, which left more than 17 dead across nine states.

Kroger Reminds Customers About Food Safety When There Is a Power Outage

2008-09-15T21:24+0200

CINCINNATI, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - The Kroger Co. today reminds everyone to be cautious of food in home freezers and refrigerators when there ...

Why People Ignore Hurricane Evacuation Warnings (LiveScience.com)

2008-09-15T21:24+0200

LiveScience.com - As Hurricane Ike's floodwaters begin to recede from Galveston, Texas, and other areas of the Gulf Coast, emergency responders are surveying the storm's damage and rescuing thousands of residents who ignored evacuation orders. There are many reasons why some people don't heed....

Oil falls below $100 a barrel on fears of economic slowdown

2008-09-15T21:21+0200

The turmoil on Wall Street, and relief that Hurricane Ike did not do more damage to energy production in the Gulf of Mexico, sent oil to its lowest price since February.

New York state offers lifeline to insurance giant AIG

2008-09-15T21:21+0200

American International Group will be allowed to lend itself $20 billion to bolster its capital as it faces potentially disastrous credit downgrades.

Restart of oil refineries to take couple of weeks-API

2008-09-15T21:18+0200

15 Sep 2008 18:42:16 GMT Source: Reuters WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - It will take a couple of weeks to get oil and natural gas facilities and operations in the Gulf of Mexico back on line in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, the American ...

Texas races to bring relief to hurricane victims

2008-09-15T21:18+0200

15 Sep 2008 19:10:04 GMT Source: Reuters * Galveston tells people to leave as conditions worsen * Texas presses for sufficient federal aid * Four deaths in Galveston By Tim Gaynor GALVESTON, Texas, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Texas urged ...

US rush to aid millions hit by Hurricane Ike

2008-09-15T21:17+0200

GALVESTON, Texas (AFP) - US authorities battled Monday to reach millions of people stranded without water and power in the wake of devastating Hurricane Ike, which left more than 17 dead across nine states.

Fears over Texas oil supplies

2008-09-15T21:16+0200

Oil and gas groups expressed concerns on Monday about maintaining normal petrol supplies in and around Houston, Texas, with prolonged shutdowns possible in production and refining in the aftermath of hurricanes Gustav and Ike. The US government has released 309,000 barrels of crude from the....

Ike cuts power to more than 3 mln, most in Texas

2008-09-15T21:14+0200

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - More than 3 million homes and businesses in five states were without power on Monday morning as a result of Hurricane Ike, mostly in Texas where the storm hit on Saturday morning, according to reports by government and utility companies.

Before economy stabilizes, housing must

2008-09-15T21:05+0200

The crisis on Wall Street that dragged under two investment banks over the weekend is unlikely to end until home prices and the job market stabilize.

Waiting Out Hurricane Ike

2008-09-15T20:57+0200

Hurricane Ike slammed the Gulf Coast over the weekend. Blogger Daniel Perry is a resident of Houston, Texas. He and his family decided to stay at their home and brace themselves for Ike's impact.

Sun Life to take hit on Lehman

2008-09-15T20:48+0200

A spokesman for Sun Life said “it's relevant to place this into its context, not to diminish the exposure at all, but Sun Life's investment portfolio is over $100-billion and Sun Life is very well capitalized and diversified. “Despite the extraordinary events of this past weekend, Sun Life is well positioned to weather the storm,” he said.

Stocks fall on Lehman, Merrill news

2008-09-15T20:46+0200

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Stocks plummeted Monday morning as investors contended with the largest financial crisis in years that saw Lehman Brothers file for the biggest bankruptcy in history and Ban...

Stocks stumble amid new Wall Street landscape

2008-09-15T20:46+0200

NEW YORK (AP) -- Stocks tumbled and Treasury bond prices soared Monday as investors reacted to a stunning reshaping of the landscape of Wall Street that took out two storied names: Lehman Brothers Hol...

Oil plummets as Ike largely spares energy output

2008-09-15T20:46+0200

NEW YORK (AP) -- Oil prices plunged to a seven-month low Monday as the Gulf Coast energy infrastructure appeared relatively unharmed after Hurricane Ike and traders bet that Lehman Brothers' bankruptc...

At resort cut off by Ike, whole subdivisions gone

2008-09-15T20:46+0200

GALVESTON, Texas (AP) -- More than 48 hours after Hurricane Ike swamped the Gulf Coast, rescuers flew for the first time Monday into areas cut off by the storm and found a scene of devastation, with w...

Coping with the empty nest

2008-09-15T20:46+0200

This summer a pair of barn swallows lived up to their name and nested on a crossbeam in my family's barn. Other than spiders and mice and stray cats, they were the first animals to call that barn...

Police question Broncos on assault

2008-09-15T20:46+0200

The three players, who have not been named by police, spent more than an hour with investigators over the alleged assault at inner-city Brisbane nightclub Alhambra Lounge on Saturday night after an al...

Fans pay homage to league heroes

2008-09-15T20:44+0200

The Warriors received a heroes' welcome home from more than 100 fans yesterday after beating defending champions and minor premiers Storm in Melbourne. To the delight of their loyal supporters, the heart-stopping win - one of the...

'Stay away, you cannot live here'

2008-09-15T20:44+0200

GALVESTON - As teams continued the biggest search and rescue operation in Texas history, thousands of people faced long stays in crowded shelters because their homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Ike. The death toll rose...

Canadian, U.S. stocks tumble as Wall Street stability fears deepen

2008-09-15T20:35+0200

Canadian and U.S. stocks fell sharply Monday amid cascading fears about the stability of major financial institutions.

Typhoon kills at least four people in Taiwan

2008-09-15T20:34+0200

A typhoon in Taiwan has killed at least four people and 11 others are missing. The National Fire Agency says one man has drowned and five others are still missing after a bridge in central Taiwan collapsed under the force of rising waters. It says cars plunged into the river below.

Carnival Liberty in port Sept. 24

2008-09-15T20:34+0200

POINTE BLANCHE - Carnival Liberty will make an unscheduled call here on Wednesday, September 24, ship’s agent S.E.L. Maduro and Sons highlighted.

Galveston 'unhealthy and unsafe,' city manager says

2008-09-15T20:30+0200

Galveston city leaders on Monday urged the 15,000 to 20,000 residents left on the hurricane-battered barrier island to leave, saying they cannot provide essential services.

Illinois iReporters document flooding, storm damage

Hurricane Ike delays teen's flight for sight

2008-09-15T19:53+0200

HURRICANE IKE, which devastated Texas in the United States has also dealt a blow to a Marabella teenager who was scheduled to leave yesterday for sight-saving surgery in Houston.

Oil hits seven-month low — below $95

2008-09-15T19:49+0200

Oil prices tumbled to a seven-month low Monday as the demise of Lehman Brothers and the sale of Merrill Lynch fed expectations of another big liquidation of commodities holdings.

FTSE drops 3.9 percent after Lehman

2008-09-15T19:49+0200

The benchmark share index ended almost 4 percent lower on Monday as banks plunged after U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy protection.

World stock markets fall sharply

2008-09-15T19:45+0200

Similarly, the Bank of England offered up £5 billion (nearly $9 billion) in a three-day auction -- but bids were nearly five times higher, at £24.1 billion ($43 billion). The 158-year-old Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. filed Monday for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Bush: Ike put 'pinch' on US consumers

2008-09-15T19:45+0200

US President George W. Bush warned on Monday that the American people will face a "pinch" because of Hurricane Ike's disruption of energy production, as consumers already grappling with the high price of gasoline have already seen costs soar since the storm made landfall.

Minimal damage to refineries from Ike-DOE

2008-09-15T19:44+0200

15 Sep 2008 17:09:47 GMT Source: Reuters (Adds details about refineries, updates headline) By Ayesha Rascoe WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike caused minimal damage to oil refineries in the Gulf of Mexico, the U.S. Energy ...

Oil hits 7-month low of US$94.13

2008-09-15T19:44+0200

NEW YORK: Oil plunged US$4 (US$1 = RM3.45) yesterday as investors fled to safer havens due to turmoil in the US financial system and on early signs Hurricane Ike had spared key US energy infrastructure. Lehman Brothers' filing for bankruptcy protection and Bank of America's agreement to buy Merrill....

Boustead, Turkish firm to build vessels

2008-09-15T19:44+0200

BOUSTEAD Heavy Industries Bhd is partnering a Turkish firm to design and build vessels for enforcement and rescue operations in tropical waters. Its unit, BHIC Defence Technologies Sdn Bhd is tying up with Yonca-Onuk Savunma Sanayii A.S to set up a joint venture company in Malaysia.

Bush: Ike put 'pinch' on US consumers

2008-09-15T19:34+0200

Texas struggles after Hurricane Ike

2008-09-15T19:30+0200

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Ice, bottled water and other vital supplies poured into storm-struck Texas on Monday as the nerve center for the U.S. energy industry struggled without electricity to recover from Hurricane Ike's mighty punch.

2008-09-15T19:10+0200

Gold up on Lehman but off highs as oil falls

2008-09-15T19:08+0200

LONDON - Gold rose on Monday on safe haven buying after Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy protection, but retreated from the highs it hit earlier in the session after oil fell sharply. Platinum and palladium also tumbled as investors worried about the outlook for economic growth, amid fears....

Ike Damage To US Oil Sector Seen Limited So Far

2008-09-15T19:05+0200

Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc said one of its shallow water rigs was significantly damaged.

Bush: Ike put 'pinch' on consumers

2008-09-15T19:02+0200

President Bush warned Monday that people will face a "pinch" because of Hurricane Ike's disruption of energy production, as many consumers already grappling with the high price of gasoline have seen costs soar since the storm made landfall.

Bush sees upward pressure on gas prices after Ike

2008-09-15T18:59+0200

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush said on Monday there would be some upward pressure on the price of gasoline after Hurricane Ike and that the energy situation after the storm was one of concern.

Haiti could face new food crisis after storms

2008-09-15T18:59+0200

PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Haiti faces a deepening crisis after storms destroyed much of the impoverished country's rice crop, sparking fears of a repeat of the deadly food riots earlier this year that brought down the government.

Oil tumbles on Lehman failure, light Ike damage (AP)

2008-09-15T18:54+0200

AP - Oil prices tumbled to a seven-month low Monday as the demise of Lehman Brothers and the sale of Merrill Lynch fed expectations that another big liquidation of commodities holdings might lay ahead.

All eyes on Fed ahead of next meeting (Reuters)

2008-09-15T18:54+0200

Reuters - A radical shake-up on Wall Street and heavy losses in financial markets have recast the debate for Tuesday's Federal Open Market Committee meeting to set interest rate policy.

After Ike, Texas survivors clamor for gas, food (AP)

2008-09-15T18:54+0200

AP - Rescuers flew into a hard-to-reach area of the swamped Gulf Coast Monday and uncovered a devastated landscape: Hurricane Ike had swamped entire subdivisons, and emergency crews feared they would find more victims than survivors.

Cuba’s growth ambitions laid to waste

2008-09-15T18:45+0200

By Marc Frank in Havana Published: September 15 2008 17:03 | Last updated: September 15 2008 17:03 Only six months after President Raúl Castro officially took over from his ailing brother Fidel, two destructive hurricanes have left in ruins his promises to improve people’s “material and spiritual lives”.

Oil falls to $98; eyes Ike, Wall St turmoil - Reuters Nigeria - Fastnews Nigerian Commodity News

2008-09-15T18:43+0200

* Lehman, Merrill Lynch roil markets, spur flight to quality * No signs of major damage to U.S. oil sector from Ike * Oil hits seven-month low (Updates prices, adds details on AIG) By Matthew Robinson LONDON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Oil plunged $5 on Monday as investors fled to safer havens due to turmoil in the U.

Oil plummets as Ike largely spares energy output - Kentucky.com - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-15T18:43+0200

NEW YORK -- Oil prices plunged to a seven-month low Monday as the Gulf Coast energy infrastructure appeared relatively unharmed after Hurricane Ike and traders bet that Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy could ignite a massive liquidation of commodities. Light, sweet crude for November delivery fell $4.87, or 4.

Militants Blowup Shell Facility In Nigeria - Times of Nigeria - Fastnews Nigerian Oil & Gas News

2008-09-15T18:43+0200

Militants on Monday attacked a Shell facility in Nigeria's restive southern Delta region, a day after an armed group declared an "oil war," a military official said. The most prominent armed group in the region, MEND, which had declared the "oil war", immediately said it was responsible for the....

Oil plummets as Ike largely spares energy output - Edmond Sun - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-15T18:43+0200

Oil plummets as Ike largely spares energy output By STEVENSON JACOBS Associated Press NEW YORK Oil prices plunged to a seven-month low Monday as the Gulf Coast energy infrastructure appeared relatively unharmed after Hurricane Ike and traders bet that Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy could ignite a massive liquidation of commodities.

US: Cuba rejected $5 million in US hurricane aid

2008-09-15T18:40+0200

15 Sep 2008 16:10:00 GMT Source: Reuters WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Cuba has rejected an offer from the United States of $5 million in relief aid for hurricane victims, the U.S. State Department said on Monday. However, Washington has ...

Texas Struggles To Recover From Hurricane Ike

2008-09-15T18:34+0200

Ice, bottled water and other vital supplies poured into storm-struck Texas on Monday as the nerve center for the U.S. energy industry struggled without electricity to recover from Hurricane Ike's mighty punch. About 2,000 people had been plucked from flooded areas by helicopters and boats in the....

US: Cuba Rejected $5 Million In US Hurricane Aid

2008-09-15T18:34+0200

We regret that Cuban authorities have not accepted this offer of humanitarian assistance for the Cuban people.

Texas Grapples With Power Outages After Ike

2008-09-15T18:34+0200

The future of America depends on a state, Texas, and a city, like Houston, getting back on their feet as fast as possible.

Texas begins mass post-Ike rescue

2008-09-15T18:34+0200

The largest search and rescue in Texas history gets under way to find the thousands of people hit by Hurricane Ike.

Bush: Ike put 'pinch' on energy supply, prices

2008-09-15T18:30+0200

President Bush says Hurricane Ike has placed a pinch on the energy supply, driving up prices and frustration.

Texas grapples with power outages after Ike

2008-09-15T18:29+0200

HOUSTON, Sept 15 (Houston) - From pipelines and refineries to millions of Texans sweltering in hot neighborhoods, the loss of electric power is quickly becoming the biggest obstacle in the Lone Star State's recovery from Hurricane Ike.

Ghana: Bush Welcomes Kufuor to the White House

2008-09-15T18:24+0200

PRESIDENT BUSH: Good morning. President Kufuor and Mrs. Kufuor, it is a pleasure to welcome you back to the White House. (Applause.) The American people are honored to receive Ghana's official delegation. And Laura and I are happy to host two good friends.

President Bush Participates in Joint Statement with President Kufuor of Ghana

2008-09-15T18:23+0200

President Bush on Monday said, "All in all, ...it's been a good partnership, it's been good partners amongst me and you, John, but it's been a good partner between our countries. And I firmly believe that beyond our time in office, whoever the next Presidents will be, they will find relations....

Budget Day: Tuesday? Or Saturday?

2008-09-15T18:23+0200

If you read the Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad on Saturday, then you got to know something that everybody else was supposed to hear on Tuesday: the facts and figures of the National Budget.

Brent Council takes Thames Water to task over 'ancient' sewers

2008-09-15T18:22+0200

Brent Council has asked Thames Water to explain flooding that may be caused by defective drains and sewers. The council's highways maintenance teams report that many emergency call-outs they attend are a result of surface water sewers being unable to cope.

US market drops amid financial turmoil

2008-09-15T18:20+0200

Shares tumbled today as US investors reacted to a stunning reshaping of the landscape of Wall Street.

US storm death toll hits 30

2008-09-15T18:10+0200

The death toll from Hurricane Ike rose to 30 in eight states as the storm slogged across the mid-US leaving a trail of flooding and destruction. Glass-strewn Houston was placed under a week-long curfew, and millions of people in the storm's path remained without power.

Stocks retreat amid new Wall Street landscape (AP)

2008-09-15T17:54+0200

AP - Stocks retreated sharply and Treasury bond prices jumped Monday as investors reacted to a stunning reshaping of the landscape of Wall Street that took out two storied names: Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and Merrill Lynch & Co.

Hurricane's aftermath includes higher gas prices

2008-09-15T17:52+0200

Story Highlights Hurricane Ike made landfall Saturday morning in Galveston, Texas Gas prices have increased nearly 17 cents since, according to a nationwide survey Roll over each state to see the average price of gas there ....

Irish stocks fall on Lehman collapse

2008-09-15T17:51+0200

Global share prices plummeted today after Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy protection last night.

Rescuers fly to flattened coastal areas

2008-09-15T17:49+0200

Rescuers flew for the first time Monday into Texas coastal areas cut off by Ike and found a scene of devastation, with whole subdivisions obliterated, and began evacuating survivors.

U.S. death toll from Hurricane Ike rises to 30

2008-09-15T17:47+0200

U.S. authorities said Monday that Hurricane Ike was responsible for at least 30 deaths in eight states on the weekend.

Louisiana Guard Continues Hurricane Recovery Efforts

2008-09-15T17:41+0200

Louisiana National Guardsmen have used high-water vehicles, boats and helicopters to save more than 330 flooding victims in the wake of Hurricane Ike.

Sales of new private residential homes fall by 64% in August

2008-09-15T17:41+0200

SINGAPORE: Sales of new private residential homes slipped 64 per cent to 320 units in August, as compared to over 890 units sold in July.

Aftermath of Hurricane Ike complicates rescue efforts in Texas

2008-09-15T17:35+0200

Residents who were ferried by helicopter to Texas City told harrowing tales of survival. One man, Denis Covington, 63, spoke of how his home on stilts in Port Bolivar, a coastal town southeast of Houston, was smashed in two by a falling pylon and his dog was swept away.

24 hours in pictures

2008-09-15T17:34+0200

1 / 12 High Island, US: A sheen of oil is seen around a pump jack surrounded by flood water after the passing of Hurricane Ike Photograph: Reuters ....

Rescuers reach areas flattened by Ike

2008-09-15T17:31+0200

Rescuers flew for the first time Monday into Texas coastal areas cut off by Ike and found a scene of devastation, with whole subdivisions obliterated, and began evacuating survivors.

Crude oil trading below $100 a barrel

2008-09-15T17:26+0200

Oil prices fell under the symbolic $100-a-barrel threshold as financial woes raised concerns about slowing demand.

Coping with the empty nest

2008-09-15T17:26+0200

When swallows fly away, they leave nothing behind in the nest. Not so teen girls.

US storm death toll hits 30

2008-09-15T17:23+0200

The death toll from Hurricane Ike rose to 30 in eight states as the storm slogged across the mid-US leaving a trail of flooding and destruction.

Angola: Neto's Literary Work Should Serve as Inspiration Source

2008-09-15T17:23+0200

The Premier's assistant minister, Aguinaldo Jaime, stressed last Saturday in Luanda the need for Angolan youths to get inspired from the literary works of the late poet Agostinho Neto, in materialising their cultural projects.

World stock markets fall sharply

2008-09-15T17:22+0200

European benchmarks were punished following sharp losses across Asia after news that Lehman Brothers had filed for bankruptcy and Merrill Lynch would be sold to Bank of America. The FTSE-100 share index was down 4.07 percent in London, the Paris CAC-40 was off 4.5 percent and Germany's DAX 30 index of blue chips sagged 3.

Cowen warns FF TDs country faces tougher times

2008-09-15T17:20+0200

Ireland faces "much tougher" economic times over the coming year, or two, Taoiseach Brian Cowen has warned Fianna Fail TDs during a key meeting in advance of the resumption of the political season.

Irish banks weathering storm, says Lenihan

2008-09-15T17:20+0200

Ireland's banks are weathering the global economic storm that has claimed two of New York's four largest investment banks, the Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan said this afternoon.

Oil price slides below $97 on low Ike damage

2008-09-15T17:16+0200

Oil prices plunged to a seven-month low Monday as the Gulf Coast energy infrastructure appeared relatively unharmed after Hurricane Ike and traders bet that Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy could ignite a massive liquidation of commodities.

Stocks tumble

2008-09-15T17:15+0200

The collapse of two Wall Street giants shook the financial markets today, sending the Dow down by 240 points after the opening bell, CNNMoney reports. Lehman Brothers, a 158-year-old investment bank undermined by bad real estate bets, is filing for bankruptcy.

Ike blamed for 27 deaths from Texas to Midwest

2008-09-15T16:59+0200

The remnants of Hurricane Ike moved into Canada early Monday after the storm left a trail of destruction and 27 people dead from the U.S. Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes.

Oil plummets as Ike largely spares energy output

2008-09-15T16:57+0200

NEW YORK — Oil prices plunged to a seven-month low today as the Gulf Coast energy infrastructure appeared relatively unharmed after Hurricane Ike and traders bet that Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy could ignite a massive liquidation of commodities.

Dow Jones tumbles 330 points in early trading

2008-09-15T16:57+0200

NEW YORK — Stocks tumbled and Treasury bond prices soared today as investors reacted to a stunning reshaping of the landscape of Wall Street that took out two storied names: Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and Merrill Lynch & Co.

US storm death toll hits 30

2008-09-15T16:57+0200

The death toll from hurricane Ike rose to 30 in eight states today as the storm slogged across the mid-US leaving a trail of flooding and destruction.

Ike Leaves Houston Lacking Power, Food, Water

2008-09-15T16:57+0200

In Houston, nearly 2 million people remain without power in the wake of Hurricane Ike. And that was only one frustration for the city's residents. They say there are not enough shelters, no sites to pick up food and water and they're just not getting enough help from local and federal officials.

Devastated Galveston Struggles To Recover

2008-09-15T16:54+0200

Angola: National Hero Remembered Through His Poems

2008-09-15T16:53+0200

Ten Angolan female singers participated last Saturday evening in Tropical cinema, in Luanda, in a gala in the framework of the 86th birthday of the first and late President of the Republic of Angola, António Agostinho Neto, to be marked 17 September.

Uganda: Shoring Up Peace in the North

2008-09-15T16:53+0200

Police reform, improved agricultural production and better mechanisms for resolving land disputes are among the prerequisites for northern Uganda's long-term recovery from humanitarian crisis, according to Oxfam International.

Angola: Youths Have Revealed a Talent for Music - Foreign Minister

2008-09-15T16:53+0200

The Angolan Foreign Affairs minister, João Miranda, said last Saturday in Luanda that the Angolan youths have been contributing to the national culture, by showing their talent in music and consequently fighting for their expansion in the international market.

At resort cut off by Ike, whole subdivisions gone (AP)

2008-09-15T16:52+0200

AP - More than 48 hours after Hurricane Ike swamped the Gulf Coast, rescuers flew for the first time Monday into areas cut off by the storm and found a scene of devastation, with whole subdivisions obliterated, and began evacuating survivors.

Sabotage cited as toll in China baby formula scandal rockets (AFP)

2008-09-15T16:52+0200

AFP - China on Monday reported a second baby dead from drinking tainted milk formula and said the number sickened had soared past 1,200 as it blamed private milk-collecting stations for the worsening scandal.

North American shares open sharply lower

2008-09-15T16:52+0200

Markets begin to digest Lehman's collapse, and the key question of whether it will be able to unwind in an orderly manner

US industrial output drop biggest in 3 years

2008-09-15T16:50+0200

WASHINGTON - US industrial production tumbled a bigger-than-expected 1.1 percent in August due to a big drop in auto production and a slide in utilities output that was tied to mild temperatures, a Federal Reserve report showed on Monday. It was the biggest decline in industrial production, which....

Ike remnants cause Midwest woes

2008-09-15T16:46+0200

Midwest residents faced blackouts affecting hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses, closed school and fallen trees Monday after devastating weather caused by Hurricane Ike's remnants.

Ike's windy tail leaves Quebecers in the dark

2008-09-15T16:43+0200

More than 100,000 homes were without power Monday morning in the Montérégie region of Quebec, southwest of Montreal, where 6,000 homes were also in the dark, after Sunday night's violent windstorm caused by the tail end of Hurricane Ike.

World markets fall on Lehman, Merrill Lynch news

2008-09-15T16:40+0200

News of the collapse of two of American oldest financial institutions have led to dramatic tumble in Europe markets.

Lebensgefahr: Iraker wird für Israel-Besuch drastisch bestraft

2008-09-15T16:31+0200

Weil er an einer Antiterror-Konferenz im verfeindeten Israel teilnahm, muss ein irakischer Abgeordneter jetzt um sein Leben fürchten. Er darf weder an Parlamentssitzungen teilnehmen, noch den Irak verlassen. Al-Alusi war nicht zum ersten Mal in Israel – nach der letzten Reise wurden seine Söhne ermordet.

Continental to fly reduced Houston schedule Monday

2008-09-15T16:29+0200

HOUSTON, Texas (AP) -- Continental Airlines Inc. said Sunday it would resume flights in and out of Houston on Monday, but Southwest Airlines Co. won't resume operations here until Tuesday. Both airlines and other carriers halted flights in and out of Houston's two major airports on Friday, hours....

Regents chair won't renew term: Memorial

2008-09-15T16:25+0200

The St. John's businessman who chairs Memorial University's board of regents, and who has been criticized for allowing government involvement in a controversial presidential search, will not seek another term.

Nigeria: Military Tackles Militants in Air, Sea, Ground Battle

2008-09-15T16:23+0200

Barely two days after the creation of a ministry for the Niger Delta region, a militant group yesterday engaged men of the Joint Task Force in a full-fledged armed offensive. Reports indicated that men of the JTF might have begun a full-blown campaign to dislodge the Movement for the Emancipation of....

Ike remnants blamed for Midwest deaths, blackouts (AP)

2008-09-15T16:22+0200

AP - Residents of the Midwest faced blackouts affecting more than a million homes and businesses, closed schools and streets clogged by fallen trees Monday after a weekend of devastating weather caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ike.

Lehman bankruptcy shakes world financial system (AFP/Getty Images/File)

2008-09-15T16:22+0200

AFP/Getty Images/File - Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy Monday and Wall Street rival Merrill Lynch was taken over in a new financial earthquake driving a global stocks plunge and central bank intervention.

US storm death toll hits 30

2008-09-15T16:19+0200

The death toll from hurricane Ike rose to 30 in eight states today as the storm slogged across the mid-US leaving a trail of flooding and destruction.

President Bush and President Kufuor of Ghana Participate in Arrival Ceremony

2008-09-15T16:16+0200

President Bush on Monday said, "President Kufuor and Mrs. Kufuor, it is a pleasure to welcome you back to the White House. The American people are honored to receive Ghana's official delegation. And Laura and I are happy to host two good friends. The ties of friendship between the United States and Ghana are strong and they are enduring.

Coming Back From Ike: the Recovery

2008-09-15T16:15+0200

At least 2 million customers are still without power, and thousands are stranded in their homes, or in shelters, across the Gulf Coast. But Ike's wrath spread deep into the nation's midsection, leaving 28 dead across eight states, most by flooding that followed heavy rains in Illinois, Indiana and Kansas.

Digicel commits US$1 million to Haiti relief effort

2008-09-15T16:15+0200

Mobile provider Digicel has committed US$1 million to support the relief efforts in Haiti following the passing of four major storms that left hundreds dead and thousands more in need of food, water and shelter.

UN launches Haiti aid appeal

2008-09-15T16:15+0200

The United Nations has launched an appeal for more than US$100 million to bolster the massive humanitarian relief effort being mobilised for Haiti, where washed out roads and bridges continue to hamper peacekeepers and aid workers trying to rush food, clothes and fresh water to nearly 800,000 people left destitute by a succession of storms.

Oil prices fall in markets crisis

2008-09-15T16:14+0200

Oil prices tumbled below 100 US dollars for the first time in nearly six months as investors digested the latest financial crisis.

Five killed in Taiwan typhoon

2008-09-15T16:09+0200

Torrential rains and swollen rivers by Typhoon Sinlaku killed at least five people and left seven others missing and presumed dead in central Taiwan, authorities said, Four cars with an unknown number of passengers were buried in a tunnel hit by a mudslide in central Nantou county, it has been reported.

Ike Evacuees Face Long Stays in Makeshift Shelters

2008-09-15T16:09+0200

Hurricane Ike's deadly surge has kept thousands of evacuees holed up in cramped quarters - shelters, RVs, even a warehouse - as they face the prospect of returning to flood-ravaged neighborhoods left without ...

Faldo's team leaves for Ryder Cup

2008-09-15T16:04+0200

Europe's Ryder Cup team fly out to Kentucky for the Ryder Cup contest against the United States, which starts on Friday.

U.S. output falls more than expected

2008-09-15T16:04+0200

WASHINGTON — Government data show the nation's industrial output plunged in August by nearly four times the amount that had been expected. It's the worst performance since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005. The Federal Reserve reported Monday that industrial output dropped 1.1 per cent last month, far worse than the 0.

Carnival Liberty in port Sept. 24

2008-09-15T16:04+0200

POINTE BLANCHE--Carnival Liberty will make an unscheduled call here on Wednesday, September 24, ship’s agent S.E.L. Maduro and Sons highlighted. (click headline for more)

Ike displaces thousands of Texans

2008-09-15T16:04+0200

Nearly 2,000 brought to safety in Texas after massive storm leaves swath of destruction

Oil falls below $96 a barrel

2008-09-15T16:04+0200

Concerns over supply ease after Hurricane Ike inflicts minimal damage to oil installations on Texas coast

Outcry over felling of old exotic trees

2008-09-15T16:04+0200

Old exotic trees are being felled in Harare’s Exhibition Park despite cries of protest by many people.

Kearsarge Delivers More Relief Supplies to Haiti

2008-09-15T16:04+0200

The amphibious ship USS Kearsarge delivered an estimated 114 metric tons of disaster relief supplies as it continued its logistical support to remote communities in Haiti affected by recent tropical storms and Hurricane Ike.

LA train crash phone records to be investigated

2008-09-15T16:03+0200

The engineer who caused the train crash which killed 25 people in Los Angeles in the weekend may have been sending text messages as he drove through a red light, investigators have said.

Humane Society appeals for help for Inagua's animals

2008-09-15T16:00+0200

By BIANCA SYMONETTE, Guardian Staff Reporter In the wake of Hurricane Ike's devastation to Inagua and the challenges it has brought for not only the residents on that island but also its animal life, the Bahamas Humane Society (BHS) is appealing to the public to assist them as they lend a helping....

Inagua residents may get reduced electricity rates

2008-09-15T16:00+0200

By JUAN MCCARTNEY, Guardian Senior Reporter Although Inagua residents still remain without electricity in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, when the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) gets the lights back on, the power is expected to be more affordable for the island's residents.

2008-09-15T15:34+0200

* No visible signs of damage to U.S. refineries from Ike * Lehman, Merrill Lynch roil markets, spur flight to quality * Oil falls to seven-month low around $94 a barrel (Recasts, updates prices) By Matthew Robinson LONDON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Oil plunged $7 on Monday as investors fled to safer havens, due to turmoil in the U.

Militants Blowup Shell Facility In Nigeria - Times of Nigeria - Fastnews: Local Nigerian News

2008-09-15T15:34+0200

Chi to Launch Chi Water on Sept. 16 - Nigerian Bulletin! - Fastnews: Local Nigerian News

2008-09-15T15:34+0200

Chi Limited has announced that it will unveil Chi Secure water on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 in Lagos. Chi Secure Water is a natural mineral water which comes in totally aseptic tetra pak with zero bacteria in 1 litre packaging. According to a statement from the company, the official launch of the....

Nearly 2,000 brought to safety in Texas after Ike

2008-09-15T15:34+0200

GALVESTON, Texas (AP) -- As teams persisted in the biggest search and rescue operation in Texas history, a new phase of the disaster wrought by Hurricane Ike was only beginning while thousands of peop...

Gold gains as banking turmoil prompts flight to safe havens

2008-09-15T15:33+0200

Fears of further ripple effects from the turmoil on Wall Street also triggered a flight from the dollar, which dropped 1% against the euro. By Phillip Inman

The Search for a Sustainable Future: Europe's Biofuels Conundrum

2008-09-15T15:30+0200

The European Parliament may be backing away from its targets for crop-based biofuels, but the EU is still hoping that it can create a certification scheme that will ensure that biofuels are produced in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way.

US-Based Jamaicans Urged to Support National Disaster Recovery Fund

2008-09-15T15:29+0200

Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States, Anthony Johnson, has appealed to Jamaicans residing in that country, to support Jamaica's National Disaster Recovery Fund, which was established by the Government, to assist in resuscitating the country's infrastructure, which sustained significant damage during the passage of Tropical Storm Gustav.

Hurricane Ike snuffs out Galveston webcam

2008-09-15T15:29+0200

A dramatic image from galveston.com appears to show the moment at which Hurricane Ike did for the island's webcam sited in the Strand Historic District: In fact, the timestamp shows this particular camera held out for a few hours longer than those facing the full wrath of Ike.

UGANDA: Shoring up peace in the north

2008-09-15T15:28+0200

NAIROBI Monday, September 15, 2008 (IRIN) - Police reform, improved agricultural production and better mechanisms for resolving land disputes are among the prerequisites for northern Uganda’s long-term recovery from humanitarian crisis, according to Oxfam International.

Hurricane Ike kills 28 in US

2008-09-15T15:22+0200

The US death toll from Hurricane Ike has risen to 28. Eight states from the Gulf Coast to the Midwest were battered by the storm and thousands of evacuees remain holed up in cramped shelters. More than 1.2 million people fled their homes along the Texas coast as Ike approached.

Nigeria: Court Convicts 12 Drug Traffickers

2008-09-15T15:22+0200

The Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced an Ibadan socialite, Yusuf Hakeem Ajibola and eleven others to various jail terms, ranging from six months to five years for drug trafficking.

Gold up on Lehman woes but fails to hold highs

2008-09-15T15:19+0200

LONDON - Gold climbed more than 2 percent after Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy protection, spurring buying of gold as a safe haven from risk and knocking the dollar to two-month lows against the yen. However, the precious metal retreated from highs as oil prices slipped and selling of gold....

Houston battered, thousands in shelters after Ike (AP)

2008-09-15T15:19+0200

AP - With glass from shattered skyscrapers littering the streets, the nation's fourth largest city didn't open for business as usual Monday, and thousands of people faced long stays in crowded shelters because their homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Ike.

Oil plummets as Ike largely spares energy output (AP)

2008-09-15T15:19+0200

AP - Oil prices plunged to a seven-month low Monday as the Gulf Coast energy infrastructure appeared relatively unharmed after Hurricane Ike and traders bet that Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy could ignite a massive liquidation of commodities.

Oil drops 7 percent on financial turmoil

2008-09-15T15:19+0200

LONDON - Oil plunged $7 on Monday as investors fled to safer havens, due to turmoil in the U.S. financial system, and on early signs Hurricane Ike had spared key U.S. energy infrastructure. Lehman Brothers' filing for bankruptcy protection and Bank of America's agreement to buy Merrill Lynch stirred....

U.S. stock futures drop sharply

2008-09-15T15:17+0200

U.S. stock futures traded sharply lower before the open Monday, as investors around the world digested the collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and a sudden buyout at Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. “The question is whether the liquidation of Lehman's illiquid assets, derivative trades and credit....

Nigerian militants launch 'Hurricane Barbarossa' against oil plants

2008-09-15T15:14+0200

Nigerian militants have launched an attack on a Royal Dutch Shell pipeline after three days of fighting with state security forces.

Engine blamed for Russian air crash

2008-09-15T15:14+0200

The right engine of the Boeing 737-500 apparently failed and caught fire as the plane was preparing to land Sunday in the city of Perm in the Ural Mountains, said the chief of Russia's federal Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, who is in charge of the crash probe.

Dutch news in brief, Monday 15 September 2008

2008-09-15T15:09+0200

Find out what’s the latest news in the Netherlands in the roundup of today’s press from Radio Netherlands.

Lehman's Plea Too Little, Too Late

2008-09-15T15:08+0200

By the time that Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. sent out its distress signal, the U.S. government had become reluctant to lend a helping hand as it did other recent bailouts that could cost taxpayers tens of billions of dollars.

Record rains could soak Illinois farmers at harvest

2008-09-15T15:06+0200

Just two weeks ago it was drought that was causing many Illinois farmers some sleepless nights.

Oil drops $4 on financial turmoil and Ike - update

2008-09-15T15:05+0200

Oil plunged $4 to below $97 a barrel on Monday as investors fled to safer havens due to turmoil in the US financial system and on early signs Hurricane Ike spared key US energy infrastructure.

Financial crisis sends oil prices tumbling

2008-09-15T15:04+0200

Oil prices fell further below $100 a barrel today to a seven-month low on forecasts that demand for fuel will decline as the global financial crisis worsens following Lehman Brother$’s bankruptcy.

Central Banks Try To Calm Markets In Lehman Storm

2008-09-15T15:02+0200

Ten of the world`s top banks agreed to set up a $70-billion emergency fund, with any one of them able to tap up to a third of that.

Seeking Shelter From Ike's Aftermath

2008-09-15T14:53+0200

Nigeria: Mend Accuses JTF of 'Unprovoked Attack'

2008-09-15T14:52+0200

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has declared an all out offensive following the shoot-out between its fighters and a detachment of the special military Joint Task Force (JTF) which occurred yesterday in Tombia, Degema local government area of Rivers State.

European View: Sovereign wealth funds’ tough bargain

2008-09-15T14:49+0200

At the latest count, sovereign wealth funds from rich oil-producing Middle East countries have invested about $18bn in Europe and the US during the past four months. You can hardly blame them. They are simply taking advantage of an extraordinary window of opportunity to pick up assets in the old industrialised world at bargain prices.

Aftermath of Hurricane Ike complicates rescue efforts in Texas

2008-09-15T14:49+0200

Crude oil declines more than $5 a barrel

2008-09-15T14:46+0200

Crude oil futures fell to a seven-month low as Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy and refineries along the Gulf of Mexico escaped major damage from Hurricane Ike.

A major crisis for the Bolivian president

2008-09-15T14:46+0200

Relative calm returned to the northern department of Pando after Evo Morales declared martial law there - deaths from violence had increased to almost 30 over the weekend.

Rescuers comb wreckage for hurricane survivors in Texas

2008-09-15T14:46+0200

So far, 10 deaths have been attributed to Hurricane Ike in the United States: seven in Texas, two in Louisiana and one in Arkansas.

Rove: McCain went 'too far' in ads

2008-09-15T14:45+0200

Rove has leveled similar criticism against Obama. "McCain has gone in some of his ads -- similarly gone one step too far," he told Fox News, "and sort of attributing to Obama things that are, you know, beyond the '100 percent truth' test." The Obama campaign immediately leaped on the quote.

Expert says Temangalo land less by 20 acres...

2008-09-15T14:45+0200

First published: 20080915 8:35:12 AM EST Ultimate Media Geomaps Africa the company hired to survey the controversial land in Temangalo bought by the National Social Security Fund says the land has only two squatters and that some areas are similar to a wetland.

Oil prices tumble under $93 per barrel

2008-09-15T14:41+0200

It hit a 7 month lows on prospects of weaker energy demand amid a worsening global financial crisis.Investor's Guide I Ten costliest natural catastrophes

Oil falls to below $100 a barrel

2008-09-15T14:37+0200

Oil prices have tumbled to below $US100 for the first time in nearly six months with news of the latest financial crisis.

Remnants of Ike blamed for 15 deaths in Midwest

2008-09-15T14:34+0200

Losing it devastating punch as a major hurricane, Ike nevertheless drubbed the Midwest with powerful winds and floodwaters that are being blamed for at least 15 deaths.

Safety breaches may have caused fatal rail crash in Los Angeles

2008-09-15T14:34+0200

Investigators examining a crash that killed 25 passengers in LA say staff may have ignored safety procedures James Orr and agencies Rescue workers at the scene of a crash between a passenger train and a freight ...

Audio records shed light on deadly LA train wreck, Federal officials say

2008-09-15T14:34+0200

Federal investigators said Sunday that audio recordings from a commuter train are missing required verbal safety checks between the engineer and the conductor in the seconds before the train collided with a ...

Oil Drops 7 Percent On Financial Turmoil, Ike

2008-09-15T14:31+0200

U.S. crude fell $3.18 to $98.00 a barrel by 0834 GMT to fresh six-month lows after a special trading session on Sunday.

Hurricane Ike aftermath

2008-09-15T14:30+0200

1 / 18 Gilchrist, US: A single house is left standing on the waterfront following the destruction along the Texas coast Photograph: POOL/EPA ....

Offer patients tax breaks to stay healthy, say Lib Dems

2008-09-15T14:30+0200

Patients should be offered tax breaks as an incentive to encourage them to take steps to stay healthy, the Liberal Democrats said today

Bangladesh launches 100-day job scheme for poor

2008-09-15T14:26+0200

DHAKA (Reuters) - Bangladesh on Monday launched a 100-day employment programme to help two million poor families affected by floods and other natural disasters.

Lehman bankrupt, Merrill taken over in new financial earthquake

2008-09-15T14:22+0200

NEW YORK - Lehman Brothers declared itself bankrupt Monday and Wall Street rival Merrill Lynch had to be taken over in a new financial earthquake that sent global markets into a slump.

China evacuates half a million as tropical storm bears down

2008-09-15T14:22+0200

SHANGHAI : China evacuated nearly half a million people from coastal areas as tropical storm Sinlaku bore down, but officials said the mainland was expected to escape the worst, state media reported Monday.

LA train crash phone records to be investigated

2008-09-15T14:18+0200

The engineer who caused the train crash which killed 25 people in Los Angeles in the weekend may have been sending text messages as he drove through a red light, investigators have said.

Authorities want orderly winding down of Lehman in Britain (AFP)

2008-09-15T14:17+0200

AFP - Authorities said on Monday they would try to wind down Lehman Brothers' operations here in an orderly manner as the prime minister's spokesman insisted Britain could weather the financial storm.

Oil slides below $97 on low Ike damage

2008-09-15T14:15+0200

Oil prices fell below $97 a barrel on Monday after Hurricane Ike inflicted minimal damage to oil installations on the Texas coast.

Swamped Ike survivors sort through rubble

Remnants of Ike blamed for 15 deaths in Midwest (AP)

2008-09-15T13:46+0200

AP - Losing it devastating punch as a major hurricane, Ike nevertheless drubbed the Midwest with powerful winds and floodwaters that are being blamed for at least 15 deaths.

Stocks point sharply lower after tumultuous Sunday (AP)

2008-09-15T13:46+0200

AP - U.S. stocks headed for a sharply lower open and Treasury bond prices soared Monday as investors reacted to a stunning reshaping of the landscape of Wall Street. A series of events took out two storied names Sunday: Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and Merrill Lynch & Co.

Irish stocks fall over 5.6% on Lehman collapse

2008-09-15T13:45+0200

Global share prices plummeted today after Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy protection last night.

Stocks to fall after dramatic Wall Street moves

2008-09-15T13:44+0200

U.S. stocks headed for a sharply lower open and Treasury bond prices soared Monday as investors reacted to a stunning reshaping of the landscape of Wall Street.

Oil falls below $96 after Ike passes

2008-09-15T13:44+0200

Oil prices fell sharply Monday after initial reports that Hurricane Ike did not do as much damage as was originally feared to the Gulf Coast region.

Russian strategic bombers patrol Caribbean - 2

2008-09-15T13:43+0200

Two Russian Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers that landed in Venezuela last week will carry out a patrol mission over the Caribbean on Monday, a Russian Air Force spokesman said.

Gold rises on Lehman, but fails to hold highs

2008-09-15T13:42+0200

LONDON — Gold climbed more than 2 per cent after Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy protection, spurring buying of gold as a safe haven from risk and knocking the U.S. dollar to two-month lows against the yen. However, the precious metal retreated from highs as oil prices slipped and selling of....

Oil falls below $97 a barrel

2008-09-15T13:42+0200

Concerns over supply ease after Hurricane Ike inflicts minimal damage to oil installations on Texas coast

Lehman storm hammers U.S. dollar, world stocks

2008-09-15T13:42+0200

High-grade debt, gold, yen in demand on banking stress; focus turns to Fed policy decision on Tuesday

CPO futures slump, oil below US$100

2008-09-15T13:42+0200

Crude oil has been a main crutch for palm oil and that appears to be giving way as well, says a trader

Last house standing: Hurricane Ike's £7bn trail of destruction

2008-09-15T13:36+0200

It stands alone as if protected by divine intervention. While its neighbours - as far as the eye can see - were ripped from their foundations and obliterated, this house amazingly escaped the force of a brute called Ike. Today the death toll from the hurricane had risen to 25 across nine states one of the biggest search and rescue operation in U.

Ike's trail of destruction stretches into Midwest

2008-09-15T13:36+0200

The remnants of Hurricane Ike moved into Canada early Monday after the storm left a trail of destruction from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes.

Safe-haven buying pushes gold higher

2008-09-15T13:31+0200

Gold prices rose but crude oil dropped sharply and base metals tumbled on Monday as commodity dealers rushed to de-risk their trading books amid an acute crisis on Wall Street after Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy protection, forcing policymakers to take emergency steps to support liquidity across financial markets.

Oil prices tumble under $93

2008-09-15T13:31+0200

Oil prices plunged below 93 dollars Monday, hitting seven-month lows on prospects of weaker energy demand amid a worsening global financial crisis after Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy, analysts said.

Nearly 2,000 brought to safety in Texas

2008-09-15T13:30+0200

GALVESTON, Texas (AP) -- The death toll from Hurricane Ike rose to 25 across nine states Sunday, as rescuers said they had saved nearly 2,000 people from waterlogged streets and splintered houses. Gla...

Texas coast faces long recovery after Ike

2008-09-15T13:30+0200

Galveston fire fighter Martin Moses inspects damaged homes Sunday in Galveston, Texas, after Hurricane Ike caused wind and flood damage along the Texas and Louisiana coasts. By Mark Wilson, Getty Imag...

Safety breaches may have caused fatal rail crash in Los Angeles

2008-09-15T13:27+0200

Investigators examining a crash that killed 25 passengers in LA say staff may have ignored safety procedures

Bangladesh launches 100-day job scheme for poor

2008-09-15T13:19+0200

15 Sep 2008 11:12:24 GMT Source: Reuters DHAKA, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Bangladesh on Monday launched a 100-day employment programme to help two million poor families affected by floods and other natural disasters. Under the 2.0 billion taka ...

Oil falls below $100 a barrel

2008-09-15T13:17+0200

Oil prices tumbled below $100 today for the first time in nearly six months as investors digested the latest financial crisis.

Russian border guards rescue 19 North Korean fishermen

2008-09-15T13:12+0200

VLADIVOSTOK, September 15 (RIA Novosti) - Russian border guards have rescued 19 North Korean fishermen caught in a storm in the Sea of Japan, a spokeswoman for the border guards said Monday. "Late on Sunday Russian border guards spotted a fishing schooner with 18 people onboard in the Russian waters," the spokeswoman said.

Oil falls to $98; eyes Ike, Wall St turmoil - Reuters Nigeria - Fastnews: Local Nigerian News

2008-09-15T13:11+0200

* No visible signs of damage to U.S. refineries from Ike * Lehman bankruptcy, Merrill Lynch cloud economic outlook * Oil hits fresh six-month lows LONDON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Oil tumbled to $98 a barrel on Monday on signs Hurricane Ike may have spared key U.S. energy infrastructure and turmoil in the U.

Oil falls to below $100 on low damage from Hurricane Ike - CFTKTV - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-15T13:11+0200

By: Alex Kennedy, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SINGAPORE - Oil prices fell below $100 a barrel on Monday after Hurricane Ike inflicted minimal damage to oil installations on the Texas coast. Light, sweet crude for October delivery declined $2.13 to $99.05 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange midday in Singapore.

Oil falls to $98; eyes Ike, Wall Street turmoil

2008-09-15T13:07+0200

As near term supply problems are expected, oil cos indicate a possible quick recovery to production.Investor's Guide I Ten costliest natural catastrophes

Souvenir company learns to adapt quickly

2008-09-15T13:05+0200

WASHINGTON — Capitol Souvenir Co. isn't really a souvenir company. It's a tourism business. Capsco's sales rise and fall on the ability of people to travel. After all, what Washingtonian is going to walk across the Mall and buy a coffee cup with Ronald Reagan's mug on it?

Week-long festival will celebrate Leeward life

2008-09-15T13:05+0200

The Wai'anae Coast Coalition, and the Makaha Resort and Golf Club, are sponsoring a week-long festival this month featuring cultural exhibits, music and food.

Hurricane hunters sized up Ike

2008-09-15T13:05+0200

Amid the engines' roar, the Air Force Reserve pilots and navigator worked calmly as their huge plane neared the eyewall of Hurricane Ike.

Faldo's team leaves for Ryder Cup

2008-09-15T13:04+0200

Europe's Ryder Cup team fly out to Kentucky for the Ryder Cup contest against the United States, which starts on Friday.

Oil price falls to below $100 a barrel

2008-09-15T12:57+0200

Oil prices tumbled below $100 today for the first time in nearly six months as investors digested the latest financial crisis.

Financial crisis may lead to government of national unity

2008-09-15T12:56+0200

Michael White: A discussion of points of common interest by heavyweights Vince Cable and Charles Clarke prompts me to consider the possibility of reconstruction of government due to Wall Street storm

China baby formula ‘sabotaged’

2008-09-15T12:56+0200

AFP Chinese officials said private milk-collecting stations were likely at fault for a rapidly unfolding scandal over tainted infant formula that has left two babies dead and nearly 600 ill. The New Zealand partner to the Chinese company Sanlu at the centre of the storm went. . . .

Fabian victims remembered

2008-09-15T12:53+0200

Over a hundred people joined a police convoy for the Rememberance Ride in memory of the four victims of hurricane Fabian on Sunday.

U.S. death toll from Hurricane Ike rises to 28

2008-09-15T12:52+0200

U.S. authorities said Monday that Hurricane Ike was responsible for at least 28 deaths in nine U.S. states on the weekend.

Sabotage cited as China narrows blame for deadly baby formula

2008-09-15T12:46+0200

BEIJING - Chinese officials said Monday that private milk-collecting stations were likely at fault for a rapidly unfolding scandal over tainted infant formula that has left two babies dead and nearly 600 ill.

Lehman bankruptcy shakes world financial system (AFP)

2008-09-15T12:46+0200

AFP - Lehman Brothers declared itself bankrupt Monday and Wall Street rival Merrill Lynch had to be taken over in a new financial earthquake that sent global markets into a slump.

New phase of disaster hits Ike survivors

2008-09-15T12:44+0200

As teams continued the biggest search and rescue operation in Texas history, a new phase of the disaster wrought by Hurricane Ike was beginning as thousands of evacuees faced long stays in shelters.

House to House Search for Ike Survivors

2008-09-15T12:36+0200

As teams persisted in the biggest search and rescue operation in Texas history, a new phase of the disaster wrought by Hurricane Ike was only beginning while thousands of people faced long stays in crowded shelters because their homes were damaged or destroyed.

Typhoon Sinlaku strikes Taiwan

2008-09-15T12:35+0200

At least four people in Taiwan have been killed by Typhoon Sinlaku and seven are reported missing.

Victoria begins storm clean up

2008-09-15T12:22+0200

VICTORIANS are beginning the task of cleaning up after wild winds lashed the state today. 8:00pm (AEST)

Inside the Parish Councils

2008-09-15T12:21+0200

LUCEA, Hanover: The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) came under fire from Hanover parish councillors during its regular monthly meeting of the Hanover Parish Council on Thursday.The councillors expressed dissatisfaction after cleansing...

Abortion fiction! - Bio-ethics professor rejects data on botched procedures

2008-09-15T12:21+0200

Dr John Patrick, a professor of science and bio-ethics from Ottawa, Canada, and a former consultant with the Tropical Metabolism and Research Unit in Kingston, says disturbing data about botched abortions in Jamaica is purely fictional. The abortion policy review advisory group...

Uganda: Scandal Threatens to Split Ruling Party

2008-09-15T12:19+0200

A scandal involving the sale of land to Uganda's National Social Security Fund is threatening to split the ruling National Resistance Movement as a parliamentary committee probing it is already divided.

South Africa: The Thick End of the Wedge

2008-09-15T12:19+0200

WHILE we South Africans witter on about Jacob Zuma and Zimbabwe and Thabo Mbeki, I fear there's a storm brewing on Wall Street that might yet make all our news look like chicken feed.

China evacuates a half million for tropical storm: report (AFP)

2008-09-15T12:15+0200

AFP - China evacuated nearly half a million people from coastal areas as tropical storm Sinlaku bore down, but officials said the mainland was expected to escape the worst, state media reported Monday.

Nigeria militants declare war on oil

2008-09-15T12:14+0200

, 15 September - Nigeria's main militant group has declared war on oil yesterday after three days battle with government forces in the country's southern oil rich region, Niger Delta.

World stock markets fall sharply

2008-09-15T12:14+0200

Additionally, giant U.S. insurance company American International Group said Sunday it was discussing options with outside parties to improve its business. The Wall Street Journal said on its Web site Sunday that AIG may announce a turnaround plan Monday that would involve selling assets such as its aircraft leasing business.

World markets sink on Wall Street crisis

2008-09-15T12:14+0200

Asian and European stock markets were down sharply Monday amid after a shake-up on Wall Street, with Lehman Brothers saying it would file bankruptcy and Merrill Lynch being sold to Bank of America.

Audio sheds light on deadly LA train wreck

2008-09-15T12:07+0200

Investigators say required verbal safety checks between engineer and conductor missing in seconds before crash

Stars visit Haiti to help

2008-09-15T12:05+0200

Matt Damon and Wyclef Jean toured Gonaives to call attention to widespread suffering in Haiti after storms.

Gas up, heating oil down on P.E.I.

2008-09-15T12:05+0200

P.E.I. saw some large swings in petroleum product prices Monday morning, with gas up 9.0 cents a litre and heating fuel down 4.5 cents.

Remnants of Ike Blamed for 13 Deaths in Midwest

2008-09-15T12:04+0200

Remnants of Ike batter Midwest, leaving 13 dead and forcing thousands to evacuate

French storm the bastille over 'Sarkozy's Big Sister' database

2008-09-15T11:48+0200

Imagine, if you will, an announcement by the UK Government that it is going to create a new database to track anyone over the age of 13, who has been "active in politics or the trade unions or who has a significant role in business, the media, entertainment or social or religious institutions".

Kenya: Linturi Line of Thought Not New in Country's Power Intrigues

2008-09-15T11:48+0200

Have you ever looked inside a Pandora's box? Please don't, because it is an exercise which, if started, will cause many problems which cannot be solved.

Zimbabwe: Dembare's Savanna Deal Faces Collapse

2008-09-15T11:48+0200

Premiership giants Dynamos have not benefited from their mega-buck sponsorship deal with Savanna Tobacco Company in the past five months after club officials ignored requests for information regarding players' banking details, as well as statements-of-accounts - a development which now threatens an....

Rwanda: Internal Divisions Hit EU Observer Mission

2008-09-15T11:48+0200

A storm is brewing in the European Commission Electoral Observer Mission (EU EOM) in Rwanda owing to internal wrangles which are reportedly being fuelled by some members of the team.

Relief operations ramp up in storm-hit Texas

2008-09-15T11:46+0200

15 Sep 2008 09:12:34 GMT Source: Reuters * Floodwaters begin receding * Supplies start rolling in * City employees asked to return to work By Ed Stoddard HOUSTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - A huge relief effort was accelerating in storm- ...

N.L. regulator approves 11-cent spike in gas prices

2008-09-15T11:41+0200

Newfoundland and Labrador's fuels regulator took an unusual step of raising gas prices Monday, with a record-setting array of prices.

Russian strategic bombers patrol Caribbean

2008-09-15T11:41+0200

Two Russian Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers that landed in Venezuela last week will carry out a patrol mission over the Caribbean on Monday, a Russian Air Force spokesman said.

Lewisham's homeless families rehoused in empty homes

2008-09-15T11:40+0200

Lewisham Council is maximising its success in obtaining Empty Dwelling Management Orders or EDMO’s - to offer a new home to a family who have been living in temporary accommodation. A privately owned 3-bedroom 1930’s house in Catford had been empty for more than 20 years, was run-down and had fallen into a state of complete disrepair.

Fatalities in Taiwan's typhoon

2008-09-15T11:36+0200

Four people have been killed and seven reported missing in Taiwan's Typhoon Sinlaku .

Typhoon Sinlaku hits Taiwan, two people missing

2008-09-15T11:36+0200

15/09/2008 10:24 AM Typhoon Sinlaku, the 13th tropical storm so far this year in China, left at least two people missing and injured 13 others when it hit northeastern Taiwan on September 14.

Feds: Audio Sheds Light on Deadly LA Train Wreck

2008-09-15T11:34+0200

Feds: Audio recordings show silence between engineer, conductor before deadly LA train crash

Cuba Requests Lifting of US Embargo

2008-09-15T11:33+0200

Cuba has rejected a US donation of US$100,000 for the cyclone-hit Cubans, requesting in parallel the easing of the embargo that bans the sale of construction materials

Lehman Storm Hammers Dlr, Stocks In Risk Flight

2008-09-15T11:28+0200

The dollar tumbled 2.7 percent versus the yen, setting the Japanese currency on track for its biggest daily gain since early 2002.

Oil Falls To $98; Eyes Ike, Wall St Turmoil

2008-09-15T11:28+0200

U.S. crude fell $3.18 to $98.00 a barrel by 0834 GMT to fresh six-month lows after a special trading session on Sunday.

VIDEO: S. African Judge Throws Out Zuma Graft Case

2008-09-15T11:28+0200

Zuma is virtually guaranteed the presidency in 2009 elections because of the ANC`s electoral dominance.

Hurricane Ike Threatens Texas With Wall of Water

2008-09-15T11:28+0200

Hundreds of thousands fled the island city of Galveston and low-lying counties under mandatory evacuation orders.

Hurricane Ike Delays Cargo For Space Outpost

2008-09-15T11:28+0200

Official from the two agencies said the operation will proceed next Wednesday, four days after the original date.

Sabotage cited as China narrows blame for deadly baby formula

2008-09-15T11:23+0200

BEIJING (AFP) - Chinese officials said Monday that private milk-collecting stations were likely at fault for a rapidly unfolding scandal over tainted infant formula that has left two babies dead and nearly 600 ill.

Asia stock markets fall on Wall Street shake-up

2008-09-15T11:21+0200

HONG KONG (AP) -- Asian stock markets tumbled Monday as investors reacted with alarm to a seismic shake-up on Wall Street involving the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers and the takeover of Merrill Lynch.

Nepotism, Palin is thy name

2008-09-15T11:21+0200

Chicago - Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin has given at least five former schoolmates jobs, many of them at inflated pay, since becoming governor of Alaska two years ago. Palin ga...

Nearly 2,000 brought to safety in Texas after Ike

2008-09-15T11:21+0200

GALVESTON, Texas (AP) -- As teams continued the biggest search and rescue operation in Texas history, a new phase of the disaster wrought by Hurricane Ike was only beginning as thousands of people fac...

Audio sheds light on deadly LA train wreck

2008-09-15T11:21+0200

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Federal investigators said Sunday that audio recordings from a commuter train are missing required verbal safety checks between the engineer and the conductor in the seconds before...

Rescue teams comb coastal streets

2008-09-15T11:21+0200

Search and rescue workers drive down a flooded road as they search the Sabine Pass area of Port Arthur, Texas, Sunday, following Hurricane Ike.

South Africa: Govt to Create 50 000 Employment Opportunities

2008-09-15T11:18+0200

Government hopes to have created 50 000 job opportunities in the Eastern Cape by the end of 2008 through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).

Lehman Brothers bankruptcy, US crisis hits European stocks (AFP)

2008-09-15T11:15+0200

AFP - Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy Monday and Merrill Lynch announced a rescue sale in a series of dramas in the US financial system which hit European stocks as soon as trading began.

Oil falls towards $99; eyes on Ike and Wall Street banks

2008-09-15T11:15+0200

Oil tumbled below $100 a barrel to a six-month low on early signs that Hurricane Ike may have spared key Gulf Coast infrastructure, although traders were cautious on Monday as they awaited status reports on ...

Lehman Brothers announces bankruptcy as Fed moves to shore up markets

2008-09-15T11:13+0200

WASHINGTON: US investment giant Lehman Brothers announced its bankruptcy early Monday as the Federal Reserve and major global banks moved to shore up financial market shaken by the housing and mortgage crisis.

Death toll from Ike climbs to 13 in Texas as search widens for survivors

2008-09-15T11:13+0200

GALVESTON, Texas: Officials in Galveston Sunday raised to 13 the number of people killed in the city by Hurricane Ike, as the storm-battered US Gulf Coast continued to dry out and clean up from the devastating storm.

Malaysian minister quits over security arrests

2008-09-15T11:13+0200

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's government was rocked by a minister's resignation Monday in a storm of criticism over a series of arrests under new security laws just as it faces an opposition plot to seize power.

Four Dead in Taiwan Typhoon

2008-09-15T10:58+0200

The storm has caused hundreds of mudslides, widespread flooding, traffic accidents, 252,000 power outages, and 1,594 evacuations.

Day in Photographs – September 12

2008-09-15T10:58+0200

New protests, food shortages, and a few jokes on the account of the catastrophe marked September 12.

VIDEO: Hurricane Ike Could Be ´Catastrophe´

2008-09-15T10:58+0200

Although Ike is weaker than 2005`s Hurricane Katrina its large scope gives it more water-moving power.

Nigeria Militants Tell Oil Workers To Leave Delta

2008-09-15T10:58+0200

Gunmen in the delta hijacked an oil supply vessel on Tuesday with two Britons, two South Africans and a Ukrainian on board.

Typhoon Hits Taiwan, Causing Landslides

2008-09-15T10:58+0200

The category 3 storm was expected to blanket the island before moving on towards Japan, possibly gathering strength.

VIDEO: Bush: Danger From Ike Not Yet Passed

2008-09-15T10:58+0200

Bush said Ike was causing lots of damage in Texas and parts of Louisiana and promised swift federal assistance.

VIDEO: Texas Mounts Mass Rescue In Ike`s Wake

2008-09-15T10:58+0200

According to an early computer-model estimate of damage by the insurance industry, Ike could lead to $8 billion to $18 billion in claims.

VIDEO: Typhoon Injures 14, Cancels Flights in Thai

2008-09-15T10:58+0200

The storm triggered widespread flooding, isolated traffic accidents, 231,000 power outages, 407 mudslides and 1,127 evacuations.

Galveston Stunned By Hurricane Ike`s Blow

2008-09-15T10:58+0200

Block after block of the historic coastal community are flooded with a putrid mix of sewage and sea water.

Ike Caused `A Few Deaths,` Surges- US Official

2008-09-15T10:58+0200

I don`t want to speculate,` Chertoff said. `If someone stayed in an area predicted to be largely flooded, they put their lives at risk.`

Ike Could Cost Insurers Up To $18 Billion

2008-09-15T10:58+0200

Larsen said windows in Houston high-rises blown out by Ike`s strong winds were alone expected to result in costly claims.

VIDEO/PHOTO: Hurricane Ike Rakes Texas Coast

2008-09-15T10:58+0200

The enormous hurricane, roughly the size of Texas itself, may be the worst storm to hit the state in nearly 50 years.

Somalia - Pirates Fire Rockets At French Boat

2008-09-15T10:58+0200

The boat suffered some damage but no one was hurt and it was able to get away after the attack.

Solo in Nevada, Palin Draws Big Crowd

2008-09-15T10:58+0200

Palin came back to Alaska to conduct her first television interview since becoming McCain`s running mate.

Barclays bears up to pressure

2008-09-15T10:57+0200

This morning in Canary Wharf, Bob Diamond, the president of Barclays, will address investors and analysts on his plans for the bank's investment banking operations. It was a presentation arranged weeks ago, long before he went into talks to rescue Lehman Brothers.

Last house standing: Hurricane Ike's £7bn trail of destruction

2008-09-15T10:57+0200

It stands alone as if protected through divine intervention. While its neighbours - as far as the eye can see - were ripped from their foundations and obliterated, this house amazingly escaped the force of a brute called Ike.

Lehman Brothers bankruptcy, US crisis hits European stocks

2008-09-15T10:52+0200

NEW YORK (AFP) - Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy Monday and Merrill Lynch announced a rescue sale in a series of dramas in the US financial system which hit European stocks as soon as trading began.

Broncos break silence on sex claims

2008-09-15T10:51+0200

THREE Brisbane Bronco players are being interviewed by police about an alleged sexual assault. 6:06pm (AEST)

Kenya launches research maize screening site

2008-09-15T10:50+0200

The Kenya government has commissioned a $500,000-worth of Maize Stress Screening Site at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute.

Oil falls below $99 on low Ike damage

2008-09-15T10:48+0200

Oil prices fell below $99 a barrel on Monday after Hurricane Ike inflicted minimal damage to oil installations on the Texas coast.

Washington in 5 Minutes

2008-09-15T10:48+0200

A Republican on Sunday accused Barack Obama's camp of stooping to "ageism" against John McCain.

Ike leaves Gulf Coast underwater

2008-09-15T10:48+0200

Entire swaths of land from southern Louisiana to Gilchrist, Texas, have been flooded or destroyed by Hurricane Ike, which swept through the area early Saturday morning.

Refineries escape major damage

2008-09-15T10:48+0200

Crude oil fell to a six-month low in New York and gasoline tumbled amid signs that refineries along the Gulf of Mexico coast will soon resume operations after escaping major damage from Hurricane Ike.

Inside Politics

2008-09-15T10:48+0200

"With top Dems fearing Barack Obama is in a hole, the Obama campaign has made a weird decision. It's going to dig that hole deeper, harder and faster," New York Daily News columnist Michael Goodwin writes.

TFN NEWS BRIEFING: Oil and utilities highlights to 09:15 BST

2008-09-15T10:46+0200

2008-09-15 09:14:45 Oil trades below $100 on credit woe, limited damage from SINGAPORE (Thomson Financial) - World oil traded below $100 in Asia on Monday ...

TFN NEWS BRIEFING: Banking and insurance highlights to 09:15 BST

2008-09-15T10:46+0200

2008-09-15 09:02:21 1-World's central banks move to calm Lehman storm TOKYO/FRANKFURT, Sept 15 (Reuters) - European and Asian central banks followed ...

Oil trades below $100 on credit woe, limited damage from

2008-09-15T10:46+0200

SINGAPORE (Thomson Financial) - World oil traded below $100 in Asia on Monday after early assessments showed the damage to U.S. oil platforms by Hurricane ...

World stock markets sink on Wall Street crisis (AP)

2008-09-15T10:44+0200

AP - Asian and European stock markets were down sharply Monday amid growing alarm over the world's financial system after a seismic shake-up on Wall Street, with Lehman Brothers saying it would file bankruptcy and Merrill Lynch being sold to Bank of America.

Swamped survivors sort through rubble, marvel at Ike's power

2008-09-15T10:44+0200

Las House standing: Hurricane Ike's £7bn trail of destruction

2008-09-15T10:42+0200

Hurricane Ike wreaks havoc in Texas, death toll climbs

2008-09-15T10:41+0200

MOSCOW, September 15 (RIA Novosti) - A massive relief operation is under way in Texas after damage and flooding brought by Hurricane Ike, and five people have died in the island city of Galveston, local media reported. The Austin American-Statesman said a body had been found in a submerged car near the airport in Galveston.

Millions of Texans without power

2008-09-15T10:38+0200

The death toll from Hurricane Ike rose to 25 in the United States yesterday, as rescuers said they had saved nearly 2,000 people from waterlogged streets and splintered houses. Glass-strewn Houston was placed under a weeklong curfew, and millions of people in the storm's path remained in the dark.

Baby formula was sabotaged: China

2008-09-15T10:34+0200

AFP Beijing - Chinese officials said that private milk-collecting stations were likely at fault for a rapidly unfolding scandal over tainted infant formula that has left two babies dead and nearly 600 ill. The New Zealand partner to the Chinese company Sanlu at the centre of the. . . .

MEND claims responsibility for Shell attack

2008-09-15T10:34+0200

AFP Lagos - Militants attacked a Shell facility in Nigeria's restive southern Delta region, a day after an armed group declared an "oil war," a military official said. The most prominent armed group in the region, MEND, which had declared the "oil war", immediately said. . . .

U.S. gas prices climb quickly as refineries remain closed

2008-09-15T10:32+0200

A combined blow from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike has shut down almost all oil and natural gas production in the Gulf of Mexico and handicapped refinery operations in Texas and Louisiana.

Fatalities in Taiwan's typhoon

2008-09-15T10:28+0200

Four people have been killed and seven reported missing in Taiwan's Typhoon Sinlaku .

AIG plans to sell $20 bln of assets

2008-09-15T10:25+0200

American International Group plans a $20 billion asset sell-off as it fights to correct a slump in its shares and braces for the impact of Hurricane Ike, a newspaper said.

Oil falls towards $99; eyes on Ike, Wall St banks

2008-09-15T10:25+0200

2008-09-15T10:14+0200

AP - Losing it devastating punch as a major hurricane, Ike nevertheless drubbed the Midwest with powerful winds and floodwaters that are being blamed for at least 13 deaths.

Militants attack Shell facility in Nigeria (AFP)

2008-09-15T10:14+0200

AFP - Militants on Monday attacked a Shell facility in Nigeria's restive southern Delta region, a day after an armed group declared an "oil war," a military official said.

Unholy row as Saudi clerics slam Ramadan TV

2008-09-15T10:12+0200

15 Sep 2008 08:02:05 GMT Source: Reuters By Andrew Hammond RIYADH, Sept 15 (Reuters) - The sanctity of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan has been spoiled for some in the Arab world by an unholy row over "depraved" TV comedies ...

Nepotism, Palin is thy name

2008-09-15T10:04+0200

Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin has given at least five former schoolmates jobs, many of them at inflated pay.

Hurricane Ike Curfew in Houston to deter looters

2008-09-15T10:04+0200

The measure, which will run from dawn until dusk, was ordered by the authorities to deter looters and help prevent accidents on roads strewn with broken glass, fallen trees and live power lines. America's fourth largest city is also suffering from power cuts, with three-quarters of its population without power.

Taiwan feels typhoon's fury

2008-09-15T10:04+0200

Typhoon Sinlaku has made landfall in Taiwan's Ilan county with heavy rain and strong winds.

Celebs deliver aid to Haitian city

2008-09-15T10:03+0200

Cries of adulation -- and hunger -- followed Haitian-born singer Wyclef Jean and actor Matt Damon as they toured flood-ravaged Gonaives to call attention to widespread suffering in the marooned city.

Typhoon Sinlaku Kills 4 in Taiwan

2008-09-15T10:02+0200

Typhoon Sinlaku leaves 4 dead, 7 missing in Taiwan, before churning toward Japan

The thick end of the wedge

2008-09-15T10:00+0200

WHILE we South Africans witter on about Jacob Zuma and Zimbabwe and Thabo Mbeki, I fear there’s a storm brewing on Wall Street that might yet make all our news look like chicken feed. We should know this morning if Lehman Brothers, the fourth-biggest investment bank in the US, has been rescued.

Millions face weeks without power in US

2008-09-15T10:00+0200

HOUSTON — Rescuers made their way through piles of debris and flooded streets in Texan coastal towns yesterday after Hurricane Ike hit the US coastline, cutting power to millions and pummelling the oil hub of Houston.

Typhoon kills 4 in Taiwan, heads to Japan

2008-09-15T09:58+0200

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Torrential rains and rivers swollen by Typhoon Sinlaku killed at least four people and left seven others missing and presumed dead in central Taiwan, authorities said Monday as the storm barreled toward Japan.

At a Crossroads in Life, a Trail to Rediscovery

2008-09-15T09:55+0200

Every day in the weeks before our daughter headed off to college, I would think of something else I needed to tell her, practical bits of knowledge that had gotten lost amid the cross-country meets and youth symphony rehearsals. Things like: Start the meat before the vegetables. Iron sleeves and ...

Typhoon pounds Taiwan killing four

2008-09-15T09:54+0200

Torrential rains and rivers swollen by Typhoon Sinlaku killed four people and left seven others missing and presumed dead in central Taiwan, authorities said.

Al Ahli draw but make sure of top place in Africa League group - Reuters Nigeria - Fastnews: Local Nigerian News

2008-09-15T09:51+0200

By Mark Gleeson JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Egypt's Al Ahli made sure of top place in their African Champions League group but had to come from behind to draw 2-2 with arch rivals Zamalek in the Cairo derby on Sunday. Egypt international Mohamed Aboutrika grabbed a 70th minute equaliser after Zamalek had forged ahead early in the second half.

>>NSCDC Recovers Missing Children - LeadershipNigeria - Fastnews: Local Nigerian News

2008-09-15T09:51+0200

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), FCT Command, has recovered ten missing children in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The command’s helmsman, Commandant Iyiokhemhe Mohammed, noted that the recovery of the missing children which, he said, at the point in time caused deep pain....

Oil falls to below $100 on low Ike damage - MLive.com - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-15T09:51+0200

SINGAPORE (AP) — Oil prices fell below $100 a barrel on Monday after Hurricane Ike inflicted minimal damage to oil installations on the Texas coast. Light, sweet crude for October delivery declined $2.13 to $99.05 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange midday in Singapore.

Oil falls towards $99; eyes on Ike and Wall Street banks - Conde Nast Portfolio - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-15T09:51+0200

By Fayen Wong PERTH (Reuters) - Oil tumbled below $100 a barrel to a six-month low on early signs that Hurricane Ike may have spared key Gulf Coast infrastructure, although traders were cautious on Monday as they awaited status reports on more Texas refineries.

New aid on way as Ike's death toll in Texas climbs

2008-09-15T09:51+0200

GALVESTON, Texas, (AFP) - Storm-struck areas of Texas were to receive new aid Monday after officials in Galveston raised to five the number of people killed in the city by Hurricane Ike.

Typhoon Sinlaku kills 4 in Taiwan, heads to Japan

2008-09-15T09:47+0200

Torrential rains and rivers swollen by Typhoon Sinlaku killed at least four people and left seven others missing and presumed dead in central Taiwan, authorities said Monday as the storm barreled toward Japan.

Asia stock markets fall on Wall Street shake-up

2008-09-15T09:47+0200

Asian stock markets tumbled Monday as investors reacted with alarm to a seismic shake-up on Wall Street involving the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers and the takeover of Merrill Lynch.

Nigeria: JTF, Militants Clash Escalate in Rivers

2008-09-15T09:46+0200

The special military Joint Task Force (JTF) and militants clashed for the second successive day in Rivers State with claims and counter claims of heavy losses being suffered by both sides as fighting between the military and fighters of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) rages in the numerous creeks in the state.

Race against time in Texas to find thousands left stranded by the fury of Hurricane Ike

2008-09-15T09:45+0200

Rescue crews in America searched neighbourhoods inundated by Hurricane Ike yesterday, racing against time to save those who spent a second harrowing night trapped amid flatten

Asia stock markets fall on Wall Street shake-up (AP)

2008-09-15T09:44+0200

AP - Asian stock markets tumbled Monday as investors reacted with alarm to a seismic shake-up on Wall Street involving the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers and the takeover of Merrill Lynch.

Zuma graft case dismissed

2008-09-15T09:43+0200

Judge Chris Nicholson granted Zuma's application to have corruption charges dismissed, saying it was clear there had been political interference in the case, and ordered the state to pay the African National Congress (ANC) leader's legal costs. The ruling led to South Africa's rand currency....

Big Brother Africa 3: Dropping their marbles, BJs and 3 in a bed!

2008-09-15T09:43+0200

Thursday's task presentation went down without a hitch. Uti and Lucille's tango was a sexy display, while TK, although he tried, just ended up looking like a bit of a bull in a china shop. After the dance pairs performed, it was time for the group carnival - which was reminiscent of some of the best carnivals around the world.

Race against time to save Ike stalwarts

2008-09-15T09:43+0200

One team of paramedics, rescue dogs and structural engineers fanned out under a nearly full moon on a finger of land in Galveston Bay. Authorities hoped to spare thousands of Texans - 140 000 by some estimates who ignored orders to flee ahead of Hurricane Ike - from another night among the destruction.

Oil falls towards $99 on banking concerns

2008-09-15T09:42+0200

Oil tumbled below $100 a barrel to a six-month low on early signs that Hurricane Ike may have spared key Gulf Coast infrastructure, although traders were cautious today as they awaited status reports on more Texas refineries.

Experts gauge Palin's star power

2008-09-15T09:39+0200

Sarah Palin has so far taken the country by storm, giving a needed boost to Republican John McCain's bid for the White House, but over the next few weeks both the McCain and Obama campaigns will be watching ...

Ike evacuees face long stays in makeshift shelters

s main contract, light sweet crude for October delivery, eased to US$99.99 a barrel, dropping below the psychological level of US$100 for the first time since April 1. The market action extended a downward trend in recent weeks in anticipation of weaker energy demand after crude hit peaks around US$147 a barrel.

Nearly 2,000 Brought to Safety in Texas After Ike

2008-09-15T09:00+0200

Rescue crews bring nearly 2,000 people to safety in flooded Texas towns after Ike's wrath

Rescue teams are scouring rubble and searched flooded homes in a huge rescue effort after Hurricane Ike cut a swathe of destruction through Texas, knocking out power for millions of people.

JTF, MEND disagree over attack on Chevron's facility

2008-09-15T07:37+0200

Typhoon Sinlaku kills 2 in Taiwan, heads to Japan

2008-09-15T07:15+0200

Raging floods and rivers swollen by Typhoon Sinlaku killed at least two people and left a further seven missing and presumed dead in central Taiwan, authorities said Monday as the storm barreled toward Japan.

Death toll from Ike climbs to five in Galveston (AFP)

2008-09-15T07:14+0200

AFP - Officials in Galveston raised to five the number of people killed in the city by Hurricane Ike, as the storm-battered US Gulf Coast continued to dry out and clean up.

Hurricane remnants blamed for 12 deaths in Midwest

2008-09-15T07:00+0200

The remnants of Hurricane Ike swept into the Midwest Sunday with powerful winds and flooding that were being blamed for at least ...

Crude prices plunge to below $100

2008-09-15T06:58+0200

NEW YORK: US crude oil futures fell below $100 a barrel to their lowest in more than six months yesterday as Hurricane Ike did less damage to the nation's energy infrastructure than initially feared. RBOB petrol and heating oil futures also dropped as electronic trading on the Globex platform opened....

Floods misery

2008-09-15T06:58+0200

GALVESTON, Texas: Crews navigated debris-strewn streets to reach people still stuck in some of the thousands of homes flooded by Hurricane Ike, while authorities in the fourth-largest US city imposed a curfew and warned residents that it would be weeks before Houston is fully back up and running.

Nigerian Rebels Promise Retaliation for Govt Attack

2008-09-15T06:56+0200

Nigerian Rebels Promise Retaliation for Government Attack By Gilbert da Costa Abuja 14 September 2008 The main militant group in Nigeria's oil-rich southern region, has vowed massive retaliation for Saturday's offensive on its positions by the army. Gilbert da Costa has more in this report from Abuja.

The toll road

2008-09-15T06:54+0200

BOATS litter a highway in Galveston, Texas, after Hurricane Ike kills at least 13 people

Ike Death Toll Swells To 25 In Nine States

2008-09-15T06:51+0200

Hurricane Ike sparks biggest Texas rescue

2008-09-15T06:43+0200

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Rescue teams scoured rubble and searched flooded homes on Sunday in a huge rescue effort after Hurricane Ike cut a swathe of destruction through Texas, knocking out power for millions of people.

Oil falls below $100; eyes on Ike, Wall St banks - Forbes - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-15T06:40+0200

PERTH, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Oil tumbled below $100 a barrel to a six-month low on early signs that Hurricane Ike may have spared key Gulf Coast infrastructure, although traders were cautious on Monday as they awaited status reports on more Texas refineries.

Militants set to destroy oil facilities - After battle with ... - Nigerian Tribune - Fastnews: Local Nigerian News

2008-09-15T06:40+0200

Militants set to destroy oil facilities - After battle with military - Give oil workers 24 hrs to leave Niger Delta Bolaji Ogundele, Port Harcourt, with Agency Report - 15.09.2008 MILITANTS in the Niger Delta on Sunday declared war on oil facilities in the region as they reportedly suffered fresh....

Rescue crews scramble to save lives

2008-09-15T06:29+0200

Rescue crews canvassed neighbourhoods inundated by Ike's storm surge Sunday, racing against time to save those who spent a second harrowing night trapped amid flattened houses, strewn debris and downed power ...

U.S. dollar, overseas markets tumble

2008-09-15T06:23+0200

HONG KONG — The U.S. dollar tumbled and Treasury debt and gold prices jumped Monday after talks to sell Lehman Brothers faltered, leading to grave uncertainties about other banks and shaken confidence in the financial system. Stock markets in Australia, Singapore and Taiwan dropped between 1 to 2....

Ike kills 25 as thousands are moved to saftey

2008-09-15T06:22+0200

The death toll from Hurricane Ike has risen to 21 in nine states in America's south-east, as rescuers in Texas saved nearly 2,000 people from waterlogged streets and splintered houses.

Houston is told post-Ike supplies on way

2008-09-15T06:21+0200

Federal supplies of food and water will be available to Houstonians affected by Hurricane Ike on Monday, an official said Sunday after Houston's mayor voiced concern about the aid.

Ike death toll up to five in Galveston

2008-09-15T06:19+0200

THE number of people killed in Galveston by Hurricane Ike has risen to five, as the storm-battered US Gulf Coast continued to dry out and clean up from the devastating storm. 1:44pm (AEST)

Death toll from Ike climbs to five in Galveston

2008-09-15T06:17+0200

GALVESTON, Texas, (AFP) - Officials in Galveston raised to five the number of people killed in the city by Hurricane Ike, as the storm-battered US Gulf Coast continued to dry out and clean up.

Nigeria: JTF Declares All-Out War On Militants

2008-09-15T06:15+0200

Following a threat of "oil war" by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), the Joint (Military) Task Force (JTF) has vowed to take the fight to the creeks to "flush out" criminal elements in the oil-producing region.

Nigeria: Niger Delta Militants Declare 'Oil War'

2008-09-15T06:15+0200

MOVEMENT for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said, yesterday, it had launched an "oil war" in response to Saturday's aerial and massive bombardments on one of its positions by the military.

Hurricane Ike death toll climbs to five

2008-09-15T06:14+0200

Officials in Galveston on Sunday raised to five the number of people killed in the city by Hurricane Ike, as the storm-battered US Gulf Coast continued to dry out.

3 Wall Street giants at the brink

2008-09-15T06:11+0200

The U.S. financial sector appeared to be on the verge of a substantial makeover Sunday as three major institutions were reported to be nearing massive changes, the result of the expanding credit crisis.

The US strategy for Afghanistan won

2008-09-15T06:10+0200

Farmers Insurance Helps More Than 14,000 People File Claims and Sets up Customer Care Sites Following Ike

2008-09-15T06:06+0200

The Farmers Insurance Group of Companies has received more than 14,000 claims, as of Sunday evening, resulting from Hurricane Ike. To help customers ...

Houston inconvenienced, but city not devastated

2008-09-15T05:59+0200

Jeannine Burks stood outside her Houston home Sunday and surveyed the damage from Hurricane Ike: Tree limbs, debris and standing ...

US-based Jamaicans urged to support national disaster recovery fund

2008-09-15T05:56+0200

WASHINGTON, USA (JIS): Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States, Anthony Johnson, has appealed to Jamaicans residing in the US, to support Jamaica's National Disaster Recovery Fund, which was established by the government, to assist in resuscitating the country's infrastructure.

Jamaica to assist Haitians in aftermath of hurricane damage

2008-09-15T05:56+0200

KINGSTON, Jamaica (OPM): The government of Jamaica, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard, will be providing assistance to the people of Haiti, following the devastation of the country.

American Red Cross sends relief to Cuba

2008-09-15T05:56+0200

WASHINGTON, USA: The American Red Cross is committing $1 million from its International Response Fund to support the disaster relief efforts of the Red Cross in Cuba in response to the devastation caused by two consecutive hurricanes. Nearly 400,000 people remain in shelters and agriculture is severely damaged.

Cuba resumes some nickel production after Ike

2008-09-15T05:56+0200

HAVANA, Cuba(Reuters): Cuba's nickel industry, damaged by Hurricane Ike a week ago, has resumed some production, state-run media said on Sunday, quoting basic industry Minister Yadira Garcia on a tour of the plants and mines. Garcia said the state-owned Pedro Sotto Alba plant in Moa Holguin was operating.

OAS to launch "Green Week" to bolster environmental awareness

2008-09-15T05:56+0200

WASHINGTON, USA: The Organization of American States will launch “Green Week” on Monday with a series of activities to raise awareness about protecting the environment and about practices and sustainable use of resources as “the way to go.” Green Week at the OAS includes a tree-planting program.

Deadly storms a big setback for impoverished Haiti

2008-09-15T05:56+0200

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters): The sight of the Haitian port city of Gonaives sitting in a slick of polluted water is only the most visible symbol of the damage done to the Caribbean nation of 9 million by four consecutive storms this summer. The severe flooding is a major setback for the poor country.

USVI gets long-awaited centre for senior citizens in St John

2008-09-15T05:56+0200

ST JOHN, USVI: About 75 people were on hand last week for the official ribbon cutting ceremony for a brand new facility for senior citizens, located in the mid-island community of Adrian in St John, US Virgin Islands. Residents of the tiny island frequently complain about being left out.

Cuba reports extensive damage to sugar industry

2008-09-15T05:56+0200

HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Hurricane Ike flattened and swamped 740,000 acres of Cuban sugar cane and damaged a large number of facilities when it churned along the entire island a week ago, state-run radio said on Saturday. There are 1.7 million acres devoted to sugar cane in the country.

Typhoon Sinlaku hits Taiwan, two missing, 13 injured

2008-09-15T05:55+0200

15/09/2008 10:24 AM Typhoon Sinlaku, the 13th tropical storm so far this year in China, left at least two people missing and injured 13 others when it hit northeastern Taiwan on September 14.

National › Typhoon expected to approach Japan late this week

2008-09-15T05:52+0200

Typhoon Sinlaku is expected to turn in the East China Sea north of Taiwan and approach the Japanese archipelago later this week, the Japan Meteorological…

Hurricane Remnants Blamed for 12 Deaths in Midwest

2008-09-15T05:45+0200

Remnants of Hurricane Ike batter Midwest, leaving 12 dead and forcing thousands to evacuate

Fed, global banks open up credit amid Wall Street turmoil (AFP)

2008-09-15T05:44+0200

AFP - The Federal Reserve and major global banks opened up fresh credit Sunday as markets braced for the collapse of giant Lehman Brothers in a tumultuous weekend for the financial system.

Zambrano throws no-hitter as Cubs beat Astros 5-0 (AP)

2008-09-15T05:44+0200

AP - Carlos Zambrano pitched the first no-hitter for the Chicago Cubs in 36 years, returning from a sore rotator cuff to shut down the Houston Astros 5-0 Sunday night in a game relocated because of Hurricane Ike. "I guess I'm back!" Zambrano hollered.

Ike brings $5 a gallon gas

2008-09-15T05:42+0200

HOUSTON (AP) - From Florida to Tennessee, and all the way up to Connecticut, people far from Hurricane Ike's destruction nonetheless felt one of its tell-tale aftershocks

Man stole cheques from friends, mother

2008-09-15T05:42+0200

Kevin Anthony Moxam, 41, was given a suspended sentence and ordered to perform 240 hours of community service for stealing cheques and cashing them.

Typhoon Sinlaku floods low-lying areas of Taiwan

2008-09-15T05:42+0200

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) - Typhoon Sinlaku slammed into Taiwan with heavy rain and strong winds Sunday, killing at least one person and flooding low-lying regions, causing landslides that blocked traffic, and delaying international flights, officials said. Several other people were missing.

Race on to save Ike holdouts

2008-09-15T05:42+0200

GALVESTON, Texas (AP) - Rescue crews canvassed neighborhoods inundated by Ike's storm surge early Sunday morning, racing against time to save those who spent a second harrowing night trapped amid flattened houses, strewn debris and downed power lines.

Pres. Bush to visit Texas on Tuesday following storm

2008-09-15T05:38+0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - President George W. Bush said Sunday he would travel to Texas this week to offer support to those affected by Hurricane Ike, which caused flooding and damage after striking the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Typhoon damage may be deducted from taxes

2008-09-15T05:38+0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - People whose property or vehicles suffered damage from Typhoon Sinlaku may list the damage as a deduction on their tax returns next year, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) reported yesterday.

Houston issues curfew after Hurricane Ike

2008-09-15T05:38+0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - Houston officials have issued a weeklong curfew for the city devastated by Hurricane Ike.

Grenada blames slow nutmeg production on male tree glut

2008-09-15T05:38+0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - The world's second-largest nutmeg industry is rebounding very slowly from a 2004 hurricane because Grenadian farmers unknowingly planted too many male trees, which do not produce as much fruit, the island's agriculture minister said.

Matt Damon and Wyclef Jean help Haitian storm victims

2008-09-15T05:38+0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - Matt Damon kept his cool as he helped distribute food from a truck that got stuck in the mud in a western Haitian town where Hurricane Ike left hundreds of people homeless and hungry.

Insurance claims from Ike likely between US$8-18 billion

2008-09-15T05:38+0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - Hurricane Ike, which blasted the densely populated Texas coast and swept through Houston on Saturday, could trigger insurance claims between US$8 billion and US$18 billion, according to early estimates of the damage.

British PM pressured to face challenge

2008-09-15T05:38+0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - Politicians from Britain's ruling Labour party, an ex-minister and newspaper editorials kept up a chorus of dissent against Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Sunday, calling for his troubled leadership to be challenged.

Obama raises record US$66 mil. in August

2008-09-15T05:38+0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - Even as he has lost ground in the polls to Republican John McCain, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama announced Sunday raising a record US$66 million last month - including donations from a half million first-time givers - and easily outstripping his opponent's August take by nearly US$20 million.

Red alerts for landslides issued in 334 locations

2008-09-15T05:38+0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - The Council of Agriculture (COA) issued andquot;red alertsandquot; yesterday for 334 locations in various cities and counties around the island as high risk over the next few days of rockslides or mudslides caused by Typhoon Sinlaku's heavy rains.

Prices of fruit, vegetables down despite storm

2008-09-15T05:38+0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - Retail prices of fruit and leafy vegetables decreased slightly yesterday as a result of heavy rain and wind caused by Typhoon Sinlaku, which discouraged regular customers to venture into community markets, according to officials from the Council of Agriculture (COA).

Sinlaku weakens off north coast

2008-09-15T05:38+0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - Typhoon Sinlaku was downgraded to a tropical storm last night and the heavy rainfall in Taiwan is expected to gradually alleviate from this afternoon, according to the Central Weather Bureau (CWB).

Transportation returns to normal after Sinlaku

2008-09-15T05:38+0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - Domestic and international flights, train services, and highway traffic slowly returned to normal yesterday as typhoon Sinlaku headed northwest of Keelung away from Taiwan at a speed of 11 kilometers per hour.

Monday, September 15, 2008 THE Ministry of Agriculture has reported a $1.6-billion loss to the island's agriculture sector following the passage of Tropical Storm Gustav two weeks ago.

2008-09-15T05:33+0200

THE Ministry of Agriculture has reported a $1.6-billion loss to the island's agriculture sector following the passage of Tropical Storm Gustav two weeks ago. According to the ministry, some 2,777 hectares of domestic food crops, including vegetables, fruits, condiments and ground provisions were....

After surviving Ike, fleeing a crippled island in Texas

2008-09-15T05:32+0200

For thousands of people stuck on Galveston Island, the aftermath is proving to be far worse than the storm itself.

After powerful hurricane, rescuers scour ravaged areas

2008-09-15T05:32+0200

The largest rescue operation in Texas history is taking nearly 2,000 people by boat and helicopter from towns ravaged by floods in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike.

Oil falls below $100; eyes on Hurricane Ike

2008-09-15T05:29+0200

Oil tumbled below $100 a barrel to a six-month low on early signs that Hurricane Ike may have spared key Gulf Coast infrastructure, although traders were cautious as they awaited status reports on more Texas refineries.

UK-News Summary

2008-09-15T05:25+0200

Lehman may face failure NEW YORK (Reuters) - The ruptured U.S. financial system was facing an unprecedented shakeup on Sunday that was expected to lead to the failure of Lehman Brothers, the takeover of Merrill Lynch & Co and big asset sales by major insurer American International Group.

Matt Damon, Wyclef Jean visit Haiti city in ruins

2008-09-15T05:15+0200

Cries of adulation _ and hunger _ followed Haitian-born singer Wyclef Jean and actor Matt Damon as they toured flood-ravaged Gonaives on Sunday to call attention to widespread suffering in the marooned city.

European stocks rally on prospects for Lehman rescue (AFP)

2008-09-15T05:13+0200

AFP - Europe's main stock markets rose strongly Friday on prospects that beleaguered US investment bank Lehman Brothers might soon be saved and a report that it was in rescue talks, traders said.

Hurricane remnants blamed for 12 deaths in Midwest (AP)

2008-09-15T05:13+0200

AP - The remnants of Hurricane Ike swept into the Midwest Sunday with powerful winds and flooding that were being blamed for at least 12 deaths. Thousands have been evacuated and more than a million homes and businesses lost electrical power.

Steelers take 10-3 lead on Browns after 3 quarters (AP)

2008-09-15T05:13+0200

AP - The Cleveland Browns found themselves in familiar territory after three quarters against Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night — trailing.

Matt Damon, Wyclef Jean visit Haiti city in ruins (AP)

2008-09-15T05:13+0200

AP - Cries of adulation — and hunger — followed Haitian-born singer Wyclef Jean and actor Matt Damon as they toured flood-ravaged Gonaives on Sunday to call attention to widespread suffering in the marooned city.

Local stocks fall on Lehman fallout

2008-09-15T05:09+0200

Oil production was also in danger from hurricane damage in the Gulf of Mexico, and increased militancy caused concern in oil producing areas of Nigeria. At 1015 AEST, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 fell...

Canadian counts himself lucky after hunkering down for Ike in Houston

2008-09-15T05:09+0200

Do you think The Conservatives crack down on crime-busting is an integral part of their platform? Yes. No. Undecided.

A growing crisis in polarized Bolivia

2008-09-15T05:09+0200

LA PAZ, Bolivia : President Evo Morales is facing the most acute crisis of his presidency as deaths from violence in rebellious northern Bolivia increased to almost 30 over the weekend after several d...

10 oil platforms damaged by Ike

2008-09-15T05:09+0200

HURRICANE Ike appears to have damaged about 10 oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, raising concerns that the storm could hurt oil production and lead to a spike in prices at US petrol stations.

Hurricane Ike sparks biggest Texas rescue

2008-09-15T05:09+0200

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Texas mounted its biggest ever rescue effort as search teams searched through debris and flooded homes on Sunday after Hurricane Ike cut a swathe of destruction and left millions w...

I taught Sarah to shoot and butcher a moose ... Washington won't scare her

2008-09-15T05:08+0200

THE Sun chats to the dad of Vice President hopeful and dedicated hunter Sarah Palin

Cubs' Zambrano no-hits Astros

2008-09-15T05:02+0200

Carlos Zambrano pitched the first no-hitter for the Chicago Cubs in 36 years, returning from a recent bout of rotator cuff soreness to shut down the Houston Astros 5-0 Sunday night in a game relocated because of Hurricane Ike.

Pump prices soar after Ike

2008-09-15T04:59+0200

Gasoline prices jumped at the fastest pace in three years over the weekend and topped $4 a gallon in some areas after Hurricane ...

Ike's lashing leaves 13 dead in 3 states

2008-09-15T04:59+0200

At least 13 people have died in Ike-related incidents in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas, officials say. Caskets are floating in Orange, Texas -- just one example of the damage the powerful hurricane left behind.

Storm surge slams parts of La. first hit by Gustav winds

2008-09-15T04:59+0200

Ike punished the Texas coast with roof-ripping winds but also sent a storm surge as high as 15 feet in some places along Louisiana's ...

One dead, 2 missing in in Taiwan typhoon's trail

2008-09-15T04:58+0200

15 Sep 2008 02:34:01 GMT Source: Reuters TAIPEI, Sept 15 (Reuters) - One person was killed and two missing late on Sunday as Typhoon Sinlaku brought winds of up to 162 kph (101 mph) and dumped heavy rains in Taiwan, causing a bridge to ...

Hurricane Ike sparks biggest Texas rescue

2008-09-15T04:58+0200

15 Sep 2008 02:41:02 GMT Source: Reuters * Rescuers scour Texas coast, survey damage * Most refineries show no visible signs of damage * Houston airports to reopen for limited air travel By Ed Stoddard HOUSTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - ...

Zambrano throws no-hitter as Cubs beat Astros 5-0

2008-09-15T04:56+0200

MILWAUKEE — Carlos Zambrano pitched the first no-hitter for the Chicago Cubs in 36 years, returning from a recent bout of rotator cuff soreness to shut down the Houston Astros 5-0 tonight in a game relocated because of Hurricane Ike.

Ike evacuees face long stays in makeshift shelters

2008-09-15T04:55+0200

Louisiana National Guard hi-water vehicles carry evacuees out of Erath, La. following the landfall of Hurricane Ike Saturday, Sept.

Zambrano tosses no-hitter

2008-09-15T04:51+0200

Carlos Zambrano pitches first no-hitter for Chicago Cubs in 36 years in 5-0 win over Houston

Cuba again refuses US disaster aid in storms' wake

2008-09-15T04:45+0200

Cuba on Sunday refused a U.S. offer of US$100,000 for disaster relief but suggested that the American government ease financing restrictions for six months to allow the purchase of American materials needed for recovery after Hurricanes Ike and Gustav.

Zambrano throws no-hitter as Cubs beat Astros 5-0 (AP)

2008-09-15T04:43+0200

AP - Carlos Zambrano pitched the first no-hitter for the Chicago Cubs in 36 years, returning from a recent bout of rotator cuff soreness to shut down the Houston Astros 5-0 Sunday night in a game relocated because of Hurricane Ike.

China's coastal provinces evacuate thousands in path of Typhoon Sinlaku

2008-09-15T04:43+0200

Fujian and Zhejiang provinces in east China evacuated about 260,000 people from low-lying coastal regions, as typhoon Sinlaku is approaching, after it pounded Taiwan early Sunday morning. In Zhejiang alone, nearly 230,000 residents have been evacuated and 30,000 fishing boats have been recalled to....

Cuba again refuses US disaster aid in storms' wake (AP)

2008-09-15T04:43+0200

AP - Cuba on Sunday refused a U.S. offer of US$100,000 for disaster relief but suggested that the American government ease financing restrictions for six months to allow the purchase of American materials needed for recovery after Hurricanes Ike and Gustav.

Texas hit hard by Hurricane Ike

2008-09-15T04:41+0200

Texas mounted its biggest ever rescue effort as search teams searched through debris and flooded homes after Hurricane Ike cut a swathe of destruction.

Thai stocks to open higher after emergency lifted

2008-09-15T04:35+0200

BANGKOK, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Thai stocks are expected to open higher on Monday, cheered by the lifting of a state of emergency in Bangkok, which may ...

Southwest Airlines Announces Plans to Resume Limited Operations to and From Houston Hobby Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 16

2008-09-15T04:35+0200

DALLAS, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Southwest Airlines plans to operate a limited schedule to and from Houston Hobby Airport on Tuesday, Sept. 16 ...

Worries about Wall Street send Asian stocks down

2008-09-15T04:16+0200

While most major Asian bourses were closed for holidays, markets that were open in the region fell Monday over concerns about the future of Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch and American Insurance Group shock investors' confidence

Oil dips below $100 a barrel

2008-09-15T04:10+0200

Crude oil prices dipped below the $100-a-barrel level this week for the first time since early April, in spite of Opec surprising the market by announcing a cut in oil production. The cartel’s decision to tighten supplies – which sparked a critical response from the US government and the....

US campaign gets nastier with revelations about Palin

2008-09-15T04:01+0200

CHICAGO -- The US presidential campaign got nastier Sunday as a leading US newspaper revealed that Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin used ...

Houston Inconvenienced, but Not Devastated

2008-09-15T03:59+0200

Houston's pace slowed but not stopped as Hurricane Ike inconveniences US's 4th biggest city

St. Ann Farmers Urged to Continue Production

2008-09-15T03:53+0200

Manager for the St. Ann branch of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Pedro Worghs, is encouraging farmers in the parish who suffered agricultural losses from Tropical Storm Gustav, not to be discouraged and to continue to produce. "At present we are in the process of completing our....

St. Thomas Technical High School Resuscitating Damaged Banana Cultivation

2008-09-15T03:53+0200

The St. Thomas Technical High School, in Golden Grove, St. Thomas, is attempting to resuscitate its banana cultivation, which was damaged during the passage of Tropical Storm Gustav. Principal, Phillip Wilson, told JIS News that losses sustained totaled some $25,000, adding that the institution was in the process of rehabilitating the damaged crop.

AP NewsAlert

2008-09-15T03:44+0200

Federal Reserve announces new efforts to shore up financial markets by expanding loan programs.

5 Igbo traders abducted in Owo - Daily Champion - Fastnews Nigerian Commodity News

2008-09-15T03:33+0200

5 Igbo traders abducted in Owo Sunday Kudaisi, Akure Kidnapping which is fast becoming a way of life in the riverine oil producing areas of Ondo State, at the weekend, spread to the ancient city of Owo, as suspected armed youths abducted five Igbo traders.

Igbo Traders Protest Abduction - THISDAY - Fastnews Nigerian Commodity News

2008-09-15T03:33+0200

Ondo Igbo traders in the ancient town of Owo , Ondo State, at the weekend protested to the headquarters of the Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Police over the abduction of five of them by militant youths operating in the town. The traders, who protested to the Commissioner of Police, Mr Charles....

JTF Declares All-out War on Militants - THISDAY - Fastnews Nigerian Oil & Gas News

2008-09-15T03:33+0200

Following a threat of “oil war” by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), the Joint (Military) Task Force (JTF) has vowed to take the fight to the creeks to “flush out” criminal elements in the oil-producing region. JTF warned the militants that as a responsible outfit, “we....

Nigerian militants declare 'oil war' - Mangalorean.com - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-15T03:33+0200

Nairobi/Abuja, Sep 15 (DPA) Nigerian militants Sunday declared an "oil war" on the government, saying that hundreds of boats had been launched to attack oil installations in the restive Niger Delta province. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said in a statement that the....

Ike damaged about 10 oil platforms, say US officials

2008-09-15T03:18+0200

WASHINGTON: Hurricane Ike appears to have damaged about 10 oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, US officials said Sunday, raising concerns that the storm could hurt oil production and lead to a spike in prices at US gas stations.

Houston airports reopen Monday; flights limited (AP)

2008-09-15T03:13+0200

AP - Houston's airports are planning to reopen Monday with limited service after suffering some damage from Hurricane Ike.

Houston imposes curfew after floods worsen

2008-09-15T03:04+0200

Officials in the Texas city of Houston have ordered a week-long curfew after Hurricane Ike caused widespread flooding and structural damage.

Ike destroys oil facilities, damages pipelines

2008-09-15T03:04+0200

HOUSTON - Hurricane Ike appears to have destroyed a number of production platforms and damaged some of the pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico, federal officials said Sunday.

A growing crisis in polarized Bolivia

2008-09-15T03:01+0200

President Evo Morales is facing the most acute crisis of his presidency as deaths from pro- and anti-government violence in reached nearly 30 over the weekend.

After Hurricane Ike, rescuers scour ravaged areas

2008-09-15T03:01+0200

Thousands of people who refused orders to evacuate were feared stranded in flattened homes or inundated towns across a wide swath of Texas.

Rush is on to prevent AIG from failing

2008-09-15T03:01+0200

Regulators in the United States and executives of the insurance company rushed Sunday to arrange a capital infusion in the face of possible credit downgrades.

Ike hits oil facilities, pipelines

2008-09-15T02:59+0200

Federal officials say it appears Hurricane Ike destroyed a number of production platforms and damaged some of the pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico.

Gas prices soar in wake of Hurricane Ike

2008-09-15T02:58+0200

There were warnings of gasoline shortages throughout the USA as energy production was at a near-standstill in the Gulf. The government ...

Financial hurricane victim Lehman waited too long

2008-09-15T02:57+0200

If the mortgage meltdown is like a financial hurricane, then think of Lehman Brothers as a casualty that waited too long to cry for help.

Houston Airports Reopen Monday; Flights Limited

2008-09-15T02:57+0200

Houston's airports are planning to reopen to commercial flights Monday with limited service after suffering some damage from Hurricane Ike. Flights stopped coming and going at George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Hobby Airport late Friday, a day before the storm slammed into the Texas coast.

CPO sinks to 22-month low

2008-09-15T02:57+0200

CRUDE palm oil futures traded on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives ended the week sharply lower, pressured by liquidation and fresh selling activity.

Matt Damon, Wyclef Jean visit Haiti city in ruins

2008-09-15T02:44+0200

There were cries of adulation _ and hunger _ as Haitian-born singer Wyclef Jean and actor Matt Damon toured flood-ravaged Gonaives on Sunday to call attention to widespread suffering in the marooned city.

Hurricane Ike sparks biggest Texas rescue (Reuters)

2008-09-15T02:43+0200

Reuters - Texas mounted its biggest ever rescue effort as search teams searched through debris and flooded homes on Sunday after Hurricane Ike cut a swathe of destruction and left millions without power.

Retailers grapple with impacts of Hurricane Ike (Reuters)

2008-09-15T02:43+0200

Reuters - Retailers in the Houston area scrambled on Sunday to stock shelves and open stores forced to close, as they tried to meet high demand for emergency supplies in the wake of Hurricane Ike.

Aftermath of Hurricane Ike complicates rescue efforts in Texas

2008-09-15T02:31+0200

Thunderstorms and flash floods complicated rescue efforts in Texas yesterday as helicopter and boat crews fought to save people stranded by Hurricane Ike.

JTF Declares All-out War on Militants

2008-09-15T02:21+0200

Following a threat of �oil war� by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), the Joint (Military) Task Force (JTF) has vowed to take the fight to the creeks to �flush out� criminal elements in the oil-producing region. JTF warned the militants that as a responsible outfit, �we....

Hurricane Ike sparks biggest Texas rescue

2008-09-15T02:20+0200

14 Sep 2008 23:55:19 GMT Source: Reuters * Rescuers scour Texas coast, survey damage * Rift emerging over delays in aid * Three bodies found on Galveston By Anna Driver HOUSTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Texas mounted its biggest ever ...

Celebration of international food served up by renowned chefs in Jumeirah’s world class hotels

2008-09-15T02:19+0200

Jumeirah, the Dubai-based luxury international hospitality management group and a member of Dubai Holding has announced the return of the much anticipated ‘Jumeirah Festival of Taste’ event which will take place in Dubai’s leading hotels and resorts from 9 to 13 November 2008.

Retailers grapple with impacts of Hurricane Ike

2008-09-15T02:18+0200

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Retailers in the Houston area scrambled on Sunday to stock shelves and open stores forced to close, as they tried to meet high demand for emergency supplies in the wake of Hurricane Ike.

2008-09-15T01:48+0200

Shell: Floods, power lack hit Houma-Houston oil line

2008-09-15T01:48+0200

14 Sep 2008 23:33:16 GMT Source: Reuters HOUSTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Flooding and power outages due to Hurricane Ike hampered the restart of the Houma-to-Houston crude oil pipeline on Sunday, Shell said. Work was underway ...

10 oil platforms damaged by Ike

2008-09-15T01:45+0200

HURRICANE Ike appears to have damaged about 10 oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, raising concerns that the storm could hurt oil production and lead to a spike in prices at US petrol stations. 9:30am (AEST)

Hurricane Ike destroys several Gulf platforms

2008-09-15T01:44+0200

HOUSTON — Hurricane Ike appears to have destroyed a number of production platforms and damaged some of the pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico, federal officials said Sunday. Fly-overs revealed that at least 10 production platforms were destroyed by the storm, said Lars Herbst, regional director for the U.

Nearly 2,000 Texans rescued

2008-09-15T01:44+0200

Glass-strewn Houston has been placed under a weeklong curfew, and millions of people in Hurricane Ike's path remain in the dark

Ike skews gas; some stations ask $5 a gallon (AP)

2008-09-15T01:43+0200

AP - Pump prices jumped above $5 per gallon in some parts of the country Sunday as Hurricane Ike, which caused less destruction than feared, left refineries and pipelines idled and destroyed at least 10 offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.

How Not To Empower Edo Indigenes

2008-09-15T01:39+0200

By Francis Onoiribholo ,SNR. Correspondent, Benin Education is sought after the world over simply to broaden ones mind for development. In Nigeria, the more education one acquires, the less one is assumed and most likely to be as brutish and brutal towards humanity.

Ogun Indigenes Poised To Regain Acquired Lands

2008-09-15T01:39+0200

By Akinwunmi King ,Trainee Reporter, Lagos Communities in Ogun State are gearing up for a showdown with the state government over the implementation of its new blanket acquisition policy tagged Global Acquisition. The writing on the wall shows that crisis looms over the process being adopted by the government to acquire lands.

MEND Declares 'Oil War' In Niger Delta

2008-09-15T01:39+0200

By Ofonime Umanah, Port Harcourt, Paul Arhewe (Lagos), (with Agency Report) The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND)declared a state of war on Sunday after two days of clashes with government forces, launching reprisal raids and raising the spectre of more conflicts in Africa's biggest oil producer.

Nekede Zoo: A Biological Garden In Coma

2008-09-15T01:39+0200

By Uche Nwosu, Correspondent, Owerri Nekede Zoo or biological garden in Nekede located in Nekede near Owerri, Imo State capital, has indeed come a long way. Since its establishment in the 1960s, the zoo has gone through many hands and many regimes and so are the restricted wild animals in it.

Damage Assessment, Restoration Efforts Underway for Entergy Texas Customers

2008-09-15T01:33+0200

BEAUMONT, Texas, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - A massive force of restoration workers are descending on Entergy Texas, Inc. Sunday. With practically ...

Aqua Texas Advises Coastal and East Texas Customers to Boil Water If They Lose Water Due to Hurricane Ike

2008-09-15T01:33+0200

Aqua Texas (Aqua) wants all of its customers to be aware that any power outages caused by Hurricane Ike could result in the loss of water service. Aqua ...

Cooper Industries Announces Update on the Status of its Operations

2008-09-15T01:33+0200

Cooper Industries, Ltd. (NYSE:CBE) today announced an update on the status of its operations. Hurricane Ike has had no impact on Cooper's worldwide operations ...

Weakened Ike moves on after battering Gulf coast

2008-09-15T01:32+0200

Published Date: September 15, 2008 HOUSTON: A weakened Ike pushed northward yesterday after slamming into the Texas coast as a strong Category 2 hurricane, flooding seaside towns, cutting power to millions and paralyzing the oil hub of Houston. The giant storm left extensive devastation in its wake....

Palin sticks to the familiar

2008-09-15T01:32+0200

Published Date: September 15, 2008 CARSON CITY, Nevada: Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin made her first solo campaign appearance outside her home state Saturday, sticking largely to a speech that has boosted her popularity among Republican faithful but drawn criticism for having misstatements.

MEND declares ‘oil war’

2008-09-15T01:24+0200

*Claims soldiers were killed in shoot-out, *Only one soldier injured JTF MOVEMENT for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said, yesterday, it had launched an “oil war” in response to Saturday’s aerial and massive bombardments on one of its positions by the military. Cover Stories

Texas rescue plea to hurricane evacuees

2008-09-15T01:24+0200

Federal emergency officials are urging Texans who fled their homes ahead of hurricane Ike to stay away, keeping roads passable for rescue workers and limiting additional burdens on shelter, food, petrol and water in heavily affected areas. Concerns remained on Sunday that the widespread destruction....

Search widens for survivors of Ike

2008-09-15T01:21+0200

Rescuers searched Hurricane Ike's trail of destruction and floods for survivors Sunday, amid news that at least three people were killed by the storm in the weather-ravaged port city of Galveston.

A very messy Labour coup

2008-09-15T01:20+0200

"This is not a coup, it is a cry from the heart," one critic of Gordon Brown said yesterday as he explained why a dozen Labour backbenchers have suddenly called for the Prime Minister to face a leadership election.

Patrick Cockburn: The US strategy for Afghanistan won't work

2008-09-15T01:20+0200

"Covert action is frequently a substitute for policy," was an aphorism first coined by the former director of the CIA Richard Helms. Its truth is exemplified by the decision of President Bush in July to secretly give orders that US special forces will in future carry out raids against ground targets....

Militants, soldiers in shoot-out •We killed 22 soldiers —MEND •Only 1 was injured — JTF TONY ITA ETIM, Port Harcourt Govement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, (MEND), yesterday claimed it carried out an attack on oil facilities in Rivers State, and killed 22 soldiers in the process.

2008-09-15T01:20+0200

Militants, soldiers in shoot-out •We killed 22 soldiers —MEND •Only 1 was injured JTF TONY ITA ETIM, Port Harcourt Govement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, (MEND), yesterday claimed it carried out an attack on oil facilities in Rivers State, and killed 22 soldiers in the process.

5 Igbo traders abducted in Owo

2008-09-15T01:20+0200

Sunday Kudaisi, Akure Kidnapping which is fast becoming a way of life in the riverine oil producing areas of Ondo State, at the weekend, spread to the ancient city of Owo, as suspected armed youths abducted five Igbo traders. The victims who were alleged to have been kidnapped on September 6 were....

US Election Diary: Truly awful waffles; The near Russia house; The woman they had to gag

2008-09-15T01:20+0200

Truly awful waffles Who says the Christian right doesn't have a sense of humour? At the Values Voters summit in Washington, a wag inside the convention hall was doing a roaring trade with Obama Waffles, a $10 breakfast mix whose box was emblazoned with a caricature of the Democrat presidential candidate in Muslim clothes.

World › Obama raises record $66 million in August

2008-09-15T01:20+0200

Even as he has lost ground in the polls to Republican John McCain, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama announced Sunday raising a record $66 million…

World › Militants in Niger Delta declare war on oil industry

2008-09-15T01:20+0200

The most prominent militant group in oil-rich southern Nigeria on Sunday said it had declared an "oil war" and threatened all international industry vessels that…

Hurricane Ike causes up to $18bn damage in Texas

2008-09-15T01:20+0200

Rescuers made their way through piles of debris and water-filled streets in Texas seaside towns yesterday after Hurricane Ike flooded hundreds of miles of US coastline, cut power to millions and pummelled the oil hub of Houston.

Knightsbridge to New York: A fashion buyers diary

2008-09-15T01:20+0200

SATURDAY We arrive dramatically in the late afternoon, amid torrential rain and hurricane warnings, and then race to Alexander Wang, one of the coolest "not to be missed" tickets in town. Wang's vision was a kaleidoscope of 1980s neon-brights, although he still retained elements of the grunge-girl aesthetic for which he is best known.

Andreas Whittam Smith: Now the banks must clean up the mess they've created

2008-09-15T01:20+0200

For financial markets, it has again been an extraordinary weekend, one of a series since the vicious credit squeeze began just over a year ago. For when a firm is on the verge of collapse, and this time it is one of the giants of Wall Street, Lehman Brothers, the heavy work of trying to devise a....

US starts to count cost in billions as storm lashes Gulf coast

2008-09-15T01:15+0200

Four deaths confirmed while millions remain without water or power following Hurricane Ike

15 Killed in Niger Delta Clash - AllAfrica Nigerian News

2008-09-15T01:13+0200

Tension heightened in the area at press time. But the JTF said things had been brought under control. Meanwhile, MEND, in its online statement which it updated regularly, alleged that it fired at one of the helicopters used by the security body, a claim the spokesman for the army and the JTF in the state, Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa, denied.

Govt Forces Dispute Claims of Delta Militants - AllAfrica Nigerian News

2008-09-15T01:13+0200

(Lagos) 14 September 2008 Posted to the web 14 September 2008 Ahamefula Ogbu Port Harcourt The Joint Task Force (JTF) in charge of security in the Niger Delta yesterday dismissed claims by militants belonging to the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) that soldiers launched attack on....

MEND Say 22 Soldiers Killed In Nigeriaâ€™s Oil War! - Times of Nigeria - Fastnews Nigerian Oil & Gas News

2008-09-15T01:13+0200

Nigerian militants say they have killed at least 22 soldiers and destroyed oil pipelines belonging to industry giants, Royal Dutch Shell and Chevron Corporation. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, or MEND, in an email to the media said its fighters blew up a crude pipeline at Nembe at several points.

Niger Delta militants declare â€˜oil warâ€™ - Triumph - Fastnews: Local Nigerian News

2008-09-15T01:13+0200

Niger Delta militants declare ‘oil war’ Militants in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta region say they have “declared war” on the government after battling security forces guarding facilities. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) said it was responding to attacks by the military.

President to Tour Hurricane Ike 's Devastation in Texas

2008-09-15T01:06+0200

President Bush announced today that he would be heading to Texas Tuesday to see the first-hand damages left by Hurricane Ike.

Search for Ike survivors, victims in US

2008-09-15T01:06+0200

Emergency workers in the US state of Texas say they've rescued more than 1,900 people from their flooded homes after Hurricane Ike.

Typhoon heads towards China

2008-09-15T01:06+0200

A powerful typhoon, which has killed at least one person in Taiwan and injured up to 17 is heading for mainland China.

Typhoon injures 14, cancels flights in Taiwan

2008-09-15T01:05+0200

TAIPEI: A powerful typhoon packing winds of up to 160 kph hit northeastern Taiwan on Sunday, dumping up to a metre of rain, causing hundreds of mudslides, injuring 14 and forcing the cancellation of dozens of flights. Slow-moving typhoon Sinlaku covered much of Taiwan as its centre grazed the island’s northeastern tip on Sunday morning.

From boatyard to scrapyard , thanks to Hurricane Ike's £7bn trail of destruction

2008-09-15T00:59+0200

They lie piled on top of each other like a heap of broken toys, snatched up then discarded by a brute called Ike.

Ike destroys a number of Gulf platforms

2008-09-15T00:51+0200

Federal officials say it appears Hurricane Ike destroyed a number of production platforms and damaged some of the pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico. Lars Herbst, regional director for the U.S. Minerals Management Service, said Sunday that flyovers revealed that at least 10 production platforms were destroyed by the storm.

CNN Student News: Ten Questions

2008-09-15T00:51+0200

(CNN Student News) September 15, 2008 1. According to the report: What parts of Texas have been affected by Hurricane Ike? What types of damage has Ike caused? What actions are federal and state governments taking in response to the storm? 2. What challenges do you think that rescue workers might face in the days and weeks ahead? 3.

Ike damaged Gulf oil facilities, no details--MMS

2008-09-15T00:46+0200

14 Sep 2008 21:57:16 GMT Source: Reuters (Adds MMS comment, still no details) HOUSTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike damaged some offshore oil and gas production platforms and pipelines, but no details were available as crews continued ...

Oil companies check for damage after Ike

2008-09-15T00:46+0200

14 Sep 2008 22:11:57 GMT Source: Reuters (Recasts, adds Coast Guard comment) By Bruce Nichols and Eileen O'Grady HOUSTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Oil companies checked their offshore platforms and coastal refineries for ...

RPT-Galveston stunned by Hurricane Ike's blow

2008-09-15T00:46+0200

14 Sep 2008 22:19:53 GMT Source: Reuters (Repeats to add dropped word "it" in paragraph 8) By Tim Gaynor GALVESTON, Texas, Sept 14 (Reuters) - The bridge to Galveston Island is littered with yachts, kitchen tables and a large ...

Ike destroys a number of oil platforms

2008-09-15T00:44+0200

Hurricane Ike appears to have destroyed a number of production platforms and damaged some of the pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico, federal officials said Sunday.

Its race against time to save stranded Texans

2008-09-15T00:44+0200

GALVESTON, Texas: Rescue crews canvassed neighbourhoods inundated by Hurricane Ike’s storm surge on Sunday morning, racing against time to save those

Excavations stopped at Turkeys ancient city

2008-09-15T00:44+0200

KNIDOS RUINS, Turkey: This archaeological site was once a jewel of ancient Greek civilisation - a major port that exported goods as far as India and B

Swamped survivors sort through rubble

2008-09-15T00:44+0200

Rescuers searching flooded streets and ruined houses left behind by Hurricane Ike said they saved nearly 2,000 people in the largest search-and-rescue operation in Texas history. Survivors, meanwhile, begin to take stock. "I've never seen water like this," said a 30-year Galveston resident.

Palin facing new accusations

2008-09-15T00:44+0200

CHICAGO: US Republican vice presidential pick Sarah Palin faced accusations on Sunday of handing jobs to friends while serving as Alaska state governo

briefs...

2008-09-15T00:44+0200

Spicy food may have killed British bride in India NEW DELHI: A British bride who died ten days after marrying a local man in India may have bee

CNN Student News Transcript: September 15, 2008

2008-09-15T00:44+0200

AZUZ: First up, rescue and recovery efforts are getting started in parts of Texas in the wake of Hurricane Ike. It came ashore early Saturday morning as a Category 2 storm; pounding the state's Gulf Cost region before it moved further in-land. Rain and wind from Ike dumped massive amounts of water over the area, causing serious flooding and damage.

Hurricane remnants blamed for 3 deaths in Midwest (AP)

2008-09-15T00:43+0200

AP - A father and son drowned in northwest Indiana while trying to rescue children from a flooded ditch as heavy rains from the remnants of Hurricane Ike forced hundreds of evacuations across the Midwest on Sunday.

Google search finds seafaring solution

2008-09-15T00:29+0200

Google may take its battle for global domination to the high seas with the launch of its own “computer navy”.

Ike returnees turned away

2008-09-15T00:29+0200

Rescuers searching the waterlogged streets and splintered houses left behind by Hurricane Ike in Texas said Sunday they had saved nearly 2,000 people.

Surviving a retail downturn

2008-09-15T00:29+0200

Economic downturns are tough for retailers. Historical data show that almost all retail companies suffer declining sales during a recession and that the rate of recovery is slow once the economy begins to pick up.

Google search finds seafaring solution

2008-09-15T00:26+0200

Google may take its battle for global domination to the high seas with the launch of its own “computer navy”.

Houston Inconvenienced, but Not Devastated

2008-09-15T00:23+0200

Houston's pace slowed but not stopped as Hurricane Ike inconveniences US's 4th biggest city

Ike destroys Gulf oil platforms

2008-09-15T00:21+0200

US Federal officials say it appears Hurricane Ike destroyed a number of oil production platforms and damaged some of the pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico.

President to Tour Hurricane's Devastation in Texas

2008-09-15T00:21+0200

President Bush announced today that he would be heading to Texas Tuesday to see the first-hand damages left by Hurricane Ike.

Saudi cleric wants death for TV ‘sorcerers’

2008-09-15T00:19+0200

RIYADH: A senior Saudi cleric has said that purveyors of horoscopes on Arab television should be sentenced to death, a newspaper reported on Sunday, days after another cleric argued death for TV owners. “The Muslim consensus is that the apostate’s punishment is death by the sword,” Sheikh Saleh al-Fozan told al-Madina daily.

Texans rescued in Ike's path of widespread damage

2008-09-15T00:18+0200

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Recovery teams picked their way through debris and inundated streets in coastal Texas on Sunday after Hurricane Ike flooded hundreds of miles of U.S. coastline, cut power to millions and pummelled the oil hub of Houston.

Early to assess impact on gas productions: Bush

2008-09-15T00:18+0200

US President George W. Bush on Sunday said it was too early to determine the extent of the damage Hurricane Ike had on gasoline production and pipelines while officials were carefully watching for gouging at the pump.

Texans rescued in Ike's path of widespread damage

2008-09-15T00:18+0200

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Search teams picked their way through debris and inundated roadways in Texas on Sunday, rescuing nearly 2,000 residents stranded after Hurricane Ike flooded coastal regions and cut power to millions of people.

Fuld again

2008-09-15T00:18+0200

This hurricane season, one storm has hit after another. It is the same in financial markets. Just as they were basking in the dramatic rescue of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, America's giant mortgage agencies, a fresh storm was brewing over Wall Street.

Silver futures drops 8.4%, crude oil futures stays over $100

2008-09-15T00:18+0200

Silver futures on the national bourses dropped on the week ended on Friday following the weakness in the yellow metal. Gold prices also continued its slide in the last week, as stronger dollar has reduced demand for yellow metals as an alternative investment.

Singur fallout: Infy rethinks Bengal plans

2008-09-15T00:18+0200

Amid the controversy over the Tatas Nano plant in Singur, IT major Infosys on Monday said it was rethinking its proposed investments in West Bengal.

Hurricane Ike heads North after storming oil hub

2008-09-15T00:18+0200

A weakened storm Ike barreled northward on Sunday after slamming into the Texas coast as a hurricane, flooding seaside towns, cutting power to millions and paralyzing the oil hub of Houston.

Clock ticking on rescuing Ike stalwarts in Texas

2008-09-15T00:14+0200

Rescue crews canvassed neighborhoods inundated by Ike's storm surge early Sunday morning in a race against time to rescue those who faced a second harrowing night trapped amid flattened houses, strewn debris ...

Texas calls for speedier Ike relief

2008-09-15T00:14+0200

Giants rack up 6 sacks in 41-3 victory over Rams (AP)

2008-09-15T00:13+0200

AP - A 97-yard drive put the New York offense in gear. Another stifling effort from a big-play defense led by Justin Tuck made much of the scoring window dressing in the Giants' 12th straight away victory, including their Super Bowl victory last February.

Texans rescued in Ike's path of widespread damage (Reuters)

2008-09-15T00:13+0200

Reuters - Search teams picked their way through debris and inundated roadways in Texas on Sunday, rescuing nearly 2,000 residents stranded after Hurricane Ike flooded coastal regions and cut power to millions of people.

Storm curfew declared in Houston

2008-09-15T00:04+0200

A curfew is imposed in Houston to prevent looting in the wake of Hurricane Ike that hit the US city and many other parts of Texas.

2008-09-14T23:50+0200

Nearly 2 000 people in Texas who refused orders to evacuate before Hurricane Ike have been rescued by land, air and water.

Twelve Texas refineries showing little damage

2008-09-14T23:44+0200

14 Sep 2008 21:28:38 GMT Source: Reuters (Updates with details, table) PORT ARTHUR, Texas, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Twelve of the 15 Texas oil refineries shuttered ahead of Hurricane Ike showed no visible signs of flooding or damage in the ...

Damage to offshore oil facilities, no details -- USCG

2008-09-14T23:44+0200

14 Sep 2008 21:15:23 GMT Source: Reuters HOUSTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike damaged some offshore oil production facilities, but details were still being assembled, a U.S. Coast Guard spokesman said on Sunday. "We've gotten ...

Nearly 2,000 brought to safety in Texas (AP)

2008-09-14T23:43+0200

AP - Rescuers searching the waterlogged streets and splintered houses left behind by Hurricane Ike said Sunday they had saved nearly 2,000 people — many of whom then boarded buses to shelters without knowing where they were going or when they could come home.

Houston inconvenienced, but not devastated (AP)

2008-09-14T23:43+0200

AP - Houston, a fast-paced metropolis that churns on industries like oil, medical research, space technology and law, was dragged to a near halt by Hurricane Ike. But unlike its coastal suburbs, it was more inconvenienced than devastated.

Search widens for survivors of Ike (AFP)

2008-09-14T23:43+0200

AFP - Rescuers Sunday searched Hurricane Ike's trail of destruction and floods for survivors, with fears mounting of a gasoline crunch after the monster storm hammered the US oil hub and left millions without power.

Hundreds saved as Ike wreaks havoc

2008-09-14T23:35+0200

Rescue crews canvassing neighbourhoods with dump trucks, helicopters and airboats have saved nearly 2,000 residents along the Texas coast who ignored evacuation orders and stayed to face Hurricane Ike, authorities said. Heavy rains hampered rescue efforts in the hardest-hit areas of the Texas and....

Ike destroys a number of Gulf platforms

2008-09-14T23:30+0200

HOUSTON — Federal officials say it appears Hurricane Ike destroyed a number of production platforms and damaged some of the pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico.

Ike destroys oil facilities, damages pipelines

2008-09-14T23:29+0200

Federal officials say it appears Hurricane Ike destroyed a number of production platforms and damaged some of the pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico.

Search on for hurricane survivors

2008-09-14T23:26+0200

RESCUERS are searching Hurricane Ike's trail of destruction and floods for survivors, with nearly 1000 already picked up along the Texas coast. 6:49am (AEST)

Aftermath of Hurrican Ike complicates rescue efforts in Texas

2008-09-14T23:26+0200

Thunderstorms and flash floods complicated rescue efforts in Texas yesterday as helicopter and boat crews fought to save people stranded by Hurricane Ike.

Rescue, Recovery Efforts Continue in Gulf Coast

2008-09-14T23:24+0200

Officials say at least 1,900 people have been rescued from flooded locations in Galveston area; fears of widespread fatalities appear to have eased.

Remnants of weakened Ike expected to drench Ontario

2008-09-14T23:23+0200

The brunt of the storm was expected late Sunday, with wind gusts of up to 50 kilometres an hour

US gasoline fears continue

2008-09-14T23:20+0200

Fears of US gasoline supply disruptions have spread, a day after Hurricane Ike slammed Houston

Search for survivors of Ike begins

2008-09-14T23:20+0200

Rescuers searched Hurricane Ike's trail of destruction and floods for survivors after the monster storm hammered the US oil hub and left millions without power.

Aftermath of Hurrican Ike complicates rescue efforts in Texas

2008-09-14T23:20+0200

Thunderstorms and flash floods complicated rescue efforts in Texas yesterday as helicopter and boat crews fought to save people stranded by Hurricane Ike.

Baseball World Cup to be held in Europe

2008-09-14T23:14+0200

REGENSBURG, Germany (AP) The International Baseball Federation has allocated the first round of next year's World Cup to five European countries, in another effort to give the sport a wider international profile in its quest to return to the Olympics. Originally scheduled to be hosted by Cuba, the....

Hurricane-hit Texas calls for speedier relief (Reuters)

2008-09-14T23:13+0200

Ike destroys a number of Gulf platforms (AP)

2008-09-14T23:13+0200

AP - Federal officials say it appears Hurricane Ike destroyed a number of production platforms and damaged some of the pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico.

Hurricane-hit Texas calls for speedier relief

2008-09-14T23:12+0200

14 Sep 2008 21:04:32 GMT Source: Reuters * Rescuers scour Texas coast, survey damage * State, local officials call for faster federal aid * Three bodies found on Galveston By Anna Driver HOUSTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Search teams ...

Rain hampers Texas power recovery after Ike

2008-09-14T23:12+0200

14 Sep 2008 20:52:47 GMT Source: Reuters (Updates CenterPoint outage figures) HOUSTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Heavy rain on Sunday hampered early efforts to restore electricity to storm-weary Southeast Texas, where more than 2 million ...

:Jon Stewart, America’s Most Influential TV Personality

2008-09-14T23:06+0200

For Barry McKernan and Saavik Ford, academics who live with their baby son in New York, sitting down to the television news is a nightly ritual, as it has been for generations of families. But there the tradition ends. Instead of watching heavyweight presenters dispense news from on high, the couple....

In Ike's wake, holdouts complicate rescues

2008-09-14T23:00+0200

More than 100,000 in Texas and Louisiana are estimated to have refused hurricane evacuation orders.

Rossi reigns supreme at Indianapolis

2008-09-14T22:51+0200

Valentino Rossi all but secured his eighth MotoGP world title by defying appalling conditions to claim the U.S. round of the championship at Indianapolis.

Nearly 2,000 Texans rescued after Ike

2008-09-14T22:49+0200

Nearly 2,000 people in Texas who refused orders to evacuate before Hurricane Ike have been rescued by land, air and water.

Broncos players probed over sex assault

2008-09-14T22:49+0200

Three Brisbane Broncos rugby league footballers are under investigation over an alleged sexual assault at a Brisbane nightclub.

NFL: Today's scores, upcoming games

2008-09-14T22:44+0200

Hawai'i times Today's games Green Bay 48, Detroit 25 N.Y. Giants 41, St. Louis 13 Indianapolis 18, Minnesota 15 Oakland 23, Kansas City 8 Carolina 20, Chicago 17 Washington 29, New Orleans 24 Tennessee 24, Cincinnati 7 Buffalo 20, Jacksonville 16

NFL: Giants ride defense to 2-0 start, beat Rams, 41-13

2008-09-14T22:44+0200

ST. LOUIS — A 97-yard drive put the New York offense in gear. Another stifling effort from a big-play defense led by Justin Tuck made much of the scoring window dressing in the Giants' 12th straight away victory, including their Super Bowl victory last February.

The Dollar Bears will Defenitely Resurface!

2008-09-14T22:36+0200

IT is ironic that the dollar bulls have gone ballistic in the past month even though the financial plumbing in the United States capital markets has become so dangerously fragile. As if Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the biggest nationalisations in US history, were not awful enough, the....

Typhoon slams into Taiwan, at least two missing

2008-09-14T22:35+0200

TAIPEI: A powerful typhoon pounded Taiwan on Sunday with fierce winds and torrential rains, leaving at least two people missing and 17 others injured, officials said.

Search widens for survivors of Hurricane Ike

2008-09-14T22:35+0200

GALVESTON, Texas: Rescuers on Sunday searched Hurricane Ike's trail of destruction and floods for survivors, with fears mounting of a gasoline crunch after the monster storm hammered the US oil hub and left millions without power.

Gas Prices Surge In Ike's Wake

2008-09-14T22:35+0200

Gasoline prices surged again, above $5 a gallon in some places, as oil companies, refiners and others began sorting out the damage from Hurricane Ike's lashing of the petroleum-rich Gulf of Mexico and the region's mass of refineries.

Dog rescued by firefighters

2008-09-14T22:35+0200

FIREFIGHTERS rescued a dog which had fallen down a storm drain today. The incident happened at 4.04pm at Candlet Farm, Felixstowe, and led to fire crews from the town, as well as one from Stowmarket, attending the incident.

Obama fundraising rolls on with new record

2008-09-14T22:27+0200

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's fundraising machine rolls on with a record $66 million in August and 500,000 new donors added to the ranks, a campaign spokesman said on Sunday. Obama was running even or slightly behind his...

Texas Tries To Regroup In Aftermath Of Ike

2008-09-14T22:26+0200

Rescuers continue to search for victims of Hurricane Ike on Sunday, as heavy rains and debris complicated relief efforts.

U.S. Fuel Crunch Fear Spreads In Ike`s Wake

2008-09-14T22:23+0200

Oil prices CLc1> was down $2.01 at $99.17 a barrel by 1740 GMT (1340 eastern time) after falling as low as $98.55.

Nearly 2,000 rescued in Ike's wake

2008-09-14T22:14+0200

Nearly 2,000 people who did not evacuate for Hurricane Ike have been rescued in the Galveston area, a state official said. But at least 8 deaths in Texas are linked to Ike. "My husband made me wear a life jacket inside our house," Kathi Norton said. "Thank God for that, or I couldn't be here."

Ike makes landfall in Texas

2008-09-14T22:14+0200

Story Highlights Hurricane Ike crashes ashore over Galveston, Texas, at 2:10 a.m. CT Saturday Rescuers in Galveston go door-to-door, checking on people who didn't evacuate Energy Department: Nearly 2.6 million customers in Texas, Louisiana lack power ....

Militant group in Niger Delta declares war on oil industry (AFP)

2008-09-14T22:13+0200

AFP - The most prominent militant group in oil-rich southern Nigeria on Sunday said it had declared an "oil war" and threatened all international industry vessels that approach the region.

Rescuers save 2,000 stranded by Hurricane Ike

2008-09-14T22:11+0200

Fifteen U.S. oil refineries shut due to Ike-DOE

2008-09-14T22:10+0200

14 Sep 2008 19:47:17 GMT Source: Reuters (Adds details, comments from energy department; byline) By Ayesha Rascoe WASHINGTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Fifteen U.S. oil refineries with a total capacity of 3.861 million barrels per day are now ...

Florida subpoenas 4 gas sellers in price probe

2008-09-14T22:10+0200

14 Sep 2008 20:00:45 GMT Source: Reuters By Jane Sutton MIAMI, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Florida regulators subpoenaed records from four gasoline companies named most often in 360 price-gouging complaints since Hurricane Ike hit oil- ...

Nearly 2,000 Hurricane Victims Rescued

2008-09-14T22:05+0200

Militants says clashes with Nigerian army mean war - The Southern Ledger - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-14T22:05+0200

By (AP) Published: 2008-09-14 13:30:05 Location: LAGOS, Nigeria The main militant group in Nigeria's southern oil region declared a state of war Sunday after two days of clashes with government forces, launching reprisal raids and raising the specter of more conflict in Africa's biggest oil producer.

Authorities: Nearly 2,000 saved post-Hurricane Ike

2008-09-14T22:03+0200

Rescue crews canvassing neighborhoods with dump trucks, helicopters and airboats have saved nearly 2,000 residents along the Texas coast who ignored evacuation orders and stayed to face Hurricane Ike, authorities said Sunday. Leaders in communities along the devastated coast warned it would be weeks or months before the towns were livable.

Hurricane causes extensive damage in Texas, strands thousands

2008-09-14T22:00+0200

There were reports of as many as four people killed, but it could take days to search flooded homes to assess the extent of the impact of Hurricane Ike.

Obama bolsters funds as campaign turns fiery

2008-09-14T22:00+0200

Barack Obama raised $66 million last month, aides said Sunday, the most prolific fund-raising month of his presidential candidacy, as both sides resumed fire after a brief respite from negative campaigning.

Search for survivors of Ike

2008-09-14T21:55+0200

Obama fundraising rolls on with new record

2008-09-14T21:48+0200

Obama bemoans voters' 'quiet storms' as Ike hits Texas

2008-09-14T21:47+0200

CHICAGO (AFP) -- Barack Obama urged his supporters Saturday to help victims of the monstrous Hurricane Ike while also promising economic relief to hard-pressed Americans suffering ""quiet storms"" in their own lives. The Democrat's Republican White House rival John McCain expressed his own sympathy....

2,000 Down, 138,000 to Go: Authorities Aid Those Who Stayed Behind

2008-09-14T21:46+0200

Rescue crews canvassing neighborhoods with dump trucks, helicopters and airboats have saved nearly 2,000 residents who ignored evacuation orders and stayed to face Hurricane Ike, authorities said Sunday. Heavy morning rains hampered rescue efforts in the hardest-hit areas of the Texas and Louisiana....

Oil Is Down, So Why Is Gas Going Up?

2008-09-14T21:46+0200

One explanation offered -- with 15 refineries that consume nearly 4 million barrels a day shut down, there is less demand for oil. Less demand means that prices drop. That, combined with the belief that oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico were probably spared Hurricane Ike's wrath (though, that is a....

Rove: McCain went 'too far' in ads

2008-09-14T21:44+0200

Former Bush adviser Karl Rove said Sunday that Sen. John McCain had gone "one step too far" in some of his recent ads attacking Sen. Barack Obama.

Obama fundraising rolls on with new record (Reuters)

2008-09-14T21:43+0200

Reuters - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's fundraising machine rolls on with a record $66 million in August and 500,000 new donors added to the ranks, a campaign spokesman said on Sunday.

Excavations stopped at ancient city in Turkey (AP)

2008-09-14T21:43+0200

AP - The archaeological site of Knidos in Turkey was once a jewel of ancient Greek civilization.

Matt Damon, Wyclef Jean visit Haiti city in ruins (AP)

2008-09-14T21:43+0200

AP - There were cries of adulation — and also of hunger — as Matt Damon and Haitian-born singer Wyclef Jean toured the flood-ravaged city of Gonaives on Sunday to call attention to a humanitarian crisis.

Authorities: Nearly 2,000 saved post-Hurricane Ike

2008-09-14T21:42+0200

Excavations stopped at ancient city in Turkey

2008-09-14T21:41+0200

The archaeological site of Knidos in Turkey was once a jewel of ancient Greek civilization.

Typhoon Sinlaku strikes Taiwan

2008-09-14T21:35+0200

Typhoon Sinlaku has slammed into Taiwan with heavy rain and strong winds, flooding low-lying regions, causing landslides that blocked traffic, and delaying international flights, officials said. Several other people were missing. Sinlaku made landfall in coastal Ilan county in north-eastern Taiwan....

Ike wreaks devastation on US

2008-09-14T21:35+0200

Rescue crews in the US have navigated debris-strewn streets to reach people still stuck in some of the thousands of homes flooded by Hurricane Ike. Authorities in the fourth-largest US city, imposed a curfew and warned residents that it would be weeks before Houston is fully back up and running.

CNNMoney: Oil slides in special trading

2008-09-14T21:29+0200

Oil prices fell below $99 a barrel on Sunday in a special early-start session as traders bet that Hurricane Ike did not cause significant damage to refineries.

My Family's Hurricane Ike Wedding Weekend

2008-09-14T21:26+0200

Amid the floods and chaos wrought by Hurricane Ike, a candlelight wedding that one reporter will never forget. Just don't ask about the Honeymoon

Texas mounts mass rescue in Ike's wake

2008-09-14T21:18+0200

Texas mounts mass rescue in Ike's wake

2008-09-14T21:18+0200

Texas mounts mass rescue in Ike's wake (Reuters)

2008-09-14T21:13+0200

Reuters - Recovery teams picked their way through debris and inundated streets in coastal Texas on Sunday after Hurricane Ike flooded hundreds of miles of U.S. coastline, cut power to millions and pummeled the oil hub of Houston.

Authorities: Nearly 2,000 saved post-Hurricane Ike (AP)

2008-09-14T21:13+0200

AP - Rescue crews canvassing neighborhoods with dump trucks, helicopters and airboats have saved nearly 2,000 residents who ignored evacuation orders and stayed to face Hurricane Ike, authorities said Sunday.

Search widens for survivors of Ike

2008-09-14T21:11+0200

GALVESTON, Texas (AFP) - Rescuers Sunday searched Hurricane Ike's trail of destruction and floods for survivors, with fears mounting of a gasoline crunch after the monster storm hammered the US oil hub and left millions without power.

Houston oil refineries down for days

2008-09-14T21:10+0200

OIL refineries in the storm-hit Houston area could be down for eight to nine days after Hurricane Ike struck the Gulf Coast, US Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison said today. 4:38am (AEST)

Texas mounts mass rescue in Ike's wake

2008-09-14T21:08+0200

14 Sep 2008 18:49:12 GMT Source: Reuters * Rescuers scour Texas coast, survey damages * Curfew on Houston, millions without power * Rescuers locate 3 bodies on Galveston By Anna Driver HOUSTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Recovery teams ...

Rescuing Ike stalwarts a race against the clock

2008-09-14T21:08+0200

David Jet kayaks around destroyed boats Saturday in Nassau Bay, Texas. Ike made landfall near Galveston, Texas on Saturday as a category 2 hurricane, causing massive flooding and wind damage.

US fuel crunch fear spreads in Ike's wake

2008-09-14T21:08+0200

14 Sep 2008 18:59:59 GMT Source: Reuters (Recasts, updates details, prices) By Bruce Nichols and Eileen O'Grady HOUSTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Fears of U.S. gasoline supply disruptions spread on Sunday, a day after Hurricane Ike slammed ...

US crude falls below US$99, lowest in 6 months

2008-09-14T21:04+0200

NEW YORK: US crude oil futures fell below US$100 (RM346) a barrel to their lowest in more than six months yesterday as traders bet Hurricane Ike did less damage to the nation's energy infrastructure than initially feared. On the New York Mercantile Exchange at 1701 GMT , October crude was down US$2.

Almost 2,000 Ike survivors rescued

2008-09-14T20:55+0200

Hurricane Ike weakened to a tropical storm Saturday afternoon after the monster hurricane with winds of 110 mph pounded Galveston ...

Rescuers mop up after Ike's Texas wreckage

2008-09-14T20:54+0200

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Rescuers made their way through piles of debris and inundated streets in Texas seaside towns on Sunday after Hurricane Ike flooded hundreds of miles of U.S. coastline, cut power to millions and pummeled the oil hub of Houston.

Gas prices rise across US after hurricane strikes

2008-09-14T20:53+0200

HOUSTON (AP) -- From Florida to Tennessee, and all the way up to Connecticut, people far from Hurricane Ike's destruction nonetheless felt one of its tell-tale aftershocks: gasoline prices that surged...

Bush visits Texas in hurricane

2008-09-14T20:53+0200

US President George W. Bush will go to Texas this week to offer support to people affected by Hurricane Ike, which caused flooding and damage after striking the US Gulf Coast.

Fuel shortage fear after US storm

2008-09-14T20:53+0200

Oil refineries in Texas put out of action by Hurricane Ike could take eight to nine days to recover, US Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison has said. The Texas senator told the CBS network that power outage...

St. Louis family mourns Afghan war casualty

2008-09-14T20:53+0200

Evangeline Little (face partly covered), mother of Army Pvt. Vincent C. Winston Jr., is comforted by her mother, Earline Adams, at the funeral for Pvt. Winston Saturday at the New North Side Baptist C...

Rescue crews race clock to find, save Ike victims

2008-09-14T20:53+0200

GALVESTON, Texas (AP) -- Crews navigated debris-strewn streets to reach people still stuck in some of the thousands of homes flooded by Hurricane Ike, while authorities in the nation's fourth-largest ...

Recovery Begins After Hurricane Ike, Bush to Visit Affected Area

2008-09-14T20:45+0200

As hurricane weakens and moves out, search for missing began, along with slow task of assessing damage and restoring essential services

After powerful hurricane, rescuers scour ravaged areas in Texas

2008-09-14T20:44+0200

Thousands of people who refused orders to evacuate were feared stranded in flattened homes or inundated towns across a wide swath of Texas.

Obama aide: McCain campaign 'sleaziest' in modern history

2008-09-14T20:44+0200

Sen. Barack Obama's spokesman on Saturday accused Sen. John McCain of "cynically running the sleaziest and least honorable campaign in modern presidential campaign history."

Crude oil down nearly two dollars after Hurricane Ike (AFP)

2008-09-14T20:42+0200

AFP - Crude oil prices dropped nearly two dollars Sunday in New York, dipping to 99.30 dollars, as traders were reassured over Hurricane Ike's relatively limited effect on oil production in the US Gulf Coast region.

Nearly 2,000 Texans rescued after Ike (AP)

2008-09-14T20:42+0200

AP - Nearly 2,000 people in Texas who refused orders to evacuate before Hurricane Ike have been rescued by land, air and water.

US hurricane leaves 5,000 Bangladeshis homeless

2008-09-14T20:42+0200

At least 5,000 Bangladeshi expatriates have become homeless in the Hurricane Ike-hit areas in Texas of the United States, reported News World, a US based news agency.

Don't you dare travelling Islambagh main road

2008-09-14T20:42+0200

Rokeya, a 35-year-old rickshaw-van-puller, stood helplessly staring at a repairing shop only 10 yards away as she had no money to fix the damaged van. Poverty and husband's sickness forced her into rickshaw pulling, but she didn't know the art to pull the three-wheeler on the uneven Islambagh main road.

Rescue operation underway as Hurricane Ike weakens

2008-09-14T20:37+0200

Rescue crews in the US navigated debris-strewn streets to reach people still stuck in some of the thousands of homes flooded by Hurricane Ike.

Texas Guardsmen Focus on Rescue Missions in Ike's Wake

2008-09-14T20:28+0200

Search and rescue missions began immediately yesterday in areas of Texas left in Hurricane Ike's trail and continue to be the main focus of relief efforts today, a Texas National Guard spokesperson said.

Ike evacuees turned away on return home

2008-09-14T20:28+0200

Rescue crews canvassed neighborhoods inundated by Ike's storm surge early in a race against time to rescue those who faced a harrowing night trapped.

Team arrives

2008-09-14T20:23+0200

THE second Chinese delegation under the $230m soft loan project is expected to arrive in the country today to discuss the $40m ethanol project.

Oil Drops To Six-Month Low As Ike Worries Fade

2008-09-14T20:23+0200

Oil prices CLc1> was down $2.01 at $99.17 a barrel by 1740 GMT (1340 eastern time) after falling as low as $98.55.

Texas rescue plea to hurricane evacuees

2008-09-14T20:22+0200

After Ike, Texas facing weeks of disruption

2008-09-14T20:20+0200

“Love can be stronger than all the evil in the world” – that was the message to Catholic pilgrims from the Pope on Sunday, as he celebrated mass at Lourdes in southwestern France. More than 150,000 people turned out for the service, which is part of Benedict’s first visit to the country as pontiff.

Rescuers mop up after Ike's Texas wreckage

2008-09-14T20:18+0200

Rescuers mop up after Ike's Texas wreckage

2008-09-14T20:18+0200

Rescuers mop up after Ike's Texas wreckage

2008-09-14T20:18+0200

Ideal home for keeping herd happy

2008-09-14T20:16+0200

Profits and the environment are coming up green on farms providing specialist New Zealand designed Herd Homes, keeping both cows and farmers happy. Northland dairy farmer Tom Pow can't keep up with the demand for the Herd Homes...

Ike's savage wrath

2008-09-14T20:16+0200

TEXAS - Rescue crews canvassed neighborhoods inundated by Ike's storm surge early Sunday morning in a race against time to rescue those who faced a second harrowing night trapped amid flattened houses, strewn debris and downed power...

Chicago seeks aid after worst rain in at least 137 years

2008-09-14T20:14+0200

Chicago authorities asked Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to issue a disaster declaration after rainfall Saturday in the Windy City broke a single-day record that had stood for more than two decades.

Ike still affecting cost of gas as it jumps again

2008-09-14T20:13+0200

Gasoline prices surged again Sunday, above $5 a gallon in some places, as oil companies, refiners and others began sorting out the damage from Hurricane Ike’s lashing of the petroleum-rich Gulf of Mexico and the region’s mass of refineries.

Rescuers mop up after Ike's Texas wreckage (Reuters)

2008-09-14T20:12+0200

Reuters - Rescuers made their way through piles of debris and inundated streets in Texas seaside towns on Sunday after Hurricane Ike flooded hundreds of miles of U.S. coastline, cut power to millions and pummeled the oil hub of Houston.

Some Ike evacuees turned away on return home (AP)

2008-09-14T20:12+0200

AP - Crews navigated debris-strewn streets Sunday to reach people still stuck in some of the thousands of homes flooded by Hurricane Ike. Authorities imposed a curfew in Houston and warned it would be weeks before the nation's fourth-largest city is fully back up and running.

2008-09-14T19:09+0200

ANALYSIS-Deadly storms a big setback for impoverished Haiti

2008-09-14T19:05+0200

14 Sep 2008 16:48:01 GMT Source: Reuters By Matthew Bigg PORT-AU-PRINCE, Sept 14 (Reuters) - The sight of the Haitian port city of Gonaives sitting in a slick of polluted water is only the most visible symbol of the damage done to the ...

US oil prices down to six-month low

2008-09-14T19:03+0200

US oil prices dropped by $2 to a six-month low below $100 a barrel today as dealers bet on a swift recovery of the nation's energy production after Hurricane Ike.

US campaign gets nastier

2008-09-14T18:58+0200

CHICAGO: The US presidential campaign got nastier Sunday as a leading US newspaper revealed that Republican vice presidential ...

Militant group in Niger Delta declares war on oil industry - AFP - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-14T18:58+0200

Militant group in Niger Delta declares war on oil industry 1 hour ago LAGOS (AFP) — The most prominent militant group in oil-rich southern Nigeria on Sunday said it had declared an "oil war" and threatened all international industry vessels that approach the region.

Obama raises record $66 million in August, outstripping McCain

2008-09-14T18:57+0200

Even as he has lost ground in the polls to Republican John McCain, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama announced Sunday raising a record $66 million last month - including donations from a read more

September 11th remembered

2008-09-14T18:54+0200

American expat Eric Asp gathered with a crowd of international friends, strangers, and dignitaries to pause for a moment of remembrance.

Nigerian Rebels Promise Retaliation for Government Attack

2008-09-14T18:52+0200

Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta says it has already destroyed flow stations and oil pipelines

Couple grabbed staircase, floated off

2008-09-14T18:51+0200

Paul and Kathi Norton overslept as Hurricane Ike closed in on their home in Crystal Beach, Texas. So they decided to tough it out. As the storm battered the house it began to collapse. "We dove out the door and grabbed the staircase and we floated off," Kathi Norton said.

Gas prices surge in Ike's wake

2008-09-14T18:51+0200

HOUSTON— Gasoline prices surged again today, above $5 a gallon in some places, as oil companies, refiners and others began sorting out the damage from Hurricane Ike's lashing of the petroleum-rich Gulf of Mexico and the region's mass of refineries.

Typhoon slams into Taiwan

2008-09-14T18:49+0200

A TYPHOON has pounded Taiwan today bringing fierce winds and torrential rains, sparking evacuations and leaving at least six people injured, officials said.

Fuel shortage fear after US storm

2008-09-14T18:41+0200

Gasoline is set to be in short supply as Texas refineries take days to recover from Hurricane Ike, a US Senator says.

Heavy rain tonight from Ike

2008-09-14T18:37+0200

Toronto and surrounding areas will be drenched today as the remnants of Hurricane Ike combine with a frontal system sitting over southern Ontario to give us up to 80 millimetres of rain by tonight.

Ike damage prompts weeklong curfew in Houston

2008-09-14T18:36+0200

Houston's police chief announced Sunday a weeklong nighttime curfew for Texas' largest city, a day after Hurricane Ike barreled ashore just southeast of there.

U.S. energy companies check for damage after Ike

2008-09-14T18:34+0200

14 Sep 2008 16:08:01 GMT Source: Reuters (Adds quotes, details, updates oil prices in paragraph 16) By Bruce Nichols and Eileen O'Grady HOUSTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Oil companies checked their facilities for damage on Sunday in the wake ...

Crews race clock to find Ike victims

2008-09-14T18:26+0200

Rescue crews canvassed neighborhoods inundated by Ike's storm surge early in a race against time to rescue those who faced a harrowing night trapped.

Survivors recall bouts with Ike, as officials survey wreckage

2008-09-14T18:21+0200

Paul and Kathi Norton overslept as Hurricane Ike closed in on their coastal Texas home so they decided to tough it out because their evacuation route was already flooded.

Complaints of rising gas prices as Ike hits

2008-09-14T18:21+0200

President Bush Saturday said officials will ensure gasoline stations don't gouge customers after Hurricane Ike, but with some prices near $5 a gallon, some consumers were not so sure.

Tina Fey returns to SNL to play Palin

2008-09-14T18:15+0200

After days of conjecture about who would play the running mate to Senator John McCain, Tina Fey returned to her old show for the opening sketch on the new season of Saturday Night Live.

Typhoon slams into Taiwan, at least two missing (AFP)

2008-09-14T18:11+0200

AFP - A powerful typhoon pounded Taiwan on Sunday with fierce winds and torrential rains, leaving at least two people missing and 17 others injured, officials said.

Militant group in Niger Delta declares war on oil industry (AFP)

2008-09-14T18:11+0200

AFP - The most prominent militant group in oil-rich southern Nigeria on Sunday said it had declared an "oil war" and threatened all international industry vessels that approach the region.

Rescue crews race clock to find, save Ike victims (AP)

2008-09-14T18:11+0200

AP - Rescue crews canvassed neighborhoods inundated by Ike's storm surge early Sunday morning, racing against time to save those who spent a second harrowing night trapped amid flattened houses, strewn debris and downed power lines.

Gas prices rise across US after hurricane strikes (AP)

2008-09-14T18:11+0200

AP - From Florida to Tennessee, and all the way up to Connecticut, people far from Hurricane Ike's destruction nonetheless felt one of its tell-tale aftershocks: gasoline prices that surged overnight — to nearly $5 a gallon in some places.

President Bush Receives Update on Hurricane Ike

2008-09-14T18:10+0200

President Bush on Sunday said, "I do urge people in the affected areas to listen closely to local authorities before they attempt to get back home. There are people now surveying damage and people reporting in to the state as to the conditions there in the different communities.

TFN NEWS BRIEFING: Mergers and acquisitions highlights to 15:50 BST

2008-09-14T17:58+0200

2008-09-14 15:43:38 WRAPUP 1-Lehman talks resume, Barclays seen frontrunner NEW YORK/WASHINGTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Regulators and bankers resumed a third ...

U.S. energy companies check for damage after Ike

2008-09-14T17:58+0200

HOUSTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Oil companies rushed to check their facilities for damage on Sunday in the wake of Hurricane Ike, which passed over the ...

TFN NEWS BRIEFING: Oil and utilities highlights to 15:45 BST

2008-09-14T17:58+0200

2008-09-14 15:42:52 Another British travel company goes bust LONDON (Thomson Financial) - A small British tour operator specialising in holidays in Turkey ...

Gasoline prices jump in Ike's wake

2008-09-14T17:53+0200

Gasoline prices jumped nationwide Sunday and there were warnings of shortages as companies assessed damage to oil rigs and refineries ...

Palin facing new accusations as US campaign grows negative

2008-09-14T17:46+0200

CHICAGO : US Republican vice presidential pick Sarah Palin on Sunday faced accusations of handing jobs to friends while serving as Alaska state governor, as the presidential campaign grew increasingly...

Artwork from down home

2008-09-14T17:46+0200

It's a photograph by Linda Day Clark that she admires, the image of an old dirt road in rural Alabama. But to Bendolph, it's home - a vista of greens and reds and blues, a symmetry of triangles and cl...

Hurricane causes heavy damage in Texas

2008-09-14T17:46+0200

HOUSTON : Hurricane Ike barreled across a wide swath of Texas over the weekend, deluging the city of Galveston with a wall of water, flooding coastal towns and leaving extensive damage across metropol...

Typhoon Sinlaku floods low-lying areas of Taiwan

2008-09-14T17:46+0200

A Taiwanese man tries to rescue a dog stranded on a basketball court along Ilan River in Ilan county in northeastern Taiwan Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008.

Bush to visit hurricane-struck Texas

2008-09-14T17:46+0200

WASHINGTON - President Bush said Sunday he will visit Texas on Tuesday to express sympathy for victims of Hurricane Ike and lend support for recovery efforts.

Oil slides in special Sunday trading

2008-09-14T17:44+0200

Oil prices fell below $100 a barrel Sunday in a special early trading session as traders bet that Hurricane Ike did not cause significant damage to refineries.

It's race against time to save Texas stalwarts (AP)

2008-09-14T17:40+0200

Latest News : WHO launches 4.2 ml dollar appeal for Haiti hurricane victims

2008-09-14T17:09+0200

WHO launches 4.2 ml dollar appeal for Haiti hurricane victims GENEVA (AFP) -- The World Health Organization on Friday launched an appeal for 4.2 million dollars (3.0 million euros) to help victims of the hurricanes that have battered Haiti over the past month.

Bush warns on hurricane recovery

2008-09-14T17:04+0200

President Bush says Texas will take a long time to recover from Hurricane Ike, as search and relief operations gather pace.

A Race Against Time For Stranded Texans

2008-09-14T17:04+0200

Rescue crews canvassed neighborhoods inundated by Hurricane Ike's storm surge early Sunday morning, racing against time to save those who spent a second harrowing night trapped amid flattened houses, strewn debris and downed power lines.

US campaign gets nastier with revelations about Palin

2008-09-14T17:02+0200

CHICAGO: The US presidential campaign got nastier Sunday as a leading US newspaper revealed that Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin used her position as Alaska governor to give top jobs in her administration to friends. The New York Times reported that Palin had given the....

Texas oil refineries could be down 9 days-US senator

2008-09-14T17:02+0200

14 Sep 2008 14:45:56 GMT Source: Reuters WASHINGTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Texas oil refineries disabled by the massive Hurricane Ike could remain idled for an additional eight or nine days and Americans should brace for possible gas shortages ...

New Hampshire Back In Campaign Spotlight

2008-09-14T16:56+0200

Sen. Barack Obama canceled his Saturday Night Live appearance Saturday night because of Hurricane Ike, but the Democratic presidential candidate made a campaign visit to Manchester, N.H., earlier in the day. Republican Sen. John McCain will be in New Hampshire on Sunday, appearing at a NASCAR race.

Houston imposes week-long curfew as hurricane clean-up begins

2008-09-14T16:56+0200

Bush urges evacuated residents to heed warnings from authorities before trying to return home

Refinery Shutdowns Send Gas Prices Higher

2008-09-14T16:56+0200

Government officials are assessing the damage to oil refineries along the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane Ike idled nearly all of the region's oil and natural gas out and it could be several weeks before refineries are back at full capacity. Gasoline prices have begun to rise around the country.

Typhoon Sinlaku floods low-lying areas of Taiwan

2008-09-14T16:53+0200

Typhoon Sinlaku slammed into Taiwan with heavy rain and strong winds Sunday, killing at least one person and flooding low-lying ...

Ike survivors try to salvage homes

2008-09-14T16:51+0200

Story Highlights Houston imposes curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. for a week "It was scary. I'll never do it again,' Texan who rode out storm says Bodies may be discovered in rubble, Homeland Security chief says ....

Houston issues week long curfew after Hurricane Ike

2008-09-14T16:46+0200

Houston officials on Sunday issued a week long curfew for the city devastated by Hurricane Ike. Officials announced that a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew would begin Sunday night and last until Saturday. Most of the city lost electricity, streets were littered with debris, and police were worried about the safety of residents.

Flooding, debris left by Hurricane Ike slowing rescue efforts

2008-09-14T16:42+0200

Rescue crews went door to door Sunday in coastal neighbourhoods of Texas and Louisiana that were inundated by Hurricane Ike's storm surge, racing to check on those who spent a second harrowing night trapped amid flattened houses, strewn debris and downed power lines.

Houston issues weeklong curfew after Hurricane Ike (AP)

2008-09-14T16:40+0200

AP - Houston officials have issued a weeklong curfew for the city devastated by Hurricane Ike.

Militant group tackles oil industry - France24 - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-14T16:38+0200

The most prominent militant group in oil-rich southern Nigeria on Sunday said it had declared an "oil war" and threatened all international industry vessels that approach the region. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said in an email to the media it has code-named its operation Hurricane Barbarossa.

Rescuing Those Who Ignored Ike Warnings: Can They Be Saved?

2008-09-14T16:37+0200

Authorities try to rescue an estimated 140,000 Texans who ignored orders to flee

ContentType:Spot Development; ContentElement:FullStory; Breaking:True;

2008-09-14T16:37+0200

A Russian investigator says crash of passenger jet most likely caused by engine failure.

It's race against time to save Texas stalwarts

2008-09-14T16:33+0200

GALVESTON, Texas — Rescue crews canvassed neighborhoods inundated by Ike's storm surge early Sunday morning, racing against time to save those who spent a second harrowing night trapped amid flattened houses, strewn debris and downed power lines.

Rescuing Ike stalwarts a race against the clock

2008-09-14T16:27+0200

GALVESTON, Texas - Rescue crews canvassed neighborhoods inundated by Ike's storm surge early Sunday morning, racing against time to rescue those who faced a second harrowing night trapped amid flattened houses, ...

Typhoon injures 14, cancels flights in Taiwan

2008-09-14T16:27+0200

TAIPEI, Sept 14 (Reuters) - A powerful typhoon packing winds of up to 160 kph (100 mph) hit northeastern Taiwan on Sunday, dumping up to a metre of rain, ...

Crews fan out across Texas to assess Ike's wrath

2008-09-14T16:27+0200

By ALLEN G. BREED and PAULINE ARRILLAGA, Associated Press Writers HOUSTON - Rescue crews in high-wheel trucks, helicopters and boats ventured out to pluck people from their homes Saturday in an all-out search ...

Remarks by the President after Receiving an Update on Hurricane Ike

2008-09-14T16:27+0200

Roosevelt Room 7:50 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Well, thanks to you members of the administration for coming in this Sunday morning to discuss Hurricane ...

Texas Eyes Weeks Of Recovery From Ike

2008-09-14T16:26+0200

Texas and Louisiana have been declared disaster areas, more than a million people are away from their homes, and gasoline prices are on the rise. All are consequences of the enormous Hurricane Ike which slammed into south Texas Saturday, flooding thousands of homes and sending hundreds of rescue personnel out searching for survivors.

U.S. Energy Companies Check For Damage After Ike

2008-09-14T16:22+0200

Emergency officials said Texas refineries appeared to have escaped major flooding.

Weakened Ike moves on after battering Gulf coast

2008-09-14T16:20+0200

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Rescuers made their way through piles of debris and water-filled streets in Texas seaside towns on Sunday after Hurricane Ike flooded hundreds of miles of U.S. coastline, cut power to millions and pummeled the oil hub of Houston.

Militant group in Niger Delta declares war

2008-09-14T16:17+0200

The most prominent militant group in oil-rich southern Nigeria has said it had declared an "oil war" and threatened all international industry vessels that approach the region.

Battles in Nigeria

2008-09-14T16:15+0200

Militants have fought a rare ground battle with Nigerian armed forces in the country's southern oil region, threatening bigger attacks.

Rescuers Aid Thousands After Hurricane Ike Hits Texas

2008-09-14T16:14+0200

Largest search and rescue effort in Texas history is underway, 1,000 people have been rescued, efforts to rescue thousands of victims trapped in their homes continue

UBS faces further writedowns (AFP)

2008-09-14T16:10+0200

AFP - Switzerland's biggest bank UBS is set to write down a further five billion dollars (3.5 billion euros) in assets amid continuing financial turmoil, Swiss weekly SonntagsZeitung reported Sunday.

Race against time to save stranded Texans

2008-09-14T16:07+0200

Rescue crews in the US searched neighbourhoods inundated by Hurricane Ike’s storm surge early this morning, racing against time to save those who spent a second harrowing night trapped amid flattened houses, strewn debris and downed power lines.

UBS faces further writedowns

2008-09-14T16:01+0200

ZURICH (AFP) - Switzerland's biggest bank UBS is set to write down a further five billion dollars (3.5 billion euros) in assets amid continuing financial turmoil, Swiss weekly SonntagsZeitung reported Sunday.

U.S. energy companies check for damage after Ike

2008-09-14T15:59+0200

14 Sep 2008 13:28:26 GMT Source: Reuters HOUSTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Oil companies rushed to check for damage to their facilities on Sunday in the wake of Hurricane Ike, which passed over the heart of the U.S. energy industry near Houston, ...

Nigerian militants declare oil war in delta - Reuters Nigeria - Fastnews: Local Nigerian News

2008-09-14T15:52+0200

(Adds background, MEND on military deaths, Chevron spokesman) By Randy Fabi ABUJA, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Nigeria's most prominent militant group on Sunday declared an "oil war" in the restive Niger Delta after security forces launched a major operation against them.

Millions without power in Texas after Hurricane Ike - Reuters Nigeria - Fastnews Nigerian Computer News

2008-09-14T15:52+0200

By Chris Baltimore HOUSTON (Reuters) - A weakened storm Ike barrelled northward on Sunday after slamming into the Texas coast as a hurricane, flooding seaside towns, cutting power to millions and paralyzing the oil hub of Houston. The giant storm left extensive devastation in its wake and officials....

Driversâ€™ union nabs armed robbers at motor park - Nigerian Tribune - Fastnews Nigerian Telecomms News

2008-09-14T15:52+0200

Drivers’ union nabs armed robbers at motor park Saka Gbeminiyi, Lagos The robbery suspects with the items found on them. The end came for members of a four-man armed robbery gang recently when they were arrested and paraded by the Ogun State Police Command, Eleweran, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Rescuers reach hundreds of Ike survivors

2008-09-14T15:52+0200

Hurricane Ike weakened to a tropical storm Saturday afternoon after the monster hurricane with winds of 110 mph pounded Galveston ...

Militant group in Niger Delta declares war on oil industry - Economic Times - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-14T15:52+0200

LAGOS: The most prominent militant group in oil-rich southern Nigeria on Sunday said it had declared an "oil war" and threatened all international industry vessels that approach the region. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said in an email to the media it has code-named its operation Hurricane Barbarossa.

RIP: Generator Kills Legislator - LeadershipNigeria - Fastnews Nigerian Power & Steel News

2008-09-14T15:52+0200

No libation forthcoming, in appreciation for its invaluable services to the economy and to businesses and households, a generator has decided to appreciate itself, remunerate itself and congratulate itself. The human sacrifice is late Alhaji Muktari Liman Rogo, a member of the Kano State House of Assembly, representing Rogo constituency.

Ike heads to New England as Gulf Coast weighs its aftermath

2008-09-14T15:44+0200

Nigeria: 15 Killed in Niger Delta Clash

2008-09-14T15:41+0200

ABOUT fifteen persons were feared dead yesterday when men of the Joint Task Force, JTF, and some militants clashed on the waterways at Elem Tombia in Rivers State.

Calls grow for Brown to face challenge

2008-09-14T15:41+0200

Politicians from Labour, an ex-minister and newspaper editorials kept up a chorus of dissent against Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Sunday, calling for his troubled leadership to be challenged.

Nigeria: Govt Forces Dispute Claims of Delta Militants

2008-09-14T15:41+0200

The Joint Task Force (JTF) in charge of security in the Niger Delta yesterday dismissed claims by militants belonging to the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) that soldiers launched attack on their positions thereby killing seven of the militants.

Weakened Ike moves on after battering Gulf coast (Reuters)

2008-09-14T15:40+0200

Reuters - Rescuers made their way through piles of debris and water-filled streets in Texas seaside towns on Sunday after Hurricane Ike flooded hundreds of miles of U.S. coastline, cut power to millions and pummeled the oil hub of Houston.

Hurricane causes heavy damage in Texas

2008-09-14T15:39+0200

There were reports of as many as four people killed, but it could take days to search flooded homes to assess the extent of the impact of Hurricane Ike.

Obama aide: McCain tactics 'sleaziest' in history

2008-09-14T15:38+0200

Obama, speaking to a crowd Saturday in Manchester, New Hampshire, said, "John McCain wants to have a debate about national security; let's have that debate. I warned that going into Iraq would distract us from Afghanistan. John McCain cheerleaded for it. John McCain was wrong, and I was right.

Greek minister resigns after accusations

2008-09-14T15:38+0200

Greece's merchant marine minister resigned Friday after spending days defending himself against accusations of unethical business deals that have deeply embarrassed the conservative government. George Voulgarakis said in his resignation letter to the prime minister that he was quitting because he....

After Ike, a race against time

2008-09-14T15:37+0200

Rescuers canvas neighbourhoods inundated by hurricane's storm surge to help thousands of trapped Texans

Gas surges to $5 a gallon in Ike's wake

2008-09-14T15:37+0200

HOUSTON (AP) — Fears of supply shortages and actual fuel-production disruptions resulting from Ike's lashing of vital energy infrastructure led to pump-price disparities of as much as $1 a gallon in some states, and even on some blocks. Late Saturday, the U.S.

Calls grow for British PM Brown to face challenge

2008-09-14T15:35+0200

LONDON (Reuters) - Politicians from Britain's ruling Labour party, an ex-minister and newspaper editorials kept up a chorus of dissent against Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Sunday, calling for his troubled leadership to be challenged.

Calls grow for British PM Brown to face challenge

2008-09-14T15:31+0200

Politicians from Britain's ruling Labour party, an ex-minister and newspaper editorials kept up a chorus of dissent against Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Sunday, calling for his troubled leadership to be challenged. Noises of revolt have been...

10 Louisiana parishes declared federal disater areas

2008-09-14T15:29+0200

Rescuers used boats and trucks Saturday to save hundreds of coastal Louisiana residents trapped by a 7-foot storm surge from Hurricane Ike.

Weakened Ike moves on after battering Gulf coast

2008-09-14T15:28+0200

14 Sep 2008 13:13:24 GMT Source: Reuters * Rescuers scour Texas coast for survivors * No confirmed deaths, millions still without power * Refineries closed, no major damage reported By Chris Baltimore HOUSTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - ...

Assessing Hurricane Ike Damage In Texas

2008-09-14T15:26+0200

Rescuers along the Texas Gulf Coast continued to search for victims of Hurricane Ike on Sunday, as officials began to assess the damage caused by the massive storm. Millions were still without power and thousands of homes have been flooded.

Hurricane Ike Hits Heart Of U.S. Oil Sector

2008-09-14T15:21+0200

Hurricane Ike struck at the heart of the U.S. oil industry around Houston on Saturday, sending gasoline prices higher as about a quarter of the nation's energy production remained idled and under threat of damage from flooding and high winds. Energy companies Exxon Mobil and Valero Energy Corp said....

Galveston In The Aftermath Of Ike

2008-09-14T15:19+0200

Though it wasn't the "storm of the century," Hurricane Ike pounded a large stretch of the Gulf Coast with powerful winds, heavy rain, and surging seas. Now thousands of people in its path are struggling with the aftermath.

Rescuers trawl through trail of devastation in Texas as Hurricane Ike leaves four dead

2008-09-14T15:17+0200

These pictures show the devastating effect of Hurricane Ike, which has left four dead and destroyed thousands of homes.

Storm surge hard to predict

2008-09-14T15:14+0200

Computer models that produce storm surge estimates also aren't perfect, especially with such a large, slow-moving storm as Ike -- hundreds of miles across, almost as large as the state of Texas. "Models are based on data, so if you don't have a lot of data, then the model is limited in what it can do," McGee said.

Bush to visit hurricane-struck Texas

2008-09-14T15:10+0200

President Bush said Sunday he will visit Texas on Tuesday to express sympathy for victims of Hurricane Ike and lend support for recovery efforts.

How to be the perfect granparent

2008-09-14T15:05+0200

In an exclusive extract from The Really Useful Grandparents' Book, the authors ELEO GORDON, 61, and TONY LACEY, 60, show how to make the most of a very special relationship...

Religious Support Teams Provide Hope After Ike

2008-09-14T15:03+0200

For the first time, military chaplains and the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster are collaborating their efforts to provide cohesive spiritual response to those affected by the next hurricane.

Nonprofits must adapt to tough times

2008-09-14T14:59+0200

Like early on election night, the reports are starting to trickle in. And the news is not good for nonprofit organizations.

Gas prices soar far from storm's path

2008-09-14T14:59+0200

From Florida to Tennessee, and all the way up to Connecticut, people far from Hurricane Ike's destruction nonetheless felt one of its after-shocks: gasoline prices that surged overnight — to nearly $5 a gallon in some places.

More Isle volunteers head to Texas

2008-09-14T14:59+0200

Six more Hawai'i Red Cross volunteers are on the way to join relief operations in Texas after Hurricane Ike. They will join 17 Hawai'i volunteers working in Louisiana and Texas.

Continental not flying to Houston

2008-09-14T14:59+0200

Hawai'i travelers flying to Houston should be aware that Continental Airlines has suspended operations at its Houston hub at Bush Intercontinental Airport through today because of Hurricane Ike, airline officials said in a news release.

Texas Begins Long Task of Recovery From Hurricane Ike

2008-09-14T14:57+0200

Four million people are without electrical service in the Houston area, many roads are blocked by flooding, damage estimated in the billions of dollars

Recalling Galveston's Hurricane Of 1900

2008-09-14T14:56+0200

Host Liane Hansen speaks with Merri Edwards, a Hurricane Ike evacuee from Galveston, Texas. Edwards is also an historian who has worked with the Galveston County Historical Foundation, and she recounts the devastation of the hurricane of 1900 that killed thousands in Galveston.

It's race against time to save Texas stalwarts

2008-09-14T14:54+0200

Ike's impact: Return of $4 gas

2008-09-14T14:51+0200

Gas prices are poised to shoot back toward record highs after Hurricane Ike's direct hit to the heart of the nation's oil refineries, analysts said.

Nigerian militants declare oil war in delta

2008-09-14T14:49+0200

ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria's most prominent militant group on Sunday declared an "oil war" in the restive Niger Delta after security forces launched a major operation against them.

Palin facing new accusations as US campaign grows negative

2008-09-14T14:43+0200

It's race against time to save Ike stalwarts (AP)

2008-09-14T14:40+0200

At 15 feet, Ike's storm surge less than predicted (AP)

2008-09-14T14:40+0200

AP - Forecasters warned of "certain death," a possible 25-foot surge of water that would wash across the Texas and Louisiana coast, wiping away towns in a white-capped, churning mess of debris.

Bush to visit Texas to express sympathy, support

2008-09-14T14:36+0200

President Bush said Sunday he will visit Texas on Tuesday to express sympathy for victims of Hurricane Ike and lend support for recovery efforts.

Rescuers on Texas streets after Galveston floods

2008-09-14T14:35+0200

Post-hurricane rescue efforts are focusing on Galveston on the Texas coast after Hurricane Ike roared inland from the Gulf of Mexico.

Hurricane damage is extensive in Texas

2008-09-14T14:35+0200

HOUSTON : Hurricane Ike barreled across a wide swath of Texas on Saturday, deluging the city of Galveston with a wall of water, flooding coastal towns and leaving extensive damage across metropolitan ...

Rescuing Ike stalwarts a race against the clock

2008-09-14T14:35+0200

GALVESTON, Texas (AP) -- Rescue crews canvassed neighborhoods inundated by Ike's storm surge early Sunday morning, racing against time to rescue those who faced a second harrowing night trapped amid f...

Texas coast reels from Ike

2008-09-14T14:35+0200

Hurricane Ike Blog The storm sideswiped Corpus Christi, though the hurricane's first U.S. death was reported here when four men were pulled out to sea Friday afternoon off a Padre Island pier. ...

Rescuing Ike Stalwarts a Race Against the Clock

2008-09-14T14:32+0200

Racing against time, crews try to reach those feared stranded in Hurricane Ike's floodwaters

Typhoon Sinlaku slams into Taiwan, China waits

2008-09-14T14:29+0200

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) -- Typhoon Sinlaku slammed into Taiwan with heavy rain and strong winds Sunday, flooding low-lying regions, causing landslides that blocked traffic, and delaying international flights, officials said. Sinlaku made landfall in coastal Ilan county in northeastern Taiwan at 1:30 a.m.

Too early to see Ike impact on gas production-Bush

2008-09-14T14:27+0200

14 Sep 2008 12:12:12 GMT Source: Reuters WASHINGTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush said on Sunday it was too early to determine the extent of the damage Hurricane Ike had on gasoline production and pipelines while ...

Soldiers, militants in bloody clash

2008-09-14T14:27+0200

A bloody confrontation broke out yesterday between the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) and the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), following an offensive by soldiers on the camps of the militia group in Rivers State.

Two US Gulf refineries tap emergency oil stocks-DOE

2008-09-14T14:27+0200

14 Sep 2008 11:58:48 GMT Source: Reuters HOUSTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - The U.S. Energy Department will send 309,000 barrels of crude oil from the nation's emergency stockpile to two Gulf coast refineries that are running short of supply due ...

Two US Gulf refineries tap emergency oil stocks-DOE

2008-09-14T14:27+0200

14 Sep 2008 12:16:29 GMT Source: Reuters (Adds background on refineries) HOUSTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - The U.S. Energy Department will send 309,000 barrels of crude oil from the nation's emergency stockpile to two refineries that are ...

Myanmar loosens some strictures on Aung San Suu Kyi

2008-09-14T14:21+0200

Her lawyer says that the junta is going to allow the pro-democracy leader to receive letters from her family and some magazines.

From Palin, lessons on the role of the frontier in the American psyche

2008-09-14T14:21+0200

As Americans get to know Sarah Palin, they're taking a crash course on life in the Last Frontier.

Obama pulls back on events, but not attack mode

2008-09-14T14:21+0200

While Barack Obama pared back his campaigning because of the hurricane, his criticism of John McCain reflected the new urgency of the contest.

Texas takes stock after Ike strike

2008-09-14T14:20+0200

Recovery work has begun in Texas after Hurricane Ike brought destruction to the coast and America’s fourth largest city, Houston. The insurance industry reckons it will lead to claims valued between six and 13 billion euros. More than a fifth of America’s oil-refining was shut down as the hurricane made its assault.

Militant group in Niger Delta declares war on oil industry (AFP)

2008-09-14T14:10+0200

AFP - The most prominent militant group in oil-rich southern Nigeria on Sunday said it had declared an "oil war" and threatened all international industry vessels that approach the region.

Ike evacuees return to find homes devastated

2008-09-14T13:59+0200

Story Highlights Storm leaves four dead, millions without power; homes, businesses destroyed 940 people rescued in Texas on Saturday, governor's office says Wreckage impedes rescue efforts, adding to uncertainty about survivors 29 Texas counties, parts of Louisiana declared major disaster areas ....

It's Race Against Time to Save Texas Stalwarts

2008-09-14T13:59+0200

Racing against time, crews try to reach those feared stranded in Hurricane Ike's floodwaters

Victim of Ike: 'We lost everything'

2008-09-14T13:59+0200

Texas is rolling out the largest search-and-rescue operation in its history, a day after Hurricane Ike smashed the coast. "We lost everything," said Jamie Holmes of Galveston, who is among tens of thousands of people struggling in the storm's aftermath.

In-Fighting: A cross section of the EU Election Observer team. (Photo/J. Mbanda).

2008-09-14T13:57+0200

KIGALI - A storm is brewing in the European Commission Electoral Observer Mission (EU EOM) in Rwanda owing to internal wrangles which are reportedly being fuelled by some members of the team. According to reliable sources from within the mission, the squabbles are said to be between the office of....

Typhoon Sinlaku floods low-lying areas of Taiwan (AP)

2008-09-14T13:40+0200

AP - Typhoon Sinlaku slammed into Taiwan with heavy rain and strong winds Sunday, killing one person and flooding low-lying regions, causing landslides that blocked traffic, and delaying international flights, officials said. Two other people were missing.

2008-09-14T11:45+0200

The New York Times reports that Sarah Palin - throughout her political career - pursued vendettas, fired officials who crossed her and sometimes blurred the line between government and personal grievance...

Texas declared a disaster area

2008-09-14T11:44+0200

President George W Bush has declared a major disaster in Texas and Louisiana after Hurricane Ike flooded homes, knocked out power and caused a spike in gasoline prices.

Hurricane Ike downgraded

2008-09-14T11:39+0200

AFP Ike weakened further and was downgraded to a tropical depression on Sunday after hitting Texas as a hurricane and causing widespread flooding and damage, the National Hurricane Center reported. As of 0600 GMT, sustained winds from Ike had decreased to about 35km/h and more. . . .

Typhoon Sinlaku floods low-lying areas of Taiwan

2008-09-14T11:39+0200

Sunday, September 14, 2008 WITH the explosion of big-dollar, state-of-the-art technological machinery, cutting-edge systems, lightning-speed tracking devices and other generational tools at college campuses across the globe, the Security and Safety Department at the University of Technology (UTech)....

2008-09-14T11:36+0200

That's why the university is investing tens of millions of dollars to expand their high-tech security control room as part of efforts to further upgrade their already highly-advanced 'protection scheme' - described as the most sophisticated among educational institutions in Jamaica.

Typhoon Sinlaku floods low-lying areas of Taiwan

2008-09-14T11:34+0200

Typhoon Sinlaku slammed into Taiwan with heavy rain and strong winds Sunday, flooding low-lying regions, causing landslides that blocked traffic, and delaying international flights, officials said.

Obama prepares to unleash Biden on McCain

2008-09-14T11:34+0200

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama temporarily toned down his campaign as Hurricane Ike made its devastating sweep across Texas, while his running mate Joe Biden prepared to take on a more prominent role in criticising his old friend and now rival, Republican John McCain.

Ike leaves extensive damage in its wake

2008-09-14T11:31+0200

A huge relief and rescue operation is under way in Texas after Hurricane Ike left extensive devastation in its wake which early estimates put in the billions of dollars.

Ike downgraded to tropical depression

2008-09-14T11:25+0200

IKE weakened further and was downgraded to a tropical depression today after hitting Texas as a hurricane and causing widespread flooding and damage, the National Hurricane Centre reported.

Rescuing Ike stalwarts a race against the clock

2008-09-14T11:25+0200

Bush to discuss aid to Ike victims

2008-09-14T11:15+0200

Since downgraded to a tropical depression by the Miami-based National Hurricane Centre, Ike has flattened hundreds of homes, flooded communities and knocked out power for millions of people as it barrelled across Texas.

Typhoon injures 14, cancels flights in Taiwan (Reuters)

2008-09-14T11:08+0200

Reuters - A powerful typhoon packing winds of up to 160 kph (100 mph) hit northeastern Taiwan on Sunday, dumping up to a meter of rain, causing hundreds of mudslides, injuring 14 and forcing the cancellation of dozens of flights.

World Scene

2008-09-14T11:03+0200

I let my 12-year-old daughter go to a movie the other day and stay overnight at her friend's house after the movie. I unexpectedly had go to the movie theater to pick them up because the other mother had car trouble. To my surprise, my daughter was dressed quite differently than when she had left home.

ANALYSIS: One-time deterrents, nuclear weapons pose threat

2008-09-14T11:03+0200

As long as superpowers held the monopoly on nuclear technology, the perils associated with nuclear weapons were minimal, despite the Cold War and one or two crises when the nuclear codes were almost activated.

Storm Ike moves on leaving extensive damage in Texas

2008-09-14T11:02+0200

HOUSTON (Reuters) - A weakened storm Ike barreled northward on Sunday after slamming into the Texas coast as a hurricane, flooding seaside towns, cutting power to millions and paralyzing the oil hub of Houston.

Solo in Nevada, Palin draws big crowd

2008-09-14T11:02+0200

CARSON CITY, Nev. (Reuters) - Out on the road as a solo act, Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin fired up a large crowd in Nevada on Sunday by pledging to shake up Washington if elected with John McCain on Nov. 4.

Star power added to Haiti relief effort

2008-09-14T10:49+0200

In an impromptu relief mission, actor Matt Damon and musician Wyclef Jean flew to Haiti yesterday, hoping their star power will put the spotlight on a country that has been ravaged by four tropical storms in the past month.

Storm Ike moves on leaving extensive damage in Texas

2008-09-14T10:43+0200

Hurricane damage is extensive in Texas

2008-09-14T10:43+0200

There were reports of as many as four people killed, but it could take days to search flooded homes to assess the extent of the impact of Hurricane Ike.

U.S. gas prices rise as industry assesses storm damage

2008-09-14T10:43+0200

American gasoline prices rose as the oil industry anticipated disruptions at several refineries along the Texas coast because of Hurricane Ike.

Region faces heavy rain

2008-09-14T10:42+0200

Rain, some of it from the remnants of Hurricane Ike, will drench south-central and western Ontario this weekend, Environment Canada warns.

Warriors wrestle past Storm, 18-15

2008-09-14T10:41+0200

Melbourne face a sudden-death semi-final against Brisbane to keep their NRL dreams alive after they were shock 18-15 losers to the New Zealand Warriors.

Storm Ike moves on leaving extensive damage in Texas (Reuters)

2008-09-14T10:38+0200

Reuters - A weakened storm Ike barreled northward on Sunday after slamming into the Texas coast as a hurricane, flooding seaside towns, cutting power to millions and paralyzing the oil hub of Houston.

Nigerian army repels attack on Chevron facility (AFP)

2008-09-14T10:38+0200

AFP - A unit of the Nigerian army said its men repelled a militant attack on a facility operated by US oil giant Chevron in the oil-rich Niger delta in the early hours of Sunday.

Crews search for those who defied Ike

2008-09-14T10:36+0200

Rescuers in Galveston, Texas, were going door-to-door Saturday to check on the estimated 20,000 people who failed to flee Hurricane Ike. Flooding and debris have impeded rescue efforts in some areas, adding to the uncertainty about how many Texans actually survived the storm.

VoxPop: Kok's arrest 'malicious'

2008-09-14T10:35+0200

free 'The real culprit behind this whole sordid issue is Khir Toyo. But like Ahmad Ismail, Khir is an Umno member, and so is above the law.'

Obama warns of GOP attacks

2008-09-14T10:33+0200

MANCHESTER, N.H. | Sen. Barack Obama told voters not to fall for Republican attempts to "distort my record," keeping up his attacks on Sen. John McCain, whose campaign criticized the Democrat for talking politics during a hurricane.

Texas coast reels from Ike's wallop

2008-09-14T10:33+0200

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas | Hurricane Ike crashed into Galveston Island and the Houston area early Saturday as a strong Category 2 storm, blowing out windows, disrupting power to millions of people and flooding low-lying areas.

Typhoon injures 14, cancels flights in Taiwan

2008-09-14T10:20+0200

14 Sep 2008 07:54:57 GMT Source: Reuters TAIPEI, Sept 14 (Reuters) - A powerful typhoon packing winds of up to 160 kph (100 mph) hit northeastern Taiwan on Sunday, dumping up to a metre of rain, causing hundreds of mudslides, injuring 14 and ...

Storm Ike moves on leaving extensive damage in Texas

2008-09-14T10:20+0200

14 Sep 2008 08:04:08 GMT Source: Reuters * Ike batters Texas causing extensive damage * No confirmed deaths, 4.5 million lose electricity * At least $8 billion in insured losses estimated * Refineries closed, no major damage reported ...

Typhoon injures 14, cancels flights in Taiwan

2008-09-14T10:13+0200

TAIPEI (Reuters) - A powerful typhoon packing winds of up to 160 kph (100 mph) hit northeastern Taiwan on Sunday, dumping up to a meter of rain, causing hundreds of mudslides, injuring 14 and forcing the cancellation of dozens of flights.

Huge Hurricane Ike Downgraded to Cat One

2008-09-14T10:12+0200

Hurricane Ike was downgraded to a Category One storm Saturday morning, hours after the monster storm with winds of 110 mph battered Galveston and continued to dump torrential amounts of rain on Houston.

National › Memorial event held in Fukuoka for Korean victims of 1945 typhoon

2008-09-14T10:12+0200

A group of citizens held a memorial event Sunday in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, for Korean people who died in a powerful typhoon as they were…

Saving Ike stalwarts a race against time

2008-09-14T10:09+0200

Rescue crews canvassed neighborhoods inundated by Ike's storm surge early in a race against time to rescue those who faced a harrowing night trapped.

Cyprus-flagged freighter caught in hurricane Ike TWENTY-TWO people were left stranded aboard a Cyprus-flagged freighter that lost power in the Gulf of Mexico in Hurricane Ike’s...

2008-09-14T10:02+0200

Cyprus-flagged freighter caught in hurricane Ike TWENTY-TWO people were left stranded aboard a Cyprus-flagged freighter that lost power in the Gulf of Mexico in Hurricane Ike’s path on Friday. A Coast Guard spokesman said the US Coast Guard was weighing rescue options limited by the storm.

Galveston Is Transformed Into an Island of Second Thoughts

2008-09-14T10:01+0200

GALVESTON, Tex., Sept. 13 -- This island has been beaten to a pulp. There is debris everywhere: chunks of asphalt, sheet metal, roofing tiles, uprooted trees, unidentifiable flotsam. The ocean ripped heavy concrete benches from the seawall and threw them across the road as if they were made of...

Trail of devastation as Ike barrels through Texas

2008-09-14T10:00+0200

Hurricane Ike, now downgraded to a tropical storm, continues to power its way across Texas, leaving a trail of damage in its wake. Not the biggest storm in history, Ike will nevertheless go down as one of the most destructive. Ferocious winds and driving rain left Galveston swamped and facing a massive clear-up operation.

Rescuers pick through Ike\'s trail of devastation

2008-09-14T09:51+0200

GALVESTON, Texas - Rescuers picked through a trail of devastation in Texas on Saturday after Ike flattened hundreds of homes, flooded barrier islands and knocked out power to millions of people. The storm\'s hurricane force spread a swathe of destruction across a 500-mile (800-kilometer) span of the....

Storm Takes Toll at the Pump, Curbs Energy Production

2008-09-14T09:44+0200

It didn't take long for consumers to feel the impact of Hurricane Ike at the gas pumps.

:Approving of Teenage Pregnancy in the U.S.

2008-09-14T09:36+0200

Mariely Robles is proud of her baby bump. She wears low-slung, pink tracksuit bottoms and a tight T-shirt so that her stomach, stretched smooth with child, protrudes nakedly over her waistband. At the convenience store where she is buying soda with her friend, she rests one hand on her tummy.

We’ll die another day!

2008-09-14T09:27+0200

It was the week the world was supposed to end. Only it didn’t – or at least it hasn’t yet. PAUL ROWLAND explains why we were right to be scared of the Large Hadron Collider – but only to a point...

ABUJA, Sept 13, (Agencies): Nigerian militants on Saturday warned oil firms in the Niger Delta to withdraw their workers in the next 24 hours or face a “hurricane” of retaliation after security forces

2008-09-14T09:23+0200

launched a major operation against them. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), responsible for attacks that have cut more than a fifth of the OPEC member’s oil output, threatened to target oil workers after at least three people were killed in fighting between security forces and militants in Tombia, in Rivers state.

LONDON, Sept 13, (AFP): Crude oil futures slid to six-month lows below $100 this week and many other commodities fell as the dollar rallied and surveys pointed to lower demand for raw materials amid a

2008-09-14T09:23+0200

n economic slowdown. Losses were reduced late on and some commodities even ended higher from a week earlier as the dollar gains were cut in the wake of weak US economic data released on Friday, traders said. Oil: Oil prices tumbled under $97 a barrel on Thursday, reaching the lowest levels since....

GALVESTON, Texas, Sept 13, (Agencies): Howling ashore with 110 mph (177 kph) winds, Hurricane Ike ravaged the Texas coast Saturday, flooding thousands of homes and businesses, shattering windows in Ho

2008-09-14T09:23+0200

uston’s skyscrapers and knocking out power to millions of people. At first light, it was unclear how many may have perished, and authorities mobilized for a huge search-and-rescue operation to reach the more than 100,000 people who ignored warnings that any attempt to ride the storm out could bring “certain death.

At least 87 die in plane crash in Russia

2008-09-14T09:21+0200

By Chris Baltimore and Anna DriverHOUSTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike slammed the Texas and Louisiana coast on Saturday with ferocious winds and a wall of water that flooded hundreds of miles, cut power...

Ike moves on leaving extensive damage in its wake

2008-09-14T09:13+0200

2008-09-14T08:44+0200

Palin accused of giving jobs to friends

2008-09-14T08:40+0200

A US newspaper has revealed that Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin used her position as Alaskan governor to give top jobs to personal friends.

Rescuing Ike stalwarts a race against the clock (AP)

2008-09-14T08:38+0200

AP - Rescue crews canvassed neighborhoods inundated by Ike's storm surge early Sunday morning, racing against time to rescue those who faced a second harrowing night trapped amid flattened houses, strewn debris and downed power lines.

2008-09-14T07:08+0200

AP - Forecasters warned of "certain death," a possible 25-foot surge of water that would wash across the Texas and Louisiana coast, wiping away towns in a white-capped, churning mess of debris.

2008-09-14T06:34+0200

Six more Hawai'i Red Cross volunteers are on the way to join relief operations in Texas responding to Hurricane Ike. They will join 17 Hawaiçi volunteers already working in Louisiana and Texas.

Kentucky Air Guard Troops Deploy to Coastal Texas

2008-09-14T06:30+0200

About 25 pararescuemen, combat controllers and support troops from the Kentucky Air Guard began deployed to coastal Texas to conduct rescue operations for Hurricane Ike victims.

Typhoon Sinlaku slams into Taiwan

2008-09-14T06:21+0200

Matt Damon, Wyclef Jean help Haitian storm victims

2008-09-14T06:17+0200

Port-au-Prince.– Matt Damon kept his cool as he helped distribute food from a truck that got stuck in the mud in a western Haitian town where Hurricane Ike left hundreds of people homeless and hungry.He arrived with Haitian-born singer Wyclef Jean to hand out rice, beans and cooking oil in Cabaret,....

Crews fan out in Texas to assess Ike's wrath

2008-09-14T06:17+0200

Storm blows out skyscraper windows, cuts power to millions and swamps thousands of homes along coast.

Fate of Thousands of Galveston Residents Unknown

2008-09-14T06:13+0200

Rescuers unable to reach some stranded residents amid flooding, high winds as Category 2 storm makes landfall in Galveston, heads to Houston.

Eight is great for 'Willing' --

2008-09-14T06:08+0200

WILLING TO SPEND got up in the very last stride yesterday to score her eighth straight victory at Santa Rosa Park, Arima. As a result, the locally-bred four-year-old filly--who has only tasted defeat the very first time she faced the starter, on January 1 last year--joined American-breds Sian's Gold....

Typhoon slams into Taiwan, six injured

2008-09-14T06:05+0200

A typhoon pounds Taiwan, bringing fierce winds and torrential rains, sparking evacuations and leaving at least six people injured.

'I Am Afraid for Everyone Here'

2008-09-14T05:58+0200

In a city that knows what hurricanes can do, many Galveston citizens stayed to ride out storm.

Storm Takes Toll at the Pump, Curbs Energy Production

2008-09-14T05:58+0200

It didn't take long for consumers to feel the impact of Hurricane Ike at the gas pumps.

Palin sticks to familiar in solo outing

2008-09-14T05:53+0200

Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin made her first solo campaign appearance outside her home state Saturday, sticking largely to a speech that has boosted her popularity among Republican faithful.

Southwest Airlines Resumes Dallas Love Service at 5 P.M. CT; Limited Operations from Corpus Christi and Harlingen on Sunday; Houston/Hobby Operation Remains Suspended

2008-09-14T05:52+0200

DALLAS, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Southwest Airlines resumed operations at Dallas Love Field at 5:00 p.m. CT today, except to those cities still ...

Hurricane Ike Leaves Texas Coast Underwater and 3 Million Without Power

2008-09-14T05:52+0200

Rescuers in boats, helicopters and high-water trucks fanned out along the flood-stricken Texas coast Saturday in a monumental effort to reach tens of thousands of people who stubbornly ignored warnings and tried to ride out Hurricane Ike. The storm roared ashore hours before daybreak with 110 mph....

Hawaii flights through Houston affected by Hurricane Ike

2008-09-14T05:48+0200

Hawai'i travelers flying to Houston should be aware that Continental Airlines has suspended operations at its Houston hub at Bush Intercontinental through tomorrow because of Hurricane Ike, a news release said.

Bush declares 'disaster' after Ike

2008-09-14T05:47+0200

US President George Bush has declared a major disaster in Texas and Louisiana after Hurricane Ike flooded homes and knocked out power for millions. "This is a huge storm that is causing a lot of damage not only in Texas, but also in parts of Louisiana," Mr Bush said from the South Lawn of the White....

Louisiana Guardsmen Answer the Call as Hurricane Ike Slams the Coast

2008-09-14T05:44+0200

As Hurricane Ike slammed ashore, the National Guard was already at work evacuating stranded citizens from their homes and other locations across Southwest Louisiana.

Hurricane Ike strikes at heart of Texas oil wealth

2008-09-14T05:42+0200

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike slammed into the most populated part of the Texas coast on Saturday with ferocious winds and a wall of water that flooded seaside towns, paralyzed the oil hub of Houston and cut power to millions.

Hurricane Ike strikes at heart of Texas oil wealth

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, who came to the friendly turf of her home state for her first campaign venture without John McCain, told supporters at a f...

Millions without power in Texas after Hurricane Ike

2008-09-14T05:11+0200

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike slammed the Texas and Louisiana coast on Saturday with ferocious winds and a wall of water that flooded hundreds of miles, cut power to millions and caused billions o...

2008-09-14T04:08+0200

With a six pack of Coopers in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other Tim Withall and wife Kate headed off to a 'hurricane party' in suburban Houston, Texas.

Palin sticks to the familiar in first solo outing (AP)

2008-09-14T04:06+0200

AP - Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin made her first solo campaign appearance outside her home state Saturday, sticking largely to a speech that has boosted her popularity among Republican faithful but drawn criticism for having misstatements.

After Ike, rescue effort begins

2008-09-14T03:56+0200

The storm crashed ashore overnight and blew out skyscraper windows, cut power to millions and swamped thousands of homes along the coast.

Palin says farewell to home state to campaign solo

2008-09-14T03:56+0200

Ike Makes Landfall

2008-09-14T03:56+0200

We might see less wind and rain than previously forecast. 3:15 a.m.: Hurricane Ike's center is back over water in Galveston Bay, just off San Leon.

Rescuers search storm-hit Texas

2008-09-14T03:41+0200

A huge search and relief operation is under way in Texas, after the US state was hit by powerful Hurricane Ike.

There is hope after Nargis

2008-09-14T03:36+0200

Spearheading the recovery efforts in the Irrawaddy Delta is the Tripartite Core Group (TCG), a "coalition of mercy" made up of representatives of the Myanmar government and United Nations (UN) agencies led by Asean. In early August the TCG launched a community-based early recovery pilot project in....

Bush declares disaster in Hurricane-hit Texas

2008-09-14T03:31+0200

WASHINGTON - President Bush has declared a major disaster in Texas and Louisiana after Hurricane Ike flooded homes, knocked out power and caused a spike in petrol prices. "This is a huge storm that is causing a lot of damage not...

Search continues for Ike victims

2008-09-14T03:30+0200

Rescuers in boats, helicopters and high-water trucks set out across the flood-stricken Texas coast Saturday in a monumental effort to reach tens of thousands of people who stubbornly ignored warnings of "certain death" and tried to ride out Hurricane Ike.

National Guard Helps Evacuate Three Households in Louisiana

2008-09-14T03:27+0200

Louisiana National Guard personnel helped evacuate three families stranded in their homes by flooding caused by Hurricane Ike.

Search on for Hurricane Ike victims

2008-09-14T03:25+0200

Rescuers in boats, helicopters and high-water trucks set out across the flood-stricken Texas coast Saturday in a monumental effort to reach tens of thousands of people who stubbornly ignored warnings of “certain death” and tried to ride out Hurricane Ike.

Ike's gas spike: '$1.50 in 24 hours'

2008-09-14T03:21+0200

Federal and state officials will make sure consumers don't get gouged by gas price increases in the wake of Hurricane Ike, President Bush said Saturday.

Nigerian troops attack militants' positions

2008-09-14T03:16+0200

- Militants battled Nigerian armed forces in the country's southern oil region on Saturday and threatened to launch reprisal raids on the oil infrastructure in Africa's biggest crude producer. The Nigeria's most prominent militant group , the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, says....

Ike unlikely to disrupt US energy production, firm says

2008-09-14T03:16+0200

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US energy production is not expected to suffer serious disruptions due to Hurricane Ike, which slammed the Texas coast at the most important US oil production area, a risk assessment firm said Saturday.

Hurricane Ike pounds Texas coast

2008-09-14T03:14+0200

Hurricane Ike landed a powerful punch on the Texas Gulf Coast of the U.S. early Saturday, sparking fires, flooding streets and knocking out power to more than 4 million people. Heavy winds continued to pummel the coastal region more than four hours after the Category 2 storm made landfall. It has since weakened to a Category 1.

Texans stand and fight Ike

2008-09-14T03:14+0200

THOUSANDS of Texans who refused to leave their homes in low-lying areas were stranded without power yesterday after Hurricane Ike pounded the coast, causing widespread flooding and wind damage.

Matt Damon, Wyclef Jean help Haitian storm victims

2008-09-14T03:00+0200

Matt Damon kept his cool as he helped distribute food from a truck that got stuck in the mud in a western Haitian town where Hurricane Ike left hundreds of people homeless and hungry.

Fears for 100,000 Texans who ignored warnings as Hurricane Ike batters coast

2008-09-14T02:58+0200

With winds of 110 miles per hour, Hurricane Ike ravaged the Texas coast today, flooding thousands of homes and businesses, shattering windows in Houston's skyscrapers and knocking out power to millions of people.

HHS Secretary Declares Public Health Emergency for Louisiana Following Hurricane Ike's Landfall

2008-09-14T02:51+0200

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today declared a public health emergency to ensure that individuals, including those enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid and the ...

Spotlight: Far from home, Ramadan’s not the same

2008-09-14T02:50+0200

FASTING in this holy month is the same the world over -- abstaining from food and drink from dawn to dusk to restrain one's desires, and sparing a thought for the needy. For three Malaysians abroad, it also means missing the togetherness of family and friends and the traditional fare such as ayam....

CFB: How the AP Top 25 football teams fared

2008-09-14T02:47+0200

No. 1 Southern Cal (1-0) vs. No. 5 Ohio State. Next: at Oregon State, Sept. 25. No. 2 Georgia (3-0) beat South Carolina 14-7. Next: at No. 15 Arizona State, Saturday. No. 3 Oklahoma (2-0) at Washington. Next: vs. TCU, Sept. 27. No. 4 Florida (2-0) did not play. Next: at Tennessee, Saturday. No. 5 Ohio State (2-0) at No.

Matt Damon, Wyclef Jean help Haitian storm victims

2008-09-14T02:42+0200

CABARET, Haiti -- Matt Damon stayed calm and joked around while he helped with a chaotic food distribution Saturday in western Haiti, where hundreds of people remain homeless and hungry. He arrived in the town of Cabaret with Haitian-born singer Wyclef Jean to distribute rice, beans and oil to....

Matt Damon, Wyclef Jean help Haitian storm victims

2008-09-14T02:42+0200

CABARET, Haiti - Matt Damon stayed calm and joked around while he helped with a chaotic food distribution Saturday in western Haiti, where hundreds of people remain homeless and hungry. He arrived in the town of Cabaret with Haitian-born singer Wyclef Jean to distribute rice, beans and oil to....

More to come in hurricane alley

2008-09-14T02:42+0200

As Hurricane Ike blows itself out, weathermen are warning that at least two more hurricanes will strike before the season is out. “We have seen some of the lowest pressure readings on record in the tropical Atlantic during August,” said forecasters at Colorado State University.

Haiti takes stock after storms leave a million homeless

2008-09-14T02:42+0200

As rolling coverage of Hurricane Ike's arrival in Texas dominated news networks yesterday, its devastating impact on the desperately impoverished Caribbean nation of Haiti was still emerging. The country, the poorest in the Western hemisphere, has been battered over the past month by four major storms in succession, killing up to 600 people.

Political dispute delaying U.S. storm aid to Cuba

2008-09-14T02:42+0200

In contrast to millions of dollars in relief aid sent to Haiti, the U.S. government has funneled just $100,000 to Cuba so far -- even as reports surface that the communist country's hurricane wreckage is far worse than the Castro government is letting on.

2008-09-14T02:22+0200

Rescuers pick through Ike's trail of devastation

2008-09-14T02:16+0200

GALVESTON, Texas (AFP) - Rescuers picked through a trail of devastation in Texas on Saturday after Ike flattened hundreds of homes, flooded barrier islands and knocked out power to millions of people.

Fate of Thousands of Galveston Residents Unknown

2008-09-14T02:13+0200

Rescuers unable to reach some stranded residents amid flooding, high winds as Category 2 storm makes landfall in Galveston, heads to Houston.

Ike's economic harm less than feared?

2008-09-14T02:07+0200

A small change in Hurricane Ike's course just before it crashed into the Texas coast Saturday may have spared the state and the nation from significantly worse economic damage.

Rescuers pick through Ike's trail of devastation (AFP)

2008-09-14T02:06+0200

AFP - Rescuers picked through a trail of devastation in Texas on Saturday after Ike flattened hundreds of homes, flooded barrier islands and knocked out power to millions of people.

DOE says 'stands ready' to release emergency oil

2008-09-14T02:04+0200

13 Sep 2008 23:54:46 GMT Source: Reuters WASHINGTON, Sept 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. Energy Department said on Saturday it was prepared to release emergency oil stocks from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in response to fuel supply disruptions ...

20 militants, 5 guards killed in Afghan clashes

2008-09-14T02:04+0200

9/13/2008, 2:47 a.m. EDT ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan's military said Saturday it killed at least 72 militants in three days of fighting near the Afghan border, where Taliban and al-Qaida...

Hope rekindled in aftermath of Nargis

2008-09-14T02:03+0200

FOUR months after the most powerful storm in living memory ripped through southern Myanmar leaving a trail of death and destruction in its wake, the villagers of Seik Gyi in Kungyangon township are getting back on their feet and rebuilding their tattered lives.

Ravens-Texans game rescheduled after Ike damages stadium

2008-09-14T02:02+0200

HOUSTON — The Baltimore Ravens-Houston Texans game was rescheduled to Nov. 9 after Reliant Stadium was severely damaged by Hurricane Ike.

Embassy evacuates Kuwaiti nationals

2008-09-14T02:01+0200

Published Date: September 14, 2008 WASHINGTON: The Kuwaiti Embassy in the United States carried out an evacuation of 200 Kuwaiti nationals from Houston, in... Local News

Obama tones it down as Hurricane Ike looms

2008-09-14T02:01+0200

Published Date: September 14, 2008 MANCHESTER, New Hampshire: The White House campaign faced its second storm-forced disruption yesterday as Barack Obama offered to raise funds from his army of donors for victims of the monstrous Hurricane Ike. With Ike coming ashore on Galveston Island in Texas and....

Surveying The Hurricane's Aftermath

2008-09-14T01:55+0200

September 13, 2008 Houston and Baytown, Texas, were severely damaged by Hurricane Ike. Share this page using one of the following services: (Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's for more information.

First batch of backbenchers returns

2008-09-14T01:54+0200

The first batch of backbenchers returned home yesterday after their agricultural study trip to Taiwan, narrowly missing a typhoon heading towards the island.

Aid sought for brothers

2008-09-14T01:54+0200

Brothers Foong Ah See and Ah Man have been living in a dilapidated zinc shack for more than 20 years.

MAS flights to Taiwan cancelled

2008-09-14T01:54+0200

Malaysia Airlines has cancelled its flights into and out of Taiwan due to Typhoon Sinlaku.

Crews fan out to search for Ike victims

2008-09-14T01:52+0200

Rescuers in boats, helicopters and trucks set out across the Texas coast Saturday in a monumental effort to reach tens of thousands of people who stubbornly tried to ride out Hurricane Ike.

15 feared killed as militants, military clash

2008-09-14T01:45+0200

*27 hostages caught in crossfire *MEND/JTF trade claims ABOUT fifteen persons were feared dead yesterday when men of the Joint Task Force, JTF, and some militants clashed on the waterways at Elem Tombia in Rivers State. The militants in an online statement issued under the aegis of Movement for the....

Yar’Adua: The President reinvents self

2008-09-14T01:45+0200

PRESIDENT Umaru Yar’Adua’s return to office, last week, seventeen days after he had gone to Saudi Arabia to perform the lesser hajj literally took the country by storm as activities in the Presidential Villa picked up in a dizzying speed. For a man whose absence for more than two weeks generated a....

Hurricane Ike damage may be less than feared

2008-09-14T01:40+0200

Thousands refuse to flee as Ike hammers Texas

2008-09-14T01:40+0200

THOUSANDS of Texans who refused to leave their homes in low-lying areas were stranded without power yesterday after Hurricane Ike pounded the coast, causing widespread flooding and wind damage.

Labour rebels demand leadership contest

2008-09-14T01:38+0200

PM moves swiftly to snuff out coordinated coup attempt by sacking those with party positions

David James: This could be the start of something really special for England

2008-09-14T01:38+0200

We always believed in ourselves but now the challenge is to build on our performance against Croatia

How did Sir Ian Blair find himself embroiled in a bitter race row at the Met?

2008-09-14T01:38+0200

Hailed on his appointment as a liberal reformer, Sir Ian Blair now finds himself embroiled in a bitter race row

How a satirist became America's most influential TV personality

2008-09-14T01:38+0200

David Smith charts the rise of Jon Stewart - and asks if he might yet play a crucial role in this year's election

Economic damage from Ike may be less than feared (AP)

2008-09-14T01:36+0200

AP - A small change in Hurricane Ike's course just before it crashed into the Texas coast Saturday may have spared the state and the nation from significantly worse economic damage.

Matt Damon, Wyclef Jean help Haitian storm victims (AP)

2008-09-14T01:36+0200

AP - Matt Damon stayed calm and joked around while he helped with a chaotic food distribution Saturday in western Haiti, where hundreds of people remain homeless and hungry.

Hurricane Ike damage may be less than feared

2008-09-14T01:33+0200

13 Sep 2008 23:06:03 GMT Source: Reuters * Ike pummels Texas, Louisiana, damage less than feared * Refineries closed, but no major damage reported * "Few deaths" reported, 4.5 million lose electricity By Chris Baltimore and ...

Texas utilities warn of slow recovery after Ike

2008-09-14T01:33+0200

13 Sep 2008 23:25:52 GMT Source: Reuters HOUSTON, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Restoring electricity to homes and businesses in Southeast Texas following Hurricane Ike may take as long as a month in heavily damaged areas, utility officials warned as ...

Bush declares Texas, Louisiana disaster areas

2008-09-14T01:30+0200

President Bush on Saturday declared a major disaster in Texas and Louisiana after Hurricane Ike flooded homes, knocked out power and caused a spike in gasoline prices.

Search is on for Ike's victims

2008-09-14T01:30+0200

Texas officials won't know the extent of damage until they can safely survey the battered landscape

Militants Battle Soldiers In P/H

2008-09-14T01:27+0200

By Ofonime Umanah, Bureau Chief, P/H A clash on Saturday between members of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND)and soldiers in Rivers State is believed to have left some people dead. While MEND said seven army and naval personnel, among who came to raid their positions in....

Oil leads commodity prices lower this week

2008-09-14T01:27+0200

* Gold prices dropped back under $800 an ounce, striking the lowest point for almost one year, as the dollar strengthened LONDON: Crude oil futures slid to six-month lows below $100 this week and many other commodities fell as the dollar rallied and surveys pointed to lower demand for raw materials amid an economic slowdown.

Typhoon hits Taiwan, causing landslides

2008-09-14T01:27+0200

TAIPEI: A typhoon pounded Taiwan on Saturday, bringing torrential rains and triggering landslides in the central and northern part of the island, the national fire agency said. One person was reported injured. At 0700 GMT, typhoon Sinlaku was 90 km east of Ilan on the northeast coast, packing winds....

Nigeria militants order oil workers to leave delta

2008-09-14T01:27+0200

ABUJA: Nigeria’s most prominent militant group on Saturday warned oil companies in the restive Niger Delta to withdraw their workers in the next 24 hours after a gunbattle with security forces. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), responsible for attacks that have cut more....

Austrian teen shocks top seed Hantuchova

2008-09-14T01:27+0200

NUSA DUA: Austrian teenager Tamira Paszek shocked top seed Daniela Hantuchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 to set up a Bali Open final against Switzerland’s Patty Schnyder on Saturday. The 17-year-old Paszek, coached by Gustavo Kuerten’s former mentor Larri Passos, caught fire against Hantuchova in a spirited display lasting just over two-and-a-half hours.

Remnants Of Lives Litter Highway To Galveston

2008-09-14T01:25+0200

The strongest evidence of the huge storm was visible just outside the island city of Galveston: The highway was partially blocked by everything from boats, suitcases, a carved pumpkin and other home decorations to chairs, kayaks, toys, wood and other building materials was piled up all over the southbound lane.

Target Provides $1 Million for Hurricane Relief

2008-09-14T01:20+0200

Target (NYSE:TGT) announced today it is making a $1 million commitment of cash and product to provide immediate assistance with overall relief efforts ...

Latest News : Hurricane Ike slams into populous Texas coast

2008-09-14T01:19+0200

HOUSTON (Reuters) -- Hurricane Ike barreled into the densely populated Texas coast near Houston early on Saturday. The storm drove a wall of water 20 feet high and sent huge waves crashing against a 17-foot (5-metre) sea wall built to protect the city after a hurricane in 1900 killed at least 8,000 people.

Gearing up for beach clean-up

2008-09-14T01:16+0200

Organised in conjunction with the annual International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) programme, 250 volunteers collected 954.5kg of food wrappers and containers, building materials, cigarette filters, straws, glass bottles, drink cans, plastic bags and other garbage which were the equivalent of four full....

Kearsarge & Haiti Disaster Relief Ops

2008-09-14T01:13+0200

Kearsarge Continues Disaster Relief Operations in Haiti Navy NewsStand Story Number: NNS080913-11 Release Date: 9/13/2008 8:59:00 AM From Continuing Promise 2008 Public Affairs USS KEARSARGE, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) continued support of disaster relief efforts in Haiti Sept.

Bush Sending More Troops to Afghanistan

2008-09-14T01:13+0200

U.S. President George Bush is sending more troops to Afghanistan and will withdraw some 8,000 forces from Iraq

The Gargoyle, By Andrew Davidson

2008-09-14T01:12+0200

Pornography, burns victims, Vikings, past lives, nuns, a Love Story that Transcends Time and Death... it's not hard to imagine the pitch that persuaded Canongate to drop a million-odd on the rights to this debut novel. With a darkness 'n' flames cover that screams necrodelic chic, but with an....

Ask Martha: Should I say anything about my friend's bad breath?

2008-09-14T01:12+0200

Q. My friend has started walking with a stoop and she also has quite bad breath should I say anything? Just a few words might help. Rachel, Cambridge

Ike cleanup starts, storm moves on

2008-09-14T01:07+0200

Tropical storm Ike was moving inland in Texas Saturday evening, leaving a massive cleanup job in Galveston and Houston in its wake.

World › Obama takes step back as Biden prepares to attack

2008-09-14T01:07+0200

Democrat Barack Obama temporarily toned down his campaign Saturday as Hurricane Ike made its devastating sweep across Texas, while his running mate Joe Biden prepared…

By air, boat and truck, search on for Ike victims (AP)

2008-09-14T01:06+0200

AP - Rescuers in boats, helicopters and high-water trucks set out across the flood-stricken Texas coast Saturday in a monumental effort to reach tens of thousands of people who stubbornly ignored warnings of "certain death" and tried to ride out Hurricane Ike.

10 Louisiana parishes declared federal disater areas

2008-09-14T01:06+0200

Rescuers used boats and trucks Saturday to save hundreds of coastal Louisiana residents trapped by a 7-foot storm surge from Hurricane Ike.

Hurricane Ike smashes its way across Texan coast and towns

2008-09-14T01:05+0200

Officials urged residents of low-lying coastal areas to flee or face 'certain death'

How a small US town hailed its teen mums

2008-09-14T01:05+0200

Teen motherhood increasingly seen as a responsible social decision rather than a shameful mistake

Oil leads commodity prices lower

2008-09-14T01:04+0200

LONDON: Crude oil futures slid to six-month lows below $100 this week and many other commodities fell as the dollar rallied and surveys pointed to low

Eni sees crude well below $100

2008-09-14T01:04+0200

SAN MARTINO IN CAMPO, Italy: The chief executive of Italian oil company Eni said on Saturday he saw crude oil prices as low as $70 a barrel as demand

Ike could further dampen Louisiana cotton harvest

2008-09-14T01:04+0200

NEW YORK: Latest forecasts show the massive expanse of Hurricane Ike could easily drench Louisiana cotton for a second time this month and third time

Naomi: I'm in love with a very special man and I want to have a baby

2008-09-14T01:04+0200

Naomi Campbell rummages agitatedly in her soft purple leather bag for a lighter. ‘You don’t still smoke?’ I say disapprovingly. ‘I don’t drink. I don’t do drugs. I’m in The Programme. So I’m going to have a cigarette,’ she replies defiantly. Naomi has always been a woman of great extremes. Just when you’ve dismissed her, she is at her sweetest.

Hurricane Ike rakes Texas coast, Houston

2008-09-14T01:04+0200

HOUSTON: Hurricane Ike barreled into the densely populated Texas coast near Houston early on Saturday, bringing with it a wall of water and ferocious

Obama regrets bypassing Hillary, says Palin

2008-09-14T01:04+0200

WASHINGTON: Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin says she thinks Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama regrets not making Hilla

Bush declares Texas disaster zone

2008-09-14T01:01+0200

US President George W Bush has declared Texas a federal disaster zone after Hurricane Ike battered the state with winds in excess of 110mph (175km/h). Before weakening to a tropical storm, Ike floode...

Ike floods force rescue of holdouts

2008-09-14T01:01+0200

While more than 2 million people evacuated ahead of Ike, tens of thousands more ignored evacuation orders and swamped rescue crews Saturday with emergency calls from the the flooded lowlands of East T...

Houston takes stock after Hurricane Ike

2008-09-14T01:01+0200

Hurricane Ike has now passed over Houston and is weakening as it moves farther inland over east Texas.

Obama scales back campaign events in Ike

2008-09-14T01:01+0200

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama asked his supporters Saturday to help with recovery from Hurricane Ike and canceled his plans to crack jokes on "Saturday Ni...

Crews fan out in Texas to assess Ike

2008-09-14T01:01+0200

HOUSTON (AP) -- Rescue crews in high-wheel trucks, helicopters and boats ventured out to pluck people from their homes Saturday in an all-out search for thousands of Texans who stubbornly stayed behin...

Hurricane Ike devastates homes, threatens oil supplies

2008-09-14T01:01+0200

A man inspects damage from Hurricane Ike at Sunshine Beach, Texas. Photo / AP WASHINGTON - Winds gusting up to 110mph sent a huge surge of water through low-lying areas of the US Gulf coast as Hur...

Ike cuts a punishing path through Texas

2008-09-14T01:01+0200

HOUSTON : Hurricane Ike barreled across a wide swath of Texas on Saturday, deluging the city of Galveston with an 11-foot-high wall of water and leaving extensive damage across metropolitan Houston. ...

Hurricane Ike swamps Texas

2008-09-14T00:55+0200

Howling ashore with 110 mph winds, Hurricane Ike ravaged the Texas coast, flooding thousands of homes and businesses, shattering windows in Houston's skyscrapers and knocking out power to millions of people.

Ike cuts a punishing path through Texas

2008-09-14T00:55+0200

After losing strength, Ike was downgraded to a tropical storm, as Houston continued to huddle from the lashing wind and rain.

Stars in Haiti to aid storm victims

2008-09-14T00:55+0200

Matt Damon and Wyclef Jean were in Haiti to distribute food and lend star power to relief efforts for thousands of flood victims.

USA: Hurikán Ike nespôsobil v Texase až také škody, ako sa očakávalo

2008-09-14T00:51+0200

Houston 14. septembra (TASR) - Texaský guvernér Rick Perry v sobotu povedal, že Hurikán Ike v štáte nenarobil až také škody, aké sa podľa najhoršieho scenára očakávali. Hurikán v sobotu ráno udrel na pobrežie Texasu a zaplavil stovky kilometrov pobrežia. Neskôr sa zmenil na tropickú búrku.

Texas Takes Stock Of Ike's Impact

2008-09-14T00:48+0200

Rescue crews took to helicopters, boats and high-wheeled trucks to search for thousands of Texans left stranded by Hurricane Ike. The storm blew out skyscraper windows, cut power to millions and flooded thousands of homes.

2008-09-14T00:37+0200

THOUSANDS of Texans who refused to leave their homes in low-lying areas were stranded without power yesterday after Hurricane Ike pounded the coast, causing widespread flooding and wind damage.

Rescuers fan out across Gulf Coast after Ike slams Texas

2008-09-14T00:35+0200

Bush declares Texas a disaster area after Ike

2008-09-14T00:29+0200

President Bush on Saturday declared a major disaster in Texas after Hurricane Ike flooded homes, knocked out power and caused a spike in gasoline prices.

Hurricane Aftermath

2008-09-14T00:25+0200

by and Jacki Lyden Audio for this story will be available at approx. 7:00 p.m. ET September 13, 2008 Houston and Baytown, Texas, were severely damaged by Hurricane Ike. Share this page using one of the following services: (Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR....

Hurricane Ike Devastates Coastal Texas

2008-09-14T00:25+0200

Hurricane Ike made landfall as a Category 2 storm in Texas early Saturday. It has weakened as it moves farther inland.

Crews fan out in Texas to assess Ike's wrath

2008-09-14T00:11+0200

Rescue crews in high-wheel trucks, helicopters and boats ventured out to pluck people from their homes Saturday in an all-out search for thousands of Texans who stubbornly stayed behind overnight to face Hurricane Ike. The storm blew out skyscraper windows, cut power to millions and swamped thousands of homes along the coast.

Militants battle Nigerian forces in oil region

2008-09-14T00:06+0200

Militants fought a rare ground battle with Nigerian armed forces in the country's southern oil region Saturday and threatened to launch reprisals on the oil infrastructure in Africa's biggest crude producer.

Survivor: 'Just a crazy, old hardhead'

2008-09-14T00:06+0200

Ray Wilkinson considers himself to be the only one "stupid enough" to stay behind when Hurricane Ike hit Surfside Beach, Texas.

Ike slams into Texas

2008-09-13T23:59+0200

Tommy Scarborough supports himself on a post while he gets a lift from the strong winds created by the approaching Hurricane Ike in Bacliff, Texas, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanche...

Gas prices spike overnight as Ike slams coast

2008-09-13T23:59+0200

HOUSTON (AP) -- Gas prices jumped Saturday as Hurricane Ike pounded the refinery richregions of Texas and Louisiana, threatening to shut down the nation's vast energy complex in the Gulf of Mexico for...

Bush Declares Major Disaster in Texas After Hurricane Ike

2008-09-13T23:57+0200

U.S. President George Bush has declared a major disaster in Texas, after Hurricane Ike swept through the region, flooding homes and businesses and knocking out power to millions in and around Houston -- the nation's fourth-largest city. The president Saturday ordered federal aid to help local recovery efforts.

Ike brings death, destruction to Texas

2008-09-13T23:57+0200

THE largest search and rescue operation in Texas history kicked into gear today hours after Hurricane Ike slammed into the US Gulf Coast as a category two storm, packing a devastating ocean surge, knocking out power to millions and flooding coastal areas. 6:17am (AEST)

Flood, debris stifle Ike rescues

2008-09-13T23:51+0200

Rescuers in Galveston, Texas, were going door-to-door Saturday to check on the estimated 20,000 people who failed to run from Hurricane Ike, which has weakened to tropical storm status. Seventeen 17 buildings on the island were destroyed by fire, potent winds and a robust storm surge.

AIR Worldwide Estimates Insured Losses to Onshore U.S. Properties from Hurricane Ike at between USD 8 Billion and USD 12 Billion

2008-09-13T23:50+0200

Catastrophe risk modeling firm AIR Worldwide Corporation estimates that insured losses to onshore properties in the U.S. from Hurricane Ike are between ...

Channel surf

2008-09-13T23:50+0200

Atelier Bravo is an artists collective based in Fukuoka whose eight members are developmentally disabled. Some years ago, when the city administration became increasingly alarmed at the amount of graffiti in public spaces, the collective was recruited to paint over it with their own art. Now, Atelier Bravo's wall art can be seen in 12 locations.

Hurricane Ike Hits Oncor's Eastern Service Area

2008-09-13T23:50+0200

This morning, Hurricane Ike passed through Oncor's service area, primarily in its Eastern Region, with winds up to 90 mph causing power outages throughout ...

Ike blasts Texas coast, floods homes, cuts power

2008-09-13T23:45+0200

GALVESTON, Texas (AP) -- Howling ashore with 110 mph winds, Hurricane Ike ravaged the Texas coast Saturday, flooding thousands of homes and businesses, shattering windows in Houston's skyscrapers and knocking out power to millions of people. At first light, it was unclear how many may have perished,....

Crews fan out across Texas to assess Ike's wrath

2008-09-13T23:43+0200

HOUSTON -- Rescue crews in high-wheel trucks, helicopters and boats ventured out to pluck people from their homes Saturday in an all-out search for thousands of Texans who stubbornly stayed behind overnight to face Hurricane Ike.

Rescuers fan out across Gulf Coast after Ike slams Texas

2008-09-13T23:43+0200

GALVESTON, Texas (AFP) - The largest search and rescue operation in Texas history kicked into gear Saturday hours after Ike slammed into the US Gulf Coast as a category two hurricane, packing a devastating ocean surge, knocking out power to millions and flooding coastal areas.

Ike causes flooding, destruction

2008-09-13T23:37+0200

Hurricane Ike has powered across the densely populated Texas coast, bringing ferocious winds and causing widespread flooding, paralysing Houston.

In harm's way: Ike floods force rescue of holdouts (AP)

2008-09-13T23:36+0200

AP - Even as they plucked people from rooftops and wrecked neighborhoods on Saturday, emergency responders grumbled over how many brushed off dire warnings and tried to ride out Hurricane Ike.

Crews fan out in Texas to assess Ike's wrath (AP)

2008-09-13T23:36+0200

AP - Rescue crews in high-wheel trucks, helicopters and boats ventured out to pluck people from their homes Saturday in an all-out search for thousands of Texans who stubbornly stayed behind overnight to face Hurricane Ike.

Rescuers fan out across Gulf Coast after Ike slams Texas (AFP)

2008-09-13T23:36+0200

AFP - The largest search and rescue operation in Texas history kicked into gear Saturday hours after Ike slammed into the US Gulf Coast as a category two hurricane, packing a devastating ocean surge, knocking out power to millions and flooding coastal areas.

Obama scales back campaign events in Ike's wake

2008-09-13T23:35+0200

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama asked his supporters Saturday to help with recovery from Hurricane Ike and canceled ...

Hurricane Ike Rescues Underway in Texas and Louisiana

2008-09-13T23:35+0200

Federal and State response forces have begun what Texas Governor Rick Perry is calling the largest search and rescue ever in his state today as more than 100,000 residents are estimated to have ignored Hurricane Ike evacuation warnings.

Despite history, thousands rode Ike out in Galveston

2008-09-13T23:30+0200

13 Sep 2008 21:20:50 GMT Source: Reuters By Jessica Rinaldi GALVESTON, Texas, Sept 13 (Reuters) - John Benge, who lives down the street from the Galveston seawall, has ridden out every major storm to hit the Texas city since 1929, except ...

Insurers loss from Ike seen from $8 bln to $18 bln

2008-09-13T23:30+0200

13 Sep 2008 21:01:34 GMT Source: Reuters (Adds information from EQECAT interview, new estimate from AIR Worldwide, industry data, background, byline) By Lilla Zuill NEW YORK, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike, which blasted the densely ...

Crews fan out to assess damage

2008-09-13T23:29+0200

Howling ashore with 110 mph winds, Hurricane Ike ravaged the Texas coast Saturday, flooding thousands of homes and businesses, shattering windows in Houston's skyscrapers and knocking out power to millions of people.

Will this woman bring down Gordon Brown?

2008-09-13T23:19+0200

As sackings go, it was pretty unorthodox, but then Siobhain McDonagh’s call for Gordon Brown to face a leadership contest was no ordinary act of political rebellion. It was shortly before 7pm on Friday when McDonagh, hitherto a serial loyalist who had never revolted in 11 years as an MP, learnt that....

Will this woman bring down Gordon Brown?

2008-09-13T23:14+0200

Ike howler blacks out Texas coast

2008-09-13T23:13+0200

Hurricane Ike ravaged the Texas coast, flooding thousands of homes and businesses and knocking out power to millions of people.

Hurricane Ike slams Texas coast, Houston

2008-09-13T23:10+0200

HOUSTON, Sept 13 - (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike slammed the Texas and Louisiana coast on Saturday with ferocious winds and a wall of water that flooded hundreds of miles, cut power to millions and caused billions of dollars in damage.

Latin Jazz Stamp Brightens Up Hispanic Heritage Month

2008-09-13T23:06+0200

WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A. - The sounds of Latin jazz almost seem to jump from the bold graphic design and tropical colors of the new U.S. stamp released just in time for Hispanic Heritage Month.

2008-09-13T22:42+0200

CHICAGO (AFP) - Barack Obama urged his supporters Saturday to help victims of the monstrous Hurricane Ike while also promising economic relief to hard-pressed Americans suffering "quiet storms" in their own lives.

Hurricane Ike rakes Texas coast, Houston (Reuters)

2008-09-13T22:36+0200

Reuters - Hurricane Ike powered across the densely populated Texas coast and through Houston on Saturday, bringing ferocious winds and a wall of water that flooded hundreds of miles of coastline and paralyzed the fourth-largest U.S. city.

Crews fan out across Texas to assess Ike's wrath (AP)

2008-09-13T22:36+0200

Rescues, choked roads after Ike

2008-09-13T22:36+0200

Firefighters in Galveston, Texas, have rescued 22 Hurricane Ike survivors on the coastal island and taken them to a shelter that lacks electricity and ample water pressure. The island will remain closed because of debris and road damage.

UNICEF brings relief to hurricane-ravaged Cuba, Turks and Caicos Islands

2008-09-13T22:35+0200

NEW YORK, NY, U.S.A. - United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) staff in Cuba are rushing to provide clean water and sanitation to the areas hardest hit this week by Hurricane Ike, the fourth deadly tropical storm to...

Texas dodged Ike's worst damage -governor

2008-09-13T22:28+0200

13 Sep 2008 20:18:25 GMT Source: Reuters HOUSTON, Sept 13 (Reuters) - The worst-case scenario of damage from Hurricane Ike did not occur, Texas Gov. Rick Perry said hours after the storm slammed ashore early on Saturday, carrying with it a ...

Sarah Palin sets off to change Washington

2008-09-13T22:18+0200

Sarah Palin has flown out of Alaska after a rapturous rally vowing to take the common sense values of the American wilderness with her.

Hurricane Ike devastates homes, threatens oil supplies

2008-09-13T22:17+0200

WASHINGTON - Winds gusting up to 110mph sent a huge surge of water through low-lying areas of the US Gulf coast as Hurricane Ike came ashore before dawn yesterday, putting the lives of thousands of people at risk who had stayed...

Hurricane Ike swamps Texas

2008-09-13T22:16+0200

Hurricane Ike beats Texas, gets weak

2008-09-13T22:14+0200

Ike was downgraded Saturday to a tropical storm 11 hours after it crashed ashore as a Texas-sized hurricane that walloped southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana. The storm's sustained winds dropped to 60 mph as it moved north across Texas, expending its power along the way.

Hurricane Ike rakes Texas coast, Houston

2008-09-13T22:10+0200

HOUSTON, Sept 13 - (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike powered across the densely populated Texas coast and through Houston on Saturday, bringing ferocious winds and a wall of water that flooded hundreds of miles of coastline and paralyzed the fourth-largest U.S. city.

Palin bids fond farewell to Alaska to campaign

2008-09-13T22:10+0200

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin bid farewell to Alaska on Saturday to hit the campaign trail in the lower 48 states with a strong defense of her home state.

Nigeria militants say army attacking their positions, hostages wounded (AFP)

2008-09-13T22:06+0200

AFP - Oil-rich southern Nigeria's most prominent armed group said Saturday the army had launched a "full-scale" offensive on its positions and that hostages had been caught up in the fighting.

Moon cakes with a difference

2008-09-13T22:03+0200

This year, the festival falls on Sunday. Come that day, some people may be in for a surprise when they bite into their moon cakes. The reason? Some restaurants and bakeries have come up with some not-so-traditional flavours and fillings for their moon cakes. Take, for instance, the Tai Thong Group of Restaurants.

Hurricane Ike Leaves Path of Devastation in Houston Area

2008-09-13T22:03+0200

Storm still generating heavy rain, high winds throughout area, so officials say it may take time to determine damage done

Officials monitoring gas prices after Ike

2008-09-13T21:59+0200

Federal and state officials will make sure consumers don't get gouged by gas price increases in the wake of Hurricane Ike, President Bush said Saturday.

Bush declares TX disaster area after Ike

2008-09-13T21:58+0200

President Bush on Saturday declared a major disaster in Texas after Hurricane Ike flooded homes, knocked out power and caused a spike in gasoline prices.

DOE talking with IEA in case emergency oil needed

2008-09-13T21:57+0200

13 Sep 2008 19:18:58 GMT Source: Reuters WASHINGTON, Sept 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. Energy Department said on Saturday it was providing information to the International Energy Agency on the disruption in U.S. oil production and fuel supplies ...

DOE talking with IEA in case emergency oil needed

2008-09-13T21:57+0200

13 Sep 2008 19:40:39 GMT Source: Reuters (adds details on IEA) WASHINGTON, Sept 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. Energy Department said on Saturday it was providing information to the International Energy Agency on the disruption in U.S. oil ...

Bush declares Texas disaster zone

2008-09-13T21:55+0200

President Bush declares Texas a disaster zone after Hurricane Ike batters the state with winds in excess of 110mph (175km/h).

Alternative route for Spring Bank residents

2008-09-13T21:52+0200

Residents of Spring Bank in St Thomas, who were marooned in their community after a section of the road collapsed during Tropical Storm Gustav, will soon be able to move about freely.

Bush says danger from Hurricane Ike not over

2008-09-13T21:45+0200

President Bush has warned that the danger to the US Gulf Coast from Hurricane Ike has not yet passed.

Obama aide: McCain camp 'sleaziest' in modern history

2008-09-13T21:44+0200

Sen. Barack Obama's spokesman on Saturday accused Sen. John McCain of "cynically running the sleaziest and least honorable campaign in modern presidential campaign history."

Palin says farewell to home state to campaign solo (AP)

2008-09-13T21:36+0200

AP - Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, who came to the friendly turf of her home state for her first campaign venture without John McCain, told supporters at a farewell rally Saturday that she'd return at the end of the campaign.

Crews fan out across Texas to assess Ike's wrath (AP)

2008-09-13T21:36+0200

HURRICANE IKE BLOG: Galveston now

2008-09-13T21:27+0200

EDITOR'S NOTE: Welcome to the Hurricane Ike Blog (click here for a list of posts). Below is the latest post from our bloggers, Rob Geiger, a Houston-area free-lance writer who is riding the storm out with his family in their home, and Rod Lamkey, a staff staff photographer of the Washington Times. We will post their blogs the moment we get them.

Palin says farewell to home state to campaign solo

2008-09-13T21:27+0200

Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, who came to the friendly turf of her home state for her first campaign venture without John McCain, told supporters at a farewell rally Saturday that she'd return at the end of the campaign.

Ike caused 'a few deaths,' surges- US official

2008-09-13T21:26+0200

13 Sep 2008 19:04:49 GMT Source: Reuters (Adds Galveston and Houston Ship Channel not hit as badly as expected, quote on death toll) WASHINGTON, Sept 13 (Reuters) - U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said there were ...

Ike's worst case damage did not occur- Texas governor

2008-09-13T21:26+0200

13 Sep 2008 19:09:16 GMT Source: Reuters HOUSTON, Sept 13 (Reuters) - The worst case scenario of damage from Hurricane Ike did not occur, Texas Gov. Rick Perry said, speaking hours after the storm slammed ashore early on Saturday carrying a ...

Hurricane Ike downgrades to tropical storm, moves north through Texas

2008-09-13T21:25+0200

Hurricane Ike weakened to become a tropical storm as it headed north across Texas on Saturday, after making landfall on the Texas Gulf Coast as a Category 2 hurricane, paralyzing Houston and flooding Galveston and other coastal areas. ...

Frog future

2008-09-13T21:25+0200

Take Isthmohyla rivularis , for example. Until a single male was spotted last year, this species was thought to have been extinct. This week, another male has been seen, but far more importantly a female, full of eggs. This means the species is still out there with the capacity to reproduce, though....

NFL: Ike damages Texans' stadium, Monday's game iffy

2008-09-13T21:24+0200

HOUSTON — Damage caused by Hurricane Ike was expected to lead to postponement of Monday night's NFL game at Reliant Stadium between the visiting Baltimore Ravens and the Houston Texans.

NFL: No Brady means Jets-Pats could be pivotal AFC game

2008-09-13T21:24+0200

Even before the Jets signed Brett Favre and the Patriots lost Tom Brady, Sunday's matchup at the Meadowlands between New York and New England had an intriguing subplot. Now it could have an impact on who wins the AFC East.

Crews fan out in Texas to assess damage

2008-09-13T21:17+0200

Louisiana rescues begin as winds die down

2008-09-13T21:14+0200

Rescuers used boats and trucks Saturday to save hundreds of coastal Louisiana residents trapped by a 7-foot storm surge from Hurricane Ike.

Rescuers seek 20,000 who stayed for Ike

2008-09-13T21:14+0200

Twenty-nine Texas counties are disaster areas, President Bush declared Saturday after Hurricane Ike pushed foot after foot of water onto shore. Rescuers have begun looking for 20,000 Texans who chose not to evacuate.

Ike weakens to tropical storm over Texas

2008-09-13T21:07+0200

Ike hit eastern Texas as a Category 2 hurricane Saturday with winds of 175 km/h and heavy rain before weakening to a tropical storm.

Wide financial sector fears to drive market (Reuters)

2008-09-13T21:06+0200

Reuters - Even if the fate of Lehman Brothers is resolved this weekend, Wall Street is likely to remain on edge next week because of fears over the health of other big financial companies.

EADS denies backing out of U.S. tanker contest (Reuters)

2008-09-13T21:06+0200

Reuters - Airbus parent EADS denied on Saturday it was thinking of abandoning efforts to supply air tankers to the United States after a German weekly reported it was threatening to walk away from the fraught tender process.

Flood, fire, busted skyscraper after Ike

2008-09-13T20:59+0200

Hurricane Ike shattered nearly every window on one side of a skyscraper's first 30 floors. The storm has been downgraded from hurricane status, but floods remain and more than 4 million people are without electricity.

Hurricane Ike weakens after crashing into Texas coast

2008-09-13T20:58+0200

Hurricane Ike ploughed into the densely populated Texas coast near Houston early today, bringing with it a wall of water and ferocious winds and rain that flooded large areas along the Gulf of Mexico.

Search for survivors begins

2008-09-13T20:57+0200

Rescue crews navigated flooded and debris-strewn streets today to search for those who insisted on staying and riding out a fierce hurricane Ike, which shattered skyscraper windows, cut power to millions and flooded thousands of homes as it sloshed across the Texas coast.

DOE says 2.6 million without power in Texas, La.

2008-09-13T20:56+0200

13 Sep 2008 18:27:07 GMT Source: Reuters WASHINGTON, Sept 13 (Reuters) - There were 2,602,045 customers without electricity in the wake of Hurricane Ike as of Saturday morning, the U.S. Energy Department said. That number includes 2,383, ...

Ike caused 'significant surges'- U.S. official

2008-09-13T20:56+0200

13 Sep 2008 18:51:16 GMT Source: Reuters WASHINGTON, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said there were unconfirmed reports of "a few deaths" from Hurricane Ike, which slammed the Texas coast on ...

CHERTOFF SAYS UNCONFIRMED REPORTS OF "A FEW DEATHS" FROM HURRICA

2008-09-13T20:56+0200

13 Sep 2008 18:47:34 GMT Source: Reuters CHERTOFF SAYS UNCONFIRMED REPORTS OF "A FEW DEATHS" FROM HURRICANE IKE ...

Statement by Press Secretary Dana Perino

2008-09-13T20:48+0200

OFFICE OF THE PRESS SECRETARY The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Texas and ordered Federal aid to supplement State ...

Nationwide Begins Response for Ike

2008-09-13T20:48+0200

Nationwide claim representatives and agents are assisting customers in response to Hurricane Ike. Procedures are in place providing quick response to ...

Republican VP Candidate Palin Defends Domestic Policies

2008-09-13T20:48+0200

Governor Sarah Palin responded to questions during first televised interview since becoming McCain's vice presidential running mate

TNMP Responds To Impact of Hurricane Ike

2008-09-13T20:48+0200

FORT WORTH, Texas, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ - TNMP, a provider of electrical transmission and distribution services to approximately 115,000 customers in ...

Bush says Hurricane danger not over

2008-09-13T20:44+0200

President Bush has warned that the danger from Hurricane Ike has not yet passed.

USA: Hurikán Ike zoslabol na tropickú búrku

2008-09-13T20:41+0200

Houston/Washington 13. septembra (TASR) - Hurikán Ike, ktorý dnes zasiahol americký štát Texas, sa zmenil na tropickú búrku. Oznámilo to Národné hurikánové centrum (NHC) v Miami. Ike udrel na pobrežie Texasu ráno o 09.10 h SELČ ako hurikán druhej kategórie na päťdielnej škále, paralyzoval Houston,....

Nigerian militants tell oil workers to leave delta (Reuters)

2008-09-13T20:35+0200

Reuters - Nigerian militants on Saturday warned oil firms in the Niger Delta to withdraw their workers in the next 24 hours or face a "hurricane" of retaliation after a major gun battle with security forces.

Rescue crews comb Texas coast for Ike victims (AP)

2008-09-13T20:35+0200

AP - Rescue crews navigated flooded and debris-strewn streets Saturday to search for those who insisted on staying and riding out a fierce Hurricane Ike, which shattered skyscraper windows, cut power to millions and flooded thousands of homes as it sloshed across the Texas coast.

Devastating Hurricane Ike swamps Texas and Louisiana

2008-09-13T20:29+0200

Howling ashore with 110 mph winds, Hurricane Ike ravaged the Texas coast today, flooding thousands of homes and businesses, shattering windows in Houston’s skyscrapers and knocking out power to millions of people.

Hurricane Ike Crashes Into Texas

2008-09-13T19:51+0200

The gigantic Hurricane Ike crashed into densely populated southeast Texas early Saturday, battering the coast with pouring rain and violent wind gusts as residents who decided too late they should have evacuated made unsuccessful 911 calls for rescue. Reports from the hard hit area talk about exte...

2008-09-13T19:35+0200

AP - Howling ashore with 110 mph winds, Hurricane Ike ravaged the Texas coast Saturday, flooding thousands of homes and businesses, shattering windows in Houston's skyscrapers and knocking out power to millions of people.

2008-09-13T18:58+0200

On the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on America, soldiers and airmen of the Louisiana National Guard assisted Plaquemines Parish by sandbagging a levee that protects Highway 23, the main artery for entering and exiting Plaquemines Parish, as a precaution against Hurricane Ike's storm surge.

Ike floods homes, cuts power

2008-09-13T18:56+0200

Bush says danger from Hurricane Ike not yet passed

2008-09-13T18:53+0200

13 Sep 2008 16:21:09 GMT Source: Reuters (Adds Bush comments, bike ride) By Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON, Sept 13 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush warned on Saturday that the danger to the U.S. Gulf Coast from Hurricane Ike had not yet ...

Ike wreaks havoc on Texas coast

2008-09-13T18:38+0200

HOUSTON, Sept 13 - (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike barrelled into the densely populated Texas coast near Houston early on Saturday, bringing with it a wall of water and ferocious winds and rain that flooded large areas along the Gulf of Mexico and paralyzed the fourth-largest U.S. city.

Gas prices spike overnight as Ike slams coast (AP)

2008-09-13T18:35+0200

AP - Gas prices jumped Saturday as Hurricane Ike pounded the refinery rich regions of Texas and Louisiana, threatening to shut down the nation's vast energy complex in the Gulf of Mexico for days.

Hurricane Ike slams Texas coast with major floods

2008-09-13T18:35+0200

Thousands of homes and government buildings flooded, roads were washed out, 2.9 million people lost power and several fires burned unabated as crews could not reach them.

Ike blasts Texas coast, floods homes, cuts power (AP)

2008-09-13T18:35+0200

Devastating Ike roars ashore

2008-09-13T18:34+0200

Rescue teams ready to help after Ike

2008-09-13T18:34+0200

Rescue teams were poised to move in and help tens of thousands of people who decided not to evacuate before Hurricane Ike struck, President Bush said Saturday.

Hurricane Ike Texas residents tell of their 'night of terror'

2008-09-13T18:32+0200

Galveston residents who took shelter at a hotel endured a night of terror when the roof peeled off sending wind and water howling through rooms.

Obama scales back events after Ike

2008-09-13T18:31+0200

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama asked his supporters Saturday to help with recovery from Hurricane Ike and canceled his plans to crack jokes on "Saturday Night Live" in the aftermath of the storm.

Obama scales back campaign events in Ike's wake

2008-09-13T18:28+0200

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama asked his supporters today to help with recovery from Hurricane Ike and cancelled his plans to crack jokes on the TV comedy show Saturday Night Live in the aftermath of the storm.

Ike roars ashore, swamps Texas

2008-09-13T18:23+0200

Hurricane Ike was downgraded to a Category 1 storm Saturday morning hours after the monster storm with winds of 110 mph pounded ...

Hurricane Ike rakes Texas coast, Houston

2008-09-13T18:20+0200

HOUSTON - (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike barreled into the densely populated Texas coast near Houston early on Saturday, bringing with it a wall of water and ferocious winds and rain that flooded large areas along the Gulf of Mexico and paralyzed the fourth-largest U.S. city.

Tennis: Austrian teen shocks top seed Hantuchova at Bali Open

2008-09-13T18:18+0200

NUSA DUA, Indonesia : Austrian teenager Tamira Paszek shocked top seed Daniela Hantuchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 to set up a Bali Open final against Switzerland's Patty Schnyder on Saturday.

Rugby: All Blacks storm back against Wallabies to keep Tri title

2008-09-13T18:18+0200

BRISBANE, Australia: New Zealand stormed back from 10 points down to beat Australia 28-24 and win their ninth Tri-Nations rugby crown in a pulsating Test at Lang Park on Saturday.

Hurricane Ike Pounds Texas, Moves Northward

2008-09-13T18:16+0200

Ike swept through Texas, flooding homes and businesses, knocking out electricity to hundreds of thousands, cutting path of destruction all the way up to Houston

Hurricane Ike gives Texas a beating

2008-09-13T18:13+0200

Hurricane Ike landed a powerful punch on the Texas Gulf Coast early Saturday, sparking fires, flooding streets and knocking out power to more than 4 million people.

National Guard Patrols Grand Isle Waters

2008-09-13T18:12+0200

In an effort to prevent looting of area residents' property and local businesses, Louisiana National Guardsmen began patrolling the waters along the north shore of Grand Isle, La.

Nigeria militants order oil workers to leave delta

2008-09-13T18:08+0200

ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigerian militants on Saturday warned oil firms in the Niger Delta to withdraw their workers in the next 24 hours or face a "hurricane" of retaliation after a gunbattle with security forces.

Hurricane Ike rakes Texas coast

2008-09-13T18:08+0200

HOUSTON, Sept 13 - (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike barreled into the densely populated Texas coast near Houston early on Saturday, bringing with it a wall of water and ferocious winds and rain that flooded large areas along the Gulf of Mexico and paralyzed the fourth-largest U.S. city.

Bush: Rescue teams ready to help after Ike

2008-09-13T18:07+0200

Hurricane Ike Slams Texas Coast With Major Flooding, 3 Million Without Power

2008-09-13T18:05+0200

Hurricane Ike rakes Texas coast (Reuters)

2008-09-13T18:05+0200

Reuters - Hurricane Ike barreled into the densely populated Texas coast near Houston early on Saturday, bringing with it a wall of water and ferocious winds and rain that flooded large areas along the Gulf of Mexico and paralyzed the fourth-largest U.S. city.

Devastating Hurricane Ike swamps Texas, Louisiana (AP)

2008-09-13T18:05+0200

Night to Remember: Riding Out Ike

2008-09-13T18:05+0200

Long before her windows started humming and the lanky pine trees began swaying, new mother Claudia Macias had second thoughts about her family's decision to ride out Hurricane Ike in their home on the far east side of Houston. As the night wore on and television news programs churned out reports of....

Texas Pounded By Hurricane Ike

2008-09-13T18:01+0200

The hurricane, almost as large as Texas itself, had 110 mph winds as its eye came ashore at Galveston, a strong Category 2 storm, threatening to devastate coastal towns and batter Houston.

Snowmail: Labour vice chair sacked

2008-09-13T18:00+0200

Hello Samira here. Another female MP sacked after coming out with calls (expressed in a frustratingly vague touchy-feely way) about Labour needing a leadership challenge. Joan Ryan, vice chair of the Labour Party, follows assistant whip Siobhan McDonagh, who got the boot yesterday not for sending....

Bush says officials monitoring gas prices

2008-09-13T17:58+0200

Federal and state officials will make sure consumers don't get gouged by gas price increases in the wake of Hurricane Ike, President Bush said Saturday.

Louisiana flooding rivals Hurricane Rita

2008-09-13T17:58+0200

The storm surge from Hurricane Ike flooded 1,800 homes in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, and authorities told stranded residents to stay indoors Saturday because authorities could not rescue them yet.

Hurricane Ike downgraded after crashing into Texas coast

2008-09-13T17:56+0200

2008-09-13T17:35+0200

AFP - US President George W. Bush announced on Saturday restrictions on imported gasoline had been suspended in response to Hurricane Ike, which disrupted operations at Gulf Coast oil refineries and prompted gas price-gouging in southeastern states.

Hurricane Ike slams into populous Texas coast

2008-09-13T17:35+0200

Hurricane Ike barrelled into the densely populated Texas coast near Houston early on Saturday, bringing with it a wall of water and ferocious winds and rain.

2008-09-13T17:09+0200

2008-09-13T17:01+0200

Associated Press Bobby Taylor tows a kayak as he evacuates. His neighborhood was overtaken Friday by water in Surfside Beach, Texas.

Bush says consumers won't be gouged on gas after Ike

2008-09-13T16:59+0200

Federal and state officials will make sure consumers don't get gouged by gas price increases in the wake of Hurricane Ike, President Bush said Saturday.

On The Ground With Hurricane Ike

2008-09-13T16:55+0200

NPR's Ari Shapiro is in Houston, Texas. He talks with host Scott Simon about the latest damage from Hurricane Ike. Pounding rains have hit Houston and thousands of people have called for help. Power outages are widespread.

2008-09-13T16:34+0200

AP - Officials along the Louisiana coast are reporting serious flooding from Hurricane Ike.

USA: Hurikán Ike zoslabol na prvý stupeň, podľa Busha nebezpečenstvo nepominulo

2008-09-13T16:28+0200

Houston/Washington 13. septembra (TASR) - Hurikán Ike zoslabol dnes na tropickú búrku prvého stupňa, keď sa presúval do vnútrozemia po zaplavení texaského mesta Galveston na rovnomennom ostrove a bičovaní pásov amerického pobrežia Mexického zálivu. Oznámilo to americké Národné hurikánové centrum. O 15.

Hurricane Ike downgraded after hitting Texas coast

2008-09-13T16:26+0200

Hurricane Ike batters Texas as a desperate rescue operation is launched

2008-09-13T16:25+0200

Hurricane Ike crashed ashore in Texas yesterday pummelling the coast with brutal 130mph gusts of wind and a dangerous 20ft sea surge before sweeping inland towards Houston.

Bush: Rescue teams ready to help after Ike

2008-09-13T16:24+0200

Rescue teams were poised to move in and help tens of thousands of people who decided not to evacuate before Hurricane Ike struck, President Bush said Saturday.

Hurricane Ike Pounds Texas

2008-09-13T16:21+0200

Authorities try to assess damage the storm already has caused in flooded areas along Gulf of Mexico coast

Nigeria militants order oil workers to leave delta

2008-09-13T16:19+0200

13 Sep 2008 13:59:15 GMT Source: Reuters (Adds details, background) By Randy Fabi ABUJA, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Nigeria's most prominent militant group on Saturday warned oil companies in the restive Niger Delta to withdraw their workers in ...

Bush: Ike is huge storm, causing great damage

2008-09-13T16:16+0200

President George W. Bush says Hurricane Ike is a huge storm that has caused a lot of damage in Texas and parts of Louisiana. Bush said Saturday morning at the White House that he just had a video conference with Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and disaster relief agency chief David Paulison.

Hurricane Ike slams into populous Texas coast

2008-09-13T16:07+0200

Hurricane Ike barrelled into the densely populated Texas coast near Houston early on Saturday, bringing with it a wall of water and ferocious winds and rain.

Today on the presidential campaign trail (AP)

2008-09-13T16:04+0200

AP - Obama cancels 'SNL' appearance, Biden to skip joint rally in response to Hurricane Ike ... Moose-hunting Republican from Palin's hometown casts crucial vote to subpoena her husband ... Palin's return to Alaska brings reality of national campaign, stirs opinions back home ...

Houston family rides out Ike like many others (AP)

2008-09-13T16:04+0200

AP - Long before her windows started humming and the lanky pine trees began swaying, new mother Claudia Macias had second thoughts about her family's decision to ride out Hurricane Ike in their home on the far east side of Houston.

Hurricane Ike weakens over Texas

2008-09-13T15:57+0200

Published: Friday, 12 September 2008, 7:29AM The US Hurricane Centre has downgraded Ike to a Category 1 storm. Earlier on Saturday the hurricane crashed onto the densely populated Texas coast near Houston threatening devastation along the Gulf of Mexico.

Massive Hurricane Ike Batters Southeast Texas

2008-09-13T15:55+0200

Hurricane Ike slammed into southeastern Texas on Saturday with sheets of rain and huge gusts of wind, causing widespread flooding and knocking out power for millions. Authorities worried that thousands of coastal residents who decided to stay in their homes would have to be rescued.

India struggles to cope with floods

2008-09-13T15:55+0200

By James Fontanella-Khan in Calcutta Published: September 2 2008 03:00 | Last updated: September 2 2008 03:00 As the world’s focus turns to Hurricane Gustav, India is struggling with the aftermath of floods that have displaced nearly 10 times as many people as the population of New Orleans .

In Ike's wake, Obama drops SNL, Biden skips rally

2008-09-13T15:54+0200

Barack Obama's campaign toned down its events Saturday in response to Hurricane Ike, canceling plans for the Democratic presidential nominee to crack jokes on "Saturday Night Live" and for his running mate to appear at a joint rally.

HURRICANE IKE BLOG: It's here

2008-09-13T15:54+0200

EDITOR'S NOTE: Welcome to the Hurricane Ike Blog, where our staff and contributors will share reports with readers of The Washington Times. If you're in the Houston area and you'd like to contribute to this blog, please e-mail your stories to webdesk@washingtontimes.com.

Hurricane Ike weakens to category 1

2008-09-13T15:54+0200

Hurricane Ike hit Texas Saturday with terrible fury, sending flood waters into Galveston and displacing more than one million people.

Bush: Ike is huge storm, causing great damage

2008-09-13T15:52+0200

Ike makes landfall in Galveston, Texas

2008-09-13T15:52+0200

Hurricane Ike slammed ashore in southeast Texas early Saturday with winds of 175 km/h and heavy rain that caused widespread flooding along the Gulf of Mexico.

Ike sends gas prices higher

2008-09-13T15:51+0200

Gas prices rose for the fourth straight day as Hurricane Ike slammed the Texas Gulf Coast early Saturday morning.

FACTBOX-Hurricane Ike lashes Texas coast, Houston

Ike weaker, but destruction immense

2008-09-13T15:31+0200

HURRICANE Ike has weakened to a Category 1 storm as it moved inland after flooding Galveston and pummeling swathes of the US Gulf Coast, the US National Hurricane Centre said. 9:35pm (AEST)

Hurricane Ike claims its first victims

2008-09-13T15:28+0200

Hurricane Ike is wreaking havoc on the US state of Texas. Three people are reported dead as winds gusting to up to one-hundred-and-thirty miles per hour batter homes and buildings. The storm, which measures nine-hundred miles wide, is powering towards Houston. It's expected to cause more than six billion pounds worth of damage.

Some decide to stay with Ike

2008-09-13T15:26+0200

SURFSIDE BEACH, Texas - At first, even the threat of 'certain death' was not enough to persuade Bobby Taylor to flee this small town directly in the path of Hurricane Ike.

Some refuse to evacuate as Ike closes in on Texas

2008-09-13T15:26+0200

Hurricane Ike, a colossal storm nearly as big as Texas itself, battered the coast Friday, threatening to obliterate waterfront towns and give the skyscrapers, refineries and docks of the nation's fourth-largest ...

Motherwell v Celtic

2008-09-13T15:25+0200

A flawless first-half performance gave Celtic victory over Motherwell, who rallied in the second period. Shaun Maloney put the visitors ahead with a tap-in from close range after four minutes. A volley from Scott McDonald, and a Georgios Samaras brace gave the visitors a four-goal half-time lead.

Bush: Hurricane Ike is `huge' storm

2008-09-13T15:24+0200

President Bush said Saturday that Hurricane Ike was a huge storm that had caused extensive damage in Texas and parts of Louisiana.

Obama tones down campaign plans

2008-09-13T15:24+0200

Barack Obama toned down his campaign plans Saturday in response to Hurricane Ike, canceling plans to crack jokes on "Saturday Night Live" and appear in a boisterous rally with his running mate.

Hurricane Ike hits Texas

2008-09-13T15:22+0200

Thousands of homes and government buildings flooded as storm makes landfall at Galveston

Ike makes landfall in Galveston, Tex.

2008-09-13T15:21+0200

Hurricane Ike slammed ashore in southeast Texas early Saturday with winds of 175 km/h and heavy rain that caused widespread flooding along the Gulf of Mexico.

Hurricane Ike punishing Texas coast, Houston

2008-09-13T15:18+0200

13 Sep 2008 13:15:10 GMT Source: Reuters *Ike floods Galveston, pummels Houston *Bush says much damage, says will monitor gas prices *At least 2 million customers lose electricity *Ike downgraded to Category 1 storm By Chris ...

Bush: Danger from Hurricane Ike not yet passed

2008-09-13T15:18+0200

13 Sep 2008 12:58:43 GMT Source: Reuters WASHINGTON, Sept 13 (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush warned on Saturday that Hurricane Ike was a "huge storm" causing lots of damage in Texas and that the danger had not yet passed ...

Hurricane Ike weakens to Category 1 over Texas

2008-09-13T15:18+0200

13 Sep 2008 13:07:24 GMT Source: Reuters HOUSTON, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike weakened to a Category 1 storm on Saturday as it moved inland after flooding Galveston and pummeling swathes of the U.S. Gulf Coast, the U.S. National ...

Obama cancels SNL appearance as weather again trumps politics (Politico)

2008-09-13T15:04+0200

Politico - With Houston hit hard by Ike, Obama has cancelled his planned apperance on tonight's season premiere of Saturday Night Live, and is asking his contributors to donate to the Red Cross or Save the Children Now.

Hurricane Ike slams into Texas coast

2008-09-13T14:58+0200

Hurricane Ike barreled into the densely populated Texas coast near Houston today bringing with it a wall of water and ferocious winds and rain that could cause catastrophic flooding.

USA: Hurikán Ike začal opúšťať Houston, ale neslabne

2008-09-13T14:49+0200

Houston 13. septembra (TASR) - Ike, najväčší hurikán za ostatných 50 rokov, sa začal vzďaľovať od mesta Houston a očakáva sa, že zamieri na severovýchod k Arkansasu. Hurikán však napriek očakávaniam na pevnine neslabne, naďalej má silu dva stupne na päťbodovej škále. V poradí štvrtý hurikán počas dvoch mesiacov je výnimočný svojím rozsahom.

BUSH: GOV'T TO MONITOR GAS PRICES TO MAKE SURE NO PRICE GOUGING

2008-09-13T14:47+0200

13 Sep 2008 12:43:48 GMT Source: Reuters BUSH: GOV'T TO MONITOR GAS PRICES TO MAKE SURE NO PRICE GOUGING IN IKE'S AFTERMATH ...

Ike strikes the Lone-Star state

2008-09-13T14:45+0200

A Category Two hurricane, which is threatening to be one of the most destructive storms ever to hit the US, has made landfall at Galveston on the coast of Texas. The leading edge of Hurricane Ike has already sent more than a million residents fleeing to safety and left 1.3-million homes without power.

EQECAT Initial Post-Landfall Estimates Of Insured Onshore Losses From Hurricane Ike

2008-09-13T14:44+0200

EQECAT, Inc., the leading authority on extreme-risk modeling, Saturday morning said, based on current storm information provided by the National Oceanic ...

Flagstone Estimates Onshore Industry Insured Losses of $10 Billion to $16 Billion for Hurricane Ike

2008-09-13T14:44+0200

Flagstone Reinsurance Holdings Limited (NYSE:FSR) announced today that their preliminary analysis estimates that total onshore insured industry losses ...

Hurricane Ike hits Texas

2008-09-13T14:41+0200

HURRICANE Ike made landfall early today on Galveston Island, Texas, driving a huge ocean surge over coastal areas where tens of thousands of people remained holed up, the US National Hurricane Centre ...

Hurricane Ike comes ashore in Texas as thousands refuse to leave

2008-09-13T14:41+0200

2008-09-13T14:41+0200

+ ] By Muchena Zigomo PIETERMARITZBURG, South Africa (Reuters) - A South African judge threw out corruption charges against ruling party leader Jacob Zuma on Friday, clearing the way for him to be...

Hurricane Ike begins to weaken

2008-09-13T14:36+0200

Hurricane Ike was starting to relent Saturday morning after crashing ashore in Texas with 110-mph wind and a potentially devastating storm surge.

Hurricane Ike slams into Texas coast

2008-09-13T14:35+0200

HOUSTON, Sept 13 - (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike barreled into the densely populated Texas coast near Houston early on Saturday, bringing with it a wall of water and ferocious winds and rain that could cause catastrophic flooding along the Gulf of Mexico and cripple the fourth-largest U.S. city.

Contractors charge more as fuel prices soar

2008-09-13T14:33+0200

KANYE - Southern district council chairperson, Mr Kentse Rammidi says the rising fuel prices has necessitated contractors and suppliers to charge more. Opening the districts full council meeting, Mr Rammidi said these new developments have therefore decreased the amount of funds which was allocated to the council for development projects.

Obama tones it down as Hurricane Ike pounds Texas (AFP)

2008-09-13T14:33+0200

AFP - The White House campaign faced its second storm-forced disruption Saturday as Barack Obama offered to raise funds from his army of donors for victims of the monstrous Hurricane Ike.

Hurricane Ike slams into Texas coast (Reuters)

2008-09-13T14:33+0200

Reuters - Hurricane Ike barreled into the densely populated Texas coast near Houston early on Saturday, bringing with it a wall of water and ferocious winds and rain that could cause catastrophic flooding along the Gulf of Mexico and cripple the fourth-largest U.S. city.

Gas Price Gouging Hits Hurricane States

2008-09-13T14:32+0200

Fears of gas shortages are leading to exploitation in some parts of the Southeast, where some stations are reported to be charging as much as $6 a gallon for gas. In North Carolina, Gov. Mike Easley has declared a state of "abnormal market disruption" and signed an order allowing the attorney general to enforce the state's anti-gouging law.

Ike roars ashore in Galveston

2008-09-13T14:21+0200

The eye of Hurricane Ike, a monstrous storm with winds of at least 110 mph, was just south of the Galveston area at about 3 a.m. ...

Ike slams into Texas coastline

2008-09-13T14:05+0200

Hurricane Ike barrelled into the densely populated Texas coast near Houston early on Saturday, bringing with it a wall of water and ferocious winds and rain that could cause catastrophic flooding along the Gulf of Mexico and cripple the fourth-largest US city.

Why McCain goes negative ??? and likes it (Politico)

2008-09-13T14:03+0200

Politico - It’s hard to imagine a more unlikely perch for John McCain to be shamed for his increasingly hard-edged and truth-stretching campaign than the middle seat on “The View.”

India to spend more on defence than Britain within five years

2008-09-13T13:59+0200

India's military spending is set to overtake Britain's present defence budget within five years as the country transforms its armed forces to counterbalance China.

Ike Roars Ashore, Batters Southeast Texas Coast

2008-09-13T13:59+0200

Rescuers unable to reach stranded residents amid heavy flooding, 110 mph winds as category 2 storm makes landfall in Galveston, near Houston.

'I Am Afraid for Everyone Here'

2008-09-13T13:59+0200

In a city that knows what hurricanes can do, many Galveston citizens stayed to ride out storm.

Houston decides to stare down Ike instead of leave

2008-09-13T13:53+0200

As a gigantic Hurricane Ike steamed through the Gulf of Mexico toward the Texas coast, officials in America's fourth-largest city made a bold decision: Instead of fleeing, most residents here would stare down ...

Land acquisation delays bus rank expansion

2008-09-13T13:48+0200

SELEBI-PHIKWE - Land acquisition is hindering expansion of the Selebi-Phikwe town bus rank. The town mayor, Mr Amogelang Mojuta told a full council session that a detailed design of the bus rank was long submitted, but the process of acquisition of land is taking long. The land was leased to BCL mine, he said.

03 September, 2008

2008-09-13T13:48+0200

SEROWE - Central District councillors and council employees have been called up to provide timely and satisfactory services to customers and the community at large . Speaking during a full council meeting CDC chairperson Mr Lesego Raditanka said the move was a challenge that all CDC employees and....

Bank bailouts

2008-09-13T13:47+0200

The U.S. government's bailouts of Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and Britain's takeover of Northern Rock, underline the dire straits faced by world financial markets. Richard Blackwell points out that bailouts of financial institutions are nothing new

Ike heads for Arkansas

2008-09-13T13:47+0200

Officials won't know the extent of damage in Houston until they can safely survey the battered landscape

Freighter crew safe after riding out Hurricane Ike

2008-09-13T13:43+0200

A freighter that had been adrift in the Gulf of Mexico made it through Hurricane Ike safely and was awaiting a tugboat to bring it to shore Saturday morning.

22 Red Cross volunteers from Hawai'i helping on Gulf Coast

2008-09-13T13:40+0200

Twenty-two Hawai'i Red Cross volunteers have been working along the Gulf Coast assisting the American Red Cross in response to hurricanes Gustav and Hanna. And likely they will be assisting in recovery efforts because of Hurricane Ike.

Ike hammers Texas coast with rain, 110 mph wind

2008-09-13T13:40+0200

A massive Hurricane Ike ravaged southeast Texas early today, battering the coast with driving rain and ferocious wind gusts as residents who decided too late they should have heeded calls to evacuate made futile calls for rescue.

Daily dose of phony outrage

2008-09-13T13:40+0200

I said in my blog that I couldn't find anything snarky to say about the Honolulu mayoral debate, but I dug deeper for our "flASHback" on the week's news that amused and confused:

Wholesale prices plunge in August

2008-09-13T13:40+0200

The Labor Department reported yesterday that wholesale prices declined 0.9 percent in August, nearly double the 0.5 percent drop that economists had expected, as the price of all types of energy from gasoline to natural gas fell sharply. It was the largest drop in wholesale prices in nearly two years.

Deficit looming, Lingle warns

2008-09-13T13:40+0200

Gov. Linda Lingle said yesterday that all state spending would be reviewed and prioritized as the state manages a projected budget deficit, but she did not describe the financial situation as a crisis and said the state is fundamentally on the right track.

Typhoon takes aim at Taiwan

2008-09-13T13:35+0200

Rock falls blocked roads and flights and rail services were canceled as Typhoon Sinlaku dumped rain and winds buffeted the northern part of Taiwan.

Hurricane Ike lashes Texas coastline

2008-09-13T13:35+0200

Forecasters said damage from the mammoth storm could be even worse than that from Hurricane Katrina.

Hurricane Ike comes ashore in Texas as thousands refuse to leave

2008-09-13T13:34+0200

Ike moves inland in Texas bringing massive flooding (AFP)

2008-09-13T13:32+0200

AFP - A gigantic hurricane dubbed Ike barreled into Texas early Saturday, after bringing a monster ocean surge to coastal areas where tens of thousands of people remained holed up in defiance of evacuation orders.

Ike moves inland in Texas bringing massive flooding

2008-09-13T13:32+0200

GALVESTON, Texas (AFP) - A gigantic hurricane dubbed Ike barreled into Texas early Saturday, after bringing a monster ocean surge to coastal areas where tens of thousands of people remained holed up in defiance of evacuation orders.

Devastating Ike roars ashore in Galveston, Texas (AP)

2008-09-13T13:32+0200

AP - A massive Hurricane Ike ravaged southeast Texas early Saturday, battering the coast with driving rain and ferocious wind gusts as residents who decided too late they should have heeded calls to evacuate made futile calls for rescue.

Devastating Ike Slams Texas as a Category 2 Storm

2008-09-13T13:29+0200

Hurricane Ike slams into Texas as Category 2 storm; emergency rescues planned at daybreak

Hurricane Ike 1000 rescue teams wait to move in as 130mph winds thrash Texas

2008-09-13T13:26+0200

For around half an hour, winds and rains slackened, but by 3.50am local time in Texas City it had started again with a vengeance as the back side of the storm moved in. Here in Texas City, the wind is roaring and the concrete hotel building is juddering, the floor shaking.

"Catastrophic" storm hits Texas

2008-09-13T13:14+0200

Hurricane Ike has hit the Gulf coast of Texas, where it is expected to cause "potentially catastrophic" flooding and damage. The National Hurricane Center said the storm's eye hit Galveston at 07.10 GMT with winds of up to 175km/h.

Obama tones it down as Hurricane Ike looms

2008-09-13T13:07+0200

The White House campaign faces its second storm-forced disruption as Barack Obama offered to raise funds from his army of donors for victims of the monstrous Hurricane Ike.

Hurricane Ike strikes Texas

2008-09-13T13:04+0200

HURRICANE Ike smashed into the densely populated Texas coast near Houston this morning as hundreds of thousands fled their homes. The Category 2 storm is already causing havoc along the Gulf of Mexico and threatening to hit Houston, the fourth largest city in the US.

Typhoon hits Taiwan, causing landslides

2008-09-13T13:00+0200

TAIPEI (Reuters) - A typhoon pounded Taiwan on Saturday, bringing torrential rains and triggering landslides in the central and northern part of the island, the national fire agency said. One person was reported injured.

Ike rips Texas coast; 4 million without power

2008-09-13T12:58+0200

As Galveston's west end was deluged Friday, Houston officials warned residents to stay put because it was no longer safe to try to escape Hurricane Ike, which has gotten stronger.

Gallagher defends Brand's humour

2008-09-13T12:57+0200

OASIS rocker NOEL GALLAGHER has leaped to the defence of controversial MTV Video Music Award host RUSSELL BRAND, accusing his American critics of having double standards.

HURRICANE IKE BLOG: Waiting

2008-09-13T12:51+0200

EDITOR'S NOTE: Welcome to the Hurricane Ike Blog. In our first post, Houston-area freelance writer Robert Geiger, holed up with his family as Hurricane Ike bears down on the Texas coast, shares his thoughts with readers of The Washington Times. If you're in the Houston area and you'd like to....

USA: Hurikán Ike dosiahol husto obývané pobrežie Texasu, ohrozuje Houston

2008-09-13T12:44+0200

Houston 13. septembra (TASR) - Hurikán Ike dosiahol dnes v noci (o 9.10 h SELČ) husto obývané pobrežie amerického Texasu neďaleko mesta Houston, priniesol so sebou múr vody a vetry o rýchlosti 175 km/h, čo môže vyvolať katastrofálne záplavy pozdĺž Mexického zálivu a ochromiť štvrté najväčšie mesto USA.

CHINA HEALTH MINISTRY SAYS 432 BABIES ILL IN CONTAMINATED MILK P

2008-09-13T12:43+0200

13 Sep 2008 10:37:03 GMT Source: Reuters CHINA HEALTH MINISTRY SAYS 432 BABIES ILL IN CONTAMINATED MILK POWDER SCARE ...

Colossal Hurricane Ike bears down on Texas coast

2008-09-13T12:37+0200

HOUSTON (AP) -- A monster-sized Hurricane Ike bore down on the Texas coast late Friday, threatening to rattle the sparkling skyscrapers of America's fourth-largest city, shut down the heart of the U.S...

Texas stragglers at the mercy of Hurricane Ike

2008-09-13T12:37+0200

The gigantic Hurricane Ike has pushed into the Texas Gulf coast, driving a huge ocean surge over coastal areas.

Colossal Hurricane Ike lashes Texas coast, southern Lousiana

2008-09-13T12:37+0200

A monster-sized Hurricane Ike bore down on the Texas coast late Friday, threatening to rattle the skyscrapers of America's fourth-largest city, shut down the heart of the US oil industry for days and ...

Hurricane Ike could be "catastrophe" for Texas

2008-09-13T12:37+0200

GALVESTON, Texas (Reuters) - Massive Hurricane Ike bore down on the Texas coast on Friday, driving a wall of water into seaside communities and threatening catastrophic damage.

Hurricane Ike leaves 4-plus million without power

2008-09-13T12:36+0200

Ferocious wind and floodwaters from Hurricane Ike severed power to 1.8 million customers, or more than 4 million people, in the Houston area early Saturday as the Category 2 storm made landfall on Galveston Island.

Devastating Ike Roars Ashore in Galveston, Texas

2008-09-13T12:27+0200

Hurricane Ike slams Galveston, Texas; officials plan for emergency rescues at daybreak

Hurricane Ike hits Texas

2008-09-13T12:16+0200

AFP GALVESTON, Texas — A gigantic hurricane dubbed Ike slammed into the Texas Gulf coast early on Saturday, driving an ocean surge over coastal areas where tens of thousands of people remained holed up in defiance of evacuation orders. “Radar data and surface. . . .

MAS cancels flights to and from Taiwan

2008-09-13T12:14+0200

Malaysia Airlines has cancelled its flights into and out of Taiwan due to Typhoon Sinlaku.

Ike's path, damage projections, traffic cams

2008-09-13T12:13+0200

Ferocious wind and floodwaters from Hurricane Ike severed power to 1.8 million customers in the Houston area early Saturday as the Category 2 storm made landfall on Galveston Island.

Hurricane Ike batters south Texan coast

2008-09-13T12:06+0200

Hurricane Ike is making landfall in southern Texas with winds exceeding 160-kilometres an hour.

Typhoon Sinlaku pounds Taiwan

2008-09-13T12:06+0200

Typhoon Sinlaku has lashed Taiwan with powerful winds and heavy rains across the island disrupting flights and train services as well as celebrations of the Mid Autumn Festival.

Vietnam helps Cuba overcome hurricane consequences

2008-09-13T12:04+0200

Nhan Dan/VNA - Vietnam will provide US$200,000 worth of rice as aid for Cuba to help it overcome the aftermath of hurricanes Gustav and Ike, said Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh during a meeting with the Cuban ambassador in Hanoi on September 12.

Typhoon hits Taiwan, causing landslides

2008-09-13T12:03+0200

2008-09-13T11:33+0200

Typhoon hits Taiwan, causing landslides (Reuters)

2008-09-13T11:31+0200

Reuters - A typhoon pounded Taiwan on Saturday, bringing torrential rains and triggering landslides in the central and northern part of the island, the national fire agency said. One person was reported injured.

Massive Ike Slams Into Texas Coast

2008-09-13T11:31+0200

The hurricane, almost as large as Texas itself, had 110 mph winds as its eye came ashore at Galveston, a strong Category 2 storm, threatening to devastate coastal towns and batter Houston.

Ferocious Ike slams into Texas

2008-09-13T11:30+0200

Hurricane Ike has barreled into the densely populated Texas coast near Houston, bringing with it a wall of water and ferocious winds.

Hurricane Ike slams into populous Texas coast

2008-09-13T11:29+0200

HOUSTON - (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike barreled into the densely populated Texas coast near Houston early on Saturday, bringing with it a wall of water and ferocious winds that could cause catastrophic flooding along the Gulf of Mexico and cripple the fourth-largest U.S. city.

World › Devastating Ike roars ashore in Galveston

2008-09-13T11:29+0200

Hurricane Ike ravaged southeast Texas early Saturday, battering the coast with driving rain and ferocious wind gusts as residents who decided too late they should…

Hurricance Ike roars ashore in Texas

2008-09-13T11:24+0200

Hurricane Ike ravaged south-east Texas early today, battering the coast with driving rain and ferocious wind gusts as residents who decided too late they should have heeded calls to evacuate made futile calls for rescue.

Hurricane Ike Slams into Texas

2008-09-13T11:19+0200

Hurricane Ike crashed onto the densely populated Texas coast near Houston early on Saturday, threatening devastation along the Gulf of Mexico. More than a fifth of U.S. oil production has been suspended

Ike rips Texas coast; 1.8M without power

2008-09-13T11:06+0200

Ferocious wind and floodwaters from Hurricane Ike severed power to 1.8 million customers in the Houston area early Saturday as the Category 2 storm made landfall on Galveston Island.

'One million homeless' in Haiti

2008-09-13T11:03+0200

As many as one million people may be homeless in hurricane-battered Haiti, the country's prime minister says.

Hurricane Ike hits Texas

2008-09-13T10:59+0200

Kenya: Technology is Making World Global Village

2008-09-13T10:58+0200

It was surprising to see the story and pictures of snow falling in tropical Kenya on the internet site, Yahoo.

Ike crashes ashore in Texas as cat. 2 hurricane

2008-09-13T10:58+0200

The eye of hurricane Ike has powered onto land in Galveston, Texas, and the storm is punishing the shoreline with 110 mph winds. Storm gusts are bending trees along the coast, waist-deep water overruns roadways and rattling windows keep uneasy residents awake. The storm has cut power to hundreds of thousands.

Devastating Ike Roars Ashore in Galveston

2008-09-13T10:53+0200

Hurricane Ike slams Galveston as Category 2 storm; emergency rescues planned at daybreak

2008-09-13T10:33+0200

GALVESTON, Texas (AP) -- A massive Hurricane Ike menaced the darkened Texas coast early Saturday, ensuring a sleepless night for thousands who huddled and waited to find out if a gamble to face the st...

Hurricane Ike slams into populous Texas coast

2008-09-13T10:33+0200

Hurricane Ike pounds Texas coast

Hurricane Ike crashes ashore in Galveston, Texas (Reuters)

2008-09-13T10:01+0200

Reuters - Hurricane Ike crashed onto the Texas coast on Saturday, threatening to devastate towns along the Gulf of Mexico, shutting essential oil refineries and menacing Houston, the fourth-largest U.S. city.

Ike crashes ashore in Texas as Category 2 storm (AP)

2008-09-13T10:01+0200

Obama tones it down as Hurricane Ike looms (AFP)

2008-09-13T10:01+0200

AFP - The White House campaign faced its second storm-forced disruption Saturday as Barack Obama offered to raise funds from his army of donors for victims of the monstrous Hurricane Ike.

Catastrophe predicted as Texas awaits Ike

2008-09-13T10:00+0200

America’s Lone Star state Texas is holding its breath, as Hurricane Ike smashes into the coast. The initial winds and waves arrived earlier, with Ike just one kph short of being a Catagory Three hurricane. Emergency restrictions are in force along the Gulf coast, after the US Homeland Security chief....

Eye of raging Ike makes landfall at Galveston

2008-09-13T09:59+0200

The eye of Hurricane Ike crashed into Galveston, Texas, early Saturday, punishing nearly a quarter of a million residents who ignored mandatory evacuation orders with 110 mph winds.

Hurricane Ike crashes ashore in Galveston Texas

2008-09-13T09:58+0200

HOUSTON - (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike crashed onto the Texas coast on Saturday, threatening to devastate towns along the Gulf of Mexico, shutting essential oil refineries and menacing Houston, the fourth-largest U.S. city.

'Catastrophic' storm nears Texas

2008-09-13T09:56+0200

Coastal populations in Texas have been warned that they could face "the possibility of death" as Hurricane Ike nears the US coast.

'Catastrophic' storm hits Texas

2008-09-13T09:55+0200

Texas faces "potentially catastrophic" damage when Hurricane Ike hits in the next few hours, a senior US official warns.

Texans brace themselves as Ike approaches

2008-09-13T09:54+0200

A monster-sized Hurricane Ike bore down on the Texas coast, threatening to rattle the sparkling skyscrapers of America’s fourth-largest city, shut down the heart of the US oil industry for days and obliterate waterfront towns already flooded with waist-high water.

Colossal Ike lashes Texas coast

2008-09-13T09:52+0200

Forecaster warns of ‘certain death' as giant hurricane 965 kilometres across hits Galveston Island head-on, leaves more than 4.5 million people without power, massive flooding spreads across coast

Ike Crashes Ashore in Texas as Cat. 2 Hurricane

2008-09-13T09:51+0200

Hurricane Center: Ike crashes ashore with 110 mph winds; eye lands southeast of Houston

Ike rips Texas coast; 1.3M without power

2008-09-13T09:43+0200

Ferocious wind and floodwaters from Hurricane Ike severed power to 1.3 million customers in the Houston area early Saturday as the Category 2 storm made landfall.

CENTER OF IKE MAKES LANDFALL AT GALVESTON, TEXAS AS CATEGORY 2 H

2008-09-13T09:38+0200

13 Sep 2008 07:33:01 GMT Source: Reuters CENTER OF IKE MAKES LANDFALL AT GALVESTON, TEXAS AS CATEGORY 2 HURRICANE ...

Hurricane leaves 1.3 million without power

2008-09-13T09:36+0200

Ferocious wind and floodwaters from Hurricane Ike severed power to 1.3 million customers in the Houston area early Saturday as the Category 2 storm neared landfall.

NEW YORK, Sept 12, (AP): Gold prices sank to a new one-year low Thursday, falling below $750 an ounce as a stronger greenback and easing oil prices encouraged investors to pull money out of commoditie

2008-09-13T09:33+0200

s. The dollar rose to an almost one-year high versus the euro Thursday despite a Commerce Department report showing a soaring US trade deficit for July. The 15-nation euro bought $1.3946 in late Thursday trading, down from $1.4033 late Wednesday. The euro dropped as low as $1.3881 for the session, a level not seen since late September 2007.

GALVESTON, Texas, Sept 12. (Agencies): Hurricane Ike closed in on the Texas coast on Friday, pushing a wall of water that weather officials warned could bring certain death to those who did not heed m

2008-09-13T09:33+0200

andatory evacuation orders. Hurricane Ike will hit the oil-rich northeast Texas coast near Galveston by early Saturday, likely as a Category 2 storm with winds of more than 100 mph, the US National Hurricane Center forecast. Ike is still a Category 2 storm with winds near 105 mph but could reach....

NEW YORK, Sept 12, (Agencies): US stocks fell on Friday as fears about the survival of investment bank Lehman Brothers and the possibility of more mortgage-related losses at American International Gro

2008-09-13T09:33+0200

up weighed on financial shares. A more than 6 percent decline in General Electric shares also weighed on the S&P 500 index, offsetting gains by utilities and natural resource companies. Jitters about additional mortgage losses at American International Group pushed the stock down more than 27 percent, making it the top drag on the Dow.

LONDON, Sept 12, (RTRS): Mixed signals from Saudi Arabia have thrown into question whether the top oil exporter will throttle back output as agreed with other Opec members this week. Saudi Arabia, the

2008-09-13T09:33+0200

most influential member of Opec, signed up to a deal on Wednesday that would cut output by around half a million barrels per day (bpd) after oil prices fell from a peak above $147 a barrel in July to just above $100. Any cut would be made primarily by Saudi Arabia, which produces most of the additional barrels above Opec’s agreed target.

Colossal Ike bears down on Texas coast

2008-09-13T09:32+0200

Surfside Beach Police and firefighters tour flooding neighborhoods in Surfside Beach, Texas, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008, in preparation for Hurricane Ike. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Hurricane Ike closes in on Texas

2008-09-13T09:24+0200

The United States is facing a potentially catastrophic storm-strike as Hurricane Ike bears down on Texas.

Hurricane Ike nears Texas

2008-09-13T09:22+0200

Hurricane Ike is nearing the Gulf coast of Texas and is expected to hit land within hours, causing "potentially catastrophic" flooding and damage. US disaster officials warned that as many as 100,000 homes could be affected by flooding. There are fears the hurricane could cause a high storm surge, leaving miles of low-lying coast underwater.

Texans Endure Sleepless Night as Ike Roars Ashore

2008-09-13T09:21+0200

Hurricane Ike batters Texas coast, and officials plan for massive rescue operation at daybreak

'Crack' is showing, RIL struggles

2008-09-13T09:17+0200

Shares of RIL, India largest-private sector company, continued its slide on rising concerns over the oil and gas major's profitability. Weekend Platter | Biz Week in pics

Ike's forceful winds thrash Texas coast

2008-09-13T09:13+0200

Hurricane-force winds whipped Galveston Island early Saturday as Hurricane Ike barreled toward Texas. Power failures have hit Galveston and spread throughout the state, the National Hurricane Center said.

Hurricane Ike pounds Texas coast, menaces Houston

2008-09-13T09:12+0200

HOUSTON - (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike pounded the Texas coast on Saturday, threatening to devastate towns along the Gulf of Mexico, shutting essential oil refineries and menacing Houston, the fourth-largest U.S. city.

Houston decides to stare down Ike instead of leave - AP

2008-09-13T09:09+0200

Texans batten down the hatches

2008-09-13T09:06+0200

Texans are being urged to batten down the hatches as Hurricane Ike heads their way.

Hurricane Ike pounds Texas coast

2008-09-13T09:03+0200

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike roared toward the Texas coast on Friday, threatening to drive a 20-foot (6-metre) wall of water into coastal communities and menacing Houston, the fourth-largest U.S. city.

Hurricane Ike pounds Texas coast as thousands refuse to leave (AFP)

2008-09-13T09:01+0200

AFP - A gigantic hurricane roared onto the Texas Gulf coast early Saturday, driving a huge ocean surge over coastal areas where tens of thousands of people remained holed up in defiance of evacuation orders.

Hurricane Ike heads towards Houston

2008-09-13T08:58+0200

But officials said more than 100,000 residents of low-lying neighborhoods decided to ride out the storm despite warnings from the national weather service that a wall of water up to 7.5m high could mean 'certain death' to those who stayed behind. Waves smashed over a 5m seawall built to protect this....

Typhoon Sinlaku pounds Taiwan

2008-09-13T08:52+0200

TAIPEI: Typhoon Sinlaku lashed Taiwan on Saturday with powerful winds and heavy rains across the island that disrupted flights and train services as well as celebrations for a major holiday.

Hurricane Ike pounds Texas coast

2008-09-13T08:43+0200

Hurricane Ike pounds Texas coast as thousands refuse to leave

2008-09-13T08:01+0200

A massive Hurricane Ike sent white waves crashing over a seawall and tossed a disabled 584-foot freighter in rough water as it steamed toward Texas, threatening to devastate coastal towns and batter America's fourth-largest city.

Local and international press digest

2008-09-13T07:57+0200

These are the main headlines of the local and international newspapers. The Times quotes an Infrastructure Ministry spokesman saying that “expectation that the recent relative decreases in the price of crude oil on the international...

Friends' dream holiday hit by hurricane

2008-09-13T07:45+0200

A GROUP of friends have told how their dream holiday to Cuba was wrecked when Hurricane Ike battered their hotel, smashing windows and tearing the roof off.

Winds slam Galveston as Ike nears

2008-09-13T07:36+0200

Texans endure sleepless night as Ike roars ashore (AP)

2008-09-13T07:31+0200

AP - A colossal Hurricane Ike menaced the darkened Texas coast early Saturday, ensuring a sleepless night for thousands who huddled and waited to find out if a gamble to face the storm head-on could cost them their lives.

Hurricane Ike could be "catastrophe" for Texas

2008-09-13T07:28+0200

GALVESTON, Texas (Reuters) - Massive Hurricane Ike bore down on the Texas coast on Friday, driving a wall of water into seaside communities and threatening catastrophic damage.

Taiwan shuts schools as island braces for typhoon

2008-09-13T07:26+0200

Authorities shuttered businesses and schools and urged people to stock up on food supplies Saturday as a powerful typhoon churned toward northern Taiwan and its heavily populated capital. Typhoon Sinlaku pummeled Taipei with heavy rain and strong winds Saturday morning.

Colossal Hurricane Ike Lashes Texas Coast

2008-09-13T07:21+0200

Hurricane Ike batters Texas coast, cutting power, flooding roads, stranding stalwarts

Taiwan braces for Typhoon Sinlaku

2008-09-13T07:18+0200

Officials ordered schools and businesses closed Saturday and residents stocked up on food as powerful Typhoon Sinlaku churned toward northern Taiwan and the heavily populated capital Taipei.

Hurricane Ike en route to Houston, threatens massive destruction

2008-09-13T07:17+0200

Turks and Caicos tourism industry open for business

2008-09-13T07:16+0200

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands: The Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA) reports that it is largely ‘business as usual’ for the majority of its member properties and services catering to tourism in the island chain. Most properties in Providenciales suffered only minimal damage.

Cable & Wireless Caribbean establishes fund to assist hurricane victims

2008-09-13T07:16+0200

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands: Cable & Wireless Caribbean announced on Wednesday that it would be supporting the region to the tune of more than US$500,000 in cash and services to assist victims of the recent hurricanes and tropical storms that affected the region.

Jamaican sentenced to four years in Antigua for cannabis

2008-09-13T07:16+0200

ST JOHN’S, Antigua: A 28 year old Jamaican man who pleaded guilty for being in possession of cannabis and importation of the drug has been sentenced to a total of four years in prison. He was also fined $150,000 to be paid forthwith or alternatively to serve two years. If the fine is paid he might only have to serve two years.

Hurricane Ike Set to Slam Texas Coast

2008-09-13T07:16+0200

Hurricane Ike is heading for landfall as early as today in the area where Cameroononline.org main headquarters are located. Ike is following a track similar to the 1900 Galveston hurricane that killed 8,000 people, the deadliest storm in U.S. history. Although our server is located in a different....

Oil prices recover in Asian trade

2008-09-13T07:14+0200

SINGAPOREWorld oil prices climbed in Asian trade Friday as Hurricane Ike hammered the southern US coast, forcing oil and gas production facilities in the area to shut down, dealers said. New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for October delivery, was up 51 cents to $101.38 a barrel, rebounding from a decline in closing US trades on Thursday.

Hurricane Ike Slams Texas Coast

2008-09-13T07:10+0200

A monster-sized Hurricane Ike bore down on the Texas coast late Friday, threatening to rattle the sparkling skyscrapers of America's fourth-largest city

Headlines in major Malaysian newspapers

2008-09-13T07:07+0200

The following headlines appeared in major Malaysian newspapers on Saturday: *** THE NEW STRAITS TIMES: - AirAsia-Matta travel boon for civil servants - Drugs worth RM12m seized in nine months - Abdullah: Govt means business - Zimbabwe rivals to wield equal power in unity government: sources -....

Hurricane Ike menaces vulnerable Texas coast

2008-09-13T07:04+0200

13 Sep 2008 04:52:48 GMT Source: Reuters *Ike expected to make landfall within hours *Storm could flood 100,000 homes *More than 20 percent of US refining capacity shut down By Chris Baltimore ...

Colossal Hurricane Ike lashes Texas coast (AP)

2008-09-13T07:01+0200

AP - Hurricane Ike bore down on the Texas coast late Friday with driving rain, crashing waves and fierce gusts, threatening to rattle the skyscrapers of America's fourth-largest city, shut down the heart of the U.S. oil industry and obliterate towns already flooded with waist-high water.

Leading edge of Ike batters Texas coast

2008-09-13T06:59+0200

The leading edge of Hurricane Ike began battering the upper Texas coast Friday night, menacing nearly a quarter of a million residents who ignored mandatory evacuation orders.

Hurricane Ike barrels toward Texas

2008-09-13T06:56+0200

Texas officials warned residents still in mandatory evacuation areas Friday to "get out" now before Hurricane Ike hits the Gulf ...

Hurricane Ike menaces vulnerable Texas coast

2008-09-13T06:55+0200

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike roared toward the Texas coast on Friday, threatening to drive a 6-metre wall of water into coastal communities and menacing Galveston and Houston, the nation's fourth largest city.

One dead as Ike edges near Category 3

2008-09-13T06:51+0200

As Galveston's west end was deluged Friday, Houston officials warned residents to stay put because it was no longer safe to try to escape Hurricane Ike, which has gotten stronger.

Colossal Hurricane Ike Bears Down on Texas Coast

2008-09-13T06:51+0200

Hurricane Ike batters Texas coast, cutting power, flooding roads, stranding stalwarts

Police find bodies of 24 men in central Mexico

2008-09-13T06:48+0200

Mexican police say the bodies of 24 men have been found with their hands bound and shot to death execution-style outside the capital.

Ike puts spotlight on Houston mayor

2008-09-13T06:48+0200

Another politician has come on to the public's radar during a major weather event. During Hurricane Gustav, it was Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal who became the “face” seen on cable news.

CFB: Freshman QB leads Baylor over Washington State

2008-09-13T06:47+0200

WACO, Texas — Baylor freshman quarterback Robert Griffin ran for a school-record 217 yards and two touchdowns on only 11 carries to lead the Bears to a 45-17 victory over Washington State tonight, a day earlier than scheduled because of Hurricane Ike.

Gasoline prices spike in Canada on expectation of storm damage

2008-09-13T06:42+0200

Depending on its severity and length, the huge increase could become a major issue in the federal election campaign

Blue Jays slip up

2008-09-13T06:42+0200

Red Sox bash Toronto in the rain Friday night to regain some breathing room in the AL East race

WHO launches 4.2 milloin dollar appeal for Haiti hurricane victims

2008-09-13T06:39+0200

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP): The World Health Organisation on Friday launched an appeal for 4.2 million dollars to help victims of the hurricanes that have battered Haiti over the past month. The WHO said that 800,000 people have been affected by four major storms, which have left at least 326 people dead.

Colossal Hurricane Ike bears down on Texas coast (AP)

2008-09-13T06:31+0200

AP - A monster-sized Hurricane Ike bore down on the Texas coast late Friday, threatening to rattle the sparkling skyscrapers of America's fourth-largest city, shut down the heart of the U.S oil industry for days and obliterate waterfront towns already flooded with waist-high water.

Taiwan braces for Typhoon Sinlaku (AP)

2008-09-13T06:31+0200

AP - Officials ordered schools and businesses closed Saturday and residents stocked up on food as powerful Typhoon Sinlaku churned toward northern Taiwan and the heavily populated capital Taipei.

Australian Researchers Discover Elusive Frog

2008-09-13T06:29+0200

A tiny frog species thought by many experts to be extinct have been rediscovered alive and well in a remote area of Australia's tropical north, researchers said Thursday. The 1.5 inch-long armoured mistfrog had not been seen since 1991, and many experts assumed it had been wiped out by a devastating fungus that struck northern Queensland State.

Texas Terror: Monster Ike's Surge Threatens 'Catastrophic' Damage

2008-09-13T06:20+0200

A monster-sized Hurricane Ike bore down on the Texas coast late Friday, threatening to rattle the sparkling skyscrapers of America's fourth-largest city, shut down the heart of the U.S oil industry for days and obliterate waterfront towns already flooded with waist-high water.

Over a million Americans evacuated ahead of Hurricane Ike

2008-09-13T06:13+0200

Over a million people have evacuated coastal Texas ahead of Hurricane Ike, which could devastate the U.S. Gulf Coast, the Governor of Texas said Friday. "I think that 1.2 million have already evacuated from the area," Governor Rick Perry said on CNN. &$ &$Casey Spence, of Galveston, walks away from....

Grave warning issued to Texas coast ahead of Hurricane Ike

2008-09-13T06:13+0200

"Leave or die" is the warning, which forecasters gave to residents in Texas coast Friday ahead of the expected landing of Hurricane Ike. On Friday morning, floodwaters surged into Galveston Island neighborhoods of Texas with the center of Hurricane Ike still more than 330 km from landfall.

Hurricanes deplete U.S. Red Cross relief fund

2008-09-13T06:10+0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - The wave of storms battering the United States has plunged the American Red Cross deep into debt as it rushes to prepare for Hurricane Ike, prompting a searching look at how to stabilize its finances.

S. African judge dismisses Zuma corruption case

2008-09-13T06:10+0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - A South African judge threw out corruption charges against ruling party leader Jacob Zuma on Friday, clearing the way for him to become the country's next president.

2008-09-13T06:01+0200

AP - Storm surge driven by Hurricane Ike breached levees in coastal Louisiana Friday and flooded hundreds of homes in areas along the Gulf of Mexico still recovering from Gustav.

Colossal Hurricane Ike lashes Texas coast (AP)

2008-09-13T06:01+0200

Hurricane Ike menaces vulnerable Texas coast

2008-09-13T06:00+0200

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike roared toward the Texas coast on Friday, threatening to drive a 20-foot wall of water into coastal communities and menacing Galveston and Houston, the nation's fourth largest city.

Ike brings hurricane-force gusts to Texas coast

2008-09-13T05:56+0200

Hurricane-force gusts of at least 119 kph were lashing Galveston, Texas, as Hurricane Ike approached the coast on Friday. The National Hurricane Center said the storm hadn't strengthened in the past few hours as it closed in on the Texas Coast, but was on the cusp of major hurricane status as a Category 2 storm with top winds of 177 kph.

Typhoon Sinlaku pounds Taiwan

2008-09-13T05:44+0200

Typhoon Sinlaku lashed Taiwan with powerful winds and heavy rains across the island that disrupted flights and train services as well as celebrations for a major holiday.

Hundreds of homes flood in Louisiana

2008-09-13T05:43+0200

Storm surge driven by Hurricane Ike breached levees in coastal Louisiana Friday and flooded hundreds of homes in areas along the Gulf of Mexico still recovering from Gustav.

Hurricane Ike menaces vulnerable Texas coast (Reuters)

2008-09-13T05:30+0200

Reuters - Hurricane Ike roared toward the Texas coast on Friday, threatening to drive a 20-foot wall of water into coastal communities and menacing Galveston and Houston, the nation's fourth largest city.

Colossal Hurricane Ike bears down on Texas coast (AP)

Baseball: Storms wreak havoc on baseball schedule

2008-09-13T05:16+0200

Storm systems throughout the country wreaked havoc on the baseball schedule, postponing six games tonight and creating a weekend full of doubleheaders.

Vendors get busy with gift basket business to welcome Idul Fitri

2008-09-13T05:14+0200

As Idul Fitri nears, many people in the city are starting to shop for gifts for their beloved relatives and business partners. read more

Australia's remote outback a 'failed state': experts (AFP)

2008-09-13T05:00+0200

AFP - Remote Australia, which covers 85 percent of the vast continent, has become a failed state due to a "perfect storm" of social and economic neglect, experts said in data published Saturday.

Ike brings hurricane-force gusts to Texas coast (AP)

2008-09-13T05:00+0200

AP - Hurricane-force gusts of at least 74 mph are lashing Galveston, Texas, as Hurricane Ike approaches.

Texans Begin Feeling Effects of Hurricane

2008-09-13T04:51+0200

Houston braces for a potential direct hit as storm batters Galveston, threatening to cut power to nearly 8 million people and flood 100K homes.

Powerful Ike nears Texas coast

2008-09-13T04:48+0200

Hurricane Ike closed in on Texas Friday night with terrible fury, sending flood waters into Galveston and threatening Houston, the nation's fourth largest city.

'Catastrophic' storm nears Texas

2008-09-13T04:48+0200

Texas faces "potentially catastrophic" damage when Hurricane Ike hits in the next few hours, a senior US official warns.

Approaching Typhoon Sinlaku brings heavy rain, puts Taiwan on full alert

2008-09-13T04:42+0200

High wind and heavy rain lashed northern and eastern Taiwan on Friday as Typhoon Sinlaku strengthened on its approach. The weather bureau's latest report this evening said Sinlaku's center was about 230 km east of Hualien off the east coast of the island. The storm was moving northeast at a speed of 8 kph.

Catastrophe looms as Hurricane Ike pounds Texas coast (AFP)

2008-09-13T04:30+0200

AFP - Gigantic Hurricane Ike pounded the Texas Gulf coast on Friday, flooding parts of Galveston and threatening "catastrophic" destruction as it heads on a path towards Houston, the fourth largest US city.

Colossal Hurricane Ike lashes Texas coast (AP)

2008-09-13T04:30+0200

Quarter-million refuse to evacuate

2008-09-13T04:28+0200

Close to a quarter-million residents who ignored mandatory evacuation orders were told “now it’s time for prayers” Friday evening as Hurricane Ike, a 600-mile-wide monster, neared the Texas coast.

Hurricane Ike threatens Texas with pounding

2008-09-13T04:27+0200

HOUSTON - Hurricane Ike has begun battering the Texas coast, threatening to obliterate waterfront towns and give the skyscrapers, refineries and docks of the fourth-largest US city their worst pounding in a generation. But...

22 on lame ship OK after worst of Hurricane Ike roars by

2008-09-13T04:26+0200

Twenty-two people who were riding out Hurricane Ike aboard a crippled freighter in the Gulf of Mexico were not injured after the worst of the storm passed them, the Coast Guard said on Friday. The nearly 183-meter ship called the Antalina sent a distress call early Friday after it broke down in the hurricane's path.

Three rescued from waves in Texas

2008-09-13T04:18+0200

Three men were pulled out of the windswept waters here Friday by rescuers as thunderous Hurricane Ike roared through the Gulf of Mexico pounding its way to Galveston and Houston. A fourth man was still missing.

Storms wreak havoc on baseball schedule

2008-09-13T04:18+0200

Steady rain forced the postponement of key matchups Friday, including the NL wild card-leading Milwaukee Brewers and Phillies

Ike on brink of being Category 3 hurricane

2008-09-13T04:13+0200

As Galveston's west end was deluged Friday, Houston officials warned residents to stay put because it was no longer safe to try to escape Hurricane Ike, which has gotten stronger.

Hurricane Ike could be 'catastrophe'

2008-09-13T04:11+0200

HURRICANE Ike bore down on the coast of Texas, driving a wall of water into seaside communities and threatening catastrophic damage all the way up to Houston. 11:33am (AEST)

Catastrophe looms as Hurricane Ike pounds Texas coast

2008-09-13T04:05+0200

GALVESTON, Texas, (AFP) - Gigantic Hurricane Ike pounded the Texas Gulf coast on Friday, flooding parts of Galveston and threatening "catastrophic" destruction as it heads on a path towards Houston, the fourth largest US city.

Storms wreak havoc on baseball schedule (AP)

2008-09-13T04:00+0200

AP - Storm systems throughout the country wreaked havoc on the baseball schedule, postponing six games Friday night and creating a weekend full of doubleheaders.

One million people flee Texas coast as Hurricane Ike threatens to obliterate 100,000 homes

2008-09-13T03:51+0200

One million people last night fled for their lives as Hurricane Ike threatened to obliterate the Texas coastline.

GALLERY: Storm of the Texas season

2008-09-13T03:47+0200

When he coached the Phoenix Cardinals in the early 1990s, Joe Bugel bestowed high praise on a player with the acronym, "LTG," which stood for Legitimate Tough Guy. If Bugel himself didn't qualify for the tag before, few would dispute he does now. He is demonstrating his toughness in ways most people can't fathom or imagine.

Colossal Ike closes in on Texas

2008-09-13T03:32+0200

Forecaster warns of ‘certain death' as giant hurricane 965 kilometres wide heads towards Galveston, Houston

Texas coast faces battering from Hurricane Ike

2008-09-13T03:26+0200

US:HURRICANE IKE, the second tropical cyclone to hit the southern US in 10 days, was approaching landfall last night heading directly towards Houston, Texas, with winds up to 115mph (185km/h) and sea level surges of more than six metres (20ft).

Officials urge residents to flee as hurricane roars to Texas

2008-09-13T03:20+0200

GALVESTON, Texas - Officials begged thousands of diehard residents of the Texas coast to flee "certain death" as Hurricane Ike on Friday raged towards Houston, the fourth largest US city and a major o...

1.2 million evacuate as Ike rages

2008-09-13T03:20+0200

MORE than one million people have evacuated coastal Texas ahead of Ike, a "worst-case scenario" hurricane promising to devastate the US Gulf Coast, the Governor of Texas said today.

Ike floods roads, whips waves along Texas

2008-09-13T03:20+0200

Surfside Beach Police and firefighters tour flooding neighborhoods in Surfside Beach, Texas, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008, in preparation for Hurricane Ike. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Texas evacuates as massive Hurricane Ike heads for coast coast as Texans flee

2008-09-13T03:20+0200

Hurricane Ike roared toward the Texas coast yesterday, tossing a disabled 584-foot freighter like a toy in the Gulf of Mexico's churning waters and smashing waves as high as 15ft into a seawall as it ...

Hurricane Ike roars towards Texas

2008-09-13T03:20+0200

GALVESTON, Texas - Hurricane Ike roared toward the Texas coast this morning threatening to devastate coastal towns and batter America's fourth-largest city.Ike's eye was forecast to strike somewhere n...

Ike near major hurricane as it aims for Texas

2008-09-13T03:20+0200

(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)Jerry Pilley of Nederland, Texas, prepares to walk out onto a flooded parking lot as a crashing wave splashes upward underneath a public peer walkway on Pleasure Island, Frida...

Thousands flee as Hurricane Ike

2008-09-13T03:20+0200

Hurricane Ike is close to striking the densely populated Texas coast near Houston in what may be the worst storm to hit the state in nearly 50 years. Ike was likely to come ashore early today as ...

Ike grows as it nears Texas

2008-09-13T03:17+0200

Hurricane Ike, a colossal storm nearly as big as Texas itself, began battering the coast Friday, threatening to obliterate waterfront towns and give the skyscrapers, refineries and docks of the nation's fourth-largest city their worst pounding in a generation.

Tens of thousands refuse to evacuate

2008-09-13T03:12+0200

Tens of thousands of residents who ignored mandatory evacuation orders were told “now it’s time for prayers” Friday evening as Hurricane Ike, a 600-mile-wide monster, neared the Texas coast.

Hurricane Ike Begins Ravishing Texas Coast

2008-09-13T03:01+0200

Storm surge lashing the island of Galveston has already toppled some beachfront houses on the coast and flooding many roads

Some refuse to evacuate as Ike closes in on Texas (AP)

2008-09-13T03:00+0200

AP - Hurricane Ike, a colossal storm nearly as big as Texas itself, began battering the coast Friday, threatening to obliterate waterfront towns and give the skyscrapers, refineries and docks of the nation's fourth-largest city their worst pounding in a generation.

Hurricane Ike could be "catastrophe" for Texas (Reuters)

2008-09-13T03:00+0200

Reuters - Massive Hurricane Ike bore down on the Texas coast on Friday, driving a wall of water into seaside communities and threatening catastrophic damage.

Ike near major hurricane status; winds at 177 kph as it approaches Texas

2008-09-13T02:55+0200

Hurricane Ike was on the cusp of major hurricane status as it aimed for Texas, with winds of 177 kph on Friday. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami said the storm could become a Category 3 hurricane with winds of at least 178 kph before it hit the coast late Friday or early Saturday.

Hurricaine Ike 'could strengthen to category 3 storm'

2008-09-13T02:48+0200

A total of 90,000 people have opted to stay in their homes to brave the storm, which has sent a surge of five metre waves ahead of it that has already crashed through the seawall at Galveston and caused widespread flooding in low-lying areas. With winds of at least 111 mph (178 kph), authorities....

Update: Southwest Airlines Reports Service Disruptions in Corpus Christi; Harlingen; Houston; and Dallas in Response to Hurricane Ike

2008-09-13T02:36+0200

DALLAS, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Southwest Airlines suspended its operations to and from Corpus Christi International Airport, Houston Hobby ...

Those in front of Ike told it's too late to flee

2008-09-13T02:36+0200

Houston officials are telling residents to stay put because it's not safe anymore to try to hit the road to escape Hurricane Ike. "We've asked people to hunker down," Harris County Executive Ed Emmett said. Most law enforcement and rescue officials will start to leave Friday night, Emmett said, so residents will be on their own after that.

TDECU Assisting Members in Weathering Hurricane Ike

2008-09-13T02:36+0200

As Hurricane Ike barrels towards the Texas Gulf Coast, TDECU wants to reassure its more than 125,000 members â€ more than 94 percent of whom evacuated ...

Oil prices mixed amid hurricane, Wall Street storms

2008-09-13T02:34+0200

NEW YORK - Oil prices closed narrowly mixed Friday amid a near-total shutdown of offshore rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, where a massive Hurricane Ike was bearing down deep in the heart of the US oil industry.

Massive Hurricane Ike Batters Texas

2008-09-13T02:30+0200

Dire warning as deadly Ike rumbles toward Texas

2008-09-13T02:20+0200

A strengthening Hurricane Ike Friday bore down on Houston Friday, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee and sparking a dire warning that those remaining in low-lying areas "face certain

Amazing Nasa picture shows Hurricane Ike bearing down on Texas as residents are told: 'Get out or face certain death'

2008-09-13T02:19+0200

Almost one million people along the Texas coast have been ordered to evacuate as gigantic Hurricane Ike threatened to send a 'surge tsunami' crashing towards Houston.

Holding our breath in Houston

2008-09-13T02:17+0200

NFL: Rams running back wants to run more against Giants

2008-09-13T02:14+0200

ST. LOUIS — Steven Jackson expects to carry the ball more for the St. Louis Rams against the Super Bowl champion New York Giants on Sunday.

Coffee prices rise on tight supply

2008-09-13T02:13+0200

Prices at the Indian Coffee Trade Association auction rose on a tight supply situation, traders said on Friday. Supplies are very little now as growers have few stocks left with them, said a Bangalore-based trader.

iReporters brace for Ike's landfall

2008-09-13T02:06+0200

Story Highlights iReporters prepare for the worst as Hurricane Ike approaches Texas The storm has already caused Two iReporters will ride out the storm in Galveston, Texas despite evacuation orders iReport.

This is life

2008-09-13T02:06+0200

Why is it that some people, despite insurmountable odds, move forward and upward in life, while others opt out, fail or drop out no matter how hard they try? Why is it that some people live recklessly and everything just keeps working for them, while others try to do everything right but all that comes their way is nothing but trouble.

Wind Power Startup Studies Hurricane Ike

2008-09-13T02:05+0200

Houston companies are evacuating on the threat of a category 3 hurricane. But Wind Energy Systems is looking into how wind turbines might fare against the likes of Hurricane Ike.

2008-09-13T00:58+0200

OPINION: Weak economy puts pressure on Hollywood

2008-09-13T00:54+0200

Published Date: September 13, 2008 There's a huge sucking noise out there, and it's not the sound effects in "Iron Man" or "The Dark Knight": It's the sound of money being siphoned out of the US stock market, and more quietly out of the maw of the Hollywood movie machine.

Oil prices rise as Hurricane Ike halts US energy production

2008-09-13T00:54+0200

Published Date: September 13, 2008 LONDON: Oil prices rose yesterday as Hurricane Ike forced the closure of energy production facilities in the Gulf of Mexico, traders said. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in October, climbed 1.46 dollars to 102.33 dollars a barrel. Brent North Sea crude for October gained 98 cents to 98.

2008-09-13T00:21+0200

AFP - Officials begged thousands of diehard residents of the Texas coast to flee "certain death" as Hurricane Ike on Friday raged towards Houston, the fourth largest US city and a major oil hub.

Houston | Category 3 disaster?

2008-09-13T00:18+0200

Vehicles drive north through I-45, leaving as Hurricane Ike approaches the Texas Gulf Coast on Friday. Hundreds of thousands of people fled coastal areas in the path of Hurricane Ike after officials pleaded the residents to flee to escape ‘certain death’.

Residents urged to flee as hurricane nears Texas

2008-09-13T00:18+0200

* National Hurricane Centre warns of ‘certain death’ if residents stay behind * Galveston City official says extensive flooding expected GALVESTON: Officials on Friday pleaded with thousands of diehard residents of the Texas coast to flee to escape ‘certain death’ as powerful Hurricane Ike bore down on Houston.

Biden gave average of $369 to charity a year

2008-09-12T23:51+0200

Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden reported earnings last year that were a fraction of the millions earned by his ...

Clean sweep for Congress

2008-09-12T23:50+0200

HYDERABAD: Congress made a clean sweep in the elections held by Irrigation Department all over the State on Friday on-party basis to choose chairmen and vice-chairmen for water management committees of 15 major and 57 medium dams. The ...

Houston braces itself for Ike

2008-09-12T23:49+0200

As Hurricane Ike headed towards the Texas coast, officials in Houston urges residents to stay put instead of fleeing.

Texas faces 'catastrophic' storm

2008-09-12T23:48+0200

Texas faces "potentially catastrophic" damage when Hurricane Ike hits in the next few hours, a senior US official warns.

Bolivians tire of protest in opposition stronghold

2008-09-12T23:47+0200

12 Sep 2008 21:30:06 GMT Source: Reuters By Eduardo Garcia SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia, Sept 12 (Reuters) - As supplies of food staples and diesel dwindle, residents of Santa Cruz say they are getting fed up with violent political protests that ...

Clean sweep for Congress

2008-09-12T23:46+0200

Fierce Ike Thwarts Stranded Ship Rescue

2008-09-12T23:45+0200

Hurricane Ike's strong winds of more than 90 mph forced the grounding of Air Force aircraft sent to the Gulf of Mexico to try to rescue crewmen on a stalled freighter in the path of the storm, southwest of Galveston.

Astros ace Oswalt tosses three-hit gem

2008-09-12T23:41+0200

HOUSTON (AP) Roy Oswalt and the Houston Astros will have to wait a few days to see if they can continue their terrific stretch run. Oswalt threw his second straight complete-game shutout and set a Houston record for consecutive scoreless innings, helping the streaking Astros beat the Pittsburgh....

Run or die, Texans told as Ike nears

2008-09-12T23:37+0200

Forecaster warns of 'certain death' as sprawling and strengthening hurricane moves across Gulf of Mexico toward Houston

Guard Members Gear Up for Hurricane Ike

2008-09-12T23:37+0200

Although Hurricane Ike is expected to lose power after hitting Texas tonight, National Guardsmen in four other states are preparing for the worst when it becomes a tropical storm later this weekend.

More than 120 rescued from Ike's floods

2008-09-12T23:36+0200

Even with Hurricane Ike more than 100 miles away, authorities began rescue efforts Friday, picking up more than 120 people stranded by rising seas along the southeast Texas coast.

DIRECTV Provides Nationwide Access to Local Houston TV Station KHOU and Emergency Information Network to Aid Those Affected by Hurricane Ike

2008-09-12T23:34+0200

DIRECTV, Inc.: WHAT: Â Â Â DIRECTV, Inc., the nation's leading satellite television service provider, is now offering local Houston CBS affiliate ...

Texans Flee the Coast as Hurricane Bears Down

2008-09-12T23:25+0200

Hundreds of thousands evacuate, while Houston residents stockpile supplies and await what may be a direct hit on the country's fourth largest city.

US military prepares for Ike

2008-09-12T23:21+0200

US troops have begun preparing to respond as Hurricane Ike roared towards Texas, sending US military aircraft scattering to the protection of inland bases, the Pentagon says.

In Ike’s wake, IRS gives extension to victims

2008-09-12T23:20+0200

Taxpayers and tax preparers in areas affected by Hurricane Ike will get an extra week to file returns and make payments due Sept. 15, the Internal Revenue Service said Friday.

Hurricane Ike could hammer insurers

2008-09-12T23:17+0200

12 Sep 2008 20:50:31 GMT Source: Reuters (Adds quote from modeling firm, paragraphs 10-11) By Bill Rigby and Lilla Zuill NEW YORK, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike, which is shaping up to be the biggest storm to hit Texas in nearly 50 ...

Wind, Rain, Floods: Hurricane Ike 'Catastrophic'

2008-09-12T23:16+0200

"Our nation is facing what is by any measures a potentially catastrophic hurricane -- not a time, again, to play chicken with the storm," Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told reporters today. "This storm is so big that its impact is already being felt all along the Gulf Coast.

Hurricane Ike whips waves as it moves into Texas

2008-09-12T23:14+0200

A massive Hurricane Ike roared toward the Texas coast on Friday, tossing a disabled freighter like a toy in the Gulf of Mexico's churning waters and smashing massive waves into a seawall as it threatened to devastate coastal towns and batter America's fourth-largest city.

Houston to take direct hit from Hurricane Ike

2008-09-12T23:13+0200

Hurricane Ike is bearing down on the Texas coast with the fourth largest city in the United States squarely in its sights.

Briullov paintings donated to Mashhad museum

2008-09-12T23:02+0200

Tehran Times Art Desk TEHRAN -- Two works by Russian painter Karl Pavlovich Briullov were donated to the Astan-e Qods Museum last week. Briullov’s “The Storm and the Sea” and “Strangely” have been donated by Iranian collector Najaf Mehrkish, the museum’s Visual Arts Section curator Jamshid Amirian said in a press release published on Wednesday.

Texas, west La. ports shut; stranded ship OK

2008-09-12T23:00+0200

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Ports from Corpus Christi, Texas, to Lake Charles, Louisiana, including Houston, were shut Friday due to Hurricane Ike, officials of the U.S. Coast Guard and pilots groups said.

Vietnam Donates Rice Shipment to Cuba

2008-09-12T22:54+0200

HANOI (PL) - Vietnam is to send a large shipment of rice to Cuba, an donation aid valued at $200,000 to help Cubans overcome the damages left by hurricane Ike in the Caribbean nation, official sources reported Friday

Cubans Plunged into Voluntary Work

2008-09-12T22:54+0200

HAVANA (PL) - Cubans respond Friday to a call made by the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR)'s National Secretariat with a massive voluntary work campaign recover after two hurricanes.

Namibia President Calls Raul Castro

2008-09-12T22:54+0200

HAVANA (PL) - President of the Councils of State and Ministers, Army General Raul Castro received a phone call from his Namibian counterpart Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba, who supported the island"s people after the passing of the devastating Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

H.E. Said Badi Guerra Presents Credentials to Government of Cuba

2008-09-12T22:54+0200

BELMOPAN - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade announces that on 11th September 2008, H. E. Said ‘Badi’ Guerra presented his Letters of Credentials to His Excellency Julio Almera, Vice President of the Republic of Cuba

Chertoff: Ike could flood 100,000 homes

2008-09-12T22:51+0200

Hurricane Ike is a "catastrophic hurricane" packing a storm surge that could exceed 25 feet in parts of Texas and might leave ...

1.2 million evacuate as Ike rages

2008-09-12T22:51+0200

MORE than one million people have evacuated coastal Texas ahead of Ike, a "worst-case scenario" hurricane promising to devastate the US Gulf Coast, the Governor of Texas said today. 6:34am (AEST)

iReporters face storms, remember 9/11

2008-09-12T22:51+0200

Story Highlights iReporters share views of Hurricanes Hanna and Ike 9/11 attacks remembered in Second Life, real life Is news happening near you? ....

More than 60 rescued from Ike's floods

2008-09-12T22:51+0200

Even with Hurricane Ike more than 100 miles away, authorities began rescue efforts Friday, picking up more than 60 people stranded by rising seas along the southeast Texas coast.

IRS gives extension to taxpayers in Ike's wake (AP)

2008-09-12T22:50+0200

AP - Taxpayers and tax preparers in areas affected by Hurricane Ike will get an extra week to file returns and make payments due Sept. 15, the Internal Revenue Service said Friday.

Hurricane Ike puts Houston's mayor in spotlight (AP)

2008-09-12T22:50+0200

AP - Houston's quiet-spoken mayor is hardly one for bold moves. But there was Bill White, telling Houstonians to ride out Hurricane Ike because it was too late to escape.

Ike surge begins; ‘time for prayers’

2008-09-12T22:50+0200

Hurricane Ike was on a track toward Houston, where officials told residents to brace rather than flee even as others, in lower lying areas, were told to flee or they could "face certain death.”

Wall St. ends flat amid Lehman vigil; oil a boost (Reuters)

2008-09-12T22:50+0200

Reuters - Stocks closed little changed on Friday in day of whipsaw moves as uncertainty over the fate of troubled investment bank Lehman Brothers kept investors anxious about the health of the U.S. financial system.

Gold shines on TSX

2008-09-12T22:49+0200

The key Toronto stock index rose more than one per cent Friday but was still below the level it closed at a week earlier. Meanwhile, the U.S. market slipped as investors worried about weak retail sales and the future of investment bank Lehman Brothers.

Texas, west La. ports shut; stranded ship OK

2008-09-12T22:46+0200

12 Sep 2008 20:28:40 GMT Source: Reuters (Corpus Christi closed, stranded ship okay for now) HOUSTON, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Ports from Corpus Christi, Texas, to Lake Charles, Louisiana, including Houston, were shut Friday due to Hurricane ...

Hanna Takes Aim At Bahamas On Way To U.S.

2008-09-12T22:45+0200

Tropical Storm Hanna knocked out power to the southern Bahamas and officials from Nassau to South Carolina warned of possible evacuations. Meanwhile, Ike strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane in the Atlantic.

Massive Hurricane Ike Threatens Texas

2008-09-12T22:45+0200

Hurricane Ike whips waves as it moves into Texas

2008-09-12T22:43+0200

Dominican President begins tour of Haiti’s hurricane ravaged zones

2008-09-12T22:36+0200

Santo Domingo.- President Leonel Fernandez will begin an inspection of the Dominican and Haitian territories affected by storms and hurricanes Thursday morning, government sources revealed.

FEMA: We are ready with millions of supplies

2008-09-12T22:36+0200

FEMA is prepared to send 5 million liters of water, 5 million meals, 270,000 cots and rescue teams to Texas for Hurricane Ike.

Stocks end mixed as Lehman goes for help

2008-09-12T22:35+0200

Stocks fluctuated Friday as steep declines by some of Wall Street's marquee firms and other financials outweighed gains in the energy, utilities and materials sectors.

Liborius: Cermak Was Military Manager of Knin

2008-09-12T22:35+0200

Soeren Liborius, a member of a monitoring mission during the war, admitted he did not understand the complex military structure in Knin.

Oil falls to five-month low, settles near $100

2008-09-12T22:35+0200

Crude oil futures briefly sank below the psychologically important $100-a-barrel mark Friday for the first time in five months.

Massive evacuation continues as Hurricane Ike bears down on Galveston

2008-09-12T22:33+0200

Hurricane Ike is closing in on the Texas coast, with tropical storm-force winds ripping through seaside communities and white waves as tall as five metres already crashing over Galveston's seawall.

Hurricane Ike could be "potential catastrophe"

2008-09-12T22:30+0200

GALVESTON, Texas (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike closed in on the Texas coast on Friday with a wall of water and U.S. officials warned it could be a potentially catastrophic storm and flood 100,000 homes.

Hurricane Ike could be "potential catastrophe"

2008-09-12T22:30+0200

GALVESTON, Texas (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike closed in on the Texas coast on Friday with a wall of water and U.S. officials warned it could be a potentially catastrophic storm and flood 100,000 homes.

Hurricane Ike could be "potential catastrophe"

2008-09-12T22:30+0200

GALVESTON, Texas (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike closed in on the Texas coast on Friday with a wall of water and U.S. officials warned it could be a potentially catastrophic storm and flood 100,000 homes.

Thousands Of Haitians Stranded By Floods

2008-09-12T22:30+0200

U.N. convoys were stifled in their attempts to deliver aid to thousands of stranded Haitians, including children in three orphanages, by flood damage left in the wake of Tropical Storm Hanna. Meanwhile, the country's death toll rose to 137.

In New Orleans, Trash Magnate Cleans Up

2008-09-12T22:24+0200

Sidney Torres, 33, started a trash company after Hurricane Katrina. As he rides through the French Quarter on his all-terrain vehicle, he's greeted like royalty for cleaning up the neighborhood. He says residents will come back if they see others making a change.

Fledgling Wind Farms Prepped For Hurricane

2008-09-12T22:24+0200

Wind farms are by their nature exposed to the elements, but now several energy companies are building wind towers in the hurricane-riddled Gulf of Mexico.

Relief Operations Under Way In Devastated Haiti

2008-09-12T22:24+0200

Four large storms have devastated Haiti, destroying homes and infrastructure and making relief efforts difficult. Residents packed into a shelter want the government to help rebuild homes, while relief agencies look for security.

Recibe presidente cubano llamada telefónica de su homólogo namibio

2008-09-12T22:23+0200

LA HABANA (PL) - El presidente cubano, Raúl Castro, recibió una llamada telefónica de su homólogo de Namibia, Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba, quien expresó la solidaridad de su nación con el pueblo de la Isla, tras el devastador paso de los huracanes Gustav e Ike.

Estados Unidos pone obstáculos a la ayuda a Cuba

2008-09-12T22:23+0200

LA HABANA (PL) - Las dramáticas escenas que a diario transmiten desde La Habana la televisión cubana y la cadena Telesur sobre el paso de dos huracanes sobre la Isla han impactado en muchas partes del mundo, menos en la Casa Blanca.

Nearly $1T of insured property in Ike's path

2008-09-12T22:22+0200

As Hurricane Ike churns toward the Texas Gulf Coast, nearly $1 trillion of insured commercial and residential property lies in its path, according to firms that specialize in catastrophes. The largest concentrations of exposure in Texas are along the northern part of the coast near Houston - an area....

McCain gets grilled on 'The View'

2008-09-12T22:21+0200

Republican nominee Sen. John McCain, appearing Friday on ABC's "The View," was aggressively pressed on Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's qualifications to be vice president as well as his new campaign ads that several independent fact-check groups have called misleading.

Cubans count cost of Hurricane Ike

2008-09-12T22:20+0200

Hurricane Ike swirled over the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, targeting Texas near the U.S. offshore oil patch after ripping Cuba from end to end.

Crude dips below $100, gas rises on Ike

2008-09-12T22:20+0200

Crude oil futures briefly sank below the psychologically important $100-a-barrel mark for the first time in five months Friday, showing that investors believe a worsening global economy will continue read more

Citing faith and fate, some choose to ride out Ike (AP)

2008-09-12T22:20+0200

AP - At first, even the threat of "certain death" was not enough to persuade Bobby Taylor to flee this small town directly in the path of Hurricane Ike.

Hurricane Ike threatens refineries; gasoline prices rise (AFP)

2008-09-12T22:20+0200

AFP - Hurricane Ike, bearing down Friday on the Texas coast, is pressuring US refining capacity at a time when gasoline stockpiles are low, signaling higher prices at the pump for American consumers.

Hurricane Ike could be "potential catastrophe" (Reuters)

2008-09-12T22:20+0200

Reuters - Hurricane Ike closed in on the Texas coast on Friday with a wall of water and U.S. officials warned it could be a potentially catastrophic storm and flood 100,000 homes.

XL holiday firm collapse Dozens more travel firms will go under experts say

2008-09-12T22:17+0200

Holidaymakers have been warned dozens of travel firms are on the brink of collapse after Britain's third largest tour operator went bust.

U.S. "Running Out Of Time" In Afghanistan

2008-09-12T22:15+0200

Even with American troops headed soon from an increasingly quiet Iraq to a more turbulent Afghanistan, defeating extremists in Afghanistan is growing more complex and more urgent, President Bush's senior defense advisers say.

Clean sweep for Congress party

2008-09-12T22:14+0200

— PHOTO: CH. VIJAYA BHASKAR Stonewalling: Police prevent Congress MLA D. Rajasekhar from clashing with TDP supporters in Vijayawada on Friday. HYDERABAD: Congress made a clean sweep in the elections held by Irrigation Department all over the State on Friday on-party basis to choose chairmen and....

U.S. faces potentially catastrophic storm-Chertoff

2008-09-12T22:14+0200

12 Sep 2008 19:43:34 GMT Source: Reuters MIAMI, Sept 12 (Reuters) - The United States faces a potentially catastrophic storm strike as Hurricane Ike bears down on Texas, threatening to inundate miles of coast with a wall of water, Homeland ...

Hurricane Ike could be "potential catastrophe"

2008-09-12T22:14+0200

12 Sep 2008 20:04:24 GMT Source: Reuters *Ike expected to make landfall late Friday, early Saturday *Storm could be potential catastrophe *Ike could flood 100,000 residences, US officials warn By Tim Gaynor GALVESTON, Texas, Sept 12 ...

Airing immodest shows could incur death penalty-Saudi cleric

2008-09-12T22:14+0200

12 Sep 2008 19:38:34 GMT Source: Reuters RIYADH, Sep 12 (Reuters) - The head of Saudi Arabia's Islamic Sharia courts has said owners of Arabic television stations airing immodest shows in Ramadan could face execution, Saudi web sites said on ...

DEPT OF ENERGY OFFICIAL EXPECTS 3.1 MLN ELECTRICITY CUSTOMERS W

2008-09-12T22:14+0200

12 Sep 2008 19:46:17 GMT Source: Reuters DEPT OF ENERGY OFFICIAL EXPECTS 3.1 MLN ELECTRICITY CUSTOMERS WITHOUT POWER AFTER HURRICANE ...

Chertoff says Ike a worst-case scenario for US

2008-09-12T22:14+0200

12 Sep 2008 20:07:50 GMT Source: Reuters MIAMI, Sept 12 (Reuters) - U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said on Friday that Hurricane Ike's size and likely storm surge made it a worst-case scenario. "I think this ...

'Certain death' warning over Ike

2008-09-12T22:13+0200

Hundreds of thousands of people have fled Houston as officials warned that those who stay behind in some coastal areas "face certain death" from Hurricane Ike's wrath.

DLF township plan runs into payout storm

2008-09-12T22:13+0200

Farmers affected by DLF's township project have been offered unattractive packages, which is proving to be a hurdle in the path of the project.

Ike drives gas prices, but oil only inches ahead

2008-09-12T22:09+0200

Oil futures edged up Friday morning as Hurricane Ike headed for Texas, but wholesale gas prices moved much more dramatically because refineries in the state were closed.

Hurricane Ike threatens Texas with wall of water

2008-09-12T22:09+0200

Waters rose rapidly along the Texas coast as Ike moved within hours of striking low-lying areas near Houston with a possible 20-foot storm surge in what may be the worst storm to hit Texas in nearly 50 years.

DLF township plan runs into payout storm

2008-09-12T22:08+0200

Farmers affected by DLF's township project have been offered unattractive packages, which is proving to be a hurdle in the path of the project.

Government to Assist Haitians in Aftermath of Hurricane Damage

2008-09-12T22:07+0200

The Government of Jamaica, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard, will be providing assistance to the people of Haiti, following the devastation of the country by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

Schona Jolly: Cuba's embargo must be lifted

2008-09-12T22:05+0200

Schona Jolly: After suffering from hurricanes Gustav and Ike, Cuba deserves some temporary relief from the US's unfair sanctions

Oil falls below $100 — a first in five months

2008-09-12T22:05+0200

Crude oil futures briefly sank below the psychologically important $100-a-barrel mark Friday for the first time in five months.

EMBARQ Prepared as Ike Moves Toward Texas

2008-09-12T22:02+0200

HOUSTON, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - EMBARQ crews and support personnel across Texas have moved into position as Hurricane Ike approaches the Texas ...

Oncor Preparing for Hurricane Ike's Impact on Coast, North Texas

2008-09-12T22:02+0200

With Hurricane Ike approaching the Texas Coast with winds of up to 125 mph, Oncor is taking all the necessary precautions to be prepared for the problems ...

Hurricane Ike hits Texas oil production

2008-09-12T21:56+0200

Powerful Hurricane Ike bore down on the heart of the US oil sector in Texas today, idling production and threatening nearly a quarter of the United States' refining capacity with a possible 20-foot (6-meter) wall of water.

Head of Saudi court condemns 'immodest' shows

2008-09-12T21:56+0200

The head of Saudi Arabia's Islamic Sharia courts has said owners of Arabic television stations airing immodest shows in Ramadan could face execution, Saudi web sites reported today.

Oil dips below $100 a barrell

2008-09-12T21:51+0200

Crude oil futures briefly sank below the psychologically important US$100 a barrel mark for the first time in five months today, showing that investors believe a worsening global economy will continue to drive down demand for some time in the US and elsewhere.

Obama attacks McCain as White House truce scrapped

2008-09-12T21:49+0200

NEW YORK : The White House contenders called off a brief campaign truce Friday as Barack Obama fired the opening salvo of a sharp counter-offensive against Republican John McCain's "smears and lies."

Crude oil drops below US$100 in New York

2008-09-12T21:49+0200

NEW YORK - Crude oil prices dipped below 100 dollars a barrel in New York Friday, hitting 99.99 dollars as traders anticipated Hurricane Ike would spare most oil installations in the Gulf of Mexico.

Hurricane Ike threatens refineries; gasoline prices rise for Americans

2008-09-12T21:49+0200

NEW YORK : Hurricane Ike, bearing down Friday on the Texas coast, is pressuring US refining capacity at a time when gasoline stockpiles are low, signaling higher prices at the pump for American consumers.

Texans Flee the Coast as Hurricane Bears Down

2008-09-12T21:43+0200

Hundreds of thousands evacuate, while Houston residents stockpile supplies and await what may be a direct hit on the country's fourth largest city.

U.S. HOMELAND SECURITY CHIEF CHERTOFF SAYS HURRICANE IKE COULD F

2008-09-12T21:42+0200

12 Sep 2008 19:37:07 GMT Source: Reuters U.S. HOMELAND SECURITY CHIEF CHERTOFF SAYS HURRICANE IKE COULD FLOOD MORE THAN 100,000 RESIDENCES ...

iReporters flee Ike, brave gas lines

2008-09-12T21:36+0200

Cheri Morgan spent about half-an-hour in line at a Houston-area gas station on Thursday before evacuating the city.

Lehman dogs stocks, as storm prods oil

2008-09-12T21:23+0200

Uncertainty over Lehman Brothers dragged down U.S. stocks and the dollar on Friday, as oil climbed above $102 a barrel with Hurricane Ike heading for the Texas Gulf Coast.

Hurricane Ike hits U.S. energy production

2008-09-12T21:23+0200

Oil companies shut down about 25 percent of the nation's crude oil production and nearly 22 percent of its refined fuel production as a precaution even before the storm reached land.

Military cannot rescue ship's crew from Hurricane Ike

2008-09-12T21:21+0200

The U.S. Coast Guard and Air Force were unable to rescue 22 people aboard a freighter adrift in the Gulf of Mexico because of weather conditions, the two military branches said Friday.

Hurricane Ike bears down on Galveston

2008-09-12T21:21+0200

Hurricane Ike's eye is forecast to strike somewhere near Galveston late Friday or early Saturday, then head inland toward Houston.

Ike threatens to devastate Texas coastal towns (AP)

2008-09-12T21:20+0200

AP - A massive Hurricane Ike sent white waves crashing over a seawall and tossed a disabled 584-foot freighter in rough water as it steamed toward Texas Friday, threatening to devastate coastal towns and batter America's fourth-largest city.

Cuba rejects U.S. “aid with strings”

2008-09-12T21:19+0200

HAVANA: The Cuban government has for a second time rejected the U.S. offer of post hurricane aid with strings attached, saying the country will overcome the situation. The U.S. said on Tuesday they were ready to send aid to Cuba — but only on the condition that it is accompanied by experts to evaluate the damage.

Clean sweep for Congress party

2008-09-12T21:19+0200

Thousands defy power of Ike

2008-09-12T21:18+0200

Oil dips briefly below $100 a barrel

2008-09-12T21:17+0200

Hurricane Ike prompts companies along Texas coast to shut down refining, drilling operations

Gas companies gouging consumers, leaders say

2008-09-12T21:17+0200

Conservatives and Liberals agree – in part – about big oil's role in unfairly driving up gas prices

SouthCom Sends Team to Haiti, Kearsarge Delivers Tons of Aid

2008-09-12T21:15+0200

An eight-member team from U.S. Southern Command, with headquarters in Miami, will arrive in Haiti to support ongoing U.S. relief efforts in the country.

Yikes! Ike could drive gas prices up by 12 cents per litre in N.S.

2008-09-12T21:14+0200

Nova Scotians might want to top up their gas tanks before the weekend, a consumer advocate said Friday, because the price at the pump could jump by 12 cents per litre as Hurricane Ike storms into the refinery belt in the Gulf of Mexico.

FACTBOX-Houston, Galveston in path of Hurricane Ike

2008-09-12T21:10+0200

12 Sep 2008 18:53:00 GMT Source: Reuters Sept 12 (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike closed in on the Texas coastal cities of Houston and Galveston on Friday, threatening both with wall of water that could inundate low-lying areas. The massive storm ...

Hurricane Ike bears down on Texas coastline

2008-09-12T21:08+0200

Hurricane Ike gained speed as it bore down on the Texas coastline on Friday, prompting Houston residents to batten down their homes and the National Weather Service to issue a stern warning that peopl...

Stocks fluctuate as energy rises, financials fall

2008-09-12T21:08+0200

Stocks began the session sharply lower after the government reported an unexpected slowdown at cash registers last month and as investors tried to glean insights into Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.'s r...

Freighter stranded near path of Hurricane Ike

2008-09-12T21:08+0200

HOUSTON (Reuters) - A ship with 22 crew on board was stranded without power Friday near the path of Hurricane Ike, but it was too dangerous for the U.S. Coast Guard to respond immediately, a spokeswom...

Kearsarge & Haiti Humanitarian Relief

2008-09-12T21:00+0200

Kearsarge Volunteers Deliver Humanitarian Relief to Haiti Navy NewsStand Story Number: NNS080912-11 Release Date: 9/12/2008 5:23:00 AM By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Emmitt J. Hawks, USS Kearsarge Public Affairs PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (NNS) -- Sailors from USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), along....

Hurricane Ike delays Progress docking with ISS

2008-09-12T21:00+0200

The docking of a Progress spacecraft with the ISS has been postponed for four days due to the evacuation of U.S. colleagues in the face of a looming hurricane, a Russian Mission Control spokesman said Friday.

California Air National Guard assists Texas for Hurricane Ike

2008-09-12T21:00+0200

California Air National Guardsmen from the 129th Rescue Wing here, already deployed to Ellington Field in Houston for Hurricane Ike search and rescue support operations, relocated Sept. 11 to Kelly Field in San Antonio because of Hurricane Ike's projected path.

CFB: This weekend's college football schedule

2008-09-12T20:57+0200

All Times EDT (subtract 6 hours for Hawai'i times) Subject to change Today SOUTH Kansas (2-0) at South Florida (2-0), 8 p.m. SOUTHWEST Washington St. (0-2) at Baylor (1-1), 8:30 p.m.

Oil Falls Below $100 a Barrel

2008-09-12T20:54+0200

Crude oil on the futures market briefly sank below the $100-a-barrel Friday for the first time in five months

Military sent to rescue ship's crew from Hurricane Ike

2008-09-12T20:51+0200

Coast Guard and Air Force aircraft were sent Friday afternoon to rescue 22 people on board a freighter adrift in the Gulf of Mexico with Hurricane Ike bearing down on it, the Coast Guard said.

Oil, gold lift TSX

2008-09-12T20:50+0200

The key Toronto stock index rose slightly Friday but was still below the level it closed at a week earlier. Meanwhile, the U.S. market slipped as investors worried about weak retail sales and the future of investment bank Lehman Brothers.

Wall Street falls amid Lehman, AIG worries (Reuters)

2008-09-12T20:45+0200

Reuters - Stocks fell on Friday as fears about the survival of investment bank Lehman Brothers and the possibility of more mortgage-related losses at American International Group weighed on financial shares.

Wide Ike, shallow coast mean big surge

2008-09-12T20:45+0200

Hurricane Ike's gargantuan width — not its strength — will likely push an extra large storm surge inland in a region already prone to it.

Officials urge residents to flee as killer hurricane roars to Texas (AFP)

2008-09-12T20:45+0200

AFP - Officials pleaded Friday with thousands of diehard residents of the Texas coast to flee to escape "certain death" as powerful Hurricane Ike bore down on Houston, the fourth largest US city and a major oil hub.

Stocks fall as Lehman scrambles for help

2008-09-12T20:45+0200

Stocks retreated Friday as steep declines by some of Wall Street's marquee firms and other financials outweighed gains in the energy, utilities and materials sectors.

Oil drops below $100

2008-09-12T20:43+0200

Oil prices churned Friday, briefly dipping below $100 a barrel for the first time in 5 months, as the concerns about a global economic slowdown overpowered even the fury of a massive hurricane blowing toward refineries on the Texas coast.

37,000 may need to be rescued after Hurricane Ike

2008-09-12T20:43+0200

Coast Guard and Air Force aircraft were sent Friday afternoon to try to rescue 22 people on board a massive freighter adrift in the Gulf of Mexico, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Coast Guard said.

Crude oil drops below 100 dollars

2008-09-12T20:42+0200

Oil prices dipped below 100 dollars a barrel as traders anticipated Hurricane Ike would spare most oil installations in Mexico. World's Top 10 Oil Producers

New hope for Morton employees

2008-09-12T20:40+0200

BY STEPHEN GAY, Guardian Staff Reporter There is a sense of new hope for Morton Salt employees residing on hurricane-ravished Inagua, with the announcement of the intention of parent company Rohm and Haas to rebuild the salt manufacturing facility. This comes days after Managing Director of Morton....

Oil falls below $100 per barrel

2008-09-12T20:36+0200

The last time crude traded below $100 a barrel was on April 2. Light sweet crude for October delivery fell as low as $99.99 a barrel on the NYMEX floor. It is now trading around $100.20, down 67 cents from yesterday's settle price of $100.87. Gasoline prices, however, jumped at the wholesale level....

Coast Guard says freighter must ride out storm

2008-09-12T20:35+0200

Twenty-two people aboard a 584-foot freighter adrift in the Gulf of Mexico must ride out Hurricane Ike because it's too dangerous for a rescue attempt, the U.S. Coast Guard said today.

Hurricane Ike to strike Texas

2008-09-12T20:34+0200

Hurricane Ike, the second tropical cyclone to batter the southern coast of the US in 10 days, is approaching landfall today heading directly towards heavily populated Houston and threatening winds of up to 115mph and sea level surges of more than 20 feet.

Oil falls below $100 a barrel

2008-09-12T20:31+0200

Ike is forecast to land early Saturday as a Category 3 hurricane near Galveston, a barrier island about 50 miles southeast of Houston. The Houston region is home to about one-fifth of U.S. refining capacity, and the site of a major fuel and grain distribution channel. On Thursday, Gulf Coast wholesale gasoline last traded at around $4.

Fire Fighters Prepare for Ike

2008-09-12T20:30+0200

Fire fighters across Texas and the Gulf Coast and specialty teams across the nation are preparing for Hurricane Ike, which is expected to make landfall ...

Ike Threatens To Devastate Texas Coast

2008-09-12T20:29+0200

Defense Department Readies Help as Ike Approaches Landfall

2008-09-12T20:29+0200

With Hurricane Ike forecast to make landfall tonight or early tomorrow on the Texas coast, the Defense Department already is assisting civilian agencies.

Military sent to rescue ship's crew from hurricane

2008-09-12T20:28+0200

Coast Guard and Air Force aircraft were sent Friday afternoon to rescue 22 people on board a freighter adrift in the Gulf of Mexico with Hurricane Ike bearing down on it, the Coast Guard said.

Accused chair thief gets 10 days

2008-09-12T20:25+0200

A man accused of stealing a veranda chair, was sentenced to 10 days imprisonment at hard labour when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.

Houston Waits For Hurricane Ike

2008-09-12T20:24+0200

On Scene: With the threat of a huge storm surge, the city and its neighboring communities stock up and hunker down

President Bush Visits Oklahoma, Discusses Volunteers, Hurricane Ike

2008-09-12T20:21+0200

President Bush on Friday said, "Our country is better off because millions of citizens such as these three folks have heard the call to serve something greater than themselves. And I urge our fellow citizens all around the nation to find ways to serve. It turns out that when you help somebody in need you help yourself even more.

Freighter's crew trapped in Ike's path

2008-09-12T20:18+0200

A massive Hurricane Ike sent white waves crashing over a seawall and tossed a disabled 178-metre freighter in rough water as it steamed toward Texas today, threatening to devastate coastal towns and batter America's fourth-largest city.

Dire warning as deadly Ike rumbles toward Texas

2008-09-12T20:17+0200

HOUSTON, Texas : A strengthening Hurricane Ike Friday bore down on Houston Friday, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee and sparking a dire warning that those remaining in low-lying areas "face certain death."

Lehman in eye of storm as turmoil extends

2008-09-12T20:17+0200

NEW YORK : The turmoil surrounding embattled Wall Street giant Lehman Brothers extended Friday as its share meltdown continued and the company and US government scrambled to find a buyer.

Hawaii volunteers helping with hurricane relief

2008-09-12T20:12+0200

HONOLULU, HI - (September 11, 2008) Twenty-two Hawaii Red Cross volunteers have been sent to the Gulf Coast to assist the American Red Cross response to Hurricanes Gustav and Hanna and in preparation for Ike. More than 11,375 Red Cross volunteers have been mobilized in the effort with volunteers....

Hurricane Ike: Residents 'face certain death' if they don't flee

2008-09-12T20:10+0200

Hurricane Ike is storming towards the Texas coastline this morning, prompting evacuation warnings for up to one million people as weather experts predict it will smash into the coast at 7am UK time tomorrow. The National Weather Service for the Gulf coast warn residents of one or two storey homes....

Hurricane Ike: Residents 'face certain death' if they don't flee

2008-09-12T20:05+0200

Haiti-Sport : Report des matches de D1 et D2 prévus pour ce week-end

2008-09-12T19:51+0200

PORT AU PRINCE (HPN) - Les matchs du championnat national de première (D1) et de deuxième division (D2) prévus pour ce week-end ont été reportés par la LINAF en raison des dommages subis par certaines villes, dont les Gonaïves, impliquées dans ces championnats.

Hurricane Ike brings spike in gas prices

2008-09-12T19:45+0200

The resulting spike in gas prices could be short-lived if Hurricane Ike's damage is light. But the longer-term impact won’t be known until the storm passes and floodwaters subside.

2008-09-12T19:02+0200

Parts of Galveston already under water

2008-09-12T19:02+0200

As Hurricane Ike makes its way to the Texas Gulf Coast, the National Weather Service issued a blunt warning to residents of Galveston.

Houston decides to stare down Ike instead of leave

2008-09-12T19:02+0200

HOUSTON (AP) -- As a gigantic Hurricane Ike steamed through the Gulf of Mexico toward the Texas coast, officials in America's fourth-largest city made a bold decision: Instead of fleeing, residents he...

Oil rises as Ike bears down on Texas

2008-09-12T18:56+0200

NEW YORK — Crude oil and gasoline prices bounced higher Friday as Hurricane Ike swept through Gulf of Mexico, prompting companies along the Texas coast to shut down refining and drilling operations. Ike is forecast to land early Saturday as a Category 3 hurricane near Galveston, a barrier island about 50 miles southeast of Houston.

Zurich Offers Information on Worker Safety in Post-Hurricane Ike Cleanup and Recovery Operations for Business Properties

2008-09-12T18:55+0200

Zurich, a leading property and casualty insurance provider in North America and globally, today offered information to business owners and managers about ...

High-Water Vehicles Highlight Guard's Response Arsenal

2008-09-12T18:55+0200

When Mother Nature strikes, combat vehicles become "high-water vehicles" essential to the mission of rescuing people from flood waters.

FTSE 100 up nearly 2 pct as resources power higher

2008-09-12T18:55+0200

LONDON, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Britain's blue-chip index posted a near-2 percent gain on Friday, buoyed by resource and travel sector gains, while banks ...

Lehman in eye of storm as turmoil extends

2008-09-12T18:52+0200

NEW YORK (AFP) - The turmoil surrounding embattled Wall Street giant Lehman Brothers extended Friday as its share meltdown continued and the company and US government scrambled to find a buyer.

37,000 may need to be rescued after Ike, military official says

2008-09-12T18:51+0200

The U.S. Coast Guard on Friday morning began helicopter rescues of up to 50 residents on the Texas coast, and a U.S. military official told CNN that 37,000 people may need to be rescued after Hurricane Ike strikes.

Hurricane Ike kills 7 in Cuba

2008-09-12T18:44+0200

Cuba raised its official death toll from Hurricane Ike to seven on Friday, confirming that three more people were killed and ...

Cuba raises Ike death toll

2008-09-12T18:42+0200

Havana - Cuba raised its death toll from Hurricane Ike to seven people on Friday. The Communist Party newspaper Granma reported on Friday the death of a 55-year-old man who evacuated but returned to his flat along Havana's seaside Malecon boulevard before authorities said it was safe.

Texans wait for Ike's 22-foot wall of fury

2008-09-12T18:36+0200

Waves wash inland on Galveston IslandForecasters warn Ike may bring "certain death"100 mph winds to hit Texas coast by midnight22 people stranded on freighter in Ike's path People stranded in cars on Bolivar Peninsula 37,000 people may need to be rescued

As Ike nears, chain asks for limit on gas buys (AP)

2008-09-12T18:36+0200

AP - A North Carolina-based convenience store chain is asking customers in 11 states — mostly across the Southeast — to limit gasoline purchases to 10 gallons as Hurricane Ike shuts down some refineries on the Gulf coast.

Hurricane Ike bears down on Texas coastline

2008-09-12T18:36+0200

Forecasters said flooding from the mammoth storm could be high enough to cover many houses on Galveston Island.

Dire warning as deadly Ike rumbles toward Texas (AFP)

2008-09-12T18:36+0200

AFP - A strengthening Hurricane Ike Friday bore down on Houston Friday, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee and sparking a dire warning that those remaining in low-lying areas "face certain death."

Music: The extraordinary story of a unique label devoted to releasing music by Iraq war veterans

2008-09-12T18:31+0200

The extraordinary story of a unique label devoted to releasing music by Iraq war veterans. By Carl Wilkinson

Fuel prices rise as Ike nears Galveston

2008-09-12T18:29+0200

Oil prices bounced back above $102 a barrel as Hurricane Ike swept through Gulf of Mexico, prompting companies along the Texas coast to shut down refining and drilling operations.

RP in grave peril from Arctic

2008-09-12T18:23+0200

By Ike Suarez, Correspondent Melting of the Arctic ice caps would lead to widespread ...

I Don’t Like Ike

2008-09-12T18:23+0200

Houston, we have a problem. Just days ago, Ike looked like another false alarm for the US energy complex, but now it is taking aim at Galveston Bay. In the energy business, amateurs worry about high winds and rigs out at sea while the pros fret more about flooding of transport and refining infrastructure.

Gas prices jump by up to 13 cents per litre in some markets

2008-09-12T18:22+0200

Motorists in many cities in Canada received a sharp surprise early Friday when they discovered the price of gasoline had risen by as much as 13 cents per litre.

Las autoridades del COE dicen que ahora el Gobierno enfrenta los daños dejados por las tormentas

2008-09-12T18:20+0200

SANTO DOMINGO (CIG) - Los organismos responsables de enfrentar los fenómenos naturales que afectan al país expresaron que después de la tormenta lo que queda ahora es enfrentar los daños dejados por Hanna y Ike

Ike surge begins, Houston hunkers down

2008-09-12T18:14+0200

Hurricane Ike was on a track toward Houston, where officials told residents to brace rather than flee even as others, in lower lying areas, were told to flee or they could "face certain death."

Rumor Watch: Governor Sarah Palin

2008-09-12T18:13+0200

Last week CBS News chased down rumors in Wasilla, Alaska. We"re listing a few of them here to set the record straight.

Run or die, Texans told as Ike nears

2008-09-12T18:10+0200

Forecaster warns of 'certain death' as sprawling and strengthening hurricane moves across Gulf of Mexico toward Houston

Gold holds 2 pct gains as dollar widens losses

2008-09-12T18:09+0200

LONDON - Gold held onto near 2 percent gains posted in early trade on Friday, as the dollar extended losses against the euro on weaker-than-expected U.S. retail sales data. Other precious metals also bounced back after Thursday's sharp losses, with platinum rising nearly 5 percent, palladium gaining 6 percent and silver ticking up almost 3 percent.

Oil near $102, awaits Hurricane Ike

2008-09-12T18:09+0200

LONDON - Oil rose to around $102 a barrel on Friday, underpinned by Hurricane Ike which could threaten oil refineries in the United States, the world's biggest energy consumer. U.S. crude for October delivery was up $1.28 at $102.15 a barrel by 1413 GMT, having settled $1.71 lower on Thursday, when prices dipped as low as $100.

Stocks fluctuate as energy rises, financials fall (AP)

2008-09-12T18:05+0200

AP - Stocks fluctuated Friday as gains by energy, utilities and materials companies at times offset losses among some financials.

Scores left homeless in Sierra Leon floods

2008-09-12T18:03+0200

, 12 September - Severe floods that hit Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, left over 1000 people homeless after five hours of torrential rains, meteorologists have said.

Big US corn, soy crops outpaced by high usage

2008-09-12T18:03+0200

12 Sep 2008 15:55:31 GMT Source: Reuters (Recasts first sentence, adds details) By Charles Abbott WASHINGTON, Sept 12 (Reuters) - U.S. growers will reap the second-largest corn crop and the No. 4 soybean crop this fall but not keep pace ...

Rules of order for Mayor Palin

2008-09-12T18:00+0200

The meeting of the Wasilla City Council was called to order by Mayor Sarah Palin at 7:15. Given that it was winter and had been dark outside for a few months, no one was exactly sure if it was a.m. or...

Lehman plan allays fears, boosts index

2008-09-12T18:00+0200

THE Australian share market ended another volatile week on a positive note yesterday as institutional buyers returned thanks to a reduction in fears of a Lehman Brothers collapse in the US.

Ike strands freighter in Gulf; Houston braces

2008-09-12T18:00+0200

HOUSTON (AP) -- A sprawling and strengthening Hurricane Ike steamed through the Gulf of Mexico on Friday on a track toward the nation's fourth-largest city, where authorities told residents to brace r...

Retail sales slide, producer prices drop in August

2008-09-12T18:00+0200

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Wholesale inflation plunged in August by the largest amount in nearly two years, reflecting a steep drop in energy prices. But in less positive news, retail sales remained in the do...

RP in grave peril from Arctic ice-cap melting, says scientist

2008-09-12T17:59+0200

By Ike Suarez, Correspondent Melting of the Arctic ice caps would lead to widespread depletion of the Philippines’ fish population and death of many species of the country’s flora and fauna, according to a Filipino scientist-member of the US Inter-Governmental PanelA on Climate Change that shared....

Gas jumps 20 cents ahead of Ike

2008-09-12T17:58+0200

Prices surged by as much as 20 cents a gallon at some Houston-area gas stations as Hurricane Ike bore down on the Gulf coast.

Stocks waver as Lehman scrambles for help

2008-09-12T17:58+0200

Stocks fluctuated Friday following an unexpected slowdown at cash registers last month and as investors tried to glean insights into Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.

Hurricane Ike Set to Slam Texas Coast

2008-09-12T17:58+0200

2008-09-12T17:26+0200

Food and fresh water ran dangerously low on Thursday for thousands in the flood-stricken Haitian city of Gonaives, as governments and aid groups struggled to get aid to people.

Namibia: Fuel Prices to Drop Next Week

2008-09-12T17:25+0200

FURTHER relief awaits Namibian drivers on Wednesday - the price of leaded and unleaded petrol will drop by 50 cents a litre, while diesel will go down by 80 cents per litre.

Destruction a serious obstacle to emergency aid efforts in Haiti – UN agencies

2008-09-12T17:24+0200

| UNICEF is airlifting 11.5 tons of relief supplies to Haiti11 September 2008 – The damage to infrastructure and extensive flooding across hurricane-battered Haiti is so ... (photo: WN)

Storms Beat Cuba: Where's Castro?

2008-09-12T17:24+0200

Storm victims posing among the rubble soon began chanting "Fidel! Fidel!" Nearly a half-minute went by before anyone realized they were forgetting the man who replaced Fidel Castro as Cuba's president six months ago. "And Raul! And Raul!" someone yelled.

Cuba seeks to buy US goods

2008-09-12T17:24+0200

| HAVANA - Cuba has turned down US storm relief handouts, but is asking for trade restrictions to be lifted so it can buy American materials to assist in its recovery from Hurricane Ike, officials sai... (photo: AP / Fernando Llano)

U.S. consumer mood hits eight-month high

2008-09-12T17:23+0200

Unexpected buoyancy comes as consumers worry less about energy prices, September survey shows

Some Galveston Residents Linger As Storm Nears

2008-09-12T17:23+0200

Hurricane Ike is expected to make landfall as a Category 3 hurricane late Friday or early Saturday south of Galveston, Texas. Officials issued a mandatory evacuation order and warned of "certain death" for those who don't leave, but NPR's Ari Shapiro says plenty of people remain.

For adjusters, big money ‘at catastrophe time'

2008-09-12T17:23+0200

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Barry Schoch's cell phone comes to life with “When the Saints Go Marching In” — a reminder of the nine months he spent assessing damage from Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and Mississippi. These days, the independent insurance adjuster is waiting for the jaunty ring tone to send him packing again.

Hurricane Hunters Track Ike as Storm Moves Toward Texas

2008-09-12T17:22+0200

Citizen-airmen of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, charged with flying directly into the eye of nature's most powerful storms, are conducting around-the-clock flights into Hurricane Ike to give forecasters the best possible data.

TFN NEWS BRIEFING: Oil and utilities highlights to 15:45 BST

2008-09-12T17:22+0200

2008-09-12 15:22:59 Oil near $102, awaits Hurricane Ike LONDON, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Oil rose to around $102 a barrel on Friday, underpinned by Hurricane ...

Party official welcomes Cuba’s friendship delegation

2008-09-12T17:21+0200

12/09/2008 10:01 PM Tong Thi Phong, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Vice Chair of the National Assembly, received the visiting first vice president of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), Enrique Roman, in Hanoi on Sept. 12.

VN helps Cuba overcome hurricane consequences

2008-09-12T17:21+0200

12/09/2008 09:10 PM Vietnam will provide 200,000 USD worth of rice as aid for Cuba to help it overcome the aftermaths of hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

US-Based Jamaicans Urged to Support National Disaster Recovery Fund

2008-09-12T17:18+0200

WASHINGTON, D.C. (JIS) - Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States, Anthony Johnson, has appealed to Jamaicans residing in that country, to support Jamaica's National Disaster Recovery Fund

PM Golding Says His Government Remains Committed to Its Vision for Jamaica

2008-09-12T17:18+0200

KINGSTON (JIS) - Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, says his Government remains committed to its vision for Jamaica, whereby every child must go to a decent school and every adult, to a decent job.

Slight dengue increase recorded in August

2008-09-12T17:18+0200

PHILIPSBURG - Sector Health Care Affairs (SHCA) and the Hygiene and Veterinary Affairs Department have stepped up their anti-dengue response after noticing an increase in the number of lab confirmed cases in St. Maarten.

Dire warning as hurricane Ike nears Texas

2008-09-12T17:15+0200

Forecasters said flooding from the mammoth storm could be high enough to cover many houses on Galveston Island.

Galveston Floods Ahead of Worsening Ike

2008-09-12T17:11+0200

Parts of Galveston are already underwater as Ike bears down on Texas Gulf Coast.

Severe floods hit S Leone

2008-09-12T17:09+0200

Several parts of Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, are submerged in more than 1m of water after five hours of torrential rain, meteorologists say.

Japan's centenarians hit record high

2008-09-12T17:08+0200

The number of Japanese reaching the age of 100 has doubled in the past six years to more than 36000.

Forecaster warns of 'certain death' as Ike looms (AP)

2008-09-12T17:05+0200

AP - A sprawling and strengthening Hurricane Ike steamed through the Gulf of Mexico on Friday on a track toward the nation's fourth-largest city, where authorities told residents to brace rather than flee. Closer to the coast, small towns were mostly empty after forecasters issued dire warnings the storm could kill.

CHRONOLOGY-Unrest in gas-rich, politically riven Bolivia

2008-09-12T17:02+0200

12 Sep 2008 14:57:36 GMT Source: Reuters Sept 12 (Reuters) - Bolivia is in a fresh cycle of violence as a political crisis pits leftist President Evo Morales against rightist opposition governors of resource-rich Bolivian provinces. ...

Texans Warned of 'Certain Death'

2008-09-12T17:02+0200

Residents of coastal areas and parts of Houston evacuate as Hurricane Ike strengthens.

Ike strands freighter in Gulf; Houston braces

2008-09-12T17:00+0200

CDB offers hurricane relief assistance

2008-09-12T16:54+0200

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has offered financial and technical assistance to its member countries affected by the recent passage of Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and Ike.

Work on Police Stations in St. Thomas Progressing Smoothly

2008-09-12T16:52+0200

The building and rehabilitation of police stations in St. Thomas is progressing smoothly, despite the challenges wrought by Tropical Storm Gustav. Chairman of the St. Thomas Parish Council, Mayor Hanif Brown, told JIS News, that there is an extensive programme of building and rehabilitation being....

Losses in Western Parishes Estimated at $98 Million

2008-09-12T16:52+0200

Damage done by Tropical Storm Gustav to the agricultural sector in western Jamaica, has been estimated at just over $98 million. Of the three western parishes of St. James, Hanover and Westmoreland, St. James was the worst affected by the storm, in terms of dollar value.

Jamaicans in Atlanta Urged to Give More Support to Education

2008-09-12T16:52+0200

Wife of the Prime Minister, Lorna Golding, has appealed to Jamaicans in Atlanta, to give more support to the island's schools. "I implore you all to contribute more to education, so that the children of Jamaica can get the right start," she pleaded. Mrs.

St. Ann Farmers Urged to Continue Production

2008-09-12T16:52+0200

Manager for the St. Ann branch of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Pedro Worghs, is encouraging farmers in the parish who suffered agricultural losses from Tropical Storm Gustav not to be discouraged and to continue to produce. "At present we are in the process of completing our....

Excavated soil pushed into ocean threatens coral reef

2008-09-12T16:48+0200

PELICAN - The colourful and lively coral reefs just off shore are a tourist attraction as well as protection for the coastline.

Fuel prices to drop next week

2008-09-12T16:44+0200

It is the second time this year that fuel prices have come down - after six increases. Energy Minister Erkki Nghimtina announced yesterday that the market experienced a strengthened average exchange rate while the crude oil prices also showed a sharp decline the past month.

Houston braces itself for Ike

2008-09-12T16:39+0200

As Hurricane Ike headed towards the Texas coast, officials in Houston made a bold decision - instead of fleeing, residents would stare down the storm. Homeowners should board up windows, clear the decks of furniture and stock up on drinking water and non-perishable food.

Hurricane Ike Houston residents ordered not to evacuate as deadly storm hits

2008-09-12T16:37+0200

Millions of people living in Houston America's fourthbiggest city have been told to ignore a mass evacuation of southeastern Texas and face out Hurricane Ike in their homes.

Freighter stranded near path of Hurricane Ike (Reuters)

2008-09-12T16:33+0200

Reuters - A ship with 22 people on board lost power and was stranded 90 miles southeast of Galveston, Texas, near the path of Hurricane Ike, the U.S. Coast Guard said Friday.

Why Ike Could Be Texas' Worst Nightmare (LiveScience.com)

2008-09-12T16:33+0200

LiveScience.com - As Hurricane Ike revs up again over the Gulf of Mexico, residents of coastal Texas, especially Houston and Galveston, are preparing for the arrival of the monstrous storm, which could be the most devastating that the Lone Star State has seen Hurricane Alicia came ashore in 1983,....

Hurricane Ike threatens Texas with wall of water (Reuters)

2008-09-12T16:33+0200

Reuters - Hurricane Ike moved on Friday within 24 hours of striking the densely populated Texas coast near Houston with a possible 20-foot (6-meter) wall of water in what may be the worst storm to hit Texas in nearly 50 years.

Hurricane Ike threatens Texas with wall of water

2008-09-12T16:30+0200

12 Sep 2008 13:56:04 GMT Source: Reuters *Ike expected to make landfall late Friday, early Saturday *Could land as Category 3 storm with 20-foot storm surge *Refineries at risk, oil prices rise slightly By Tim Gaynor GALVESTON, Texas ...

Hurricane Ike threatens Texas with wall of water

2008-09-12T16:29+0200

GALVESTON, Texas (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike moved on Friday within 24 hours of striking the densely populated Texas coast near Houston with a possible 20-foot (6-meter) wall of water in what may be the worst storm to hit Texas in nearly 50 years.

Major road works envisaged for Gaborone

2008-09-12T16:28+0200

GABORONE - The Gaborone City Council will soon embark on major project of improving roads and storm water drainage system. The council's Chief Engineer, Mr Komal Jain, said during an interview that some of the projects were programmed under the Urban Development Programme No.

Typhoon Sinlaku weakens, may hit SE China

2008-09-12T16:21+0200

The strong Typhoon Sinlaku, the 13th tropical storm so far this year, weakened comparatively on Friday morning and was approaching the coastal areas of southeast China, a provincial weather authority said on Friday. Typhoon Sinlaku was expected to hit northeastern Taiwan on Saturday afternoon and....

Vietnam helps Cuba overcome hurricane consequences

2008-09-12T16:19+0200

12/09/2008 09:10 PM Vietnam will provide 200,000 USD worth of rice as aid for Cuba to help it overcome the aftermaths of hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

Forecasters Issue Dire Warning as Hurricane Ike Approaches Texas

2008-09-12T16:14+0200

US National Hurricane Center says Ike could cause massive waves as well as coastal flooding up to six meters above normal tide levels

'Certain death' Ike pushes sea into Galveston

2008-09-12T16:06+0200

Floodwaters surged into Galveston Island neighborhoods this morning with the center of Hurricane Ike still more than 200 miles from landfall. Forecasters warned Ike would bring "certain death" to anyone who remained in Galveston Bay homes. Rarely do forecasters use such forceful language.

Hurricane policies in place for worried travelers

2008-09-12T16:06+0200

As Hurricane Ike bears down on Texas, travelers may be wondering how this storm and the rest of the season's brutal weather will affect their travel plans.

The Nation's Weather (AP)

2008-09-12T16:02+0200

AP - Hurricane Ike lumbered closer to Texas early Friday, hours before it was forecast to lash the coast with heavy rainfall, intense winds and severe thunderstorms.

Texas gears up as gigantic Ike nears

2008-09-12T15:58+0200

Story Highlights Massive Hurricane Ike has Texas coast on edge Storm could flood Galveston Island, forecasters say Authorities: Ike could bring "certain death" for those in single-family homes on coast ....

U.S. wholesale inflation slides; retail sales remain weak

2008-09-12T15:57+0200

Wholesale inflation in the United States plunged in August by the largest amount in nearly two years, reflecting a steep drop in energy prices. But in less positive news Friday, retail sales remained in the doldrums in August.

Houston decides to stare down Ike instead of leaving

2008-09-12T15:54+0200

The Associated Press THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HOUSTON - As a gigantic hurricane Ike steamed through the Gulf of Mexico toward the Texas coast, officials in America's fourth-largest city made a bold decision: ...

Oil biz hunkers down for Ike

2008-09-12T15:51+0200

The energy business on the Gulf coast hunkered down as Hurricane Ike churned towards Texas on Friday, where it could make landfall Friday night or Saturday.

Texas prepares for hurricane Ike

2008-09-12T15:48+0200

One million on coast ordered to flee; U.S. weather service warns that some near Galveston who ignore order 'will face certain death'

Taking a flier on history's wings

2008-09-12T15:48+0200

They may be unpaid volunteers but for these vintage aircraft restorers, putting an old bird in the sky is the penultimate payoff

NEMA sends relief into Inagua for Hurricane Ike victims

2008-09-12T15:47+0200

NASSAU, The Bahamas (BIS) – Commander Stephen Russell, Director of the NEMA said he was pleased with the relief efforts following the passage of the category four Hurricane Ike through the southeast Bahamas.

Ike drives gas prices, but oil only inches up

2008-09-12T15:47+0200

Oil futures edged up Friday morning as Hurricane Ike headed for Texas, but wholesale gas prices moved much more dramatically because refineries in the state were closed.

Hurricane Damage Assessments Continue on Inagua

2008-09-12T15:47+0200

MATHEW TOWN, Inagua (BIS) – Technical teams on the island of Inagua are continuing detailed assessments for the Government, which will most likely issue an exigency order to provide duty exemptions to residents working to regroup in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike

Hurricane Ike warning: Flee or die

2008-09-12T15:43+0200

Floodwaters were surging ashore along the coastline of Texas' Galveston Island on Friday as Gulf Coast residents living in the path of Hurricane Ike were told they faced "certain death" unless they heeded warnings to evacuate before the storm makes landfall.

A Million Run but Houston Stands Pat

2008-09-12T15:40+0200

With hurricane-force winds that extend out 120 miles from its center, the storm, which is as big as the entire state of Texas, is prompting similar warnings up and down the Texas coast. The center of Ike, now a Category 2 storm with winds of 105 mph, could reach the coast somewhere near Galveston, late tonight or early Saturday morning.

Houston Braces for Hurricane Ike

2008-09-12T15:39+0200

As a gigantic Hurricane Ike steamed through the Gulf of Mexico toward the Texas coast, officials in America's fourth-largest city made a bold decision: Instead of fleeing, residents here would stare down the storm

'Bold' move as Ike steams ahead

2008-09-12T15:38+0200

As Hurricane Ike steamed through the Gulf of Mexico toward the Texas coast, officials in Houston's metropolitan area have made a bold decision.

Excavated soil pushed into ocean threatens coral reef

2008-09-12T15:33+0200

PELICAN--The colourful and lively coral reefs just off shore are a tourist attraction as well as protection for the coastline. However, with the construction sectors facing severe setbacks with where to put excavated soil and rock, some contractors are opting to push the debris into the ocean....

Slight dengue increase recorded in August

2008-09-12T15:33+0200

~ Most lab requests from the St. Johns area ~ PHILIPSBURG--Sector Health Care Affairs (SHCA) and the Hygiene and Veterinary Affairs Department have stepped up their anti-dengue response after noticing an increase in the number of lab confirmed cases in St. Maarten. (click headline for more)

Ike strands freighter in Gulf; Houston braces (AP)

2008-09-12T15:32+0200

Retail sales slide, producer prices drop in August (AP)

2008-09-12T15:32+0200

AP - Wholesale inflation plunged in August by the largest amount in nearly two years, reflecting a steep drop in energy prices. But in less positive news, retail sales remained in the doldrums in August.

Banking & Finance: Peso recovers vs dollar

2008-09-12T15:31+0200

The peso swung back to the P46 per dollar territory on Friday after a rebound in global oil prices weighed on the US currency.

Robot spyplanes get new role as medical couriers

2008-09-12T15:29+0200

Remote areas could benefit from uncrewed planes that ferry medical samples to labs, speeding diagnosis and helping cut further spread of disease

'Hurricane chaser' ready to film Ike's landfall

2008-09-12T15:28+0200

As Hurricane Ike bears down on the Texas coast, tens of thousands of anxious residents have loaded their belongings and fled inland.

FACTBOX-Ivorian cocoa: economic mainstay with tainted image

2008-09-12T15:28+0200

12 Sep 2008 13:12:23 GMT Source: Reuters Sept 12 (Reuters) - Corruption scandals, strikes and power struggles have rocked Ivory Coast's cocoa sector before a new harvest and upcoming elections and this turbulence in the world's top grower ...

Zuma wins corruption case appeal

2008-09-12T15:21+0200

A South African judge threw out corruption charges against ruling party leader Jacob Zuma on Friday, clearing the way for him to become the country's next president.

Senator says ease coming for fishermen

2008-09-12T15:17+0200

BRIDGETOWN (BGIS) - The cries of fishermen who recently lost their livelihood when their vessels were destroyed due to a combination of bad weather and inadequate equipment, have not fallen on deaf ears.

Hurricane Ike delays cargo for space outpost (Reuters)

2008-09-12T15:02+0200

Reuters - The Russian and U.S. space agencies on Friday decided to delay a cargo shipment from docking at the International Space Station after Hurricane Ike forced the evacuation of the mission's control centre in Texas.

Dryness cuts yields but US corn, soy crops still huge

2008-09-12T14:57+0200

12 Sep 2008 12:36:01 GMT Source: Reuters WASHINGTON, Sept 12 (Reuters) - U.S. farmers will reap their second-largest corn crop ever, 12.074 billion bushels, and the fourth-largest soybean crop, 2.934 billion bushels, despite dry August ...

RPT-Hurricane Ike delays cargo for space outpost

2008-09-12T14:57+0200

12 Sep 2008 12:44:27 GMT Source: Reuters (Refiles to fix typo in paragraph 2) By Dmitry Solovyov MOSCOW, Sept 12 (Reuters) - The Russian and U.S. space agencies on Friday decided to delay a cargo shipment from docking at the ...

Carl Lewis calls for scrutiny of sprint sensation Usain Bolt

2008-09-12T14:56+0200

It has been a Jamaican love-in since Usain Bolt bestrode the Olympic Games and won a hat-trick of gold medals, but a voice from the past urged caution as the new sprint sensation was heralded as the king of Kingston. With Bolt in the throes of a national party after his belated homecoming this week,....

Experts: Flee Ike Or "Face Certain Death"

2008-09-12T14:56+0200

As Hurricane Ike steamed toward the Texas coast, officials in Houston told most residents to stare down the storm. Residents of Galveston, warned by the National Weather Service they could "face certain death," were ordered to evacuate.

Showers drench North Trinidad

2008-09-12T14:55+0200

WHILE the Meteorological Office yesterday advised via a release that the country was not under any tropical storm warning, heavy midday showers left parts of Port-of-Spain and Northern Trinidad under heavy flooding.

Hurricane Ike threatens 'massive flooding' on Texan coast

2008-09-12T14:55+0200

Almost a million people in Texas ordered to evacuate before category three hurricane strikes

Texas Evacuates Coast As Ike Approaches

2008-09-12T14:53+0200

Hurricane Ike is expected to come ashore on the Gulf Coast of Texas. It's predicted to be a Category 3 hurricane, which could cause a lot of damage in the area.

Ike Threatens Texas Oil Refineries

2008-09-12T14:53+0200

Hurricane Ike is storming toward the Gulf Coast of Texas — home to a quarter of the nation's oil refining capacity. As refineries shut down in anticipation of the storm, wholesale gasoline prices have shot up, despite crude oil prices falling to their lowest level in more than five months.

2008-09-12T13:11+0200

"Ho'iki 'Ike O Wai'anae," a week-long festival will run from Sept. 21-28 at the Makaha Golf Resort and other venues along the Wai'anae Coast.

Hurricane Ike delays cargo for space outpost (Reuters)

2008-09-12T13:00+0200

Anambra PDP crisis: Gana, George, Nwachukwu in peace panel - Daily Champion - Fastnews Nigerian Political News

2008-09-12T12:57+0200

Anambra PDP crisis: Gana, George, Nwachukwu in peace panel MALACHY UZENDU, Head Editorial, Abuja Disturbed by a seemingly intractable crisis in the ranks of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Anambra state chapter, the national working committee (NWC) of the party yesterday in Abuja set up an....

Texans Warned of 'Certain Death'

2008-09-12T12:55+0200

Coastal residents evacuate as Hurricane Ike strengthens; Houstonians asked to stay in homes.

Pictured: Exodus from Texas hits one million as residents are told 'get out or face certain death' from Hurricane Ike

2008-09-12T12:54+0200

Nearly 1 million people along the Texas coast have been ordered to evacuate as gigantic Hurricane Ike threatened to send a wall of water crashing towards Houston.

Hurricane Ike delays cargo for space outpost

2008-09-12T12:54+0200

12 Sep 2008 10:29:07 GMT Source: Reuters By Dmitry Solovyov MOSCOW, Sept 12 (Reuters) - The Russian and U.S. space agencies on Friday decided to delay a cargo shipment from docking at the International Space Station after Hurricane Ike ...

Hurricane Ike delays cargo for space outpost

2008-09-12T12:53+0200

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Russian and U.S. space agencies on Friday decided to delay a cargo shipment from docking at the International Space Station after Hurricane Ike forced the evacuation of the mission's control centre in Texas.

Houston Decides to Stare Down Ike

2008-09-12T12:53+0200

Genesee & Wyoming Inc. Reports Traffic for August 2008

2008-09-12T12:44+0200

GREENWICH, Conn., Sept. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI) today reported traffic volumes for August 2008. GWI's traffic in ...

UPDATE 3-Precious metals bounce back as dollar retreats

2008-09-12T12:44+0200

LONDON, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Gold bounced more than 2 percent in Europe on Friday from the previous session's 11-month low, reflecting gains across the ...

Oil rises as Ike bears down on Texas

2008-09-12T12:40+0200

SINGAPORE — Oil prices rose to nearly $102 (U.S.) a barrel Friday in Asia as Hurricane Ike swept up from the Gulf of Mexico, prompting companies along the Texas coast to shut down refining and drilling operations. Light, sweet crude for October delivery rose 94 cents to $101.

World stocks rise on Lehman hopes

2008-09-12T12:40+0200

U.S. dollar rally stalls, as oil peeks towards $102 and gold recovers more than 2 per cent

Dire warning, evacuations as Ike eyes Texas (AFP)

2008-09-12T12:30+0200

AFP - Massive Hurricane Ike bore down on Houston, Texas on Friday, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee and sparking a dire warning that those remaining in low-lying areas "face certain death."

Hurricane Ike delays Progress docking with ISS

2008-09-12T12:30+0200

MOSCOW, September 12 (RIA Novosti) - The docking of a Progress spacecraft with the ISS has been postponed for four days due to the evacuation of U.S. colleagues in the face of a looming hurricane, a Russian Mission Control spokesman said Friday. NASA's Mission Control is at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

Storm Ike pushes oil near $102

2008-09-12T12:28+0200

Light, sweet crude for October delivery rose 94 cents to $101.81 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange midafternoon in Singapore. The contract fell $1.71 overnight to settle at $100.87 after dropping as low as $100.10 per barrel. The last time Nymex crude traded below the $100 mark was April 2.

Cuba rejects again U.S.' strings attached hurricane aid

2008-09-12T12:27+0200

The Cuban government has for a second time rejected the U.S. offer of post hurricane aid with strings attached, saying Thursday that the country will overcome the situation. The U.S. authorities, who have had an economic ban on Cuba for 50 years, said Tuesday they were ready to send aid to Cuba --....

Houston to Stare Down Ike

2008-09-12T12:25+0200

Officials warn residents not flock to the roadways en masse as Hurricane approaches Texas.

VIDEO: Chicago Rabbis organize nationwide `Rabbis for Obama` group, 300 sign on

2008-09-12T12:22+0200

More than 300 rabbis from across the country and across the denominations are publicly backing Barack Obama for president. According to a press release, Rabbis for Obama is a 'grassroots effort' founded by two rabbis from Obama's home state of Il ...

Oil prices up as Hurricane Ike barrels down on Texas coast

2008-09-12T12:20+0200

SINGAPORE: World oil prices climbed in Asian trade Friday as Hurricane Ike hammered the southern US coast, forcing oil and gas production facilities in the area to shut down, dealers said.

No victory in Iraq, says Petraeus

2008-09-12T12:14+0200

The outgoing commander of US troops in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, has said that he will never declare victory there.

Hurricane Ike: Residents 'face certain death' if they don't flee

2008-09-12T12:10+0200

'Certain death' warning over Ike

2008-09-12T12:10+0200

Residents in the US state of Texas are urged to evacuate or face "certain death" ahead of Hurricane Ike.

Dire warning, evacuations as Ike eyes Texas

2008-09-12T12:08+0200

HOUSTON, Texas (AFP) - Massive Hurricane Ike bore down on Houston, Texas on Friday, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee and sparking a dire warning that those remaining in low-lying areas "face certain death."

Hurricane Ike: Residents 'face certain death' if they don't flee

2008-09-12T12:08+0200

In despair

2008-09-12T12:02+0200

"The next thing I knew I was in the middle of the river. Fortunately I was able to hang on to something and stopped myself being swept away. "But six members of my family were lost. They just disappeared. Only one of their bodies has been found so far." And she says the government is not doing anything to help.

Hollywood actress in IRA uproar

2008-09-12T12:00+0200

Rose McGowan claims in press conference she would have joined the IRA had she grown up in Northern Ireland. By Angela Sammon - 12/09/08 American actress Rose McGowan has caused a storm by claiming in a press conference that she would have joined the IRA had she grown up in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.

Houston Told To "Hunker Down" For Big Ike

2008-09-12T11:56+0200

Nearly 1 million people along the Texas coast were ordered to evacuate ahead of the storm, which was expected to strike late Friday or early Saturday.

Soggy summer hangs farmers out to dry

2008-09-12T11:54+0200

Growers from Prairies to Maritimes face miserable season as rainfall decimates crops and hinders harvest

Hurricane Ike threatens Texan coast

2008-09-12T11:45+0200

Almost a million people in US ordered to evacuate as hurricane threatens 'massive flooding'

Bring it on, say hurricane holdouts

2008-09-12T11:43+0200

HURRICANE Ike may be taking aim for the low-lying coast of Texas, but supermarket worker Jacqueline Harris is staying put - in a flimsy, wooden beach bar.

Texas prepares for a gigantic Hurricane Ike

2008-09-12T11:43+0200

HOUSTON (AP) -- Cars and trucks streamed inland and chemical companies buttoned up their plants Thursday as a gigantic Hurricane Ike took aim at the heart of the U.S. refining industry and threatened ...

Gas prices jump by up to 13 cents a litre in some markets

2008-09-12T11:39+0200

Motorists in many cities in Canada received a sharp surprise early Friday when they discovered the price of gasoline had risen by as much as 13 cents a litre.

'Values voters' eye a leader in Palin as others fade

2008-09-12T11:27+0200

Gov. Sarah Palin has seemingly overnight become the leading candidate for future leader of the conservative movement in the nation - regardless of whether she and running mate Sen. John McCain capture the White House in November.

Embassy Row

2008-09-12T11:27+0200

The co-chairmen of a key congressional human rights panel denounced Russia's assault on Georgia, declaring that Moscow resorted to the "law of the jungle" to justify its actions and pledging never to give diplomatic recognition to the Kremlin's "dismemberment" of the former Soviet republic.

Hurricane Ike closing in on Texas coast, Houston

2008-09-12T11:20+0200

12 Sep 2008 09:07:34 GMT Source: Reuters * Hurricane Ike strengthens, but still a Category 2 storm * Ike seen hitting Texas, west of main Gulf oil fields * Storm surge of 25 feet possible at landfall * Weather Service issues " ...

Evacuations as Ike approaches Texas

2008-09-12T11:19+0200

Thousands of people fled the Texas Gulf coast yesterday as deadly Hurricane Ike bore down, with forecasters warning the sprawling storm could gain added force before it crashes into the coast near

Euro falls to 12-month low

2008-09-12T11:19+0200

The 15-nation euro has dipped below $1.40, hitting a 12-month low amid the recent reprieve from high oil prices. In

Commodities lead FTSE up; banks rise on Lehman

2008-09-12T11:13+0200

LONDON, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Britain's leading share index pushed higher early on Friday, lifted by strength in heavyweight oils and miners and with banks ...

Côte d'Ivoire: American Embassy's National Daily Press Review

2008-09-12T11:12+0200

This daily press review is compiled by the Information Section of the Public Affairs Office of the American Embassy in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

Popularity contest

2008-09-12T11:10+0200

French President Nicholas Sarkozy has also taken a big hit in the polls due to the country's economic woes and seen his UMP Party defeated in municipal elections, although his standing has started to improve in recent weeks. And the popularity of Japan's government plummeted before prime minister....

A 9/11 'What-If?'

2008-09-12T11:03+0200

As with 9/11 in the US, ‘11-M’ was the most devastating series of terrorist acts in Spanish history. Spain has demonstrated an effective alternative to war as a means of addressing and resolving the bloody horrors of terrorism, notes Peter Dyer .

EU will strengere Kontrollen transnationaler Finanzgeschäfte

2008-09-12T11:01+0200

Nachdem die Europäische Kommission bereits bei Ratingagenturen durchgegriffen hat, hat sie nun gemeinsam mit der französischen EU-Ratspräsidentschaft angekündigt, die Kontrollen für den Finanz- und Bankensektor zu verschärfen. Dies erfolgt als Antwort auf die Kreditkrise, die in den USA begonnen hat.

L'UE compte renforcer le contrôle des activités financières transfrontalières

2008-09-12T11:00+0200

Après avoir pris des mesures énergiques contre les agences de notation, la Commission européenne et la présidence française de l'UE ont annoncé qu'elles renforceraient le contrôle des secteurs financier et bancaire pour faire face à la crise du crédit des Etats-Unis. EurActiv enquête sur la conférence d'ECOFIN à Nice.

Havana rebuffs aid, asks for trade

2008-09-12T10:56+0200

Cuba has turned down U.S. storm relief handouts but is asking for trade restrictions to be lifted so it can buy U.S. materials to assist in its recovery from Hurricane Ike, officials said Thursday.

Texas clears Gulf Coast area for Ike

2008-09-12T10:56+0200

Authorities in the Houston area and along the southeast Texas Gulf Coast ordered hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate Thursday as Ike bore down with hurricane-force winds that encompassed more than 200 miles and were expected to gain even more strength.

Ruling party starts to crack

2008-09-12T10:56+0200

In the past 20 years, Japan has had 13 prime ministers. In a pattern rarely seen outside the communist world, individual leaders have come and gone, but the ruling party has remained the same.

Upgraded Hurricane Ike Nears Texas

2008-09-12T10:51+0200

Hundreds of thousands of people fled coastal areas in the path of Hurricane Ike, forecast to arrive in the Texas Gulf Coast upgraded to category 3, the latest till early tomorrow

MYANMAR: Forewarned, not forearmed

2008-09-12T10:48+0200

12 Sep 2008 08:21:46 GMT Source: IRIN The Myanmar government says most residents were warned about approaching cyclone Nargis, but many failed to take appropriate measures or were simply caught off-guard.

Hurricane Ike sparks mass evacuation in Texas

2008-09-12T10:45+0200

American weather forecasters are expecting the ferocious Hurricane Ike to hit parts of Texas with wind speeds in excess of 190km/h this weekend.

EU announces tighter controls on cross-border finance

2008-09-12T10:44+0200

After cracking down on rating agencies, the European Commission and the French EU Presidency have announced tighter supervision of the finance and banking sector in response to the credit crisis which began in the US. EurActiv reports from the Eurofi conference in Nice.

Texas Gulf Coast residents run from Hurricane Ike

2008-09-12T10:41+0200

Ciara Bedford, 2, and her mother stock up on water ahead of Hurricane Ike on Thursday in Victoria, Texas. Thousands left the coastal areas.

Texans urged to flee hurricane

2008-09-12T10:39+0200

AFP Massive Hurricane Ike bore down on Houston, the fourth largest US city, sending hundreds of thousands fleeing amid a warning that those remaining in low-lying areas "face certain death." "All neighbourhoods and possibly entire coastal communities will be inundated during the. . . .

Texas prepares for Hurricane Ike to strike

2008-09-12T10:35+0200

Hundreds of thousands of people have fled Texas after being warned they would face certain death from Hurricane Ike if they stayed.

Gas prices jump by 12.9 cents

2008-09-12T10:34+0200

Motorists are in for a rude shock this morning as they pull into gas stations across the GTA to fill 'er up: a massive overnight hike in pump prices.

Thousands flee as Hurricane Ike threatens Texas

2008-09-12T10:29+0200

Around one million people in coastal areas of Texas have been forced to flee their homes as Hurricane Ike approaches the U.S. state.

English Channel tunnel fire burns for a second day

2008-09-12T10:26+0200

France's transportation minister says firefighters are still trying to put out a fire in a tunnel under the English Channel a day after it broke out.

Pain at the pumps

2008-09-12T10:21+0200

TORONTO — Motorists in many parts of Canada received an unpleasant surprise Friday with a spike in the price at the pumps. The price for gas at some stations in the Greater Toronto Area jumped by about 13 cents at midnight to more than $1.36 a litre. A veteran gas-price watcher, Liberal MP Dan....

MYANMAR: Forewarned, not forearmed

2008-09-12T10:20+0200

BOGALE, 12 September 2008 (IRIN) - The Myanmar government says most residents were warned about approaching cyclone Nargis, but many failed to take appropriate measures or were simply caught off-guard.

Remembering Gilbert

2008-09-12T10:19+0200

For many persons throughout the length and breadth of Jamaica, Hurricane Gilbert is not just remembered for being dangerous as it swept through street and lane, but for the rehabilitation period, which for most was long and hard with many inconveniences.

Gilbert Chronicles - Seaga remembers

2008-09-12T10:19+0200

EDWARD SEAGA was an anthropology student at Harvard University in 1951 when Hurricane Charlie devastated Jamaica and killed approximately 111 people. Thirty-seven years later, as prime minister, he helped the country prepare for another natural disaster...

Mother's reunion dream shattered

2008-09-12T10:19+0200

Spanish Town, St Catherine: A mother's dream to be reunited with her five children has been shattered.The woman in question, Karen Elliot of Old Harbour Bay, St Catherine, died Wednesday, almost a year after the Child Development Agency...

2008-09-12T09:52+0200

Nearly one million people along the Texas coast have been ordered to evacuate as Hurricane Ike takes aim at the heart of the US refining industry and threatens to send a wall of water crashing toward Houston. In a calculated risk aimed at avoiding total gridlock, authorities have told most people in Houston, the fourth-largest US city, to stay put.

Warning: Texans face 'certain death' with Ike

2008-09-12T09:43+0200

Residents living in single-family homes in some parts of coastal Texas face "certain death" if they do not heed orders to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Ike's arrival, the National Weather Service said Thursday night.

UPDATE 1-Oil bounces to above $101, eyes on Hurricane Ike

2008-09-12T09:42+0200

SINGAPORE, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Oil prices recovered to above $101 a barrel on Friday, as the markets kept a watchful eye on the path of Hurricane Ike ...

Anambra PDP crisis: Gana, George, Nwachukwu in peace panel MALACHY UZENDU, Head Editorial, Abuja Disturbed by a seemingly intractable crisis in the ranks of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Anambra state chapter, the national working committee (NWC) of the party yesterday in Abuja set up an....

2008-09-12T09:38+0200

Thousands flee Houston as hurricane Ike nears US coast

2008-09-12T09:37+0200

HOUSTON: Hundreds of thousands of people fled Thursday in a mandatory evacuation of parts of Houston, jamming roads leading away from the fourth largest US city and the US Gulf Coast as deadly Hurrica...

Fierce hurricane Ike homes in on Texas Gulf Coast

2008-09-12T09:33+0200

Thousands of people fled coastal areas in the path of hurricane Ike yesterday as the storm gathered strength on a collision course with the Texas Gulf Coast.''All neighbourhoods and possibly entire coastal communities will be inundated during the period of peak storm tide,'' according to a special bulletin from the National Hurricane Center.

McTeague urges PM to curb gas prices

2008-09-12T09:33+0200

Liberal member of Parliament Dan McTeague said yesterday drivers in Toronto and Western Canada will face the largest one-day price increase he's ever seen today, when pump prices could jump as much as 12.9 cents a litre.

Fears over Ike prompt surge in gas prices

2008-09-12T09:33+0200

Gasoline prices jumped to unprecedented levels in the wholesale markets yesterday as hurricane Ike tore across the Gulf of Mexico, threatening to strike Texas and its refineries.Crude oil on the futures market, however, sank below $101 (U.S.) a barrel to its lowest settlement price since late March....

Dire warning as Ike approaches

2008-09-12T09:29+0200

Officials in Houston have warned that residents who stay behind in some coastal areas "face certain death" from Hurricane Ike's wrath.

Houston decides to stare down Ike instead of leave (AP)

2008-09-12T09:28+0200

AP - As a gigantic Hurricane Ike steamed through the Gulf of Mexico toward the Texas coast, officials in America's fourth-largest city made a bold decision: Instead of fleeing, residents here would stare down the storm.

Gulf residents face 'certain death' from Ike: officials (AFP)

2008-09-12T09:28+0200

AFP - Hundreds of thousands of people have fled Houston, Texas, the fourth largest US city, as officials warned that those who stay behind in some coastal areas "face certain death" from Hurricane Ike's wrath.

World › Texas prepares for a gigantic Hurricane Ike

2008-09-12T09:28+0200

Cars and trucks streamed inland and chemical companies buttoned up their plants Thursday as a gigantic Hurricane Ike took aim at the heart of the…

Hurricane Ike Closing In On Texas Coast, Houston

2008-09-12T09:14+0200

Ike was expected to produce five to 10 inches (13 to 25 cm) of rain along the middle and upper Texas coast.

Hurricane Ike takes aim at Texas coast, Houston

2008-09-12T09:14+0200

12 Sep 2008 03:07:48 GMT Source: Reuters * Hurricane Ike remains Category 2 storm * Ike seen hitting Texas, west of main Gulf oil fields * Storm surge of 20 feet possible at landfall By Tim Gaynor GALVESTON, Texas, Sept 11 (Reuters ...

Russia’s consulate in Houston prepares for hurricane Ike

2008-09-12T09:13+0200

NEW YORK, September 12 (Itar-Tass) - Russia’s consulate-general in Houston has begun to work in an emergency regime as hurricane Ike bears down on the Texas coast. On Friday, the consulate will not provide consultations, except for assistance to Russian citizens in emergency. It will work all-round-the-clock.

Texas prepares for a gigantic Hurricane Ike

2008-09-12T09:10+0200

The storm is so big it could inflict a punishing blow even in those areas that do not get a direct hit.

Storm clouds gather over UK travel industry

2008-09-12T09:10+0200

By Roger Blitz, Leisure Industries Correspondent Published: June 21 2008 04:54 | Last updated: June 21 2008 04:54 British holidaymakers, be warned: soak up the rays, sleep in longer and make the most of your summer holiday. It may be the last you have for a while.

Last time 'certain death' was warned: Katrina

2008-09-12T08:58+0200

The National Weather Service in Houston told residents along Galveston Bay on Thursday night they "face certain death" if they don't leave home before Hurricane Ike roars ashore.

President Kufuor leaves for US

2008-09-12T08:55+0200

Accra, Sept. 12, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor left Accra Thursday evening for a three-day visit to the United States at the invitation of President George Bush. A statement signed by Mr Andrew Awuni, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson, said the visit was the second by an African leader in the eight year-term of President Bush.

Oil rises in Asia as Ike bears down on Texas coast

2008-09-12T08:52+0200

SINGAPORE (AP) - Oil prices rose Friday in Asia to above US$101 a barrel as Hurricane Ike swept up from the Gulf of Mexico, prompting companies along the Texas coast to shut down refining and drilling operations.

Thousands of Texans flee Ike

2008-09-12T08:48+0200

Hundreds of thousands of people are fleeing coastal areas of Texas as Hurricane Ike heads their way.

Hurricane Ike closing in on Texas coast, Houston

2008-09-12T08:42+0200

2008-09-12T08:35+0200

Juan Rodriguez sits with his Chiuahua, Margarita, as he waits to board an evacuation bus in Robstown, Texas, on Wednesday. Hurricane Ike, which intensified to a Category 2 storm, is predicted to hit t...

Kanye West arrested in airport dustup with paps

2008-09-12T08:35+0200

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Kanye West's notoriously fickle temper boiled over Thursday, resulting in his arrest for apparently helping smash a paparazzo's camera on the floor at Los Angeles International Air...

Ike enters Gulf; on path for Texas

2008-09-12T08:35+0200

A man walks along the White Street pier as waves crash in Key West, Fla., Tuesday. Hurricane Ike is passing to the south over Cuba. The National Hurricane Center said it could make landfall in Texas o...

Peter blames media 'piranhas' for his political woes

2008-09-12T08:28+0200

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has lashed out at the media again, saying it is to blame for the political storm enveloping him. Mr Peters has been stood down from his ministerial portfolios while four separate inquiries...

Hurricane Ike closing in on Texas coast, Houston (Reuters)

2008-09-12T08:28+0200

Reuters - Hundreds of thousands of people fled coastal areas in the path of Hurricane Ike on Friday as the storm gathered strength on a collision course with the Texas Gulf Coast, threatening to swamp populous areas around Houston under a massive wave of water.

Oil pushes up past $101 per barrel

2008-09-12T08:28+0200

Light, sweet crude for October delivery rose 39 cents to $101.26 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange midday in Singapore. The contract fell $1.71 overnight to settle at $100.87. Exxon Mobil Corp., Valero Energy Corp., ConocoPhillips and Marathon Oil Co.

Oil prices rebound over $101 a barrel

2008-09-12T08:24+0200

Oil prices recovered to above $101 a barrel this morning as the markets kept a watchful eye on the path of Hurricane Ike that could disrupt refineries and production in the United States for weeks.

Uganda: Minister's Testimony Splits MPs

2008-09-12T08:01+0200

Security Minister Amama Mbabazi yesterday braved a gruelling five-hour grilling by the parliamentary committee investigating the National Social Security Fund's controversial purchase of land he jointly sold with businessman Amos Nzeyi.

Volatile oil prices slide again

2008-09-12T07:55+0200

Oil prices dip after a short-lived rebound on fears of Hurricane Ike hitting installations in Texas.

Hurricane Ike takes aim at Texas coast

2008-09-12T07:54+0200

Hundreds of thousands of people fled coastal areas in the path of Hurricane Ike today as the storm gathered strength on a collision course with the Texas Gulf Coast, threatening to swamp populous areas around Houston under a massive wave of water.

Texas Prepares for a Gigantic Hurricane Ike

2008-09-12T07:54+0200

Gigantic Hurricane Ike takes aim at the Houston area; 1 million ordered evacuated

'Marce' continues to bring rains in Manila (12:38 p.m.)

2008-09-12T07:51+0200

Friday, September 12, 2008 'Marce' continues to bring rains in Manila (12:38 p.m.) MANILA -- Typhoon Marce (international codename: Sinlaku) will continue to bring rains in the western part of Luzon, the weather bureau said Friday. Marce's center is at 360 kilometers (kms) Northeast of Basco, Batanes as of 10 a.

Bring it on, say hurricane holdouts

2008-09-12T07:38+0200

HURRICANE Ike may be taking aim for the low-lying coast of Texas, but supermarket worker Jacqueline Harris is staying put - in a flimsy, wooden beach bar. 2:56pm (AEST)

Houston residents flee as Ike looms

2008-09-12T07:32+0200

Thousands have fled Houston, Texas as officials warned that those who stay behind in some coastal areas "face certain death" from Hurricane Ike's wrath.

Worries rise in Texas as Ike looms in the Gulf

2008-09-12T07:22+0200

Some are hunkering down, some heading out and all holding their breath as Hurricane Ike churns toward a weekend landfall on Texas' ...

Oil rises in Asia as Ike bears down on Texas coast (12:36 p.m.)

2008-09-12T07:05+0200

SINGAPORE -- Oil prices rose Friday in Asia to above US$101 a barrel as Hurricane Ike swept up from the Gulf of Mexico, prompting companies along the Texas coast to shut down refining and drilling operations. Light, sweet crude for October delivery rose 39 cents to US$101.

Venezuela expels US ambassador

2008-09-12T07:02+0200

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has expelled the US envoy to Caracas late and threatened to halt crude exports to the United States.

Headlines in major Malaysian newspapers on Friday

2008-09-12T06:59+0200

The following headlines appeared in major Malaysian newspapers on Friday: *** THE NEW STRAITS TIMES: - Pay rise for 2,787 teacher training and ELTC lecturers - NIK AZIZ: Pakatan will benefit if Dr Mahathir rejoins Umno - Abdullah expresses surprise over muhyiddin's statement on transition plan -....

Digicel commits US$1 million towards hurricane relief efforts in Haiti

2008-09-12T06:49+0200

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Caribbean telecommunications company Digicel has committed US$1 million to support the relief efforts in Haiti following the passing of four major storms, two of them hurricanes, in Haiti. Digicel has actioned a series of relief initiatives to help the Haitian people.

Government remains committed to vision for Jamaica, says PM

2008-09-12T06:49+0200

KINGSTON, Jamaica (OPM): Prime Minister Bruce Golding says his government remains committed to its vision for Jamaica, whereby every child must go to a decent school and every adult, to a decent job. He believes that if these goals are achieved, then Jamaica will be well on its way to solving its problems.

Relief efforts continue for Hurricane Ike victims in Bahamas

2008-09-12T06:49+0200

NASSAU, Bahamas (BIS): On Wednesday, a C-130 aircraft, courtesy for the United States Coast Guard, flew six pallets of water, an industrial-size generator for the Water and Sewerage Corporation's reverse osmosis plant and other essentials into Matthew Town, Inagua, in the southeastern Bahamas.

Hurricane damage assessments continue on Inagua

2008-09-12T06:49+0200

MATHEW TOWN, Inagua (BIS): Technical teams on the island of Inagua are continuing detailed assessments for the Government, which will most likely issue an exigency order to provide duty exemptions to residents working to regroup in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham advised Tuesday.

Texans Flee Coast as Ike Threatens Houston Area

2008-09-12T06:47+0200

Hurricane Ike, a massive storm with enormous potential for destruction, bore down on the Gulf Coast of Texas yesterday, prompting authorities to order mandatory evacuations, close the port of Houston and shut down much of the region's oil industry.

>>PDP Dissolves Anambra Congress Committee - LeadershipNigeria - Fastnews Nigerian Political News

2008-09-12T06:39+0200

There appears to be no solution in sight for the crisis rocking the Anambra State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the National Working Committee (NWC) has dissolved the Chief Chuma Nwofor-chaired congress comittee. In its place, NWC at the end of its meeting on Wednesday, approved....

Hong Kong shares lower after China industrial output data - UPDATE

2008-09-12T06:39+0200

HONG KONG (XFN-ASIA) - Share prices were lower at mid-morning as China's latest industrial output figures added to worries about slowing corporate earnings ...

Texas holdouts urge Hurricane Ike to 'bring it on!'

2008-09-12T06:37+0200

12 Sep 2008 04:10:06 GMT Source: Reuters By Tim Gaynor GALVESTON, Texas, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike may be taking aim for the low-lying coast of Texas, but grocery store worker Jacqueline Harris is staying put -- in a flimsy, wooden ...

Texas holdouts urge Hurricane Ike to "bring it on!"

2008-09-12T06:31+0200

GALVESTON, Texas (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike may be taking aim for the low-lying coast of Texas, but grocery store worker Jacqueline Harris is staying put -- in a flimsy, wooden beach bar.

Hurricane Ike takes aim at Houston

2008-09-12T06:31+0200

GALVESTON, Texas (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of people fled coastal areas in the path of Hurricane Ike on Thursday as the storm gathered strength on a collision course with the Texas Gulf Coast, threatening to swamp populous areas around Houston under a massive wave of water.

Gulf residents face 'certain death' from Ike: officials

2008-09-12T06:25+0200

HOUSTON, Texas (AFP) - Hundreds of thousands of people have fled Houston, Texas, the fourth largest US city, as officials warned that those who stay behind in some coastal areas "face certain death" from Hurricane Ike's wrath.

Unioil leads with P3 cut at the pump

2008-09-12T06:22+0200

By Alena Mae S. Flores UNIOIL led other distributors in cutting pump prices last night, trimming P3 off gasoline and P2 off diesel prices against the others’ two-peso reduction. Unioil cut prices at 10 last night and market leader Petron at midnight “to reflect the continued softening of international oil prices.

'Certain death' for Texans caught in Ike's path, forecaster says

2008-09-12T06:18+0200

Residents in parts of coastal Texas will face "certain death" if they don't seek refuge from Hurricane Ike, which continued its path Thursday toward the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Jamaica PM wants CARICOM governments to agree on a 'road map for action'

2008-09-12T06:12+0200

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Jamaican Prime Minister, Bruce Golding wants the Caribbean Community governments to collectively agree on a "road map for action" in the implementation of the Caribbean Community Single Market and Economy (CSME) and for "sanctions to be imposed against defaulters."

Venezuela kicks out US ambassador

2008-09-12T06:07+0200

VENEZUELAN President Hugo Chavez expelled the US envoy to Caracas today and threatened to halt crude exports to the US on a day he highlighted the recent arrival of two Russian Tu-160 strategic bombers. 1:15pm (AEST)

:Obama and McCain Out To Conquer Undecided

2008-09-12T06:03+0200

Only 57 days remain before the American presidential election; the results of which will be historic, whatever the winning “ticket” may be. The two candidates having chosen their partners, the race to the White House – which has been very full of surprises up to this point – has entered into its final straight.

Taiwan braces for Typhoon Sinlaku

2008-09-12T05:55+0200

Taiwan is bracing for Typhoon Sinlaku as the storm gains strength while approaching the island.

Cat 3 Ike Could Be a Texas-Sized Storm

2008-09-12T05:53+0200

Cars and trucks streamed inland and chemical companies buttoned up their plants Thursday as a gigantic Hurricane Ike took aim at the heart of the U.S. refining industry and threatened to send a wall of water crashing toward Houston. Nearly 1 million people along the Texas coast were ordered to....

Oil companies brace for a 2nd blow

2008-09-12T05:48+0200

For the second time in two weeks, a powerful hurricane is forcing oil companies to shut down major production and refining facilities.

Oil nears 5-month low on dollar, weak demand

2008-09-12T05:37+0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - Oil prices fell more than US$1 on Thursday, nearing a five-month low, weighed down by a stronger dollar and concerns over weakening demand.

U.S. to give US$10 million in aid to storm-hit Haiti

2008-09-12T05:37+0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - The United States will provide US$10 million in aid to help storm-ravaged Haiti recover from deadly tropical storms, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Wednesday.

CWB watching typhoon after issuing sea warning

2008-09-12T05:37+0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - The Central Weather Bureau (CWB) continued monitoring the movement of Typhoon Sinlaku after it issued a sea warning yesterday morning as the weather system continued to move toward waters east of Taiwan from the Philippines.

Oil prices slide to six-month low below US$97

2008-09-12T05:37+0200

(ChinaPost.com.tw) - Oil prices tumbled to six-month lows below US$97 on Thursday as the dollar rallied and the likelihood of a sharp global economic slowdown loomed over demand growth, traders said.

New drug for parasitic diseases developed

2008-09-12T05:36+0200

Researchers on Thursday heralded “probably the biggest breakthrough in tropical medicine in 25 years” with the development of what is believed to be an effective cure for diseases that affect 150m people in the developing world. Mark Taylor, professor of parasitology at the Liverpool School of....

VIDEO: Hurricane Ike heads for Texas

2008-09-12T05:35+0200

12 Sep 2008 03:14:00 GMT Source: Reuters Sep. 11 - Hurricane Ike is gathering strength and is on a collision course with the Texas Gulf coast. Ike is a Category 2 storm with 100 mph winds and could grow to a ferocious Category 4 storm ...

VIDEO: Haitians struggle after Ike

2008-09-12T05:35+0200

12 Sep 2008 03:16:00 GMT Source: Reuters Sep. 11 - After the hurricanes comes the clean-up with residents in Haiti and Cuba struggling to restore the damage. In Haiti, the Health Department has reported 144 confirmed deaths, but estimates ...

Dominican Republic government responds with storm relief

2008-09-12T05:34+0200

SANTO DOMINGO. Dominican Republic: The Dominican Republic government headed by President Leonel Fernandez has assessed the damages caused to infrastructure, business and agriculture by the four tropical storms, Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike, which hit the island within a two week spell.

Cayman Islands donate relief supplies to Turks and Caicos

2008-09-12T05:34+0200

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (GIS): A Cayman Airways flight left for the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Thursday loaded with some 24,500 pounds of relief supplies. These goods comprise a special donation from the government and people of the Cayman Islands to the TCI, a fellow British Overseas....

Haiti city hit by storms needs clean water, food

2008-09-12T05:34+0200

GONAIVES, Haiti (Reuters): Floods that devastated a Haitian city and killed hundreds threaten to trigger a health crisis and fresh outbreaks of food riots in the impoverished Caribbean country, government officials and aid workers say. Gonaives is not the only city in Haiti devastated primarily by Tropical Storm Hanna.

Where have all the Bahamian flamingos gone?

2008-09-12T05:34+0200

NASSAU, Bahamas (Reuters): The southern Bahamian island of Great Inagua is known for two things - its old salt plant and a 60,000-strong flamingo flock. Now some Bahamians wonder if they might end up losing both after Hurricane Ike ripped across the island last week causing millions of dollars in damage.

Desperate Cuba charges US is 'lying' on storm aid

2008-09-12T05:34+0200

HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Reeling from almost nationwide destruction from hurricanes Gustav and Ike, cash-strapped Cuba on Thursday charged the United States was "lying" about its stated willingness to help the communist country. The neighbours do not have full diplomatic relations.

Mississippi Guard Responds to Coastal Flooding

2008-09-12T05:32+0200

About 100 Mississippi Army National Guard soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 155th Combined Arms Battalion, left yesterday for Gulfport, Miss., to assist local authorities as they deal with rising flood waters and additional flooding in Harrison and Hancock Counties.

Texas prepares for a gigantic Hurricane Ike (AP)

2008-09-12T05:28+0200

AP - Cars and trucks streamed inland and chemical companies buttoned up their plants Thursday as a gigantic Hurricane Ike took aim at the heart of the U.S. refining industry and threatened to send a wall of water crashing toward Houston.

As hurricane Ike nears, Texas coast residents board up houses and leave

2008-09-12T05:27+0200

HOUSTON : People along the Texas coast rushed to board up their houses and move inland Thursday as Hurricane Ike, a mammoth storm 500-miles across with 100-mile-per-hour winds at its center, churned a...

Koreans are to make a total of 46 million trips during the Chuseok or Korean Thanksgiving Day holidays from Saturday to Monday. It seems travelers will have a harder time than in previous years given the short holidays this year. Some 16.44 million vehicles or an average of 3.

UK-News Summary

2008-09-12T04:00+0200

Channel Tunnel remains closed PARIS (Reuters) - A major fire aboard a freight train damaged the undersea Channel Tunnel on Thursday, halting all rail traffic, including passenger services, between Britain and continental Europe, the tunnel operator said.

Hurricane Ike takes aim at Texas coast, Houston

2008-09-12T03:54+0200

Evacuation as Hurricane Ike heads for Texas

2008-09-12T03:39+0200

Hurricane Ike was storming towards the Texas coastline last night, prompting evacuation warnings for up to one million people as weather experts struggled to predict its erratic path.

T-Mobile Takes Action to Prepare for Hurricane Ike

2008-09-12T03:38+0200

T-Mobile USA, Inc. is preparing for the potential impact of Hurricane Ike, anticipating landfall in central South Texas, but also preparing for impacts ...

Police declare labour leader wanted over exam fraud - Vanguard - Fastnews Nigerian Telecomms News

2008-09-12T03:32+0200

ENUGUPOLICE detectives are now on the trail of a trade unionist said to be on the run in connection with his alleged involvement in examination malpractices during last Saturday’s Direct Entry Screening Test conducted by the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN).

Hurricane Ike takes aim at Texas coast, Houston

2008-09-12T03:30+0200

12 Sep 2008 01:14:02 GMT Source: Reuters * Hurricane Ike remains Category 2 storm * Ike seen hitting Texas, west of main Gulf oil fields * Storm surge of 20 feet possible at landfall By Tim Gaynor GALVESTON, Texas, Sept 11 (Reuters ...

Cars, trucks stream inland in Texas as Ike nears (AP)

2008-09-12T03:28+0200

Evacuation as Hurricane Ike heads for Texas

2008-09-12T03:28+0200

2008-09-12T03:22+0200

GORDON Brown will be sitting in front of his Downing Street fire tonight hoping that his emergency energy package not only helps the poorest of us keep warm this winter but also insulates him from the...

Murderball muscles into Paralympics

2008-09-12T03:22+0200

Today, Zhang lines up against her heroes as Team China plays Team USA, the gold-medal favorites, in the opening battle of Murderball, aka wheelchair rugby, a clashing contact sport set to take the Par...

600,000 evacuate as Ike closes in

2008-09-12T03:22+0200

HUNDREDS of thousands of Americans fled coastal areas in the path of Hurricane Ike as the storm gathered strength on a collision course with parts of Texas, threatening to swamp low-lying areas around...

GONAIVES, Haiti - In a cathedral surrounded by mud and flood waters, the 34-year-old motorcycle taxi driver shivers on a pew, wrapped in a sheet and delirious from fever. He struggles to remember the names of his four children, one of whom died when two storms submerged Gonaives and the villages around it in vile muck.

2008-09-12T01:32+0200

A total of 46 million people are to travel during the Chuseok or Korean Thanksgiving Day holidays from Saturday to Monday. It seems travelers will have a harder time than in previous years given the short holidays this year. Some 16.44 million vehicles or an average of 3.

600,000 evacuate as Ike closes in

2008-09-12T01:30+0200

Anambra crisis: Jerry Gana heads peace c’ttee

2008-09-12T01:29+0200

THE National leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) yesterday appointed the former Secretary, Board of Trustees(BOT) of the party, Professor Jerry Gana the chairman of the peace and reconciliation Committee for the lingering crisis in the Anambra State PDP, just as the party also dissolved....

Police declare labour leader wanted over exam fraud

2008-09-12T01:29+0200

Kanye West arrested in airport dustup with paps (AP)

2008-09-12T01:27+0200

AP - Kanye West's notoriously fickle temper boiled over Thursday, resulting in his arrest for apparently helping smash a paparazzo's camera on the floor at Los Angeles International Airport.

Need to know: Fyffes hit by costs ... TNS deadline extended ... BT raid

2008-09-12T01:25+0200

Housing market New construction orders fell by 22 per cent in the three months to July, compared with the previous quarter. Private housing orders in the year to July fell 24 per cent from the previous 12 months, while infrastructure orders rose by 27 per cent.

Texas Prepares For Monstrous Hurricane Ike

2008-09-12T01:24+0200

Nearly 1 million people along the Texas coast were ordered to evacuate ahead of the storm, which was expected to strike late Friday or early Saturday.

Chertoff to Texans: Listen to local officials

2008-09-12T01:22+0200

Senior federal officials are telling Gulf Coast residents to listen to what their local officials tell them to do. And if they are told to evacuate, evacuate.

2008-09-12T00:56+0200

SECURITY minister Amama Mbabazi yesterday grappled with MPs as he defended the sale of his Temangalo land to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).

Oil closes in on $100 a barrel

2008-09-12T00:54+0200

Prices fall on strength in U.S. dollar, reports that Saudi Arabia will not cut output

House to vote next week on offshore drilling

Ottawa councillor questions city's firing of sewage managers

2008-09-12T00:26+0200

An Ottawa city councillor is questioning the city's decision to fire two waste water managers the day before the city pleaded guilty to two charges under Ontario's Water Resources Act.

London Brent hits 6-month low

2008-09-12T00:25+0200

LONDON: Oil prices fell on Thursday, nearing a five-month low hit the previous day, weighed down by a stronger dollar and concerns over weakening demand. US crude fell as low as $101.43 and was trading 62 cents down at $101.92 by 1135 GMT. London Brent slipped, outpacing the fall in US crude prices, to $97.

Hurricane Ike in Gulf of Mexico, headed for Texas

2008-09-12T00:22+0200

11 Sep 2008 22:15:35 GMT Source: Reuters * Hurricane Ike remains Category 2 storm * Ike seen hitting Texas, west of main Gulf oil fields * Storm surge of 20 feet possible at landfall By Tim Gaynor GALVESTON, Texas, Sept 11 (Reuters ...

US Navy cmdr dismisses Russia bombers as US threat

2008-09-12T00:22+0200

The commander of the U.S. Navy's Fourth Fleet said Thursday his forces were keeping an eye on Blackjack Russian bombers that have landed in Venezuela for training exercises _ but he dismissed the deployment as a major challenge to the United States.

DOE to deliver SPR oil to Placid Refining Co

2008-09-12T00:22+0200

11 Sep 2008 22:08:56 GMT Source: Reuters WASHINGTON, Sept 11 (Reuters) - The U.S. Energy Department said on Thursday it will deliver 130,000 barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to Placid Refining Co. The company requested ...

Distribution of relief supplies causing tension in Turks and Caicos

2008-09-12T00:18+0200

GRAND TURK, Turks and Caicos Islands: The distribution of relief aid arriving in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) following Hurricane Ike is reportedly causing tension among the residents. In a phone interview with Caribbean Net News , former Chief Minister, Oswald Skippings said, “The situation here is tense.

Houston set to begin Ike evacatuions

2008-09-12T00:15+0200

HOUSTON was poised to begin evacuations today of hundreds of thousands of its residents, ahead of Hurricane Ike's anticipated arrival in the Texas metropolis.

Mississippi Guard Responds to Coastal Flooding

2008-09-12T00:10+0200

About 100 Mississippi Army National Guard soldiers of deployed to Gulfport, Miss., to assist local authorities as they deal with rising flood waters and additional flooding in the state's Harrison and Hancock Counties.

Hurricane Ike pushes water onto parts of Miss. coast

2008-09-12T00:07+0200

Unusually high tides whipped up by Hurricane Ike flooded some streets and yards in low areas along the Mississippi Gulf Coast ...

Phone carriers reprise Gustav plans for Ike

2008-09-12T00:06+0200

Telecommunications providers are getting a quick opportunity to use the plans they activated last week

Hurricanes deplete Red Cross relief fund

2008-09-12T00:05+0200

The wave of storms battering the United States has plunged the American Red Cross deep into debt as it rushes to prepare for Hurricane Ike, prompting a searching look at how to stabilize its finances.

US Navy cmdr dismisses Russia bombers as US threat (AP)

2008-09-11T23:56+0200

AP - The commander of the U.S. Navy's Fourth Fleet said Thursday his forces were keeping an eye on Blackjack Russian bombers that have landed in Venezuela for training exercises — but he dismissed the deployment as a major challenge to the United States.

Hurricane Ike postpones Cubs-Astros games

2008-09-11T23:50+0200

HOUSTON - Due to the threat of Hurricane Ike, the Houston Astros are postponing the Friday and Saturday games against the Chicago Cubs. Hurricane Ike, approaching the Texas coastline with winds of 100 miles per hour, is expected to reach landfall this weekend.

Haiti city hit by storms needs clean water, food

2008-09-11T23:48+0200

11 Sep 2008 21:21:57 GMT Source: Reuters By Matthew Bigg and Joseph Guyler Delva GONAIVES, Haiti, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Floods that devastated a Haitian city and killed hundreds threaten to trigger a health crisis and fresh outbreaks of food ...

Oil prices drop as US dollar firms, demand jitters persist

2008-09-11T23:46+0200

NEW YORK: Oil prices tumbled on Thursday as the dollar rallied and demand worries outweighed a powerful Hurricane Ike barrelling through the rig-dotted Gulf of Mexico.

Half-Canadian, Half-Afghan Youth's Guantanamo Bay Trial Postponed (AHN)

2008-09-11T23:40+0200

(AHN) - The U.S. military judge in Guantanamo Bay postponed the Oct. 8 trial of half-Canadian, half-Afghan youth Omar Khadr. - Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:34:03 GMT

Texas prepares for an ominous Hurricane Ike

2008-09-11T23:34+0200

HOUSTON -- Authorities in the Houston area and along the Southeast Texas Gulf Coast ordered hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate Thursday as Hurricane Ike lumbered toward the coast and threatened to grow even stronger.

CFB: Ike forces postponement of Arkansas-Texas game

2008-09-11T23:34+0200

AUSTIN, Texas — Hurricane Ike has pushed back the Arkansas-Texas football game to Sept. 27.

Water management for the Mekong basin

2008-09-11T23:28+0200

SINGAPORE — China says it remains a developing country despite its rapid rise in the league of global power. By some measures, it is now the world's third-biggest economy and second-largest exporter. However gauged, China is clearly a nation with increasing impact and influence, especially if you live in nearby Southeast Asia.

In flooded Haitian city, 'Every home is a shelter' (AP)

2008-09-11T23:26+0200

AP - In a cathedral surrounded by mud and flood waters, the 34-year-old motorcycle taxi driver shivers on a pew, wrapped in a sheet and delirious from fever.

Phone carriers reprise Gustav plans for Ike (AP)

2008-09-11T23:26+0200

AP - With Hurricane Ike bearing down on the Texas Gulf Coast, telecommunications providers are getting a quick opportunity to reprise the preparedness plans they activated last week to cope with Hurricane Gustav.

Where have all the Bahamian flamingos gone?

2008-09-11T23:17+0200

11 Sep 2008 21:06:08 GMT Source: Reuters By John Marquis NASSAU, Sept 11 (Reuters) - The southern Bahamian island of Great Inagua is known for two things -- its old salt plant and a 60,000-strong flamingo flock. Now some Bahamians wonder ...

Oil slips near $100 a barrel

2008-09-11T23:15+0200

Oil prices continued their sharp decline as investors shrugged aside worries about the impact of Hurricane Ike.

After a morning decline, Wall Street surge

2008-09-11T23:15+0200

Wall Street recovered from a plunge at the opening bell to end sharply higher, as a drop in oil prices helped placate fears about problems at some of the nation's biggest banks.

Hurricane Ike nears Texas coast, shutting down Houston

2008-09-11T23:15+0200

Hundreds of thousands streamed out of Houston and neighboring cities as Hurricane Ike continued on a collision course with the central coastline of Texas.

Allstate is Prepared to Respond to Hurricane Ike

2008-09-11T23:05+0200

As Hurricane Ike quickly approaches Texas, customers should feel assured that Allstate (NYSE: ALL) is prepared to respond quickly. Allstate's National ...

2008-09-11T22:25+0200

By Harris-Okon Emmanuel ,Correspondent, Warri When Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State decided to ease transportation problem in the state, he purchased 175 Toyota Corolla cars at N700 million for township taxi operation. The measure was applauded by the indigenes, who had been praying for affordable means of transport.

Houston set to begin Ike evacatuions

2008-09-11T22:25+0200

HOUSTON was poised to begin evacuations today of hundreds of thousands of its residents, ahead of Hurricane Ike's anticipated arrival in the Texas metropolis. 5:34am (AEST)

Ike Prompts Evacuations In Texas

2008-09-11T22:22+0200

Authorities in the Houston area and along the Southeast Texas Gulf Coast ordered hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate as Hurricane Ike barreled toward the coast.

Cuba seeks to buy US materials for Ike recovery

2008-09-11T22:21+0200

Despite financials, stocks end trading day up

2008-09-11T22:20+0200

Stocks pulled off their lows and turned higher Thursday as investors, though still anxious about financials, pumped money into the materials, transportation and consumer discretionary sectors.

Researchers: Northern Hemisphere Affects African Climate

2008-09-11T22:17+0200

Climatologists have long debated what forces make countries in the tropics hot and humid and those in the northern hemisphere relatively warm and mild. Andy Cohen is a professor of geosciences at the University of Arizona in Tucson. "The tropics are the heat engine of our planet, if you will.

Hurricane Ike could affect fuel supply - DOE

2008-09-11T22:15+0200

11 Sep 2008 20:05:55 GMT Source: Reuters WASHINGTON, Sept 11 (Reuters) - The Department of Energy said on Thursday Hurricane Ike could affect fuel supply as refineries in the Gulf of Mexico are shut in the wake of the storm. "We ...

Pakistan's Unlikely President

2008-09-11T22:07+0200

Asif Ali Zardari survived imprisonment on corruption charges and exile to become head of state, but can he bring stability?

Foreign Ministry warns against visiting hurricane-stricken Texas

2008-09-11T22:05+0200

The Foreign Ministry issued a travel warning intended for Israelis currently visiting Texas due to Hurricane Ike, currently located in the Gulf of Mexico and moving towards the US. US authorities have issued a hurricane warning encompassing southern Louisiana and Texas.

2008-09-11T21:24+0200

The Montreal Canadiens will retire goaltending legend Patrick Roy's No. 33 jersey on Nov. 22 at a game against the Boston Bruins, 13 years after his bitter departure from the NHL team.

Â£71bn 'lost off banks' market value'

2008-09-11T21:19+0200

UK banks have seen £71 billion wiped off their combined stock market value in the year since the Northern Rock crisis, research has revealed. Some listed banks have lost more than 90% of their market value as the credit crunch and Northern Rock debacle has hit investor confidence, according to financial information website DigitalLook.

Researchers discover elusive frog

2008-09-11T21:15+0200

SYDNEY: A tiny frog species thought by many experts to be extinct has been rediscovered alive and well in a remote area of Australia’s tropical north, researchers said on Thursday. The 40 mm-long Armoured Mistfrog had not been ...

Researchers discover elusive frog

Europe backs downs on biofuels from crops

2008-09-11T20:52+0200

EU lawmakers have voted to lower a target for using biofuels from crops in fuels – a move aimed to curb rising food prices and deforestation

Ailing opponent irritates Pennetta in testing Bali victory

2008-09-11T20:49+0200

NUSA DUA, Indonesia - Irritated Italian Flavia Pennetta overcame the annoyance of an ice-pack treatment timeout by Anastasia Rodionova on the way to a bad-tempered 6-3, 7-5 win on Thursday at the Bali Open. "I was angry," said the third seed, a US Open quarter-finalist still feeling the effects of....

Bangladesh launches climate change action plan

2008-09-11T20:37+0200

At the conference, the UK and Bangladeshi governments also signed a joint communiqué outlining the need for a strengthened international deal on stabilizing greenhouse gases due to be discussed in Copenhagen next year. Mirza Azizul Islam, Bangladesh's secretary of state and finance adviser, said....

U.S. Government Food Aid arrives At Chittagong Port

2008-09-11T20:37+0200

Blitz Desk U.S. Government food aid, worth approximately $17 million, arrived at the Chittagong port on September 1st aboard the “ITB Philadelphia,” a U.S.-registered vessel. The consignment, carrying 26,000 metric tons of wheat, will be used for the United Nation’s World Food Program’s (WFP)....

Hurricane Ike eyes Texas, could strengthen before strike

2008-09-11T20:37+0200

HOUSTON, Texas: Thousands of people fled the Texas Gulf coast on Thursday as deadly Hurricane Ike bore down, with forecasters warning the sprawling storm could gain added force before it crashes into the coast near Houston, the key US oil hub and major space center.

Africa's climate tied to northern hemisphere

2008-09-11T20:37+0200

Africa's climate could be influenced by oceanic changes far away in the northern hemisphere. Research published this week in Science supports the notion that drought in some parts of Africa is triggered by a kind of climatic telecommunication. Jessica Tierney, a palaeoclimatologist at Brown....

Lehman chief searches for a ray of hope

2008-09-11T20:34+0200

On Wall Street, there is a growing sense that despite the best efforts of Richard Fuld Jr., Lehman Brothers may never be the same again - if it survives as an independent investment banking firm at all.

Stocks fluctuate on financial worries

2008-09-11T20:34+0200

Stocks pulled off their lows Thursday as investors fled financial stocks and pumped money into the materials, transportation and consumer discretionary sectors.

NASA Moves Rescue Shuttle, Prepares for Hurricane Ike (SPACE.com)

2008-09-11T20:26+0200

SPACE.com - The space shuttle Endeavour, the rescue ship for NASA's planned October mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, moved a step closer to the launch pad Thursday as the agency closed down its Houston-based astronaut training center to prepare for an incoming hurricane.

Hurricane Ike could affect Cubs-Astros series

2008-09-11T20:19+0200

HOUSTON - Due to the threat of Hurricane Ike, the Houston Astros are considering changing the time of Friday's game against the Chicago Cubs. Hurricane Ike, approaching the Texas coastline with winds of 100 miles per hour, is expected to reach landfall this weekend.

Hurricane warning issued for Texas

2008-09-11T20:19+0200

Tens of thousands of people fled coastal areas in the path of Hurricane Ike Thursday as a hurricane warning was issued for nearly the entire state coast.

Ongoing needs in hurricane-damaged Haiti

2008-09-11T20:16+0200

Fourteen days after Tropical Storm Gustav made landfall, followed by Tropical Storm Hanna and then Hurricane Ike last week, many areas are still inaccessible in devastated Haiti. Since arriving in the northern Haitian city of Gonaives on September 4, one of the worst affected areas in the country,....

After they battle fires, she fights for them

2008-09-11T20:13+0200

Firefighter Jonathan Frohreich had never heard of The Wildland Firefighter Foundation, much less its founder, until recovering from severe work-related injuries last month.

Texas evacuates part of Gulf Coast ahead of Ike

2008-09-11T20:11+0200

Forecasters issued a hurricane warning for the Texas Gulf Coast from the Louisiana state line to near Corpus Christi

Thousands forced to flee Houston as deadly Ike advances

2008-09-11T20:09+0200

HOUSTON, Texas (AFP) - Roads and bridges leading away from the Texas coast were jammed Thursday as hundreds of thousands of residents of Houston and surrounding areas began a mass evacuation Thursday, with deadly Hurricane Ike bearing down on the Texas metropolis.

Thousands of Texans flee Ike

2008-09-11T20:07+0200

Hurricane Ike continues to gather strength en route to Texas as tens of thousands of people flee.

Hundreds of thousands flee as Ike roars toward Texas

2008-09-11T20:05+0200

Hundreds of thousands of residents in Texas' coastal areas including parts of Houston were ordered to evacuate as Ike raged ...

Market value of UK banks plummets £71bn since Northern Rock crisis

2008-09-11T20:05+0200

Banks in the UK have seen their market value plummet by £71 billion in the year since the Northern Rock crisis new research reveals.

GreenHunter Energy Subsidiary Achieves 65% Production Capacity at Nation's Largest Biodiesel Refinery

2008-09-11T19:59+0200

GREENHUNTER BIOFUELS, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of GreenHunter Energy, Inc. (AMEX: GRH), announced today that over the last twenty-four hours it ...

Texas evacuates parts of Gulf Coast ahead of Ike (AP)

2008-09-11T19:55+0200

The staycation effect: 5 reasons to travel now

2008-09-11T19:51+0200

The price of a real vacation is now a bargain. A steal, actually. Why? A lot of Americans skipped their summer getaway, forcing nervous rental companies, hotels and restaurants to slash prices. We had our reasons for staying home, of course. Record high gas prices, a soft economy and air travel woes made us miss the expensive out-of-town vacation.

CFB: McNeese St. cancels game Saturday against Cal Poly

2008-09-11T19:47+0200

LAKE CHARLES, La. — McNeese State canceled Saturday's home football game against Cal Poly because of Hurricane Ike's potential effects on Lake Charles.

Across Haiti, a Scene of Devastation

2008-09-11T19:45+0200

CABARET, Haiti, Sept. 9 -- Three times in the past month, the river rose toward Andre Jean Compae's cassava garden and three times, he watched it subside. So when his neighbors in this coastal Haitian town began running for safety as the latest rains came, Compae gathered his wife and seven children.

Oil firms slash pump prices by P2 to P3 per liter

2008-09-11T19:42+0200

By Euan Paulo C. Aonuevo, Reporter Consumers are up for a treat as oil companies are set ...

'Very large' Hurricane Ike barrels toward Texas

2008-09-11T19:42+0200

Hundreds of thousands of people in Texas were ordered to leave their homes Thursday as Hurricane Ike advanced toward the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Hurricane sparks evacuation order

2008-09-11T19:36+0200

Hundreds of thousands of people in Texas have been ordered to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Ike.

Louisiana Guard Prepares for Hurricane Ike

2008-09-11T19:32+0200

American Forces Press Service BATON ROUGE, La., Sept. 11, 2008 With parts of Louisiana still recovering from the damage of Hurricane Gustav and National Guardsmen continuing to provide assistance, Gov. Bobby Jindal has directed troops to relocate, stage and prepare for possible landfall of Hurricane Ike at a moment’s notice.

Navy to Decommission Tarawa

2008-09-11T19:32+0200

The U.S. Navy announced that the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1) will be decommissioned March 31, 2009, at Naval Base San Diego.

Hurricane Hunters track Ike

2008-09-11T19:32+0200

align=center> Hurricane Hunters track Ike by Tech. Sgt. James B. Pritchett 403rd Wing Public Affairs 9/11/2008 - KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. (AFPN) -- Barreling toward the Texas coast, Hurricane Ike is regaining strength as officials along the Texas coast began evacuations of the first of millions....

Texans flee coastal counties ahead of Ike

2008-09-11T19:28+0200

Special-needs residents in the city of Houston and Harris County have started evacuating Thursday as Hurricane Ike headed for the Texas coast.

Houston-Galveston could face major damage from Ike

2008-09-11T19:28+0200

Texas governor: Hurricane Ike will be dangerous (AP)

2008-09-11T19:25+0200

AP - Texas Gov. Rick Perry is urging residents to finish storm preparations ahead of a very dangerous Hurricane Ike.

Nexen evacuating workers from Gulf of Mexico

2008-09-11T19:24+0200

Offshore oil and gas platforms being vacated as Hurricane Ike threatens Texas coast

Texas residents flee ahead of Ike

2008-09-11T19:22+0200

Thousands of people fled Texas coastal areas in the path of Hurricane Ike today as the storm gathered strength.

Bangladesh steps up to tackle climate change

2008-09-11T19:21+0200

Bangladesh has prepared a new action plan to tackle the impacts of climate change.

Ancient settlements offer lessons for Amazon planning

2008-09-11T19:21+0200

Ancient Amazon populations lived in highly-organised, densely populated settlements, which could offer lessons for sustainable development.

2008-09-11T18:26+0200

* WHY are TransNamib workers striking? Their company has been going downhill for so many years, while the top managers were not held accountable, but were instead rewarded, and in some cases, were enriching themselves. The new CEO provided just a flicker of hope. Then he was suspended.

2008-09-11T17:56+0200

Texas evacuates parts of Gulf Coast ahead of Ike (AP)

2008-09-11T17:55+0200

AP - Authorities in the Houston area and along the Southeast Texas Gulf Coast ordered hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate Thursday as Ike bore down with hurricane-force winds that stretched across more than 200 miles and were expected to gain even more strength.

Cuba - defying disaster

2008-09-11T17:54+0200

Experts and relief aid organisations agree that Cuba's low death toll from the recent hurricanes is a result of the government's strategies for prevention, mitigation, response and reconstruction.

U.S. gasoline prices spike to record

2008-09-11T17:50+0200

The average U.S. retail price for gasoline was at $3.671 on Thursday, according to the Oil Price Information Service, auto club AAA and Wright Express. The market's renewed storm worries arrive a day after the U.S. Energy Department reported a larger-than-expected drop in crude and gasoline....

Billions in damage for Jamaica in aftermath of major hurricanes

2008-09-11T17:48+0200

Web Posted - Thu Sep 11 2008 By Stacia Browne The highly active hurricane season now has Jamaica facing damages in the region $JM15 billion. That was the response of Jamaicas Prime Minister Bruce Golding in fielding questions from the press yesterday at Sherbourne Conference Centre on the issue of....

National Library Prepared to Protect Collections

2008-09-11T17:47+0200

Executive Director of the National Library of Jamaica (NLJ), Winsome Hudson, is assuring Jamaicans that the National Library is adequately prepared and committed to protecting the nation's invaluable collections from disasters, especially tropical storms and hurricanes.

Fuld again

2008-09-11T17:42+0200

A new financial storm threatens to lash American finance Sep 11th 2008 Credit derivatives

Adapt or die

2008-09-11T17:42+0200

Environmentalists have long said the world should concentrate on preventing climate change, not adapting to it. That is changing Sep 11th 2008 Educating migrant children

Fury as informer movie star says she would have joined the IRA

2008-09-11T17:40+0200

Hollywood actress Rose McGowan causes a storm after saying she would have joined the IRA if she had lived in Belfast during the Troubles.

Brazil offers aid to storm-struck Cuba, Haiti

2008-09-11T17:38+0200

Thursday, September 11, 2008 - Web posted at 7:56:46 AM GMT Brazil offers aid to storm-struck Cuba, Haiti BRASILIA - Brazil offered humanitarian aid to Haiti and Cuba on Tuesday after hurricanes Gustav and Ike caused substantial damage to both nations.

General David Petraeus warns of long struggle ahead for US in Iraq

2008-09-11T17:38+0200

Outgoing commander of country's troops in Iraq says recent security gains are not irreversible

Texas Evacuates Over 300,000 As Ike Looms

2008-09-11T17:37+0200

Authorities in the Houston area and along the Southeast Texas Gulf Coast ordered hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate as Ike bore down with hurricane-force winds that stretched across more than 200 miles and could gain even more strength.

Galveston, part of Houston evacuated ahead of Ike

2008-09-11T17:36+0200

Special-needs residents in the city of Houston and Harris County will begin evacuating Thursday morning as Hurricane Ike headed for the Texas coast, officials said.

Gasoline prices spike as Ike heads toward Texas

2008-09-11T17:31+0200

NEW YORK (AP) — Gasoline prices jumped to unprecedented levels in the wholesale markets Thursday as Hurricane Ike tore across the Gulf of Mexico, threatening to strike Texas and its refineries.

Stocks fall on worries about Lehman, financials

2008-09-11T17:31+0200

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks retreated early Thursday as investors remained worried about the soundness of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and other financial names and grappled with fresh concerns about the nation's unemployment rate. The major indexes declined more than 1 percent.

It was Terminal 3s railing panel that fell this time

2008-09-11T17:27+0200

MORE portions of the ceiling of the international airports Terminal 3 could collapse anytime because rivets instead of screws were used to keep building ...

Jamaicans in Atlanta Urged to Give More Support to Education

2008-09-11T17:25+0200

WASHINGTON, D.C.(JIS) - Wife of the Prime Minister, Lorna Golding, has appealed to Jamaicans in Atlanta, to give more support to the island's schools.

Hurricane warning covers much of Texas Gulf Coast (AP)

2008-09-11T17:25+0200

AP - Most of the Southeast Texas Gulf Coast is under a hurricane warning ahead of Ike and authorities ordered residents to leave the coastal city of Galveston.

BTC gives back to Inagua residents

2008-09-11T17:24+0200

By ROGAN M. SMITH, Guardian Senior Reporter The Bahamas Telecommun-ications Company (BTC) is spending $15,000 to extend a complimentary $50 credit to Inagua cell phone subscribers who lost communication because of downed phone lines. There are an estimated 300 cell phone subscribers on the....

Minimal impact of Ike on Inagua wildlife

2008-09-11T17:24+0200

By JUAN MCCARTNEY, Guardian Senior Reporter There is some good news coming out of Inagua, at least on the wildlife front. The island's population of thousands of pink flamingos have, for the most part, emerged from Hurricane Ike without major casualties, according to Bahamas National Trust Executive Director Eric Carey.

Gas spikes as oil falls, flirting with $100

2008-09-11T17:18+0200

Gasoline prices spiked Thursday as Hurricane Ike turned north and headed straight for massed refinery operations and offshore facilities in the Gulf of Mexico, though crude continued to sink.

Oil trades around $100 a barrel

2008-09-11T17:13+0200

Oil prices fell Thursday, testing a 5-month low, as the market remained focused on the stronger dollar and slumping demand but also watched the threat that Hurricane Ike poses to the Texas Gulf Coast.

Batey Relief heads drive to aid Haiti, Dominican hurricane victims

2008-09-11T17:11+0200

UNITED STATES. - New York-based humanitarian aid organization, BATEY RELIEF ALLIANCE, is mounting a disaster relief operation to address the basic needs of children and their families severely affected by back-to-back deadly hurricanes in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Dominican Government sets storms’ damages at more than RD$1.1B

2008-09-11T17:11+0200

SANTO DOMINGO.- The Government last night set the damages caused to infrastructure and agriculture by the storms Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike at more than RD$1.1 billion, and created a RD$300 million fund to immediately confront the situation.

USS Kearsarge Continues Support for Haiti Relief Operations

2008-09-11T17:08+0200

Navy amphibious ship USS Kearsarge continued its support of disaster relief efforts in Haiti, providing logistical support to remote areas hit hardest by this season's tropical storms and hurricanes.

Texas faces major damage from Ike; evacuations ordered

2008-09-11T17:03+0200

Gleaming skyscrapers, the U.S.'s biggest refinery and NASA's Johnson Space Center lie in areas that could be vulnerable to wind ...

Frog comes out of the Australian mist

2008-09-11T17:03+0200

Researchers in country's tropical north discover amphibian – the armoured mistfrog – long thought to be extinct

Cuba seeks to buy U.S. materials for Ike recovery

2008-09-11T17:03+0200

Cuba has turned down U.S. storm relief handouts, but is asking for trade restrictions to be lifted so it can buy American materials ...

More flee Ike, Houston expects flooding

2008-09-11T17:03+0200

Tens of thousands of people on Thursday fled coastal areas in the path of Hurricane Ike, which looks to threaten the Houston and Galveston areas with a strong storm surge.

Deadly Ike eyes Texas, could strengthen before strike

2008-09-11T17:02+0200

HOUSTON, Texas (AFP) - Thousands of people fled the Texas Gulf coast Thursday as deadly Hurricane Ike bore down, with forecasters warning the sprawling storm could gain added force before it crashes into the coast near Houston, the key US oil hub and major space center.

Oil prices slide to 6-month lows under $97

2008-09-11T16:56+0200

Oil prices tumbled to six-month lows below 97 dollars on Thursday as the dollar rallied and the likelihood of a sharp global economic slowdown loomed over demand growth, traders said.

PM Golding Says His Government Remains Committed to Its Vision for Jamaica

2008-09-11T16:55+0200

KINGSTON (JIS) - Prime Minister Bruce Golding says his Government remains committed to its vision for Jamaica, whereby every child must go to a decent school and every adult, to a decent job.

Hurricane Ike in Gulf of Mexico

2008-09-11T16:49+0200

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Thousands of people fled coastal areas in the path of Hurricane Ike on Thursday as the storm gathered strength on its collision course with the Texas coast, on a track that would skirt the heart of the U.S. offshore oil patch.

95% of Water Systems Back in Service

2008-09-11T16:43+0200

Some 95 per cent of water systems that were damaged as a result of the floods which accompanied Tropical Storm Gustav, have been returned to service. However, Customer Relations Manager of the National Water Commission (NWC), Charles Buchanan, is reminding Jamaicans that they might still experience interruptions in their supply.

Texas residents evacuate as Hurricane Ike approaches

2008-09-11T16:40+0200

Hundreds of thousands of people in Texas were today ordered to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Ike.

Hurricane Ike heads towards Texas

2008-09-11T16:37+0200

Sites such as country's largest refinery and NASA's Johnson Space Centre could be at risk of damage

Oil dips as Ike strengthens toward Texas

2008-09-11T16:33+0200

Oil prices slipped further Thursday despite concerns about Hurricane Ike’s potential to harm refinery operations in the Gulf of Mexico.

Typhoon Sinlaku strengthens, may hit Taiwan

2008-09-11T16:30+0200

Typhoon Sinlaku, the 13th tropical storm so far this year, was approaching the eastern coast of Taiwan and may land or skim over northeastern regions of the island on Saturday or Sunday, China's weather authorities said on Thursday. The storm strengthened into a typhoon on Wednesday, and was spotted....

Parts of Houston being evacuated ahead of Ike

2008-09-11T16:28+0200

Special-needs residents in the city of Houston and Harris County will begin evacuating Thursday morning, officials said.

Paradise flattened

2008-09-11T16:25+0200

The devastation on the island of Grand Turk is absolute. Nothing has been left untouched by the sheer power of Hurricane Ike. It made landfall as a category four storm and the damage is immense. The streets are strewn with debris, palm trees have been shattered and 90% of the buildings have been damaged; some are simply no longer there.

How to Remember 9/11

2008-09-11T16:20+0200

Some people fear complacency; others fear forgetting. Six years away from the fire, how should we mark Sept. 11?

Residents ordered out of homes as Hurricane Ike nears Texas

2008-09-11T16:12+0200

Hundreds of thousands of people in Texas were ordered to leave their homes Thursday as Hurricane Ike advanced toward the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Stocks open down after jobless report

2008-09-11T16:02+0200

Stocks fell sharply Thursday as investors remained uneasy about the well-being of the financial sector and grappled with fresh worries about the nation's unemployment rate.

Texas orders evacuations ahead of Ike

2008-09-11T16:02+0200

Authorities in the Houston area and along the Southeast Texas Gulf Coast are ordering hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate ...

EU panel votes to cut goal for biofuels from crops

2008-09-11T16:01+0200

11 Sep 2008 12:59:42 GMT Source: Reuters (Adds reaction, poll) By Pete Harrison BRUSSELS, Sept 11 (Reuters) - A key panel of European Union lawmakers voted on Thursday to lower a target for using traditional biofuels from crops in petrol ...

PHILIPPINES: Deadly landslides highlight need for better geo-hazard mapping

2008-09-11T16:01+0200

11 Sep 2008 13:40:37 GMT Source: IRIN A landslide that destroyed 30 homes in a southern mining village and left 24 people dead and many missing has highlighted the need for extensive geo-hazard mapping in a country that sits on the so-called Pacific Rim of Fire and is prone to natural disasters, officials said.

PHILIPPINES: Deadly landslides highlight need for better geo-hazard mapping

2008-09-11T16:00+0200

MANILA, 11 September 2008 (IRIN) - A landslide that destroyed 30 homes in a southern mining village and left 24 people dead and many missing has highlighted the need for extensive geo-hazard mapping in a country that sits on the so-called Pacific Rim of Fire and is prone to natural disasters, officials said.

Hurricane Ike nears Texas, residents told to leave homes

2008-09-11T15:56+0200

Hundreds of thousands of people in Texas were ordered to leave their homes Thursday as Hurricane Ike strode closer to the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Republicans Mocking US Constitutional Rights

2008-09-11T15:56+0200

As the GOP delegates cheered, civil libertarians were reminded of the contempt that the Bush administration has shown to basic legal principles in its prosecution of the ‘war on terror’, says Nat Parry

Oil prices slide to six-month low of below US$98

2008-09-11T15:55+0200

LONDON: Oil prices tumbled to six-month lows of below 98 US dollars a barrel on Thursday as the dollar rallied and demand for energy decreased around the world amid an economic slowdown, traders said.

PEP urges Caricom to help Haiti

2008-09-11T15:54+0200

BRIDGETOWN - Government is being asked to mobilise relief supplies for Haiti as a "matter of urgency".

Push on for beach volleyball beyond region

2008-09-11T15:54+0200

BRIDGETOWN - Organisers of the annual Sizzlin Sand Caribbean Sunsplash Beach Volleyball Tournament want to package and export the product outside the Caribbean.

'Mythical' animal finally poses for camera

2008-09-11T15:43+0200

Rare images of an African animal so elusive that it was once believed to be mythical have been released.

Teachers listen to Hamas

2008-09-11T15:42+0200

Debilitating the educational and health sectors in Gaza is Fatah's new strategy for bringing down Hamas -- a strategy that is failing and will likely backfire, writes Saleh Al-Naami

After the convention

2008-09-11T15:42+0200

In glorious style, Obama has kicked off the official Democratic campaign, though the road to the White House will be long and hard, writes James Zogby

Forests 'forgotten' in EU climate policy, MEPs warn

2008-09-11T15:41+0200

Deforestation is widely considered to be a key driver of global warming since tropical and other forests absorb CO2, thus mitigating the effects of emissions on the climate. But EU policymakers are struggling to define rules to keep trees standing.

Jamaica Comes to the Aid of Hurricane Ravaged Turks and Caicos Islands

2008-09-11T15:40+0200

The Government of Jamaica, has dispatched a team of six persons to the Turks and Caicos Islands, to provide support in the aftermath of the impact of Hurricane Ike, on the islands. The Turks and Caicos, home to many Jamaicans, was hit by the powerful Category 4 Hurricane Ike on Sunday, September 7, destroying more than 80 percent of the homes.

Hurricane Ike Strengthening in Gulf of Mexico

2008-09-11T15:38+0200

National Hurricane Center says storm is carrying maximum sustained winds of 160 kph, and could evolve into much stronger Category Three Storm later Thursday or Friday

Hurricane Ike: more than 1m people at risk as storm heads towards Texas

2008-09-11T15:37+0200

Sites such as country's largest refinery and NASA's Johnson Space Centre could be at risk of damage

Oil prices slide to six-month lows under 98 dollars

2008-09-11T15:30+0200

LONDON - Oil prices tumbled to six-month low points below 98 dollars a barrel on Thursday as the dollar rallied and demand for energy decreased around the world amid an economic slowdown, traders said. Prices had risen earlier in the day as Hurricane Ike headed toward key energy facilities on the....

News from Wednesday September 10, 2008

2008-09-11T15:23+0200

### Wednesday September 10, 2008 ### POINTE BLANCHE--Fire fighters evacuated workers from buildings and a construction site and temporarily closed the main road to Pointe Blanche Tuesday after a pressurised container started leaking a hazardous gas. (click headline for more) ~ Issue of elections in....

Texas evacuates parts of Gulf Coast ahead of Ike (AP)

2008-09-11T15:22+0200

AP - Authorities in the Houston area and along the Southeast Texas Gulf Coast are ordering hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Ike.

Irish sailing ship sinks near France

2008-09-11T15:19+0200

Ireland's majestic sail-training ship, the Asgard II, sank mysteriously off the French coast Thursday, but its 25 passengers and crew escaped safely on lifeboats.

Houston Hurricane? Texans Flee Ike

2008-09-11T15:18+0200

Authorities in the Houston area and along the Southeast Texas Gulf Coast are ordering hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Ike. Forecasters expect the storm to make landfall this weekend somewhere between Corpus Christi and Houston, creating the potential for heavy....

Media circus in town for big show

2008-09-11T15:17+0200

Media circus in town for the big show By Charlie Charalambous A LARGE media circus turned out for the biggest peace show in town, when Christofias and Talat starred in the Cyprus reunification premiere. The formal start of 'last-ditch' negotiations made international news headlines but the story was....

On Seventh Anniversary, Political Impact Lingers

2008-09-11T15:16+0200

The events of 9/11 have had a powerful impact on the U.S. views of the country's role in world politics, prompting some to reconsider the direction of U.S. foreign policy and others to stand even more firmly on the economic and political principles of the past 50 years.

Latest News : Federer defeats Murray to win fifth U.S. Open

2008-09-11T15:01+0200

Federer defeats Murray to win fifth U.S. Open NEW YORK (AP) -- Back at his best, back at the top of tennis, Roger Federer easily beat Andy Murray 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 to win his fifth consecutive U.S. Open and 13th Grand Slam title on Monday. Federer is the first man since Bill Tilden in the 1920s to win the tournament that many times in a row.

Campaigning before writ drops OK, says Elections Canada

2008-09-11T14:59+0200

There have been complaints to Elections Canada that campaigning in the federal election began before the official call on Sunday, but the federal agency says no rules were broken.

Taiwan braces for Typhoon Sinlaku (AFP)

2008-09-11T14:51+0200

AFP - Taiwan's weather bureau warned Thursday of an approaching typhoon which it said was gaining momentum and sweeping toward the island.

Houston-Galveston could face major damage from Ike

2008-09-11T14:50+0200

HOUSTON (AP) -- Gleaming skyscrapers, the nation's biggest refinery and NASA's Johnson Space Center lie in areas that could be vulnerable to wind and damaging floodwaters if Hurricane Ike crashes asho...

Typhoon Sinlaku has Taiwan on edge

2008-09-11T14:50+0200

Taipei - Taiwan has issued a warning for ships travelling through its eastern waters as Typhoon Sinlaku skirts the island's coast. The Central Weather Bureau says that as of 11.30am on Thursday, Si...

Oil prices slide to six-month low

2008-09-11T14:49+0200

OIL prices tumbled to six-month low points below $US98 ($123.02) a barrel today as the dollar rallied and demand for energy decreased around the world amid an economic slowdown, traders said. 9:40pm (AEST)

Louisiana Guard Prepares for Hurricane Ike

2008-09-11T14:44+0200

With parts of Louisiana still recovering from the damage of Hurricane Gustav and National Guardsmen continuing to provide assistance, Gov. Bobby Jindal has directed troops to relocate, stage and prepare for possible landfall of Hurricane Ike at a moment's notice.

Hurricane Ike gathers strength as it heads towards Texas

2008-09-11T14:40+0200

Hurricane Ike is gathering strength as it heads through the Gulf of Mexico's towards the Texas coast.

Houston Could Take Brunt Of Ike's Fury

2008-09-11T14:32+0200

Gleaming skyscrapers, the nation's biggest refinery and NASA's Johnson Space Center lie in areas that could be vulnerable to wind and damaging floodwaters if Hurricane Ike crashes ashore as a major hurricane.

Volatile oil prices slide again

2008-09-11T14:32+0200

Oil prices dip after a short-lived rebound on fears of Hurricane Ike hitting installations in Texas.

A Body as Envoy of Peace

2008-09-11T14:22+0200

Recovering a man's body in flood-stricken Haiti and sending it home could prevent a riot.

The Nation's Weather (AP)

2008-09-11T14:21+0200

AP - Hurricane Ike was forecast to continue moving northwestward through the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to most areas along the northern Gulf. Coastal flooding was possible across the region, especially from western Florida to eastern Louisiana.

Researchers Discover Elusive Frog

2008-09-11T14:20+0200

A tiny frog species thought by many experts to be extinct has been rediscovered alive and well in a remote area of Australia's tropical north

DIARY - Global Environment

2008-09-11T14:20+0200

11 Sep 2008 11:45:56 GMT Source: Reuters Double click on [IND/DIARY] for an index of all diaries For additional information on carbon market and climate policyevents, please join the Reuters online carbon community at; http://www. ...

September 11th remembered

2008-09-11T14:19+0200

American expat Eric Asp gathered with a crowd of international friends, strangers, and dignitaries in Amsterdam to pause for a moment of remembrance.

All safe as Irish sailing ship sinks near France

2008-09-11T14:14+0200

Ireland's majestic sail-training ship, the Asgard II, sank mysteriously off the French coast Thursday, but its 25 passengers and crew escaped safely on lifeboats.

Thousands in Texas flee Hurricane Ike

2008-09-11T14:10+0200

Texas officials were preparing for Hurricane Ike after the storm spun off Cuba and began heading for the state with growing strength.

Facebook for the kindergarten set

2008-09-11T14:10+0200

A host of new Web sites, including Totspot, Odadeo, Lil'Grams and Kidmondo, offer parents a chance to invite friends and family to join and contribute to a network geared to connecting them to the baby in their lives.

Texans flee 7 coastal counties ahead of Ike

2008-09-11T14:06+0200

Texans are fleeing from seven coastal counties ahead of Hurricane Ike on Thursday after officials ordered mandatory evacuations and planned even more voluntary ones.

Oil falls as Ike strengthens toward Texas

2008-09-11T14:00+0200

Oil prices slipped further Thursday despite concerns about Hurricane Ike’s potential to harm refinery operations in the Gulf of Mexico.

Oil slips below $102 a barrel

2008-09-11T13:56+0200

VIENNA — Oil prices slipped further Thursday despite concerns about Hurricane Ike's potential to harm refinery operations in the Gulf of Mexico, falling U.S. crude inventories and an OPEC decision to cut production by 500,000 barrels a day. The downward trend reflected fears of continued weak demand....

Site unmasks hidden info on Swedish celebs

2008-09-11T13:55+0200

High profile Swedish politicians and prosecutors, famous artists and other celebrities with unlisted telephone numbers and addresses can all be found using a website designed to help people remember friends' birthdays – and there's nothing the notables can do about it.

Oil prices slide to six-month lows under $98

2008-09-11T13:48+0200

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Oil prices tumbled to six-month low points below $98 a barrel on Thursday as the dollar rallied and demand for energy decreased ...

Texas faces major damage from Ike

2008-09-11T13:47+0200

Hurricane Ike gathered strength as it churned through the Gulf of Mexico's warm waters today on a track that would skirt the heart of the US offshore oil patch before hitting the Texas coast late tomorrow or early on Saturday.

Facebook for the kindergarten set

2008-09-11T13:47+0200

Houston, Galveston vulnerable to Ike

2008-09-11T13:45+0200

Skyscrapers, the nation's biggest refinery and NASA's Johnson Space Center lie in areas that could be vulnerable to wind and damaging floodwaters if Hurricane Ike crashes ashore as a major hurricane in Texas.

Ike takes aim for Houston-Galveston

2008-09-11T13:44+0200

Hurricane Ike's projected path, intensity

2008-09-11T13:43+0200

People along the Texas coast were leaving home or planning to evacuate Thursday as Hurricane Ike churned toward them, slowly intensifying on its march west.

Hungry households decrease in August

2008-09-11T13:38+0200

11/09/2008 04:26 PM The number of hungry farmer households was reduced by 77 percent over only one month to 22,300 in August, according to the General Statistics Office.

Hurricanes in Cuba and Haiti

2008-09-11T13:28+0200

Four major storms have struck Haiti in less than four weeks - and as hurricane Ike ploughed towards Texas it left a trail of devastation across Cuba

Houston May Face Major Ike Damage

2008-09-11T13:19+0200

Oil prices drop amid falling demand for energy

2008-09-11T13:13+0200

LONDON- Oil prices fell on Thursday as demand for energy decreased around the world owing to a global economic slowdown. Prices had risen earlier in the day as Hurricane Ike headed toward key energy facilities on the southern US coast and after OPEC on Wednesday reduced output to curb falling prices, analysts said.

Ike keeps Gulf oil shuttered

2008-09-11T13:13+0200

Oil and natural gas producers in the Gulf of Mexico have stopped sending workers, evacuated from offshore rigs because of Hurricane Gustav, back to the platforms as Hurricane Ike approaches, a government agency said Wednesday.

Storm warning issued in Sochi where whirlwinds are expected

2008-09-11T13:11+0200

SOCHI, September 11 (Itar-Tass) - A storm warning has been issued in the area of the Black Sea resort of Sochi, where whirlwinds are expected to form over the sea, the Krasnodar region’s department of the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations told Tass on Thursday.

Hurricane Ike headed for Texas

2008-09-11T13:09+0200

Tropical storm warning extend to include New Orleans as Gulf areas face storm surges, big waves, rain

Urgent UN appeal for hurricane ravaged Haiti

2008-09-11T13:03+0200

11 September 2008 - With much of Haiti’s agricultural land under water following four major tropical storms, FAO today appealed for US$10.5 million to help rebuild the country's agriculture sector.

Russian experts receive Vietnam’s distinction

2008-09-11T13:00+0200

Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Bui Dinh Dinh has presented Vietnam’s Friendship Medals and Orders to Russian scientists for their contributions to the development of Vietnam. The friendship order awardees are members of the Russian Sub-committee of the Russia-Vietnam Tropical Research Centre’s Joint Commission.

Leaders offer condolences to Cuba over hurricane Ike

2008-09-11T13:00+0200

Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, State President Nguyen Minh Triet, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on September 10 sent condolence messages to their Cuban counterparts over the great losses caused by Hurricane Ike in the country. The messages were sent to Fidel Castro Ruz, first secretary of....

Oil prices drop amid falling demand for energy

2008-09-11T12:45+0200

LONDON: Oil prices fell on Thursday as demand for energy decreased around the world owing to a global economic slowdown.

Hurricane Ike poses threat to Texas

2008-09-11T12:44+0200

Gleaming skyscrapers, the US's biggest refinery and Nasa's Johnson Space Centre lie in areas that could be vulnerable to wind and damaging floodwaters if Hurricane Ike crashes ashore as a major hurricane. Forecasters expect the storm to make landfall this weekend somewhere in Texas, creating the....

Retail Gazoline and Diesel Prices Vary Greatly Across Countries - The FINANCIAL - Fastnews: Nigerian Related News

2008-09-11T12:38+0200

U.S. gasoline demand, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), declined by 2.3 percent in May and 4.4 percent in June, compared with the same time periods a year ago. This reflected the largest decline in year-ago gasoline demand in May since 1980 and the fifth-largest year-ago decline in any May since at least 1945.

Typhoon Sinlaku has Taiwan on edge

2008-09-11T12:37+0200

Weather forecasters in Taiwan have issued a maritime warning about Typhoon Sinlaku, which is skirting the island.

Hurricane Ike in Gulf of Mexico, headed for Texas

2008-09-11T12:17+0200

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike gathered strength as it churned through the Gulf of Mexico's warm waters on Thursday on a track that would skirt the heart of the U.S. offshore oil patch before slamming into the Texas coast late on Friday or early on Saturday.

Gorge repairs ahead of plan

2008-09-11T12:17+0200

Repair work on the extensively damaged Bog Walk gorge in St Catherine is on track to be completed ahead of the four-week deadline set by the France-based company Bouygues Travaux, which is undertaking the repairs free of cost. Louis Brais, the managing...

Mustard Seed miracle

2008-09-11T12:17+0200

An overwhelming show of support is threatening to transform tragedy at the Mustard Seed Communities into a modern-day miracle. Corporate Jamaica and Jamaicans, locals and those living overseas, responded by making donations to the tune of $1.3 million in less than 24 hours...

Sep11 Jamaican sentenced for importing drugs

2008-09-11T12:14+0200

A Jamaican man, who pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and importation of the drugs, has been sentenced to four years in prison. Stession Reid appeared in the All Saints Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Senior Magistrate Asquith Riviere. He pleaded not guilty to a third charge of possession with intent to transfer.

Sep11 Education ministry endorses Haitian relief appeal

2008-09-11T12:14+0200

Minister of Education Bertrand Joseph stated that the country is blessed, especially in the area of education and so should support its less fortunate Caribbean neighbours. The minister presented this view at a press conference held by the Friends of Haiti Association. The association intends to solicit aid for the ravaged, poverty-stricken island.

Ike enters Gulf; on path for Texas

2008-09-11T12:10+0200

As Hurricane Ike charged into the Gulf's fueling waters and toward the Texas coast, officials prepared Wednesday to evacuate the first of 1 million residents who could be in the way of the storm's path.

US extends hand to Cuba after hurricanes

2008-09-11T12:09+0200

Ike made a second landfall on Tuesday after striking eastern Cuba on Sunday with 195-kph winds. Gustav slammed into western Cuba a week earlier, with winds of 240 kph, damaging 90 000 houses and dealing a blow to agriculture. The State Department said the Cuban government on Saturday declined an....

French storm the bastille over 'Sarkozy's Big Sister' database

2008-09-11T12:01+0200

Temperature Of +14...+16 C, No Significant Precipitations In Kyiv On Friday

2008-09-11T12:00+0200

On September 12, partly cloudy weather, no significant precipitations at night, and northwestern wind of 7-12 m/s are expected in Kyiv. Temperature will stand at +8...+10 C at night, and at +14...+16 C in the daytime. Ukrainian News learned this from the weather center.

Latest News : China’s inflation eases as trade gap grows

2008-09-11T11:57+0200

BEJING (AP) — China’s politically sensitive inflation eased to a 14-month low in August while export growth dipped, the government reported Wednesday, and analysts said Beijing might shift from fighting price rises to revving up the slowing economy. Chinese leaders have made a priority of fighting....

Hurricane Ike growing in power

2008-09-11T11:48+0200

THOUSANDS of people have fled the Texas Gulf coast as deadly Hurricane Ike bears down, growing in power after ravaging Cuba and the Caribbean. 7:05pm (AEST)

Hurricane Ike headed for Texas

2008-09-11T11:46+0200

Out of the Frying Pan...: Swedish Banks at Risk from Baltic Ills

2008-09-11T11:45+0200

Scandinavian banks steered clear of subprime ripples, but now a downturn in the Baltics, where some are heavily invested, may make them less secure.

Facebook for the kindergarten set

2008-09-11T11:40+0200

IT would be easy to assume that the first month of Cameron Chase's life followed the monotonous cycle of eat-sleep-poop familiar to any new parent. But anyone who has read his oft-updated profile...

Evacuations as Ike approaches US

2008-09-11T11:40+0200

Residents in the US state of Texas take to the roads, as Hurricane Ike churns through the Gulf of Mexico.

Pentagon leaders to urge caution in troop cuts

2008-09-11T11:38+0200

Top defense leaders are telling Congress the U.S. must be cautious as the Pentagon begins to cut troops in Iraq and focus more attention on the escalating fight in Afghanistan.

Deadly Ike eyes Texas

2008-09-11T11:25+0200

HOUSTON, Texas (AFP) - Thousands of people fled the Texas Gulf coast Thursday as deadly Hurricane Ike bore down, growing in power after ravaging Cuba and the Caribbean.

Hurricane Ike in Gulf of Mexico, headed for Texas

2008-09-11T11:22+0200

11 Sep 2008 09:09:21 GMT Source: Reuters * Hurricane Ike remains Category 2 storm * Ike seen hitting Texas, west of main Gulf oil fields * Storm warning extend to include New Orleans * Gulf areas facing storm surges, big waves, rain ...

Ike heading toward Texas; Lowell over Mexico (AP)

2008-09-11T11:19+0200

AP - After a deadly and destructive trip across the Caribbean, Hurricane Ike began to move across the Gulf of Mexico, where it was expected to strengthen before plowing into Texas.

Hurricane Ike in Gulf of Mexico, headed for Texas (Reuters)

2008-09-11T11:19+0200

Reuters - Hurricane Ike gathered strength as it churned through the Gulf of Mexico's warm waters on Thursday on a track that would skirt the heart of the U.S. offshore oil patch before slamming into the Texas coast late on Friday or early on Saturday.

Obama refuses to apologise for 'pig in lipstick' jibe as women switch to the Republicans in droves

2008-09-11T11:13+0200

Barack Obama was at the centre of a sexist smear storm last night after he was accused of comparing Republican vice-presidential hopeful Sarah Palin to a pig in lipstick.

Sick, elderly moved as Ike nears Texas

2008-09-11T11:09+0200

The frail and elderly were put aboard buses Wednesday and authorities warned 1 million others to flee inland as Hurricane Ike steamed toward a swath of the Texas coast that includes the nation's largest concentration of refineries and chemical plants.

Duncan cites threats about event

2008-09-11T11:09+0200

Former Maryland gubernatorial candidate Douglas M. Duncan says the O'Malley administration delivered a series of threats — including having him fired from the University of Maryland — if he attends a business dinner to talk with former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. about the presidential campaign.

Ike turns toward Texas from devastated Caribbean

2008-09-11T11:07+0200

Deadly Hurricane Ike churned toward Texas yesterday after killing more than 100 people across the Caribbean, regaining strength after pulling away from Cuba and heading for the Gulf of

Ike forces evacuations; Texas coast vulnerable

2008-09-11T11:06+0200

Evacuations were taking place along the Texas coast Thursday as Hurricane Ike was forecast to make landfall late Friday or early Saturday. Ike could slam the coast as a Category 3 storm, and people who choose to ride it out "will absolutely be on their own," Brazoria County Sheriff Charles Wagner said.

Raul Castro out of Sight as Storms Hit Cuba

2008-09-11T11:05+0200

Unlike Fidel, President Raul Castro has been out of sight as 3 storms pound Cuba

No regrets says Britney's mum

2008-09-11T10:44+0200

Lynne Spears has said she made mistakes but she has no regrets about letting her daughters pursue their dreams of stardom.

TFN NEWS BRIEFING: Banking and insurance highlights to 09:15 BST

2008-09-11T10:43+0200

2008-09-11 08:44:03 STOCKS NEWS EUROPE-AXA drops as UBS downgrades to 'neutral' Sept 11 (Reuters) - STOCKS NEWS Reuters Results diary Stocks on the move ...

TFN NEWS BRIEFING: Oil and utilities highlights to 09:15 BST

2008-09-11T10:43+0200

2008-09-11 09:10:19 Ericsson says wins order from Cable & Wireless STOCKHOLM, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Telecom equipment maker Ericsson said on Thursday ...

Cuba accepts UN economic aid for first time

2008-09-11T10:37+0200

11/09/2008 02:48 PM Cuba would receive economic aid from the United Nations for the first time after accepting assistance worth 3.5 million USD to overcome consequences caused by hurricane Gustav and Ike.

Hurricane Ike gains power in Gulf of Mexico

2008-09-11T10:36+0200

Hurricane Ike gathered strength as it churned through the Gulf of Mexico's warm waters on a track that could take it all the way to Texas.

Deadly Ike closing in on US

2008-09-11T10:30+0200

Texas authorities have ordered evacuations and emergency personnel are on standby to deal with Hurricane Ike's imminent arrival.

No regrets, says Britney's mom

2008-09-11T10:30+0200

Lynne Spears says she has no regrets about letting her daughters Britney and Jamie Lynn pursue their dreams.

Amazing frog discovery

2008-09-11T10:30+0200

A tiny frog species, thought by many experts to be extinct, has been rediscovered alive and well in a remote area of Australia's tropical north, researchers say.

Charles declares war on rainforest threats

2008-09-11T10:30+0200

The Prince of Wales has called for a "sense of wartime urgency" in a bid to save the rainforests and cap global warming.

Cape: More cold, wet coming

2008-09-11T10:30+0200

Weather forecasters have warned Capetonians to make the most of the next few sunny days, as more rain is on its way.

Man not warming biggest risk to fish

2008-09-11T10:30+0200

The biggest threat to marine life is not global warming but over-fishing and mankind's demand for water, scientists have said.

Oil jumps as Hurricane Ike threatens output

2008-09-11T10:17+0200

Oil prices rebounded today on fears that a strengthening Hurricane Ike will wreak havoc on production as it passes over the Gulf of Mexico towards Texas.

World's 'rarest tree frog' found

2008-09-11T10:17+0200

"Now that we know that both sexes exist in the wild, we should intensify efforts to understand their ecology and further their conservation." The BBC has been following the team from the University of Manchester and Chester Zoo that is working on amphibian conservation programmes The BBC video of the frog is the first-known footage of this species.

Team Nigeria and Beijing Olympics flop - The Tide - Fastnews Nigerian Political News

2008-09-11T10:14+0200

• Thursday, Sep 11, 2008 The dismal performance of Team Nigeria at the just concluded 29th Olympiad in Beijing is no longer news. Nigeria placed 61st on the medals table with one silver and three bronze. For national sports administrators, the dismal performance of the athletes is traceable to inadequate preparation for the games.

BlackBerry vs iPhone: RIM takes it up a notch

2008-09-11T10:11+0200

To offset Apple's push into the BlackBerry smartphone's core market of biz users, RIM is unveiling more consumer-oriented features. In Pics: BlackBerry Pearl Flip, iPhone

Divers find 100-year-old shipwreck in Lake Baikal

2008-09-11T10:10+0200

NOVOSIBIRSK, September 11 (RIA Novosti) - Divers in Irkutsk have discovered an ancient ship that sank over 100 years ago on the bottom of Siberia's Lake Baikal , a team member said on Thursday. The ship, thought to have been built in the late 18th or early 19th century, was found in the southern part of the lake at the depth of around 30 meters.

TAQ1109.006 Cuba accepts UN economic aid for first time

2008-09-11T10:07+0200

Houston-Galveston Could Face Major Damage From Ike

2008-09-11T10:04+0200

Hurricane Ike could cause major damage in Houston- Galveston area even without a direct strike

Facebook for the kindergarten set

2008-09-11T10:04+0200

Hurricane Ike over Gulf of Mexico, aims at Texas

2008-09-11T09:02+0200

11 Sep 2008 06:30:39 GMT Source: Reuters (Refiling to add dropped letters in headline) * Hurricane Ike strengthens to Category 2 storm * Ike seen hitting Texas, west of main Gulf oil fields * Texas officials order limited evacuations ...

Hurricane Ike over Gulf of Mexico and aims at Tex (Reuters)

2008-09-11T08:47+0200

Hurricane Ike over Gulf of Mexico and aims at Tex

2008-09-11T08:44+0200

Oil rises over $103 on Opec output cut

2008-09-11T08:42+0200

Oil prices bounded above $103 a barrel today after falling to another five-month low the previous day, drawing support from Hurricane Ike and OPEC's surprise output cut while wary traders watched the US dollar.

Uganda: Libyan Envoy Calls for Museveni Fourth Term

2008-09-11T08:39+0200

UGANDANS should support President Yoweri Museveni for a fourth term to foster liberation movements and African unity, the Libyan envoy has said.

Stocks fall as weak Asia weighs on sentiment

2008-09-11T08:37+0200

Stocks extended losses on Thursday weighed down by weakness in Asian markets. Stocks 52 Week: High, Low | Gainers & Losers: BSE, NSE | Only: Buyers, Sellers

Ike postpones Arkansas-Texas game

2008-09-11T08:35+0200

Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds said the university believes the best thing to do is postpone the game, which had been set for Saturday in Austin.

The value of art: Versailles hosts the King of Kitsch

2008-09-11T08:29+0200

Contemporary art or incongruous creations? The installation of a selection of works by the “King of Kitsch” at Versailles Palace has kicked up a storm in France. The sculptures are the work of American artist Jeff Koons who is thrilled that his work is being showcased in such grand surroundings. “It really is a dream to have my work here.

Southern US braces itself for Ike's fury

2008-09-11T08:29+0200

Torrential rain and high winds have caused devastation across northern Cuba in the wake of Hurricane Ike. Few official figures have emerged, but it is known that four people died and tens of thousands of buildings were damaged. Crops have been destroyed and experts predict the country’s fledgling tourist industry will be affected.

Texas evacuates as Ike to hit as likely Category 3

2008-09-11T08:28+0200

Evacuations were being ordered along the Texas coast Wednesday as Hurricane Ike was forecast to make landfall early Saturday. Forecasters predict Ike could slam the coast as a Category 3 storm. People who choose to ride it out "will absolutely be on their own," Brazoria County Sheriff Charles Wagner said.

Dales 'Indy' recalls life at sharp end... with piranhas

2008-09-11T08:27+0200

Barry Cliff's exploits across three continents include flying diamond prospectors on risky missions, battling 18ft crocodiles, diving into a piranha-infested river when his plane caught fire and using one of the world's highest waterfalls as a runway. An old boy of Aireborough Grammar School, his....

Cuba Says Hurricane Ike Damaged 200,000 Homes

2008-09-11T08:18+0200

Estimates on houses damaged by Gustav have varied, but AIN said the total number for the two storms was 320,000.

Disrupting Palestinian children's education

2008-09-11T08:17+0200

More than 1.1 million Palestinian students went back to school this term, ready to face old and new risks, and challenges created by the Israeli occupation. Conditions are quite different in the three areas where Palestinians live: East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.

Gulf hurricane pushes oil up in Asia

2008-09-11T08:13+0200

Light, sweet crude for October delivery rose 78 cents to $103.36 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange midday in Singapore. The contract fell 68 cents overnight to settle at $102.58, the lowest close since April 1. Ike, coming on the heels of last week's Hurricane....

Angola: 'Los Caimaneros' Collect Donations for Cuba

2008-09-11T08:08+0200

The association of former Angolan students in Cuba, named "Los Caimaneros", started this Wednesday a campaign to collect funds in Angola to help in the crisis caused by the hurricanes Gustav and Ike in that Caribbean island.

Uganda: Parliament Gets Forged Papers on Mbabazi

2008-09-11T08:08+0200

BANK documents circulated in Parliament this week intended to prove that security minister Amama Mbabazi paid a bribe to finance minister Ezra Suruma are false, the banks concerned have stated.

Oil Rises in Asia as Ike Strengthens

2008-09-11T08:04+0200

Oil prices rebounded from a five-month low Thursday in Asia as Hurricane Ike strengthened as it headed through the Gulf of Mexico toward crude drilling and refining operations on the Texas coast.

Saakashvili caught himself in a mousetrap – surge of opposition is ripening in Georgia

2008-09-11T08:04+0200

“The president of Georgia got in a mousetrap, which was prepared for Georgia, and about which he was warned by the USA, Europe and Georgian society,”..

Evacuations As Ike Heads For Texas

2008-09-11T07:53+0200

The frail and elderly were put aboard buses Wednesday and authorities warned 1 million others to flee inland as Hurricane Ike steamed toward a swath of the Texas coast.

Palm oil trades near lowest in 16 months

2008-09-11T07:45+0200

PALM oil futures in Malaysia, the global benchmark, traded near the lowest in more than 16 months on concern stockpiles may soar in the coming months, and as a stronger dollar weighed on all commodities. Inventories of palm oil may top 5 million tons in Malaysia and Indonesia at the end of....

Hurricane Ike wreaks havoc in Cuba

2008-09-11T07:34+0200

Hurricane Ike has barrelled across the warm, energising waters of the Gulf of Mexico on its way toward the Texas coast.

Evacuations Begin in Texas Ahead of Hurricane Ike

2008-09-11T07:32+0200

Evacuations begin in Texas as Hurricane Ike aims for the heart of the nation's oil industry

Rare starling captured on camera

2008-09-11T07:32+0200

A rose-coloured starling blown off course on its way to India is spotted in a garden in Sutherland.

Hurricane History: Texas a Top Target (LiveScience.com)

2008-09-11T07:17+0200

LiveScience.com - Florida and Louisiana have had an unfair share of hurricane activity these past four years while Texas has generally taken less of a beating.

Berkshire limits bank insurance

2008-09-11T06:59+0200

NEW YORK — Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway will stop selling insurance to banks for deposits beyond the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation limits through its Kansas Bankers Surety unit.

Govt to increase research spending to record high

2008-09-11T06:58+0200

The government has pledged to increase the country's research budget by almost 200 times next year with a special focus on "strategic" research projects aimed at improving welfare. read more

Oil rises in Asia as Ike strengthens toward Texas

2008-09-11T06:56+0200

SINGAPORE (AP) - Oil prices rebounded from a 5-month low Thursday in Asia as Hurricane Ike strengthened as it headed through the Gulf of Mexico toward crude drilling and refining operations on the Texas coast.

Warriors quietly confident despite odds

2008-09-11T06:44+0200

The New Zealand Warriors might have history and most pundits against them, but centre Brent Tate says there's a quiet confidence heading into the NRL playoffs.

Afghan battle is getting harder

KEISHAN BALGOBIN will be the busiest rider at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on Saturday after the in-form apprentice landed seven mounts yesterday for the eight-race card. Balgobin, who scored a hat-trick last Saturday to reach 40 career winners and attain the status of a one-kilo claimer, will only be....

2008-09-11T05:43+0200

Hurricane Ike over Gulf of Mexico, aims at Tex

2008-09-11T05:40+0200

Programs recruit young, inexperienced grads to teach in New Orleans

2008-09-11T05:28+0200

New teacher Devin Meyers, 23, asks students, from left, Monique Boudreaux, 11, Daniela Sherwood, 11, and Monet Boudreaux, 12, which desk layout they prefer as he prepares for the start of classes at t...

Gates Says More U.S. Troops Are Needed in Afghanistan

2008-09-11T05:28+0200

Washington While the United States is withdrawing combat forces from Iraq as the levels of violence decline and security by Iraqi forces improves, additional forces are being sent to Afghanistan t...

Medically fragile evacuate Ike's advance

2008-09-11T05:21+0200

Some Texas residents who have special medical needs in the Corpus Christi area were being told to evacuate in advance of Hurricane Ike as it steams into the Gulf of Mexico.

In Devastated Haitian City, A Body as Envoy of Peace

2008-09-11T05:13+0200

GONAIVES, Haiti, Sept. 10 -- Caught in a traffic jam, Max Cosci pounded on his horn and cursed the world. He didn't have time for this. He needed to recover the body of Lionel Augustin.

Lessons from participatory monitoring programmes in tropical forests throughout the world

2008-09-11T05:01+0200

In the past decade, understandings of the importance and role of monitoring in tropical forest management have changed significantly. Increasingly, ...

2008-09-11T04:00+0200

Airlines to lose $5.2bn in 2008 - IATA boss - Nigerian Tribune - Fastnews Nigerian Oil & Gas News

2008-09-11T03:58+0200

Airlines to lose $5.2bn in 2008 - IATA boss Shola Adekola, Lagos - updated: Thursday 11-09-2008 Diezani Alison-Madueke, Minister of Transport The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced a revised industry financial forecast that would see the global airline industry post losses of US$5.

Bitter kola, natural rheumatism medicine - Nigerian Tribune - Fastnews Nigerian Oil & Gas News

2008-09-11T03:58+0200

Bitter kola, natural rheumatism medicine By Sade Oguntola - updated: Thursday 11-09-2008 Bitter kola Over the past years, there have been a growing number of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients who are not willing to comply with long-term non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) treatment and wish to use herbal anti- rheumatic medicine.

Programs recruit young, inexperienced grads to teach in New Orleans

2008-09-11T03:48+0200

For years, a tough Louisiana state retention policy led schools to hold back students who didn't measure up. After Katrina, many ...

10 days later, Baton Rouge still recovering from Gustav

2008-09-11T03:48+0200

Debris piled across medians, drivers passed cautiously under dark traffic lights and at least a few residents camped in front ...

Texans evacuate coast ahead of Ike

2008-09-11T03:43+0200

Evacuations were ordered along the Texas coast Wednesday as forecasters predicted that Hurricane Ike could slam into the state as a Category 4 storm on Saturday.

Hurricane Ike strikes Gulf of Mexico

2008-09-11T03:28+0200

Hurricane Ike churned through Gulf of Mexico's on Wednesday on a track that would skirt the heart of the US offshore oil patch before slamming into the Texas coast on Saturday.

Ike could reach Category Four

2008-09-11T03:26+0200

The storm's wind speeds could reach 213km/h, the centre said. Ike was a Category 2 hurricane today with top sustained winds of 160km/h.

Is beach water safe Testing to improve

2008-09-11T03:26+0200

"The new studies will have to look at the whole range of how people get sick, which will lead to stricter and more protective criteria," Aaron Colangelo, a senior attorney for the Natural Resources De...

Oil down on soft demand

2008-09-11T03:26+0200

CRUDE oil futures fell overnight on fresh evidence that world oil demand is weakening, as consumption concerns overshadowed Opec's decision to reduce production.

Protests after Brown gives his support to Obama

2008-09-11T03:26+0200

Gordon Brown has sparked a transatlantic row with John McCain, the Republican candidate in the American presidential election, over an article in his name which appeared to back the Democrat Barack Ob...

Hurricane Ike building to a Texas landfall

2008-09-11T03:26+0200

Elderly and disabled people have been put onto buses in Texas, after one million people were warned to flee inland from the path of Hurricane Ike.

Hydrocarbons Daily Record Wednesday, 10 September 2008

2008-09-11T03:25+0200

10 September 2008 Crude prices dropped today despite a drop in crude inventories. This is to be expected as hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico have postponed deliveries. Gasoline supplies, however, are up from what they were last year at this time when demand was higher.

Lesson from Ike: Nobody does evacuations like Cuba (AP)

2008-09-11T03:16+0200

AP - When Hurricane Ike struck Cuba, Ronald Matos didn't think twice about fleeing his one-room wooden house for a government shelter.

Oil rises after surprise OPEC output cut

2008-09-11T02:52+0200

LONDON: Oil rose on Wednesday in response to a surprise decision by OPEC to cut production by about half a million barrels a day. US crude was up nine cents at $103.35 a barrel by 1236 GMT. On Tuesday, it fell to a five-month low of $101.74. London Brent crude was up 28 cents at $100.

UK pledges 75m pounds to BD climate change fight

2008-09-11T02:52+0200

LONDON: Britain pledged 75 million pounds Wednesday to help Bangladesh fight the effects of climate change, as the impoverished flood and cyclone ravaged Asian nation highlighted the need for billions of dollars. Joining forces at a conference in London, Bangladesh and Britain called on nations to....

China August trade surplus at record $28.7 billion high

2008-09-11T02:52+0200

BEIJING: China said Wednesday its trade surplus hit a monthly all-time high of 28.7 billion dollars in August, but economists doubted this would push Beijing to allow any major rise in its currency. The August surplus, beating a previous record of $27.

Hantuchova opens title bid in Bali

2008-09-11T02:52+0200

NUSA DUA: Top seed Daniela Hantuchova launched her quest for a first career WTA title at the Bali Open on Wednesday with a 6-1, 7-5 victory over Ukrainian Olga Savchuk. The 25-year-old Slovakian, currently ranked 11th in the world, is hoping to go one step further than she did here last year, when....

Spot rate remains stable at KCA

2008-09-11T02:52+0200

KARACHI: Trading remained moderate amid firm spot rate at the Karachi cotton market, traders said Wednesday. The leading buyers bought lint of all qualities and volumes remained below normal level at around 15,000 bales, they added. The spot rate at KCA stayed firm and strong and the settlement was....

Cuban-Americans Readying Relief Effort for Cuba

2008-09-11T02:45+0200

Community leaders ask US, Cuban officials to relax restrictions between countries to facilitate the relief efforts

Texas braces as Ike regains strength

2008-09-11T02:40+0200

TEXAS authorities have ordered coastal evacuations as deadly Hurricane Ike strengthened to a category two storm in the Gulf of Mexico and headed toward the southern US coast after ravaging Cuba and the Caribbean. 10:12am (AEST)

Banks fall back after Lehman Brothers' record loss

2008-09-11T02:38+0200

IRISH BANK shares lost some of the gains made earlier this week on the US government's bail-out of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac after US investment bank Lehman Brothers posted the largest quarterly loss in its 158-year history.

Haitians struggle to survive in storm-ravaged port

2008-09-11T02:34+0200

11 Sep 2008 00:07:24 GMT Source: Reuters By Matthew Bigg GONAIVES, Haiti, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of people are struggling for survival in this low-lying port in northern Haiti, 10 days after Tropical Storm Hanna drowned ...

Oil prices fall even after US inventories shrink

2008-09-11T02:27+0200

Oil prices closed slightly lower in jittery trading Wednesday, as the strengthening dollar and signs of a slowing economy outweighed inventory drops and word that OPEC would cut production. read more

Hurricane Ike Threatens Texas Coast

2008-09-11T02:22+0200

People living close to the beaches along the Gulf of Mexico have been advised to leave and many have

2008-09-11T02:11+0200

When Hurricane Ike struck Cuba, Ronald Matos didn't think twice about fleeing his one-room wooden house for a government shelter. If there's one thing the communist island does right, it's evacuations.

U.S. "Running Out Of Time" In Afghanistan

2008-09-11T02:07+0200

Punjab police ordered to act against MNAs’, ministers’ blinkers

2008-09-11T02:06+0200

* DIG says it has become fashion amongst criminals to use blinkers LAHORE: Ministers, speaker of the house, the deputy speaker, advisers, parliamentary secretaries, members of the national assembly (MNAs); members of the provincial assembly (MPAs); district nazims, naib district nazims, and others,....

Cuba says Hurricane Ike damaged 200,000 homes

2008-09-11T02:04+0200

10 Sep 2008 23:53:42 GMT Source: Reuters By Esteban Israel HAVANA, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike damaged at least 200,000 homes, including 30,000 that were destroyed, as its high winds and torrential rains wreaked havoc on the full ...

South Texas Swarms Out: Evacuations Pick up Speed, and so Does Ike

2008-09-11T01:59+0200

'Pig in lipstick jibe': Obama refuses to apologise for sexist comment as women switch to the Republicans in droves

2008-09-11T01:55+0200

Barack Obama has refused to apologise after implicitly attacking Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin by saying: 'You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig.'

Huge increase in spending on water urged to avert global catastrophe

2008-09-11T01:48+0200

Infrastructure investment must double, say experts as climate change likely to put 4bn people at risk

2008-09-11T01:39+0200

"It was horrible," he recalls. "All those young people dead on the seashore. We were horrified by the sight of the dead, but also by the thought of their families on the other side." They were the bodies of 37 Africans who, like many before them, had drowned while attempting to cross the treacherous....

2008-09-11T00:55+0200

Published Date: September 11, 2008 KUWAIT: In its latest economic brief on the oil market and budget developments, NBK reports that bearish sentiment in global crude oil markets continued into September, with the price of Kuwait Export Crude (KEC) crashing back below the $100 per barrel mark to reach $98.

Emergency alert for Texas as Hurricane Ike heads for state

2008-09-11T00:54+0200

Ike forecast to slam Texas as Category 4, with 130 mph winds

2008-09-11T00:46+0200

Drawing energy from the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, the strengthening storm was expected to blow ashore early Saturday ...

Hurricane Ike expected to slam Texas this weekend (Reuters)

2008-09-11T00:46+0200

Reborn England storm Croatia fortress (AFP)

2008-09-11T00:46+0200

AFP - Theo Walcott scored a fairytale hat-trick as England came through their first major test under Fabio Capello in scintillating fashion with a 4-1 win over a Croatia side never before beaten at home in a competitive international.

2008-09-11T00:19+0200

Prices of palm oil, the world's most consumed vegetable oil, need to decline further to spur more demand from the biofuel and food sectors as stockpiles swell to records, said Dorab Mistry, director at Godrej International Ltd.

Palm oil must fall to boost biofuel, food demand

2008-09-11T00:02+0200

Oil prices slip on demand jitters despite OPEC cut

2008-09-11T00:01+0200

NEW YORK: Oil prices fell on Wednesday on demand worries as a stronger Hurricane Ike bore down on energy installations in the Gulf of Mexico and after OPEC reduced output to curb falling prices.

Texas Guard Begins Evacuating Patients Before Hurricane Ike Hits

2008-09-10T23:50+0200

The Texas National Guard began evacuating special-needs patients from the Corpus Christi area in preparation for Hurricane Ike.

Forecasters: Ike could hit Texas as a Category 4

2008-09-10T23:50+0200

Hurricane Ike is forecast to make landfall in Texas early Saturday morning as a dangerous, Category 4 storm, and officials Wednesday ordered mandatory evacuations in some Texas Gulf Coast counties. "The public has to understand if they decide to stay, there will be a period of time during this storm....

Pentagon leaders to urge caution in troop cuts

2008-09-10T23:48+0200

WASHINGTON - Top defense leaders are telling Congress the U.S. must be cautious as the Pentagon begins to cut troops in Iraq and focus more attention on the escalating fight in Afghanistan. In testimony Wednesday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates was to note the dramatic security gains in Iraq over....

Audit: FEMA wasted millions on no-bid contracts (AP)

2008-09-10T23:46+0200

AP - The government wasted millions of dollars on four no-bid contracts it handed out for Hurricane Katrina work, including paying $20 million for a camp for evacuees that was never inspected and proved to be unusable, investigators say.

Evacuations begin in Texas ahead of Hurricane Ike (AP)

2008-09-10T23:46+0200

AP - The frail and elderly were put aboard buses Wednesday and authorities warned 1 million others to flee inland as Hurricane Ike steamed toward a swath of the Texas coast that includes the nation's largest concentration of refineries and chemical plants.

Experts discuss making homes hurricane ready

2008-09-10T23:45+0200

Getting people back in their homes quickly is vital to hurricane recovery, the head of a national program to build more storm-resistant ...

Ike could reach Category Four

2008-09-10T23:37+0200

HURRICANE Ike could reach Category 4 strength in the next 48 hours before making landfall, the US National Hurricane Center said today. 7:21am (AEST)

World Cup qualifying as it happened

2008-09-10T23:32+0200

England crush Croatia 4-1, Northern Ireland win a point against Czech Republic, Scotland defeat Iceland 2-1 and Wales lose 2-1 in Russia.

Ike could reach Cat 4 strength before landfall-NHC

2008-09-10T23:29+0200

10 Sep 2008 21:04:39 GMT Source: Reuters HOUSTON, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike could reach Category 4 strength in the next 48 hours before making landfall, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said on Wednesday. The storm's wind speeds ...

Admiral: Troops alone will not yield victory in Afghanistan

2008-09-10T23:28+0200

The U.S. is "running out of time" to win the war in Afghanistan, and sending in more troops will not guarantee victory, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Michael Mullen, warned Congress on Wednesday.

Honda's new fuel-stingy City debuts in Thailand

2008-09-10T23:22+0200

BANGKOK — Honda Motor Co. debuted a new made-in-Thailand model of its City subcompact Wednesday to meet growing global demand for fuel-efficient cars. The demand for compact sedans in the Thai market has increased in recent years amid surging gasoline prices, while the demand for pickup trucks has remained strong.

Reborn England storm Croatia fortress (AFP)

2008-09-10T23:16+0200

Prince in call to save rainforests

2008-09-10T23:15+0200

The Prince of Wales has called for a "sense of wartime urgency" in a bid to save the rainforests and cap global warming.

Ike could reach Cat 4 strength before landfall: NHC

2008-09-10T23:13+0200

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike could reach Category 4 strength in the next 48 hours before making landfall, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said on Wednesday.

Oil slips as dealers shrug OPEC cut

2008-09-10T23:13+0200

Oil prices dipped to fresh five-month lows as weak demand and a strong dollar offset a surprise OPEC production cut agreement. World's top 10 oil producers

Ike could hit Houston, Galveston

2008-09-10T23:11+0200

Hurricane Ike grew to a Category 2 storm with 100 mph winds in the Gulf of Mexico, as officials in Texas weighed ordering a mandatory evacuation of one million people.

Storm Fallout: A Florida Exodus?

2008-09-10T23:02+0200

Viewpoint: Unless soaring insurance costs stop, the hurricane onslaught could mean a push north from the Sunshine State

Lesson from Ike: Nobody does evacuations like Cuba

2008-09-10T23:02+0200

When Hurricane Ike struck Cuba, Ronald Matos didn't think twice about fleeing his one-room wooden house for a government shelter.

Audit: FEMA wasted millions on no-bid contracts

2008-09-10T23:02+0200

Could Florida Survive the Big One?

2008-09-10T23:02+0200

The next big hurricane could leave the state not merely damaged but in financial ruin

Canadian reconnaissance group heading for Haiti

2008-09-10T23:00+0200

Ottawa sending $5-million, military disaster-assistance unit to storm-ravaged country

Oil prices close slightly lower

2008-09-10T23:00+0200

NEW YORK — Oil prices closed slightly lower in jittery trading Wednesday, as the strengthening U.S. dollar and signs of a slowing U.S. economy outweighed inventory drops and word that OPEC would cut production. The U.S. Energy Department's Energy Information Administration said crude inventories fell by 5.

Sunrise to Sunset in Zanzibar

2008-09-10T22:58+0200

With such beautiful beaches, many tourists get no further than the resorts of Zanzibar. But there's plenty more on offer on these tropical islands in the republic of Tanzania.

As dollar strengthens, cost of crude oil falls

2008-09-10T22:56+0200

Oil prices closed slightly lower in Wednesday, as the strengthening dollar and signs of a slowing economy outweighed inventory drops and word that OPEC would cut production.

US wants to be India's No.1 partner in defence

2008-09-10T22:53+0200

With the civil nuclear deal virtually in the bag now, the US is fast emerging as a potent challenger to Russia, Israel and France in supplying military hardware to India.

Lesson from Ike: Nobody does evacuations like Cuba (AP)

2008-09-10T22:46+0200

AP - When Hurricane Ike struck Cuba, Ronald Matos didn't think twice about fleeing his one-room wooden house for a government shelter.

Ike gets stronger as Texas begins evacuations

2008-09-10T22:45+0200

Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami say the storm has top sustained winds of about 100 mph and is on track ...

President Kufuor to undertake state visit to US

2008-09-10T22:35+0200

Accra, Sept. 10, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor will leave Accra on Thursday for a three-day visit to the United States of America at the invitation of President George W. Bush from September 15 to 18. The visit, the second by an African leader in the eight-year term of President Bush's tenure....

Storm-struck Haiti: From misery to the abyss

2008-09-10T22:27+0200

After four storms in less than a month, the little that many Haitians had has turned to nothing at all. Their homes are under water, forcing them onto the roofs. School is canceled. Hunger is intense.

Pentagon chief cites caution on US troop pullout

2008-09-10T22:27+0200

Lloyd's defences stand firm against hurricane onslaught

2008-09-10T22:24+0200

By Ellen Kelleher Published: September 6 2008 03:00 | Last updated: September 6 2008 03:00 Even though hurricane Gustav failed this week to stop the pubs in New Orleans' French Quarter from opening, the storm is still likely to incur $4bn-$10bn in insured losses and hit profits at Lloyd's of London, the underwriters, say analysts.

Defense chiefs: Afghan fighting is getting harder (AP)

2008-09-10T22:16+0200

AP - Even with American troops headed soon from an increasingly quiet Iraq to a more turbulent Afghanistan, defeating extremists in Afghanistan is growing more complex and more urgent, President Bush's senior defense advisers say.

Ike gets stronger as Texas begins evacuations (AP)

2008-09-10T22:16+0200

AP - Hurricane Ike strengthened in the Gulf's warm waters Wednesday and churned toward the Texas coast, and officials started to evacuate the first of millions of residents who could be in the storm's path. Ike bloomed to a Category 2 storm and was likely to grow even stronger before its predicted strike on the Texas coast early Saturday.

US wants to be India's No.1 partner in defence

2008-09-10T22:10+0200

With the civil nuclear deal virtually in the bag now, the US is fast emerging as a potent challenger to Russia, Israel and France in supplying military hardware to India.

Spain and Portugal: Perfect winter sunshine destinations

2008-09-10T22:09+0200

It's been an odd summer for most of us in the USA as we have suffered through either unusually wet weather or the other extreme, drought. [10-09-2008] [ David Brice, Golf International Inc., PGATour.com ] Some have endured terrible forest fires, while others have suffered flooding and for our....

How Tata got Singur cheap

2008-09-10T22:01+0200

Caught in a political storm one and a half years after it was signed, the agreement between TML and the Bengal Govt was influenced by a state located a thousand miles away from Kolkata, reports Tanmay Chatterjee.

Hurricane Ike upgraded to Category 2 as it edges toward Texas

2008-09-10T21:59+0200

U.S. forecasters said Hurricane Ike is gaining size and strength over the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday after the storm battered parts of Cuba this week.

Capital crunch fuses with hurricane fears

2008-09-10T21:54+0200

By Andrea Felsted in London Published: September 10 2008 20:36 | Last updated: September 10 2008 20:36 As insurers and reinsurers face the most severe losses from Atlantic hurricanes in three years, analysts and executives gathering at this year’s reinsurance get-together in Monte Carlo fear the....

Texas Braces for Hurricane Ike, US to Provide $10 Million for Haiti Relief

2008-09-10T21:42+0200

Residents in Texas are bracing for Hurricane Ike, as the storm strengthens in the Gulf of Mexico moving straight toward the southwestern U.S. state. President George Bush declared a state of emergency in Texas, freeing up federal resources and allowing federal authorities to coordinate disaster efforts.

Ike becomes major hurricane

2008-09-10T21:33+0200

Miami.- Hurricane Ike, currently located about 980 km east-northeast of the Leeward Islands, gained strength quickly Wednesday and was upgraded to a major category 4 storm late in the evening after beginning the day as a tropical storm, the National Hurricane Center said.

Ike to strengthen into Category 3 before hitting Texas

2008-09-10T21:33+0200

Miami.– Hurricane Ike will mushroom into a powerful Category 3 storm within 36 hours as it marches west across the warm Gulf of Mexico waters before striking the central Texas Coast on Saturday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center forecast in its 8 a.m. EDT reports.

Hurricane Ike ploughs towards US

2008-09-10T21:32+0200

US President Bush declares a state of emergency as Ike, a category two storm, heads across the Gulf of Mexico.

University veep says job at risk talking politics

2008-09-10T21:32+0200

Former Maryland gubernatorial candidate Douglas M. Duncan says the O'Malley administration threatened to fire him at his university if he attends a business luncheon to talk politics with former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.

Mail carriers name heroes of the year

2008-09-10T21:32+0200

Letter carrier Alan Girard neared the end of his route Oct. 6 when he noticed smoke and an orange glow in an apartment at a senior citizens center. He rushed in, pulled the fire alarm and began knocking on doors to alert residents.

Oil prices fluctuate as U.S. inventories fall

2008-09-10T21:27+0200

NEW YORK — Oil prices fell in jittery trading Wednesday, as the strengthening dollar and signs of a slowing economy outweighed inventory drops and OPEC's cutback of excess production. The Energy Department's Energy Information Administration said that crude inventories fell by 5.

UK to give £75m to face peril of climate change

2008-09-10T21:26+0200

UNB, London Bangladesh and the United Kingdom Wednesday made a joint partnership calling for an ambitious international deal on cutting greenhouse gas emissions as London made a fresh pledge of 75 million pounds sterling to Dhaka for combating catastrophic impacts of climate change on livelihood and food security.

Grapevine: Iceland's Israel Connection

2008-09-10T21:18+0200

The attractive woman accompanying the President of Iceland, said a cheery "Shalom" to all and sundry.

Mail carriers name heroes of the year (AP)

2008-09-10T21:16+0200

AP - Letter carrier Alan Girard neared the end of his route Oct. 6 when he noticed smoke and an orange glow in an apartment at a senior citizens center. He rushed in, pulled the fire alarm and began knocking on doors to alert residents.

Pentagon chief cites caution on US troop pullout

2008-09-10T21:15+0200

But even as Gates hinted at possible further troop cuts in Iraq, he said a go-slow approach is justified by several worrisome circumstances, including slow progress on the political front.

Evacuations ordered as Ike moves in

2008-09-10T21:15+0200

PRESIDENT George W Bush declared an emergency in Texas today and state authorities began ordering evacuations as deadly Hurricane Ike churned in the Gulf of Mexico toward the US state.

McCain roars in - but Palin

2008-09-10T21:15+0200

The old steel town of Lancaster boasts the first paved road in the US - one that locals fondly call the macadam after the Scottish engineer. Down that stretch of highway, on a balmy aftern...

Hurricane Ike aims at Texas

2008-09-10T21:15+0200

HURRICANE Ike gathered strength as it churned through the Gulf of Mexico's warm waters today on a track that will likely skirt the heart of the US offshore oilpatch before it slams into the Texas coast on Sunday. 4:47am (AEST)

Climate change: Inaction will threaten people's lives - Oxfam

2008-09-10T21:11+0200

Climate Change is not simply an environmental issue it is now a matter of putting the basic human rights of life, security, food, subsistence and health of millions of people at stake, stated the international NGO platform Oxfam, in a report submitted to the UN this week.

SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans Available to Private Non-Profit Organizations in Florida; Adds 10 Counties

2008-09-10T21:05+0200

The U.S. Small Business Administration announces that certain Private Non-Profit Organizations (PNPs) that do not provide critical services of a governmental ...

Approaching Ike Could Mean Evacuations

2008-09-10T21:05+0200

IRVING, Texas, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - With Hurricane Ike approaching it is important to listen to instructions from local authorities and take ...

'Dora the Explorer Live!' Coming to 40 U.S. Cities in 2009

2008-09-10T21:05+0200

NEW YORK, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire/ - Nickelodeon and Broadway Across America are teaming up to bring "Dora the Explorer Live! Search for the City of ...

New 911 Manager

2008-09-10T21:03+0200

GEORGE TOWN - Public safety communication is as much an art form as it is a career, says 911's new manager Brent Finster who started with the unit end of August -- just in time to experience his first hurricane (Gustav) in the Caribbean.

Police to Assist T&C

2008-09-10T21:03+0200

GEORGE TOWN - The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) has placed 10 officers on stand-by to fly to Turks and Caicos to assist with law enforcement and security after the country was by devastated by hurricanes Hanna and Ike.

Passports Office Reminder

2008-09-10T21:03+0200

GEORGE TOWN - Immigration Department’s, Passport and Corporate Services Office (PCSO) is reminding the public to pick up travel documents that are ready for collection, as soon as possible.

Cayman to Help Neighbours

2008-09-10T21:03+0200

GEORGE TOWN - Government will assist storm-devastated regional countries in Cayman's vicinity, Leader of Government Business the Hon. Kurt Tibbetts told the Legislative Assembly this morning

Hurricane Ike grows in size, strength

2008-09-10T20:58+0200

Residents along part of the Texas Gulf Coast have been told to leave Wednesday morning after Hurricane Ike left Cuba and began to gain strength in the warm Gulf of Mexico.

Chanderpaul ICC Player of Year

2008-09-10T20:52+0200

West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been named as the 2008 International Cricket Council Cricketer of the Year at an awards ceremony in Dubai.

Hurricane Ike gets stronger on a path to Texas (AP)

2008-09-10T20:45+0200

U.N. seeks almost $108 million aid for Haiti floods

2008-09-10T20:43+0200

The United Nations appealed for nearly $108 million Wednesday for an estimated 800,000 people in Haiti in need of humanitarian ...

Forecasters: Hurricane Ike getting stronger

2008-09-10T20:43+0200

Hurricane Ike has become a Category 2 storm as it feeds on warm Gulf waters and makes its way to Texas.

Ike grows; 1 million Texans on alert

2008-09-10T20:39+0200

Hurricane Ike grew to a Category 2 storm with 100 mph winds in the Gulf of Mexico, as officials in Texas weighed ordering a mandatory evacuation of one million people.

John Armstrong: Winston's electoral poison now

2008-09-10T20:38+0200

Has Winston Peters done enough to get himself off the hook? Probably not. While the odds on his being sacked have narrowed, his patchy, confusing and less-than-convincing explanations to Parliament's privileges committee last night...

Ike closes in on Texas coast

2008-09-10T20:38+0200

McALLEN - With Hurricane Ike heading into the Gulf of Mexico, Texas emergency officials stood ready to order a million people evacuated from the impoverished Rio Grande Valley and tried to convince tens of thousands of illegal immigrants...

Yushchenko hatching military coup, says Regions lawmaker Kolesnychenko

2008-09-10T20:36+0200

“Preparations for toppling the current regime in Ukraine are picking up steam,” Regions lawmaker Vadym Kolesnychenko warns. “Speaking on the sidelines in VR, Our Ukraine lawmakers are openly bragging about Yushchenko’s determination to dissolve parliament if a coalition which does not suit the incumbent is formed,” the lawmaker’s Sept.

Ike grows to Category 2 hurricane, eyes Texas

2008-09-10T20:28+0200

Residents along part of the Texas Gulf Coast were starting to leave Wednesday as Hurricane Ike grew to a Category 2 storm in the Gulf of Mexico.

UN seeks $108 mln to aid Haiti after storms

2008-09-10T20:23+0200

10 Sep 2008 17:57:25 GMT Source: Reuters UNITED NATIONS, Sept 10 (Reuters) - The United Nations appealed for almost $108 million on Wednesday to aid up to 800,000 Haitians after a series of storms devastated the Caribbean country over the ...

Ike grows to Cat 2 hurricane - US NHC

2008-09-10T20:23+0200

10 Sep 2008 18:00:08 GMT Source: Reuters HOUSTON, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Ike strengthened to a Category 2 hurricane as it churned across the Gulf of Mexico's warm waters, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said on Wednesday. (Reporting by ...

Forecasters: Hurricane Ike getting stronger (AP)

2008-09-10T20:15+0200

AP - Hurricane Ike has become a Category 2 storm as it feeds on warm Gulf waters and makes its way to Texas.

EPA to develop stricter standards for ocean water (AP)

2008-09-10T20:15+0200

AP - Beachgoers will be told more about whether it's safe to go in the water under a court settlement between environmentalists and the EPA.

US defence secretary urges caution with Iraq troop cuts

2008-09-10T20:15+0200

Robert Gates also said improved security in Iraq will give the US military the flexibility to do more in Afghanistan

Immediate attention for Spring Bank

2008-09-10T20:06+0200

St Thomas: Residents of Spring Bank in the hills of St Thomas are to get relief as the St Thomas Parish Council has given approval for work to commence on re-routing the main road which runs through the community...

EPA to develop stricter standards for ocean water

2008-09-10T20:01+0200

Beachgoers will be told more about whether it's safe to go in the water under a court settlement between environmentalists and the EPA.

Texas begins evacuation in advance of Ike

2008-09-10T19:58+0200

Some Texas residents who have special medical needs in the Corpus Christi area were being told to evacuate in advance of Hurricane Ike as it steams into the Gulf of Mexico.

Pentagon leaders to urge caution in troop cuts

2008-09-10T19:58+0200

Top defense leaders are telling Congress the U.S. must be cautious as the Pentagon begins to cut troops in Iraq and focus more attention on the escalating fight in Afghanistan.

Admiral Calls Haiti Relief Effort 'Core Mission'

2008-09-10T19:57+0200

Relief efforts like the one the USS Kearsarge is performing in Haiti are a core mission for U.S. forces in U.S. Southern Command, said a U.S. Navy admiral during a visit to the amphibious ship..

MS Dhoni wins ICC ODI Player of the Year award

2008-09-10T19:54+0200

India's MS Dhoni won ICC ODI Player of the Year award whereas Yuvraj Singh won the ICC award for best performance in T20 World Cup for his outstanding performance.

Ike gains strength over Gulf

2008-09-10T19:53+0200

Current track will take hurricane Texas coast; Cuba starts recovery from passage

Hurricane Ike grows in size, intensity

2008-09-10T19:50+0200

Residents along part of the Texas Gulf Coast have been told to leave Wednesday morning after Hurricane Ike left Cuba and began to gain strength in the warm Gulf of Mexico.

Texas coast girds for strike by deadly Ike (AFP)

2008-09-10T19:45+0200

AFP - President George W. Bush declared an emergency in Texas Wednesday and state authorities began ordering evacuations as deadly Hurricane Ike churned in the Gulf of Mexico toward the US state.

Hurricane Ike expected to slam Texas this weekend (Reuters)

2008-09-10T19:45+0200

Reuters - Hurricane Ike churned through the Gulf of Mexico's warm waters on Wednesday on a track that will likely skirt the heart of the U.S. offshore oilpatch before it slams into the Texas coast on Saturday.

McCain roars in - but Palin's the crowd-puller

2008-09-10T19:43+0200

The old steel town of Lancaster boasts the first paved road in the US - one that locals fondly call the Macadam after its Scottish inventor.

New Pakistani Pres. & Cooperation Against Terrorism

2008-09-10T19:43+0200

New Pakistani President Pledges Greater Cooperation Against Terrorism By Barry Newhouse Islamabad 09 September 2008 The widower of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has been sworn in as Pakistan's president, formally returning the country to civilian rule nearly nine years after Pervez Musharraf seized power in a military coup.

Britain helps Bangladesh with climate change

2008-09-10T19:37+0200

Britain is giving 165 billion US dollars to help Bangladesh prepare for the impact of climate change.

Gates Cautious On Iraq Improvements

2008-09-10T19:35+0200

Improved security in Iraq will give the U.S. military the flexibility to do more in Afghanistan in the coming months, Defense Secretary Robert Gates told Congress, after years of setting a lower priority for the Afghan fight.

Press Briefing by Dana Perino

2008-09-10T19:35+0200

11:10 A.M. EDT MS. PERINO: A couple of announcements for you. The President had his briefings this morning. He is also, this afternoon, going to be meeting with the President of Iraq, President Talabani. I expect them to discuss a number of important issues that are in front of the Iraqi parliament now, including the provincial elections law.

Admiral: Troops alone not enough in Afghanistan

2008-09-10T19:35+0200

The U.S. is "running out of time" to win the war in Afghanistan, and sending in more troops will not guarantee victory, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff warned Congress today. "We can't kill our way to victory, and no armed force anywhere -- no matter how good -- can deliver these keys alone.

HIGHLIGHTS 1-Interview with Polish Finance Minister Rostowski

2008-09-10T19:33+0200

WARSAW, Sept 10 (Reuters) - The following are quotes from a Reuters interview with Poland's Finance Minister Jacek Rostowski on economy conducted on ...

The Brink's Company Chairman, President and CEO, Michael Dan, to Chair Business Roundtable's Partnership for Disaster Response

2008-09-10T19:33+0200

Business Roundtable has named Michael T. Dan, chairman, president and CEO of The Brink's Company, as chairman of its Partnership for Disaster Response. ...

In Bart Simpson's Urban Jungle

2008-09-10T19:31+0200

Snakes, alligators and monkeys pose a unique challenge to the fire department of Brazil's second city

Texas Coast girds for Ike

2008-09-10T19:20+0200

Texas authorities have begun ordering evacuations as deadly Hurricane Ike churned in the Gulf of Mexico toward the US state.

Alaska, Russia forests overlooked in climate fight

2008-09-10T19:20+0200

10 Sep 2008 17:00:05 GMT Source: Reuters By Alister Doyle, Environment Correspondent OSLO, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Old forests from Alaska to Russia soak up vast amount of greenhouse gases as they age and are wrongly overlooked as a weapon in ...

Blackberry unveils its first flip handset

2008-09-10T19:07+0200

Research in Motion, maker of the BlackBerry, has strengthened its push into the high street retail market with the launch of its first ever flip version of the handset as it seeks to find its place in the pocket of the average consumer.

Before Hollywood, another film city thrived

2008-09-10T19:05+0200

Oliver Hardy made his debut film there in 1913's "Outwitting Daddy." The first feature-length color film produced in the U.S. -- the 1917 release "The Gulf Between" -- was filmed in Jacksonville. It even was the birthplace of Metro Pictures, which later merged with other production houses to become Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, or MGM.

Santiago de Cuba impulsa cosecha cafetalera tras huracán

2008-09-10T19:00+0200

SANTIAGO DE CUBA (PL) - Miles de personas apoyarán desde hoy la recogida de café en esta provincia, la mayor productora del grano en Cuba, para resarcir los daños ocasionados a las plantaciones por el huracán Ike

Afectó huracán Ike producción cubana de níquel

2008-09-10T19:00+0200

LA HABANA (PL) - El Ministerio de la Industria Básica de Cuba (MINBAS) informó la suspensión temporal de la producción de níquel en la Isla debido a las afectaciones ocasionadas por el huracán Ike en la zona oriental del país.

Ike castiga con lluvias intensas extremo occidental cubano

2008-09-10T19:00+0200

PINAR DEL RIO (PL) - Lluvias intensas azotan hoy a este extremo occidental de Cuba por los efectos del huracán Ike, estacionado al norte del cabo de San Antonio, en el límite oeste de la Isla.

Poderosos aguaceros provocan daños e incomunican áreas dominicanas

2008-09-10T19:00+0200

SANTO DOMINGO (PL) - La provincia dominicana de San José de Ocoa (Sur) es considerada zona de desastre después de los intensos aguaceros que barrieron varias zonas del país y esta capital la víspera.

Interrumpida autopista del sur de Cuba tras paso de Ike

2008-09-10T19:00+0200

CIENFUEGOS, Cuba (PL) - Las inundaciones provocadas por las lluvias del huracán Ike interrumpieron la autopista nacional del sur de Cuba, en la zona del río Anábana, divisorio de las provincias de Cienfuegos y Matanzas

Decretan fase recuperativa para provincias cubanas

2008-09-10T19:00+0200

LA HABANA (PL) - El Estado Mayor de la Defensa Civil decidió hoy pasar a la fase recuperativa las provincias cubanas que se encontraban en estado de alarma ciclónica, tras el alejamiento del huracán Ike del territorio de la Isla.

Evacuations ordered as Ike moves in

2008-09-10T18:56+0200

PRESIDENT George W Bush declared an emergency in Texas today and state authorities began ordering evacuations as deadly Hurricane Ike churned in the Gulf of Mexico toward the US state. 2:14am (AEST)

U.S. to provide $10 mln in relief aid to Haiti

2008-09-10T18:49+0200

10 Sep 2008 16:35:07 GMT Source: Reuters WASHINGTON, Sept 10 (Reuters) - The United States will provide $10 million in disaster aid to Haiti to help the Caribbean nation recover from three hurricanes, the White House said on Wednesday. The ...

Marce may bring landslides

2008-09-10T18:47+0200

Typhoon Marce maintained its strength and continued to move north-northwest on Wednesday morning, the national weather bureau said. ...

After storms, adjusters blow into disaster areas (AP)

2008-09-10T18:44+0200

AP - Barry Schoch's cell phone comes to life with "When the Saints Go Marching In" — a reminder of the nine months he spent assessing damage from Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Hurricane Ike roars into Gulf, takes aim on Texas

2008-09-10T18:38+0200

As Hurricane Ike charged into the Gulf's fueling waters and toward the Texas coast, officials prepared Wednesday to evacuate ...

Hurricane Ike gathers strength as its edges closer to Texas

2008-09-10T18:37+0200

U.S. forecasters said Hurricane Ike is gaining size and strength over the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday after the storm battered parts of Cuba this week.

Pentagon chief cites caution on US troop pullout

2008-09-10T18:37+0200

WASHINGTON (AP) — Improved security in Iraq will give the U.S. military flexibility to do more in Afghanistan in coming months, Defense Secretary Robert Gates told Congress today, after years of setting a lower priority for the Afghan fight.

Oil prices slip even after inventory drops

2008-09-10T18:37+0200

NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices fell in jittery trading Wednesday, as the strengthening dollar and signs of a slowing economy outweighed inventory drops and OPEC's cutback of excess production.

Benue govt tackles gully erosion in Makurdi - Nasarawa State - Fastnews Nigerian Banking

2008-09-10T18:35+0200

By Scholastica Hir, Makurdi Benue State Governor, Mr. Gabriel Suswam has commissioned an erosion control project in the North-Bank section of Makurdi, the state capital last week. This followed the revalidation and release of the contract sum for the completion of the jointt Federal Government/Benue....

Evacuations begin in Texas for Hurricane Ike

2008-09-10T18:35+0200

Residents along part of the Texas Gulf Coast were starting to leave Wednesday morning as Hurricane Ike began to pick up steam in the Gulf of Mexico.

Haiti/Caraibe/Cyclones : Solidarité avec notre Caraïbe

2008-09-10T18:29+0200

PORT AU PRINCE (AlterPresse) - Communiqué du Groupe Révolution Socialiste(GRS) de Martinique et du Cercle d’Action Solidaire (Cercasol) de Guadeloupe

Vast Hurricane Suffering in Haiti

2008-09-10T18:29+0200

PUERTO PFRINCIPE (PL) - Bodies found under the mud in the northern city of Gonaives, Haiti, add to the officially more than 100 killed by two consecutive hurricanes as hunger grows in the population.

Texas evacuates some as Ike approaches

2008-09-10T18:24+0200

Some Texas residents who have special medical needs in the Corpus Christi area were being told to evacuate in advance of Hurricane Ike as it steams into the Gulf of Mexico.

Floods, storm kill 18 in Iran - report

2008-09-10T18:18+0200

10 Sep 2008 15:49:42 GMT Source: Reuters TEHRAN, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Floods and stormy weather have killed 18 people in western and southwestern Iran, state media reported on Wednesday. Eleven of those killed late on Tuesday were in Chahar ...

Texas coast girds for strike by deadly Ike (AFP)

2008-09-10T18:14+0200

AFP - President George W. Bush declared an emergency in Texas Wednesday and state authorities began ordering evacuations as deadly Hurricane Ike churned in the Gulf of Mexico toward the US state.

Silvio Berlusconi embarrasses Gordon Brown over windfall tax

2008-09-10T18:14+0200

Andrew Sparrow: Silvio Berlusconi - hero of the left. That's not the way the bandana-wearing plutocrat is normally perceived, but that's the impression the Italian prime minister created at a slightly surreal press conference with Gordon Brown this afternoon

Oil price rise eases after Opec vow

2008-09-10T18:10+0200

Oil prices are retreating from earlier gains in Asia, after Opec vowed to abide by its quotas but decided not to take the more dramatic step of slashing production targets. Prices rose by more than a dollar after the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries meeting ended in the pre-dawn hours in Vienna, Austria, but have quickly eased.

IFC Investments over Kshs. 1 billion in DTB Kenya

2008-09-10T18:08+0200

> By Wambui Oyulu | etn Aug 26, 2008 THE 50-minute Entebbe-Nairobi route, which is dominated by Kenya Airways (KQ), is one of the most expensive in the world. Despite attempts by rival BEARING Man , a distributor of engineering products, said now that it had rebranded itself and consolidated....

Oil fluctuates after inventory drop reported

2008-09-10T18:07+0200

Oil prices fluctuated in jittery trading Wednesday after the Energy Department reported larger-than-expected drops in the United States' crude and gasoline inventories.

Ike gains strength over Gulf, aims for Texas

2008-09-10T18:07+0200

HAVANA (AP) -- Hurricane Ike barreled across the warm, energizing waters of the Gulf of Mexico Wednesday on its way toward the Texas coast after crashing through Cuba's tobacco country and toppling ag...

Hurricane Ike turns toward Texas from drenched Caribbean

2008-09-10T18:07+0200

HAVANA, : Deadly Hurricane Ike lingered off Cuba after killing four, tearing off roofs and uprooting trees before turning toward the Texas coast. "Ike is not in a hurry," the US National Hurricane Cen...

Canadian government boosts relief aid to storm-battered Hait

2008-09-10T18:05+0200

TORONTO - Canada has committed to sending an additional $5 million worth of humanitarian aid to Haiti, where hundreds have been killed and thousands left homeless from flooding created by a series of powerful tropical storms. In statement, the Foreign Affairs Department says the money will be used....

Desperation grows as flooded Haiti city awaits aid

2008-09-10T18:05+0200

| (CNN) -- Four major storms have raked the desperately poor country of Haiti in the past month, leaving at least 240 people dead. | Gonaives, on the west coast, is one o... (photo: AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

Hurricane Ike Slams Cuba a Second Time

2008-09-10T18:05+0200

Hurricane Ike toppled buildings and knocked out power for scores of people in Cuba, as it battered the island for a second day. Cuban officials say four people were killed by the storm, which also is blamed for at least 70 deaths in Haiti. VOA's Brian Wagner has this report.

Hurricane Ike eyes Texas

2008-09-10T18:05+0200

| By Jeff Franks | Havana - Hurricane Ike swirled over the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, targeting Texas near the US offshore oil patch after toppling decrepit buildings in Cuba's capital and ripping t... (photo: WN / nilufer)

Food trade's fatal price pendulum

2008-09-10T18:05+0200

countries and the poorest people in them. Most of the world's poorest live in rural areas and depend to a greater or lesser extent on agriculture for survival. Agriculture dominates their countries' economies, providing the bulk of employment, incomes, and export receipts. One might think they would all gain from higher prices.

Cubans count cost of Hurricane Ike

2008-09-10T18:05+0200

Hurricane Ike swirled over the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, targeting Texas near the U.S. offshore oil patch after ripping Cuba from end to end.

Fairmont expands Asia footprint with new resort in China

2008-09-10T18:05+0200

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has announced that it will manage the Fairmont Haitang Bay Resort, Sanya, China scheduled to open in 2011. Sanya, on the southernmost tip of Hainan Island, is fast emerging as a premier tropical resort destination. Fairmont Haitang Bay Resort expands the company’s growing....

Haiti 'needs urgent storm help'

2008-09-10T18:05+0200

| Haiti's new prime minister, Michele Pierre-Louis, says people displaced and stranded by recent storms are in urgent need of food and water. | She said Haiti had suffered ecological and economic disa... (photo: FEMA)

Ike gains strength over Gulf, aims for Texas

2008-09-10T18:05+0200

ASSOCIATED PRESS HAVANA - Hurricane Ike barreled across the warm, energizing waters of the Gulf of Mexico Wednesday on its way toward the Texas coast after crashing through Cuba's tobacco country and toppling aging Havana buildings. Forecasters said the Category 1 storm was already strengthening....

Haiti 'needs urgent storm help'

2008-09-10T18:05+0200

Haiti's new prime minister, Michele Pierre-Louis, says people displaced and stranded by recent storms are in urgent need of food and water. She said Haiti had suffered ecological and economic disaster in the wake of four successive storms that left more than 550 people dead.

Ike gains strength over Gulf, aims for Texas

2008-09-10T18:05+0200

HAVANA - Hurricane Ike barreled across the warm, energizing waters of the Gulf of Mexico Wednesday on its way toward the Texas coast after crashing through Cuba's tobacco country and toppling aging Ha... (photo: US Navy file / PM1 Brien Aho)

Ike cuts deadly course across Caribbean

2008-09-10T18:05+0200

| People watch as waves break along the Malecon waterfront in Havana. Deadly Hurricane Ike made its second pass in a week over Cuba, tearing off roofs and uprooting trees but leaving only four dead. |... (photo: US Navy / Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Emmitt Hawks)

Texans stage evacuation ahead of hurricane

2008-09-10T18:02+0200

As Hurricane Ike charged into the Gulf of Mexico and toward the Texas coast, officials prepared today to evacuate the first of a million residents who could be in the way of the storm’s path.

As Hurricane Ike Threatens South Texas, Residents Urged to Prepare Emergency Communications Plans

2008-09-10T18:01+0200

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire/ - With Hurricane Ike threatening South Texas, Verizon Wireless urges residents to have their emergency communications ...

Network Stands 'Ready To Serve' as South Texas Braces for Hurricane Ike

2008-09-10T18:01+0200

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire/ - Hurricane Ike may be headed for South Texas, and Verizon Wireless has its digital network throughout the ...

Central Virginia Bankshares, Inc. Reports GSE Preferred Stock Valuation

2008-09-10T18:01+0200

POWHATAN, Va., Sept. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Central Virginia Bankshares, Inc. , the parent company of Central Virginia Bank reported today that the ...

INTERVIEW-Poland to weather growth slowdown -finance minister

2008-09-10T18:01+0200

WARSAW, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Poland's economy is weathering the global slowdown well and its growth will only slow to 4.8 percent in 2009 before gaining ...

Agreement reached between PHA, union

2008-09-10T17:59+0200

By Stephen Gay, Guardian Staff Reporter President of the Bahamas Public Services Union (BPSU) John Pinder told The Guardian yesterday that, following a meeting with officials of the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA), an agreement has been reached that will bring some immediate relief to employees of....

Ike Moved off Cuba, Enters Gulf

2008-09-10T17:59+0200

HAVANA (PL) - Hurricane Ike on Tuesday emerged into the Gulf of Mexico after crossing over Western Cuba as a Category 1 storm.

Morton Salt closure to last at least 2 Months

2008-09-10T17:59+0200

By JUAN MCCARTNEY, NG Senior Reporter MATHEW TOWN, Inagua - Though Inagua residents are still reeling from the devastation wrought upon their community by Hurricane Ike, they will now also have to deal with the looming threat of a stagnant, nearly jobless economy, as assessments of the damage of the....

Relief efforts under way for storm ravaged Inagua

2008-09-10T17:59+0200

By KRYSTEL ROLLE, Guardian Staff Reporter As the government considers what budgetary adjustments must be made to bring relief to the people of storm-ravaged Inagua, several local and international organizations are offering help for the victims of Hurricane Ike.

Tourism- Nearly $1 Million in losses

2008-09-10T17:59+0200

By KEVA LIGHTBOURNE, Guardian Senior Reporter Ministry of Tourism officials have estimated that The Bahamas lost close to $1 million in room revenue as a result of cancellations due to Hurricane Ike. "We are estimating somewhere close to 5,000-room nights which equates to about $900,000 in lost room....

Cuba Hurricane Recovery Underway

2008-09-10T17:59+0200

HAVANA (PL) - Cubans awoke today engaged in a gigantic battle to overcome damages caused by hurricane Ike, which left the island yesterday.

It’s a boy for TODAY’s Natalie Morales

2008-09-10T17:52+0200

TODAY co-host Natalie Morales gave birth to her second son Tuesday: Luke Morales-Rhodes, who arrived weighing a robust 7 pounds, 4 ounces. “Our family at TODAY just got a little bit bigger,” co-host Meredith Vieira announced.

'Extreme waves' worry Australia

2008-09-10T17:47+0200

Australia's coastline is being battered by extreme waves that are driven in part by climate change, scientists say.

Eastern Europe Loses Its Sheen

2008-09-10T17:46+0200

from Forbes.com by Vidya Ram 10.09.08 Like India and China, Eastern European economies aren't proving to be the winning economic growth stories that they were once thought to be, as the latest data out of Czech Republic and Russia reveals. Russian GDP growth slowed to 7.5% during the three mont...

Cuba Counts Up Damage from Hurricane Ike

2008-09-10T17:46+0200

Damage from Ike could hit $3 billion to $4 billion, according to ´some official sources´ in Cuba.

Hurricane Ike enters US Gulf; on path for Texas

2008-09-10T17:44+0200

As Hurricane Ike charged toward the Texas coast, officials prepared Wednesday to evacuate the first of 1 million residents who could be in the way of the storm's path. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center have predicted that Ike would feed on the Gulf of Mexico's warm waters and intensify....

Spanish Government Contributes Relief Supplies

2008-09-10T17:39+0200

Relief supplies for Tropical Storm Gustav victims, were officially handed over to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dr. Kenneth Baugh, by the Ambassador of Spain to Jamaica, Jesus Silva, at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, yesterday (Sept. 5).

'Parrot' fossils found on marsh

2008-09-10T17:39+0200

Fossils of parrot-like birds thought to be about 55 million years old are found on marshes in north Kent.

Ike could force 1 million Texans out

2008-09-10T17:35+0200

Thousands of Texans in one county were urged to evacuate Wednesday as Hurricane Ike neared, while officials weighed ordering a mandatory evacuation of 1 million people in a second county.

Oil prices fluctuate as U.S. inventories fall

2008-09-10T17:33+0200

NEW YORK — Oil prices fluctuated in jittery trading Wednesday after the Energy Department reported larger-than-expected drops in the nation's crude and gasoline inventories. The Energy Department's Energy Information Administration said that crude inventories fell by 5.

Hurricane Ike enters US Gulf; on path for Texas

2008-09-10T17:29+0200

‘Marce’ may bring landslides

2008-09-10T17:25+0200

Typhoon Marce maintained its strength and continued to move north-northwest on Wednesday morning, the national weather bureau said. As Marce (international codename: Sinlaku) gets stronger, the typhoon will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon and bring rains over the country, particularly the....

Oil falls below $100 after US supplies decline$

2008-09-10T17:19+0200

Oil prices fell below $100 for the second day after US crude inventories declined by 5.9 million compared to last week when Hurricane Gustav threatened to wreak havoc on oil production around the Gulf of Mexico.$

Hurricane season 2008

2008-09-10T17:14+0200

26 washington dc asis international 2008, sep 15-18... electronic - korea with ts sci clearance caci international pyong taek, korea telehealth manager general... . hi. the intern is an integral part of a team committed to developing maturity group iv-v soybean varieties for high yield, as well as, herbicide, disease, and pest.

Britain, Bangladesh urge climate change action

2008-09-10T17:14+0200

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain joined forces on Wednesday with Bangladesh, one of the countries most prone to climate change, in calling for more money and a new world deal to combat the catastrophic consequences of global warming.

Texan coast braces for Hurricane Ike

2008-09-10T17:13+0200

Residents along part of the Texas Gulf Coast have been told to leave Wednesday morning after Hurricane Ike left Cuba and began to gain strength in the warm Gulf of Mexico.

Hurricanes raze Ottawa couple's Haiti orphanage

2008-09-10T17:04+0200

Volunteers in Ottawa are pleading for help for about three dozen children left without food, water or beds after their orphanage and school in in Gonaives, Haiti, was destroyed by hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and Ike.

Texas officials weigh evacuations as Ike nears

2008-09-10T17:04+0200

McALLEN, Texas (AP) -- With Hurricane Ike steaming into the Gulf of Mexico, Texas emergency officials Tuesday stood ready to order 1 million people evacuated from the impoverished Rio Grande Valley an...

Oil price rises ease after Opec vow

2008-09-10T17:01+0200

Oil prices are retreating from earlier gains in Asia, after Opec vowed to abide by its quotas but decided not to take the more dramatic step of slashing production targets.

Oil price rise eases after Opec vow

2008-09-10T16:59+0200

Oil prices are retreating from earlier gains in Asia, after Opec vowed to abide by its quotas but decided not to take the more dramatic step of slashing production targets.

Leaders offer condolences to Cuba over hurricane Ike

2008-09-10T16:58+0200

Texas on standby for hurricane Ike

2008-09-10T16:53+0200

Hurricane Ike moved across the Gulf of Mexico today on its way towards the Texas coast after crashing through Cuba and toppling ageing Havana buildings. Forecasters said the Category-1 storm was already strengthening over open waters after leaving Cuba and could grow into a massive Category-3 storm....

Canada Provides Additional Support to Haiti

2008-09-10T16:46+0200

The Government of Canada announced today that Canada is providing additional support to assist the people of Haiti affected by the recent hurricanes and tropical storms. These storms have had a severe impact on the lives and livelihoods of up to 800,000 people in Haiti.

Ike Sweeps Across Gulf Toward Texas

2008-09-10T16:45+0200

Hurricane Ike barreled across the warm, energizing waters of the Gulf of Mexico Wednesday on its way toward the Texas coast after crashing through Cuba's tobacco country

Ottawa pledges aid for Haiti

2008-09-10T16:45+0200

Canada sending $5-million, military disaster-assistance unit to storm-ravaged country

Hurricane Ike enters Gulf; on path for Texas (AP)

2008-09-10T16:44+0200

AP - As Hurricane Ike charged into the Gulf's fueling waters and toward the Texas coast, officials prepared Wednesday to evacuate the first of 1 million residents who could be in the way of the storm's path.

Hurricanes

2008-09-10T16:43+0200

Hurricane season 2008 - trace the path of tropical storms and hurricanes across the Caribbean

Hurricane Ike over Gulf of Mexico

2008-09-10T16:40+0200

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike churned through the Gulf of Mexico's warm waters on Wednesday on a track that will likely skirt the heart of the U.S. offshore oilpatch before it slams into the Texas coast on Saturday.

Hurricane Ike enters Gulf; on path for Texas

2008-09-10T16:37+0200

As Hurricane Ike charged into the Gulf's fueling waters and toward the Texas coast, officials prepared Wednesday to evacuate ...

Chinese Red Cross Donates US$50,000 to Assist Tropical Storm Victims

2008-09-10T16:36+0200

The Jamaica Red Cross has received a cheque, valued at US$50,000, from the Chinese Red Cross, to assist with the recovery process, following the passage of Tropical Storm Gustav. At the handing over ceremony in Kingston on Friday, September 5, Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of the People's....

Angola: Female Singers at National Hero Gala

2008-09-10T16:35+0200

The National Hero Gala, scheduled for September 13, here, under the motto "Sagrada Esperança under the maternity sign", will gather at the same stage some of the best Angolan female voices in a show promoted by the Ministry of Culture (MINCULT).

Scientists cheer as protons complete first circuit of Large Hadron Collider

2008-09-10T16:33+0200

Analysis: what it all means | Welsh engineer leads the way | 30 days when the world didn't end

Jeremić slams work of OSCE

2008-09-10T16:33+0200

Vuk Jeremić says that Serbia has called for a special session of the OSCE permanent council. He said that Serbia was not satisfied with the situation in Kosovo and the OSCE’s work in the province.

Local Haitian Community to assist Gustav victims

2008-09-10T16:27+0200

PHILIPSBURG - Pres. of the UHC Castin Ironce is making a plea to the local community to offer a contribution in the form of a monetary donation to the people of Haiti who were left helpless after the destruction of Hurricane Gustav.

Bolivian Opposition Protesters Storm Buildings

2008-09-10T16:18+0200

Demonstrators protesting against President Evo Morales' planned economic reforms

New fund seeks profits from Africa farming - Reuters Nigeria - Fastnews Nigerian Banking

2008-09-10T16:15+0200

* Fund raising $100 million for African agri-processing * Cut flowers, fresh fruit, cocoa processing in sights * Fund targets development as well as profit By Alistair Thomson DAKAR, Sept 10 (Reuters) - A new private equity fund plans to invest in agricultural processing in Africa to cash in on....

Historic pier could become housing

2008-09-10T16:14+0200

An historic Victorian pier in East Sussex which has been closed to the public has been sold and is set to be turned into residential accommodation, according to reports. Hastings Pier has been off limits to visitors for more than a year following concerns that parts of the structure were a health and safety hazard.

Hurricane Ike to strengthen before hitting Texas

2008-09-10T16:10+0200

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike will mushroom into a powerful Category 3 storm within 36 hours as it marches west across the warm Gulf of Mexico waters before striking the central Texas Coast on Saturday, the U.S. National Hurricane Centre forecast in its 8 a.m. EDT (1 p.m British time) reports.

Tennis: Hantuchova opens tennis title bid in Bali

2008-09-10T16:06+0200

NUSA DUA, Indonesia: Top seed Daniela Hantuchova launched her quest for a first career WTA title at the Bali Open on Wednesday with a 6-1, 7-5 victory over Ukrainian Olga Savchuk.

'Ike' full of sound and fury, signifying danger

2008-09-10T16:05+0200

Even before the ravages caused by Hurricane Gustav in the western part of Cuba have been fully assessed, Hurricane Ike made landfall on the northeastern shore of the island on Sunday, swept westwards out to sea on Monday, and is showing signs of powering up before slamming Cuban territory again.

USS Kearsarge Delivers International Aid in Haiti

2008-09-10T16:03+0200

Aerial delivery of relief supplies to Haiti began from USS Kearsarge Sept. 8, as three helicopters launched from the flight deck to transport food and water to areas suffering from the after-effects of tropical storms Fay, Gustav and Hanna and Hurricane Ike.

Canada considers sending disaster team to Haiti

2008-09-10T16:02+0200

Canada is considering sending its specialized disaster response team to help with hurricane relief efforts in Haiti, CBC News has confirmed.

OPEC decides to cut oil output to lift prices

2008-09-10T16:01+0200

OPEC members decided to reduce oil production by about half a million barrels a day in a bid to stem a rapid decline in oil prices in recent weeks.

Local Haitian Community to assist Gustav victims

2008-09-10T15:59+0200

PHILIPSBURG--President of the United Haitian Community (UHC) Castin Ironce is making a plea to the local community to offer a contribution in the form of a monetary donation to the people of Haiti who were left helpless after the destruction of Hurricane Gustav. (click headline for more)

Latest News : Hurricane Ike roars ashore in Cuba south of Havana

2008-09-10T15:57+0200

HAVANA (AP) -- Hurricane Ike roared ashore south of Cuba's densely populated capital of aging buildings Tuesday after tearing across the island nation, ravaging homes, killing at least four people and forcing 1.2 million to evacuate. Residents in Texas and northern Mexico braced for a weekend hit....

Gamcel Subscribers Bemoan Poor Network

2008-09-10T15:51+0200

Following reports last week that a heavy storm, accompanied by rains, destroyed the Gamcel antenna in Gunjur Kombo South, residents in the area who...

Residents demand answers about flooded basements

2008-09-10T15:46+0200

As Saint John continues to clean up after the flood waters from post-tropical storm Hanna covered several roads in the city, some residents are asking why their basements keep filling with water.

Memories of killer 1900 storm haunts Galveston ahead of Ike (AFP)

2008-09-10T15:44+0200

AFP - Residents here on Tuesday warily followed the progress of Hurricane Ike -- currently tearing through the Caribbean on a path to the Texas coastline -- mindful of the anniversary this month of a storm that devastated the island city in 1900.

Desperation grows as flooded Haiti city awaits aid

2008-09-10T15:43+0200

Four major storms have raked the desperately poor country of Haiti in the past month, leaving at least 341 people dead.

Ike triggers state of emergency, big payout for Turks and Caicos

2008-09-10T15:34+0200

Just days after Hurricane Ike devastated Grand Turk and South Caicos in the Turks and Caicos Islands, the government of the northern Caribbean country has received word it will get around US$6.3 million from the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) to help in its recovery.

UN to aid storm-hit Caribbean countries

2008-09-10T15:34+0200

The United Nations (UN) has promised to rush aid to Caribbean nations hard hit by recent bad weather, particularly Haiti where over 300 people have died as a result of four storms this hurricane season.

Hurricane Ike leaves the Caribbean

2008-09-10T15:34+0200

As Hurricane Ike yesterday emerged into the Gulf of Mexico after crossing Cuba where it claimed at least four lives, President Raul Castro expressed confidence that the country would recover from the damage.

Ike slams Cuba on Caribbean path of destruction

2008-09-10T15:34+0200

It had already weakened by the time it reached Cuba's doorstop on Sunday night, but Hurricane Ike was hitting the island hard today, pounding the island with rains and 100 mile-per-hour winds that are forecast to continue into tomorrow.

C&W sets up storm fund

2008-09-10T15:34+0200

Cable and Wireless (C&W) Caribbean has announced that it will pump more than US$500,000 in cash and services into efforts to assist victims of recent hurricanes and tropical storms that have affected the region.

Schools in Region Six Off to Smooth Start

2008-09-10T15:32+0200

Director for Region Six in the Ministry of Education, Simon McKenzie, has reported that most schools in the Region got off to a smooth start, for the 2008/09 school year. According to Mr. McKenzie, only minor inconvenience was suffered as a result of the passage of Tropical Storm Gustav.

Hurricane Ike Strengthening in Gulf of Mexico

2008-09-10T15:32+0200

Hurricane Ike is gaining strength as it slowly makes its way into the Gulf of Mexico, on a path toward the southern U.S. state of Texas. The National Hurricane Center in Miami says Ike's center was in the waters off the coast of western Cuba this Wednesday morning.

Canada considers sending disaster response team to Haiti

2008-09-10T15:31+0200

Canada is considering sending its specialized disaster response team to help with hurricane relief efforts in Haiti, CBC News has confirmed.

Hurricane Ike Heading into Gulf of Mexico

2008-09-10T15:24+0200

Hurricane Ike is gaining strength as it slowly makes its way into the Gulf of Mexico, on a path towards the southeastern U.S. state of Texas. The National Hurricane Center in Miami says Ike now has maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers an hour. On its current path, Ike could reach the coast of the southern U.

Texas begins evacuating medically fragile

2008-09-10T15:16+0200

Sam Benavides loads pieces of plywood onto a cart Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008 at the Corpus Christi, Texas Home Depot as he prepares for the possibly land fall of Hurricane Ike near Corpus Christi.

Oil falls back towards $100 despite Opec cuts$

2008-09-10T15:15+0200

Oil prices headed back towards a five-month low this afternoon in spite of a surprise decision by Opec, the 13-nation cartel of oil producing nations, to cut daily supplies by 520,000 barrels.

Toronto stocks hit hard by slumping commodities (Reuters)

2008-09-10T15:14+0200

Reuters - The Toronto Stock Exchange's main index plunged more than 3 percent on Tuesday, weighed down by falling commodity prices and closing in on January's 2008 low.

City Dweller Laments Loss Of Urban Trees

2008-09-10T15:14+0200

Power lines, sidewalks and curbs are just some of the perils cutting trees down to size in big cities. Can city folk coexist with the trees they love?

Hurricane Ike over Gulf of Mexico, aims at Texas

2008-09-10T15:12+0200

10 Sep 2008 09:51:18 GMT Source: Reuters * Hurricane Ike strengthens as it heads to Gulf of Mexico * Ike seen hitting Texas, west of main Gulf oil fields * Florida keys may face heavy swells, rip currents * More heavy rain may cause ...

Ike gains strength over Gulf, on track for Texas

2008-09-10T15:12+0200

Forecasters say it could grow into category 3 storm before hitting U.S. or Mexican coasts

Oil fears as Ike eyes Gulf of Mexico

2008-09-10T15:09+0200

Hurricane Ike is swirling over the Gulf of Mexico and eyeing Texan offshore oil platforms, having torn through Cuba.

Oil prices rise as OPEC cuts production

2008-09-10T15:05+0200

Prices rose by more than a dollar after the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries meeting ended in the pre-dawn hours in Vienna, Austria, but quickly eased as investors digested the significance of the cartel's decision. Expectations that Hurricane Ike would pose little serious threat to U.S.

Uganda: Buganda LC5 Chiefs Back Mengo On Land Bill

2008-09-10T15:04+0200

District chairmen from Buganda region yesterday backed the kingdom's stand against the proposed Land Amendment Bill 2007, saying the existing land laws have provisions that can resolve land conflicts.

Texans get ready as Hurricane Ike heads their way

2008-09-10T14:58+0200

Residents along part of the Texas Gulf Coast have been told to leave Wednesday morning after Hurricane Ike left Cuba and began to gain strength in the warm Gulf of Mexico.

EU Solidarity Fund, Hurricane Dean: Commission proposes aid worth €12.8 million for Martinique, Guadeloupe

2008-09-10T14:47+0200

The European Commission today proposed to grant aid from the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) amounting to EUR 12.78 million in the aftermath of Hurricane Dean, which caused severe damage in the French Antilles islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe in August 2007.

Scientists cheer as protons complete first circuit of Big Bang machine

2008-09-10T14:45+0200

Analysis: what it all means | Welsh engineer leads the way | 30 days when the world didn't end

Hurricane Ike

2008-09-10T14:39+0200

Hurricane Ike heads towards Texas after leaving more than 170 people dead in Cuba and Haiti

Sam Wollaston on last night's TV

2008-09-10T14:39+0200

Sam Wollaston on UK Border Force | Prison Break | The Sex Education Show | Who Really Killed Jesus?

Uganda: Uwa's Struggles With the Poacher's Knife Escalate

2008-09-10T14:34+0200

UWA has discovered most animals smuggled are endangered species and tracking down the smugglers has been a challenge considering the failure to indentify wildlife specimens at border points.

Ailing Texans told to flee Ike

2008-09-10T14:33+0200

Some medically fragile Texans were told to evacuate Wednesday in advance of Hurricane Ike as it steams into the Gulf of Mexico.

Anti-Morales protests hit Bolivia

2008-09-10T14:32+0200

Protesters storm public buildings in eastern Bolivia, as opposition to President Evo Morales's reform plans escalates.

16 people killed by rainstorms, floods in southern Iran: report

2008-09-10T14:26+0200

Some 16 people were killed in heavy rainstorms and floods in southern Iran on Tuesday night, the official IRNA news agency reported on Wednesday. Some 11 people were killed in Bazoft district in southern province of Chahalmahal va Bakhtiyari, provincial natural disaster headquarters official Sattar Farhadi told IRNA.

Oil barely budges as traders parse OPEC move

2008-09-10T14:25+0200

DUBAI — Oil prices edged just slightly higher Wednesday after OPEC vowed to abide by its quotas but decided not to take the more dramatic step of slashing production targets. Prices rose by more than a dollar after the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries meeting ended in the pre-dawn hours....

China's inflation eases as trade gap grows

2008-09-10T14:17+0200

BEJING - China's politically sensitive inflation eased to a 14-month low in August while export growth dipped, the government reported Wednesday, and analysts said Beijing might shift from fighting price rises to revving up the slowing economy. Chinese leaders have made a priority of fighting an....

The Nation's Weather (AP)

2008-09-10T14:13+0200

AP - Hurricane Ike was to move northwestward through the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, bringing heavy rainfall and thunderstorms to southern Florida. Isolated tornadoes and waterspouts were possible in southern Florida and the Florida Keys.

Baldness Pattern: A New Cold War Analysis

2008-09-10T14:13+0200

For much of the 20th century, Russian (and Soviet) leaders with full heads of hair shared the country's top political spot with bald men. In fact, they very nearly went back and forth something their American rivals did not come close to doing.

South Africa: Consumer's Relief as Crude Oil Price Fell Below $100 a Barrel

2008-09-10T14:04+0200

Consumers, hard-hit by high energy and food prices, could soon breathe a sigh of relief as the crude oil prices fell below $100 a barrel for the first time in five months this week.

Texas begins evacuating medically fragile

2008-09-10T13:54+0200

McALLEN, Texas (AP) -- Some Texas residents who have special medical needs in the Corpus Christi area were being told to evacuate in advance of Hurricane Ike as it steams into the Gulf of Mexico.

Pentagon leaders to urge caution in troop cuts

2008-09-10T13:54+0200

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Top defense leaders are telling Congress the U.S. must be cautious as the Pentagon begins to cut troops in Iraq and focus more attention on the escalating fight in Afghanistan.

Hurricane Ike eyes Texas

2008-09-10T13:54+0200

By Jeff Franks Havana - Hurricane Ike swirled over the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, targeting Texas near the US offshore oil patch after toppling decrepit buildings in Cuba's capital and ripping th...

Bill Clinton becomes new head of Constitution Center

2008-09-10T13:54+0200

Former President Bill Clinton will replace former President George H.W. Bush as chairman of the National Constitution Center, it was announced yesterday.

Oil prices up slightly after OPEC’s decision

2008-09-10T13:48+0200

Oil prices edged just slightly higher Wednesday after OPEC vowed to abide by its quotas but decided not to take the more dramatic step of slashing production targets.

Rare starling captured on camera

2008-09-10T13:47+0200

A Rose-coloured Starling blown off course on route to India is spotted in a garden in Sutherland.

COMMENT : Seven years on, three big 9/11 lies

2008-09-10T13:43+0200

The George W Bush administration still can't tell the truth about September 11. It keeps claiming the deadliest attacks on the American mainland as a badge of honor, rather than as a stain on its record. The greatest political mystery of the 21st century is why Americans keep getting fooled.

Food trade's fatal price pendulum

2008-09-10T13:43+0200

Five years on, the "conspiracy of silence" over collapsing commodity prices lamented by French president Jacques Chirac has been replaced by a global concern over soaring prices hitting hard the same group of countries. More than price swings are amiss

OPEC decides to curb overall output; prices rise

2008-09-10T13:42+0200

OPEC oil ministers agreed Wednesday to trim overall output by more than 500,000 barrels a day in a compromise meant to avoid new turmoil in crude markets while seeking to bolster falling prices.

Ike swirls over Gulf of Mexico

2008-09-10T13:38+0200

Hurricane Ike swirls over the Gulf of Mexico and eyes offshore oil platforms, having damaged Cuba.

Oil price climbs on OPEC reduction

2008-09-10T13:36+0200

SINGAPORE — Oil prices rose Wednesday in Asia after OPEC said it would cut more than 500,000 barrels a day of production that exceed its self-imposed output quotas. Light, sweet crude for October delivery rose 77 cents to $104.03 (U.S.) a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange midafternoon in Singapore.

Bush limits Iraq troop withdrawal to 8,000 and orders 'quiet surge' in Afghanistan

2008-09-10T13:31+0200

President George Bush punctured hopes of a big reduction in US troops in Iraq yesterday when he announced the withdrawal of 8,000 troops by February, and only a small troop increase for Afghanistan.

Pentagon leaders to urge caution in troop cuts

2008-09-10T13:30+0200

Top defense leaders are telling Congress the U.S. must be cautious as the Pentagon begins to cut troops in Iraq and focus more ...

Perlis MB: Going to the ground is not wasting time

2008-09-10T13:28+0200

KANGAR: A leader must not think that going to the ground to meet the people is a waste of time, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Md Isa Sabu said. He said it was the job of a member of parliament or state assemblyman to meet his constituents, adding that Barisan Nasional leaders lived by this code.

Hessen governor affirms Germany’s aid for Vietnam

2008-09-10T13:26+0200

10/09/2008 06:15 PM The Governor of Germany’s Hessen State, Roland Koch, reiterated the German government and Hessen’s commitment to do their utmost to carry out cooperation projects with Vietnam, especially the Vietnam-German university project.

Hurricane Ike takes aim at Texas

2008-09-10T13:22+0200

With Hurricane Ike heading into the Gulf of Mexico, Texas emergency officials stood ready to order 1 million people evacuated from the impoverished Rio Grande Valley.

Texas Move the Ill Out of Ike's Path

2008-09-10T13:19+0200

To help these residents who need to get out of harm's way, Nueces County expected to set up two intake areas on Wednesday at 10 a.m. to take residents by bus to San Antonio. Meanwhile, Lt. Rhonda Lawson with the Texas Department of Public Safety in Corpus Christi said plans were in place to open up....

Church members saddened over loss of 2011 synod in Isles

2008-09-10T13:16+0200

Members of the United Church of Christ were saddened by news that plans to bring its 2011 general synod to the Islands were canceled because of high airfares.

Proprietor shares passion for plants

2008-09-10T13:16+0200

To John Rozett, running a nursery is more than just planting, watering and picking. It's a science that he's cultivated over the past 32 years as a horticulture student, manager of a foliage farm and now owner of his own company, Rozett's Nursery, which he runs with his wife, Donna, on the Big Island.

CFB: USC should be comfortable against Ohio State

2008-09-10T13:16+0200

Jim Tressel has coached 282 college football games, none in the Los Angeles Coliseum. Hasn't even visited, he said yesterday.

Pilot's remains returned to SA

2008-09-10T13:11+0200

The body of the South African pilot killed in a plane crash in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been returned to South Africa.

Haiti 'needs urgent storm help'

2008-09-10T13:02+0200

Haiti's prime minister says communities left stranded by recent ferocious storms are in desperate need of food and water.

Pentagon Leaders to Urge Caution in Troop Cuts

2008-09-10T13:00+0200

WASHINGTON, (AP) - Top defense leaders are telling Congress the U.S. must be cautious as the Pentagon begins to cut troops in Iraq and focus more attention on the escalating fight in Afghanistan. In

Troop Cuts: Pentagon to Urge Caution

2008-09-10T12:58+0200

Top defense leaders are telling Congress the US must be cautious as the Pentagon begins to cut troops in Iraq and focus more attention on the escalating fight in Afghanistan

Desperation grows as flooded Haiti city awaits aid

2008-09-10T12:58+0200

Four major storms have raked the desperately poor country of Haiti in the past month, leaving at least 341 people dead.

Hurricane Ike turns toward Texas from drenched Caribbean

2008-09-10T12:55+0200

HAVANA, : Deadly Hurricane Ike lingered off Cuba after killing four, tearing off roofs and uprooting trees before turning toward the Texas coast.

Ike gains strength over Gulf, aims for Texas

2008-09-10T12:49+0200

Forecasters say it could grow into a Category 3 storm before hitting U.S. or Mexican coasts

Cubans count cost of Hurricane Ike

2008-09-10T12:48+0200

Hurricane Ike swirled over the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, targeting Texas near the U.S. offshore oil patch after ripping Cuba from end to end.

Gas prices rise as Ike nears Texas

2008-09-10T12:43+0200

Gasoline prices rose for the first time in 10 days as Hurricane Ike bears down on the Texas coast, according to a nationwide survey of gas station credit card swipes.

Texas braces for Ike

2008-09-10T12:43+0200

Hurricane Ike is 85 miles from Havana, and the National Hurricane Center reports the capital of Cuba is getting hurricane-force gusts. Later today, forecasters predict Ike will emerge into the Gulf of Mexico and gain strength. The storm's current projected path has it making landfall by early Saturday anywhere from Central Texas to northern Mexico.

VIDEO: Hurricane Ike Over Gulf, Aims At Texas

2008-09-10T12:42+0200

Forecasters said Ike would likely regain power in the Gulf`s warm waters and become a major storm again.

Sixty Years of DPRK Glorious with Independence

2008-09-10T12:41+0200

Pyongyang, September 8 (KCNA) -- The sixty-year course covered by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has been a proud chronicle of advance and victory achieved under the banner of independence. The DPRK owes it to the independent politics of the Workers' Party of Korea that it has been....

British climber dies in Alps snowstorm

2008-09-10T12:37+0200

British pensioner and his Dutch guide freeze to death in Italian Alps after being caught in violent snowstorm

Deadly hurricane churning towards Texas

2008-09-10T12:34+0200

Deadly Hurricane Ike is churning toward Texas after killing more than 100 people across the Caribbean, regaining strength after pulling away from Cuba.

IOF troops storm WB areas, round up Palestinian citizens

2008-09-10T12:31+0200

Israeli occupation forces at dawn Wednesday stormed a number of West Bank cities and villages and rounded up four Palestinian citizens, local sources reported.

Mustard Seed - Tragedy Three children died in Tropical Storm Gustav - Urgent help needed

2008-09-10T12:30+0200

A heart-wrenching cry for assistance to rebuild its children's homes has come from the Mustard Seed Communities after the passage of Tropical Storm Gustav left 24 "severely disabled" children grappling with desperate, unsafe living conditions...

Oil Rises on OPEC Production Curb

2008-09-10T12:28+0200

OPEC oil ministers agreed to trim overall output by more than 500,000 barrels a day in a compromise meant to avoid new turmoil in crude markets while seeking to bolster falling prices

Ike gains strength over Gulf, aims for Texas

2008-09-10T12:28+0200

With Hurricane Ike heading into the Gulf of Mexico, Texas emergency officials stand ready to order 1 million people evacuated ...

Pilot's body returned to SA after plane crash

2008-09-10T12:25+0200

The body of the South African pilot killed in a plane crash in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been returned to South Africa, airline company CemAir said.

Sep10 Meeting in Antigua discusses protection of marine resources

2008-09-10T12:19+0200

by Aarati Jagdeo A proposal for the Caribbean Challenge (CC) will be made on Thursday at the thirteenth Intergovernmental Meeting (IGM) being held at the Jolly Beach Hotel. The IGM convenes every two years and is held jointly with the meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Cartagena Convention.

Sep10 Relief launched in Antigua for Haitian children

2008-09-10T12:19+0200

by Brian Ho A humanitarian effort called Help for Haiti has been launched in Antigua and Barbuda in order to raise funds for the education of Haitian children. The project’s coordinator, Pastor Gerald Lafleur, senior pastor of Restoration Ministries said the Friends of Haiti Association is....

Ike Bears Down, Texas Evacuates Patients

2008-09-10T12:16+0200

China's inflation eases as trade gap grows (AP)

2008-09-10T12:12+0200

AP - China's politically sensitive inflation eased to a 14-month low in August while export growth dipped, the government reported Wednesday, and analysts said Beijing might shift from fighting price rises to revving up the slowing economy.

Hurricane Ike takes aim at South Texas

2008-09-10T12:07+0200

With Hurricane Ike steaming into the Gulf of Mexico, Texas emergency officials Tuesday stood ready to order 1 million people evacuated from the impoverished Rio Grande Valley and tried to convince tens of ...

Palin in cash storm

2008-09-10T12:04+0200

AMERICAN presidential hopeful John McCain is still enjoying a Sarah Palin bounce - despite revelations she wrongly billed taxpayers over her allowances as Governor of Alaska.

Evacuations Begin As Ike Heads For Texas

2008-09-10T11:58+0200

Hurricane Ike is barreling across the warm, energizing waters of the Gulf of Mexico on its way toward the Texas coast, prompting officials to gear up for the first evacuations days before expected landfall.

Oil prices rise as OPEC cuts production

2008-09-10T11:58+0200

Light, sweet crude for October delivery rose 77 cents to $104.03 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange midafternoon in Singapore. The contract fell US$3.08 overnight to settle at $103.26, the lowest close since April 1. A statement by the Organization of Petroleum....

Scientists cheer as protons complete first circuit of Big Bang machine

2008-09-10T11:57+0200

Analysis: what it all means | Welsh engineer leads the way | 30 days when the world didn't end

Bush Unveils Force Cut In Iraq, Cites 'Durability' Of Progress

2008-09-10T11:56+0200

Administration critics call the Iraq reduction and commitment to Afghanistan too little.

Pictured: The storm drain toddler with the family dog who may have saved her life

2008-09-10T11:55+0200

A three-year-old who survived being sucked down a storm drain and dragged 230ft through an underground trench is thought to have been saved by the family dog.

Texas officials tell residents to brace for Hurricane Ike

2008-09-10T11:53+0200

Officials in Texas prepared to order one million people to leave coastal communities near the Mexican border on Wednesday as Hurricane Ike edged closer.

N. Korean accused in sex-for-secrets spy case

2008-09-10T11:48+0200

A North Korean woman accused of obtaining state secrets from South Korean military officers for sexual favors appeared in court wearing handcuffs, a baseball cap and surgical mask.

Oil rebounds from 5-mth low as OPEC cut surprises - extended

2008-09-10T11:45+0200

OPEC unexpectedly agreed on Wednesday to revert to its 2007 production limit of 28.8 million barrels per day, a move that the group’s president said would cut production by 520,000 bpd, or about 1.8%, from July levels.

Down and out Yarrowkabra woman promised new home

2008-09-10T11:44+0200

Several persons have responded to the plight of 23-year-old Ovena Braithwaite and according to the god-mother of her son, Ann Davidson; she has brightened up at the prospect of a new home. Braithwaite’s heart-rending story was published in yesterday’s edition of Stabroek News. Last Saturday a storm blew off the roof of the one bedroom shack [.

Jagdeo argues for proper valuation of forests at Paramaribo Dialogue

2008-09-10T11:44+0200

President Bharrat Jagdeo in addressing the Paramaribo Dialogue on financing for sustainable forest management yesterday argued that proper valuation of forests is needed so that countries like Guyana are not “shortchanged” in negotiations. Jagdeo also said that emphasis needs to be placed on avoided....

Job axe fears at rural surgeries

2008-09-10T11:44+0200

GP SURGERIES throughout rural North Yorkshire may have to sack doctors because of Government moves to give corner-shop chemists a bigger role in providing healthcare, say pati

Flood, storm claim 16 lives, damage farms, houses in Iran

2008-09-10T11:39+0200

Heavy rainstorms and floods claimed 16 lives in south and southwestern Iran on Tuesday night inflicting heavy damage on farms and houses. Sattar Farhadi, an official with the provincial natural disaster headquarters, said that 11 tribesmen and women were killed by heavy flood in 'Bazoft' district located some 160 km from Shahr-e Kord.

Ike takes aim at South Texas

2008-09-10T11:38+0200

With Hurricane Ike heading into the Gulf of Mexico, Texas emergency officials are ready to order 1 million people to evacuate the impoverished Rio Grande Valley.

Crude market well balanced: Saudi Arabia

2008-09-10T11:36+0200

Saudi Arabia’s Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi said the crude market is "well balanced" and inventories are in a "healthy position," suggesting Opec’s biggest member will fend off calls from Iran and Venezuela for lower output.

Hurricane Ike eyes Texas

2008-09-10T11:24+0200

Hurricane Ike is moving towards Texas after toppling decrepit buildings in Cuba's capital and ripping the island from end to end.

Texas on standby for Hurricane Ike

2008-09-10T11:18+0200

Hurricane Ike moved across the Gulf of Mexico on its way towards the Texas coast after crashing through Cuba and toppling ageing Havana buildings.

Melting ice puts cities at greater risk of flooding

2008-09-10T11:13+0200

MAJOR cities around Britain are at grave risk from catastrophic flooding because flood defence planners have failed to take into account the latest evidence on rising sea leve

Oil price rises after OPEC cuts output

2008-09-10T11:11+0200

Oil prices rose today after OPEC said it would cut more than 500,000 barrels a day of production that exceed its self-imposed output quotas.

Obama's 'sexist' jibe at Palin: 'You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig'

2008-09-10T11:09+0200

Barack Obama whipped up a storm today after implicitly attacking Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin by saying: 'You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig.'

Jeremić: ICJ iniative has good chance

2008-09-10T11:01+0200

Vuk Jeremić says the initiative seeking the opinion of the ICJ regarding Kosovo independence has a good chance of approval. The foreign minister said that it was far from certain whether Serbia would receive the approval of the majority of the 192 UN General Assembly member-states needed for the initiative to pass.

Zardari sworn in as Pakistan's president

2008-09-10T10:52+0200

The widower of assassinated former Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto took office as the country's new president yesterday, facing immediate pressure to crack down on Islamic militants and

Bush keeping Iraq troop levels mostly steady

2008-09-10T10:52+0200

President George W. Bush announced yesterday that he will keep the U.S. force strength in Iraq largely intact until the next president takes over, drawing rebukes from Democrats who want the

Ike heads for western Cuba

2008-09-10T10:52+0200

Strong wind gusts howled through blacked-out Havana and thousands huddled in shelters yesterday as Hurricane Ike churned toward

Hurricane Ike blacks out Havana

2008-09-10T10:45+0200

Havana - Strong wind gusts howled through the blacked-out Cuban capital and thousands huddled in shelters on Tuesday as Hurricane Ike churned toward western Cuba on a path that began to look less thre...

Oil Prices Up On OPEC Cut Backs

2008-09-10T10:45+0200

' }, { url: 'http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/images/2004/06/14/image622826x.jpg', alt: '', text: 'Oil prices have plunged about 30 percent since surging to a record $147.27 a barrel on July 11.

Deadly Ike strikes Cuba again

2008-09-10T10:45+0200

Unlike in nearby Haiti, which suffered scores of deaths after being battered by a rapid succession of powerful tropical storms and hurricanes over the past month, Cuba's vaunted civil defence system p...

Ike Leaves Cuba, Aims for Texas

2008-09-10T10:43+0200

Hurricane Ike barreled across the warm, energizing waters of the Gulf of Mexico Wednesday on its way toward the Texas coast after crashing through Cuba's tobacco country and toppling aging Havana buildings. Forecasters said the Category 1 storm was already strengthening over open waters after....

China's inflation eases as trade gap hits record (AP)

2008-09-10T10:40+0200

AP - China's politically sensitive consumer inflation eased in August to a 14-month low, the government said Wednesday, and analysts said Beijing might turn from fighting price rises to revving up the slowing economy.

25 Days for Ustasha Cap, No Penalty for Francetic

2008-09-10T10:40+0200

I put up the plaque because I am a Croat, says Josip Basan, adding that the police were great. He is returning from Murter Island to the U.S

Texas on standby for Hurricane Ike

2008-09-10T10:38+0200

Hurricane Ike moved across the Gulf of Mexico on its way towards the Texas coast after crashing through Cuba and toppling ageing Havana buildings. Forecasters said the Category-1 storm was already strengthening over open waters after leaving Cuba and could grow into a massive Category-3 storm before....

Climate change 'causing extreme waves'

2008-09-10T10:35+0200

CLIMATE change has caused an increase in weather events and extreme waves being generated off the southern coast of Australia, researchers have found. 6:00pm (AEST)

Investing in the rainforest

2008-09-10T10:32+0200

Preserving tropical forests is the cheapest way of combating climate change - so why aren't we doing it?

Hurricane Ike over Gulf of Mexico

2008-09-10T10:27+0200

Hurricane Ike swirled over the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, targeting Texas near the US offshore oil patch after toppling decrepit buildings in Cuba's capital and ripping the communist-run island from end to end.

Drain rescue family appeal over lost dog

2008-09-10T10:12+0200

The family of a three-year-old girl who was sucked 150ft through a storm drain today released poignant pictures of their beloved dog who was still missing after the ordeal.

Saturated Yorkshire put on storm alert

2008-09-10T10:12+0200

HOME owners in areas already saturated with rain could face further downpours in the coming days.

Oil rebounds over $100 a barrel after Opec cuts supply$

2008-09-10T10:11+0200

Oil prices climbed back over $100 today after a surprise decision by Opec, the 13-nation cartel of oil producing nations, to cut daily supplies by 520,000 barrels.$

Sex-for-secrets "spy" appears in South Korean court

2008-09-10T10:04+0200

SUWON, South Korea (Reuters) - A North Korean woman accused of obtaining state secrets from South Korean military officers for sexual favors appeared in court on Wednesday in handcuffs and wearing a baseball hat and surgical mask.

Hunger's global hotspots: 10 September 2008

2008-09-10T10:00+0200

10 Sep 2008 07:38:00 GMT Source: WFP Facts, figures and the lastest updates from WFP's high profile emergencies.

VIDEO: Hurricane Ike slams Cuba

2008-09-10T10:00+0200

10 Sep 2008 07:28:00 GMT Source: AlertNet Sep 9 - Hurricane Ike is bearing down on the U.S. and Key West, Florida is now feeling the effects of the storm. Cuba state television is reporting that Ike killed four people on the island nation ...

Nervous Texas braces for Ike

2008-09-10T09:58+0200

China's Trade Surplus Hits Record

2008-09-10T09:57+0200

China's yawning trade surplus rose to a monthly record high of $28.7 billion in August as the gap with the United States and Europe widened despite a global economic slowdown, according to data reported Wednesday.

Across Haiti, a Scene of Devastation

2008-09-10T05:09+0200

CABARET, Haiti, Sept. 9 -- Three times this month, the river rose toward Andre Jean Compae's manioc garden and three times, he watched it subside. So when his neighbors in this coastal Haitian town began running for safety as the latest rains came, Compae gathered his wife and seven children into...

Hurricane Ike lashes Cuba, moves into Gulf of Mexico

2008-09-10T05:07+0200

Hurricane Ike moved into the Gulf of Mexico late Tuesday on a path for the U.S. and Mexican coasts, which could be in for a Category 3 storm by the time Ike strikes later this week.

Hero drain dog

2008-09-10T05:07+0200

DRAIN rescue girl Leona Baxter poses with the missing family dog believed to have helped save her life. Leona, three, was sucked 150ft along a flooded storm drain into a river. Brophy, a boxer-mastiff cross, fell in with her and is thought to have dislodged her when she got stuck in the pipe.

2008-09-10T03:50+0200

Prince Andrew busy with business events

2008-09-10T03:50+0200

09/09/2008 10:55 PM PM Dung and Prince Andrew witnessed a function where the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) handed over licenses to set up wholly foreign-owned banks to HSBC and Standard Chartered.

Museum to upgrade two main galleries

2008-09-10T03:42+0200

Web Posted - Wed Sep 10 2008 AN upgrade of the two main galleries of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society at the Garrison, St. Michael, are among plans for the Museums re-development. In revealing this yesterday, the Societys new Development Officer, Linda Branch, said that the Museum,....

Comment: Free loft-lagging won't help the economy

2008-09-10T03:40+0200

As Gordon Brown prepares to announce his woefully limited solution to soaring energy costs, he can console himself that others have done far worse.

Comment: Free loft-lagging won't help the economy

2008-09-10T03:37+0200

As Gordon Brown prepares to announce his woefully limited solution to soaring energy costs, he can console himself that others have done far worse.

United States offers disaster aid to Cuba

2008-09-10T03:25+0200

The United States has again offered to send disaster aid to Cuba after the island was hit twice by Hurricane Ike.

Ike takes aim at Texas

2008-09-10T03:20+0200

With Hurricane Ike heading into the Gulf of Mexico, Texas emergency officials stood ready Tuesday to order 1 million people evacuated ...

Hurricane Ike leaves Cuba, targets Texas

2008-09-10T03:14+0200

10 Sep 2008 00:45:34 GMT Source: Reuters * Hurricane Ike moves into Gulf of Mexico, targets Texas * Ike projected to pass west of main Gulf oil fields * Cuba damage estimated at $3 billion to $4 billion * Ike topples crumbling Havana ...

Autumn shocker for IPL summer: CAB spent over Rs 20 lakh only on VIP chairs

2008-09-10T03:11+0200

Over Rs 20 lakh spent just on cushioned chairs for VIP guests during the Indian Premier League (IPL)! Well, in what could snowball into the biggest controversy over Prasun Mukherjee's reign at the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), it has been revealed that cricketing body overspent big time during this year's Twenty20 extravaganza.

Hurricane Ike leaves Cuba, targets Texas (Reuters)

2008-09-10T03:09+0200

Reuters - Hurricane Ike moved away from Cuba into the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday, targeting Texas near the U.S. offshore oil patch after shredding crumbling old buildings in Havana and ripping the communist-run island from end to end.

Hurricane Ike cuts across Cuba

2008-09-10T03:01+0200

Deadly Hurricane Ike on Tuesday made its second pass in a week over Cuba, lashing the country's northwest and its crumbling capital Havana.

Hurricane Ike leaves Cuba, targets Texas

2008-09-10T02:57+0200

Hurricane Ike leaves Cuba and targets Texas

2008-09-10T02:57+0200

Hurricane Ike rattles Havana

2008-09-10T02:55+0200

CUBA: Hurricane Ike toppled decrepit buildings in Havana and raked over western Cuba still recovering from the more powerful Gustav as it made a second landfall on the island on a path that may steer it away from the heart of Gulf of Mexico oilfields.

Oil prices fall again and head for $100 a barrel

2008-09-10T02:55+0200

CRUDE OIL prices yesterday fell to within striking distance of the critical $100 a barrel level, hitting a fresh five-month low as hurricane Ike shifted its course away from the Gulf of Mexico's oil-producing area.

Desperation grows as flooded Haiti city awaits aid

2008-09-10T02:50+0200

Four major storms have raked the desperately poor country of Haiti in the past month, leaving at least 341 people dead.

2008-09-10T02:15+0200

HAITI'S third largest city is at the centre of a humanitarian disaster after being hit hard by four major storms in less than a month. 9:57am (AEST)

U.S. extends hand to Cuba after hurricanes

2008-09-10T02:11+0200

09 Sep 2008 23:55:38 GMT Source: Reuters WASHINGTON, Sept 9 (Reuters) - The United States is reaching out to help Cuba in the wake of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike despite Havana's rejection of an earlier offer to send assistance, the U.S. State ...

FACTBOX-U.S. charities and their donors

2008-09-10T02:11+0200

10 Sep 2008 00:03:56 GMT Source: Reuters Sept 10 (Reuters) - A weak U.S. economy is crimping donations to charities, forcing some to curtail activities. Some facts about U.S. charities and their donors: * Two-thirds of ...

Texans told to stock up as Ike nears

2008-09-10T02:05+0200

Wall Street ends lower on concerns over Lehman

2008-09-10T01:59+0200

US stocks tumbled Tuesday, nearly erasing the previous session's big gains, after fresh concerns about the stability of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. punctured a sense of optimism about the financial sector. Each of the major indexes lost more than 2 percent. The Dow Jones industrials fell nearly 300 points.

Simon Jenkins: This is what happens when criminals are called terrorists

2008-09-10T01:54+0200

Simon Jenkins: The proper investigation of terrorist conspiracy has been wrecked by cynical politics. Meddling has again made us less safe

Obituary: Fred Sinowatz

2008-09-10T01:54+0200

Fred Sinowatz, who has died aged 79, had a turbulent time as Austria's chancellor, the head of its government. His tenure was cut short in 1986 when he failed to prevent the election of Kurt Waldheim, formerly an officer in Hitler's army, to the post of federal president.

Ike gives Cuba final kick, moves to Gulf of Mexico

2008-09-10T01:47+0200

HAVANA — Hurricane Ike moved into the warm waters of the Gulf and took aim at the U.S. and Mexican coasts Tuesday after bringing down aging buildings in Havana and tearing through western Cuba's tobacco country.

Haiti city sees more death from storms

2008-09-10T01:41+0200

Cemetery workers trudge through the water, fetching bloated corpses from the muck in Haiti's second largest city. But the final death toll here will never be known.

Abia pays N72.2m counterpart fund for cassava project

2008-09-10T01:33+0200

Umuahia(NAN)Abia State Government has asked the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to establish more cassava processing plants in the state. Gov. Theodore Orji made the call in Umuahia while presenting the cheque for the counterpart fund of N72.2 million to Dr.

Bush limits Iraq troop withdrawal

2008-09-10T01:23+0200

Only 8,000 US troops will come home by February while president orders 'quiet surge' in Afghanistan

Wanted: Jewish families

2008-09-10T01:23+0200

Blumberg is chairman of the Blumberg Family Relocation Fund, which is offering Jewish families as much as $50,000 to relocate to Dothan, an overwhelmingly Christian town of 58,000 that calls itself the Peanut Capital of the World. Get involved at Temple Emanu-El and stay at least five years, the....

Country diary: Wenlock Edge

2008-09-10T01:23+0200

The buzzards call to each other. High, piercing cries cut through the sky between woods and the air is cool and clear after heavy rain. One buzzard leaves its wood and soars over a field towards the other. It is intercepted by a raven and there's a briefly savage but largely half-hearted rumble as....

Video: Rats bring famine to Burma as junta turns its back

2008-09-10T01:23+0200

Four months after Cyclone Nargis, another natural disaster has struck Burma, only this time the military regime has had 50 years to prepare for it

Market forces: Miners strike downbeat note as copper slides

2008-09-10T01:23+0200

Nick Fletcher: Commodity prices suffered a sharp drop on worries about a fall in global demand

Britain's cities face flood catastrophe as sea levels rise, says scientist

2008-09-10T01:19+0200

LONDON, Glasgow and other major cities around Britain are at grave risk from catastrophic flooding because flood defence planners have failed to take into account the latest e

Callon Petroleum Company Reports No Major Damage To Its Principal Production Facilities by Hurricane Gustav

2008-09-10T01:11+0200

Callon Petroleum Company (NYSE: CPE) reported today that the effects of Hurricane Gustav appear to have resulted in minimal damage to its principal production ...

Victoria Summerley: Strangers in my garden

2008-09-10T01:09+0200

It always amuses me that the first thing lots of people say when you tell them you're opening your garden to the public is: "Aren't you worried about having all those strangers in your house? What if they're villains or psychos?" And the second thing they say, their faces brightening optimistically,....

Leading article: Our health service can no longer dodge reform

2008-09-10T01:09+0200

It is the sort of warning liable to give health ministers sleepless nights. Professor Karol Sikora, the director of a private provider of cancer services, has warned that the National Health Service's bill for cancer drugs could rise to as much as 50bn, swallowing up half of the entire present health budget.

Oveseas: A taste of paradise

2008-09-10T01:09+0200

You may not know very much about Malaysia but that looks set to change. In an attempt to generate increased overseas investment, the Malaysian government is soon to launch an initiative to encourage more Europeans to make the country their second home.

Hurricane Ike batters historic Old Havana

2008-09-10T01:09+0200

Hurricane Ike was battering the Cuban capital, Havana, yesterday, damaging historic buildings and forcing tens of thousands of people to flee.

Brazil offers aid to storm-struck Cuba, Haiti

2008-09-10T01:09+0200

09 Sep 2008 22:39:11 GMT Source: Reuters BRASILIA, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Brazil offered humanitarian aid to Haiti and Cuba on Tuesday after hurricanes Gustav and Ike caused substantial damage to both nations. President Luiz Inacio Lula da ...

Hurricane Ike takes aim at South Texas (AP)

2008-09-10T01:06+0200

AP - With Hurricane Ike steaming into the Gulf of Mexico, Texas emergency officials Tuesday stood ready to order 1 million people evacuated from the impoverished Rio Grande Valley and tried to convince tens of thousands of illegal immigrants that they have less to fear from the Border Patrol than from the storm.

Lulu favours Olympic Eagles - Kick Off Nigeria - Fastnews Nigerian Sports

2008-09-10T01:04+0200

johnson : 2008-09-09 16:24 Infact,we are supposed to sprinkle some former super eagles player on the dream team iv to form d new super eagles,not d other way round. Tony : 2008-09-09 16:35 Johnson I don't agree with you. I think Mr Lulu is right this time. We need to be cautious in recommending wholesale inclusion of Olympics team to be the SE.

Anxiety As N/Assembly Reconvenes - AllAfrica Nigerian News

2008-09-10T01:04+0200

(Abuja) 9 September 2008 Posted to the web 9 September 2008 Tashikalmah Hallah By 10 o'clock today the two chambers of the National Assembly will resume for the second lap of legislative journey into the four year tenure of this regime. Already, anxiety is hovering around the National Assembly as....

Girl, 3, recovers after ‘miraculous’ drain rescue

2008-09-10T00:52+0200

LONDON: A three-year-old girl was recovering on Tuesday after being sucked down a storm drain, swept along a pipe and hurled into a swollen river as she splashed in puddles in a park, police said. Leona Baxter suffered cuts and bruises when was pulled into the drain in a water-logged field and....

Ike Heads For Texas After Hitting Havana

2008-09-10T00:52+0200

Hurricane Ike roared south of Cuba's densely populated capital of fragile, aging buildings after tearing across the island nation, ravaging homes, killing at least four people and forcing 1.2 million to evacuate.

Oil drops to new 5-month low

2008-09-10T00:52+0200

LONDON: Oil dropped to a new five-month low on Tuesday on expectations OPEC would leave formal output targets steady and as the threat of Hurricane Ike to US Gulf of Mexico energy infrastructure receded. OPEC ministers meeting in Vienna were expected to keep output targets steady with calls from....

Petrova scores easy win in Bali Open

2008-09-10T00:52+0200

NUSA DUA: Russian Nadia Petrova made the adjustment to searing tropical heat Tuesday, posting a 6-3, 6-1 opening win over Japan’s Aiko Nakamura to reach the second round of the Bali Open. The fourth seed, who lost in the US Open third round to the third seed here Flavia Pennetta, said it had taken her a few days to get accustomed to the weather.

Lint supply from Sindh, Punjab improves

2008-09-10T00:52+0200

KARACHI: The physical price remained under pressure due to better supply of lint amid firm spot rate at the Karachi cotton market, traders said on Tuesday. The mills remained active in making deals for lint of all qualities while volumes remained below normal to around 12,000 bales, they added.

Dollar up versus euro

2008-09-10T00:52+0200

NEW YORK: The US dollar rose versus the euro on Tuesday as oil prices fell, but broader gains were limited on mild profit-taking after a rally ignited by the government’s bailout of mortgage firms Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In New York morning session, the euro traded down 0.3 percent at $1.4086, not for from an 11-month low of $1.

Microsoft delivers four critical updates

2008-09-10T00:44+0200

Microsoft has issued four critical security updates that patch at least eight vulnerabilities in the various Windows operating systems and Office programs. If you use either, you'll want to install them sooner rather than later. The most serious of the updates is one patching Microsoft's graphics....

Easy color signals sunny NY Fashion Week theme

2008-09-10T00:30+0200

Published Date: September 10, 2008 Mellow, beachy colors of ocean blue, marigold yellow and hibiscus pink dominated the runways Monday at New York Fashion Week. You were expecting black? Designers tried to lighten a dour national mood for their spring collections with a sunny evolution of the....

Crude prices fall below $100 mark

2008-09-10T00:29+0200

By Carola Hoyos in Vienna and Javier Blas in London Published: September 9 2008 19:41 | Last updated: September 9 2008 23:24 Crude oil prices fell below the critical $100 a barrel level on Tuesday for the first time since April as hurricane Ike shifted its course away from the Gulf of Mexico and traders bet Opec would leave production unchanged.

Six-Party Talks Focused on Outputs

2008-09-10T00:27+0200

10:37 a.m. EDT MR. MCCORMACK: Good morning, everybody. Welcome to the first 10:30 a.m. briefing. Are you impressed, Matt? QUESTION: Good morning. MR. MCCORMACK: I’m glad to hear -- QUESTION: I haven’t seen myself up there yet. MR. MCCORMACK: Matt, there’s a reason for that. QUESTION: It’s 10:35 (inaudible.

More than 1m evacuated in Cuba

2008-09-10T00:27+0200

2008-09-09T23:53+0200

HAVANA (AFP) - Deadly Hurricane Ike on Tuesday made its second pass in a week over Cuba, lashing the country's northwest and its crumbling capital Havana, tearing off roofs, uprooting trees, and leaving four dead.

Hurricane Ike Slams Cuba a Second Time

2008-09-09T23:52+0200

WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A. - Hurricane Ike has made its second landfall in Cuba after tearing across the island nation earlier this week, killing at least four people and forcing nearly a million to evacuate.

Ike gives Cuba final kick, moves to Gulf of Mexico

2008-09-09T23:50+0200

Hurricane Ike moved into the warm waters of the Gulf and took aim at the U.S. and Mexican coasts Tuesday after bringing down aging buildings in Havana and tearing through western Cuba's tobacco country.

Ike gives Cuba final kick, moves to Gulf of Mexico

2008-09-09T23:49+0200

Oil falls as OPEC expected to maintain formal targets

2008-09-09T23:45+0200

Published Date: September 10, 2008 LONDON: Oil fell to a new five-month low yesterday as expectations OPEC would leave formal output targets steady outweighed concerns over the threat of Hurricane Ike to US Gulf of Mexico energy infrastructure. OPEC ministers meeting in Vienna were expected to keep....

Deadly Ike cuts across Cuba, eyes US Gulf coast

2008-09-09T23:45+0200

Published Date: September 10, 2008 HAVANA: Hurricane-force gusts lashed Cuba's crumbling and crowded capital Havana early yesterday, as Ike brought pounding rain and towering waves across the country leaving four people dead. The storm plowed down almost all the island - roughly the size of Portugal....

Florida Guardsmen Act Fast to Keep Key West Citizens Safe

2008-09-09T23:42+0200

Members of the Florida Army National Guard helped local law enforcement officers avert what could have been a disaster for some people ignoring safety warnings as Hurricane Ike passed to the south of Key West, Fla..

Bush keeping Iraq troop levels mostly steady

2008-09-09T23:41+0200

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush announced Tuesday that he will keep the U.S. force strength in Iraq largely intact until the next president takes over, drawing rebukes from Democrats who want the war ended and a bigger boost of troops in troubled Afghanistan.

Dominica sends aid to Haiti hit by hurricanes

2008-09-09T23:41+0200

SANTO DOMINGO (Xinhua) -- The government of the Dominican Republic on Monday sent a batch of aid and 17 doctors to help thousands of Haitians suffering from the devastation of hurricanes and tropical storms of the current season in the Atlantic Ocean. The aid included food, drinking water, medicine, blankets and mattresses.

Zardari sworn in as Pakistan president

2008-09-09T23:41+0200

ISLAMABAD (Agencies) -- The husband of assassinated former Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto took office as the country's new president Tuesday. Pakistan's top judge swore in Asif Ali Zardari at a brief ceremony in the presidential palace recently vacated by Pervez Musharraf, who resigned under pressure last month, the Associated Press reported.

The vast majority-near eighty per cent-of proven petroleum reserves are now owned by governments and state oil companies

Opec for steady output at record level

2008-09-09T23:10+0200

OPEC president says crude output to stay same

2008-09-09T23:09+0200

OPEC oil ministers will likely decide to keep output at present levels, the group's president said Tuesday, suggesting that most members could accept prices at US$100 a barrel. read more

Hurricane Ike move off Cuba, into Gulf of Mexico

2008-09-09T23:08+0200

Hurricane Ike moved off western Cuba and into the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday where the weak Category 1 storm was expected to strengthen in the warm waters on its way to the Gulf Coast. Ike struck eastern Cuba on Sunday, and hit western Cuba on Tuesday on a destructive path that left widespread damage....

Fears on Lehman, financials send market into skid (Reuters)

2008-09-09T23:06+0200

Reuters - Stocks plunged on Tuesday, driving the benchmark S&P 500 to its worst day in one and a half years, as concern about Lehman Brothers' ability to raise much-needed capital reignited fears about the broader financial sector.

Oil price down as Ike shifts course

2008-09-09T22:57+0200

Oil prices closed below $US104 a barrel as traders bet that Hurricane Ike would miss critical US Gulf Coast oil installations.

Hurricane Ike leaves Cuba, heads for Gulf

2008-09-09T22:54+0200

Hurricane Ike moved off western Cuba and into the Gulf of Mexico tonight where the weakened Category 1 storm was expected to strengthen in the warm waters on its way to the Gulf Coast.

Ike in gulf after hitting Cuba twice

2008-09-09T22:53+0200

Hurricane Ike moved into the Gulf of Mexico after flattening hundreds of homes in Cuba, killing four people there and making landfall twice.

Oil dips as Ike weakens, OPEC to hold steady

2008-09-09T22:50+0200

Light, sweet crude for October delivery fell $3.08 to settle at $103.26 on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the lowest settlement price since April 1. In aftermarket trading Tuesday, prices tumbled more than $4 a barrel to a new five-month low of $101.85.

Haiti : Réduire le taux d’analphabétisme, un défi à relever

2008-09-09T22:49+0200

PORT AU PRINCE (HPN) - A l’occasion de la journée mondiale de l’Alphabétisation, le lundi 8 septembre, le secrétaire d’Etat à l’Alphabétisation, M. Carol Joseph a réitéré son engagement de relever le défi de réduire le taux d’Analphabétisme dans le pays.

LOGB Update on CB and LC Recovery

2008-09-09T22:49+0200

GEORGETOWN - Good morning ladies and gentlemen. It seems hard to believe that it was only one week ago today that I was here to give you an update on our nation’s state of readiness for Hurricane Gustav.

2008-09-09T22:18+0200

PORT AU PRINCE (HPN) - « Je prie pour les victimes, malheureusement nombreuses, et pour les sans abri », a déclaré, dimanche, le Pape Benoît XVI devant des dizaines de milliers de fidèles qui se sont rassemblés devant la Basilique Saint Pierre du Vatican.

Protegida población cubana ante paso de huracán Ike

2008-09-09T22:18+0200

PINAR DEL RIO, Cuba (PL) El huracán Ike tocó nuevamente tierra de esta provincia cubana con la amenaza de azotar los mismos territorios que asoló su antecesor, el meteoro Gustav, hace apenas nueve días.

Huracán Ike impactó en provincia cubana de Pinar del Río

2008-09-09T22:18+0200

LA HABANA (PL) - Un debilitado huracán Ike impactó hoy en el territorio de la provincia cubana de Pinar del Río, en el extremo occidental de la Isla.